Chapter 46

Episode 46. You, Just Take One Hit (6)

“Captain. We’ve searched everywhere to hide… but nothing.”

At Arbold’s words, Jordic tightly closed his eyes.

“They’re not hiding.”

“You mean they’re among the villagers.”

“Bring the village chief. He’ll know.”

“The chief is dead.”

“What? Why did you kill him?”

“We had no choice.”

Arbold reported all the conversations he had with Keter to Jordic. After hearing everything, Jordic spoke.

“Go to the basement and check if the chief’s body is there.”

“Yes.”

Without another word, Arbold ran off. He returned in an instant, his face pale as dirt.

“It’s… gone.”

“…Bring that swindler from Sephira.”

“Well… I already gave the order to find him, but…”

“Don’t tell me you didn’t keep watch?”

“I did, but I saw him leaving the village and thought nothing of it.”

“…We’ve been played.”

Thud!

Jordic struck the ground with his spear and let out a deep sigh.

“The chief is gone, Keter is gone. The Beastmen are nowhere to be seen.”

“If it’s the Beastmen, they must be hiding among the villagers. There’s no other way.”

“That must be it.”

At Jordic’s past-tense words, Arbold urgently spoke.

“He couldn’t have gone far. He didn’t take a horse. How far could that bastard run? Even now…”

“Shut up. I’m thinking.”

Jordic still had his eyes closed.

Arbold didn’t press further. Jordic with his eyes closed meant he was either angry or deep in thought.

Right now, it seemed like both.

Whoosh.

At the sound of something cutting through the air, Arbold looked up.

As he identified the source of the sound, an arrow embedded itself into a building pillar. Arbold silently went to where the arrow had struck.

“This is…”

The arrow was from Sephira.

This was both expected and unexpected.

Why, why would an arrow from Sephira suddenly fly towards the village? And at this moment.

Arbold retrieved the arrow and returned to Jordic.

“Captain. This.”

Jordic took the arrow from Arbold and furrowed his brow.

“Where did it come from?”

“I’m not entirely sure. Somewhere over there…”

“I’ll go first. You leave two subordinates in the village and bring the rest towards where the arrow came from.”

“Captain. My memory might be wrong.”

“This is the only clue we have.”

Jordic, holding the arrow, leaped forward, covering dozens of meters in an instant.

With just two leaps, Jordic left the village and soared high into the sky. Then, he scanned the surroundings.

‘There.’

On the vast plain, something caught his eye. A large barn built in the middle of a bean field. Nothing else around.

That must be it.

The place where the arrow was likely shot from.

On the other hand, another thought crossed his mind.

‘How blatant. They’re calling me.’

A blatant trap.

Someone shot the arrow to reveal their location to the knights of the Baydant family.

That someone was most likely Luke. The naive knight of Sephira, Luke.

‘Why would he do that?’

Countless thoughts raced through Jordic’s mind. It wasn’t hesitation but calculation, so his steps towards the barn were swift.

“They’re here.”

Jordic’s sharp senses detected the presence inside the barn.

Three of them.

Two were obvious.

Keter and Luke, no doubt.

Then who’s the third one?

Jordic arrived at the barn and kicked the door open. A sarcastic voice came from inside.

“Is this the Baydant way of opening doors? I’ll remember that for next time.”

“Keter!”

Jordic pointed his spear towards the voice and swung it. Not to attack, but to intimidate.

But someone grabbed the spear shaft.

“…!”

A sudden struggle ensued between the two over the spear.

Jordic’s neck veins bulged.

‘Who is this?’

Not Keter or Luke. They wouldn’t have the strength to stop him.

As the dust settled, the figure of a third person appeared.

Dried blood, tattered clothes.

A fierce, beast-like aura.

Though his face was ordinary, Jordic recognized him at once.

‘It’s him. He’s the Birang Tribe the elders are looking for!’

Jordic felt joy and confusion simultaneously.

Weren’t Keter and the Beastmen on the same side?

Then why do they look like they’ve been fighting? And why are they standing together, wary of me now?

No matter.

The Moon Beast Tribe had predicted this. The Birang Tribe is wary, so no matter how much you mention your existence, they won’t believe you.

So they gave a token. A token proving they were representatives of the Moon Beast Tribe. Showing this would make the Birang Tribe believe.

“Wait, I’m not your enemy.”

To ease the Birang Tribe’s wariness, Jordic loosened his grip on the spear. Then, he reached into his belt pouch to pull out the token.

“Ever seen a thief call himself a thief? Let’s take him down first!”

Keter suddenly shot an arrow at Jordic, and the Birang Tribe’s Karn swung the stolen spear at him.

* * *

Once things go wrong, they keep going wrong. That saying must be true.

Calling Jordic was okay, things were going according to plan.

But this guy, his expression is off. He’s looking at Karn like he’s met a lost lover. Plus, he’s saying he’s not an enemy and even put down his weapon?

This is getting more interesting than I thought.

