[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-reborn-king":3,"chapter-the-reborn-king-the-reborn-king-chapter-177":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","The Reborn King",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},1100934,1437,"Chapter 177: Paranoia","the-reborn-king-chapter-177",177,"\u003Cp>Finn hopelessly looked at Helga’s back as she walked out of the scarred remains of a second village.’This war isn’t normal.’It was all Finn could think as he looked at the ruined settlement. The houses had been burnt to the ground and the people separated. Those who believed Helga and would follow her were sent back to her lands whilst the non-believers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finn shook his head. He didn’t care about killing villagers. He had been on enough raids where he had killed them in the past or his comrades had. But it was different from what he saw now. This was a systematic removal of dissent. The people were treated like cattle, moving the good ones from one place and killing the bad.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it was normal killings Finn may have not minded as much either, but Helga, in the infinite cruelty, he believed she had made a spectacle of it when she could. The lucky ones got caught up in the fighting, whilst some were used as a sacrifice. But the worst was when Helga gave a test to her people, or she found a new way to kill that she wanted to try.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked back on his visions of his time with the Ancient One. How many times had he seen that river of blood, stain the white snow he walked on? He was lost in thought when Ketil came up behind him and grabbed his shoulder. The prideful smile he had on his face as he looked down at Finn made him shudder. It wasn’t so long ago he could control the man, but now he was the defacto second in command as Helga’s champion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Finn. You look lost.\" He followed his eyes and saw he stared at Helga. \"Not a surprise though.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What is it you want Ketil? You don’t need to bother with me anymore. Have you not reached new heights.\" Finn knew how to play him and it worked getting a laugh from the man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re right. I just came over for one reason.\" The grip on his shoulder tightened. \"I noticed you don’t join in the clean-up after the battle.\" Despite his high-pitched voice sounding comical coming from a man who looked like him, Finn could only feel terror. Yet he didn’t let it show and smiled looking up at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I have to sort the goods we take from the settlements after we finish. And besides, I am not so good at herding people. I will leave it to the more experienced.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ketil looked into his eyes before laughing again. He released his grip and smacked his back. \"You’re right. Dealing with those non-believers should be left to the more experienced.\" He gave one last smile before walking over to Helga’s side and only then did Finn let out a sigh of relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My lord,\" Ketil spoke softly as he stood behind Helga. She only watched the distance, lost in thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Were are they? It’s strange.\" She ignored Ketils words and continued to look out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Maybe they are preparing in their more fortified settlements.\" To his words, she clicked her tongue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Maybe. But the fact we haven’t found a single scout is weird.\" Sighing she looked back at him. There was no point in worrying about it right now. \"What is it you want?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I believe there is a man you must test. He appears to lack the drive needed.\" His voice was sinister as he spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Who?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Jarl Ivar’s right hand.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ivar’s man. Surely you are making a terrible joke.\" Helga brushed it off thinking Ketil was jealous but looking up at his serious face her eyes squinted. \"You are not joking?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No one doubts the Jarl’s faith, My Lord. But I doubt his.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you think so, then so be it. But I highly doubt Ivar would have a man like that by his side. He is a loyal servant after all.\" Helga dismissed the concerns. \"What is his name.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Finn.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What a forgettable name.\" Helga chuckled hearing it and Ketil gave a small smile. \"Okay. On this topic, has word arrived from Helstia.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Not yet. But if it has been sent, it should arrive within the next few days.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then we will make camp here for now. That idiot Sven still needs time to meet up with those two after all. Have them ready my tent. And be quick, this wind is getting stronger.