88
My Villains Chapter 88
23. Mother's Warrior (2)
The execution ground was guarded by familiar guards. I exchanged brief greetings with the soldiers and casually looked around.
"By the way, where's Arnal?"
"She doesn't come here anymore. She joined her comrades."
The middle-aged soldier scratched his head through his helmet as he continued.
"I heard there's a nun among his comrades? They say he can shoot a bow now thanks to the treatment."
From what I heard at dawn, Grania was supposed to be stationed at the harbor with her subordinates. Sister Olga was also going to leave the church to join them. Looks like Arnal joined them too.
"What a stupid woman. There's no safer place than here, yet she volunteered to go to the harbor."
...Well, it might look like a foolish action. But considering how tight-knit Grania's group is, it's not that surprising.
Suddenly, the expression Grania made when she learned I had killed Gilius flashed through my mind.
I shook off my thoughts and nodded toward the execution ground.
"I heard the interrogation is over. Can I take him?"
"That barbarian? You're really going to take him?"
"Why not?"
"I heard the rumors. That you made a dangerous deal with the prince because of that barbarian."
"...Come on. What's that got to do with you? Mind your own business and do your job."
When I scoffed and snapped at him, the soldier pressed his lips together and nodded.
He unhooked several keys from his waist and handed them over, saying, "Here. These two are for the frame, this is for the wrists, and the last one is for the ankles."
That's quite a lot. They're treating him almost like a wild beast. But-
"What, I have to unlock it myself?"
"Well, I'm supposed to do it, but... You know. It's kind of creepy."
"...You racist."
"What did you say?"
"Nothing. Give them here."
I clicked my tongue softly as I took the keys.
Because the execution platform was crowded with prisoners, Ellen had to be seated on a nearby fence.
As I had seen before, Utequais was bound to the frame in the center of the execution ground. He looked a bit tired, but didn't seem to have been tortured.
I approached him with leisurely steps but suddenly stopped.
Maybe, am I making a mistake right now?
There's no doubt about his power. Without knight-level strength, it would be impossible to handle Utequais.
He probably has plenty of growth potential too. He's not just any hero, but a tattooed berserker.
But can this guy be trusted?
Could he be harboring some dirty scheme like Luke?
"...No, that's not it."
This isn't about trust. The reason I need Utequais is to protect Ellen in the short term, and to deal with rapidly strengthening enemies in the long term.
I'm trying to use him. I must never trust him.
After silently reaffirming this to myself, I spoke, "Hey."
"Hey, Hatanka."
"...You came."
"I heard the interrogation is over? I heard it from Lord Ariad."
"Ariad? Ah, Recmosa'te."
"...Recmosa'te? What's that?"
Seemingly having no intention of answering my question, Utequais raised his dark eyes to look up at me.
"...Am I free?"
"Ah, yes. Wait a moment. I'll unlock it-"
Crack.
Suddenly there was a sound of wood splitting. It came from the frame holding Utequais.
Creak.
The warrior with a bear-like build stood up.
He shattered the thick frame, pulled out the stakes fixing his limbs, and brushed off the wooden pieces that fell on his shoulders. All with a very casual expression.
I placed my hand on my sword handle and gave a hollow laugh.
"...What's this? You could've escaped?"
"Wrong. No kapuC. Couldn't escape."
"Kapuch? What's that?"
"Symbol of Hatanka."
"Symbol of Hatanka...? Ah, Hatanka's symbol? Warbanit?"
"Warbanit?"
"I mean, are you talking about the ceremonial hat?"
"...Ye, hat?"
Damn, it's really inconvenient trying to talk with someone who's not good with words.
I let out a small sigh before continuing.
"You know, are you talking about that hat with feathers!"
"Correct. Know where it is?"
"Yeah. It's at the Ship's Horn Inn. Daria is keeping it along with that stone hammer. You know the Ship's Horn Inn, right? The place where you got drunk and beat up those kids."
"I see. Open it."
Utequais said this while holding out both hands. Iron shackles with chains were hanging from his wrists.
"...Come on. If you were going to do this, why did you break the frame and stakes? Was it for show?"
Utequais kept his mouth shut at my criticism.
This bastard seems to have a bit of a show-off vibe.
After coming down from the execution platform, Utequais suddenly spoke, "I thought about it."
"Thought about what?"
"You said. To think about it."
"Ah, right. And?"
In response to my question, Utequais quietly crossed his arms.
Wow, he can actually cross those thick arms.
"I, Hatanka, mother's warrior."
"...Mother's warrior? Were you a woman?"
