Chapter 69
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 69
Chapter Title: Challenge
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After the covenant was sealed, the Nol tribe returned the captured prisoners and half of the harvested Tarasques.
Losing half the Tarasques was a massive blow, but... Conrad and Edwin didn't dare raise any objections. They hastily regrouped the remnants of the expeditionary force like men fleeing for their lives.
Woojin gave the survivors a quick once-over.
...Good, the saintess is still alive.
Vines blanketed the dirt floor, catching his eye. Plants grown by the Saintess Cecilia of Flora. It looked like she'd used them to bind the Nols' ankles and buy some time.
The saintess surviving was a relief. If Cecilia had died by some mishap, it would've sparked major conflict with the Church of Prosperity.
Boemont made it through somehow too, and Cornelius is the only top brass who bit the dust?
The old viper's death was unexpected. Woojin had figured he'd slithered away early or gotten captured. Why'd he die?
He was a little curious about the reason, but...
He had no intention of digging into it. He wasn't all that interested, and he sure as hell wasn't going to mourn the guy. There were mountains of other things demanding his attention.
"You're sending a delegation?"
When Woojin asked, Braknak replied politely.
"Yes. We'd like to try making contact with humans."
The Nol tribe knew nothing of the human world, and humans knew zilch about the Nols. So, sending a Nol delegation to the fortified city beyond the wall would give both races time to learn about each other.
It was a solid proposal, for sure. But one thing nagged at him.
"Going south is one of your tribe's taboos, isn't it? You sure about this?"
The natives of the Demonic Realm, Nols included, treated venturing south as forbidden. When Woojin pointed it out, Braknak nodded like it was no big deal.
"The taboo's already broken. After we lost territory to the Old One, the whole tribe headed south."
...Fair point.
The Old One's range had expanded beyond its old limits. That was anything but good news.
"The other tribes in the same boat?"
"The snakes seem to be hanging on somehow, but the rest? No clue. They're all such prickly bastards—haven't heard from them in ages."
Braknak didn't seem to know much either. It was a shame not to get more intel, but what could you do?
Even humans struggled to understand each other's cultures across borders. And these were Demonic Realm natives—different species altogether. That kind of gap meant tribes rarely mingled.
Braknak beckoned his underlings. Three Nols approached.
"These three will be the delegates."
"Pretty strong bunch."
"Yes. They have to represent the tribe, after all."
Braknak introduced them one by one.
"This one's Zhaka. I've put him in charge of the delegation."
Vanguard Zhaka.
A lean, agile warrior. He'd racked up major feats in the last battle. Sneaking in on a bull beast and peppering the priests with thorns—impressive stuff.
"This is Brotul. He's got a bunch of useful tricks up his sleeve, so he'll come in handy."
Shaman Brotul.
The shaman who'd overseen the covenant ritual during the deal with Conrad and Edwin. Looked like they'd brought him along for his adaptability.
"And lastly... this is Logar. The warrior who guarded the southern gate."
Gatekeeper Logar.
No long explanation needed. Logar grinned at him.
"Jin, good to see you again."
"...Logar. How many times have I told you to show respect to the Guardian?"
Braknak bared his fangs. Logar shrugged it off.
"Cut me some slack, chief. We're not used to all that bowing and scraping."
"Honestly, yeah."
Zhaka yawned in agreement. Nol warriors obeyed orders, but they didn't bow to anyone but the chieftain. Everyone else was just competition to overcome.
You had to beat superiors to climb the ranks. That's why the Nol warriors eyed him with competitive glints.
Braknak fidgeted awkwardly.
"Sorry about that. They're on the young side..."
"It's fine. Kinda fun, actually."
Standing on ceremony was a pain anyway. Woojin chuckled and met their gazes.
The trip back won't be boring.
If anything, it was a plus.
"Tell the chieftain I said hello."
"Yes, sir."
With that exchange, they parted ways with Braknak. Woojin returned to the expeditionary force with the Nol delegates in tow. Conrad stared in disbelief.
"No way... those monsters are coming with us?"
"They say it's an embassy for peace."
"Even so, that's..."
Conrad trailed off, swallowing his words. With the oath he'd already sworn, one wrong move could strip him of his sanctity.
Woojin chimed in like he was daring him to try.
"Yeah? And?"
"...Nothing."
Conrad groaned. He hated this situation with a passion, but he couldn't speak freely. It was driving him mad.
In truth, most of the expeditionary force wouldn't welcome the Nols. They'd been enemies just a short while ago.
"Still, having the Nols join us isn't all bad. Even setting aside diplomacy, there's a big upside."
Beasts avoided tangling with Nols. Get on a Nol tribe's bad side, and they'd rampage through the forest, smashing everything in sight.
