[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-shepherd-wizard":3,"chapter-shepherd-wizard-shepherd-wizard-chapter-35":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Shepherd Wizard",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1621433,2090,"Chapter 35","shepherd-wizard-chapter-35",35,"\u003Cp>Translator: Pai_\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Turan’s figure vanish into the darkness, Dolph tilted his head in confusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Concealment magic?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wasn’t it just a crude magic that only concealed appearances while leaving traces intact, something typically learned by knights playing the role of scouts?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, the confusion quickly turned to shock and fear when he reached out to the spot where his opponent had been standing, only to find nothing there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Disappearing without leaving footprints on the sand, and with no traces detectable even when using both hearing and smell, concealment of this level...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no one in this desert who didn’t understand what that implied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Could it be, Zahar- ack!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before he could even finish speaking, Dolph let out a scream as sharp pain surged from the back of his head, forcing him down on one knee.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hot blood trickled down his neck, making him wonder if his skull had been fractured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What... what just hit me?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he turned around, he saw a stone, about the size of an egg, rolling on the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before he could even process what it was, a second and third stone came flying in quick succession, slamming into his side and back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each blow carried enough force to break the bones of an average noble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, he managed to spot the final stone in time and deflect it with his arm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Through the excruciating pain, the mind of the noble, who had wandered and survived for over a century, began desperately devising a way to survive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Flames, rise!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With an unfamiliar incantation, flames ignited around him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first method to counter concealment magic: Illuminate the surroundings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the flames failed to extend beyond Dolph’s immediate vicinity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a limitation of the Fighter Bloodline, which was not accustomed to releasing magical power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His opponent was undoubtedly preparing another attack from the darkness, beyond the reach of the light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Where is he? Where?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dolph frantically turned his head, trying to figure out where the next attack would come from.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the attacks were from a distance, he could spot them mid-flight and either block or evade them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the opponent attacked from close range, he’d take a hit, but as long as he could grab hold of him, victory would be his...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, in the distance, five or six fireballs flared into existence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fireballs spun in place a few times before hurtling toward him at incredible speed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Kaaaaaagh-!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shielding his face with both hands, Dolph charged forward to meet the incoming fireballs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could feel his clothes burning away at his arms, shoulders, and abdomen, his flesh sizzling beneath, but he gritted his teeth and endured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he could just, just catch him...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come out! Come out here!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Dolph reached the spot where the fireballs had originated, he let out a furious roar, swinging his hands wildly and kicking up sand all around him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But there was no sensation of touching anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A hopeless fight against an opponent he couldn’t see or feel...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As his mind, half-paralyzed by pain and fear, began to cool, his judgment returned to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Run!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fighting a Zahar wizard in the desert at night was, quite literally, an act of suicide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially considering that he was just a noble of the Fighter Bloodline, not a member of a great house.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without hesitation, Dolph turned and ran in a random direction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the pouch at his waist, which hindered his running, was ripped off and thrown away without a second thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huff, huff, huff!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As expected of someone with the Fighter Bloodline, his speed far surpassed that of ordinary nobles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While doubling one’s strength didn’t mean running twice as fast, having strong legs certainly helped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His stamina was also superior, so as long as he kept running, he could survive for now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mere thought of spending the rest of his life being hunted by Zahar nobles made him feel like wetting himself, but\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as he began to feel a sliver of relief, a faint flapping sound came from behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Dolph turned his head, his face went pale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A-ah...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Above the pitch-black sky, Turan looked down at him, holding the leg of the golden eagle with one hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re quite tough, even if not as much as the Guardian Bloodline. A normal noble would’ve been dead long ago after taking that much damage. Or maybe you’ve got a magic artifact that aids your defense?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“P-please, show mercy-.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You know that’s not possible.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gray eyes looking down at him showed not a shred of mercy, not even a sliver of humanity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a fireball came hurtling down, Dolph tightly shut his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>*\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Turan gazed at the corpse lying on the ground, body completely burned, his expression dry and emotionless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He felt no guilt whatsoever at the miserable sight of the burned body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had simply been stronger. At the core, the man was no different from the bandits Turan had first encountered when he descended from the hill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘That aside, he was much stronger than I expected… no, should I say tougher? If this is what a Fighter Bloodline is capable of, I’ll need stronger offensive measures when fighting someone with the Guardian Bloodline.