Chapter 70
Chapter 70
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 70
Chapter Title: Ruby and Kunran
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Ruby spun the Goat King around once while he was chained. The beasts within ten steps around her all crashed into the Goat King at once and bounced off. The horses and sheep that collided flew up into the night sky.
The Goat King became like a stone dangling from a sling, kicking his own underlings away.
For a moment, the Goat King grabbed the chain with both hands and planted his two legs on the ground. His sharp hooves scraped the ground, producing a loud friction sound as the rotation stopped.
A tug-of-war ensued between the chain Ruby held and the chain attached to the goat's horns.
The Goat King panted heavily and said,
"I'm the king of these plains. Just as Batilan became the demon of the western world and ruled it, I too will rule! The only difference is that the ruler is a true demon!"
"Shout it out loud while you can. Pretty soon, I'll shove each of your horns into your nostrils one by one and make you the king of nostrils."
Ruby pulled on the chain, but the Goat King braced himself with his legs on the ground.
"Hmm? Finally using some kingly strength?"
Ruby taunted.
"It's power I've waited three years for, prepared for three years, and stored for three years! You think I'd crumble against a little kid like you?"
The Goat King lowered his horns and charged at Ruby.
Even though she was prepared, it was a fast charge that was hard to dodge. The sharp horns tore through Ruby's collar as they passed. Ruby used the charging momentum against him, grabbed the Goat King's head, and threw it backward. With that speed, he flew an enormous distance before crashing down.
The Goat King hit the ground headfirst with a dull thud. Then his back hit, followed by his head again before he finally stopped. Black blood poured from where one horn had snapped, covering his face.
In that gap, the Goat King's beast underlings attacked Ruby.
Ruby grabbed small sheep with one hand and threw them at charging sheep, then used the chain to snag two horses at once and hurl them at other horses. In that way, the demons of the plains crashed into each other and fell away.
Ruby leaped into the midst of the beast pack and punched indiscriminately. Struck sheep, plains pumas, wolves, foxes, and horses soared into the air before crashing to the ground. The beasts' pitiful screams cut off the moment they hit.
Ruby swung the chain, grabbing whatever it caught and hurling it at the fallen Goat King. The Goat King, who had barely managed to rise covered in blood, was struck by his own underlings and toppled backward again.
"Any more?"
Ruby scanned the surroundings, then approached the Goat King.
"Nope. You're the last one, goat boy."
The Goat King tried to rise with difficulty but failed and knelt. He breathed raggedly and muttered.
"My, my power isn't all there is to it. With this much strength, the Kuman Plains should be no problem, they said...
Ruby sneered.
"Then hurry up and use your real power. Then I'll get serious too...
Just then, Jade shouted from behind.
"Hold on, Ruby."
"Why? You're not hesitating to kill a demon, are you?"
Jade approached Ruby. Her face was smeared with dirt because she'd been pressed so flat to the ground until just before.
"What did that goat just say?"
Ruby tilted her head and replied.
"That his power isn't all there is to it."
"And after that."
"Oh!"
Ruby realized what Jade meant. So as she walked toward the Goat King, she asked on her behalf.
"Hey, Goat King. Which 'higher-up' told you the Kuman Plains would be no problem?"
The Goat King seemed about to vomit blood, then suddenly turned and started fleeing.
"They're all tricks."
Ruby chained a massive boulder on the ground and hurled it like a sling.
The Goat King, who had run about twenty steps, took it straight to the head and collapsed again. When he rose, his dangling horn had completely broken off.
As Ruby approached, the Goat King lowered his stance and charged once more to ram her. Even with one horn already broken and blood spraying like a fountain, he didn't care.
This time, Ruby didn't dodge. She grabbed the remaining horn with both hands. She was pushed back a few steps, but she easily stopped the Goat King.
"So, what was that again?"
Ruby lifted the Goat King by the horn and slammed him headfirst to the ground upside down. Another dull thud echoed.
"Batilan, the demon of the western world?"
The Goat King rose, twisting his bloodied face.
"Yes! That was when the Kun nomads were true warriors!"
Black smoke swirled around the Goat King and scattered into the surroundings.
"I, Gotran, king of these plains! I will return the Kun tribe to that era. I will awaken the demonic energy in these warriors turned grazing beasts, and bring true terror to the western world. I will be their savior! The Kun herdsmen will call me the true Kunran succeeding Batilan, the king of terror."
"You've got a lot to say, but I already settled that debate with the tyrant."
Ruby's eyes glowed red.
"...Come to think of it, didn't we count to a hundred?"
Listening closely, Barshu's daughter couldn't count past 39, hesitating after only reaching a second 39.
"Hmm, Barshu won't do. Can't even teach his daughter how to count."
Ruby charged and punched the Goat King in the face. He seemed to emit tremendous energy for a final burst, but in truth, just standing was all he could manage. Of course, Ruby knew that.
