Chapter 165: Chapter 164: The Dead’s Companions

"Then you should take this, Orelia," Colin said, handing the item to her.

The Tiefling lowered her head.

Although she doubted whether she was worthy of owning a Magic Item, she still resolutely reached out and took the Holy Emblem.

Colin was somewhat pleased to see her reaction.

Back when they first met, Orelia definitely wouldn’t have had such resolve.

After handing out the equipment, Colin turned to Ale and said, "We give any usable Magic Items to the person they’re best suited for. That’s okay, right?"

"Mm."

Ale nodded, then took out a small notebook and a charcoal pencil and started scribbling something.

’I guess that means she agrees.’

Colin really couldn’t understand the Half-Elf’s style.

Still, it was nice having a know-it-all on the team. At least now he was starting to experience the same joy Kase felt from not having to think about every little thing.

As he was thinking this, Colin asked, "Ale, how much do you think all these antiques will sell for?"

"I still only know that the coins are probably worth a little over a hundred Gold Coins. I don’t have a clue about the rest," Ale said honestly.

Regardless of how much they could sell for, the group planned on taking everything back with them.

It was just like the old saying in Thousand Masts City—even a tiny shrimp is still meat.

In the end, they moved some of the food from the Dimension Bag to the sled, which made just enough room for all the loot.

While the group was getting their things in order, the Barbarians also got busy.

They went into the surrounding woods to gather fuel, piling it into pyres. Most of their faces showed little sadness, as if this were just routine.

Colin and his friends stayed in the cave, each busy with their own tasks, occasionally glancing up to watch.

The Barbarians’ work was finally finished by dusk. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

At that point, Colin’s curiosity got the better of him, and he stood up to watch the funeral.

The Barbarians wrapped the Warrior’s body in a fine deerskin, then placed it on the pyre. Several other Warriors picked up Beast Hide Drums and stood by the flames, beating a rhythm as they sang war songs in hoarse voices.

Everyone in the tribe gradually emerged from the cave, each draped in their own Cloak—a necessity in a place like this.

They walked in a continuous circle around the pyre.

The elders’ faces were stoic, while the young children were curious. The bolder ones among them would secretly reach out to touch the deceased’s arms, toes, and the deerskin that covered the body.

The other adults didn’t scold them for it, giving the impression that the living were accompanying the dead.

"Want to know what it means?"

Colin glanced at Kase, who had walked over to his side with his arms crossed.

"Alright, you win, Kase."

"It’s a cloak for the dead," Kase said. "They believe that after death, a Warrior’s soul journeys endlessly through a blizzard, walking until it collapses from hunger and cold. The deerskin acts as a Cloak to keep them warm. Right now, the tribe is sending their loved one off on the final part of their journey."

"That sounds grim."

"It is, Mister Colin." Orelia looked at the Barbarians with sympathy. "I truly hope the Morninglord sees them."

Kase said, "As a Half-Orc, I prefer my own tribe’s beliefs. Warriors who die on the battlefield go to the Divine Kingdom of the Deity of Destruction, where there’s endless mead to drink and endless roasted meat to eat."

’He’s right,’ Colin thought. ’Life here is already hard enough. They deserve to find some respite in their beliefs, at least.’

"It’s not like that."

Just then, Ale’s voice came from beside them.

"After they die, followers of the Deity of Destruction are sent to the Asura Field, a place filled with war and suffering. There, they wage an eternal war against Hobgoblins and the followers of the Deity of Conquest."

Ale continued, "Simply put, there is no mead and no roasted meat. Only endless death and eternal pain, over and over again... and all of this is just because of the Gods’ selfish desires."

Colin and Orelia immediately looked up at Kase.

Although the Half-Orc had the virtue of a flexible faith, he was always talking about the Deity of Destruction, and he really hated Elves...

Kase himself, however, paid it no mind, acting as if no one had spoken at all.

Colin breathed a small sigh of relief.

’Speaking of this, as a Transmigrator, I’m a bit lost,’ he thought. ’The people here all have different beliefs about what happens after you die. I have no idea what will become of me... I won’t end up in a place like Hell, will I?’

The funeral soon ended, and the feast began.

Most of the Barbarians returned to the cave.

The men carried casks of ale out from the cave, while the women went to the outdoor food stores and brought back baskets still covered in ice chips. The baskets were filled with the local specialty, Silver Scale Salmon, as well as other meats and various berries.

Colin had assumed they were going to cook some fish soup or barbecue, but instead they sat right down on the ground, took out small knives, and began cutting the raw fish into small pieces and feasting on them.

The Barbarians gathered in small groups, eating and drinking heartily as they chatted.

Seeing the scene, Kase went over to join them.

The Barbarian Leader immediately picked up a slab of meat with white fur still attached, carefully trimmed off chunks of fat, and handed them to Kase.

The Half-Orc didn’t hesitate, taking the chunks of fat and stuffing them into his mouth to chew greedily.

He roared with laughter as he chatted with the Barbarians around him.

He radiated a bold confidence that Colin had never seen from him back in the south.

Recalling Kase’s talk of eating raw Bear Fat, Colin had a strange feeling, as if Kase had transformed into a complete stranger.

Just then, a few Barbarian women walked over, carrying baskets.

They knelt beside Colin and the others, their tasks clearly divided. They minced the frozen fish into a paste with their Small Knives, mixed it with handfuls of fresh snow, and finally mashed blue berries into a sauce, stirring it all together until it was fluffy, creating something that looked like blue ice cream.

With both hands, they held out wooden bowls and presented them to the three adventurers.

Colin instantly broke out in goosebumps.

’Is this stuff even edible? Would it be rude not to eat it?’

"Kase! Kase!"

Hearing his companion’s shout, the Half-Orc walked over. "Isn’t this Akutak? This is the good stuff! Usually only the little cubs get to eat it."

"I can’t eat this, Kase. Is it okay to refuse?" Colin asked hurriedly.

"You’re really no different from a little boy. But I expected as much. That’s my little bro for you." Kase put on an infuriatingly smug expression. "Don’t worry. Just use your Small Knife and try a little. That way it won’t go to waste if you don’t want any more."

"You’re making a big deal out of nothing, Mister Colin."

Orelia smiled, holding her bowl. She then scooped a small bite into her mouth. "Mmm, it’s delicious!"

Beside her, Ale also began to eat, her expression as placid as ever.

"I’ll try it in a bit," Colin said, quickly starting a campfire. He took out their dry rations and some frozen fish, intending to make a stew.

Halfway through cooking, he couldn’t help but glance at the "Akutak" next to him.

"I really wasn’t kidding, Mister Colin. I finished it all," Orelia said, sitting beside him and holding up her empty bowl for him to see.

After struggling with himself for a while, Colin’s curiosity finally won out.

He took out his Dagger, scooped up a tiny piece, and put it in his mouth.

The first flavor to hit his tongue was the savory saltiness of the frozen fish. The "ice cream" was surprisingly smooth, and the sweet and sour berries, along with the chilling sensation, perfectly masked any fishiness from the meat. As it melted, a rich, fatty flavor blossomed in his mouth.

Actually... it wasn’t bad at all.