The Undervalued Tome
"It's only been a few days since you arrived here, yet you stand out so much. Drawing attention means making enemies in equal measure. Look at your brothers. Do you see goodwill in their eyes, or wariness?"
Hien leaned forward slightly toward Adel, and that simple motion felt like a mountain shifting.
"You're saying you won't be tamed by anyone."
Hien's warning hung in the air. Adel hadn't realized sweat was beading on his palms from just those words.
'Am I scared?'
Hien was strong—the strongest man not just in Adel's memories, but in all humanity. Yet in his previous life, Adel had achieved more than even this great figure.
'It's just my body reacting, not my mind.'
His flesh trembled instinctively at the killing intent, but his lips curved into a deeper smile. It wasn't fear—it was a thrill bordering on ecstasy.
"Heh heh... Did you hear that? The youngest's words. He's only been in the desert a short while, but he's already better than any of his brothers here."
Hien swept his gaze over the other four. They flinched involuntarily under his eyes.
"If you're ever tamed, even once, it's like building a wall you can never climb. None of you have ever thought of surpassing me."
Hien slowly leaned back against his jade throne.
"Good. You have what it takes to join the clan, Adel. Among your brothers, some are younger than you. But remember, you're the clear youngest."
"Of course."
The brothers bowed their heads at Hien's words.
"You hunted the basilisk. The prey of Hunt's Day. So, speak your desire."
"Father!! He cheated!"
"That's right! Hunt's Day was postponed, and he went hunting alone. That's not fair!!"
As expected, Syrin and Yoran shouted.
"What do you think?"
Ignoring their outburst, Hien turned to Merka.
"I agree with my brothers that it wasn't a fair competition. But the prey Father designated was indeed the marked basilisk."
"And?"
"If we give the full Hunt's Day reward to the youngest, the other participants will rebel."
'As expected...'
Adel saw through Merka's intentions at once. The winner's prize, the Haiener's Bracelet, held the blessing of an ancient beast.
"We should hold a fair competition for the winner's prize separately and grant the youngest whatever else he wants."
"What do the rest of you think?"
"We agree with our eldest brother. And since it's been less than three years since I left the nest, I'm eligible too."
Syrin shot Adel a glare before answering.
'Greedy as always. Looks like he'll join the competition.'
The bracelet's blessing contained the valor of Haiener, the ancient beast that once ruled the desert. As a blessing from an ancient beast rather than a god, it was one step below a God's Blessing. But its effect—permanently boosting strength and agility just by wearing it—made it one of the ultimate treasures for any hunter.
'There's a three-year rule, but the unwritten code is that you don't compete again after one Hunt's Day... Even as the eldest, Merka held off not because he wanted the treasure.'
He'd deliberately avoided competing against Syrin until now.
'With Merka's personality, he might just give up the treasure altogether...'
Adel glanced at his eldest brother before looking away. No need to waste energy on irrelevancies.
"Muel. Bring it."
This was the moment Adel had been waiting for.
'Perfect.'
Adel had never cared about Haiener's Bracelet from the start. Physical growth was tempting, but with Kalderet's blessing, an ancient beast's power meant little to him. What he wanted was something else entirely.
No one could guess he'd hunted the marked basilisk just to swap the reward.
"I've brought some treasures of the Ulan Tribe. Is there anything among these you desire?"
The box Muel carried held various items: the Lion Statue of Phobia that reduced fear, the Salamander's Tongue that boosted fire resistance, the Jackal Necklace that enhanced speed—none inferior to Haiener's Bracelet.
They weren't quite on par with the bracelet, but that didn't make them ordinary. All bore blessings of ancient beasts.
Of course, that was only from Adel's perspective. To others, every treasure in the box was coveted.
'The Ulan vault holds far more, but it's not time yet.'
Adel recalled a few items he'd claim from there someday.
"Is there anything worthwhile?"
Hien asked again.
From the beginning, one worn treasure had caught Adel's eye. This whole commotion was for it.
"I want this."
"Hm?"
Even Hien tilted his head in surprise at what Adel picked from the box.
It was an old book.
"Do you know what that is?"
"No."
Adel shook his head at Hien's question.
"Then why pick something when you don't even know what it is?"
"Because I want to learn to read."
"...What?"
"I've never read a book. I'm illiterate, but I know you need a book to learn letters."
Adel's answer was unexpected. Syrin and Yoran burst into derisive laughter.
"You idiot. An illiterate picking a grimoire? Even ordinary mages can't read it. Not for the likes of you. It's written in ancient script!!"
"I wondered about someone who can wield blessings, but choosing a grimoire he can't even read? What a pathetic choice."
The two mocked him.
'That thing?''Really just to learn letters? It's possible, but leaving artifacts for it...''Strange. Hard to read his thoughts.'
Nazan, Muel, and Merka felt more puzzlement than ridicule.
"I've never held a book in my life. Day-to-day survival was hard enough. I'll live as a clan hunter from now on, but before that, I wanted a book as my last keepsake."
Adel held up the book as he spoke.
'Foolish kid.''He really can't read.'
Syrin and Yoran's lips twisted.
'And this guy used the inscribed blessing on Yoyeon? A real pig's pearl around a pig's neck.'
Yoran's expression soured especially. Unlike eldest Merka and second Syrin, he was still in the Great Palace nest with trainee successors. That place gathered Ulan's talented youths, but unlike his brothers, he still couldn't wield a God's Blessing.
'Damn it... Where do these guys crawl from?'
He glanced at Bin beside him. The sixth son looked frail, unlike the hunter-raised brothers. Yoran couldn't understand why Hien took in such a child, but it was even more unacceptable that frail Bin could use blessings.
The only successor among the five without a blessing. Lacking courage to hate his brothers, he could only vent on the adopted kids.
"It's not about learning to read. It's to sever my lingering attachment to the boy who wanted to learn. By fulfilling this last regret, I'll move on."
"Interesting words."
Hien rested his chin, observing Adel.
"Severing the past is necessary. Thinking that way at your age is commendable. Very well. The book is yours."
Adel wanted to cheer inwardly but feigned gratitude.
With his choice of grimoire, Syrin and Yoran fell silent. They couldn't use it anyway.
"Thank you, White Ghost."
Adel clutched the old book and bowed to Hien.
"You can have the book, but if you want to learn letters, you'll need another. It's not written in continental script. It's ancient tongue. No one can translate it, and it's a dead language anyway."
"Oh..."
Adel bowed his head in feigned embarrassment. Syrin and Yoran's wariness softened at his flustered look.
Unlike those dismissing it lightly, Kalderet was stunned.
He ranted noisily, but only Adel could hear.
'I know. That's why I chose it.'
Adel knew its value better than anyone. Beneath his bowed head, his expression held confidence, not shame.
'I'll need time to train with it. Their guard against me should loosen a bit too.'
Get what you can, deceive when needed. A splendid reward.