Chapter 48
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: Wolf's Warning
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Kang Seol held out an antidote to shadow poison, made from powdered Dokyo grass.
It was something only he could create, and its true worth was his to decide.
Kibo stared at the antidote Kang Seol offered, falling silent for a moment.
"This... it's an antidote for shadow poison?"
"As you can see."
"The recipe... no, more importantly, how did you even get it?"
"Does it matter?"
"No... you're right, it doesn't. My mistake."
Yumira, stunned by the flustered look on Kibo's face she'd never seen before, turned to Kang Seol.
"An antidote? You mean this is the antidote for shadow poison?"
"No repeats."
"Th-then Kibo can recover?"
"Close enough."
"But..."
Like a granddaughter fretting over her grandfather, Yumira couldn't believe the antidote even existed. Kibo patted her reassuringly with one hand.
"Yumira, just listen from here on out."
"Kibo!"
"Quietly now, Yumira. This isn't your place. Or would you rather leave?"
"Eek..."
Kibo's tone was stern. Yumira had only seen him like this a handful of times. He was truly intimidating in these moments.
She let out a small whimper and glanced at Kang Seol. He felt no negativity from her actions—no annoyance or anything of the sort.
He must really care for Kibo.
Their relationship was unusual.
A transmigrator woman and the leader of relic hunters who'd rolled in the dirt for ages.
Kibo kept trying to teach Yumira, and she followed without a hint of suspicion.
As Kang Seol pondered their dynamic, Kibo spoke up.
"What do you want in return? Don't tell me it's Galota's tongue."
"That's already on the table as trade bait. I want something else."
"...Something else?"
"Treasure, rare materials, or useful info for me would do nicely."
Kibo clamped his mouth shut at Kang Seol's words.
He seemed troubled. After a sigh, he finally spoke.
"We're in a cold war with Heka, so we've sold off all our hoarded treasures long ago. Could you cut us a little slack?"
"Hmm... I've already shown plenty of grace."
"Hm?"
"Trading this antidote with you is the grace I'm extending."
"Haha... can't argue with that. Fair enough."
"What are you even talking about, Kibo?"
Kibo nodded gravely beside her.
Yumira couldn't keep up with their exchange.
"He's right. Imagine if he'd taken this to Heka instead. Think about it, Yumira."
"Ah... I see."
"He's already shown us consideration by offering to trade it here. Now, what to do about this..."
Kibo had already grasped Kang Seol's intentions.
He liked Kibo well enough and had extended a kindness.
But goodwill only goes so far.
If Kibo misread the situation and tried any tricks, the deal would fall apart.
"Everything I said earlier is true, though."
"That you've sold all your treasures?"
"Yes, unfortunately, most items fit for trade are..."
"Most" meant not all. There were still tradeable goods left.
Swish—
Of the rings filling Kibo's ten fingers, the darkest one was placed on the table.
"Kibo! That's..."
"I know, but we have to pay the price for this."
"It's your symbol! Why...?"
"Only I can symbolize myself. This is just an object."
Kang Seol picked up the wolf-head ring.
An alert-type ability.
It was perfect for caster classes with low toughness and stamina.
Rings and necklaces rarely outshone gear from major slots anyway, so utility effects like this were often more valuable.
Pardon me, but why does this guy keep getting treasures?
We have no idea either.
Miracle alchemy lol, antidote turns into treasure!
And he's got tons of antidote left lololol
Now even rings are treasures? -_-
But the effects must be insanely good
Huh?
Checked the treasure stats and... disappointed lol
For real lol but somehow Snowman has both...
Kang Seol smirked faintly and clenched his fist around the ring. Kibo noticed and asked.
"Accepting the trade...?"
"I like it."
"Haha! Hahaha... Treat it well! I haven't taken it off in 20 years."
Yumira pouted beside them.
"That ring... you got it when you took over the troupe, right?"
"Yumira."
"Is it really okay to give it away?"
"My family is still alive. And I've gained a good opportunity besides."
"......"
"You bond with people, not objects. Family, not rings. I can always reclaim it with another treasure."
"...Got it."
Kibo glanced at Kang Seol and lifted the antidote.
"Then let's see if it works."
"Be my guest."
Pop.
Kibo popped the lid off the antidote Kang Seol had given him and dumped it straight into his mouth without hesitation.
Sizzle...
"Grgh... Feels like my throat's burning up. Strongest liquor I've ever had was nothing compared to this."
"It's poison, after all."
Yumira jumped at Kang Seol's words.
"What? What did you say?"
As she reached for her sword at her waist, Kibo responded.
"Yumira, my head's pounding. Please be quiet."
"It's poison!"
"Well, it's not wrong given the pain... but it's definitely working."
Sizzzle...
Kibo's limp, blackened arm slowly reverted to its original skin tone, starting from the elbow, then the wrist, and finally the fingers.
Hiss...
Black smoke reeking of poison vented out the window.
Yumira watched with saucer-wide eyes, speechless.
"My god... Kibo's arm is healed?"
"Haa... haa..."
"Must have hurt like hell..."
"Compared to losing the arm entirely? With this bulk, no one listens if I cry."
Kang Seol nodded and stood.
"Next up: the treasure exchange."
"Right, of course."
Auction house manager Rita was summoned despite business hours, under heavy guard, carrying the two treasures.
