The Fall of Chen (2)
The Elk Bandits' mountain stronghold never had much to eat. After going hungry for so long, the sight of the bear carcass felt like an unexpected windfall—enough that it was a shame we couldn't carry it all away. Back on Earth, I never would have imagined such a thing, but after adapting to this harsh, impoverished life in another world, even the sight of a wild beast running through the mountains made me want to hunt and eat it on the spot, or at least carve off the raw meat and stash it in storage.
For now, I decided to take only what we needed. I split the flesh, pulled out the gallbladder, and downed the bile in one long gulp. A bitter, fishy taste lingered in my mouth. It wasn't pleasant, but it was good for the body, so that was enough. I was just eating it, nothing more.
The old saying went that good things should be shared. "Want some?" I offered the remaining gallbladder juice to Dana.
She stared at the gallbladder clutched in my bloodstained hand with a curious expression, then looked up at me and asked, "Are you going to feed it to me?"
"Feed it to you?" That thought hadn't even crossed my mind. Still, feeding her wasn't difficult. "Yeah, I'll feed you. Open up."
Whatever she was thinking, the corner of Dana's mouth curled upward in a wicked little smile before she obediently parted her lips. I let a few drops fall into her mouth, and she savored the taste slowly, her face full of curiosity about what it would be like.
"Ugh……" She immediately scrunched up her face, clearly struggling.
"If you can't swallow it, spit it out." I held out my palm, but she shook her head vigorously.
"It's too precious to waste." With a look of utter disgust, she forced the bile down her throat in a single, determined gulp.
Watching her struggle through it, I couldn't help but chuckle. So Dana knew bear bile was good for the body, after all.
"Want more?"
She flinched, startled. "More……?"
She hesitated, eyeing the gallbladder in my hand the way a child might stare at a syringe in a nurse's grasp. I tilted my head, puzzled—she'd just insisted it was too valuable to waste moments ago. Before I could ask, Dana's lips trembled as she slowly opened her mouth again.
I laughed. Anyone could see she was forcing herself. The first taste had been curiosity; the second was pure endurance.
"I'll just finish it myself." I tipped the rest of the bile into my own mouth.
I cut off about two pounds of bear meat, wrapped it in cloth, and tucked it into my pack. When I returned to the 15th squad, we'd share it together—maybe turn it into jerky.
"Shall we go?"
"Yeah."
Clicking my tongue in regret that we couldn't take more meat, I stood up—only to find Adelia already right in front of me. She glanced down at the bear carcass, then met my eyes.
"The soldiers said you used sword aura?"
"Yeah. Why?"
She studied me for a moment, then snorted and turned away. "I could have killed it without using sword aura. Why waste something so precious on a worthless beast like that?"
With that jealous remark, she left. I watched her retreating back and raised both hands in mock surrender, chuckling.
"She said she'd let go of all her pent-up feelings……" Apparently, she still saw me as a rival.
***
As we drew closer to Chen's main base, the Lion Heart Unit advanced with even greater caution. Claiming that only a bandit truly understood another bandit, Hyun-woo volunteered to lead the way.
"Keep your eyes closed for now." Dana cast a spell on Hyun-woo's eyes that let him see clearly even in darkness. Using that advantage, he dismantled traps, alarm devices, and patrolling scouts scattered throughout the mountains without a single hitch. Thanks to the safe path he cleared, the soldiers could advance with confidence.
"Incredible. That Kang Hyun-woo fellow…… he's a natural. I can't believe someone with his skills was wasting time as a bandit." Watching Hyun-woo's flawless movements—better than any trained scout or intelligence unit—Sinclair clicked her tongue in admiration.
Adelia, who had been watching alongside her, was even more impressed. Narrowing her eyes, she spoke in a low voice. "The fact that he possesses mana, combined with that extraordinary skill…… He can't possibly be of common birth. He must be a noble who received special training."
***
Having arrived alone at Chen's mountain stronghold, I slipped over the fence and swiftly eliminated the two bandits in the watchtower at the entrance. Then I descended and cracked the locked gate open just enough that the bandits wouldn't notice.
"Dana, can you hear me? Tell them the entrance is clear."
—Understood.
After contacting Dana, who was waiting with the Lion Heart Unit nearby using the same spell she'd once used on Pasvachio, I moved quickly toward my next target. The enemies I had to face here weren't small fry. I left those to the Lion Heart Unit and headed straight for the leader's tent to hunt the big fish.
"Phelton, Harry…… I've finally made it here!"
How long had I waited for this moment? Tears welled up as I sprinted through the pitch-black darkness.
