Chapter 69

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Translator: Ryuma

Chapter: 69

Chapter Title: Her Last Descendant

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Karen, standing beside him, gave Kang ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Seol a strange look.

"Your beard's grown out quite a bit?"

"Has it?"

"Well, it wasn't exactly a comfy trip. That's why I kept saying we should stop in villages along the way."

"There weren't any decent ones until the gorge, so we had to take the long way around."

"Is that why you're so wiped out?"

"Hey, how much time has passed?"

Karen shot him a look like he was talking nonsense.

"A little over five days? Why?"

"Nah, nothing. It was boring, right?"

"It was fun—until we fell into that swamp."

"Hmm..."

Kang Seol was using her reaction to confirm one thing.

Specifically, how his summons perceived time.

'If we assume the summons are like residents of this world... they experience time fully.'

For example, in a case like this long-distance adventure.

Kang Seol hadn't even noticed a single hour passing, let alone five days and sixteen hours. He wasn't fully experiencing time.

On the other hand, Karen had lived through every minute of those five-plus days. The swamp, the wild animal cries, discovering dead animal carcasses—they were all real experiences for her.

'That's intriguing...'

In a fantasy world, how time and space worked was up to the whims of the gods.

Even with this serious distortion between him and Karen, he had to accept it as normal and keep moving.

'Still, it's lucky the summons can handle long trips without issue.'

On long journeys, if he chose to control his body, who knew what situations might arise. But if the summons could function properly in the meantime, he wouldn't end up in dire straits.

'Cooking and Insight helped too.'

Besides cooking, he had other useful talents like tanning, butchering, herbalism, and survival skills. But none had the potential to outshine cooking.

"Let's set up camp first."

"Not scouting right away? Oh, it's already night?"

"Yeah, and the trip was exhausting."

"Got it. I'll find us some shelter from the wind."

Whiiish... whoosh...

His clothes fluttered like a flag on a mast.

True to its majestic appearance, the gorge greeted them with biting cold winds and a damp chill.

And as they entered, a message heralding the start of the adventure popped up.

"A whole month..."

Kang Seol stroked his chin, lost in thought.

'Giving this much time means there's a good reason.'

Probably because tracking down the fire spider's traces was like reaching for the stars, or even if found, subduing it required lengthy preparations.

'Feels more like the former.'

The gorge was staggeringly vast—finding a specific creature here was undoubtedly hellish difficulty.

"Over here! Come on!"

"Right."

Fortunately, being at the entrance, there was a spot suitable for travelers to camp.

"Haa... it's cold."

"Let's make a fire. Plenty of firewood."

"We should conserve it, though."

"We lost the ingredients, but we've got lots of oil and kindling. It's fine."

"Alright, then let's burn it bright. There, that should do."

Once the fire pit was set, flames roared to life in an instant.

Karen's handiwork.

Kang Seol found it fascinating how she took initiative on things without him needing to step in.

"You must be tired. Rest up."

"Nah, I'm good. Who'll watch the fire if we both sleep?"

Whoosh—!

Responding to Karen was Jamad, bursting from the shadow space.

Crack...

He stretched immediately upon emerging.

"I'll do it. Been cooped up in the dark all day—I'm itching for action."

"Thanks, Jamad."

"Hmph. As if it weren't obvious."

Jamad deliberately turned his back to the outskirts, basking in the fire. With his massive frame guarding it, the blaze burned even fiercer.

"Whoa... a troll! Reliable in times like this!"

"Yeah, that's part of why I trust this guy the most."

"...For real?"

Karen glared at Kang Seol, looking miffed.

"You said I wasn't yet?"

"Huh?"

"Acknowledging you as my master."

"Well... yeah. Kahahat."

She scratched her head sheepishly.

Crackle... crack...

The dying campfire only deepened Kang Seol's fatigue.

Thud.

Moments later, overcome by drowsiness, he collapsed onto the prepared hides.

Karen and Jamad stared blankly at the fire.

Jamad, enjoying the silence, glanced at Karen and asked.

"Still not?"

"What?"

"Accepting that guy as your master."

"Who knows... maybe."

Karen leaned against a bundle of gear, hugging her knees with both arms.

"I don't really know myself."

"What's so complicated? What's holding you back?"

"Heehee... what, you'd clear the obstacle for me?"

"No, you have to smash it yourself."

"Aw, got my hopes up for nothing."

"Quit messing around."

Karen pouted at Jamad's serious expression.

"Troll, after becoming a shadow, did you follow that human right away?"

