Chapter 92
Chapter 92
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 92
Chapter Title: Dragon King (3)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
●
Dawood Campbell was truly a strange man.
If someone asked Riru who he was, she wouldn't have anything more to say than that.
Just looking at what he was doing right now, out on the ocean where massive waves churned amid the storm, made it obvious.
"Throw in a side brake there. Turn the wheel 30 degrees to port."
"...What's a side brake?"
"Press the button on the left side of the helm."
It was like he'd been handling Tribal Alliance ships for over a decade.
She'd started out firing arrows everywhere to try and help, but now she sat there quietly with a sullen expression.
"..."
What a strange guy.
From the moment they met, he knew about the mana sails that only a handful in the Tribal Alliance could operate. And without any formal training, he handled the boat like a seasoned sailor—something even starting the engine would make novices fumble over.
The more she watched, the more she wondered where the bottom of his abilities lay.
And that naturally led to one thought.
'...Why is a guy like that so interested in me? Why treat me so well?'
She couldn't read his intentions.
Everything he did, from one to ten, seemed planned out. He consciously avoided meaningless actions.
So why go out of his way to treat her so...
Well, like this.
Like during his standoff with Luca, or when the emergency hit on the train.
Watching him treat her kindly without explanation felt downright absurd.
'What a jerk.'
She muttered it deliberately, but it didn't help her dislike him much.
To be honest, she and Casa Garda—chased out of the Tribal Alliance—were "burdens" at best, no matter how kindly you put it.
Overthrown power players were all like that, but especially when the current powers had personally booted them out. Getting involved would only bring trouble—it was obvious.
Yet this guy treated her like it was nothing.
He kept prioritizing her.
In the few days they'd spent together, she'd noticed something.
Whenever she showed any sign of negativity, he'd step in to scatter those feelings.
As if he absolutely hated seeing her angry.
"..."
How could she just blindly hate a guy like that?
Given her and Casa's current situation, avoiding them entirely wouldn't be strange. But he was this devoted.
-He's doing it because he likes you, isn't he?
-...Don't be ridiculous, Granny.
-It's not ridiculous. That's how men are. Most show it by quietly being good to you.
Her recent conversation with Casa floated up in her mind.
He'd known about Casa from the start and approached anyway. She'd been shocked hearing he'd earned her recognition and become her disciple—though she had no idea how.
-So you play your cards right and respond well. You have to hold onto him.
She'd been even more shocked when Casa said that.
Casa wasn't one to badmouth others behind their backs, but she rarely acknowledged anyone either.
Her standards were insanely high compared to others.
Even Riru—who could pulp top Imperial Academy students in seconds if she got close enough—was still just a "beginner who's barely shaken off the novice label" in Casa's eyes as a boxer.
-Hold onto him? What are you talking about?
-You're pretty enough. Use that however—snag a spot by his side. He's worth it.
-...Look, I get he's a weird guy.
Was this any way to talk to your granddaughter?
She remembered clutching her forehead, full of such feelings, as she replied.
-I don't know if he's as amazing as you say, Granny.
Maybe some resentment or jealousy mixed in.
-You tell me I'm barely past novice level, but brush off him seeing the end of your style in ten days?
Most of her daily grind—from dawn till dusk—was to perfect the striking art Casa hadn't completed: "Uppish."
The great chieftain once called the Fist Saint, the ultimate boxer. It was the style into which she'd poured her life.
The culmination of her life, struggles, efforts, and achievements.
Just one tiny step remained to completion.
At least, that's how Riru saw it.
Casa always self-depreciated that the step felt more distant than her lifetime of mastery.
-That's right.
-...
Which made it even harder to understand.
If it was such a distant achievement—even by Casa's own words—how could she set such an absurd condition on a guy who didn't know the first thing about martial arts until recently?
-That guy's clueless. Breathing, flow, forms, stances—why entrust the pinnacle of the striking art you've chased your whole life to someone like that—
-That's not what matters, Riru.
But Casa had dismissed her question with one sentence.
-Do you know why I never finished perfecting Uppish, Riru?
-...Why not?
-Because no one came to kill me anymore.
Casa's eyes had blazed as she said it—still vivid in Riru's memory.
Casa Garda's life had been filled with struggle.
Beating down whoever was in front of her, fighting to survive, battling another tomorrow.
-Fights are fiercest when you're fighting to survive. Before I thought myself complete, before I no longer needed to fight...no one charged at me like that anymore.
At some point, no one was left to knock down.
That's when those around her started calling her Great Chieftain.
-The guy who took my limbs? If I'd polished him right, he might've been useful. But honestly, that wasn't even a fight. I threatened the others' lives. He had no choice but to lose his arms and legs quietly, right?
-...
She talked about losing her limbs like tripping over a rock.
As Riru frowned recalling that night, Casa—puffing her pipe and chuckling—continued.
-And that Dawood guy? He can fill that gap. He's chosen the endless path of struggle himself. If he says ten days, he must have his reasons. I respect that. I'll just meet the bare minimum to let him shine.
...Did that spacey, dumb-looking guy deserve such grandiose praise?
