Chapter 11. Mongrel
Huff, huff—.
Mahushu tensed up. For some reason, her body was trembling on its own. Her throat felt parched. The fight hadn't even started yet, but she already felt utterly overwhelmed by his presence. So she bared her teeth at him and let out a guttural roar—a desert warrior's bellow.
"Raaargh—!!"
That made her feel a bit better. Gripping her spear tightly with both hands, she lowered into a stance and began circling him slowly, very slowly. Ji-hyuk found her beastly movements strangely appealing. In his old memories, she had been more civilized, but now she was closer to a savage beast. Still, those eyes burning with refusal to lose were the spitting image of her future husband, Gunda. Like a matching pair, those two.
The mixed-blood suin glared at Ji-hyuk with the fierce eyes of a wild wolf, ready to pounce at the slightest opening. He stood there defenseless, sword dangling loosely at his side. But for some reason, she couldn't charge at him. Her instincts screamed that she shouldn't rush in, rooting her legs in place.
What is this? A trap?
Why's he just standing there like that?
Puzzled but wary, she kept scrutinizing him with suspicious eyes. He was strong—that much her own eyes had confirmed beyond doubt. No room for question. But he was still a frail human, physically the weakest race. So she waited patiently, convinced an opportunity would come.
Relentlessly.
Ji-hyuk found this hyper-vigilant mixed-blood suin intriguing. Even when he deliberately showed an opening, she didn't bite. Her instincts must be sensing the danger.Suin really do have sharp combat senses. A race born for battle, just like they say.
But unfortunately, she'd met the worst possible opponent.
In the end, Ji-hyuk's patience ran out first. He started walking toward her, step by step, slowly. She backed away in tandem, step by hesitant step. Why's he coming like that...? Keeping her spear trained on him, she stared with wary eyes, maintaining distance. But he just kept strolling, like he was on a leisurely walk.
Only after a while did she realize he was looking down on her. That bastard...! How much of a pushover did he think she was to ignore her like this? Her pride stung, and she couldn't hold back her rage anymore. She charged at him with a wild yell.
Mahushu shot forward like an arrow, thrusting her spear straight at his heart. But the tip pierced only empty air. She'd anticipated the miss, though, and swept the spear horizontally with a whoosh. This time it'll hit for sure. It was definitely close enough. Even if not fatal, it'd leave a serious wound.
But no—it sliced through empty air again. He stayed just out of reach, barely. She figured if she pushed a little harder on speed, she'd land a solid blow. She poured in more power. But the result was the same. Always just a hair short. It was maddening—close enough to graze, but never connecting.
"Grr, grrr, raaaargh—!!!"
Half out of her mind, she lunged wildly. Ji-hyuk clicked his tongue at the mongrel beast. She'd started strong, but now she was just a feral animal. Her spearwork was sloppy too, like she'd learned it secondhand—no fundamentals, just wild swings.
Her bloodline and technique both lack roots.
The mixed-blood suin relied too much on her physical prowess. That was her biggest flaw. This was nothing like his old memories. It was a total mess—hard to believe it could be this bad. Guess we'll have to scrap it all and start from scratch.
Might be for the best. Thinking about it, raising her into a hero to his taste might work better from the ground up. She had talent, after all. With solid basics drilled in thoroughly, she'd make a decent card to play.
Mahushu's eyes bloodshot, she stabbed and swung like a maniac. But not a single strike landed effectively. For the first time, she felt this pathetically powerless. She couldn't comprehend it. How can the skill gap be this wide...?
Time to wrap this up. Ji-hyuk decided to end the tedious fight. He'd seen everything she had anyway—no point dragging it out. He slipped past her sweeping spear and planted a kick square in her chest.
"Oof—!!"
The mongrel wolf flew back, tumbling across the ground. But she quickly regained her footing and charged again with a roar. Her spirit was commendable. Too bad fights weren't won on spirit alone. It had to be backed by skill. One solid hit to the neck, and all the spirit in the world wouldn't matter.
This time, his fist slammed into her gut. She gritted her teeth through the eye-watering pain and counterattacked immediately. It was her sharpest strike yet. But still lacking in power and speed. He tilted his head slightly to dodge, then drove his fist up into her solar plexus.
"—!!!"
She couldn't endure it this time, collapsing forward. Her lungs seized; she hacked and drooled helplessly. Pathetic sight. But even then, she swung her spear at his legs. He shifted his foot to evade and stomped her head.
"Agh—!"
Mahushu sprawled ugly on the ground. Gasping raggedly, she struggled up. Her airway had cleared, but her fire was dimmed.
"Not coming at me anymore?"
"Raaargh—!!"
Roaring, she leaped and thrust with all her might. He sidestepped easily and uppercut her solar plexus again.
"—!!"
"Wheurk—."
She pitched forward, vomiting everything in her stomach. Ji-hyuk grabbed her hair and smashed her face into the mess, again and again. When he lifted her head, blood poured from both nostrils in twin streams, her face a wreck.