"Of course. I can't stand lukewarm types."

"Why? You strike me as someone who was a big deal somewhere, even for a troll."

"Ahem... true enough. But in the end, I lost to that fool sleeping obliviously over there."

"Eh? So you lost to Karuna?"

"Different. I lost to Snowman."

"You just don't wanna admit Karuna..."

"No, you're the one who doesn't want to admit that guy. Scared?"

"......"

"That you'll end up acknowledging him."

"Don't overstep."

"If it's hard to decide, want to hear my story?"

Jamad gazed into the fire with a reminiscent look.

"The Rock Fang Tribe I ruled was unshakeable. No one dared invade our territory, and we only grew stronger."

"How big? Your tribe was that massive?"

"We dominated an entire mountain. Does that answer it?"

"Whoa... even more impressive than I thought."

"Anyway, as chief, I thought I controlled everything—the tribe's thoughts, its power."

Jamad picked up a small stone and crushed it in his fist.

Crush...

When he opened his hand, it was dust.

"That was an illusion. Less than a day after Snowman infiltrated our tribe's lands, the Rock Fang name vanished."

"......"

"You might be right. I lost to Karuna. But I got one chance, and I poured everything into it. I could've won. No matter how strong Karuna was, I was stronger then."

Jamad grinned.

"But it didn't go that way. I lost to Karuna, my tribe was wiped out. Why did I serve him after becoming a shadow? Simple. I was convinced down to my bones. He didn't just beat my tribe, my brothers, or even me—Snowman did."

"Because of the fight's outcome?"

"No, the process of it. That infuriating punk—when he sets his mind to something, he pulls every resource. And he gets it done."

"......"

"After becoming a shadow, watching him scheme... I find myself stepping up without thinking. Me, Jamad, chieftain of the Rock Fangs, helping that punk."

Karen, who had been listening intently, responded as his tale wrapped up.

"I heard you. Good story."

"What I'm curious about is you. Are you just bound here because of your brothers?"

"Hmm... that's the thing, I don't know. What does Karuna see in that human anyway?"

"Don't judge too quick. Body might be frail, but his mind runs deep."

"Kahahat! Right, makes sense. A guy you follow this loyally."

Crackle...

Caw...

A bird cry echoed from afar.

The fire warmed their surroundings, but not their hearts.

Karen bowed her head and shared her own story.

"Do you dream?"

"Huh?"

"You, troll. Do you dream after becoming a shadow?"

"No, never once."

"Really?"

"Do you?"

Karen nodded.

Cawww...

Another bird cry.

"Yeah, really unpleasant ones."

"I'd like to hear."

"Nothing special. Dreams from my Montora days."

"That fallen empire. Time to let it go, no? Karuna never even mentions Montora."

"That's just it. Can't shake it. The burning capital, the usurpers' foul breaths... and Jin's face. Am I weird?"

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"A bit. You've got a good memory."

"Bad memories don't fade easy."

"And you're a bit slow to accept things."

"Fair enough."

Karen eyed her sword among the temporary gear.

"On the way here, I tried all sorts of stuff, y'know?"

"Like what?"

"Y'know, mindset! Gotta keep that damn punk alive till Karuna gets back."

"Even without you, I've got it covered."

"Can't rely on you. Makes me anxious anyway. Ah, that's not what I meant to say..."

"Spit it out."

"The sword won't come out."

Jamad whipped his head around like she'd said something insane.

"What nonsense is that?"

"You think I'm joking?"

"Sword won't draw? That's lunacy."

"I don't get it either. But when I try drawing it for someone other than Jin... it just..."

Karen pleaded with Jamad, her eyes vacant.

"The sword... it's heavy. Too heavy."

"What a madhouse."

"Kahaha... tell me about it."

Cawww...

Crackle...

With the bird cry, silence fell again.

Then, Kang Seol, who had dozed off, rubbed his eyes and sat up.

"Was just about to wake you."

"Yeah, sleep can wait."

As if his waking was the most natural thing, the reaction flowed seamlessly. Karen glanced at the sky.

"Bird cries. That's what woke you?"

"...Yeah."

"Right. They're getting closer."

Caaaawww!

Kang Seol looked up.

"Heading this way. The fire?"

A massive bird's shadow loomed nearer.

"It's targeting us! Hey, protect Snowman!"

"Got it! Kill the fire first!"

Fwoosh...

Karen swung her hand, extinguishing the flames.

In that instant, the giant bird dove straight at them.

"Duck!"

Kraaaash!