Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: Encounter (3)
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Leaving the corpse of a magic beast on the level of the Night Lord unattended causes all sorts of problems. The surrounding environment gets contaminated by the rotting mana, or strange phenomena erupt. Other magic beasts scavenging bits of the corpse while wandering around end up even stronger.
That said, he couldn't just hand it over to someone or sell it for money. He had disposed of it completely anyway, since he needed to activate the seventh rune.
The meat was grilled or steamed, the hide was tanned, and the bones were boiled down to extract every last bit of marrow, providing meals that lasted for months. The scraps left over were tossed to Satchpi, which was why the beast was now 1.5 times bulkier than other karangal.
"You want the dragon's corpse?"
"Huh? You're still up, Raggedfoot bro?"
As he pondered whether to tell them the truth, Harald sat up beside him. In his arms was the body pillow Meb had given him, which he was hugging in his sleep.
He stared intently at Meb's delicate features illuminated by the campfire light, then nodded and spoke.
"If you want it, become my little brother's wife."
"Pardon?"
He should've knocked this guy out with a liquor bottle. This time, he dragged him off to the side and warned him not to spout nonsense.
It was rude to the other party, especially since they had only met today. Of course, he had a point about the dragon's corpse. But for the man who had personally set his sights on Serath to flip like a pancake and try to pair him off with another woman was incredibly rude.
—Serath? Who's that?
He'd forgotten the moment he received that pillow.
—More importantly, Ivar, as a senior in life, let me give you some advice: if you don't want to be henpecked even after you get old, it's best to marry someone young and youthful. Look at the Winter Witch. She's past her prime and still unmarried, which is why she's so vicious. Olgen's the same. My one regret is that if I was going to take her as a wife, I should've done it before meeting you.
It fell on deaf ears. If anything, he ended up having to listen to Harald's complaints.
After a bit of bickering and returning, Meb was sitting there waiting for them. The moment she saw him, she blinked rapidly in affirmation.
"Sure."
"Sure?"
"Yes, as long as the price is right. I know my own value."
Though her life had been threatened from birth due to the Twin Souls, Meb had never once used herself as a weapon against her sister. She could have scarred her own body or gambled with her life as collateral, but she was a merchant through and through.
The most valuable commodity in her hands. The option of damaging herself was the absolute last thing she wanted. Thanks to that, she'd survived this long, so it was only natural that anyone who wanted her had to pay the appropriate price.
"What if someone who truly loves you appears?"
"That'd be a profit. What I ask is what I get, so I always act with that in mind."
"Even if you fall for him?"
"Merchants don't move on emotion. There might be some variance, but I won't discount too much. Three gold coins, maybe? That's already generous."
An interesting mindset. In any case, he had no intention of taking her as a wife, just as Harald had suggested. She seemed to have firm standards of her own, so this was effectively a refusal. If anything, it was a relief.
"Forget it, go to sleep."
"Yes, good night then."
He caught a brief nap as dawn was almost breaking.
And the next day. To seriously hunt for the Horn of Purity, the adventurers and warriors joined forces.
"Doesn't it appear by the lakeside under the full moon?"
"Hmph, you think magic beasts pop up and vanish like ghosts? We're gonna find its nest and ambush it."
Kara began the search, claiming that on nights when the moonlight grew brighter, the beast's power strengthened, making it harder to catch. Was it sheer coincidence? It wasn't long before they spotted the Horn of Purity.
Atop cozy rocks where warm sunlight filtered through trees growing along the ravine, it slumbered comfortably.
"Should we all rush it together?"
"No, brute force like that won't let us tame it."
Unlike his Soul Devour, Kara's Ancestral Power didn't require her to personally fight and defeat the magic beast. However, since communion was necessary, each beast had specific conditions that needed to be met.
When she placed her hand on her third rune, the condition flowed into her mind. It was to touch the horn of that unicorn...-like magic beast.
"They say the Horn of Purity only accepts pure virgins whose minds haven't been tainted. That's why it sends out stray thoughts if you get close."
"Stray thoughts?"
"Yeah, like posing a riddle. It only lets you touch the horn if you fail to answer three times."
Not even asking for the correct answer, but letting you touch if you can't answer? What a hassle. Why not just rush it and grab it?
Vigo and Helga voiced similar thoughts, but she refused, saying proper communion wouldn't be possible that way. No choice but to finish it quickly then. Since she said the ritual could proceed by proxy, he stepped forward.
"Fine, I'll do it."
"No men allowed. The Horn of Purity only wants women."
"......"
"Um... could I try first?"
The archer from Kael's party cautiously volunteered. She was a petite woman with short hair.
Under her comrades' protection, she approached the Horn of Purity. As it opened its eyes, she tentatively reached out.