When I made a shocked expression, Utequai frowned deeply.
"A th'ol, no. I, man."
"But you said mother?"
"Warrior chosen by mother."
"So, you chose your mother? What a disloyal son you are!"
"Erpe Th-ral!"
I quickly covered my ears at his booming voice.
"Damn, why are you yelling? So what? Your mother chose you? As a warrior?"
"Correct, correct."
"Then you should be 'mother's warrior' not 'warrior's mother', you idiot."
He twitched his eyebrows briefly but then shook his head.
"...Doesn't matter. I, Hatanka, mother's warrior."
"And?"
"Have mind to embrace mother's bosom."
"...You mean you want to embrace your mother's bosom? Are you saying you want to die?"
"Wrong! Death, fear, none!"
Conversing with Utequais required considerable patience. I tried to understand what he was trying to say while using hand gestures.
"Okay, to summarize... Since you'll eventually embrace your mother's bosom, you're not afraid of death. But if possible, you want to avenge your tribespeople. Also, you owe me your life so you'll repay it someday. Right?"
"Correct, correct."
Utequais nodded vigorously while keeping his arms crossed.
Well, although conversation is difficult, he doesn't seem to be completely without principles. That's fortunate.
"That's good. Then, you must have heard that to gain real freedom, you need to prove yourself in the fight against the bandits?"
"Recmosa'te said."
"Did you hear that we're in the same boat?"
"Yes. If I commit crime, I, you, all hanged."
"Good. Then let's go. Orders will come when we're at the inn."
When I gestured with my chin while saying that, Utequais unexpectedly shook his head.
"No. I, Hatanka. Cannot command."
"...What?"
"I, precious warrior. You, Darran tanka. Cannot command me."
"...What's this 'Darran tanka'?"
Utequais slowly extended his thick index finger, pointing at none other than me.
"You. Darran tanka. Evil warrior."
"Evil? Me?"
"Correct. You, have power that defiles life. Mother punishes."
"...This bastard, saying whatever he wants to my face."
But, power that defiles life...?
"Are you talking about blood magic? You won't follow me because I use blood magic?"
"Yes, blood magic. Darran agbara."
"What nonsense. Even the church says it's fine, why are you making a fuss?"
"Mother's teachings. Young god doesn't matter."
"What's this about a young god- *sigh* Whatever. Anyway, I'm responsible for you so stop talking nonsense and follow me."
"Wrong. I go my own way."
"Hey, didn't you say you owed me your life? Are you going back on your word?"
"Going back on word?"
"Are you speaking with two mouths? If you gave your word, you should keep it, bastard."
"Keeping word. I, commit no crime. You, not hanged. I, repay debt. You, receive. Can do without orders, without accompaniment."
"This is bullshit-"
Utequais, arms still crossed, lifted his solid-looking chin and looked down at me.
"Above all I, Hatanka. Weak warrior, cannot command."
"...Weak? Who? Me?"
"Correct. You, have Darran agbara. I, mother's warrior. Evil power, doesn't work."
...Ah.
A scoff escapes me without realizing.
'You are weak so you cannot command me'? If I had heard this when I was Kim Seung-soo, I would have ignored such childish provocation without any emotional response.
Of course, if the speaker had been a large, strong person, I would have run away with trembling legs, but still.
"You're saying I'm weaker than you?"
"Correct."
Phrases like 'If you don't want to take orders, let's have a cooperative relationship. I'll give you proper compensation' crossed my mind.
Cutting off his head to eliminate future troubles was also an attractive option.
Between reason and instinct, I found what I thought was an appropriate solution.
"Huh, fine."
Confidence filling my limbs, fighting spirit flowing through my veins. It seemed like it would be quite a good solution.
Thud.
"......?"
When I undid the leather strap on my left shoulder, my shield fell raising dust. Then I took off my helmet and belt, throwing them along with Hrunting on top of it.
Confusion appears on Utequais's face.
"I'm giving you special consideration since you don't have weapons."
"...Giving consideration?"
"Count yourself lucky, you bastard."
As soon as I finished speaking, I kicked off the ground, and-
Crack.
A weight-loaded punch exploded against Utequais's jaw.
Crack.
A sound like splitting firewood.
Ellen, who had been wiggling her toes while sitting on the fence, flinched.
"... Phoenix?"
Phoenix and Hatanka, who had been conversing until just now, were facing off against each other.
"Elgata (It's spicy)..."
Muttering something while wiping his mouth, Hatanka smiled ferociously.
