Chapter 26
Chapter 26
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: Acceptance
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Su lightly shook herself off in place. Then, she stared blankly at Berik, as if it was only natural for him to make the first move.
"Shall we start the timer then?"
Click.
Su set the pocket watch hanging from her waist. At the same moment, Berik charged at her and swung his fist.
"Don't cry after getting hit, you hear me!"
"Got it!"
Whoosh! Swish!
The sound of fists cutting through the air rang out chillingly. Berik moved with murderous intent wrapped around every motion. In contrast to his desperate efforts, Su was incredibly relaxed. She dodged every attack simply by stepping back one pace at a time.
"There. One minute's up."
"You crazy bitch! No, how long are you gonna keep running away?"
"If I don't run? You think you could handle it?"
"What bullshit! Fuck! Fight for real!"
As emotion seeped into his punches, his trajectory faltered. Ian watched from atop a smoothly carved rock, chin in hand. He understood well what Su meant.
"That's what happens if I attack!"
Smack!
Su struck Berik's jaw as if it were all just for fun.
The punch landed solidly. Berik's balance shook violently, but he barely held on by putting strength into his thighs.
He hesitated, looking up at her. Honestly, it seemed less the shock of the impact and more the surprise of it.
"You..."
"Kinda like that, right? Getting pummeled without laying a finger on your opponent. Well, if you're fine with it, so am I."
"You crazy psycho asshole..."
Smack!
Before he could even finish cursing. Berik's head snapped to the left again. Su pressed her swift assault relentlessly, giving him no quarter.
Ian just sighed, chin still in hand.
'You’ve met your match.'
With that personality, he doubted it would end cleanly even after the spar. Berik had no choice but to stand there and take the blows raining down from all sides, like a swarm of bees stinging relentlessly.
Thud!
"Berik. You okay?"
"Fuck off, don't talk to me."
"Good to know you're fine."
He glared at Ian, eyes bulging. If his focus slipped even a little, she'd target his vitals. Defense was his best option right now.
Ian glanced at the annex while checking his pocket watch. A man presumed to be Nersarn stood by the window.
"Two minutes left."
Smack! Thwack!
At Ian's announcement, Su's kicks grew even fiercer. She looked thrilled, as if regretting the time running out. Though little time remained, the three-minute spar had confirmed something definitively.
"Su. You're really fast."
"Of course. You think Nersarn brought me along for nothing? No one in the tribe can keep up with me."
"But do you know this?"
Was it the amusement in Ian's voice? Su instinctively turned her head back. For a moment, she had the illusion that Ian's eyes gleamed gold in the darkness.
"You've unleashed dozens of attacks unilaterally, yet Berik's still unscathed. Fast, but no real substance."
No matter the mana infused or Berik's stamina, it was a one-sided beatdown. And yet, Berik hadn't gone down.
Su's copper skin flushed deep red, hitting the nail on the head. She must have realized the issue herself.
"You...!"
"Normally, you'd be a bloody mess by now."
"Ha! I went easy, and these fuckers—!"
Excited, Su let out a shrill yell. At that instant, her kick's pivot wavered, adding unnecessary flair to her attack. Berik, who had been guarding his nape, seized the opening and grabbed her ankle.
"Blood might not be spilling, but it fucking hurts."
"Hey! Let go! You gonna let go or not?"
"You'd let go if it were you?"
With her leg awkwardly caught, Su tried to press her body close to support her upper half. But Berik was faster. He swiftly struck her abdomen, shoving her down to the ground.
Thump!
"Ow!"
"Told you before we started? Don't cry after getting hit."
"Who's crying? You nuts?"
And then, spit! Her spitting skills were a work of art. Berik mounted her and pinned her face down.
"I'll show you what a bloody mess really looks like. Look forward to it."
"Get off! Get the fuck off, you red-headed freak!"
"Keep yapping. I'll make you one too."
Rustling, he rummaged in one pocket and pulled out red pigment. Caught off guard by his intent, Su froze.
Ian checked the window, then slowly approached and squatted down. The shadows at the window had multiplied to three. Nersarn, Gansha, and Mujurun must all be curious.
"Su. Don't take it too hard."
Ian soothed her as she thrashed, bound.
"It's a consented spar, but we're in a relationship where spilled blood benefits no one, right? Sending you instead of Gansha or Mujurun was partly because you're the youngest, but also Nersarn's wisdom in ensuring no major harm to the opponent."
"No it's not! Shut up!"
"Well, accepting facts is your job, so I won't say more. But the key point is, you're lying on the ground under Berik right now, and in a real fight, you'd be dead."
Su grumbled in frustration.
Berik, grinning in victory, smeared the pigment across Su's face. It turned into a bloody mess in an instant.
"So report back that while we didn't defeat you for outward reasons, we'll provide a solvent that cleans it right up if you acknowledge our victory. If you leave the manor like that, the Cheonryeo Tribe will be remembered by Bratz residents as quite the laughingstock."
Beep beep beep!
The pocket watch alarm blared just as Ian finished. Berik relaxed, having applied it meticulously, and Su kicked his stomach to rise. She rubbed furiously to wipe it off, but it wouldn't budge.
"Ugh! What the hell is this!"
