The Goya Clan's Plea
Not as sharply pointed as the elf he'd met before. More like something in between human and elf, perhaps?
Only then did Zeon grasp what Dayton meant by "half-breed."
The girl was clearly a human-elf hybrid.
A child born between a human and an elf.
Setting aside Dayton's infinite hatred for elves, the elves' feelings toward humans weren't exactly warm either.
At least, not the ones Zeon had encountered. For an elf to meet a human and build a family—it was nothing short of astonishing.
The girl peeked out from behind the middle-aged man, stealing glances at Zeon and Dayton.
Her face was filled with fear, but curiosity flickered within it too.
At that moment, the middle-aged man's gaze turned to Zeon.
"Haven't seen you before. A disciple of his?"
"Disciple? That dumbfuck? Hah!"
Dayton burst into mocking laughter.
Zeon's face twisted, but he didn't bother arguing back. Compared to Dayton, he was a dumbfuck.
The middle-aged man addressed Zeon.
"My name is Goduwon. What's yours?"
"Zeon."
"Korean descent, by any chance?"
"Don't even know who my parents are."
"Sorry about that. Didn't mean to pry into old wounds. Just glad to see another Korean around."
"It's fine."
Even in Neo Seoul's slums, plenty of people still obsessed over origins.
The old Seoul had been full of foreigners.
When the world changed, those who couldn't return home settled in Neo Seoul.
They clawed their way to survival, marrying Koreans or other foreigners, having kids.
Over time, pure Korean bloodlines became rare amid the melting pot of races.
Dayton sneered at Goduwon.
"Still yapping about Korean this, foreigner that like a dumbfuck? When your own kid's a half-breed mongrel with an elf."
"You haven't changed a bit. Still as rough and rude as ever..."
"If a man changes easy, death's right around the corner."
Goduwon shook his head at Dayton's retort.
Dayton hadn't changed in years—not one iota.
Not even his utter disregard for others' feelings or his venomous barbs, sharp as daggers.
Goduwon knew better than anyone why Dayton harbored such loathing for other races.
He understood the rage, but a whole century had passed.
Of those who'd lived through the incident back then, only a handful remained—Dayton included.
The others had quietly buried those memories deep. Dayton alone nursed his fury, and it was just tragic.
Goduwon asked cautiously.
"Why are you here? To deal with the bomb bees, maybe?"
"Why the hell would I bother with those?"
"You're not?"
"Still chasing pipe dreams? Fool."
"It's no pipe dream. Clear out the bomb bees, and we can revive this forest. Don't you get it?"
"Only one thing I know: dead trees stay dead, no matter what you try."
Dayton rapped the tree with his knuckles.
Thung! Thung!
A metallic ring echoed from the charred wood.
"Not just dead—fully carbonized. And you think you can bring it back? Did that bitch whisper it in your ear? Trusting a filthy elf slut? Better off swallowing a blade."
Goduwon bit his lip at Dayton's venom, saying nothing.
Dayton's rage toward elves and other races was too vast for words to pierce.
"If you're not here to help, why come at all?"
"Just passing through. The Black Forest outskirts are shady—good spot for a breather."
"Please don't linger. My clan fears you all."
"Think I give a shit about those vermin?"
"Of course not. You're Dayton. The Butcher Dayton. Forgot for a moment."
"Now you remember—get lost before I lop off that half-breed's head."
"You know I can't do that."
"Wanna test it? See if I can or can't."
"But I'll back off here. Safe travels."
Goduwon bowed with a look of despair.
Dayton was a man who followed through on threats.
His madness had ballooned over a century—no one could stop it now.
Goduwon took his daughter's hand.
In an instant, they vanished completely.
Zeon muttered in surprise.
"An Awakener, huh."
"He's clan leader. Wouldn't have kept them alive without awakening."
The Goya clan—named by his elf wife, after the high-field Korean surname.
Makes it all the more disgusting.
"We'll head out soon. Get ready."
"Got it!"
Zeon nodded.
He had questions about the Goya clan, but let it go.
Long journey ahead—time for chow first.
Zeon pulled out a strip of jerky and chewed slowly, forcing it down.
Mouth still fuzzy from just waking up, but he kept at it without pause.
Two strips down, water chugged.
Zeon brushed his hands clean and stood.
Time to roll.
Dayton yanked Clayon from the ground.
As the two turned to leave the Black Forest without a backward glance—
Vrrrrm!
A ferocious roar erupted from deep within the forest.
The wingbeats of bomb bees.
Not one or two—hundreds, thousands flapping in unison.
Dayton muttered.
"Something's riled up the bomb bees."
Bomb bees were monster beasts.
Fiercely territorial ones at that.
They never tolerated intruders in their domain.
Something had barged right in.
