Chapter 101
Chapter 101
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 101
Chapter Title: Teaching Defeat
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Hero.
Picture.
Beastkin tribe.
They seek a lifelong mate.
And by forming a bond with that mate, they awaken the power dormant in their blood.
Fenrir.
The wolf that slew a god.
Once, the being called the god of the beastkin, who led their kind.
Though that existence had never been properly confirmed.
When they realized Cheong Yurang had inherited that blood, the beastkin were in a festive mood.
The hero included.
For a descendant of the gods had been born.
Some even said there was no need to make her a hero.
Cheong Yurang bore the weight of everyone's expectations.
And in the shadows, they fiercely vied to become her mate.
Cheong Yurang, inheritor of that bloodline, unleashed terrifying power by awakening her own lineage.
The Beast King still couldn't forget it.
-Dad!
The sight of her choosing her mate and blooming her bloodline.
The Beast King.
Still couldn't forget that moment.
The wolf that killed a god.
The level gap was enormous, but that form made even the Beast King himself feel threatened.
'Those fangs that shouldn't have reached felt like they did.'
Cheong Yurang's level was 6.
The Beast King's was 8.
The numbers differed by just two.
But the actual gulf between them was immense. Yet when the Beast King saw Fenrir's form, he was shocked to realize he could die.
And the thought struck him—what if she became the beastkin chieftain?
Right now, he was weak and being pushed back by other races.
But with her, he could ignore all that.
He had been lost in such dreams.
'How did things change so much?'
Cheong Yurang looked like a total wreck.
Her disheveled hair. Her blue-glowing eyes were dull and lifeless.
As the beastkin leader.
He pitied her fallen state.
But as her father, he was furious and heartbroken that his daughter had ended up like this.
"Yurang."
"……."
She just stared at him with empty eyes.
Devoid of emotion. Those eyes held nothing.
When was it?
He felt like he'd seen eyes like that before.
A certain man's gaze came to mind.
The Beast King shook off the thought and quietly spoke.
"A hero selection tournament will be held soon."
"……."
"He denied being the Sword Hero, but most in the Cradle see him as a candidate. Especially Volkan's prized disciple—he won't sit out the competition."
Only then.
Did Cheong Yurang react. Her dead eyes turned to her father.
She parted her lips slightly.
"......He'll hate the hassle."
"Did he say that?"
"No."
"He's more stoic than he seems. You think he ran off because of you?"
"……."
A faint flicker of fear showed in Cheong Yurang's eyes.
As if, should they meet again.
He might abandon her. Trembling with anxiety.
The Beast King didn't like that look.
"Go there. Whether he rejects you or accepts, handle it yourself."
"……."
The Beast King left after saying that.
Cheong Yurang hugged her knees and sank into thought.
*
Munch munch munch munch.
All around, only the sounds of eating.
Of course.
Everyone was just eating.
And it wasn't just one or two.
Two old geezers, the crown prince tagging along to show off his friendship and get closer to me, Veronica, and even Clara who showed up out of nowhere.
When the hell did Clara get here?
"I just remembered that meal you made last time and was hanging around, then I saw Sis come."
"……."
Veronica kept munching away without a word.
'Don't these people have their own places?'
This wasn't even our clan house, so why come here just to eat?
Not that I minded.
Anyone who'd tasted my cooking once kept begging for more, which worked in my favor.
But.
Honestly speaking.
'The issue is the ones devouring ten servings each.'
The problem was that those two held the most power and were brutally strong in the most straightforward way.
No use hiding it.
It was Volkan and the Duke of Black Hope.
'...Martial types eat a ton, yeah.'
Payment for pushing their bodies to superhuman limits.
They could suppress lust or sleep, but appetite? No chance.
Source: the guy who hooked me on this game.
So it had to be true.
Still.
No matter what.
'Ten servings is a pain.'
My physical stats were up, so whipping up ten portions was no big deal.
With the dexterity from Thief's Extremity, cooking itself was easy.
Ingredients?
Everyone here was dropping at least a few gold coins, so costs were more than covered.
'...Though some paid silver.'
Mainly the broke ones like Finn, Hansen, Glasses, or Teresa.
-Looks delicious...
Maybe because they were eating so heartily. Even the holy sword chimed in.
