Chương 69: A Song
(Katsuo POV)
Stepping through the portal back to Wraeclast, we're greeted by the familiar, yet oddly comforting sight of the decrepit landscape. After the intense showdown with Kitava, even Wraeclast's dreary scenery looks like a vacation spot.
"Ah, home sweet home," I mutter, though my idea of home includes less carnage and more comfortable seating. The smell of saltwater and decay hits my nostrils—a welcome change from Kitava's hellish lair. I look around, half-expecting to see a welcome committee of zombies and skeletons, but it's just the usual desolation.
I take a deep breath and start walking, my boots crunching on the gravelly path. The remnants of old battles and destroyed structures dot the landscape, a stark reminder that this place doesn't do "relaxing" very well. In the distance, I spot some familiar foes—a group of Rhoas grazing near the edge of a cliff.
"Hey, buddies," I call out sarcastically. "Miss us?" They respond by charging at us, of course. Dem quickly burns them to crisps, making Kai pout as Jade gives her a nod of approval. "Good to see some things never change," I chuckle.
As we make our way further inland, we come across some exiles, just as bedraggled and determined as ever. "Hey, did you guys know there's a gigantic, angry god back there?" I ask, pointing over my shoulder with my thumb. They just give me odd stares, mixed with fear, suspicion, and awe? Well, I know my name's already known and all, but damn, what a tough crowd.
We push onward, the familiar sights of Wraeclast passing by: ruined villages, overgrown forests, and the occasional pack of ravenous beasts. Each step feels like a return to a bizarre, hostile homecoming.
Suddenly, a voice echoes in my head—Nessa, from Lioneye's Watch. "You did it, Outsider. You defeated Kitava."
"Well, it's expected of a badass Santa, no?" I say aloud, as if she can hear me. "There's still plenty on my to-kill—I mean, to-do list though."
As we continue our journey, the trio can't help but show their personalities. Kai keeps darting off to investigate every little noise, only to come hopping back when he realizes it's just another ruined cart or harmless critter. Dem flits around, leaving tiny burn marks on everything she touches, probably just to make sure they know who's boss. Jade, ever the silent sentinel, walks beside me, his small yet sturdy form radiating calm in the face of our unpredictable path.
I glance at Dem, who is setting a small bush on fire. "You know, Dem, I appreciate your enthusiasm, but we really don't need any more bonfires right now."
She just gives me a cheeky grin and flits off to set another, smaller fire. Kai hops over, looking like he's about to stage an intervention. "Hey, if you're going to keep starting fires, at least let me get the marshmallows!" he seems to say with his expressive twitching.
Jade just gives a slow, deliberate nod of approval, as if to say, "Efficiency in all things."
We pass through the remnants of a village, its wooden structures charred and crumbling. I can't help but think back to the calmer days—well, calmer by Wraeclast standards.
Dem flutters down to my shoulder, her warmth a comforting presence. Kai leaps up to my other shoulder, and Jade trudges along beside us, a silent yet steadfast companion.
As we near Lioneye's Watch, the familiar, rough-hewn walls come into view. The sight of the rickety defenses almost feels like a warm hug after all the chaos. "Finally," I mutter, "a place that sort of feels like home."
Stepping into the makeshift town, I'm greeted by Nessa's friendly smile and Tarkleigh's gruff nod. Tarkleigh's eyes narrow slightly. "What are you doing here?" he asks warily, arms crossed over his chest.
"Well, I know I've been a hermit and all, but I do know how to socialize!" I say, putting my hands up in mock surrender.
Tarkleigh snorts, though there's a hint of a smile tugging at his lips. "Socialize, huh? With your track record, I half-expected you to come crashing in with a horde of monsters on your tail."
"Hey, give me some credit! I only bring the best monsters," I reply, grinning. "The kind that really spice up a party."
Nessa chuckles softly, shaking her head. "It's good to see you again, Katsuo. And your... friends, too." She eyes Kai, Dem, and Jade with a mixture of amusement and curiosity.
Kai, ever the show-off, does a little twirl and sparks of electricity crackle around him. Dem flutters around Nessa's head, leaving tiny trails of harmless fire, while Jade just stands there, stoic and solid as ever.
