Chapter 123
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 123
‘How is every single one of them so massive?’
Five adult men had appeared.
Their bushy beards, muscular physiques, and the leather hides draped over them were striking. The hides were so thick they looked less like simple clothing and more like armor capable of turning away spears and blades.
But even more eye-catching than their attire was their height, which far exceeded that of any Imperial.
‘An average adult male would barely reach their chests.’
If only one of them had been exceptionally large, it wouldn't have been so surprising. Giants of that stature could be found in the Empire, albeit very rarely.
However, every man who had just appeared was of a similar height. It seemed that the kind of hulking frame one might encounter once or twice in a lifetime in the Empire was merely the average here.
“Ha, it really is Lady Helen.”
Just as Lucian’s party was startled, the other side seemed equally surprised to see Helen. The only person who remained unfazed was Helen herself, who was already acquainted with them.
“It has been a long time. You’ve grown even more robust in the interim.”
“Robust, my foot. Save the empty flattery. Just tell me why you’ve come all this way.”
“How cold. Is it so displeasing that I, a disciple of the Master, am using this path?”
“If it were just you, you would be welcome. But from where I’m standing, Lady Helen, it looks like you’ve brought quite a few uninvited guests.”
The man with a brown beard reaching down to his chest, Gunstein, scanned Lucian’s group. Displeasure, contempt, and a strange hint of mockery flickered in his eyes.
“One child, and two weaklings playing warrior with skewers. I don’t know why the woman is here, and as for that man…”
“He is my senior disciple. We studied the guidance of the stars together under the Master.”
“Hmm. Then that fellow is the only one worth anything.”
Gunstein spoke with an air of finality and looked at Colin. It was as if he deemed Colin the only one worthy of equal conversation.
“Hey there, Guide.”
“G-Guide?”
“Come with us. We’ll escort you to your Master.”
Colin, addressed as the Guide, was flustered, but Gunstein didn't care in the least. Since Colin shared the same Master as Helen, Gunstein seemed to have concluded he must also be a Guide.
Before the bewildered Colin could offer any explanation, Gunstein muttered as if talking to himself.
“As for the rest, well, we’ll just drag them off and use them as laborers. We can pick a husband for the woman later.”
“Wait just a moment! These people are guests of both myself and the Master! Though they are outsiders, they have come at the Master’s invitation, so please show them proper respect!”
“Guests?”
Helen shouted urgently, but Gunstein gave a short laugh and shook his head.
“I haven't heard a word from the Guide. There was no prophecy, so why should I treat them as guests?”
“What do you mean by—!”
“If they’re real guests, we can just seize them first, verify it, and then let them go. If they aren’t, we’ll just keep them as slaves.”
“Helen.”
Lucian looked at Helen as the conversation took a bizarre turn. Seeing the growing coldness in Lucian’s eyes, Helen quickly bowed her head and spoke.
“Those who are not warriors are not treated as equals by them. Furthermore, there is a rule that those who trespass into another tribe's territory without permission can be captured and used as slaves.”
“What happened to your claim that we might be able to avoid a fight?”
“I am sorry. In my memory, he was someone who could be reasoned with, but…”
Helen hung her head low at the unexpected turn of events. Regardless of whether it was bad luck or not, it was true that she had stepped forward confidently only to achieve nothing.
Lucian stared at Helen, whose face was flushed red as she avoided his gaze, and let out a sigh.
“So, in the end, they won't even listen to us unless I prove I’m a warrior.”
“…That is correct.”
“Good grief, making me use force right from the start. Well, I suppose it’s nothing new, considering what I did back in the North.”
“Hah.”
Gunstein snorted as he overheard their conversation. He didn't understand most of it, but he seemed to have caught the part about Lucian proving he was a warrior.
“Don't bother, kid. You’ll only end up dead. I have no intention of wasting time taming a rebellious slave, so stay still if you want to live.”
“A dog is barking.”
“What?”
“With eyes like a mutt's, I suppose you'd bark at anyone. They say a club is the only cure for a mad dog. Maybe after a good beating, those eyes of yours will clear up a bit.”
“Heh, hahahaha.”
Gunstein was momentarily speechless at Lucian’s verbal assault. Had such an insult come from a man with a full beard, he would have seen red instantly. But coming from a green boy whose face was still covered in peach fuzz, it was simply absurd. To him, it looked like a reckless child who knew nothing of the world acting out.
Of course, his amusement didn't mean he intended to let the arrogant brat live.
“Fine. Die then.”
Whoosh!
Gunstein drew the axe from his back in one fluid motion and swung it immediately. He didn't put much strength into it, but it was more than enough to take off a child’s head.
The moment Gunstein widened his eyes to see what kind of expression the stupid brat would make in the face of death—
CLANG!
A thunderous roar of metal clashing against metal echoed through the area. Simultaneously, Gunstein’s body was sent flying into the air.
‘Why am I suddenly looking at the sky?’
It was just as the bewildered Gunstein blinked.
Thud!
“Gah!”
The sound of air escaping his lungs accompanied the impact of his back slamming into the ground. His entire body throbbed with a pain that felt as if his spine had been pulverized.
“Brother!”
“You bastards!”
Thwack! Crack!
He heard the agitated voices of his subordinates from behind, but only for a fleeting moment. After a few more sounds of impact, everything fell deathly silent.
Gunstein slapped his own cheek to grasp what had happened. As his vision finally cleared, the first thing he saw was a dark shadow looming over him.
“Get up. You’ll freeze to death if you sleep in a place like this.”
