091. The Three Great Combat Families, Taia 3
Irin frowned at Bin's shocking statement.
The head of the Taia family is going to change...?
It was utterly incomprehensible. Especially for the Taia family, which had stricter membership conditions than any other house. Only those with Taia blood or their direct descendants were accepted into leadership roles.
Her voice rose in disbelief at his hard-to-swallow words.
"Young master, this joke has gone a bit too far..."
Irin's entire body trembled. It was understandable why she was overreacting. A change in family head meant her father could be in danger.
Bin's gaze grew even more resolute.
"Does it sound like a joke to you? Then beat your chest in regret later."
"......"
Looking into Bin's eyes, Irin felt dazed. There wasn't a hint of hesitation. They were filled only with certainty.
In that moment, her eyes narrowed suspiciously. It was just an outsider speaking, not even a member of her family. It was natural for her to doubt him.
Codic, frustrated by her reaction, leaped onto the table.
Thud.
"Do you think my lord would say this without reason? Clean out your ears and listen quietly!"
Unable to hold back at Codic's outburst, Zeke slammed his right arm down on the table.
Bang!
"Hey, watch your mouth."
Codic wasn't one to cower before Zeke's imposing demeanor. Transforming instantly into a gust body, he countered by slamming his own right arm down.
Thud!
"You mouthless freak—watch your mouth!"
Zeke and Codic glared at each other across the table.
"Grrr."
"Tsk! Tsk!"
Zeke ground his teeth at Codic, while Codic clacked his jaws together.
Zeke was irked by the remarks from Bin and Codic. How dare they speak so casually of the family head... And what the hell is this bony bastard?
Codic felt the same disdain toward Irin and Zeke. How dare this underdeveloped ribcage creature doubt my lord... And why's this squishy slime throwing a fit?
As the two stared each other down, Zeke spoke first.
"Wanna go at it?"
"Anytime you want."
As the tension rose, Irin stepped in to mediate.
"Zeke, enough."
Zeke turned away from Codic, muttering under his breath.
Always picking on me...
As Zeke backed off, Codic retreated from the table too. As he moved back, he mouthed at Zeke.
What a clown.
Zeke puffed out his cheeks in fury.
Skull bastard...
Their silent war of nerves filled the room with tension. Silence rang out.
......
There was a reason Irin had stopped Zeke. Bin's words had struck a nerve.
Unable to decide, she fell into thought. Bin, seeing her hesitate, grew even more certain.
"Right now, the Taia family is split into two factions. Those loyal to the family head... and those following his twin brother."
It was a fact he knew from his previous life.
Irin's expression hardened at his words.
How does he know our family affairs in such detail...? No one outside should know our internal struggles.
From Bin's earlier statement, she'd realized he knew something she didn't. And her woman's intuition told her it wasn't nonsense.
He's not lying.
But she couldn't fully trust him. He was from another family—an outsider, plain and simple.
Watching her, Bin thought, Still hesitating, huh. What a thoughtful girl. Guess she needs to see it with her own eyes.
He decided to mention the impending event. As the saying went, seeing once was worth a hundred hearings.
In a low voice, he continued.
"In a few days, monsters will rampage in Trist. Then even the family head's monster will go berserk."
"......!"
"You know better than anyone what happens if the family head's monster loses control here."
Irin and Zeke's faces stiffened instantly. If the family head's monster rampaged in Trist... it would be a catastrophe.
She couldn't even imagine what would become of this grand tree city.
But there was still no solid proof for Bin's claims. Irin pressed the point.
"How can I believe that?"
As her wariness lingered, Codic muttered.
What a damn stubborn...
Bin, unperturbed, replied casually.
"Then I have nothing more to say. Watch the monsters rampage yourself and decide."
His eyes held no flicker of doubt.
Irin frowned, suspicion clouding her face.
"Then... why? Why tell me this?"
"I'm not doing it out of pure goodwill. If you're taking, you give something in return."
Bin flashed a meaningful smile.
Curiosity piqued, Irin asked.
"What is it you want?"
"We'll talk later. After you've seen the monsters rampage with your own eyes."
"......"
Irin's mind grew more tangled.
What should I do? Can I trust an outsider? Sigh, if this is some scheme from another family...
Leaving the hesitant Irin behind, Bin turned and walked away boldly.
Thud. Thud.
Irin clutched her hair, still seated at the table.
A few days later.
Slash! Slash! Slash!
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Dull thuds echoed through Trist. Startled, Irin looked out the window.
One of the towering stems had toppled. The work of massive mantis-like monsters.
Irin's eyes widened at the sight.
Giant Mantis...
