Chapter 489 – 489 – The Path of Grime 

Chapter 489 – The Path of Grime 

“My mother was ready to cut my manhood,” declared a Westerner, his face adorned with tree-leaf patterns. “If she had a daughter, she’d have tried to pair her with the honorary hero.”

This brazen statement elicited laughter. The one joking about offering her daughter earlier was none other than this man’s mother. Since she lacked a daughter, she’d considered removing her son’s manhood—a bizarre jest that caught everyone off guard, including Enkrid, who couldn’t help but smirk at the timing.

But the man wasn’t done. “Lucky Fish carries a peculiar scent that attracts Belopters. If one goes missing, we sometimes use it for tracking. It’s handy for that purpose.”

This peculiar dried fish, called Lucky Fish, was more than food; it was a keepsake, a charm of sorts. While it served as emergency sustenance, its cultural significance made it a revered item in the West.

“In the old days,” the man continued, “many hunters went missing. Without proper burials, their souls couldn’t join the Sky God, so finding their bodies was vital.” Lucky Fish’s scent often led to the lost. Over time, scattered tribes coalesced into communities. These groups formed families and eventually established the Western tribes we see today—an evolution chronicled both in myths and anthropology.

“Here’s a gift,” the man added, his cheerful smile free of shadows. Enkrid accepted the small cloth pouch with gratitude. Even Dunbakel, who had sampled the fish, nodded in approval, declaring it delicious.

“Do beastfolk enjoy it, too?” the man quipped, laughing heartily, his grin now free of the darkness that had once lingered on everyone’s faces.

The heavy burden Enkrid noticed upon arrival had dissipated.

The villagers’ laughter now felt genuine, untainted.

Enkrid watched this scene of joy, his mind drifting to memories of the city of Oara—a place where children’s laughter dispelled dark clouds.