Chapter 118
Chapter 118
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 118
Chapter Title: Twisted Ones
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“That one.”
Tacha raised his long, dangling tail to point at the prosciutto on the stall. The thinly sliced ham tantalized the eyes and whetted the appetite.
“How much more are you planning to eat?”
Ariel grumbled from behind, but he didn’t care. Human women were best left to chatter on their own. She’d tire herself out eventually and shut up to follow along.
“Ethan. Grab that bread too.”
“Mister.”
“What?”
“You remember we just ate at our restaurant, right?”
“I know.”
“And your stomach still has room for that?”
“A warrior’s body must always be ready. We minimize intake during training, but there’s no reason for it now.”
“You know your tail’s gotten all plump?”
“It’s for emergencies. The mountain tribes are always prepared.”
“The Tarin tribe is really something else.”
“That’s not something I’d expect to hear from a human.”
Tacha pointed his long snout at a man approaching from the opposite side. The obese fellow couldn’t control his bulk and was being helped by an attendant.
“How does a body like that even fight? Humans are beyond comprehension.”
“Is everything in your head about combat, mister?”
“Combat is life itself, a prayer that polishes the soul. To my eyes, you humans wasting time without clear purpose seem far stranger.”
“Fine, fine. I’ve lost count of how many times we’ve had this conversation—it’s annoying just trying to remember. Ham and bread, right?”
“The apple juice looks good too. That as well.”
Ethan shrugged and headed into the shop. Tacha stood in the middle of the street, waiting for him.
“Please don’t block the road with that huge body of yours. Everyone’s staring. And how many times have I told you to leave that flag at home?”
“I thought you were a clever human, but having to explain the same thing every time is making me doubt it. Listen well. This proves I’m of the mountain tribes—it’s my weapon, a ritual tool for offerings. It’s no different from a part of my body. Leave it behind? Ridiculous.”
“Who said to always leave it behind?”
Ariel raised both hands. They carried mountain food from the way here. Tacha half-lowered his eyelids and said,
“Don’t shake it. The body’s provisions will mix.”
“That’s why I said to leave the flag pole only on days we go shopping. Or hire a separate porter! What is this every time? Why do I have to carry it?”
“Poor human woman. For your poor memory, I’ll remind you once more. You clearly told me you’d do anything if I helped.”
“I didn’t know it meant being a porter.”
“If you don’t like it, say so anytime. I’m always ready to leave.”
“You barbaric lizard with not even a speck of empathy.”
“Barbaric. Fine praise. Quite refined for a human woman.”
“Why’d you skip the part about not having a speck of empathy?”
“Is there reason to hear it? I only take in words of value, from respected elders, or great warriors who can teach me.”
“I should just stop talking, seriously!”
“Restraining your words is good. That’s the humans’ problem—they don’t know it.”
Tacha looked away from the fuming Ariel. Ethan returned from the shops, sniffing as he spoke.
“They say plenty of fish has come in since it’s winter. How about fish dishes next time?”
“Fish. That sounds good. It’s no different from the sea’s blessing.”
Tacha tore off some ham and held it above his head. The hawk circling in the sky swooped down swiftly and snatched it. Ethan watched and opened his mouth.
“Dao seems to follow you more than me now, mister.”
“Your bond with him is still strong. Don’t worry. He only comes to me when I have food.”
Tacha placed the torn ham on bread. He opened his jaw so wide that his jaw joint creaked, then shoved it in whole.
The surrounding humans stopped in their tracks to stare. He ignored them and kept chewing.
“Wow… big.”
Something clung to his calf. He looked down. A child was hugging his leg.
“S-sorry.”
Must be brothers. A boy with similar eyes came running. He pried the clinging child off his leg and hid him behind.
Tacha looked at the two boys.
“You the older brother?”
“Yes? Oh, yes.”
“Take good care of your little brother. That’s the duty of the firstborn.”
He extended a hand to Ariel. She sighed, then gave a slender smile as she handed over the paper bag she held.
Tacha gave the bag of food to the brothers.
“Your heart acted without hesitation despite the fear— it’s endearing.”
He said again to the brothers, who stood frozen in a daze. Take it.
The older boy took the food hesitantly, then mumbled,
“We can’t take this much…”
“It’s fine. I’m giving it because your soul is beautiful. Strive and hone yourself. You can become a fine human.”
The boy blinked, then bowed his head in thanks and stepped back. He barely hugged the large bag with one arm, holding his brother’s hand with the other.
“Mister.”
Ethan said.
“Keep your tail still. It’s flopping around like a fish.”
“Seeing something good has lifted my spirits—that’s just showing it. Is there reason to hide emotions?”