Swish—
Shade's Grace was handed to Kibo.
Swish—
Galota's Tongue went to Kang Seol.
Rita confirmed and offered two documents.
"Sign here, please."
"Oh, and we'll cover all fees."
Kibo readily declared he'd pay the full transaction fees. Kang Seol had no reason to refuse and nodded.
With the deal done, Kibo dismissed his people. Once again, only Kang Seol, Yumira, and Kibo remained.
"Isn't the trade over?"
"No, one more thing."
Shhh...
Kibo gripped Shade's Grace and summoned black energy.
It was a solid aura; Kang Seol's brow twitched. He subtly raised his own presence in response.
"What are you doing?"
"Just testing you. Shame you didn't flinch."
Kibo dropped the playfulness and met Kang Seol's eyes seriously.
"Help us in the coming feud with Heka."
"Pass. I don't meddle in others' business."
"Hmph... easier said than done. Nobira's biggest event is brewing—even the baker or sewer rats won't escape the fallout."
"You done?"
"Yeah, that's it. Good trade. Your name?"
Kang Seol was mildly surprised he hadn't given it yet.
"Call me Snowman."
"Snowman, huh. We'll meet again."
"If our paths cross."
Yumira and Kibo left.
As she followed, Yumira kept stealing glances back at Kang Seol, clearly reluctant.
Once outside Kang Seol's place with Kibo, Yumira puffed her cheeks and grumbled.
"Why grovel to that snowman? He has no faction!"
"...That's precisely why he's scary, Yumira."
Sweat beaded on Kibo's jaw as he spoke.
"Kibo? Kibo! What's wrong? See!? It wasn't an antidote! That bastard! I'll—"
Yumira's shock was natural, but she didn't bolt back. Kibo explained soon enough.
"Yumira."
"Kibo? You okay?"
"Settling down now. Whew..."
"What's with all the sweat? What happened?"
"Yumira, sit for a bit."
They paused at a safe flower bed.
Kibo spoke first.
"What sets relic hunters apart from the rest?"
"Eyes?"
"Right—eyes and instincts. That's why I took you in."
"...Thanks."
"You arrived full of rage at the world."
"I know. I feel like I've changed."
Yumira remembered her first day in Nobira. Rainy weather, dark shops.
Nothing was kind to her, but she took it as normal. Her old world hadn't been different.
She was alone, screaming her pain, but only fakes eyed her looks—no one listened.
Kibo had taken her in.
"Thanks for that day. Would I even be alive without you?"
"You'd have survived. Those bloodshot eyes full of venom stuck with me..."
"Anyway, so?"
"Folks compare Heka and me to lion and wolf. Not wrong. Heka's fierce and brave. I lead a smaller hunting troupe and avoid fights unless necessary."
"You're right. Heka's insane."
Yumira saw Kibo as absolute good and followed blindly. Still did.
"You're the only one dreaming of a future with transmigrators. Our shepherd."
"Heh... Wolf as shepherd? Passing dogs would laugh. Stop gilding me."
"It's true! You're amazing, Kibo."
Kibo sighed and told her.
"Yumira, I brought this up for a reason. I felt fear from him."
"Him? That snowman? What're you saying?"
"Remember when I tested his aura?"
"Yeah, you said it was a joke."
"I was probing. But my eyes and instincts—the ones that got me here—screamed danger. Stay away."
"Just trusting your gut?"
"There's evidence too. You don't find it odd a lone nobody in Nobira has treasures."
"...Ah!"
Kibo's suspicion was justified.
In relic city Nobira, treasures circulated only among factions running large hunts. They unearthed most of them.
Yet a random guy drops in, trades treasures casually, and cures Kibo's dire condition.
Assuming he was ordinary was contradictory.
"And he surely has far more. Even his belt was some exotic rarity I've never seen—better than this crystal orb I'm holding."
"...Who is he?"
"Listen up from now on. Don't approach him lightly."
Yumira was stunned; Kibo had never warned her this gravely.
He ignored her reaction and continued.
"Yumira, I bring you to big matters for a reason."
"What is it?"
"Wolf packs don't follow the strongest wolf. They follow the wisest."
"......"
"When your day to stand tall comes, remember: build strength to never lag, wisdom to always lead."
"Never lag... always lead..."
"Even Heka would feel the same meeting him. Lion or wolf..."
Kibo shuddered, recalling Kang Seol's eyes and the power in that small frame, swallowing hard.
"In the end, beneath humans."
"How highly do you rate that snowman?"
"You'll know soon enough."
"How? Trade's done."
"After Rita's report, I mobilized our intel network on this mystery man."
"Results?"
Instead of answering, Kibo questioned her back.
"Transmigrators say they know Nobira's strongest, right?"
"Yeah, I mentioned recently—my 350k score dropped me to 5th because of some weirdo... Huh?"
"Who was top?"
"It... said undisclosed?"
"Undisclosed appeared the exact day he arrived."
"Pfft, coincidence."
"Started as suspicion. Now it's certainty. I saw him myself."
Gulp...
Yumira could guess what came next from Kibo's demeanor.
As "no way" etched in her mind, Kibo said it.
"He's the undisclosed. And Heka's side has probably noticed too."
"What do we do? If he sides with Heka?"
"Well... full war's coming soon. Prep time. He'll be the storm deciding this feud. Pray it blows toward the lions."