Chapter 240
Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 240
Chapter Title: Part 2 Chapter 16: Reunion (3)
The ten members, including Isis, were a truly diverse mix of races.
There seemed to be three human executives in total, including Jin who wasn't present.
Two of them hailed not from the main continent but from Rye, making it a gathering of truly varied temperaments.
'Birdfolk, Flowerfolk, another Ran, a Dwarf, and even a Valkyrie.'
The Valkyries hadn't originally been allied with Frontier, but reclaiming Vena had turned them friendly, or so he'd heard.
Still, he hadn't expected one to attend a meeting of executives.
'That hooded figure must be the Elf mage.'
Her name was Nel-Sharan, was it?
She wore a baggy beige hood pulled low, but those sharply pointed ears couldn't be hidden.
That aside, most of them had grim expressions, save for a few.
It was like being in the heart of enemy territory.
These were invited guests—did this seem right?
At that moment, the Birdfolk with the features of a hawk snorted and spoke up.
"Isis. What are you surprised about? It's just that much."
Jamie scowled at the sudden provocation.
"Hey, birdbrain. What did you just say?"
"The greatest talent in the human realm? I see. That might be true among humans."
"Hawks. I can't let that slide."
Han glared at the Birdfolk from his slouched posture.
The one called Hawks crossed his arms and replied in a highly arrogant tone.
"It's reality, Han. He's strong for a human, but humans are a race with clear limits. Haven't we verified that countless times already?"
"Fine. Let's have another go today."
"These guys..."
Jamie was dumbfounded to see them suddenly ignoring him and growling at each other.
Irritated, he cut their conversation short in a very annoyed voice.
"Both of you, shut up. I was the one insulted, so why are you fighting each other? Hey, birdbrain. Name's Hawks? True to the birdbrain stereotype, what a simple name. Come out here. I'll make you into fried chicken."
"Ho? They say ignorance breeds courage. Can you take responsibility for those words?"
"You're saying that because you can take responsibility, right? So come out. I'll teach you some manners."
"I like your guts. Very well. I'll personally test your skills."
Hawks rose from his seat with an amused look.
His enormous stature was revealed.
Jamie was 180cm tall, but Hawks was at least 1.5 times that.
His muscles were so solidly packed that they differed from a human's in size from the start.
The pair of wings on his back bore the distinctive brown of a hawk, each one larger than his own body.
He was undoubtedly a powerhouse.
One strong enough to look down on Han.
'Darius level.'
Darius was the man who, five years ago, had passed down Grandfather Cervil Welton's secret art to Jamie.
The undefeated champion of the Dark Arena, never once defeated.
Even against the combined assault of Jamie, Siegfried, and Han back in Saint-Deremain, he hadn't yielded an inch—in fact, he'd overwhelmed them.
Hawks possessed power equal to Darius, or perhaps greater.
"Little human brat. You're not scared now, are you?"
Hawks walked right up to Jamie's face and taunted him with a sneer.
Jamie grinned back.
"Scared? Why would I be scared of a beast?"
"Interesting. Follow me. There's a good spot where we can go at it properly."
"No, no~ both of you, stop."
At that moment, a heavy pressure bore down on Jamie and Hawks.
Jamie wrinkled his nose and turned to see Isis with a weary expression.
She spoke.
"For starters, Hawks. What kind of nonsense is this to a guest who came all this way? Are you in your right mind?"
"I'm just trying to educate an ignorant human."
"Educate my ass. Why are you volunteering for that? And I told you not to casually look down on other races. Forgotten Frontier's principles already? You really are a birdbrain."
"That's not it."
"Then shut up and sit down. Before I educate you myself."
At Isis's fierce warning, Hawks seemed to hesitate briefly before silently returning to his seat.
Jamie openly mocked him for it.
"What happened? All that talk about educating me and squawking away, and now this, birdbrain Hawks!"
"Jamie Welton. I'd appreciate it if you stopped there. I'll apologize for Hawks's slip of the tongue."
