I Am the Only Totem in This World

Episode 3. The Loner Becomes a Totem (3)

[Fullplay: Let’s all do our best to survive.] (5)

[Helbrown: If you’re going to let me possess something, let it be my main character.] (3)

[Brahmanda: Can’t we go back in the cave after killing the outside animals?] (4)

[SamuraiJackson: I have a katana, not a sword and shield?] (2)

[Doron: My starting weapon was a mace. Weapons must be random.] (4)

Even continuing to read, there was no mention of ‘Loa.’

Everyone seemed to take for granted that they were knights who had fallen into a cave in another world from Earth, without question.

As if becoming a knight was only natural.

I’m definitely an unusual case.

This must be because of the email I sent as a child.

That’s why I alone possessed a totem as a Loa.

– …

I’m not sure whether to call this fortunate or unfortunate.

At least it’s better than having to fight for my life from the start like the others.

I kept reading, focusing on posts with many comments.

[Dabudabu: It bit my neck

I tried hard to fight them but they were too fast.

Maybe I was getting tired and slow…

Somehow I killed them all but I have no strength left.

Did you folks know you can post by just thinking?

I just realized that lol

Now that the end seems near, I have so many regrets.

I should’ve bought more chicken for my daughter, her favorite.

Once a week at least. I said it was unhealthy and I didn’t like chicken, but really I just had no money.

Alone in the cave, I did a lot of thinking.

I have many attachments, but what can I do. I can only hope this isn’t the end.

Maybe I’ll open my eyes and be back on Earth?

I’m Kim Dohyun, 37 years old, living in Anyang, Gyeonggi-do.

My daughter’s name is Kim Hana, and her mom is Cha Yeonseo.

My address is xxxx, xxxx-xxxx.

If you’re reading this and make it back to Earth, please just check once that my daughter is doing well.

I’ll leave a few last words in the community.]

[Jackylantan: Got caught by devil worshippers.

Should’ve listened to George. I was too cocky.

I went towards the village to scout, which I shouldn’t have done.

Now I’m nailed to a twisted cross, hamstrings cut.

They’re going to use me in some weird ritual I think. I’ll die soon.

One tip before I go. Devil worshippers look like normal people.

If you see another living person, nick their fingertip.

If green blood comes out, kill them immediately. Don’t be an idiot like me.]

…Two died in a short time.

Both were posting from the beginning.

Lost in thought, I heard:

“Loa Malakye, Priestess Paya has awakened!”

Already, huh. I didn’t do much and time flew.

So that’s how the community is dangerous.

I moved my eyes (or whatever served that role).

A muscular man (probably the chief) stood before me. With a short woman.

This must be the priestess.

“It’s an honor to meet you. I am Paya, daughter of Finda and Ulla. I serve as priestess of the Mosskin tribe. Thank you for answering my summons.”

The woman spoke and knelt down.

A woman with black hair and brown eyes.

Paya didn’t have her brother’s freakish musculature. She seemed shorter than the average adult woman.

She wore clothes made of long, unknown bird feathers, and had painted black around her eyes and cheeks like camouflage cream.

She looked like a Hispanic woman in hippie costume.

After Paya finished speaking, her brother stepped forward.

“Pardon my late introduction. I am Kanto, son of Finda and Ulla and chief of the Mosskin tribe.”

…What should I do now?

Looking around the community, I still had no idea what I was supposed to do.

That left me with no choice but to ask a leading question, it seemed.

– Speak.

Kanto was the one who opened his mouth.

“As you know, foolish civilizations have summoned evil demons who are disturbing the world. The hands of these wicked groups reach towards our tribe’s land. It is time for all tribes to gather under Roa’s name. Great one, please lead and protect the mountains, plains and forests.”

That’s roughly the setting here, I guess.

If the goal of these knights roleplaying as wanderers is like a game, it would be survival and defeating demons.

What about me as Roa? Uniting the barbarian tribes and gaining followers and defeating demons?

But Roa’s abilities and friends were still not clearly explained.