“The Tarin tribe is really straightforward.”
“To me, humans hide more than necessary. It’s not wrong, but it gets tiring sometimes.”
“Not wrong.”
They headed toward the next alley. The hawk let out a fierce cry. The surrounding humans looked up at the sky.
Tacha frowned. The place to check wasn’t the sky—it was that alley.
“Ariel.”
“What?”
“Prepare for combat.”
“What are you talking about all of a sudden…”
He unwound the flag from his glaive and wrapped it around his arm. The surrounding humans recoiled in alarm.
“Tacha, what are you doing?”
“Something foul is over there. Just like the one we hunted recently.”
“Recently? You mean that monster-like human?”
Ethan asked in surprise. The hawk circling the sky landed on Ethan’s shoulder. Its piercing cry echoed through the street.
Ariel dropped the bag of food to the ground and shouted,
“By the emergency authority of a First-Class Noble, I’m taking control of this area! Guards!”
Ariel raised a scarlet lion-crest ornament. Tacha knew it symbolized human authority.
“Tacha. Which way is the enemy?”
“That way. Evacuate to the opposite side.”
Ariel must have sensed it too. She couldn’t handle mana properly, but her senses were sharp.
The repulsive aura grew thicker. The guards, following Ariel’s orders, began controlling the area.
At a single word, the mass of humans moved in a rush. Odd instinct.
Mountain warriors would have all charged in. A clash with the strong was to be sought, not avoided.
“Ethan.”
“Got it.”
Ethan moved nimbly. He stepped on a shop’s eaves, leaped up onto the building roof. Securing the view with the hawk, Ethan shouted loudly.
“Mister! Something’s over there too! People…”
He suddenly stopped. Tacha bellowed.
“Speak precisely! Report clearly what you see without fail! That’s a scout’s duty!”
“There’s chaos 200 meters ahead from here. Same with 300 meters northeast. I can’t see the source of the commotion. Crowds are losing order and scattering everywhere.”
“Not just one place.”
Tacha twisted his snout. His teeth ground with a sound. Just sensing them soured his mood—these mongrels appearing everywhere.
“The 3rd District Guard handles this area. Report to administration and notify Schola. Who’s the liaison for central guard?”
“Me, Lady Ariel.”
“Relay it now—alert level 3! Light the beacon towers in the Holy City and pass it to each district!”
Ariel said. Human matters could be left to her. She’d handle it firmly.
Tacha gripped his glaive with both hands and lowered his upper body. Now it was a warrior’s time.
“Tacha! Need help?”
“Don’t interfere in the fight.”
“Just checking. I’ll head to the central square to calm things down like this, so handle the rest.”
“Understood. Administrative work isn’t my duty, so I leave it to you. Ethan! Report anything in sight!”
“Got it!”
First, deal with what’s ahead.
The aura creeping from the entire alley converged in one spot. As his eyes shifted, Ethan’s voice came.
“Left alley! In front of the yellow tent!”
He launched his body immediately. It matched what he sensed and Ethan’s report. No reason to hesitate.
He rounded the alley corner. Next to a stall with a yellow tent, a human man crouched.
Blood scent. Overwhelmingly thick. His eyes darted left and right, grasping the alley’s state.
Five corpses. No survivors. He’d sensed it and rushed, yet too late?
“Worse than a wild beast. Repulsive human.”
Tacha thumped the ground with his tail. His body entered an excited state. Muscles primed to unleash power—now just charge.
The crouched human raised its head. No longer worthy of being called human.
Like a magical beast. A monster that took pleasure in slaughter, satisfied by devouring the flesh of the living.
“Spirits of the mountains. Embrace these abominations.”
He kicked off the ground. Tearing through the blood-scented air, he thrust his spear at the monster.
The four-legged monster leaped up. As expected. Without pause, he powered his hind legs.
“Kraaak!”
The monster screeched and climbed the building. It clawed the wall as it moved— incredibly fast.
Whether intellect or instinct remained, it sought narrow spaces where swinging the spear would be hard.
“Damn thing.”
Tacha stabbed his glaive into the ground. He inhaled deeply. His chest rose, lungs swelling near to burst. He held the breath tight and lifted his rear foot.
No battlefield disadvantaged a warrior born and raised by the mountains.
He dug hands into the building wall, jammed his legs in. Whipped his tail fiercely for balance, pursuing the monster.
The thing on the roof cackled as it jumped to the opposite building. Windows shattered, human screams followed.
He saw it. The monster tearing into a human, mouth stained with blood, grinning wide.
“Even the mountains won’t embrace you.”
He launched toward the monster.
(To be continued)