The Baydant family is protecting the Beastmen the Empire’s emperor hates?

The emperor’s power can scatter even prestigious families like dandelion seeds. Knowing that, they still do this?

Then, Jordic reaches for his waist to pull something out. I don’t know what it is, but I can’t let him.

Strike first, win first.

I shot an arrow and then provoked Karn.

“Ever seen a thief call himself a thief? Let’s take him down first!”

Though a bit suspicious, Karn seemed to agree with my idea of taking him down first.

Worth taking the first move.

“Hey! I…”

Jordic, who was speaking, ducked to avoid the spear. Seizing the moment, I rushed at him.

“The Beastmen’s enemy!”

I swung my bow at Jordic, feigning anger over the death of a non-existent Beastmen friend.

“You stay out of this!”

That guy only dodges Karn’s attacks but throws a sincere punch at me.

“You need to trim your nails, you.”

“Shut up!”

I hit Jordic’s arm with my bow and took the hit with my body.

Then he mercilessly elbows my back, but go ahead, hit me. I’m more curious about what you’ve hidden in your pocket.

After about eight hits, I managed to steal the item from his pocket. I quickly stepped back.

“Hitting the same spot repeatedly, did you kill the Beastmen like that too?”

It wasn’t Jordic who got angry at my words, but Karn. He swung his spear wildly, and now he’s swinging it even faster. Even a graze from that would make your bones ache every time it rains.

Jordic, knowing its power, dodged with all sorts of flailing.

“I’m the Moon Beast Tribe’s representative!”

Thinking this couldn’t go on, Jordic shouted.

It worked. Karn stopped attacking.

Moon Beast Tribe.

I don’t know every Beastmen tribe, but I’ve never heard of that name. But since Karn stopped, it must be real.

“I came here to protect you. I have proof.”

Karn showed interest in Jordic’s words.

I’m a bit interested too.

The proof he’s talking about must be what I stole, right?

“Luke. Hold onto this for me.”

While the two were distracted, I subtly passed the stolen gem to Luke.

“What’s this?”

“My treasure.”

Luke, not knowing what it was, held it close. Not as cute as Maknun, but still pretty adorable.

“What proof are you going to show?”

Karn pressed Jordic. But Jordic just kept rummaging through his pocket.

Keep looking. It’s not there.

“J-just wait. It’s true. The Moon Beast Tribe gave me a token.”

“Show me, and I’ll believe you.”

Now it’s my turn to step in.

“Karn. Don’t believe the words of a dirty human. It’s a wicked trick to buy time.”

At my words, Karn’s eyes twitched. It felt like he reduced the 5-second wait to 3 seconds.

“You, Keter! You despicable swindler, thief! You took it, didn’t you?”

Didn’t I say it before?

Why would a thief call himself a thief?

“Now you’re trying to drive a wedge between us. Karn, even if you can bear it, I can’t.”

I rushed at Jordic before Karn could. Then, I swung my bow at the very angry Jordic.

Jordic, of course, threw a sincere punch at me. I could dodge or block it, but—

Thud!

“Ugh!”

I pretended to be critically injured by Jordic’s punch, even spitting out blood as I fell.

“Keter!”

Luke. Don’t just talk, attack already.

Instead of Luke, Karn rushed at Jordic. Not passively swinging his spear, but wildly swinging his fists like a beast.

Judging by his fighting style, his tribe must be either bear or wolf. I’d bet 10,000 gold on wolf.

“This is a misunderstanding! If you search his pocket, you’ll find the token.”

While speaking, Karn’s punch landed squarely on Jordic’s side.

I’ve been hit too, so I know it feels like dreaming.

“Keter, Keter!”

While I was enjoying the fight, Luke shook me.

“What.”

“Geez, you scared me. Are you okay?”

“It hurts. A lot.”

“Can you get up? Let’s get out of here.”

“All you think about is running away.”

“I don’t think fighting is the only way to solve problems.”

“Me neither.”

Jordic was taking Karn’s attacks to prove his innocence.

Watching him get hit is satisfying, but just watching doesn’t balance the books.

“Where are you going?”

“I always return what I receive. Whatever it is.”

I approached Jordic, who was being beaten one-sidedly by Karn.

Karn was controlling his strength. But even that was slowing down and weakening as his excitement faded.

Thud!

“Ugh!”

I kicked Jordic’s side as his guard loosened.

The feeling, no, the foot feeling was great.

With a different impact than before, Jordic dropped his guard and looked up. I immediately gifted him a punch.

“You, take one hit. No, two!”

I persistently aimed for the back of his hand.

I know from experience, this really hurts.

“…I’ll kill you.”

He must be in a lot of pain. He dropped his guard and approached with murderous eyes.

Then, Karn stepped between us and shouted.

“Stop!”

Jordic stopped at his words, and I slipped a punch through Karn’s side to hit Jordic’s solar plexus.

“You… bastard!”