Ruby twisted off the Goat King's last remaining horn sideways. The horn was connected to his skull, so not only did it snap, but the skull shattered too.
Ruby smashed the goat's head with her fist. When she pulled her fist out of his face, goat blood splattered everywhere.
As she went for another blow, Ruby stopped.
"Huh?"
Jade called from afar.
"What's wrong? You okay?"
"Goat's dead."
"Dead?"
"Yeah. Thought he wouldn't die... but he did?"
Ruby scratched her cheek, looking down at the Goat King whose head was half blown off.
"You okay? Everyone else?"
Ruby checked the surroundings as she asked. Saf, Hur, and Barshu were still sprawled on the ground.
From this angle, the hidden children weren't visible, but their breathing could be heard.
Their voices faintly reached her too.
"What's happening?"
"Be quiet. We have to stay here."
"More than that, what's after 39?"
"After 39 is 28...
Ruby wiped the blood trickling into her eyes from her forehead and said,
"Barshu. The kids are over that hill."
"Kids?"
Barshu shot up and asked.
"Your daughter too."
At Ruby's words, he widened his eyes. Then he frantically looked around.
"Which hill? That one?"
"That one."
"Ah, got it."
Immediately, Barshu and Hur ran in the direction Ruby pointed.
Jade and Saf came to stand beside Ruby.
Jade just stared down at the Goat King without speaking, so Ruby asked,
"You know his name?"
"Ramatus. But no point now. I was going to use a capture verse to find out his superior demon."
Jade said.
"Sorry. This flowery calyx insulted Batilan, so I lost it."
Ruby apologized in a voice with zero regret.
As they watched Ramatus's body slowly burn away, Jade said,
"Good job. But a bit disappointing."
"What?"
"That you killed him without enough suffering."
"That one's on my mind a little too."
This time, Ruby spoke with a hint of regret.
♦
"But why did he die?"
Ruby looked down at Ramatus, now reduced to ashes, and asked.
"Because you blew his head off."
Jade answered.
"I figured a demon like this wouldn't die even if you blew his head off."
"Seems unrelated to a demon's rank or strength. Among the desert demons, there was one you decapitated that still moved."
"Same in my ancient memories. Some survive with just a tail, others die from losing just the tail. No idea the difference. Angels probably know, but they never share info with us."
Ruby said, gazing at the site where the Goat King's army lay utterly annihilated.
Once Ramatus died, the other plains beasts rotted away like corpses abandoned for months.
"I think I get it a little."
Saf said.
"What do you know?"
Ruby asked dismissively.
Saf answered calmly.
"I saw something like candle flames...
"Candle flames?"
"Not actual candles, so not candles, and too small for torches... Anyway, it started when Ramatus went all out in the fight...
Saf flailed his hands as he haltingly explained.
"...Flames lit up simultaneously on the left and right sides of his head. I thought it was just some demon magic, but when you punched him, the flames went out one by one, and when both were extinguished, Ramatus stopped moving."
"I didn't see any. What about Beishuper or Krauks?"
Ruby tilted her head and asked.
"No flames for Beishuper. And with Krauks, the fight was too intense and fast to observe closely."
"Then next time, try to look more carefully. If it's real, you can do more than just learn demon names—you could figure out how to physically kill them."
Saf nodded.
His expressionless face showed no particular joy, as always.
"No injuries?"
Saf extended a hand to Ruby.
"Nope. Not my blood."
Ruby wiped her forehead with her own hand, rejecting his touch.
Saf retracted his rejected hand and said,
"I know. You're tough. I just wanted to wipe that blood off."
"Don't touch demon blood. Could harm you."
"Then I'll burn it off with purifying light."
"I'm fine, so use it on yourself!"
Ruby waved him off irritably, then pointed to the horizon opposite the rising sun.
"People coming. Kun tribesfolk, looks like."
Jade still couldn't see them.
Ruby explained instead.
"They're geared for battle. All armed."
Jade spotted Hur and Barshu coming over the hill. About thirty kids followed behind them.
"Told them to wait in the village, but they couldn't just sit tight, huh."
Some sharp-eyed kids already spotted the approaching adults in the distance and ran that way.
"Mommy!"
"Daddy!"
Soon, Jade could see the nomads too. Some on horses, some walking.
Just as Ruby said, battle-ready.
They spotted the running kids and quickened their march. Horsemen spurred their mounts, walkers broke into runs.
One kid's mom leaped off her galloping horse like a bird and embraced her rushing daughter. Barshu's wife.
Other kids followed, leaping into family arms.
Barshu approached Jade with a weary face and said,
"Truly grateful. Don't know how to repay this grace."
Jade said,
"Neither Ruby nor I did it for reward."