3rd-class monsters that inhabited forests or plains. Known for their irritable nature, attacking anything in sight.
Slash! Slash! Slash!
Their red eyes gleaming, they swung scythe-like arms. Countless stems crashed down.
Taia family members screamed around them.
"Aaaah!"
"Uwaaak!"
"Why are the Giant Mantises suddenly..."
"What's making them rampage?!"
Confusion filled their minds. Monsters that had been docile in Trist were now berserk.
Normally, the assigned family handlers would contain them... but with no handlers in sight, the Giant Mantises were ferocious.
Red eyes flashing, they attacked everything in view.
Slash! Slash! Slash...
Blood sprayed into the air like fountains. The ground was soon soaked red.
"......"
Irin was dumbfounded. Things were unfolding exactly as Bin had predicted.
Just as he said. Taia family monsters are rampaging...
Zeke beside her was equally shocked.
"Just like that guy said..."
As Irin and Zeke watched, the Giant Mantises' chaos continued.
"Screeeech!"
People frantically searched for the monsters' handlers. But none appeared.
Then.
Whoosh.
As countless Giant Mantises rampaged, a woman collapsed.
Thud.
A Giant Mantis approached her, jaws working. Red eyes hungry, she looked like a meal.
Step. Step.
As the deranged mantis closed in, wings fluttering, she backed away, hands behind her.
"Uuu..."
Her voice trembled with terror.
Whoosh.
As it swung a scythe arm at her—
Thud.
Someone shielded her, taking the blow instead.
Spurt.
Blood flowed from his back, but he kept his kind smile. Onlookers brightened at the sight.
"Deputy Lord Enderlin!"
"Phew... Now that the deputy lord is here, I can finally relax."
Enderlin, in a blue uniform with long golden hair. Eyes closed, snake around his neck.
His closed eyes suggested blindness. He discerned situations through hearing, smell, and sensing mana or magi from living beings.
Still shielding her, Enderlin smiled gently.
"Are you hurt anywhere?"
His voice was kind too. Tears welling, she just nodded.
He gently set her down and turned to the mantis, sensing its magi.
"You Giant Mantises..."
Glancing at the snake on his shoulder, he continued.
"Time to teach you what happens when you touch our family."
Hiss.
White smoke rose from the black snake. Its body swelled to the size of a Trist stem.
The crowd's eyes widened at the massive serpent.
"Deputy Lord Enderlin's monster imugi has revealed its true form!"
"......!"
Hiss.
The imugi swiftly coiled around the mantises one by one, like wire binding them tight.
As everyone sighed in relief, Irin eyed Enderlin with displeasure.
Is that really... his true nature?
Soon after.
The commotion settled. The Giant Mantises were subdued by family members.
Irin began to worry.
Should I go to him...? No, tell Father first?
As she organized her thoughts, she remembered Father wasn't in Trist—and even if she told him, there was no clear proof.
She gripped her head with one hand.
But I can't just wait around for Father...
As she pondered, Zeke spoke up.
"No need to listen to that guy. Solve it with Taia strength, like always."
But Irin shook her head.
"Zeke. Just suppose he's right, and the family head changes."
"Th-that's..."
Even Zeke started fretting at the idea.
Irin propped her chin on her hand, pacing.
It couldn't be coincidence. She had to act, as the family head's daughter.
"Zeke. I need to meet the young master."
On the outskirts of Trist.
Bin and Irin faced each other. Beside them, Zeke and Codic glared murderously.
That clackety skull...
This squishy slime...
......
In the silence, Irin spoke first.
"Young master, do you know who's behind this incident?"
"More or less."
"Then..."
Irin thought of Deputy Lord Enderlin, leader of the opposing faction.
Bin read her mind instantly.
"Just as you suspect."
"How could he... to his twin brother?"
Enderlin, who had quelled the mantis riot days ago. Irin had overheard him badmouthing the family head once. She'd distrusted him ever since.
Now convinced he'd orchestrated and then stopped the riot, disgust welled up.
Hypocrite...
Worry clouded her face. She shook her head, steeling her mind.
"Will you go find the family head's monster first?"
"Too risky. It's probably already infected with a Medina Parasite."
Medina Parasite.
A parasitic worm that burrowed into bodies, draining mana. Victims suffered excruciating pain, losing their minds.
Irin nodded, eyes narrowed.
"Medina Parasite after all. So how do we stop them now?"
"We need to complete the Taia family register that's been split."
"......?!"
Irin's face froze. Bin knew a secret few even in Taia were aware of.
Staring at the enigmatic Bin, she felt dazed.
Who the hell is this guy...?