"So, what mischief have you been up to?" Nessa asks, her tone light but with genuine interest.
"Well, let's see," I begin, counting on my fingers. "Fought a god, saved some exiles, narrowly avoided becoming calamari... You know, the usual."
Tarkleigh raises an eyebrow. "A god, you say? Sounds like you've had an interesting day."
"You could say that," I reply. "Kitava and I had a bit of a disagreement. He wanted to destroy the world, I didn't. Classic conflict of interests."
Nessa laughs. "And you lived to tell the tale. Quite impressive."
I shrug modestly. "Just another day at the office for your friendly neighborhood Janitor. Speaking of which, any chance I can crash somewhere nice around here?"
Tarkleigh grumbles but nods. "You've earned it. Just don't go bringing any more gods back with you."
"Cross my heart," I say, mimicking the gesture. "No more gods. At least, not today."
As we settle in, the trio starts exploring. Kai zips around, sniffing everything with unabashed curiosity. Dem flits from person to person, her warmth bringing smiles to the tired faces of the townsfolk. Jade, as usual, stays close to me, a comforting presence in the chaos.
"So," Tarkleigh says, leaning against a nearby wall. "What's next for you? Another god to slay? Another world to save?"
I sigh dramatically. "You know, I was thinking about taking up gardening. Seems like a nice, peaceful hobby."
Tarkleigh chuckles. "With your luck, you'd probably end up fighting some sort of demon plant."
"Hey, as long as it doesn't breathe fire or have tentacles, I'm game," I reply with a grin. "But seriously, there's still work to be done. Kitava's just one piece of the puzzle. We've got the Brine King next, and Garukhan, the Queen of the Sands."
"Thank you," Tarkleigh says genuinely, making me a tad bit uncomfortable. I'm really not great at reciprocating this type of emotion.
With a stiff smile, I manage to give him a thumbs up, making him cackle madly. His laughter is contagious, and I find myself chuckling along. It's moments like these that remind me why I keep going.
Nessa approaches, holding a steaming bowl of stew. "Here, you must be starving. It's not much, but it's hearty."
I accept the bowl gratefully. "Thanks, Nessa."
Kai, drawn by the smell, darts over and tries to stick his nose in the bowl. "Hey, this is mine!" I laugh, nudging him away gently. "You've got your own food."
Dem lands on my shoulder, peering curiously into the bowl. "Don't even think about it," I warn playfully, taking a big spoonful to emphasize my point. She twinkles brightly, clearly amused.
Jade, ever the patient one, just stands there, his stone face unchanging. "Want some?" I joke, holding the spoon out to him. He gives me that slow, deliberate nod again, and I chuckle. "I'll take that as a no."
As we sit and eat, a few more exiles wander over, drawn by the unusual sight of a group actually relaxing in Lioneye's Watch. One of them, a burly man with a scar running down his cheek, claps me on the back. "Heard you took down Kitava. That's no small feat."
I shrug, swallowing another mouthful of stew. "Just doing my job. Somebody has to keep the world from ending."
A wiry woman with a wicked-looking dagger on her belt smirks. "So what's your plan after you're done saving the world?"
"Depends, I'm leaning towards gardening or becoming a musician," I said with a straight face.
"Like a bard?" A lanky man with a gruff beard asked.
"Yes, like a bard!" I pointed my spoon at him, trying to maintain my composure.
"Well, Mister Myusishan," a witty child said, clearly struggling to pronounce "musician," "can you sing us a song?"
The gathered crowd looked at me expectantly, even my trio. I couldn't help but feel pity for them. Each of them had a story to tell, each day struggling to survive in this hellish land. Each day fighting tooth and nail.
I set aside my bowl and began lightly tapping my thigh, since ordering a guitar in front of this crowd could possibly cause an outbreak. "Oh, misty eye of the mountain below," I began the song, my voice carrying a melancholy tune.
The crowd fell silent, their faces softening as they listened. My mind drifted to the hardships each of them had faced—the battles fought, the friends lost, the dreams shattered. I sang not just for myself, but for all of them. For those moments of fleeting peace, for the hope that still flickered in their hearts.