Karn restrained the excited Jordic. No matter how strong you are, you can’t match a Beastmen’s strength.

“You, the Moon Beast Tribe’s representative. What’s your name?”

At Karn’s serious question, Jordic barely calmed down and spoke.

“Jordic El Baydant.”

“My name is Karn. Jordic, it’s hard to believe you’re the Moon Beast Tribe’s representative without proof. But at least I know you have no ill intentions.”

“That guy stole the proof. I’m sure of it.”

“Is that true?”

Karn looked at me and asked.

I put on the most innocent face and said.

“Karn. I don’t mind being stripped naked and humiliated. But it’s sad to see you being fooled like other Beastmen.”

“Hmm.”

As Karn hesitated, Jordic changed his target.

To me.

“Keter, no, Prince Keter. It seems we need to talk.”

“I have nothing to say to the Empire’s lackey.”

“I’m not the Empire’s pawn! Just like you protect the Birang Tribe, we do the same.”

Oh, what’s this?

We do the same?

Jordic’s next words convinced me.

“Our Baydant family also protects the Moon Beast Tribe. Just like the Sephira family protects the Birang Tribe. We share the same secret, comrades. There’s plenty of reason to talk.”

Interesting, very interesting.

The Baydant family is protecting the Beastmen the Empire’s emperor is desperately searching for.

And this guy thinks our family is protecting the Birang Tribe too.

Wait, is he mistaken? Actually, the Birang Tribe is hiding in a village within our family’s territory.

It seems like Leganon’s unilateral decision, not the lord’s, but no need to tell Jordic that.

“Really? You should’ve said so earlier.”

“I did. I’m the Moon Beast Tribe’s representative!”

“But there’s no proof.”

“I’ll definitely get the proof you stole. For now, let’s negotiate. We received information from the Moon Beast Tribe. About the Birang Tribe’s location and danger. We can’t stay here even a day longer. We must leave.”

“Sounds like the Baydant family is taking the Birang Tribe.”

“The crumbling Sephira family can’t protect the Birang Tribe. Only our Baydant family can. Don’t deny it.”

“You said negotiate, but now you’re threatening. Should our two families join hands and dive into hell together? The emperor won’t spare families helping Beastmen, you know?”

“Are you saying you’ll kill your entire family with your own hands now?”

“Families are of one heart.”

“You’re insane.”

“You’ve got that right.”

No matter how quietly we speak, the opponent is the cunning Beastmen.

Karn is listening to our entire conversation, and with no progress, he’s now suspicious of all of us. Jordic must feel it too, so he’s anxious.

Let’s deliver the finishing blow now.

Karn doesn’t fully trust me, and Jordic won’t hand over the Birang Tribe to me.

“How about solving this the old-fashioned way?”

“Speak quickly.”

“I agree with what you said. To protect the Beastmen, we need strength.”

“…?”

“But from what I hear, Sephira is weaker than Baydant, right?”

“Hmph. What are you getting at? Want to start a war between families?”

“That’s not bad, but as you said, time is precious. So let’s confirm it ourselves.”

“Are you saying you’ll fight me now? Me, the Seven Dragons, against a swindler like you?”

“No, no.”

I pointed behind him.

A group of people approaching from afar. Baydant family’s spear knights, Jordic’s subordinates, are coming here.

“Not just you. I’ll take down all of them.”

“You’re truly insane. I have no reason to refuse. I accept your challenge.”

That’s right, no reason to refuse.

Luke seems to think differently. He’s coming to me with a panicked expression.

“Keter, what are you thinking? I know you’re good at fighting, but the opponent is the Spear Dragon! At least a 3-star knight with an undefeated myth!”

“Hmm… hearing that, I can’t win.”

“Win or lose, you might die. The opponent is Baydant. Let’s run.”

“I’ll allow the word ‘run’ only three more times. Got it? If you say it a fourth time, you’re out, even if you’re the lord’s son.”

“But you’re going to die? I don’t want that.”

“Think of it this way. If you run now, what will happen? The knight who abandoned his partner, the lord’s son Keter, the knight who failed to protect Sephira’s secret. And also…”

Luke’s face was so crumpled I couldn’t tell if he was angry or about to cry. He really wants to run.

I hate cowards the most.

Of course, you’re a coward now. But you won’t be a coward forever, right? Let’s mature quickly with this opportunity.

“Don’t worry. We have a secret weapon.”

“Amaranth!”

Luke’s face lit up as if nothing had happened.

“I won’t use Amaranth. I have you.”

“Huh? Me?”

“Yes, you.”

I put my hand on Luke’s shoulder.

I’m serious, Luke.

You’re strong. Strictly speaking, it’s not you who’s strong, but the blood flowing in your veins. But that only matters if you use it.

Originally, I planned to use the Beastmen as sacrifices, but since they don’t want to kill us, I changed the plan.

“You’re the secret weapon to save our Sephira.”

I glanced at Jordic.

Perfect. His face clearly shows he wants to kill us.