Valhalla Saga

“How busy.”

Bjorn sat on a castle wall and said in a good mood. These few days, Valhalla had been really busy like he had said. The party they enjoyed lasted only one day and after that they had to focus on treating the injured and settling the battlefield.

“And the battle is still going on.”

There was the Kingdom of Fire that had fled to Olympus and also the destructive beings of Memphis, Maya, Dilmun and Xindu. There was also Avesta, the world completely occupied by destructive beings.

The most urgent thing was to drive away the Kingdom of Fire from Olympus and they couldn’t leave that only to Olympus.

“For Asgard and the nine realms.”

Not only for Asgard but for all the ten worlds.

Bjorn muttered and checked inside the castle walls. Preparations for dispatching were taking place inside the big hall.

&

The Hall of Valhalla was really bustling with warriors prepared to go to battle like Bjorn had expected. The warriors were grouped up in legions like they always did and the legion of Ullr was also among them.

The legion of Ullr that received the blessing of the God of hunting Ullr were specists in searching and reconnaissance and also didn’t let the other party follow them. They got in charge of the front lines of Asgard in this expedition to Olympus.

In one of the surveillance squads composed by members of Ullr’s legion.

Siri was looking up the face of a handsome warrior with a really worried expression.

“Are you okay? You seem to be quite nervous.”

“No. I’m fine.”

Rolph.

The comrade of Tae Ho when they were at the inferior rank and the man that received Siri’s goodwill because he resembled her brother but still couldn’t become her man.

He, that had survived in all the big battles that took place in Asgard, also survived in this one. In addition, all the achievements he had accumulated got recognized so he even got promoted to the intermediate rank.

As Rolph got promoted to an intermediate ranked warrior he got to be able to lead one of the surveillance squads of Ullr’s legion. He was someone with quite a lot of experience but this was the first time he would be leading a squad all by himself.

Siri looked at Rolph and he turned his eyes away as if he was embarrassed. And then, the man that was next to Siri let out a refreshing laughter.

“Fine my ass. You are nervous!”

“Kugh!”

Bracky hit Rolph’s back with his hands that were as big as the lid of a pot. Bracky had hit him quite lightly but it was different for Rolph that was the one to get hit. Siri’s eyes got bigger in an instant as Rolph’s back bent while groaning.

“A, are you okay?”

“Of, of course. I’m, i’m also an intermediate ranked warrior now.”

You could see that he wasn’t fine just by looking at how he spoke. Siri glared at Bracky fiercely and hit his shin and Bracky, that was fine like usual, just scratched the back of his head.

Siri let out a sigh and spoke to Rolph again.

“Sorry. And… You have been through many big battles so it would be fine if you just rested.”

This expedition was composed by the ones that volunteered for it. Rolph had become an intermediate ranked warrior so he was able to get out of it if he wished.

But Rolph shook his head.

“I fought together with the other guys so I can’t be the only one to not participate. In addition, if you speak about surveillance our legion is the best indeed. I will raise the name of Ullr.”

Rolph hit his chest as if telling her to believe in him. Rolph was really handsome so he was able to produce a really reliable look.

But Siri still saw Rolph as her younger brother.

“Leave it at that, please. I will take care of him so don’t worry too much.”

Gandur intruded maybe because she couldn’t observe anymore or she judged that this was the appropriate moment to butt in. When she spoke that way while pulling on Rolph’s arm Siri put on an even more nervous face and Rolph laughed in a low voice and said.

“I will also take care of Gandur-nim well.”

“Oho, so you are coming out like that?”

When Gandur laughed like a wolf Rolph evaded her eyes almost immediately.

Siri ended up laughing in the end. She fixed her posture and extended her hand towards Rolph.

“Come here. I will bless you. You too Gandur.”

Because she was now a Goddess of Erin. She wasn’t only imitating but could give down real blessings.

Rolph took one step closer towards Siri and asked.

“Captain Siri, you aren’t planning on making your own legion?”

“Not yet.”

Because it was still pending how they would be structuring Erin.

“Let my blessing accompany you.”

Siri placed her lips on Rolph’s forehead. A green light that represented Siri’s divine power covered Rolph.

“Ohh…..”

Rolph turned to look at himself with a moved expression and then touched his forehead where Siri’s lips had touched. It felt like the lingering attachments he had thrown away were arising again.

And maybe she noticed that or she just butted in without thinking about it much.

“I will also bless you.”

“Well, that’s a bit…”

“Khahat! Don’t deny!”

Bracky laughed magnanimously and pulled over Rolph by force. Gandur then granted a merciless blessing precisely where Siri’s lips had touched.

&

“We will be completely busy for a while.”

Odin and Zeus were standing on a hill that looked down at the connecting path. The two of them weren’t looking at each other but at the connecting path.