Hahk, hahk, hahk—.
With limp arms, she forced a stab, but it was so slow he could've yawned through it. He chuckled. At least she's got grit.
"Lie down for a bit."
Ji-hyuk clenched his fist. Then he smashed it into her jaw.
......Ah......
Dizzy stars exploded in her vision, and she blacked out.
· · ·
"Ack—!"
Mahushu jolted upright with a sharp cry. Her body burned like she'd had a nightmare. Haah, haah. The mixed-blood suin panted, scanning her surroundings. A shabby, worn room. Her eyes drifted to the table by the window. Someone sat there, watching her.
A human woman. The druggie mage Yael closed her magic tome carefully and asked, "Feeling... better now?"
Mahushu stared blankly at the human woman. She couldn't make sense of the situation at all.
"Want some water?"
The mixed-blood suin nodded slowly. Her throat was on fire. Yael poured a glass and handed it over. She gulped it down in one go. Then she roughly wiped her muzzle with the back of her hand and shot Yael a sharp glare. A total shift from her dazed demeanor moments ago.
"Where... am I?"
"Oh, uh... hold on."
Yael figured the boss would explain better. She hurried out to fetch Ji-hyuk from the first-floor hall. Meanwhile, Mahushu got out of bed and approached the window. The sunset over the city sprawled below, and far off, a white palace gleamed.
Her home.Why am I here...?
As she puzzled over it, someone entered. She whipped around into combat stance, ready to strike.
But seeing him, her heart sank.
Ah.
It was him. The human man who'd crushed her so utterly.
Mahushu's eyes darted frantically for a weapon. But he showed empty hands, signaling no threat, and strode to the table, sitting in the chair.
"Sit."
He nodded at the chair opposite—the one the woman had used.
She eyed him warily before sitting slowly.
A brief silence fell. A thick book lay on the table: Completion of Magical Theory.
So that woman was a mage.
"Kang Ji-hyuk. The human you'll be with from now on."
Mahushu spoke, eyes still guarded. "Why... am I here?"
She had a guess, but she desperately hoped it was wrong. Really wrong.
"Sur granted you to me. As the winner's prize."
Ah, aah....
Mahushu's expression crumbled. Her head drooped lower and lower. So it ended like this....
She hadn't proven herself a proud desert warrior to her father. Failing to win, she'd become the prize. Her chest ached fiercely. She bit her lower lip hard. But her vision blurred. She fought back tears desperately.
Mahushu had wanted it so badly. All her life, rejected by mother as a half-breed suin, by father as barren. Half-beast!Useless thing that can't carry the bloodline! No matter how she struggled, she couldn't change her heritage or infertility.
So she'd aimed to become an honorable desert warrior, proving her worth. Her last shot at their recognition. But... this was the end. All her efforts, wasted. Reduced to a prize. She felt wretched enough to die. Maybe death would be better.
But she couldn't. Suicide was the most shameful death for an honorable desert warrior. And her father's honor weighed on her shoulders too.
Mahushu wiped her eyes roughly with her hand and snapped her head up. There burned an honor and pride death itself couldn't break. She was Sur's daughter. Daughter of the desert's noblest. She had to uphold that honor.
Even as a slave.
"...So, you're my master now?"
"Master, yeah. But I won't treat you like a slave. You'll be an equal person. Assuming you don't overstep."
"I won't.... I know honor. And I value it deeply."
That stirred old memories for Ji-hyuk. Back then, she called herself an honorable warrior too, swearing she wouldn't bend. Contrary to his expectation of prolonged defiance, she accepted this quickly. Almost embarrassing for him—he'd been ready to persuade or threaten. She'd probably anticipated this since becoming a prize. The tournament was her final struggle.
Historically, powerhouses often granted children to winners like this, forging ties with the strong. Mahushu was similar. As Sur's daughter, she'd know the game. Though Sur treated her like a discard.
"What will I do now..., Master?"
The wild beauty with tawny skin calling him "Master" felt oddly thrilling. But Ji-hyuk stayed level-headed. That hot-blooded phase was long past.
"Don't call me Master. Call me Boss. You're part of the team now."
"...Pardon?"
Mahushu blinked, uncomprehending. Ji-hyuk gave a rough summary. Details could wait for the carriage ride.
"I'm heading to a hero exam mission right now. You're joining."
"I see."
"Come on. Meet the team."
Mahushu followed quietly. Down in the hall, the team sat around a round table, waiting.
"Quick arrival."
Bald Gid grinned with yellow teeth, welcoming them warmly. Ji-hyuk and Mahushu sat side by side.
"Everyone, this is our new teammate. Introduce yourselves."
They went around, shaking hands. Her expression had softened considerably. Once done, Ji-hyuk patted her back.
"Forget the past. Fresh start."
"...Yes, Boss."
The boss extended his hand.
"Welcome to the team, Mahushu."
She clasped it slowly.