But Dayton's interest ended there.
This was just a pit stop.
Whatever happened, didn't matter.
"Let's go!"
Dayton turned coldly.
As Zeon stepped to follow—
"Har! Har!"
Goduwon came sprinting toward them, calling desperately. A few clanmen trailed behind.
Skidding to a halt, Goduwon asked Dayton.
"Seen my daughter Har?"
"Why ask me about your brat's whereabouts?"
"She was playing by the bunker—then gone."
One of his clansmen pointed into the Black Forest.
"There?"
"Bomb bees are reacting."
Goduwon's face drained white.
He'd hunted all beasts in the area.
Regularly, to protect the clan.
No other monster could've provoked the bomb bees.
"Did Har go into the Black Forest?"
"We have to save her."
"Har's in danger."
Urgency flashed across the clansmen's faces.
The Black Forest, home to bomb bees, ranked among Earth's deadliest spots.
Bomb bees operated like ants—a hive swarm.
They'd self-destruct without hesitation to repel invaders.
No beast, no matter how strong, survived there guaranteed.
His daughter alone in that hell.
No clue how to even start a rescue.
Goduwon dropped to his knees before Dayton.
"Please save my daughter. Name any price..."
"Heh! Why the fuck would I save your half-breed whelp?"
"We have an oath."
"Oath?"
Dayton's face warped.
"You owe my father your life. In return, you'd watch over Har until she's twenty—keep her safe."
Veins bulged in Goduwon's neck.
Bloodshot eyes pleaded.
He was staking his life on this. Dayton was their only hope.
Long ago, Dayton had taken a mortal wound. Goduwon's father saved him.
By then, Goduwon was married to an elf.
Dayton, whose hatred for other races burned hottest, couldn't bring himself to slaughter his savior's daughter-in-law and granddaughter.
When Dayton offered to repay the debt another way, the old man said simply: "Leave her be till twenty. That's enough."
Dayton swore it.
"Har's just twelve. Eight years left on your oath."
"I said I'd watch—not protect."
"She has to survive for you to watch, right?"
Grind!
Dayton gnashed his teeth.
A loophole in the oath.
Fox of an old bastard tricked me.
Now he saw why the father demanded that vow.
Prepared for exactly this.
Goduwon pressed.
"If she dies, no watching. Am I wrong?"
"Don't twist shit. Think I'll buy it?"
"Take my life. Just save my girl. She's our clan's hope—the only light for folks scraping by around here."
Desperation choked Goduwon's voice.
Dayton scowled at him.
It was a stretch, but enough to make him waver.
Dayton lived by his whims his whole life—but he'd never lied to another human.
Conflict shadowed his face.
Then a voice cut through.
"I'll go."
Zeon.
Traveling with Dayton so long, he read the turmoil.
If Dayton truly refused, he'd have cleaved Goduwon and bounced. Lingering meant doubt.
Dayton eyed Zeon.
"Why you?"
"Got curious about the Black Forest guts anyway."
"Hmph."
Dayton frowned.
Bomb bees terrified because they swarmed like ants.
Countless suicide charges overwhelmed normal Awakeners.
Why Goduwon coveted the forest but never reclaimed it.
He hunted like an elf—with bow and arrow.
Peerless against big game, useless against horde monsters like bomb bees.
That's why he begged Dayton so hard.
Zeon, though? Perfect matchup for swarms.
Numerical superiority meant jack shit against a sand mage.
Dayton grumbled.
"Cocky, eh."
"Wanna test a new skill."
"If you're volunteering, won't stop you."
"Wait till morning. If I'm not out, go on without me."
"Hah! Planned that anyway. Morning it is—don't forget."
"Right. Be back."
As Zeon stepped into the Black Forest—
"I'll come too."
Goduwon followed.
Zeon glanced at him.
"You sure?"
"My daughter's life. Can't just watch as her father."
"Alright."
Zeon nodded.
No reason to block a dad saving his kid.
The other clansmen stamped anxiously, too scared to follow. Unlike Goduwon, they weren't Awakeners.
Goduwon stuck close, murmuring.
"Thanks. Stepping up like this."
"No big deal."
"Not anyone would. Won't forget this debt."
Zeon flashed an awkward grin.
Not purely selfless.
Hit D-rank, unlocked a skill.
Best test? Real combat.
Bomb bees—ideal foes.
That's why he volunteered, unprompted.
Hardly noble, so yeah—embarrassing.
Then—
Vreeee!
Fierce wingbeats ahead.
Goduwon's face paled.
Bomb bees incoming.
He nocked an arrow—but Zeon moved faster.
Shwaaak!
Sand surged up ahead.
Followed by a boom!
The charging bomb bee slammed the sand wall and detonated.
Goduwon's jaw dropped.
"My god!"