Devouring World Dragon

Chapter 5: Let's Set Sail for Revenge!
"Have you decided yet?"

Looking at Lina with some concern, old Edgar said softly.

Inside the spacious longhouse, various weapons and animal pelts were scattered everywhere, while a campfire burning in the center made the longhouse incredibly warm.

According to Viking custom, everything from clothing and food to daily life was placed in the longhouse, and they did not have the custom of dividing the house into separate rooms, which means that a family was a house.

After a daughter gets married, she should no longer come back to live with her parents, but at this moment, old Edgar, with his long beard, sits opposite Lina, watching his daughter with concern.

Looking at her father, whose face had aged considerably, Lina calmly nodded.

The lingering sorrow between his brows had completely vanished, replaced by unwavering resolve.

“I have thought it through, Father. Please tell everyone this news.”

Looking at his poor daughter across from him, old Edgar looked at her with mixed feelings, and finally could only let out a long sigh before earnestly speaking to his daughter.

"Lina, your father will do everything he can to help you."

……

A few days later, shocking news spread throughout Rogner Island.

"Lina of the Good Joy has decided that she will marry whoever can help her kill the giant serpent Jormungandr, who killed her husband, and will also give half of Old Edgar's family fortune."

In this era of scarce entertainment, the news instantly caused a sensation throughout Rogner Island and even spread to some nearby islands.

Upon hearing this news, countless young people who had been devastated by Lina's marriage cheered with excitement. Even those who didn't have much affection for Lina were inevitably moved.

What does half of Old Edgar's family fortune mean?
Old Edgar's family was known for their wealth on Rogner Island, owning hundreds of cattle and thousands of sheep. They had nine sons, all tall and strong, but only one daughter, Lena, whom they always doted on.

Back then, Lena didn't like anyone except Kyle, the poor boy she had grown up with, and she married him, which made countless people envious.

At this moment, the good news that came from the sky was that if they succeeded, beautiful women, wealth, and the fame of slaying the giant serpent Jormungandr... everything would come their way.

This kind of allure is enough to tempt countless people.

As for the giant serpent Jormungandr?

As the ancestors of the Vikings, who were known for their "when in doubt, go all in" mentality, these Northrends were bursting with confidence, declaring that regardless of whether it was the son of Loki, they would skin it alive and tear it apart.

In this era where humans and gods coexisted, connections between humans and deities were not uncommon. It was precisely for this reason that the Gnostic were not afraid of the giant serpent Jormungandr, as described by the prophetess; on the contrary, they were eager to try it out.

For the Northrends, who believed that dying bravely in battle would lead them to Valhalla, while dying of illness in their beds would take them to the Land of the Dead, dying in battle was not something to fear. On the contrary, the excitement of challenging the giant serpent was much stronger.

In an instant, the news spread like wildfire.

From Rogner Island, the surrounding islands, and even the mainland Midgard, suitors flocked from all directions, all vying for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Edgar's family, in turn, showed no restraint, going so far as to cook beef and mutton to entertain the suitors.

Meanwhile, Lina went to the prophet's temple to inquire about the future and determine the time to set sail for revenge.

According to the custom of the Norse, they would always consult a witch or prophet before taking any action. In their view, these older women often possessed many secrets unknown to ordinary people.

However, when Lina asked her question, the prophet simply replied, "Now is not a good time to go to sea."

Every day, Lina would go to the temple to ask the prophet when she could set sail to avenge her husband.

But each time, the prophet simply replied, "It is not the right time to go out to sea."

No matter how Lina asked, the prophet always gave the same answer.

Left with no other choice, Lina could only arrange accommodations for the suitors while simultaneously organizing warships to be ready to set sail at any time.

And so, spring turned to autumn, and by the following spring, half a year had passed. Finally, when Lina asked the prophet again, the prophet's answer had changed. ...

"Okay."

Looking at the mysterious runes that appeared on the white cloth during her divination, the prophet's eyes revealed a complex expression.

She let out a long sigh and continued.

"Setting sail now will present a rare and opportune time. However, fate is always unpredictable, and until the goddess of fortune fully reveals her choice, I cannot truly foresee what your future holds..."

"So, in other words, destiny is in our own hands, is that right?"

A cold voice came.

Turning her head, she saw, under the gaze of the prophet, the once frail girl was now wearing soft armor made of leather.

Holding a spear and a round shield, the gentleness between her brows had vanished, replaced by a vigorous and heroic spirit, radiating the aura of a female warrior.

In the past six months, this girl, who had once lived under the protection of her father and brothers and knew nothing of swords, has devoted herself to learning combat skills with almost all her might, leaving even the Norse warriors who taught her to fight astonished.

But the prophet knew that a flame was burning fiercely within her...

A flame called hatred.

Resentment, anger, love, memories, helplessness, weakness, longing...

All human emotions, both beautiful and unpleasant, intertwined and brewed, eventually transforming into a raging flame.

That flame burned constantly, scorching her and inspiring her to keep moving forward.

Unless the giant serpent Jormungandr is killed, this flame will never be extinguished.

The prophet nodded.

Lina had waited countless days and nights for this gesture, tossing and turning every night, unable to fall asleep.

However, when the moment actually arrived, Lina felt no surprise or excitement, only...

It was just endless hatred.

……

Three days later, this group, consisting of more than 300 armed warriors including Lina herself, and eight dragon-headed warships, finally set off towards the vast sea amidst cheering crowds.

Meanwhile, amidst the crowd, watching the procession gradually disappear into the distance, the prophet couldn't help but recall the rune she had used during her divination.

"NAUTHIZ".

In runes, this cross-shaped rune with one horizontal and one vertical line is not considered a good omen in divination.

Resistance, grief, overcoming grief and misfortune, the development of willpower, understanding the inevitability of things...

This rune, which signifies "the present moment of destiny," represents Lachesis, the one among the Fate Sisters who governs life and the present.

"What... exactly does this mean?"

"Is this a sign that you are sliding into a dead past, or a stepping stone to a hopeful future?"

The prophet could only sigh deeply.

(End of this chapter)