"Wasn't Frontier supposed to be an organization pursuing harmony and freedom among diverse races? Sir Onyx, Han. Is this right?"
"...Jamie, calm down for now."
Han scratched his cheek with a troubled look, while Beryl kept his eyes closed without a word.
Jamie was incredulous.
He'd had some expectations for Frontier.
He liked their goals and principles, and seeing peaceful Avalon had made him think positive relations might work.
Yet one of their executives was openly scorning and belittling humans.
He couldn't tolerate it.
"Come out, Hawks! You haven't forgotten your words, have you? Or are all Birdfolk cowardly types who can't even keep their promises?"
Jamie called out to Hawks in an anger-filled voice.
The words provoked him; Hawks, who had been about to sit again, glared at Jamie.
Then, the Dwarf seated to the right clicked his tongue and stood.
"I'll take my leave then. Call me if you need anything, Isis."
"Lil! Leaving already?"
Han called after him, but the Dwarf called Lil simply departed.
The Flowerfolk woman fidgeted, glancing between Jamie and Hawks, while the Valkyrie watched their spat with interest.
The nameless Ran man beside Isis observed impassively, and Nel-Sharan remained utterly still under her deep hood.
"This is really exhausting. I still haven't recovered from the fatigue."
Isis sighed in a deflated voice.
She laboriously lifted her right arm, which she'd kept below the table.
Through the tightly wrapped bandages, patches of blackened, necrotic skin were visible.
Hawks flinched at the sight.
"You should rest more, Isis."
"Who do you think it's like this because of?"
"..."
Hawks fell silent, and Isis turned to Jamie.
"At this point, you'll only feel better after a proper fight, right?"
"I need to beat that guy down."
"Fine. Hawks started it, so I won't stop your duel. But not now—let's set a date. Sound good?"
Isis was accommodating Jamie as much as possible.
As Frontier's leader, she felt responsible for her subordinate's misconduct.
At least the boss had her head screwed on straight.
Had she been no better than Hawks, Jamie would have been deeply disappointed in Frontier.
Jamie nodded.
"I'll allow that much. But no running away. Got it, Hawks?"
"Running away?"
Hawks approached Jamie again and said,
"A great hunter knows no flight."
"That day, I'll break the great hunter's beak."
"I'll look forward to it."
With that, Hawks spread his wings wide and soared upward.
He exited through a hole in the ceiling.
In an instant, two executives' seats were empty.
Isis let out a deep sigh and said,
"Can't talk more like this. Let's call it here for today and set another meeting later. Rosemary, the guests are yours."
"Got it."
The Flowerfolk called Rosemary approached Jamie and said,
She truly resembled rosemary, as her name suggested.
"Please follow me. I'll show you to your lodging."
He'd learn later that the Flowerfolk handled Avalon’s housework.
They loved peace and detested conflict, which was why she'd been so anxious during Jamie and Hawks's clash.
As Jamie exited, Isis shook her head from her seat.
"Shouldn't have called that Hawks guy."
"Can't avoid him forever, and with his personality, it was bound to blow up anyway. Just didn't expect it on day one."
Han clicked his tongue.
Hawks had always been problematic.
His skills were so outstanding that he'd become an executive, but his Birdfolk supremacy was extreme.
He often belittled other races, sparking major fights each time.
Han had been one such case.
'Embarrassing as it was, I lost.'
Hawks was as strong as he was arrogant.
Few among the Ran could match him in martial prowess, save Isis herself.
And now Jamie was set to face him in a few days.
"Beryl. Can't we do something? Jamie might get seriously hurt."
Han was worried.
He knew firsthand how much Jamie's level had risen compared to five years ago, but he didn't think it matched Hawks.
Beryl, who had been silent, finally spoke.
"It'll be quite the entertaining matchup."
"Hey, Beryl!"
Han shot to his feet in alarm.
Isis said,
"Not thrilled about how this happened, but it'll definitely be fun. Right, Clark?"
The Ran man called Clark nodded.
"Clark! Even you?"
