Chapter 160
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 160
Chapter Title: Awaiting the Beheading
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Upon hearing that they were searching for a human summoner who commanded trolls, Kang Seol's party wore cold expressions. They could all guess who that human summoner was.
'Why are they looking for me?'
Mael glanced at Kang Seol before addressing the group.
"They're looking for a human summoner who commands trolls. It seems... like they're after you, Snowman."
Charmelly jumped in alarm.
"Uh... sh-should we say he's not here? Wouldn't that be better? What if they cause trouble for no reason..."
At that moment, the troll's voice rang out once more.
"By the way, you're all going to see Lord Unggora regardless. Lord Unggora is divine and will uncover it even if you hide it. Should evidence of concealment emerge, as an example, he'll sever the limbs of five among you."
Mael didn't translate right away. Instead, he counted the party members on his fingers.
"One, two, three..."
"Why count like that? What did they say?"
"Ah, it's just..."
Counting now lololol
Making sure it's not his turn yet? lol
Mael's already awakened to society's harshness.
Kang Seol gestured to halt Mael's translation.
No matter the response, translating negative words would only heighten the confusion.
The Black Thunder patrol seems to be looking for you. How will you proceed?
1. Stay silent and hide.
2. Tell the truth to the party and follow their decision.
3. Go before Unggora and confess.
4. Reveal your identity to the troll.
...
Kang Seol pondered for a moment before opening the carriage window.
"By any chance, are you looking for me?"
"Hm? Human, you speak our tongue?"
"To some extent. But there can't be just one person fitting your description... Any other traits?"
"The Yogna Tun incident. Remember the Sulfur Skulls?"
He smirked as he replied.
"Yes, I remember."
"Were you there?"
"I was."
"Involved in its downfall?"
"Yes."
Whoosh-!
Whoosh! Whoosh-!
The Black Thunder blades all swung toward Kang Seol's carriage in unison.
"Wh-what do we do? What did you say?"
"They seem angry... Did you say something wrong?"
"Everyone, calm down. He'll handle it."
"What if he doesn't?"
"Then we fight. For now, we're complying quietly, but we have enough strength to resist. Let's watch the situation."
Kang Seol spoke coldly to the Black Thunder vanguard leader.
"What is this? Seeking revenge?"
"......"
The vanguard leader waved his hand.
"Lower the spears. The road is long."
Swoosh... swish...
As the spears returned to position, tension between the search party and Black Thunder forces eased slightly.
"Phew... looks like a misunderstanding."
"We should observe more."
"What did they say?"
"I can't grasp the full picture yet."
While Charmelly and Mael conversed, Kang Seol addressed the vanguard leader.
"If you're taking us for revenge over that..."
"Not at all. Tribes have their own lives. The Sulfur Skulls were a great tribe, but we're Black Thunder—no less massive. Unless they specifically ask, their affairs are theirs."
"Then why seek me out specifically? We're in a hurry."
"Entering our territory means using our paths, saving time if allowed."
"Sounds like you'll hold us as long as that saved time..."
"If things go smoothly, no need."
Kang Seol, momentarily puzzled, asked,
"How did you know I was here?"
"We didn't. Not at all."
"...Pardon?"
"Fate brought you here. We ask every human group we meet the same questions. Unsatisfactory answers mean expulsion from the territory."
"...Killings too?"
"If necessary. Anyway, that's settled. We've verified enough; the rest is for Lord Unggora."
"Hm..."
Unggora.
The Black Thunder trolls—a tribe Kang Seol had never encountered, with no required quests linked.
He had the perfect troll database for times like this.
'Jamad, know Unggora?'
The reply came instantly.
Harder not to know. Black Thunder's current leaders are Unggora and Ungus. Half-brothers with completely different personalities.
'Like your brothers and you?'
Not at all. From memory, Ungus is the elder, Unggora the younger. Unggora was always slightly weaker physically than other trolls. Ungus had superior ability.
'But only Unggora's mentioned now. Maybe he's the chieftain?'
...Impossible. After I became chieftain, no news, but Unggora overtaking Ungus makes no sense.
'Did they fight over leadership? Unggora won?'
Dunno. Gotta see for ourselves.
The Black Thunder tribe nestled in the misty hills' center, its village perched high enough to overlook the entire terrain at a glance.
"Humans! It's humans!"
"Invaders?"
"Must've sinned! Human meat's tough and tasteless, but..."
"Will it be our turn too?"
Charmelly, stepping down from the carriage, shuddered at the murmuring trolls and walked forward.
"Wh-what are they saying? Mael, what're they calling us?"
"...They're giving us a very enthusiastic welcome."
"Really? I thought..."
Torn by guilt over his white lie, Mael closed his eyes and strode ahead—a stark contrast to Charmelly's cheerful waving and grinning.