The force was badly weakened from the last clash. They'd been braced for multiple ambushes on the way back, but the Nols put that worry to rest.
"Make this public. Ease the troops' minds about the Nols tagging along."
"...Fine."
Conrad started to argue, then remembered the oath and relented. An oath in a god's name wasn't child's play. The archbishop had to cooperate fully.
With the expedition a failure, he'd already lost political ground. Breaking the oath and losing his sanctity on top of that? He'd be drummed out of the Church of Wisdom without a second thought.
Led by Conrad, the Church of Wisdom priests announced it to the force.
The soldiers were skeptical at first, but with no night raids happening, they gradually accepted the Nol escorts.
Everyone's exhausted. Too wiped out to start unnecessary fights...
Few picked fights with the Nols. Soldiers and knights alike just wanted to get home.
The return march was relatively smooth. The force trudged south.
"...Boring."
Logar spoke up out of the blue. All this walking with no scraps must've grated on him.
"Hey, Jin. Nothing to do, nice and quiet. How about accepting my challenge?"
"I'm busy."
Woojin replied while staring at his paper, quill in hand. He was drafting a report for the Church Alliance himself.
Conrad and Rolland would submit their own, but Woojin wasn't taking chances. He'd pull out all his knowledge to stress the importance of the truce.
"Rex. Go play with him."
"...Woof?"
Suddenly called, Rex flinched. He gave Woojin a dubious look, glancing between his face and the hulking Nol.
Me fight that monster?
That's what his eyes said. Woojin smirked and tossed a line at Logar.
"Subdue this wolf, and I'll play with you."
"Easy enough."
Logar oozed confidence. Rex's tail drooped like he was cowed... so Woojin leaned in and whispered.
"Don't wuss out. You'll be fine."
With that, he shoved the wolf forward to face the Nol warrior.
Woojin picked up his quill again.
Krunch—!
A weird crunch from behind. He couldn't see while writing, but Rex had unleashed his tentacles and armored up in stone hide.
Stone whips cracked like thunder.
Craaaack!!
A thunderous boom echoed. Something splintered, followed by the groan of a tree tilting over.
"...What? That's way too strong for a wolf."
Logar muttered, sounding rattled. He'd realized this wasn't an easy mark. Rex, surprised by his own hit, blinked in shock.
Woojin scribbled away and tossed out a line.
"That's the bare minimum. Think about how many neidans you've scarfed down."
Throughout the expedition, the force had hunted countless beasts. Woojin had secretly butchered the corpses for their cores, all fed to the wolves.
Rex had gotten more than the others, plus a gargoyle core to boot. He had the power to hold his own anywhere.
...But there was one fatal flaw.
Lack of experience.
He'd grown fat on Woojin's handouts, so Rex was getting pushed around in the close-quarters brawl with the Nol warrior. Logar, meanwhile, couldn't pierce the wolf's stone whips and was at a standstill.
Neither could pin the other?
After a fierce exchange, the wolf and hyena-like Nol backed off like a truce. Logar trudged over, grumbling.
"Subduing that wolf without killing it is a nightmare. How do I even...?"
Breaking through four stone whips to land a hit was brutal. When Logar sought advice, Woojin answered without looking up.
"Try harder."
"Easier said than done... Could you subdue that wolf?"
Logar eyed him skeptically. Woojin smirked and raised his right hand, index and thumb forming a finger gun.
"Bang."
Thud.
Woojin mimed shooting, and Rex flopped belly-up on the dirt. Logar tilted his head at the sight.
"...Shaman trick?"
"Nah."
Woojin rummaged in his pouch and pulled out jerky. Rex bounded over and scarfed it down.
Like a well-trained hound. Logar called foul.
"That's not subduing with strength."
"Is it?"
Let's test it.
Woojin swung his arm and pointed his finger gun at Logar beside him.
"Bang."
"..."
Logar stared down at the finger in silence, face blank with disbelief. Then outrage crept in—he felt insulted.
"Hey, you in the mood to joke around or—"
Logar trailed off. He looked up... and met eyes that froze him mid-sentence.
A chill raced up his spine. Danger. The Nol warrior gulped instinctively.
...What do I do?
He felt like a mouse before a cat. Instinct screamed warnings, but he couldn't move. Anything he did felt wrong.
Tormented, Logar suddenly recalled Rex's flop onto the dirt. Do that.
As he started to drop low...
"...Alright, that's enough."
Woojin grinned and grabbed Logar's arm, yanking him back upright. The Nol stood there awkwardly.
"You held up well. You've definitely got talent... but don't rush it. There's a reason Braknak didn't challenge me."
Logar nodded slowly.
"...Yeah. I see."