\" Ketil nodded, leaving her alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’There no way Ivar would place someone like that near me.’Helga once again brushed the words off.’He wouldn’t betray me.’It sounded foolish in her mind, but it didn’t ease the her concerns.’But what if? Even father betrayed me.’The twitching in her fingers was subtle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She didn’t want to entertain the idea, but paranoia crept in, and turning around she felt as if hundreds of eyes stared at her.’What if he isn’t the only one.’Helga’s eyes darted between people. She saw the fear and worship mixed in all of them.’They all love me. Surely they can’t betray me. Why would they?’Putting a smile on she walked back, through the sea of people. All the heads bowed towards her and their talking quieted down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Why do they stop talking when I arrive? It must be out of respect, surely.’She felt her hand reaching for the dagger on her back and stroking the handle, and her mind calmed down.’Of course, that’s the reason. To pay respect to the Gods is only natural after all.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Ancient Ones. Ivar had put off meeting with them for a while but Finn’s vision of Helga had made him curious if he could finally have one himself. At first, that was the only reason he wanted to come, but the tasks expected of him as Helga’s regent and the arrival of Frida had made him lost on what to do. He needed guidance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Throwing the tent flap open, the Ancinet One didn’t speak as Ivar took his seat. He didn’t care. They were all different, some rattling on endlessly while others talked in riddles. The Ancient One moved skillfully, throwing herbs into the fire. Ivar leaned back and closed his eyes. He let the earthly smell flood his nose. His mind slowly went blank, and a second smell filled the air, one that reminded people of the sea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"See and learn.\" After minutes had passed the Ancient Ones spoke and like a spell, Ivar felt the world fill with color.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pushed himself up and looked around. Surrounding him were thousands of people. Their black robes covered their bodies, the bottom creating a shadow that covered the ground, hiding the white snow. Not one had a face, instead a white mask covered it, the only notable features being the black marks for their eyes and mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ivar walked forward as all their heads followed him. The silence was uncomfortable, not even the wind creating a noise, yet he knew that he had to follow the path created for him- at the end a withered tree that was about to die.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A figure kneeled below it, her blonde hair the only source of color in the world. Ivar would recognize it from anywhere and start to run to reach it. Yet no matter how much he did, the distance never seemed to close. It was a hopeless struggle, and after what felt like hours, he finally stopped and stood still. She was so close, yet he couldn’t reach her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Helga stood up and turned to face him. With a bright smile, she looked back at the tree and placed a hand on it. Its once-grey bark slowly became brown from her touch. It became sturdier and Ivar felt not even the greatest sword would be able to destroy it. The empty branches transformed into a sea of green, its shadow casting a long net over the world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From behind he felt a hand grip his shoulder. He didn’t wish to turn away from the sight before him, but the pressure kept increasing, only stopping when he did. Frida’s smiling face looked at him. Removing her hand she walked forward crossing the invisible barrier that held Ivar back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her appearance morphed with each step. Much like the others around him, a long cloak covered her body, yet instead of it being a deep black, hers was as white as the snow. Her black hair was gone and a long veil covered her face. She walked behind Helga and looked at Ivar once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn’t see her face behind the white veil but could sense her smile. He could only gulp watching it, as the ground beneath him crumbled. Ivar tried to escape but fell through, into a deep pit. Endless darkness surrounded him, the light from above becoming a small dot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"ahhh.\" A groan came from his mouth as he hit the floor. Lifting his head he once more saw the tree in front of him. It was the only source of light in the darkness but his heart raced as he watched. A similar sight appeared before him, yet this time he saw Helga’s body crucified on the tree. Frida stood before and feeling Ivar’s eyes, she looked back with cold eyes, a deep anger behind them. Her hand pointed behind him and he could only follow it, his head turning statically as he did.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind was a pile of corpses, but the one he saw first was Sven’s. He sat, with his head in his hands and Ivar froze at the sight. He turned back to face Frida and now saw hundreds next to her all looking at Helga’s body with joy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It made him angry and he reached for the axe on his belt and charged in. The invincible wall that held him back before was gone but it didn’t matter. They all watched him recklessly charge and smirked. One reached behind their back and pulled a spear. With a throw that carried inhuman strength, Ivar felt his body fly back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Uhg.\" Ivar clutched his chest and sat up. He awoke in the tent once more, his breathing rapid. Looking around he sighed in relief.’What was that?’It was the only question he could ask as he sat contemplating what he had experienced.\u003C\u002Fp>",1712,"2026-06-03T11:17:48.775Z","2026-06-03T11:17:51.400Z",1,"novelbin.me","ce676bfa69b58c2e7797099910fd5546ea440c034d8a8402e4b88c92f491e69f","the-reborn-king-chapter-178","the-reborn-king-chapter-176",487,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-reborn-king-cover.jpg"]