It was a strike that would have completely shattered the jaw of a normal person, but Hatanka only staggered briefly before regaining his stance.
Phoenix twisted his lips into a smile and charged at Hatanka.
Phoenix was a monster, a head taller than the average person and with a body made entirely of muscle. Even to Hatanka, who had never seen a human larger than himself in his life, he was quite a threatening opponent.
Hatanka spread his legs wide and raised both palms to chest level.
Then Phoenix, who had been charging head-on, quickly stepped to Hatanka's side and struck his flank.
"Ugh"
As Hatanka flinched from the heavy punch, Phoenix stepped into position and launched a kick from behind.
Whack!
His leg, swung like a whip, struck a thigh that was two or three times thicker than Ellen's waist.
As Hatanka adjusted his posture and turned around, Phoenix's fist landed with a sharp ‘thwack!’ against his exposed abdomen.
"Nngh,"
Hatanka endured by tensing his core muscles and quickly swung his arms, but Phoenix leaned back and took backsteps as if falling backward.
This pattern repeated several times.
Phoenix would dive in with quick movements to strike, then dodge and retreat.
Hatanka swung his arms, as long as they were thick, but struggled to catch Phoenix.
It looked like a giant bear fighting against a fierce leopard.
"Huff, Gua lune'te (annoying bastard)."
Even after taking over twenty clean hits, Hatanka showed little sign of fatigue.
Ellen, feeling somehow uneasy, slowly rose into the air with the help of the Dance Spirit. She was ready to cast spells at any moment.
Just then, Phoenix's persistent low kick struck Hatanka's thigh once again.
Thwack!
With a sound like a leather bag bursting, Hatanka's massive body staggered.
Phoenix launched another low kick to completely incapacitate his opponent.
At that moment, Hatanka's eyes flashed.
"Got you!"
He grabbed Phoenix's leg with his large, rough palm and tripped his standing foot.
"Ugh!"
Phoenix's body was instantly lifted into the air, and Hatanka immediately released the leg while crushing his exposed back.
Then he pinned Phoenix's waist with both legs and locked his shoulders and neck with both arms.
Ellen, turning pale, screamed.
"Phoenix!"
"Nnngh!"
"Ugh, Ventus, exaudi (Wind, hear me)-"
"Stop!"
"What-?"
"Don't interfere!"
Phoenix's shout cut off Ellen's spell.
Barely pushing away the thick arms with both hands, Phoenix pulled in his chin to secure his breathing. Then he struggled while trying to catch his rough breath.
However, breaking free from Hatanka, who had overwhelming size and strength, was extremely difficult.
Bam!
"Gak,"
Hatanka's fist repeatedly struck Phoenix's face.
When Phoenix extended both hands to block the continuing punches, Hatanka wrapped his neck again with his remaining arm.
"Grrk,"
As the thick forearm tightened firmly under his jaw, Phoenix's pupils rolled back.
This bastard, did he learn jiu-jitsu?
I silently ground my teeth and began controlling my blood flow. The blood filled with fighting spirit heated up, forcibly opening the blocked blood vessels to flow to my brain.
"Ngh-"
As soon as my vision cleared, I grabbed the fist falling toward my face.
Then Utequais's hot breath touched my sweat-soaked nape.
"Hah- persistent."
"You damn-!"
That creepy sensation made me unconsciously yell and squeeze out strength from my entire body.
Click.
I crossed my arms to grab his wrist with my left hand and elbow with my right. Then I twisted with all my might as if lifting a lever.
"Ugh,"
A painful groan.
Utequais seemed to judge this situation dangerous. He released his legs pinning my waist to pull away, but-
Crunch!
"Ack!"
Not a chance, you bastard.
I bit down hard on the thick forearm that was choking me.
There wasn't even time to taste the salt. I clenched my jaw until my head spun, determined to tear off flesh.
"Argh, Darrve erap!"
Hatanka roared angrily and rolled on the ground.
Having lost my grip on his arm from the sudden position change, I wildly swung my elbow backward. It was just desperate flailing without technique, but-
Thwack!
"Urgh-"
"Ugh."
...Should I call this lucky or unlucky?
My randomly swung elbow had precisely hit, well, 'that spot'.
The unpleasant sensation made my skin crawl, and I quickly shook him off and stood up.
"Arak, *ugh* tark'ya-"
"What are you saying, you barbarian."
Utequais was writhing on the ground, clutching his groin with both hands.
I grabbed his hair and spat on the ground with a sharp 'ptui'. The thick saliva mixed with blood stretched long.
"Whew. You're dead today."
No more, no less, die just halfway.