Finding Chen's location wasn't difficult. When the Lion Heart Unit stormed the stronghold, the bandits came rushing out in their underwear, swords in hand, startled by the commotion. In the midst of that chaos, I slipped through the confusion and infiltrated Chen's tent.
"Ah! Ah! Ahh! That's it, Boss!"
I had entered Chen's tent without anyone noticing, only to be greeted by an absurd sight. A massive bald man was rolling around on the bed with three women in a vulgar tangle. They were so lost in pleasure that they hadn't yet grasped the situation. Candlelight flickered inside, and I melted into the shadows cast by the furniture, slowly approaching Chen.
Suddenly, the tent flap at the entrance flew open and a middle-aged man burst inside.
"B-Boss! Soldiers have invaded the stronghold!"
"What? What are you talking about?!"
Chen shot upright in shock. The women scrambled to cover their chests while the middle-aged man, glancing at Chen, suddenly sensed killing intent and turned toward the wall where I stood, his face tense. Our eyes met.
"Hrk!"
The middle-aged man tried to flee outside, but a spell froze him in place like a statue. Moments later, the tent flap opened again and Dana walked in. She looked at the petrified man with cold eyes, then tapped him with her wand. His body shattered into countless pieces that scattered across the floor.
"Kyaaah!"
The naked women screamed. Through it all, Dana maintained her calm expression. She glanced once at Chen, who sat frozen on the bed with a dazed look, then turned to me.
"Is that the one who got the comrades you cared about killed?"
From the murderous look on her face, she seemed ready to kill him in my place. I couldn't let that happen. Chen's head was mine to take.
I quickly stepped out of the shadows and grinned. "Yeah. That's him."
Then I fixed my gaze on Chen and approached him slowly.
"I'm Kang Hyun-woo, sent by the Elk Bandits. Because you ratted us out to the lord's soldiers, Phelton and Harry—the comrades I cherished most—were brutally murdered. I've come for revenge today."
"W-What……?!"
Chen's face twisted in panic before he quickly regained his composure, grinding his teeth and glaring viciously. "The Elk Bandits?! That damn bitch of a leader sent you to kill me? Don't screw with me! You think I'll die that easily?! I'm Chen, the man who can beat a lion to death with his bare hands! Don't underestimate me!"
Chen reached for the axe lying near the bed.
***
The Lion Heart Unit subdued Chen's bandit group in an instant. While the soldiers bound the surviving bandits with ropes and searched the tents for key evidence, Sinclair approached Adelia, who was directing the scene.
"Kang Hyun-woo has disappeared."
"Kang Hyun-woo disappeared?"
"According to witnesses, he left with his comrade, carrying Chen's head. Shall we begin pursuit immediately?"
Adelia pondered seriously for a moment before replying. "No. It's fine."
Then, gazing at the distant mountains, she added meaningfully, "Even if we don't search for him, he'll return soon enough. After all, he made a contract with me."
***
Upon returning to the stronghold, I went straight to the leader's tent. With the female leader, Ision, and Bernhardt watching, I pulled Chen's wide-eyed head from a bloodstained sack and held it up proudly.
"As ordered, I've brought Chen's head, Leader."
All eyes turned to my hand. The female leader examined Chen's face and smiled with satisfaction, while Ision and Bernhardt—who knew nothing of the plan—stared in disbelief, eyes wide.
"T-That's Chen……?"
"It is."
After I answered Bernhardt's question without hesitation, Ision asked with a puzzled look, "You killed Chen alone?"
"Yes."
"On the leader's orders?"
"That's right. A few days ago, the leader issued an order to assassinate Chen."
"Hyun-woo's words are correct," the female leader said meaningfully. "I ordered it."
Ision's face showed surprise, then his brow furrowed in confusion. "Hyun-woo is merely the 15th squad leader in charge of supplies. What made you issue an assassination order without consulting me?"
"Chen's head is right in front of us. Is there really any need for further explanation now?"
At the female leader's retort, Ision's mouth opened and closed before he coughed awkwardly and fell silent. He seemed displeased that the matter had been carried out secretly without his input as strategist.
"Wahahaha! Incredible! I can't believe it! The war ended in a single day—everyone's going to be shocked!"
Bernhardt laughed boisterously as he approached and clapped me on the shoulder. "This kid's the real deal. Not only did he expose the counterfeit money, but he keeps coming back alive from the brink. I knew something was up, and this time he really hit the jackpot. Don't you think he deserves a big reward, Leader?"
"I was planning to give him a gift anyway." The female leader smiled as she looked at me. "If you want something, just say it."
She already knew what I desired. Following the script we'd prepared, I gave the predetermined answer.
"Please make me your strategist."
I answered without hesitation and continued. "I want to be actively involved in the unit's operations."