The Salt Plains' Greatest Warriors (1)
“Is this all salt?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
Vesta had never seen a sight like this before. A completely white world stretched out before his eyes.
“The ground here is all salt.”
The vast prairie earth stretched toward the sky, but beneath it was not dirt or sand—it was solid white salt, as hard as rock.
Vesta lowered his body to inspect it. He plucked a small shard that looked like crystal and licked it with his tongue.
“It’s salty.”
That confirmed it. Vesta’s eyes widened in astonishment.
Ahor watched him with a secret, gentle smile.
Like a big sister watching over a little brother.
Of course, Uushun, who had been watching from a distance, thought:
Vesta gathered several chunks of salt and returned to Ahor.
“Salt comes from the sea, so how does it appear here?”
“In the distant past, this place was a sea.”
“Hmm. A high plateau like this?”
Vesta looked at Ahor with a skeptical expression, like a little brother who couldn’t believe his sister’s words.
Ahor smiled faintly and answered.
“We heard that even the desert we crossed was once a forest. After a long time, forests turn into deserts, just as seas turn into mountains and then return to seas.”
Vesta didn’t understand. Mountains didn’t rise for him, after all.
It wasn’t important. He walked around the surroundings with Ahor.
“When it rains, this salt land becomes the bottom of a shallow lake.”
That was exactly the famous salt lake of Ainuwail.
“Ah, Uushun told me.”
“I see. It’s a sight only visible at the right time. A breathtaking landscape as beautiful as any on the prairie. If things go well, you should bring your Highness out to see it.”
Vesta imagined it. Standing before the vast, endless landscape that never divided sky and lake, with Ashtien.
“...It must be beautiful. That view.”
“Yes. The Khan will like it too.”
“Hasn’t Ashtien seen enough of it already?”
“Now that Vesta-nim is here, she’ll surely be happy.”
Ahor said with a gentle smile.
├─ Tier 1:[Base ability] ✓
├─ Tier 2:[Enhanced ability] ✓
└─ Tier 3:[New ability — UNLOCKED] ★
After finishing the salt lake exploration, they returned to where Ashtien was.
“The noise is unbearable.”
It was because of the centaurs.
To: [Recipient]
Date: [Date and Time]
‘Ashtien... ah, there she is.’
Ashtien stood in the crowded area where the centaurs had gathered.
She was talking to a centaur man while accompanied by Bia.
His fur was the same golden color as Bia’s.
“A warrior.”
He was an exceptionally strong warrior. Vesta instantly sensed that he was a descendant of the Altangerel clan—Bia’s father.
“Ah, Baatar.”
Ashtien called Vesta’s name from the steppe. It seemed she wanted him to join the conversation.
“Should I really introduce myself?”
Honestly, he wondered if it was okay to join, but trusting Ashtien, he stepped forward.
“Chief. This boy is the Baatar.”
Ashtien introduced Vesta as if boasting about her most precious treasure.
The chief looked hesitant, but Vesta read his gaze easily.
“He’s human, just like they say. In a way.”
“...I’ve heard the rumors.”
Yet he showed no rudeness. He respected Ashtien. Watching that, it was clear he was the man who had raised Bia.
“Your height is quite something.”
Even though Bia was a built centaur, the chief’s build was beyond human comparison.
Lifting his eyes was difficult.
“Aside from Attila, he might be the tallest centaur I’ve met.”
Attila was the exception—he shook the ground with every step.
“Nice to meet you. I am the chief of the Altangerel clan.”
They exchanged greetings. The chief seemed to be studying Vesta deeply, trying to judge whether he was truly as renowned.
“I heard you’re an outstanding warrior.”
“That’s right. Among all the humans I know, there was no swordsman as strong as this boy.”
“Oh? Is that so?”
“I can even cross swords with him.”
“Um...?”
Suddenly, Bia stepped forward and painted gold on his face.
“If we ride horses, he’ll break into pieces in one blow.”
Of course, Vesta.