"……."
I'd sensed it before, but the holy sword felt... different.
Like it had been a person in life.
The boisterous dinner ended.
I whipped up some french fries on a whim.
I set them on the table and sat.
"Oh, drinking snacks."
The Duke of Black Hope spoke in admiration.
Volkan and the princes were there too.
'...What bloodhounds.'
When did they show up?
Whatever.
Fries were quick anyway.
"Can't have a night like this without booze. How about 30-year Ravion estate wine?"
"Oh, that pricey stuff."
"Heh, expensive or not, it's nothing compared to the favor you've shown."
Volkan's face lit up.
Looked like the real deal.
'Wine, huh.'
Been a while.
I'd had light beers with the party before, but no vodka or wine since coming here.
Fries with fine wine.
Snacks were iffy, but good booze made up for it.
Pop.
The crown prince popped the cork by hand like a pro.
'That's doable here...'
Impossible back home.
But these bodies? With a touch of mana, easy for many.
"Here, have a glass."
The crown prince smiled and poured first for the Duke of Black Hope.
Then Volkan, then me.
"Let me pour for you."
"Nice, but I like pouring my own."
At the duke's words, the crown prince filled his own glass.
Light toast.
"Then, let's start with the Duke of Black Hope, since he wanted this gathering."
The crown prince grinned slyly.
The duke sighed softly and looked at me.
"One favor. Will you hear it?"
"If it's simple."
"Then teach Yeonhwa what defeat feels like."
"...?"
"Yeonhwa reached this level too easily. So far it's been smooth, but beyond this, raw talent won't cut it."
"I see."
"Sure, she's got grit and venom, and her sword obsession makes her a bit foolish."
"……."
I was speechless for a sec.
Thought he was just a refined mentor fretting over his pupil.
'Total daughtercon.'
Though the name didn't scream daughter.
Black beard and eyes on the duke, but no resemblance.
Plus, So Yeonhwa was petite; the duke was Volkan-sized, pushing 2 meters.
"Ahem. Anyway, Yeonhwa doesn't know defeat. More precisely, she's lost—to us—but unbeatable among peers."
Yeah.
I got why he was asking me.
"Yeonhwa's gifted, but... climbing too smoothly? She'll crash hard someday. To push further, she needs to taste loss."
"Why not just keep winning?"
The duke smirked at my words.
"No such thing exists."
-...No one avoids defeat forever. String too many wins, and that one loss will break you.
The duke's voice.
Overlapped with the holy sword's regretful tone.
"That's my point. Beat Yeonhwa once."
"Sure, that much."
She was strong, no doubt.
But from a side glance, I knew.
'I can take her.'
So.
I grinned at the duke.
Rubbed thumb and finger, asked him.
"So, what's the offer?"
"……."
"Pfft."
"Khk!"
Flustered duke.
Volkan and the princes beside him doubled over laughing.
"Unbelievable. That strong, still chained to coin."
"Or put it this way: buyable for the right price?"
"Fair. Seems honorable enough; I'll say no more."
The duke eyed me.
"You. Volkan says you handle a bow?"
"One of my specialties."
"Sword Hero material, wielding a bow."
He frowned.
But then gave me a weird look.
"Maybe you're the one... Nah. Nail this request, and I'll hook you up with a bow."
He said that and stood.
"Make it a good one."
"Naturally."
For the record, I didn't do fights I could lose.
*
Next day.
I headed out with So Yeonhwa.
"Finally gonna teach me?"
Her eyes brimmed with anticipation.
Damn, felt bad.
Gonna say something harsh.
Conscience stabbed. But this was best for both of us long-term.
Closed my eyes for three seconds of silent apology to my conscience, then looked at her.
"I'll teach you."
"Yes!"
"But practice something else first."
"Something else?"
Disappointment crossed her face again.
But excitement sparked back.
"That swordplay from the scarecrow demo?"
"Hero orthodox swordsmanship."
"Knew it. No wonder I couldn't get it right away."
She nodded vigorously.
'Hero basics are tough?'
Show me once, I could mimic it.
Steal Strike was busted.
"Sorry, I'm no teacher."
"Yeah."
"So."
I tossed her a wooden sword.
"Figure it out yourself."
I'd just beat her senseless.