"Special pigment my mother uses. She loves it because it doesn't wash off with water or sweat."
Su looked up at Ian with a despairing gaze. Everything but the whites of her eyes was red. She chewed her lips, then smacked Berik's head one last time before fleeing to the annex like a bolt.
Crack!
"Ow! That bitch!"
Did a bump form? Berik rubbed his occiput, cursing Su's retreating figure. Ian consoled him with a bit more mana.
"Good work."
"But is it okay to send her off like that? Shouldn't we beat her like she wanted so there's no backlash?"
"Watch your language."
"Don't we gotta rough her up proper, master?"
"...It's fine. If Su's in bad shape, Derga will notice for sure. Even if they agree, the count might sabotage it. Besides, aren't the Cheonryeo Tribe bound tightly by family ties?"
If they really beat her senseless, who knew what retaliation awaited beyond the border. They needed agreement without bloodshed.
"But it was obvious, just like you said."
Ian had mentioned two things before the spar.
First, if the opponent only evades instead of attacking, provoke to draw them in. Better to redirect their force toward you than chase what you can't catch.
Second, endure. The Cheonryeo Tribe was belligerent. Hold out until their elation from a one-sided fight creates an opening.
Ian created the gap, but Berik snatched it.
"Not because they're Cheonryeo. It's common. The nimble ones usually lack power."
By then, Su had climbed back through the window into the room. Red streaks marked the vine wall, but no one would care.
Ian nodded, signaling it was time to go.
"Master Ian? Where are you headed?"
"To the main house briefly."
"Security's tight tonight, so please don't go out. And no outsiders are to be admitted, by order."
The guard reported while blocking Berik. It couldn't be helped. Ian nodded, and Berik said he'd return tomorrow before leaving the manor. Ian passed his room and went up another floor.
Knock knock.
"It's Ian."
"...Come in."
"No! Tell him not to come in!"
"Su. Quiet down."
Opening the door revealed chaos. Gansha and Mujurun were wiping Su's face with cloth. But it only smeared the stain; no improvement.
"If you'd like, I can provide the cleaning solution."
"Not like you're giving medicine after poisoning us! You kidding?"
Nersarn raised a finger to silence her, then turned to Ian.
"We permitted a spar, yet this prank? It feels like an insult."
"Is that so? If it feels that way, my apologies, but isn't it better than leaving Bratz with a swollen, scarred face?"
"No ifs in victory."
"But Su's face makes those ifs possible. What more needs saying when it's painted like that."
Nersarn narrowed his eyes. Su ground her teeth as if about to burst from rage, while Gansha and Mujurun exchanged inscrutable glances.
"Ahaha! Haha!"
Nersarn's laughter broke the silence. Gansha and Mujurun burst into guffaws too, leaving only Su sullen.
"Fine. We lost. Nothing uglier than refusing to accept defeat. Berik, was it? Su was grinding her teeth over you. Says she'll drag you to the Great Desert and work you like a slave."
Though said that way, the Cheonryeo Tribe had no slavery. They were all family. Ian added politely.
"Forgive the rudeness, but I'd be grateful if you feel I understood your intent well, Nersarn."
Someone injured, and the count noticing. Who knew what variables that would bring to communal relations. Worst case, Ian and the Cheonryeo Tribe would both be in a bind.
Nersarn chuckled around his long pipe.
"Very well. I'll bring one more kusille for the reconciliation ceremony."
Meaning transport for Berik. Ian expressed thanks and pulled a small vial from his pocket.
"Mix with water while washing."
Snatch!
Su grabbed it without a word and dashed to the washroom. Gansha and Mujurun tsked and laughed, while Nersarn offered Ian wine.
"Care for a glass?"
The Cheonryeo Tribe placed no restrictions on children. Just freedom under responsibility. Ian savored the rare wine in ecstasy.
* * *
"Nersarn."
"Yes, Count."
At dawn as daybreak pierced.
The city still slumbered, but the Bratz manor bustled like midday. The wind-like guests were preparing to depart.
They gathered in the main house dining hall, filling their bellies heartily. The road ahead was long.
"I'll accept your request. The reconciliation ceremony will be one week from today. It'll be tight, so we'll proceed with minimal preparations."
"On behalf of the Cheonryeo Tribe, we thank you for your understanding."
"Convey my wishes for good fortune to your chief."
Derga had returned hours earlier, in the dead of night. Must have had deep talks with Lord Molin. Lord Molin would likely depart for the capital soon too.
Though for Ian's registry, they'd probably show the emperor the whistleblower seal instead of a registry application.
"Then, until we meet again, Demosha (under God's blessing)."
The Cheonryeo Tribe gave their farewell and mounted kusilles. Su, now pristine, pulled her hood low and glared at Ian. He smiled faintly, and she bared her teeth subtly in annoyance.
"Let's go!"
"Open the gates!"
Neigh!
Kusille cries and hoofbeats rang noisily. Soon, they vanished from the manor as swiftly as they'd come.
Derga, the countess, Chel, and most servants watched their backs. Still hazy from dawn's drowsiness.
"The reconciliation ceremony is in one week. Keep it simple but flawless in preparation."
"Yes, understood."
The butler urged them on. Servants snapped to attention, turning to Ian. The boy's expression was unreadable.