Chapter 185: A Welcome Reunion
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 185: A Welcome Reunion
Once I had my answer, it was time to act. Some time had passed since I began moving back and forth between our settlement and the southern part of the East.
The Green Skin recruits' training was always overflowing with vigor and agony, and the other clan members were all fulfilling their duties in their respective roles. Ragia was no exception. What was somewhat amusing was the news that Ragia and Gark had recently started training together.
Perhaps as a result, I could feel Ragia growing stronger by the day. Of course, it wasn't a dramatic growth you could see with the naked eye, but she was making steady progress, like an ant.
The Goff Clan and the Black Spear Clan, for their part, were focused on developing the eastern forest. They hadn't managed to push into the fog-shrouded regions, but they continued their usual routine of hunting and capturing the surrounding magical beasts and seemed to be searching for any species that could be tamed, like the Giant Wolves.
Unlike them and their spectacular lives, my daily routine was quite simple: I roamed the area, scouting for suitable humans.
Not as prey for me, of course. To be precise, I was looking for those who were suitable to be hunted.
I was scouting humans, putting myself in the shoes of the Spider Clan, of Park Hyeri.
I knew exactly what she was looking for.
A group that wasn't too small, whose members weren't too low-level, and who would put on a good show when hunted.
That last criterion was the most important.
‘Jeong.’
I was looking for a clan or a small guild bound by deep affection [Jeong], friendship, camaraderie, or familial love. A group like the Greenbelt Clan in the capital, for instance. But they were currently away with Jang Ye Ri for a meeting, so they were out of the question.
Even if they had been present, we were allied with the capital, so I couldn't use them as bait.
It wasn't that there were no potential targets, but whether due to bad luck or because they didn't meet Park Hyeri's criteria, the Spider never showed herself.
One day, while hiding in the small city of Ariha—known for having the second-largest population after Somorah—and checking every group that left, I finally found a party that seemed to fit the criteria perfectly.
They numbered around forty, and their skill level didn't look bad. Judging by the deer-shaped insignia on their chests, they were a clan. They weren't particularly strong compared to me, but their fundamentals looked solid, and their potential for growth seemed quite high.
They were, say, a little stronger than I was back in the Forest Worm's Burrow.
The main reason I thought they were perfect bait was their apparent closeness. The man who appeared to be the Clan Master and the female priestess beside him looked like a couple, and most of the others seemed to treat each other like family.
As they were talking amongst themselves, I concealed my presence and channeled magic into my ears to listen. Naturally, they wouldn't have noticed my presence.
“It's been a while since our last expedition, Oppa.”
“It’s more accurate to say the conditions are finally right. The entire East has been in turmoil lately... I hear that forces loyal to Jang Ye Ri are still clashing with the remnants of Jang Gi Young's faction, so the situation isn't exactly stable. For those like us who belong to neither side, we can finally breathe a little easier, but...”
“I was getting so frustrated being cooped up in the city... Still, this is great.”
Their stance on the East's political situation was likely neutral. The last group I tailed also belonged to no faction, and I had been a bit disappointed when, surprisingly, nothing happened to them.
“Hyung, we're heading to the Great Swamp, right?”
“That's right.”
The destination was good. It was definitely within the operational range Jang Ye Ri had identified for Park Hyeri. They left the city completely and entered the forest, and I began to follow them slowly. They called each other ‘Hyung’ or ‘Oppa’ and seemed to have a brotherly bond, but their discipline didn't appear lax.
A group built on trust. The kind of group that started as a social clan, gradually expanded its influence, and was now building a reputation... The feeling wasn't bad, so I decided to observe them a little longer.
After marching for a long while, they sat down and took out some jerky to eat. It seemed they were taking a break to manage their stamina just before reaching their destination.
“Let's rest here for a bit.”
It was commendable that they didn't let their guard down even while taking a short break. The magician cast several layers of protective spells, the archers set traps, and the warriors kept their shields at the ready.
Such meticulous actions are what keep a party safe from harm. They continued to chew their jerky and converse with one another.
“Hyung-nim, by any chance, have you heard the rumors about this area?”
“What rumors...?”
“Ah, you know the one. The monster clan said to be located somewhere in the far East.”
“Ah, I've heard of them. Said to be a mix of Ogres, Trolls, and a Demon... For a monster clan, their quietness was a bit unsettling.”
“I only heard this as a rumor from a neighboring town... but they said to be especially careful if you run into the Demon.”
“Is that so?”
“I've heard about him too, Oppa. They say there's a strange Demon who steals expensive weapons. There were so many victims, it caused quite a stir.”
As they chatted, the topic suddenly turned to me. A weapon-stealing Demon appearing in the East—it had to be me.
“They say he's been quiet lately, as if he's turned over a new leaf. Funny, isn't it?”
As I watched, the staff held by the priestess caught my eye. Just as I was thinking that if Park Hyeri didn't show up, I might as well relieve them of their weapons to make up for it, I felt something.