Whoosh—!
A burst of white light emanated from the horn, enveloping the area. As the stray thought transmitted, the archer recoiled as if grabbing a hot ladle barehanded. Her eyes widened as she blurted out.
"Ah, that's ■■■■, right?"
Smack—!
"Kyaaang......"
"Lily!"
"Damn it, how dare this thing touch my Lily...!"
"My Lily...? Lily was dating me."
"What!? You bastard!"
The party descended into chaos in an instant. Despite her innocent looks, she apparently had quite the promiscuous history with men.
He had no idea what question she'd gotten, but it seemed you couldn't fabricate an answer. Of course. Kara stepped forward with the expression of someone who'd expected as much.
"Everyone, back off. I'll handle it."
Since it was the beast she intended to tame, it was best for her to pass the ritual herself. She confidently reached out, determined to succeed spectacularly.
Whoosh—!
"Umm... I don't know!"
Whoosh—!
"What the hell is that? I've never even heard of such depraved behavior!"
Whoooosh—!
"N-No way, ■■■■■? Like what Vanella mentioned last time...!"
Smack—!
A merciless front kick sent Kara flying. Silence fell. No one dared speak.
Vanella was Harald's eighth wife. Being from the same Naftha Tribe as Kara, she must have passed on various knowledge.
The plains lacked proper books, so it was a form of essential education someone had to provide. But this insane unicorn wouldn't tolerate even that. No wonder it was a fantastical beast that couldn't be tamed.
Among the adventurers and warriors, only one woman remained. Meb, drawing all eyes, extended her hand toward them as if it were the most natural thing.
"What are you offering me?"
"Don't you help friends for free?"
"Of course not, Raggedfoot bro. This isn't just some test—it's exposing my private life. I could get kicked and hurt, so no freebies."
She even insisted that, having absorbed all sorts of knowledge in the empire's social circles, she definitely couldn't pass the ritual anyway.
It might be fine to give up here, but since they'd come this far for Kara's sake, maybe they should try their best. He continued yesterday's unfinished conversation.
"You said you'd meet the great warrior to get the dragon's corpse. Help us, and I'll take you to him."
"For real? Empty promises don't weigh on scales."
"Your certainty that you can't touch that horn is just as empty. I swear on my name."
"I don't even know your name yet."
With a small sigh, Meb approached the magic beast watching her. Please make sure it accepts me—with those words, her somewhat tense hand rose.
Bright light flashed three times in quick succession.
"Huh... for real?"
And then.
"Wait, I've heard it. I definitely read it in a book..."
Incredibly.
"Hold on, I really know it. ■■, ■■, right?"
Meb passed the ritual. Effortlessly. The magic beast approached and rubbed its horn against her hand. Despite her vehement denial that she couldn't pass, she was acknowledged.
The most likely reason: one. The sensations shared between sisters via Twin Souls included not just pain and agony, but pleasure as well.
Not wanting unpleasant experiences, the eldest daughter of the Goldline countess had confined Meb from childhood, blocking sources of such knowledge. Of course, she couldn't monitor every move. Her sister's influence played a part, but the psychological aversion to revealing her own state was probably greater. No matter how much textual knowledge she read, unembodied knowledge stayed just that—stagnant.
"Eek, tell it to kick me away quick!"
"Prurr..."
"What are you doing!? You stupid beast!"
It was too late to back out now. In the end, Meb had to straddle the Horn of Purity, covering her flushed face with both hands, until Kara completed the taming.
Having achieved their goal in the ravine, they exited the way they came, bringing the adventurers as promised. Since they had helped, the warriors had reciprocated.
"Then we'll part here. You... Raggedfoot, come find me next time we meet."
Upon reaching the central plains, Kara, Helga, and Vigo headed off in the opposite direction with the Horn of Purity, which seemed displeased with its new master.
They weren't Stonegar tribesmen, so their companionship ended here. Left were the seven adventurers, him, Harald, and Meb.
As Harald side-eyed him, muttering it was time to reveal their true identities, Kael overtook them. Fully recovered from his wounds via magic, he exuded an even sharper aura as he spoke.
"You said Raggedfoot brothers, right? Sorry, but meeting the great warrior will have to wait. We have our own goal."
"Goal? What's that?"
"We're stopping by the site where the Black Dragon Caladrak was subjugated first."
Deliberately visiting the site of the black dragon's subjugation. And from a merchant caravan here to trade with the plains tribes. Suspicious no matter how you looked at it.
He glanced at Meb. The flush that had heated her cheeks moments ago was gone; her face was utterly pale.
"I know it's a forest shrouded in darkness... around here?"
The adventurers checked their gear one by one, showing some unease toward them.