090. Three Great Combat Families, Taia Family 2
Gana Continent, southwest. Trist, where lush green tree trunks stretched toward the sky. Two women riding avian monsters gazed down at Bin from above.
They rode massive birds resembling eagles. Their blue armor made it immediately clear they were from the Taia family. The two with twin-tailed hair looked puzzled at Bin's black uniform.
"A young master of the Bascon family?"
"What business does the Bascon family have here?"
Bin began to speak in response to their questions.
"I'm here to see Irin Taia."
Their eyes widened in an instant. After all, she was the family head's daughter.
They lowered their voices and muttered to each other.
"Lady Irin...!"
"What on earth for..."
They exchanged surprised glances, checking if perhaps their superiors had mentioned anything.
"......"
After whispering among themselves, they asked Bin again.
"We didn't hear anything about a Bascon coming. What's your business?"
"If it's something trivial, turn back now."
Codic, hanging at Bin's waist, scowled at their arrogant attitude.
'These forest vermin daring to speak to my lord like that...'
Bin, however, responded calmly.
"I've come to return the Taia family's monsters."
His single sentence made them tilt their heads in confusion. They couldn't make sense of what he was saying. Taia monsters only obeyed the family, after all. And around Bin, who claimed to be returning them, there was nothing to be seen.
They stared at him with suspicion.
"You're talking nonsense."
"What kind of trick is this, young master of Bascon?"
To dispel their doubts, Bin lifted Codic from his waist.
"Seeing is faster than hearing, after all."
As Bin looked at Codic, the creature understood and exhaled black smoke from its mouth.
Sssss...
The women blinked at the grotesque skull with only a head remaining—Codic's form.
"What? That thing's alive?"
'More importantly, a Bascon communicating with monsters...'
Their shock at another family's monster communication was short-lived. From the black smoke emerged an avian monster. Blue wings. A long tail reminiscent of a brush. It was Rain, exuding a proud blue aura.
Rain looked around and took a deep breath.
"Ssssup... The air in Trist really is different."
As Rain appeared, the two avian monsters in the air dove straight to the ground.
Shooo...
Like arrows, the monsters plummeted. The women riding them couldn't hide their bewilderment at the sudden descent. They hadn't given any orders, yet the creatures moved on their own.
"Suddenly... descending..."
"Without a word..."
Ignoring their cries, the avian monsters hurried to land. Once on the ground, the two bowed their heads to Rain.
Thud.
The two women, who had finally hit the dirt, wore stunned expressions.
"Our monsters..."
"Are showing respect!"
Watching this, they were convinced. The blue avian monster before them belonged to the Taia family.
Bin figured this was convincing enough and spoke up.
"Then guide me in already."
Still sprawled on the ground, they looked at each other.
"We should take him to Lady Irin, right?"
"No choice."
The two women nodded as they lay there.
"Very well. We'll escort you to Lady Irin."
"Follow us."
As they stood, dusted themselves off, and prepared to lead Bin—that's when it happened.
"Hehe!"
A confident voice rang out from somewhere. Bin turned toward the source: the sky.
Codic also turned, frowning.
'This voice...'
Soon, a green monster flew down from the air and landed before Bin. A massive slime in humanoid form, its body taut like muscle—unlike ordinary slimes. On its shoulder sat a woman in a blue uniform: the striking, slender Irin.
Seeing them appear right on cue, Bin muttered.
'Nobles are all the same.'
Thud. Thud.
The massive slime approached Bin and raised a fist.
"Long time no see. Wanna go another round?"
The green slime, Zeke. He was incredibly aggressive. And for good reason—he was the one whose body Bin had split apart in central continent before. He wanted payback right now.
At Zeke's sudden provocation, Irin intervened.
"Zeke, behave yourself."
Zeke ground his teeth at Bin, whom he hadn't seen in ages.
"Grrr..."
He was itching for a fight. Then Zeke's eyes flashed. The mana emanating from Bin felt different—vast amounts circulating in his body, dense and powerful.