"Repaying grace isn't the same as payment. If there's any way we can help, just say. At least let me treat you to a meal."
"Thank you, but we must leave now."
"Then let me guide your next journey. No one knows the ways out of the Kuman Plains better than I, wherever you're headed."
"No. Barshu, shouldn't you take the kids back to the village?"
Barshu hesitated, at a loss for words.
Ruby beckoned.
"Talk later. Go hug your wife."
Barshu smiled, nodded, and hurried to his wife embracing their tearful daughters.
Barshu kissed his wife and hugged his two daughters once more.
Other Kun nomads came to greet Jade, Saf, and Ruby like Barshu.
Some kids introduced Ruby to their moms. The Kun women all tried to hug Ruby in thanks. But Ruby refused them all.
"Demon blood on me. You gonna kiss your kids with those lips? If you want to thank me, do it from five steps away! Scram!"
They obediently bowed their heads from five steps away and left.
Ruby didn't forget to warn them.
"Go wash in clean water when you get back. Ancient ruins crawl with bad energy, and you were there half a day. Got it? Answer me, you flower-brained idiots!"
Ruby finally snapped at the kids.
Her fury that terrified desert and plains demons didn't faze the kids at all.
The moms answered they'd wash and withdrew. The kids refused to leave their parents' sides.
Ruby crossed her arms, watching the scene, and said to Jade,
"I met Batilan once."
Jade was startled.
"You? When? Ah, stupid question. If it was Batilan's time, about 800 years ago...
As Jade fumbled the math, Ruby summed it up.
"Don't remember details. Probably during my quest to find the sage who taught me my true nature."
Batilan asked,
"Where you headed, traveler?"
Ruby replied,
"Searching the world for the wisest man. You're the king who knows these plains, right? Know where he is?"
"All old folks are wise. But that kind of sage? No clue."
"Too bad."
At Ruby's words, Batilan laughed heartily and said,
"How about seeking the elves? They know everything. I learned strategy, tactics, and mindset from them."
"Useful info. Thanks."
Ruby started to leave but paused and asked,
"By the way, you planning to keep pushing into the western continent? You'll die fighting like that. Good advice since you gave some—why not stop expanding here? What's with all the greed?"
"Greed...
Batilan laughed and admitted,
"True. Western riches will enrich us, gold thicken our walls, wine gladden us, clothes warm us. Yeah, I'm greedy."
"Greed kills. You'll die too. Western nations aren't united now, but if they do, you can't stop them."
"I know. I'll die when that happens."
"Dead is dead."
"Humans all die. But the fruit trees I grow, my kids and theirs will tend. I want to secure land for my trees to grow, not steal others'."
"You stole gold."
"Gold's not fruit. Just expensive metal."
"No wordplay! I'm actually worried for you."
Batilan laughed heartily and said,
"I grew eating fruit my parents raised. So I must protect trees for my kids. Every parent does. I'm just doing it bigger. If you knew the taste your parents gave you, wouldn't you want to pass it to your kids?"
Ruby said proudly,
"Nope, don't know. Never tasted it."
"No animal is born without a mother."
"Not me. I exist alone."
"Pity, then you won't know that taste."
"Don't need to! I need to know who I am. Then I'll gain enlightenment tastier than fruit."
"Let's see if you do."
Batilan laughed like he'd already won the bet.
Ruby shot back,
"It will happen!"
Ruby watched the Kun kids and parents holding hands and walking away, then said,
"Those kids will grow eating fruit their moms raised. And pass the very same fruit trees to their own kids."
Ruby continued, tears flowing silently.
"When Batilan told me that, I thought it was stupid. Now I think I get it. But at the same time, I don't. Because I've never tasted that fruit. Even if I did, I don't remember. No mom. No dad."
Ruby covered her face with demon-bloodied hands.
"I told Batilan 'it'll happen like that.' But it didn't. And it won't. Because I don't know fruit's taste. Never tasted it once."
Saf quietly embraced Ruby's bloodied back.
"I heard your story and never thought that, but you had no parents either. No parents, so you don't know who you are?"
Ruby turned and asked Saf,
"You have no mom either, Saf?"
"Yeah. None."
"No dad?"
"Yeah. None."
"So you don't know who you are either?"
"Yeah. Don't."
"Don't know fruit's taste?"
"Yeah. Don't."
"You're like me."
Ruby sank to the ground, and Saf sank with her, still embracing her back.
Saf used purifying light to burn away all the demon blood on Ruby's body.
The rising eastern sun illuminated the plains, enveloping the two wrapped in purifying light.
'I thought Father Danel matched us to fight demons... but that wasn't it...
Jade knelt before them, embracing both.
The purifying light enveloping them shifted to cover Jade too.
'It's about matching hearts. So we can rely on each other.'
The three huddled together, sitting still for a while.
Until Ruby's tears stopped.