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the opponent had been a properly trained Fighter, and if Turan hadn’t used the power of the Zahar Bloodline, it wouldn’t have been an easy fight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The physical durability of the man had been enough to endure over a dozen hits from both stone throws and fireballs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, considering that such durability came from the Fighter Bloodline ability itself, it might seem like a moot point. Still, for someone like Turan, who found it uncomfortable to openly display his abilities, it was something he had to factor in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good work.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Easy.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The golden eagle scratched words into the sand with its claws, sending a wave of satisfaction through their bond. Turan smiled and patted the creature’s head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without the eagle, catching Dolph as he fled would’ve been far more difficult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed like it was time to consider acquiring a magic artifact suitable for offense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or perhaps he could develop a powerful spell capable of piercing through defenses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shortly after, Turan absorbed Dolph’s magic power with the golden eagle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Magical beasts typically absorbed magic power through consumption, but since Turan was spiritually bonded to the golden eagle, the creature could absorb magic power in a manner similar to human wizards under his guidance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Half of the pale green glow flowed into Turan, while the other half was absorbed by the golden eagle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as they watched the transfer, suddenly, another beam of light erupted from Dolph’s corpse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The light was being drawn into Turan’s pocket.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the unidentified sacred relic he had obtained from the sea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if it were a wizard itself, the relic was siphoning off a portion of Dolph’s magic power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once the absorption was complete, Turan immediately opened the lid of the sacred relic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the previously empty relic, a small amount of green liquid had appeared, though he couldn’t pinpoint when or how it had formed. Its identity wasn’t hard to guess.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Could this be… a container for storing magic power?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He shook the relic and even attempted to absorb the contents, but there was no response.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How should he use this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was he supposed to drink it directly?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After mulling over the thought for a while, Turan closed the lid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although nobles were rarely harmed by toxins, he was still reluctant to consume something he couldn’t identify.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, this was an item left behind by the Preah God Tribe or something of equal magnitude.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed wiser to study it further before making any decisions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After completing the magic power absorption, Turan searched the corpse, but unfortunately, he didn’t find anything particularly useful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Dolph had possessed some extraordinary magic artifact, he would’ve used it in the face of imminent death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only consolation was the pouch Dolph had discarded while fleeing. It contained a few jewels, which could help replenish Turan’s depleted finances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Considering how burdensome it had once been to have too many gold coins, this was perhaps a more manageable situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Now then… time to send him off.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After scattering Dolph’s remaining magic power, Turan set the corpse ablaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before long, the clothes and flesh turned entirely to ash and rose high into the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, Turan crushed the remaining bones into powder and scattered them into the wind, erasing every last trace of Dolph Merenio’s existence from the world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>*\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next morning, Turan began flying southwest, riding atop the golden eagle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he had felt before, the world looked incredibly small from above, so small that it made him question why anyone struggled so desperately to live in such a place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are you not tired?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Turan’s question, the golden eagle chirped, conveying a sense of complete ease, as if to say it was no trouble at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While Dolph’s magic power had been nothing more than a modest source of nourishment for Turan, it had been quite a significant boost for the golden eagle. Now, the bird could fly for a considerable amount of time without Turan needing to lighten his weight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After flying for a day and a half, passing over dozens of small oases and three rather large cities, Turan finally arrived at his destination.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘That must be it.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What lay before him was a massive white, pyramid-shaped structure. However, it was difficult to grasp its precise shape unless viewed from a great distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its height and the length of its base were both measured in hundreds of meters, an overwhelming scale that could only be described as the handiwork of gods themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he looked down upon it, a sense of awe washed over him, reminiscent of the time he had first laid eyes on the library in Orem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to the travelogue, this structure was called the Tomb of the Gods. Contrary to its name, no actual gods were buried there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was said to house a few relics from the ancient empire, though their exact purpose was unknown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Much like Orem’s library, it was likely that truly valuable items had been secretly taken away somewhere during the empire’s fall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Turan landed a short distance away from the Tomb of the Gods, the first thing he noticed was the noticeably warmer air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps it was because he had traveled further south.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although it wasn’t warm enough to be called hot, it seemed like someone with a strong constitution wouldn’t need to wear long sleeves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Come summer, it would likely become unbearably scorching, just as described in the travelogues.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why don’t you go hang out somewhere until evening? I’ll call you then.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Delicious food!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Got it. Don’t worry, I’ll have something delicious ready for you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After sending off the golden eagle, who could now write full sentences in the sand, Turan entered the city of Vanipel, disguised as an ordinary traveler.