'He's incomparably stronger than before...'
As Zeke marveled at the changed Bin, Irin's gaze turned to him.
"What brings you here, young master of Bascon? To Trist, no less."
Bin, who had been watching Irin, turned to the avian monster Rain.
"You know this monster, right?"
Irin examined Rain, and her pupils trembled.
"You're... Rain!"
It was one of the monsters she'd been searching for, gone missing.
Irin rushed to Rain and hugged it tightly. Was it gone forever? A cold corpse? Her mind had been filled with anxiety and worry. But here it was, alive and well—she was overjoyed.
Rain spoke in a dazed tone.
"Long time no see, Irin."
"Rain, you're alive... I've been searching so long."
Tears welled in Irin's eyes as she hugged Rain tighter.
As Irin pressed her face against Rain's body, the monster replied in a nonchalant tone.
"You think I'd go down easy? Don't cry. You'll soak my feathers."
"......"
Unlike its words, Rain wrapped its large wings around her.
The two women didn't know what to do at the sight of Irin and Rain.
'Lady Irin...'
A moment later, Irin wiped her tears and instructed the women.
"I'll handle this. You two go ahead."
They hesitated. A Bascon young master had come all the way to their home base. They didn't want to leave Irin alone.
"But..."
"He might show his true colors anytime, and we're supposed to escort..."
During their protests, the green slime Zeke cut in.
"Hey, doesn't he look plenty tough?"
Irin meant she'd protect him herself, so they should leave. Faced with Zeke's imposing bulk, they finally stepped aside.
Once they were gone, Irin addressed Bin.
"Then, shall we have some tea? I'll take you to my residence."
Inviting someone to her private residence was something Irin would never dream of normally. But this was different. He'd personally brought back a Taia family monster she'd been desperate to find. It was only right to treat him accordingly.
Bin replied indifferently.
"Do as you like."
Irin and Zeke led the way, and Bin followed.
Thud. Thud.
Irin's room. Wooden teacups carved from wood sat on the table. Bin and Irin faced each other across it, with Zeke standing proudly beside them, watching.
Irin spoke first.
"The tea's good. Try some."
Bin silently sipped his.
Slurp.
"Not bad."
"I heard from Rain. Thank you for saving our family's monsters. I don't know how to repay you."
"They helped me, so we're even."
......
Silence flowed.
Slurp. Slurp.
......
Irin busied herself with her tea. Bin seemed unfazed, but the awkward air left her at a loss.
'What should I say?'
With Bin saying nothing, she couldn't think of how to break the ice. And this was her bedroom— she'd let an outsider in for the first time. Her cheeks flushed belatedly, a strange tension lingering. Was he judging her for so easily inviting a man into her room? All sorts of thoughts raced through her mind.
Her face grew rosy. Worried he might notice, she gulped down more tea unnecessarily.
Slurp. Slurp.
......
The heavy silence stretched until Irin couldn't bear it and spoke up.
"Nice weather... isn't it?"
"......"
Bin gave no response to the pointless question, his face expressionless. Realizing what she'd said, Irin cringed inwardly.
'Why did I say that...'
......
The quiet atmosphere didn't last long. Bin got to the point.
"How are things inside the Taia family?"
His remark about the family caught her off guard. There was something weighing on her mind.
Irin sensed Bin already knew something. And she recalled his previous advice.
'Don't trust those who share your blood.'
Bin continued.
"I have something to tell you about the Taia family."
Irin frowned and cut in.
"We'll handle our family matters ourselves."
"You should hear this..."
Before he could finish, Irin interrupted again.
"Enough. I said we'll take care of our own affairs."
Thorns laced her tone. She was clearly displeased. As one of the ten great families, the Taia held immense prestige. Having another family's heir discuss their internal issues rubbed her the wrong way.
But Bin wouldn't stop there. He struck at the heart.
"The Taia family head will change soon."
"......!"
Her eyes shook at the shocking words. The Taia family head—her father.