A presence made itself known. It was quite far off. The humans hadn't noticed yet. I pushed my magic to its limits, channeling it into my eyes and ears, and began to slowly scan my surroundings.
‘The Spider?’
‘No.’
There were too many for it to be the Spider. Thinking it might be a Hunting Dog clan, I shot off at high speed toward the source of the presence. It was some distance away, so I increased my speed. If something went wrong, all my efforts would be wasted. I had to deal with these ‘hunting dogs’ before they could get to my bait.
I didn't know what might happen next, so I had to conserve my magic and engage them with the minimum amount necessary. As I rushed toward them, what came into view wasn't humans, but Green Skins.
The one at the front, who looked like their chieftain, watched me approach with frightening momentum and spoke.
“Krrrrk... Blood Dagger?”
He stared at me with a somewhat dazed expression. They must have traveled quite far in search of a battle. His face was familiar, but I couldn't recall his name. He was likely the chieftain of a small clan. The very chieftain who had cheered when I was giving Giant Scream a lesson—of sorts—and had come to ask me questions afterward.
I felt the bloodlust that had surged through me instantly begin to cool. There was no need to fight. I spoke to him.
“It's been a while. Were you hunting?”
“To be precise, we had just found our prey and were heading toward them. Are those humans your target as well, Blood Dagger?”
I'd been worried he might pick a fight immediately, but he didn't seem to be that kind of thick-headed Green Skin. On the contrary, his expression showed pure goodwill.
“Thanks to you, Blood Dagger, new recruits are being forged into proper Green Skins. It is all thanks to you.”
“It was nothing.”
I had introduced them to new concepts, and as the chieftain of the largest settlement in the East, it seemed natural he would show me goodwill.
“Since it's come to this, how about it? Hunting together doesn't sound bad...”
“I would love nothing more than to fight alongside you, but this is a matter for my clan, and a personal one at that. I'm sorry, but would you be willing to yield those humans to me?”
From my perspective, I had spoken as sincerely and politely as I could. A clan matter, and a personal one. To the Orc before me, it was a simple hunt, but to me, those humans were important. At my words, the Orc readily nodded.
“Hmm... If you put it that way... I will yield.”
“As thanks, I will repay you with enough magical beast meat to feed 120 people. You can collect it from the Brother's Land in the East.”
His strength seemed decent, but as the leader of a small tribe, he likely faced food shortages. He wouldn't be able to satisfy his lust for battle right now, but in return, he would receive enough meat to feed his clan members generously. A wise chieftain would have to accept. Besides, he was wise enough to have sought my counsel before.
“I accept.”
As expected, the Orc chieftain nodded. It was a rather amusing situation. The Orc chieftain then led his clan away and disappeared from view.
Aside from the promise of meat, he seemed a bit disappointed about missing the fight, but it looked like he yielded out of respect for me. We didn't live by strictly defined hunting grounds, but there were unspoken rules.
This area was likely a hunting ground he considered part of his territory. My sudden appearance was no different from some random Green Skin showing up in his woods. Since the Great Tribe Leader had entrusted the East to me, I figured this was his way of showing respect.
It was then.
“Prepare for battle!”
“Prepare for battle!”
The shouts belonged to the humans I had been watching.
‘They're being attacked.’
I pushed as much magic into my ears as I could, but the screams of the clan with the insignia were so loud that I couldn't hear anything else.
It definitely wasn't a magical beast. If a beast had attacked, I should have heard its roars.
I ran before I could think. My breath grew ragged.
My eyes became bloodshot.
My entire body tensed, and sweat dripped from the sheer tension.
“Aaaaargh!”
A scream pierced my ears, signaling the fight had already begun. I smiled. It was because I heard a familiar sound. They seemed to be resisting, but they were on a completely different level. If it was indeed Park Hyeri, she would be toying with them.
She had done the same thing in the Forest Worm's Burrow. She observes each one's reaction, killing them slowly, one by one. The main dish is saved for last. The screams hadn't died down yet. I could hear curses and the crackle of magic from all directions.
I tore through the swamp and forest, running at full speed.
The scene grew closer.
Even without channeling magic, I could hear the sound of blood splattering amidst the screams.
The doll I had missed so damn much kept coming into view. Without realizing it, I unleashed my magic at full power and bared my fangs.
Her body was unchanged from the first time we met.
I saw Park Hyeri's face as she looked my way, her expression one of mild surprise. She stopped what she was doing, letting her sword hang loosely as her mouth fell open. It was a face I had missed down to my very bones. A face I had held in my mind for over three years.
I stopped and began to survey the scene.
Some of them were already dead, sprawled on the ground, while the surviving humans looked utterly confused. A murderer from the Spider Clan in front of them, and a demon radiating magic behind them. It would be stranger if they weren't confused.
But they were already beneath my notice.
The only thing in my mind was the human standing before me.
I raised Levatain and opened my mouth.
“Bloody vengeance...”
They were the words I had buried in my heart ever since the death of my brothers.