"I'm out."
Then, Nel-Sharan, who hadn't moved a muscle, stood and vanished.
Han slumped back into his seat with a defeated look.
"...I give up."
Whatever happened, happened.
"You can stay here."
Rosemary guided Jamie to an empty house.
The interior was impeccably clean, well-maintained.
Daily necessities were fully stocked, and with Flowerfolk care, small potted plants dotted the space, filling it with fragrance.
"Meals are served at the meeting hall on time. That's the place from earlier."
"Thank you."
"It's my job."
Rosemary shook her head humbly, as if it were nothing.
"Then I'll be going. If you need anything, ring the small bell here. A nearby Flowerfolk child will come."
"They say Flowerfolk are always kind, and it's true. Too bad that birdbrain only took after half of you, Miss Rosemary."
"H-Hawks is a good person too. His words can be harsh, but his heart is kind. He steps up for jobs our kind struggles with, can't stand injustice... But that bad habit flares up around strong folks, it seems."
"I see."
Realizing her response sounded curt, Rosemary panicked and corrected herself.
"Ah! I spoke out of turn. Please forget I said that."
"No, thank you for the guidance."
"Rest well."
Rosemary fled the lodging.
Jamie scratched his cheek as she left.
"Guess his character isn't rock bottom? For a Flowerfolk to speak that highly."
Knowing their nature, he realized she wasn't just defending Hawks blindly.
In truth, Hawks probably did aid the weak first.
But regardless, his earlier behavior had crossed a line.
Jamie had no intention of letting it slide ambiguously.
He wasn't the weak one.
'Time to properly break that bad habit.'
What reaction would he have upon defeat by the human he'd scorned?
"Still some time till dinner. Guess I'll take a stroll."
Jamie casually unpacked from his pocket dimension and left the lodging.
Nothing particular to do; he'd just wander the village.
That was when it happened.
Screeeeech-!
The moment he stepped outside, a pink hammer appeared before him.
A very familiar shape he hadn't seen in ages.
Jamie leaned back slightly, grabbed the hammerhead.
Pulled it toward his chest while yanking the long handle with his other hand.
Using the swing's momentum, the hammer's owner couldn't overcome inertia and was dragged in.
But she wouldn't go down easy; as she came, she extended a long leg.
He twisted his head to dodge the kick, released the hammer, and clamped her inner thigh.
"Behi!!"
The hammer's owner called desperately upon being grabbed.
A pocket dimension tore open in midair, revealing a three-eyed bull.
The bull extended its horns like a buffalo and charged Jamie.
Jamie hurled the hammer's owner behind him while seizing one horn with a hand.
The immense force pushed him back instantly, but he used it instead.
"You guys..."
Jamie laid back, leveraging the principle to flip the massive bull overhead.
Then slammed it down.
Boom!!
A heavy thud echoed as the bull bellowed.
"Moooooo!!"
Then the hammer flew at Jamie from above.
He arched back to evade; pink hair fluttered in the air.
She spread fairy wings, twisting direction midair, hammer aimed at his head.
The bull on the ground rose and charged from the opposite side.
Attacks from both directions.
Jamie grinned.
"For you lot to ambush me..."
[Hundred Calamities - Reversal]
[Spatial flow distorted]
"...is a hundred years too soon."
Hundred Calamities activated, twisting spatial flow.
"Huh?"
"B-Behi!"
The pink-haired woman Vena and the three-eyed bull Behemoth panicked.
Jamie seized both their heads and smashed them together with all his might.
"Kyaaaaak!"
"Grahhh!"
Vena and Behemoth clutched their foreheads, rolling on the ground.
Behemoth shrank to normal size and yelled at Vena reproachfully.
"I told you no!"
"I don't know! My forehead! My forehead!"
"Puhahaha! Vena, you've got a lump on your forehead!"
"Don't laugh, Master!"
"I didn't wanna do iiiit!!"
Jamie burst into belly laughter at his two subordinates' pathetic display.
It had been five years since their reunion.