If he dismounted? Unfortunately, Bia was an inma-ichigo centaur.
Vesta was the only one who would lose if he dismounted.
“Impressive. I’d love to spar with you sometime.”
The first meeting with the chief hadn’t been bad at all. But Vesta had nothing to discuss with him, and Ashtien, who knew that, introduced Bia to him.
“I’ll talk more with the chief, so you go ahead first.”
“Khan. Will you be all right without me?”
Ashtien smiled faintly at Bia’s words.
“There are people from the Altangerel clan right next to me. The army is basically protecting us.”
“Haha. That’s right, Khan.”
In the end, Bia took Vesta away.
“Phew.”
Bia let out a long sigh as if relieved.
“...?”
Vesta found her expression strange.
[Declaration text]
“Was your seat uncomfortable?”
Her mind seemed uneasy, like someone carrying a heavy burden.
Bia sighed deeply and spilled the details.
“Yes. Truly.”
When Vesta asked why, it was about Arian.
“Why Arian?”
“Because Arian couldn’t fulfill her duties. You might doubt her skill. Or even hold her responsible. Or something.”
“Hold her responsible?”
Vesta was startled and asked back.
“You might remove Arian from her bodyguard role.”
Centaurs live in herds for nearly their entire lives. They need companions to protect the defenseless rear.
In that sense, a bodyguard was like family. Removing Arian from her role would be like abandoning a sister they had walked side by side with for life.
“Doubting Arian’s skill? That’s ridiculous. Where will you find someone as good as Arian?”
Arian was recognized by everyone in the clan as someone skilled enough to guard Vesta’s retinue.
“Yes. That child was born with talent.”
But the problem was the serious injury. He wouldn’t be able to avoid the suspicious gazes.
“Of course, even if I receive such an order, I won’t obey it straightaway.”
“Oh? You have a sharp counter?”
“I’ll knock my father unconscious and stop it.”
“...?”
Vesta was momentarily bewildered. When he regained his senses:
“That’s... crazy.”
“Of course it’s a last resort, but I’ll try to persuade him first.”
“I’ll help too.”
Arian was a mischievous child and sometimes put Vesta in a difficult spot.
But she was his friend. In the sense of exchanging lives, she was a blood brother.
Like Vesta’s gladiator friends.
To: [Recipient]
Date: [Date and Time]
“Thank you, Vesta. For standing up for my sister.”
“It’s also for Bia.”
“What?”
“Of course. If Arian and I are separated, Bia will be sad too, right?”
“Y-yes.”
“Bia is my friend too. I don’t want to see her like that.”
Vesta’s words made Bia nod.
“So are you going to fight?”
“What?”
“My father. Are you going to fight?”
“No, why do you keep trying to knock out your own parents...?”
“It’s just a hypothetical. Will you do it?”
“You’re telling me to die?”
The leader of the Altangerel clan would be incredibly strong. Asking someone to fight a monster like that and win.
“Sigh.”
Bia flinched at Vesta’s words.
“Yeah. Well, what’s the harm?”
“What?”
“I’ll fight.”
“Really?”
“A swordsman fights when it’s decided. No way out. So yes.”
├─ Tier 1:[Base ability] ✓
├─ Tier 2:[Enhanced ability] ✓
└─ Tier 3:[New ability — UNLOCKED] ★
“Even if the opponent is the chief of the Altangerel clan, I’ll fight.”
The chief would be strong. As strong as Bia, or perhaps stronger.
But if the opponent is stronger, is there no way to win?
Many beasts, Orthros, other gladiators—all were stronger than Vesta. Yet Vesta had defeated them all and won.
Winning in a fight was his specialty.
“...A promise?”
“It’s childish. But fine, I’ll promise.”
He would make sure Arian couldn’t take her away.
Vesta wandered the prairie alone, watching various species gather.
He saw the caravan unfolding their mats and even witnessed centaurs brawling with each other.
During that time.
He saw the man.
“Oh, long time no see.”
A war merchant who led the Empire’s gladiators.
Attila.