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Valhalla Saga (Web Novel) - Episode 46, Chapter 2 - Idun’s (2)
Episode 46, Chapter 2: Idun’s (2)
This chapter is updated by NovelFree.ml
Translator: Tsubak
Editor: Ren
“So you woke up.”
A voice was heard even before he opened his eyes. Tae Ho opened them slowly and then blinked a few times. He felt refreshed, as if he had slept a sweet sleep; relaxed, with no exhaustion.
Because of that, Tae Ho could reply to the voice almost instantly.
“Master Ragnar,” he said.
‘I know that you are disappointed, as a man is the one that greets you as soon as you open up your eyes. It’s definitely written in your face.’
Cuchulainn’s voice was heard as well. Tae Ho laughed unconsciously and then faced Ragnar, who was sitting on a chair in front of him.
“You were safe.”
Ragnar was his usual self; he didn’t seem injured at all.
He smiled bitterly and shrugged his shoulders.
“Well, I had the role of a commander inside the fortress. I’m glad that you are safe. You were out for three nights already.”
“Three nights?”
‘Two days have already passed since you woke up for a brief moment. They didn’t worry too much as you were sleeping too well, so don’t worry.’
Tae Ho heard Cuchulainn’s explanation and turned to look at himself. It did feel like he had slept for a long time but for it to be that long…
‘My exhaustion and magical power had reached its bottom. In addition, the limit had increased because of the runes I absorbed, so it would obviously take time for it to be filled once again.’
Viewing it with a game-like view, it meant that it took more time for his increased HP to recover again.
“You did well anyways. I knew that you would become great but for you to become one this fast…”
Ragnar wore a sincerely admiring expression, before becoming serious. Then he fixed his sitting posture and placed his hand on his chest.
“I thank you, Idun’s warrior, as a warrior of Valhalla. You have rescued Valhalla, Asgard.”
It was the thanks of none other than the Viking king, Ragnar Lodbrok.
Tae Ho already knew Ragnar very well but he couldn’t help but feel moved. No, it was even more so, as they knew each other very well.
‘Hey, at this point shouldn’t you say something like ‘it’s thanks to Cuchulainn-nim having lead someone. It wasn’t by my strength alone’?’
Cuchulainn cracked a joke to make him relax. Tae Ho agreed to that and so also expressed etiquette.
“It was thanks to everyone in Valhalla,” he replied.
That was indeed the case.
The reason he was able to defeat the magician king was thanks to Loki’s sacrifice.
If Loki hadn’t inflicted a lethal wound on him, Tae Ho would have been the one to get done by.
It was the same for the world wolf. If it wasn’t for Nidhogg and Hraesvelgr, and if he hadn’t had Rolo’s and Adenmaha’s help, he wouldn’t have been able to defeat it.
Ragnar also knew that fact, but he still shook his head.
“But still, you were the pivot. It would have been impossible without you. In the end you are the one that turned Nidhogg and Hraesvelgr into allies and you were the one that rescued Odin-nim. You are also the one that defeated the magician king and the world wolf. Those were things that could be accomplished, because it was you.”
Would another warrior be able to do the same thing Tae Ho did?
He wouldn’t. Those were miracles only Tae Ho could have made.
“At least Sigurd…”
“Yes?”
“Well, my eyes really are accurate,” Ragnar said, laughing.
Tae Ho didn’t know what he was talking about but he looked at Ragnar, who was satisfied, and said with a bit of eagerness and caution, “Don’t become like Cuchulainn, please.”
‘What are you talking about? Huh?’
Tae Ho remained silent and Ragnar continued to speak.
“Well, isn’t there anything you are curious about now that you are awake? There’s still some time so I will answer your questions. Aren’t you hungry?”
“Uh… I’m fine for now. I do want to eat something but I do feel fulfilled.”
It was a bit weird, but he really did feel like that. Ragnar nodded.
“You should be, because you ate golden apples while you were sleeping. Heda and Adenmaha gave you liquefied golden apples two times a day.”
“Wow, I’m such an honoured guest.”
It was because he ate golden apples two times a day. It was a treatment that not even normal Gods could receive.
“What would anyone say, even if they give you a whole bunch? You are none other than Idun’s warrior.”
It was also thanks to Idun, who had strongly claimed that there was no problem with using her apples however she wanted.
“Mm, let’s leave the meal for later… but what did you mean by you still having some time?” asked Tae Ho, tilting his head.
Ragnar put on a nice smile and answered, “Odin has called for you. Everyone expected that you would be waking up today. He will probably speak about what reward to give.”
‘I’m curious about what reward he has prepared.’
Odin had told Tae Ho that everytime he made an accomplishment that he would give a big reward when the thing going on in Valhalla was organized.