I had no choice but to ask as solemnly as possible, so they would not think I was asking out of ignorance.

– What do you think Roa is?

“Oh…um…I’m sorry!”

My sudden question seemed to fluster Kanto, who blinked rapidly before pressing his forehead to the ground.

– I do not mean to scold you. Speak.

Tell me. I want you to explain.

You speak well. The intelligent barbarian warrior, Kanto.

“Urgh…”

Unable to watch the nonsense from Kanto, Paya stepped forward.

Seeing her glance at her brother, their relationship was clear.

Whether in the modern world or a game world, the bond between siblings remains the same. The script was probably written by Paya too.

– It matters not.

“They are the great ones who guard us and bestow blessings. Among them, you, Malak, are special, for answering my prayers and descending directly to the earth.”

Blessings, so a support class?

My role could be to buff these tribespeople.

I recalled seeing a list of “Available Blessings” in the status window earlier.

It was 0, right? I checked the status window again.

Sure enough, 0… What gives?

[Name: Malak]

– Available Blessings: None

– Available Points: 30

– Follower: Paya

– Enter Community

The available points increased from 0 to 30.

All I did was view the community, so what did these barbarians do?

I’ll ask about that later.

Paya said I was special among the Roa for directly descending. That’s why.

– Are there other Roa who directly descended, besides me?

I added a few words, lest they retort ‘A Roa who doesn’t know?’ or ‘You should know better’.

One wrong step could lead to ‘Are you really a Roa?’ which would be troublesome.

– I sacrificed much to aid you. My memories are slowly recovering, but imperfect. Answer what you know.

“Lord Malak… To go so far for the likes of us…”

“So you did…”

Paya’s eyes moistened, while Kanto nodded in understanding.

It wasn’t a lie that I had sacrificed much.

My limbs’ freedom and life on Earth – that’s what I sacrificed to get here.

Though it wasn’t their fault.

“According to records, it rarely happened in our ancestors’ days. They bestowed many blessings for our prosperity. But no longer. Seeing the earth’s corruption, the Roa fell silent. Only you, Lord Malak, answered prayers and descended directly. At least, according to this ignorant young priestess Paya.”

The more I heard, the more hopeless it seemed. For now, I should assume I’m the only Roa.

Now I had to figure out why my points increased to 30.

– Chieftain Kanto. What did you do after Paya lost consciousness?

“To find medicine for Priestess Paya, I went hunting with the tribe’s warriors. We caught a mountain raccoon… I will bring the next offering by tomorrow.”

Next offering? More animal corpses piled up to take?

– What will you do with the animals offered as tributes?

“Of course we will burn them. We cannot take what you, Lord Malak, have taken.”

They weren’t even eating them, yet massacred wild animals meaninglessly. What a waste.

While I don’t pursue ethical correctness, it still bothered me.

Hunting, huh… Sounds a bit familiar…

Let me hypothesize.

Just as knights have experience points, as a Roa, I have points.

Knights directly gain experience points by defeating demon-related things.

Then my points? Could I gain them when my followers hunted or killed something?

Killing that raccoon creature gave me 30 points.

The initial offerings to summon me didn’t count, I suppose.

I don’t know what the points are used for yet, but they probably relate to blessings somehow.

Just as accumulating experience points increases your level, accumulating points might enable me to do something.

…Does this mean I have no choice but to encourage tributes?

After brief contemplation, I decided how to respond.

– How close are the demons?

Paya spoke up.

“The area below the mountain has become their domain. Twisted beasts infected by their energy roam around. We’re at the peak so they haven’t climbed up yet, but I believe it’s only a matter of time.”

The situation was not as leisurely as I thought. But I had found a way.

– I cannot yet bestow blessings upon you. I need more strength.

I had to make this clear first of all.

Anyway, it’s because of you guys that I lost power. You get me basically?

– Cull the beasts tainted by their energy. The more evils my followers slay, the stronger I become. Only then can I grant blessings.

Kill enthusiastically.

If RPGs are like knight stories, I’m more of a real-time strategy game.

Let’s try something.