“Because the Mount of Olympus got destroyed. The sacred forces also got devastated so our divine power got weakened. We will have to work hard.”

Zeus smiled bitterly. The power of the Gods of Olympus was greatly weakened. Even if they returned to Olympus, the core of Olympus that was the Mount of Olympus was destroyed so there was no way the divine power would be supplied properly.

“Hades will be the strongest in Olympus for a while and not Zeus.”

Because there was a high possibility the Underworld was unscathed compared to the surface.

Zeus snorted at Odin’s joke.

“But it’s still impossible to revolt as I am the master of Olympus.”

Even if Hades sacred force was fine, it couldn’t be compared to the power and authority of the master.

But it was at that moment. Zeus put a weird expression when he finished speaking.

“What’s wrong? Does your stomach hurt?”

“No, what should I say… It’s weird to say it myself but… I didn’t think that he would really return the position of master.”

Yesterday. Tae Ho had returned the seat of master of Olympus to Zeus. That was what they had promised originally but Zeus couldn’t help but get surprised.

This time Odin was the one to snort.

“Are you saying that you wouldn’t have done that?”

“I wonder. The master of four worlds… That’s a power I want to get a hold of one day.”

“Your insides are so black that it even shows outside so no one will even give it to you.”

“Well, the best thing would be that that doesn’t happen.”

Zeus shrugged his shoulders and turned to look at Odin. Odin also formed a smile and faced Zeus.

“For Asgard and the nine realms.”

“Let the glory of Olympus accompany you.”

The two Gods expressed etiquette and looked at the connecting path once again.

&

“I’m always owing you debts, Idun’s warrior… No, master of Asgard.”

“I will go visit Olympus later so repay me then.”

Right below the connecting path between Olympus and Asgard.

Tae Ho was sending off the Gods of Olympus with Adenmaha, Nidhogg and Drakon Ismenios.

Apollo was sincerely thanking Tae Ho. No, he also felt respect and honor.

That was an obvious thing as he witnessed how Tae Ho rescued the ten realms and created a new World Tree instead of the one that had vanished.

In addition, Tae Ho had returned the seat of master of Olympus to Zeus and was also being respectful towards the Gods of Olympus like he had always done, including Apollo.

“I will be waiting eagerly for the day the master of Asgard visits Olympus. And… Artemis?”

When Apollo called her in a low voice Artemis, that was behind Apollo like she was hiding, showed up in front of Tae Ho. Her cheeks were red maybe because of embarrassment.

“Hm hm.”

First, she cleared her throat. Tae Ho tried hard not to laugh and waited for Artemis to continue speaking.

“Thank you for helping Olympus, master of Asgard. And…”

“And?”

“I, i’m sorry for what happened at Olympus. And i’m also grateful.”

It seemed like she wasn’t accustomed to thanking and apologizing others that she was twining all over and was squeezing out her voice to speak. Athena got bewildered while looking at her so she spoke to Tae Ho with magic.

[Artemis expressed her thanks that honestly. This is really an incredible thing.]

Because Athena had never seen Artemis apologize even once in her lifetime.

Tae Ho laughed tinily and pleasantly accepted Artemis’ apology.

“It’s fine. The Artemis from back then wasn’t your real self. And…”

“And?”

“It wasn’t me the one that worked the hardest to rescue you but Apollo-nim. I’m being serious.”

‘Indeed, if Apollo hadn’t chosen to turn into stone along with Artemis there’s no way the cruel and merciless you would have left her alone.’

He couldn’t agree to Cuchulainn’s description that stated that he was cruel and merciless but the general context of his words were right. It was because he really couldn’t spare any attention and had no leisure at all back then. If Apollo hadn’t stepped up then Artemis would have perished just like Ares and Poseidon.

Apollo put a proud expression at Tae Ho’s words and Artemis turned to look at Apollo. She let out a sweet voice with eyes that were filled with love.

“I always feel grateful towards my brother.”

“Artemis.”

“Brother.”

The scene which they hugged each other was too natural. Cuchulainn, that was observing dumbfoundedly, cleared his throat.

‘Hey, isn’t that a bit dangerous?’

‘Well, they are the ones that like it.’

Apollo and Artemis weren’t able to see their surroundings as the were already in their own world. Tae Ho turned the attention he was pouring to the two Gods to other Gods. And the one that reacted at Tae Ho’s gaze was Athena.

“Master of Asgard, I express my gratitude once again. I will certainly call you when Olympus gets stabilized so I wish you visit Olympus once.”

“I will be joyfully waiting for that moment.”

‘I thought that you were going to keep her as a Goddess of Erin but you simply released her.’

‘Because it was all a temporary thing. And why did you use the word release? Others will misunderstand if they hear you.’

Gods of the sun of four worlds were needed to turn the suns of four worlds into one. Of course, Tae Ho himself was also a God of sun of Erin but it was better to have a separate God of sun to increase the attack proficiency.

