The Shepherds Are Dense – Chapter 612

Chapter 611
Helchin’s Speech
After reviewing the mission list, the slowing ship finally came to a halt.
Eivass tidied his attire—he noticed a distinct petrification mark on Helchin Dragonflame’s left forearm.
It was a cracked bark pattern, about two centimeters wide and eight to nine centimeters long. It looked like a scar left after a burn, not very noticeable, but rough and woody to the touch.
A slight cut with a fingernail revealed the mark. However, the wound did not bleed, nor did he feel any pain.
“…An early-stage petrification disease?”
Eivass murmured to himself.
Helchin had a rather fine short sword at his waist. It didn’t seem to be of elven make, lacking the usual flashy gems and intricate carvings; instead, it was a remarkably simple and clean seashell white. Its slender scabbard was unadorned, exuding a plain elegance.
As Eivass drew it, its attributes were revealed:
[Fafnir’s Dragon Fang]
[Extraordinary Weapon (Purple)]
[One-handed Sword, One-handed Weapon, (Dexterity Weapon) / (Thrown Weapon), Light, Durable, Sharp]
[Dragon Style: Sharpness and durability increased, maintenance cost significantly increased]
[Module – Swift Strike: When the other hand is empty, this weapon can be considered a Dexterity Weapon]
[Module – Light Throw: When the other hand is holding a weapon, this weapon can be considered a Thrown Weapon]
[Extraordinary Module – Dragonflame Infusion: Pay 10-30 Fire Mana to activate the Dragonflame Blade, lasting 30-90 minutes. The infused state can be preserved in the sheath for up to three hours. Duration is not counted while sheathed.]
Undoubtedly, this was a gift from Helchin’s wife, Fafnir.
By the standards of purple-grade equipment, its attributes were clearly inflated.
“Swift Strike” and “Light Throw” were not particularly useful. They meant that when the other hand was empty, the weapon’s accuracy and critical hit rate would increase with Eivass’s dexterity. Conversely, if the other hand held another weapon, it could be thrown like a throwing knife without the usual penalty for throwing ordinary weapons.
As for “Dragonflame Infusion”…
Eivass wasn’t quite sure about its additional damage. But it was obvious that the reason this weapon reached purple grade was its extremely long infusion time.
Generally, the infusion duration for purple weapons lasted at most a few minutes. In the game, the infusion time for player weapons was often only ten seconds, or slightly longer at half a minute. Reaching three minutes was considered “sustained infusion.”
This weapon not only had a maximum infusion time of an hour and a half but also allowed for a three-hour pause in timing by sheathing it.
Clearly, this weapon was specifically prepared for prolonged combat, a true “battlefield weapon.”
Eivass was, after all, a Caster. He didn’t understand Swordsmanship, but it could at least serve as a means of self-defense.
“Your Excellency Helchin!”
Just then, Eivass’s door was knocked upon, “We have arrived at Avalon!”
He sheathed his short sword and reattached it to his waist, then walked over and opened the door.
Before him stood a short half-elf.
He only reached Eivass’s chest, and his hunched posture made him appear even shorter.
Eivass was momentarily dazed before realizing that he was simply too tall.
The fellow strained to look up, his eyes filled with longing and excitement, “Your Excellency Helchin! Are we embarking on a new adventure?”
Upon seeing him, Eivass felt a sense of familiarity.
After a closer look at the chestnut-like hat on his head, Eivass finally remembered—
This was the undead knight he had met in Eagle Cape Village, the one who enjoyed performing acrobatics.
The one who stood up on his spectral horse and leaned his upper body out, performing a reckless equestrian stunt.
[This is Albert, a half-elf born in the Ancient Kingdom of Anxi.]
As Eivass studied him for a long time, a calm male voice suddenly surfaced in his mind.
—This was the second time.
This time, Eivass finally grasped this peculiar sensation.
Was it not an illusion, but a clear “memory”?
While pondering this, Eivass steadily extended his hand and patted the small, lean half-elf’s shoulder, “Please wait on the ship, Albert. I’ll scout ahead alone.”
“As you command, Your Excellency!”
Albert clasped his hands on his shoulders, bowed respectfully, and raised no questions.
“Greetings, Your Excellency Helchin!”
“Good morning, Sir White Knight!”
“May the Candlemaster shelter you, Lord Helchin.”
As Eivass left the room, everyone he encountered greeted him.
There were men and women, old and young. The most aged was an old Dwarf with white hair, clad head-to-toe in a connected patchwork of red square armor; the youngest, a human girl barely nineteen, dressed in leather armor.
—And their commonality was their short stature.
Eivass scanned the ship and found only six or seven elves as tall as Helchin, with more than half of the pure-blooded elves being noticeably shorter than himself. There were no significantly taller elves on the entire ship.
He roughly estimated Helchin’s height to be at least two and a half meters.
It was no wonder that the one-handed sword had become a mere defensive short sword in Helchin’s hands.
Eivass walked onto the deck and saw the full, magnificent view of the ship.
This elven ship was much larger than he had imagined, constructed from beautiful red wood, clearly sourced from a Sacred Giant Tree.
By human standards, it could even be considered a colossal cruise liner. It had at least twenty rooms, and even with over forty people on deck, it still felt spacious.
There was even a Pegasus standing there!
It was likely not “cargo” being transported, as it emanated a tangible golden radiance. This glow enveloped the entire ship, forming a protective shield.
Evidently, Helchin’s crew had not fully utilized the ship’s capabilities. There were few professional sailors, and simply operating it was a great effort. From this perspective, the Pegasus, by stabilizing the ship, could be said to have served as the boatswain.
Watching the expectant gazes of his subordinates, Eivass began to understand—Helchin had likely already informed them of their destination beforehand.
He raised his hand.
With just this gesture, the people immediately quieted down.
“Brothers and sisters, please remain quiet!”
Eivass announced, his voice clear and resonant, “As I mentioned previously, we have arrived at Avalon…”
At this moment, Eivass was struck by a sense of dissociation.
His perspective abruptly began to rise—shifting from first-person to third-person, as if looking down upon the magnificent and exquisitely crafted wooden ship from the heavens.
Below, Helchin was delivering a speech:
“If we walk the righteous path, the problem of the Giants must be resolved. If we turn a blind eye to the barbarity of the Giant race, then when the sinners question us, we will have no choice but to shamefully remain silent.
“‘—With the known sinful and savage Giant kingdom before us, why do we not punish them? Because they are too powerful to provoke? Isn’t that also a sign of you bullying the weak and fearing the strong?’
“My friends, I do not wish for people to judge us in this manner.
“Nor do I wish for you to be speechless in the face of such questioning.”
(End of Chapter)