Recognizing the owner of the shadow as Lucian, Gunstein trembled. Lucian tossed Gunstein’s axe down beside him with a cold smile.
“Now, pick up your weapon. We should continue.”
“What… what did you do?”
Lucian chuckled at Gunstein’s words, which were squeezed out through the pain.
“Do you really not know? Or are you just pretending?”
“…”
“You’d better take better care of your axe. At this rate, how many more times do you think you can use it?”
Gunstein flinched and checked his axe. It was covered in cracks, looking as if the blade might shatter at any moment. Only then did Gunstein realize that Lucian had parried his axe swing with a sword—and that the sheer force of the impact had sent him flying through the air.
‘Damn it.’
Gunstein barely swallowed the curse rising in his throat. He had thought the boy was a newborn mouse that couldn't tell left from right, but he turned out to be a crouching predator. He realized he had messed with the wrong person, but he couldn't back down here. If he tucked his tail after being hit once, he could never call himself a warrior again.
“Fine, good. Let’s see what you’ve got.”
Gritting his teeth, Gunstein gripped the cracked axe tightly. He didn't know what kind of monster he was facing, but Gunstein was also a warrior known as a descendant of the dragon. He intended to show the boy that he wasn't someone to be openly ignored.
Thump.
“I yield.”
Gunstein knelt before Lucian. His initial resolve was nowhere to be found. His axe had shattered on the second blow, and everything after that had been a one-sided slaughter.
If Lucian had killed him instantly when he lost his axe, it wouldn't have been so shameful. But Lucian, claiming a duel must be fair, had discarded his own sword and proceeded to pummel Gunstein with his fists.
‘How does such a small body possess such monstrous strength…?’
Gunstein winced as he tried to lower his head. It felt as if several internal organs were damaged and multiple ribs were broken from the beating. Had his opponent not controlled his strength, his organs would have ruptured or a shattered bone would have pierced something vital long ago.
“You are a warrior. I failed to recognize your stature and committed an insolence. Please, forgive me.”
“The insolence was quite severe. So much so that I don't feel like forgiving you at all, even though you're on your knees.”
“…Then what will you do? Do you intend to kill me here?”
“Brother! Gack!”
The desperate cries of his suppressed subordinates erupted from behind. But before they could say more, they were subdued once again by Lucian’s companions.
Gritting his teeth at the sight, Gunstein looked up at Lucian.
“You are clearly the victor. You could kill me whenever you wish. I, too, am guilty of failing to recognize a warrior, so I will not hold a grudge. However.”
“However?”
“You are an outsider. If you spill the blood of a descendant before even entering the dragon’s domain, it will surely cause many problems.”
“Is that a threat?”
“How could a loser threaten a victor? Consider it advice. If you release me and treat me as a warrior, I will proclaim you a great warrior and…”
“There is no need for that.”
It was Helen who cut off Gunstein’s words. Before the startled Gunstein could say more, Helen’s cold explanation followed.
“He is one who failed to recognize a warrior and tried to enslave him, only to be subjugated in turn. Furthermore, since it was a one-on-one duel, it would not go against tradition even if you were to take his head here.”
“H-Hey now.”
“There is no need to worry about unnecessary misunderstandings. The Master himself will personally vouch for His Highness’s identity. Therefore, dispose of him as you see fit.”
“Helen! What on earth are you saying!?”
Gunstein shouted in horror. They weren't strangers, yet she was taking the stance that she didn't care whether he lived or died, rather than pleading for his life.
But the eyes Helen turned on Gunstein were colder than ever.
“You ignored my mediation, insulted the Master’s guest, and lost in a fair duel. Setting aside the fact that there’s no reason to keep you alive, there are plenty of reasons to kill you. What are you dissatisfied with?”
“No, that’s…”
Gunstein tried to retort but had to shut his mouth before he could even get a few words out. It was true that he had ignored the mediation out of his own greed, so no matter what he said, it was unlikely to be heard.
When no answer came for a while, Lucian gripped the sword he had momentarily set aside.
“Any last words?”
At the voice that held not a shred of hesitation, Gunstein squeezed his eyes shut. No matter how he thought about it, this wasn't the way to die. It wasn't a glorious death in battle against an enemy; he was about to be killed after trying to enslave an outside warrior and failing. He would be remembered for generations as ‘Gunstein the Fool,’ the idiot in stories told to children.
‘Dammit, there’s no other way.’
Taking a deep breath, Gunstein finally played his last card.
“It is my sin that I failed to recognize a great warrior. Since only you can wash away this sin, I wish to serve you and atone. Please, grant me your permission.”
“…?”
Lucian tilted his head at the unexpected proposal. From the sound of it, it seemed like Gunstein wanted to enter his service, but the timing was completely out of left field. If he wanted to be spared, shouldn't he have offered a reward first?
“Helen, what does this mean?”
“That is…”
Helen looked around with a surprised face and then pointed toward the back. It was a gesture asking to move to a place where they could speak more privately. Once they had retreated to a spot where their conversation wouldn't be overheard, Helen spoke.
“One who subjugates a warrior of another tribe gains the same status as that warrior within their tribe. It is a system where the status of the defeated warrior is stripped and given to the one who proved worthy. It is an ancient tradition created to prevent the wrath of a strong warrior and the resulting slaughter.”
“In other words, if that guy enters my service, I’ll receive the same level of treatment he had in his tribe?”
“That is correct.”
“And what exactly is his status?”
At Lucian’s question, Helen whispered into his ear.
“He is the son of the Chieftain.”