Because of that, Tae Ho accepted Athena as a Goddess of Erin and then handed her over his seat of God of sun.

But now that the battle ended, Athena returned her seat to Tae Ho and she also stepped out of the ranks of Gods of Erin so she returned to being a complete God of Olympus once again.

When the general farewell ended Athena approached Tae Ho carefully and Tae Ho understood her intentions. Athena blessed Tae Ho first and followed by that Tae Ho also blessed her.

“Let my blessing accompany you.”

“Let my blessing accompany you.”

It was when the two of them were exchanging blessings. Adenmaha pulled on Tae Ho’s sleeve.

“Master.”

“Yes?”

Adenmaha just sent a glance instead of replying and when Tae Ho turned to look at the direction she pointed with her eyes he could see a Goddess that was putting an expression that was as weird as Artemis’.

“The Goddess of Olympus Aphrodite greets the master of Asgard.”

“Uh…nice to meet you.”

Because they had already met in Olympus.

Aphrodite was the first to react as they were facing each other with awkward faces.

“Ugh, this really isn’t to y liking. Master, i’m also feeling awkward right now you know? Don’t you think that the man has to step out boldly in these situations?”

She resembled Freya quite a lot when she got annoyed. Tae Ho laughed and complimented her first.

“You are as beautiful as always.”

The moment he said that he felt a sharp gaze behind him but he just ignored it. Aphrodite inhaled a few times and bowed towards Tae Ho.

“I have been quite rude back then. It’s a bit late but I apologize for what happened.”

“It’s fine. It was an unavoidable situation.”

Back then, Aphrodite had received Nyx’s influence and her character had changed completely. No one excluding Zeus, the master of Olympus, was able to resist to Nyx’s voice so you could say that it was an inevitable thing that the Aphrodite from back then attacked Tae Ho.

“Master of Asgard, may I bless you?”

“To receive a blessing from the Goddess of love and beauty of Olympus, I’m just grateful for that.”

‘The Goddess of love and beauty of Erin is glaring at you.’

Cuchulainn glared and Tae Ho tried hard not to turn back.

“Let my blessing accompany you.”

“Let my blessing accompany you.”

The exchange of blessings ended. But compared to Athena, that simply stepped back, Aphrodite lightly embraced Tae Ho’s neck. She then stood on her toes and whispered.

“But, master.”

“Yes, speak.”

“Is Freya still prettier than me?”

Tae Ho dripped cold sweat at the quite serious question.

&

After Olympus came the Temple.

After Tae Ho sent off the Gods, heroes and reinforcements of Asgard heading off to Olympus, he went to meet the people of the Temple taking preparations to leave.

“Miss Nuwa. I want to express my thanks once again for the assistance of the Temple.”

“We only did the obvious thing. Asgard and the Temple will never go back on each other.”

It wasn’t only for this expedition.

The Temple had also helped Asgard at the second Great War without calculating about material things or quibbling over their relationship.

Because that was what was right.

That was chivalry.

Tae Ho really liked that side of the Temple.

‘But you still like Asgard more than the Temple, right?’

‘Well, that’s obvious.’

Because Heda and Idun were at Asgard.

‘That reason is so like you.’

It was when Cuchulainn was chuckling. Son Wukong stepped to the front while representing all the martial artists of the Temple and said.

“Asgard and the Temple have an eterna blood alliance. Thanks to that, we got able to observe the martial artists of other worlds.”

“I got really impressed at your prowess.”

“I don’t know how to act as someone as impressive as you compliments me.”

Son Wukong spoke comically but scratched his cheek as if he was really embarrassed.

Being serious when needed and light at times was Son Wukong’s charm.

Tae Ho exchanged a few more words with Son Wukong and then walked towards the Valkyries of Asgard that were situated among the people of the Temple.

“Kaldea, I will be going to the Temple soon to see you.”

She was the one that decided to be means of contact by staying in the Temple for a stricter cooperating relationship.

Kaldea smiled softly and answered Tae Ho.

“I will be waiting at the Temple. And… Thank you for rescuing the southern parts of the Temple. Thanks to that you have also saved the life of Juh Palgye.”

“Damn, so it wasn’t a one sided thing?!”

Son Wukong got bewildered and raised his voice unconsciously and Kaldea blushed. But she put a calm expression as a confident Valkyrie and approached Tae Ho. It was to give him a blessing.

“Let my blessing accompany you.”

“Let my blessing accompany you.”

The exchange of blessings ended and the people of the Temple left Valhalla and headed to the Temple.

&

“What’s wrong Adenmaha?”

“Blessings, blessings, blessings, blessings. You just keep doing blessings, blessings, blessings and more blessings.”

“Nidhogg also knows how to give blessings. I can do it better than anyone.”

“So that was the case. You were giving blessings all day.”

< Epilogue #2 > End