Cuchulainn was as curious as Tae Ho but he would know about it only when he met him. Because of that, he decided to ask about other things.
“Master Ragnar, what is the situation of the battle?”
For now, the battle in Valhalla was a huge victory. Thanks to the magician king and the world wolf having died, the giant kings started to flee and the formation of the giants became a mess.
Tae Ho had lost consciousness after he defeated the world wolf but the battle on that day continued for half a day. It was an obvious result as it was a battle that had involved hundreds of thousands of warriors.
“The giants that escaped scattered everywhere but most of them headed to the north, where Harmarti is at. They had to do that in order to escape to Jotunheim.”
Ragnar moved his hands in the air as if there was an invisible map in the air while he explained. Compared to before, Tae Ho now had Asgard’s general outline in his head so a picture of it was naturally drawn in his head.
“The army, which is currently led by Heimdall, is chasing after the remaining forces. Odin is planning to gather the forces of Valhalla to defeat the army of Harmarti. They will be driving away the giants from Asgard completely.”
The battle in Valhalla ended but the Great War itself hadn’t. Tae Ho nodded.
“We won’t be able to lower our guards. It can be said that the main force of the giants resides in Harmarti.”
Strictly speaking, the army of the magician king was a detached force meant to attack Valhalla. But of course, the size and strength of it was too strong to say that it was a detached force.
“Right, but our main forces are also over there. In addition, the hegemony has passed over to Valhalla now that the army of the magician king broke up. The frost giant king would also be thinking about how to retreat while taking all the forces he could.”
The balance of strength broke with the collapse of the army of the magician king. The army of Harmarti would only be able to fall back.
“Reaching a complete conclusion won’t be easy.”
“The damages Valhalla suffered are too big. Actually, we accomplished great victory in his battle but too much blood has been shed. It will be impossible to counterattack in Jotunheim instantly.”
Tae Ho didn’t know of it but the god of sea, Njord, had suffered a big injury. In addition, there were too many dead warriors and Valkyries. Almost a fourth of the Steel warriors residing in Valhalla had been destroyed.
“Well, whatever the case it’s clear that we were the ones that won, so you don’t have to worry too much. It seems like they came.”
Ragnar changed the subject in the last sentence and turned to look away. Tae Ho looked in that direction as well and footsteps were heard from the door.
“Are you awake, master?”
“Tae Ho master!”
It was Adenmaha and Nidhogg. Contrary to Adenmaha, who entered the room calmly, Nidhogg smiled as brightly as a puppy meeting her owner in a long time and embraced Tae Ho.
“Heda is not here. This is the moment. This is the only opportunity.”
Nidhogg rubbed her cheek on Tae Ho’s chest, as if she really missed it. But it couldn’t last long either.
“Heda is not here but I am.”
Adenmaha spoke and Nidhogg flinched. But she still embraced him more tightly, as if she wouldn’t be able to step away.
Adenmaha shook her head as if she couldn’t do anything and Tae Ho laughed at that. He stroke Nidhogg’s head and said, “Nidhogg, I’m really grateful. You did really well. You are the best.”
“Ehehe, hehe. Keep complimenting me.”
“You fought well and endured it well. Everyone should be grateful towards you. I’m also grateful.”
He was being sincere. Nidhogg had fought really well. It wasn’t an exaggeration to say that he was able to defeat the World Wolf thanks to Nidhogg’s battle.
Nidhogg smiled foolishly, her face red. Adenmaha pouted at the look of overflowing happiness.
“Don’t you have anything to say to me?”
“I’m also grateful to you. I’m always thankful. You really are the best.”
“Hmph, you always say that everything is the best.”
Adenmaha snorted like always but it seemed like she was in a good mood.
‘Nidhogg is also cute today.’
Cuchulainn spoke with a really loose voice. Ragnar opened his mouth once again while Tae Ho agreed with him.
“It seems like it’s time. Adenmaha, I will borrow Tae Ho for a moment.”
“You are going to meet Odin-nim right? I will be waiting for you at Idun’s sanctum.”
“Idun’s sanctum?”
The one that asked was Tae Ho. Adenmaha nodded and explained.
“The residence broke in pieces. We are currently using Idun-nim’s sanctum, which is inside of Valhalla, as the temporary base for the legion.”
When the seal of Valhalla broke, Freya gave up on the part of the lake of fog where the residences were at. It was because she already had enough to do with just protecting Valhalla.
Odin had also agreed that Freya’s judgement was logical so they had left the lake of fog alone and thanks to that, the lake of fog could only become part of the battlefield.
“Actually, this bedroom is inside Freya-nim’s sanctum. Idun-nim also collapsed after the battle… so Freya-nim said that she would move you to her sanctum for now.”
“Indeed.”
‘Freya-nim still takes care of you and Heda quite well.’