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having pretended to be a fallen noble before, Turan had realized that, unless absolutely necessary, moving around as a commoner suited his preferences better.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More importantly, it was always easier to reveal oneself as a noble after pretending to be a commoner than the other way around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Welcome, sir. Are you alone?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon entering the city, Turan sought out an inn that also served as a tavern and ordered a simple meal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since he was the only customer there, the innkeeper sat across from him and struck up a conversation, which allowed Turan to gather some information.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You ran away from home to travel alone? Good grief, you’re a reckless one. Haven’t you run into any bandits or magical beasts?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve been lucky.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The innkeeper, a man in his forties, looked at Turan as if he were a naive youth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Claiming to be the son of a merchant who had run away to see a single ruin after a week-long journey naturally invited such looks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“By the way, do you know how I can enter the Tomb of the Gods here? From what I’ve read, it seems like you just need money.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ve read books, too? You must come from a well-off family. Anyway, as far as I know, you can’t go in right now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why not?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Turan pondered how the travelogue had mentioned that access was open to anyone with enough money, he realized that the book had likely been written at least a dozen years ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or perhaps even several decades ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During that time, the policies of the family governing Vanipel might have changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, according to the innkeeper’s next words, that didn’t seem to be the case.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s nothing major. Apparently, ever since some important people arrived about a week ago, no one’s been allowed in. There were some merchants who wanted to visit the ruins recently, but they couldn’t see them either.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Important people?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You know, those people. Them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Turan immediately understood what the innkeeper was implying through his roundabout way of speaking, as though afraid to even mention their names.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Knights or nobles of the House Zahar had come to this city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'This is troublesome.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, the so-called important people had monopolized the ruins, wanting to enjoy their visit without being disturbed by commoners.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There wasn’t supposed to be much to see in the first place, so what they were doing for an entire week was beyond him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment of consideration, Turan decided to stay in the area until they left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no point in poking his head into the matter and risking someone recognizing Talis’s shadow in Turan’s face, just like Karl, the head of his house, once had.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I guess I’ll be staying here for a while, then.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You have money, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how leisurely nobles might be, they surely wouldn’t spend weeks or months sightseeing at the ruins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I should figure out what to feed the golden eagle.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It didn’t seem to like dates much before, and since there was no way to catch fish in the desert, he’d probably need to find and hunt a magical beast nearby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>*\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ferga! Ferga! Where are you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m here, so stop shouting! You’ll let them hear us!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the pitch-black darkness, Ferga Zahar snapped irritably, twirling a chakram around his finger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beyond the impenetrable darkness, which even the Zahar Bloodline’s night vision abilities couldn’t pierce, strange cries echoed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Tomb of the Gods held a hidden underground chamber.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was something Ferga had heard from his grandfather, the head of the House Zahar, when he was a child.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The head had joked, saying that if Ferga could uncover that secret, he might just become the next head of the family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For decades since, Ferga had inspected the Tomb of the Gods annually, searching for the passage to the underground chamber.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because brute-forcing a structure built by the gods was impossible, he had resorted to tapping the walls for gaps or reciting the ancient, secretive languages found only in old texts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Naturally, his efforts had been fruitless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But a few days ago, while visiting the tomb half out of habit with a group of close friends, a door to the underground suddenly opened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elated, Ferga had rushed down, convinced that he had finally uncovered the secret and that he was destined to become the next head of House Zahar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, what awaited him was a pitch-black labyrinth where nothing could be seen clearly, and within it lurked mysterious monsters of unknown origin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[□□□□□□----!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These grotesque creatures were neither magical beasts, humans, nor any known race.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They looked as if someone had twisted human forms into the most malevolent shapes possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only were they extraordinarily powerful, but their familiarity with the bizarre darkness made even Zahar’s elite forces struggle against them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To make matters worse, the passage leading back up had vanished, leaving Ferga and his group trapped underground for what felt like days, though they had lost track of time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How much water do we have left?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“None…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Make some quickly. At least wet your throat.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Ferga barked out orders, another monstrous cry echoed from the rear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For some reason, he felt as if he could vaguely understand the meaning behind those cries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Judging by the murmurs of his companion beside him, he wasn’t the only one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Night Hunter… has returned… to the desert?”\u003C\u002Fp>",2736,"2026-06-06T10:43:54.172Z",1,"novelbin.me","6fd5252488bcde9a3669cdfdfa112f51d7bc8241abba64f6e3eb3ae5aaa493e2","shepherd-wizard-chapter-36","shepherd-wizard-chapter-34",280,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fshepherd-wizard-cover.jpg"]