"Puhaha! That woman's smiling?"
"That one's gotta be boiled down to the bones!"
Mael's expression grew even more pitiful.
Kang Seol asked the troll who had led them here.
"Do Black Thunder still eat humans?"
"Sinners get that to instill fear. Generally no—humans taste bad."
"Sinners? What crimes? I thought no dealings with humans."
"Like trespassing our territory..."
We're already sinners?
Death sentence already?
Execution's better than bathing and hopping in the pot with carrots and onions lololol
This looks f*cked...
Exterritoriality! Claim extraterritoriality!
As Kang Seol's expression hardened, the vanguard leader grinned.
"Don't worry too much. If you're the human we sought, you won't grace our table tonight."
"I'll hold you to that."
"Wait here then. Whether guests or intruders, Lord Unggora will decide soon."
The village center.
Its plaza-like vastness was impressive, but the colossal trolls packing it were more shocking.
This swarming sensation was rare—and moreso with their madness-glinting eyes.
"Woooaaah!"
"Humans after so long! Enough for us to get a taste too!"
For the first time, knowing troll speech made Kang Seol feel at a disadvantage.
Thud-! Thud-! Thud-!
Drums echoed from somewhere.
"He's coming!"
"Lord Unggora approaches!"
"All prostrate flat!"
Thud! Thud!
Trolls splatted to the ground, smashing heads, then waited motionless.
"Wh-what's happening?"
"Seems the leader's arriving."
"Trolls always like this?"
"Cultures vary by tribe. Like humans, right?"
"True, but... should we bow too?"
"Probably not. Our treatment depends on Snowman's talk with him."
As Charmelly and Mael spoke, a massive palanquin approached, adorned with beast bones—grand in scale.
Its rider's absolute presence felt anything but light.
"......"
A troll charred black from nose to brow. Unggora had arrived.
"Unggora! Unggora!"
"Lord Unggora!"
Unggora waved his hand.
The frenzied trolls fell silent instantly.
"Humans. Those venturing deep into Black Thunder lands become our supper. Knowing that, you dared enter..."
"Quench our throats with their blood!"
"The flesh! Scrape it from the bones!"
Kang Seol stood calmly. Unggora gazed down from the palanquin.
"We could feast on your blood and flesh, but intriguing rumors reached me. One of you led the Sulfur Skulls' downfall?"
Kang Seol responded.
"Me."
"Ho... You look ordinary, yet hid such power. No, not yours."
Unggora's eyes widened.
"The power you're concealing now!"
Trolls murmured.
Unable to follow, the search party's faces paled.
Unggora said,
"...Show it. To me too!"
Kang Seol swallowed, asking Jamad,
'What now?'
We've come this far—gotta show face.
Swish-!
Jamad's shadow erupted from Kang Seol's grasp and took form.
Thud...
He was enormous, far more imposing than Black Thunder trolls.
"Th-that's..."
"Jamad! It's Jamad!"
"The Mountain Sorcerer Jamad lives!"
"Ooooh..."
Trolls trembled, peeking.
Was Jamad a gang boss or what?
Jamad delinquent theory confirmed !
Unggora addressed Jamad.
"Long time, Elder Brother Jamad."
"Indeed. First since death."
"First since that old tournament? Your vibe's unchanged even in death."
"Hmph, your guest-hosting's worlds apart from your brother's."
"Kuhuhu... You trashed the place when visiting as Ungus's guest, so not your place to say."
"......"
"Anyway, shocked once at your death, twice at Yogna Tun sighting."
Jamad replied sternly.
"Death can't halt my ambition."
"Same old. Unchanged, Brother."
"Mustn't change till ambition's met. But odd."
"......"
"Where's Ungus? Long to see my old friend."
Trolls flinched.
Something was off.
"Answer, Unggora. Where's your brother?"
Jamad suspected Unggora had rebelled against Ungus.
"Dead."
"Ri— what?"
"As good as dead."
"What nonsense! Unggora!"
Unggora gave a deflated laugh.
"He challenged primal thunder god Ambika, lost, cursed to await on Thunder Plateau."
Jamad's shock was rare; Kang Seol felt it vividly.
"Impossible... Why would Ungus challenge Ambika..."
"Because of you, Jamad. Ungus grew desperate at your death, broke free of the blood pact alone."
"Fool! But... awaiting? What?"
Unggora said,
"You, Jamad."
"......"
Unggora's eyes grew wistful.
"Kill my brother, Jamad. Grant rest to that cursed body..."
"Unggora."
"Burned pitch-black, he waits on Thunder Plateau... Find him, give peace. Only you—not I his brother—can."
Conditions met. Hidden Adventure unlocked.
Hidden Adventure 'Awaiting the Beheading' activated.
......