Sure, he'd shown startling quick thinking and adaptability in certain situations that even impressed Riru. But most of her memories of Dawood were bizarre, weird, or just plain idiotic.
She couldn't fathom why a hegemon's leader would rate him so highly.
-Wanna bet on it?
-Bet?
-You don't hate the guy, right?
-...I never said that.
-My eyes aren't for show, Riru. Think hiding it by averting your gaze fools me?
-...
-All those other guys too scared to approach a girl like you, so you've got zero experience. How am I supposed to react when you play blind man's bluff to cover it—
-Ah, aaaah! Fine, just tell me the bet!
-He boldly told me he wants to get real close to you in ten days. All the way.
-...
She'd been so floored she could only gape.
That guy.
Actually said that?
-If I'm right, he's the type to pull it off.
Casa's cheeky grin floated before Riru's eyes.
-Let's see if he does or not. Whether you fall completely for a "nobody" like him.
No way that'd happen.
Absolutely not.
Riru puffed out her lips.
"...So."
Thinking about it more would just spike her irritation, so she spoke curtly.
"What's the deal with this sea king we're going after? How strong a beast is it?"
"Well, technically not a beast? More like... closer to a native creature."
That was his response.
"Better to make contact ahead of time. Makes things easier."
"...Easier how?"
"There's stuff like that. Someone down there keeps summoning nonsense."
"..."
His vague answer made Riru frown.
"...If he's weird, I'm rating him low."
She snapped fiercely.
"The top scorer in Hunter's Night gets to petition the Great Chieftain for one wish. That's my goal."
"Yeah. I can guess what you'd ask her for."
"..."
This guy always saw through everything.
As Riru furrowed her brow again, Dawood—who'd been smoothly directing Talion—seemed to remember something and frowned too.
"Problem is, uh... to meet this sea king, we need a 'sacrifice' or whatever."
"Sacrifice?"
"Like bait to summon him. Was gonna hunt a decent beast on the way... "
Dawood glanced around the sea.
Nothing. At all.
"...Weird. During Hunter's Night, these waters should be crawling with them. Why's it empty?"
He was right.
Normally, beast activity spiked several times over, with small ones popping up constantly and midsize ones occasionally. But now? Nothing. Like someone swept them all away beforehand.
"Nice blank look. Out hunting prey or what?"
Suddenly, those words drew everyone's eyes to that side.
A fleet of several ships, and at the lead vessel's prow stood a man with a house-sized build, smirking as he approached.
Riru knew the face.
"..."
Krun Ger-do.
Heir to the tribe worshiping the blue boars of Ger-do Plateau.
They dove into heavy crimes like drugs and trafficking without hesitation—Casa's faction had strongly opposed them.
They'd been the least cooperative with the Garda clan, always picking fights.
And now that she was exiled? Their thuggery would be even bolder.
"Even beasts can smell an exile a mile away, huh? Nothing comes near you."
"..."
Bullshit.
Cheap tricks. Probably scheming to tank her Hunter's Night score. Knowing how petty they were, it was par for the course.
"...Let's go elsewhere. No reason to deal with them."
She turned away sharply.
Normally, she'd charge over and smash his jaw.
But fighting now would just mean losses.
He was a chieftain candidate, after all. Compared to an exile like her, his standing in the Alliance was worlds apart.
Those on his ship were the tribe's top warriors, picked to guard the chieftain himself.
Letting emotions lead to a fight would just burden the guys with her.
"Running away? Riru Garda? Ha, haha!"
"..."
Riru sighed.
A deep breath to push down her anger.
Retreating here was right. Even for her, unaccustomed to holding back, she knew it rationally.
"Fitting for a worm who couldn't even protect her clan!"
If he hadn't said that, she probably would've.
Riru's movement halted abruptly.
Rage surged. A white-hot fury boiled up from her chest, scorching her mind.
She took a deep breath, calmed her thoughts a moment, then spoke.
"...What did you just say?"
"Don't know why you crawled back to Alliance lands, but scram before you see something ugly. No tribe takes in a traitorous bitch—"
Krun crumpled mid-sentence.
Someone had smashed a fierce hook into his jaw.
"Don't go flapping that loose mouth around."
"..."
"You might end up dead."
Riru stared blankly as Dawood—who'd leaped to their ship in an instant and clocked Krun—landed.
'...Again...!'
Here he goes again.
Why? Why again?
She was holding back, worried about causing trouble.
Like it was no big deal, like he'd handle the anger for her.
Picking a fight with someone where it'd obviously just be losses...!
-He's doing it because he likes you, isn't he?
'...So.'
Riru thought it inwardly.
No way. What's a guy like him see in someone like me?
A man this capable would do better with any other woman. Ridiculous.
-But it's not ridiculous. Men are like that. Most show it by quietly being good to you.
Yet.
Casa's words kept circling her head.
-Let's see if he does or not. Whether you fall completely for a "nobody" like him.
'No way that'll happen!'
She repeated it to herself.
Who knows.
"..."
If someone asked if she said it with full conviction.
She'd definitely squirm a bit.
●