Chapter 108: We Are Like Shepherds
"Then who do you think brought them in？" came the voice of the Wolf God.
"Those disobedient children have already been dealt with," said Ymir.
"Very good," the Wolf God retracted into the space above the statue.
"That knight, take your children and kill him," he said.
"Just a knight, I believe you won’t disappoint me."
"Then send out some higher-ranked werewolves, bring twenty thousand first-generation werewolves and head to the Principality of Corlay."
"That number is enough to throw the rear of the Principality of Corlay into chaos. We can count that as fulfilling our promise to those at Blackrock Point. And I will go gather the remaining first-generation werewolves to hunt down the human squads wandering within the territory. Once found, I will personally annihilate them."
"This is my domain. I don’t want these unstable factors remaining in my land."
The gray mist receded.
Ymir lowered his head and said,"I will go take care of that knight."
After speaking, Ymir left the castle. After galloping for dozens of kilometers, he arrived at an underground cave.
"Hoo, children," Ymir let out a roar.
Soon, howls of wolves echoed in response within the cave.
There was not a single first-generation werewolf here; they were all werewolves with independent intellect.
"That thing is about to leave the castle. This is our chance," Ymir’s eyes were filled with savagery.
"It has been over a hundred years. He has ridden over our heads, slaughtering our kind at will, treating us, the very creators of him, like lowly wolf slaves."
"We are the true children of the Wolf God. He merely stole the Wolf God's power."
"We are going to establish a kingdom of our own. That thing will return to its essence — a Holy Relic to be commanded by us. There will be no more kin devoured by him. We will truly usher in the power of the Wolf God and build a kingdom of our own upon this land."
The howls of wolves echoed throughout the underground cave.
In Ymir’s savage eyes was the longing to establish an empire of werewolves, strong as human lords or even kings. It was an ambition born over two hundred years ago, when he decided to steal the Wolf God's power.
And now, with a marquisate’s territory and enough werewolves, he had the foundation to build a kingdom.
After a long wait, the Wolf God was finally about to leave the very core of this land.
A two-hundred-year-old wish was right before his eyes.
As for that human knight?
Who would care?
He was just one man. Even if he was strong, he would exhaust himself while killing lines of first-generation werewolves.
To the southeast of the marquisate, at an inland lake on the border between the Principality of Patlin and the Principality of Corlay — Lake Salvador.
This inland lake divided the borderland between the Principality of Patlin and the Principality of Corlay into a northern and southern zone.
To the north, the border noble was Marquis Demitri.
To the south, the border nobles were three border earls.
At this moment, near Lake Salvador, a group of nearly a thousand people were resting.
Most of them were in ragged clothing and emaciated. Their eyes were mostly dull, only showing focus when looking at the high-held purple Cross Painted on a blood red flag.
Beneath the Blood Cross stood Zezel and Darks.
“More and more people have gathered with us in recent days, but we don’t have any stable source of food. We’ve only gotten some food by raiding those manors,” said the burly Darks, glancing at Zezel who was writing nearby.
"If this continues, we might fall into chaos ourselves before even reaching the Principality of Corlay."
Zezel didn’t look up. His face remained youthful, his eyes still bright.
From beneath his tightly wrapped black robe, he extended a withered hand that didn’t match his young face and wrote with a quill.
"Stay calm, Darks. This is the Lord’s guidance. We will eventually reach the Heavenly Kingdom on Earth," he said.
"Just not yet. It’s not time to go there."
Darks scratched his head."So how long do we have to wait？"
Saying so, he stood up and pointed at the resting people.
"The sheep farming in Marquis Demitri’s territory is thriving, and I feel like our drifting around is like herding sheep," said Zezel.
Zezel paused, put away his quill, looked up at Darks, then glanced toward the place he pointed at.
"A vivid metaphor," he said.
Then his gaze shifted to the person shouting hoarsely amidst the crowd, preaching the Holy Scriptures aloud.
"But I think these people are lost lambs, and they are like shepherds, guiding these strayed lambs onto the right path."
"Then what about us？" asked Darks.
"What do you think？" Zezel responded with a question.
Darks scratched his head and said,"I don't know."
"It’s alright if you don’t know, it’s not important," Zezel smiled.
"Have you finished memorizing the Holy Scriptures？"
"It’s been so long, I’ve already memorized them," Darks grinned proudly.
"Then over the next few days, in your spare time, go and recite the contents of the Holy Scriptures to them as well," said Zezel.
"The ones preaching now are illiterate. They merely recite the sounds by rote memory, and the actual meaning strays far from the Holy Scriptures."
"They can be said to be unqualified shepherds. No matter how much the lost lambs listen to them, they still won’t find the right path."
Darks looked troubled."Is that really necessary？"
"Look into their eyes," Zezel said."All you see is confusion."
"With unsettled hearts, unable to find the right path, how can they possibly stand up again?"
"And our journey ahead is still very long. The people who followed me from Gobelow are nearly all dead."
"Of course, their sacrifices were meaningful. They fought in the frontlines every time, unafraid of death."
"But we cannot rely on them every time. They are unafraid of death, not immune to it."
"And once they die, will we still have such determined warriors?"
"That is why they need Faith."
Zezel looked at Darks.
"Only those who possess Faith, who firmly believe the path they walk is righteous, can be fearless."
Looking into Zezel’s bright eyes, Darks could only sigh in the end.
"Alright, I’ll do as you say. I’ll start preaching to them tomorrow," he said.
"With my voice, I can make sure they all hear me."
"That would be wonderful," Zezel smiled.
"Alright, we’ve rested enough. It’s time to move on. Has your Lord shown us where to go next？" asked Darks.
"Of course," Zezel nodded.
"Alright then, let’s hope your Lord tells us soon that it’s time to head to Corlay," Darks said as he moved closer to Zezel, and carried him on his back.
"You’ve gotten even lighter," he said.
"It’s you who’ve gotten stronger," said Zezel."You’ve also become more dependable."
"Of course. When have I ever not been reliable？" Darks laughed, though there was sorrow in his eyes.
"Go pick up the flag. I’m a bit tired."
"Alright, I’ll carry the flag from now on. You get some good rest," Darks said, and as he passed the Purple Cross in Blood Flag, he casually pulled it up.
Raising his hand to wave it, he shouted,
"Everyone, if you’ve rested enough, it’s time we hit the road again."