‘I’m always grateful to her. It’s the same for this battle.’
At the last moment, she had also acted as an outstanding shield.
“Anyways, let’s leave now. Odin shall be waiting for us,” Ragnar said.
Tae Ho stood up while still holding the regretful Nidhogg.
&
The place they were lead to by Ragnar was a small room instead of a big hall. There were three people waiting in this room and they were, respectively, Odin, Freya and Idun.
Odin and Freya were seated higher up and Idun was standing in the entrance.
Tae Ho shared a short greeting with Idun and then expressed etiquette in front of Odin.
“The commander of Idun greets you.”
“Leave the solid etiquette. It’s an unofficial place, so act comfortably, like usual.”
Tae Ho and Odin had spoken comfortably while climbing the world tree. It wasn’t really a comfortable relationship but didn’t they have a relationship in which they had to share hard etiquette.
Tae Ho adopted comfortable posture after thanking him for his consideration and Odin opened his mouth again.
“It’s a conventionality but… you have also achieved great merits this time. I thank you as the highest God of Asgard.”
He was seated but Odin expressed etiquette politely. Tae Ho also replied to the highest God.
“Thank you.”
It was short and awkward, but he couldn’t think of other words besides those. Odin smiled, in a good mood, and then buried his body in his seat.
The previously silent Freya spoke.
“You heard the general outline of the situation from Ragnar, right?”
“Yes, I heard that you were preparing to fight against Harmarti.”
“That’s right, Thor’s army is already fighting him and Odin will also head to the north after this conversation ends.”
Freya spoke kindly, like when she spoke with Idun. She always spoke in a stiff way at the times when they met previously so you could say that it was quite a big change.
“I’m sorry to say that we will have to delay the official award granting.”
“It’s fine.”
Tae Ho answered hurriedly at Odin’s apology.
Freya snickered and added, “There’s no need for you to participate in this battle. It will become a big battle… but it’s not like Valhalla’s fate lies in it. I recommend that you rest in the rear. In addition, this is a claim made by Idun.”
Freya looked at the silent Idun. Idun, who was wearing her eye covering, smacked her lips and said in a low voice, “Didn’t you do enough?”
He had raised the biggest merits and suffered much.
Idun’s recommendation to Tae Ho was to rest, rather than go to the battlefield once again.
“I understand. I will do that.”
The Goddess of his legion was this concerned about him, so how could he go out to fight?
Idun was satisfied at Tae Ho’s answer and smiled.
“Then, let’s return to the topic of the award. Freya?”
Freya met Odin’s gaze and then nodded and spoke with an elegant yet playful expression.
“We have been thinking of several things, but what about this? I will let you marry Idun formally.”
Tae Ho and Idun were simultaneously bewildered at the sudden proposal. But Freya didn’t stop. She continued speaking.
“It’s Midgard’s common sense for the knight that defeated the black dragon and rescued the princess to marry her right? How about it? It’s not bad right?”
“Wait!” Idun yelled sharply.
She interrupted Freya’s words immediately and yelled in an angry voice, “No, how is that an award? We can ju, just marry ourselves later. Isn’t, isn’t that right? My, my warrior Tae Ho? Right?”
She had started yelling in an angry voice but her voice sunk the more she spoke.
Idun glanced at Tae Ho with a completely red face and Tae Ho became bewildered once again. He opened his mouth with difficulty.
“P, probably?”
They just had to marry, just as Idun had said.
‘But aren’t Heda and Idun-nim two different people?’
Heda had said that it was like having two souls in a single body.
Idun was embarrassed, but it seemed like she was quite satisfied at Tae Ho’s answer. The corner of her lips kept curling upwards.
“Tch, not biting it. I wondered if I could just get over it.”
Freya clicked her tongue and spoke and because of that Idun became aware of herself and yelled, “Freya unnie!”
‘Hey, just say that you want to marry Freya-nim. Won’t it be an award then?’
Cuchulainn didn’t discern time and place and so butted in. Idun continued speaking while Tae Ho cleared his throat.
“Anyways! Give us a proper award and don’t try to look for a free ride!”
She had to take Tae Ho’s share properly. Freya pouted as Idun showed a solid resolution and Odin laughed and said, “Idun’s warrior. Just like it was proved in this battle, you are… the successor of Erin. That’s why it’s proper to return these to you.”
Odin paused for a moment and spread his hands. Then, a huge illusion of a treasure vault appeared on his palm.
“I will hand over the treasures of Erin that Asgard is in possession of. And… I will give a part of Asgard to you so that Erin can rebuild itself once again. That land will be treated as Erin even if it’s inside of Asgard and you will become the owner of that land. No one will be able to surpass your authority in that place.”
It wasn’t simply handing over a piece of land. He was saying that he would make a small Erin inside of Asgard.