"Keep careful watch of my brothers' souls," I continued, my voice growing stronger. The lyrics felt like they resonated deeply with our shared struggles. I thought of the bonds formed in the midst of chaos, the silent promises to protect one another no matter what.
"And should this sky be filled with fire and smoke," I sang, glancing at the dark, ash-filled sky of Wraeclast. The imagery was all too familiar, yet there was a strange beauty in it. We had learned to find light in the darkest of places.
"Keep watching over Durin's sons," I finished the verse, my voice trailing off. The silence that followed was profound. The crowd seemed to breathe as one, sharing the moment of vulnerability and strength.
As I continued to sing, I was lost in a trance, and my thoughts wandered to Lisa, my manager, the one with whom I'll have a rematch. She always knew how to push my buttons in the most infuriatingly effective ways. Then there was Hank, the human leader of a weird group of demi-humans—like the dad of a very dysfunctional family.
Valerie, the dhampir with a penchant for sarcasm, who could slice through your ego as easily as she could through a vampire. John, the half-dwarf, who often ended up being the butt of my jokes, much to his chagrin. Damysus, the "older brother" of their group, who tried so hard to be serious but often ended up just as caught in the chaos. And Tom, my best boi Maine Coon, who was probably lounging around somewhere, giving zero cares about my heroic exploits.
Three months of fighting in this world had shaped not just me but my trio. Their coordination was becoming more seamless, as they complemented each other's shortcomings. I was proud, not just as their summoner but, I guess, as a parent.
I finished the song and looked at the crowd, who had gathered even closer. Some were wiping away tears, others nodding in appreciation. It was a weird feeling—being a rock star in a post-apocalyptic fantasy world.
"Again! Again!" someone shouted from the back. I couldn't tell if they were serious or just messing with me.
"Sorry, folks," I said, holding up my hands. "That's all the free concert you get today. My manager didn't approve any more songs."
The crowd chuckled, and I caught Nessa giving me a thumbs up from behind her stall. I'd never pegged her as the concert-going type, but then again, this world was full of surprises.
Kai zipped back over, having apparently made friends with a couple of kids who were now chasing him around like he was the best thing since sliced bread. Dem flitted around, leaving tiny sparks in her wake, much to the delight of the onlookers. Jade, my stoic little golem, stood by, as solid and reliable as ever.
"Alright, you three," I said, ruffling Kai's fur and giving Dem a gentle pat. "Time to move out. We've got a Brine King to deal with, and I hear he's not a fan of music."
As we started to leave, the same witty child who had asked for the song ran up to me. "Mister Myusishan, will you come back and sing for us again?"
I smiled down at her. "Maybe, kid. If the world doesn't end, I might just become a regular here. And if it does end, well, at least I'll go out with a bang, right?"
She giggled, and I gave her a little wave as we headed out of Lioneye's Watch, the echoes of my impromptu concert lingering in the air. It wasn't much, but it was a reminder that even in the darkest times, a little humor and a lot of heart could go a long way.
SUY NGHĨ CỦA NGƯỜI SÁNG TẠO 
ChrisTian3421
ChrisTian3421 So, a bit of an update on my Elden Ring run:
I jumped back into the game, feeling a mix of excitement and trepidation. I thought, "Hey, how hard can it be to pick up where I left off?" Well, apparently very hard. My dexterity build, which used to feel nimble and precise, now feels like I'm wielding a rubber sword against an armored tank.
Rellana, in particular, gave me a reality check. I went in all confident, dodging and weaving, only to find myself face-down in the dirt repeatedly. It was like trying to dance with a tornado. I could almost hear the game laughing at me, "Welcome back, noob!"
Despite the beatdowns, there’s something oddly satisfying about re-learning the game. Each defeat teaches me a bit more, and slowly but surely, I’m getting my groove back. There’s a weird joy in the struggle, a kind of masochistic pleasure in the incremental progress.
So, here’s to getting my dexterity back in shape and hopefully, one day soon, finally giving Rellana a taste of her own medicine. If nothing else, it’s a great reminder of why we love these brutally challenging games in the first place.
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