In addition, Odin had used the expression that no one would be able to surpass his authority in that place. That meant that the authority of the king of Erin, which was inside of Asgard, would be on equal grounds with him.
“Thank you.”
He answered shortly but there was gratefulness at the exceptional treatment. Odin nodded and said, “I will tell you the land candidates when the situation calms down a little. I will also hand over the treasures stored in the treasure vault soon.”
“Please understand, even if it takes a while. Everyone is busy with the clearance,” Freya added.
Idun stepped forward and butted in while Tae Ho answered affimatively.
“But Freya unnie. Don’t you have something else besides the land and treasure vault? The land is one thing but it’s obvious for the treasures of Erin to return to the successor.”
That was indeed the case, if it was looked at from another perspective.
Now that Asgard had recognized Erin’s authority, the treasures of Erin weren’t artifacts without an owner anymore. They belonged to the successor of Erin Tae Ho.
It belonged to Tae Ho in the first place but to say that it was a prize… It wasn’t improper at all.
“Look at you. Aren’t you too much?”
Freya spoke with a dumbfounded face. Idun’s words were true, looking at logic, but that was only when looking at logic.
Realistically speaking, the treasures had already entered Asgard’s hands. They were giving those away so how was that no award?
But Idun still shook her head…
“What are you speaking about? It’s an obvious right. If Tae Ho wasn’t here Valhalla would have collapsed already. You also admit that, right?”
‘Right! So tell her that you want to marry Freya-nim!”
Cuchulainn’s intrusion was as sudden and sharp as always. Tae Ho barely forced down the cough that was about to come out and Idun and Freya stared at each other. In the end, Freya gave up first and clicked her tongue while dropping her shoulders.
“Tch, can’t do anything then. Do you have anything else that you want?”
She asked Tae Ho, instead of Idun. Odin added as he didn’t answer immediately, “Idun’s warrior, you can think about it slowly. You shouldn’t feel troubled when you are the one receiving the award.”
It was a benign voice but Freya grumbled once again.
“No, Odin. How much are you planning on giving him? You didn’t forget that I’m the one doing the housekeeping, right?”
“How could I. But don’t you also know well that there are times that you should save your pocket and times that you shouldn’t?”
“Well, that’s right.”
Just like Idun had said, if it hadn’t been for Tae Ho, Valhalla and Asgard would have been destroyed. It didn’t make sense to save treasures from the savior.
“Fine, I put my mind on this. I will pick about 20 of the prettiest and nicest girls in the Valkyrie training center and send them to your legion. You like it, right?”
Freya smiled gently. It seemed like it was to tease them, rather than being the actual award.
“I don’t like it one bit.”
Idun had replied as expected. Freya shrugged her shoulders.
“You don’t know if your warrior may like it or not.”
‘Well, this Tae Ho bastard would certainly like it.’
Idun turned to look at Tae Ho while Cuchulainn agreed. Tae Ho put a smile, to tell her not to worry and spoke to Freya.
“I’m fine for now. Rather than sending them all at once… I think that it would be good to send them based on the speed that the number of warriors in the legion increases. It would be good if you gave me the right to select the Valkyries first. You said that they would be twenty so I will be waiting for them.”
It meant that the 20 best graduates of the Valkyrie training center would all be monopolized for a period of time.
Of course, the will of the Valkyrie herself was more important but the recognition of Idun’s legion had surged up to the sky with the recent events. Normal Valkyries wouldn’t deny the proposal to enter Idun’s legion.
“You really are meant for each other.”
‘Right. How did you interpret that so you only take the benefits?’
Freya and Cuchulainn admired them and Idun broadened her shoulders and said, “My warrior is excellent.”
It was too cute to see her proudly boast.
Freya ended up giggling and Odin also laughed at that.
“It’s been quite a pleasing conversation but we will have to end it here. It was nice to see you even if it was for a moment. Idun’s warrior. Think of your award until the official award place.”
“I will do so.”
“The ceremony of being promoted to the top rank will take place in no time. You don’t need me explaining about it right? …As you already have good teachers,” Freya added and looked at Ragnar, who was in a corner.
Odin also spoke to Ragnar.
“Ragnar, I will also entrust the general explanation about ‘that’. I will tell him the details myself later but Idun’s warrior also has to know the general details.”
“I understand.”
Tae Ho was curious about what ‘that’ was but he held himself back. He would be able to hear it later in the explanation anyways.
“Then, I will be waiting for the day we meet again.”
Odin laughed and lightly hit his chest with his fist.
“For Asgard and the nine realms.”
“For Asgard and the nine realms.”
The short talk with Odin came to an end.
&
‘So, when are you going to have the ceremony?’
< Episode 46 - Idun’s (2) > End
