Confrontation in Gold Death Gorge
Adel gazed at the dozens of spear tips aimed straight at him.
"Human. What business brings you into Red Dragonkin territory... Gah!!"
The face covered in red scales resembled Crul's, a familiar sight indeed. They gripped their halberds tightly, eyeing Adel warily.
"Since when was Gold Death Gorge Red Dragonkin territory?"
The lead Red Dragonkin soldier toppled backward, struck by something flying toward him.
"B-Battle formation!!!"
"Kill the human!!"
The other soldiers, seeing their vanguard warrior's plight, shouted and swung their massive halberds at Adel.
Whoooosh---!!!
Brilliant flames trailed the blades of the halberds they swung.
Impatient fools. Most of them look like kids. How about showing some mercy?
Kalderet clicked his tongue lowly and shook his head at the sight of them.
"Hmm. I'm a kid too, you know?"
...You're joking, right?
Despite the ferocious assault, Adel reached for Nazas but paused in thought before drawing Kyeol from his back.
Whoooosh---!!
Ducking his head to match the speed of the incoming halberds, Adel nocked an arrow and drew the bow.
Creaaak...
The draw weight felt like a satisfying heft, just as it had the first time he'd held Kyeol.
Hummmm-!
Black energy gathered around his arrow.
Shoo! Shooosh!!!
In an instant, Adel loosed three arrows from Kyeol's limbs. They flew like living things with wills of their own, piercing the Red Dragonkin soldiers' chests precisely.
"Kuh?!"
"D-Dodge!!!"
The soldiers struck by the arrows collapsed, wracked by intense pain that choked their breath. The rear guards couldn't hide their shock at how they fell in one hit.
"...How dare you!!!"
Unlike the others, the captain with deep reddish-brown scales raised his massive hammer and brought it down with all his might.
Whiiish---!! Boom---!!!
"Gah!!!"
But in that moment, Kalderet's sharp fangs sank into the captain's nape.
"Don't kill him. We need him alive."
At Adel's command, Kalderet swatted the captain's nape with his claws instead of biting deeper.
Thwack--!!
The captain couldn't withstand the impact and pitched forward.
Well, Red Dragonkin are famous for their toughness. He won't die from that.
"Y-You bastards... Who are you?"
The fallen captain asked in a strained voice. The soldiers hesitated to approach.
As Adel gripped his shoulder, Garon's flames enveloped the captain's body.
"This is...?"
To others, Garon's flames would be unbearable agony, but to a Red Dragonkin, they brought restoration. The captain looked up at Adel in astonishment as the God's Blessing spread softly.
"I'm Hien's son. As you know, Gold Death Gorge is also Ulan territory."
"Don't make me laugh. The Red Dragonkin claimed this land before Ulan ever settled here."
"Hmm. That might need some rethinking. The Dragonkin War was centuries ago, but Ulan has that kind of history too."
"Cough!"
Adel sat astride the prone captain's back.
"Refugees gathering in a place doesn't make it their territory. If it did, the central Nine Kingdoms wouldn't exist—there'd be dozens of nations instead."
He addressed the bewildered soldiers.
"To claim true territory, you need a leader and the power to defend against outsiders."
"Urgh...!!"
Adel pressed down on the captain with his palm and stood.
"Are you the boss here?"
"...No."
"Your name?"
"Belun."
"Good. Belun, guide me to your leader. I have words for him."
"Don't be ridiculous. How can I take you to Lord Kasan without knowing who you are?"
At that, the captain rose, brushing dirt from his armor, growling.
"Kasan? So the Giant Hunter's the boss here. Crul will be thrilled to hear it."
"Crul? You mean Meister Crul?"
Belun asked in shock.
"What, you don't even know where he is? Even the White Ghost Tribe knows, but his own kin don't? That's a problem."
"How... Do you really know?"
"Of course."
Belun's eyes trembled as he stared at Adel.
"Is Lord Crul well?"
"Don't fall for the human's words, Lord Belun!"
"Have you forgotten the promises they broke? We can't trust them!!"
"Exactly!"
The soldiers shouted at Belun's question. Their reaction didn't seem rooted in the Dragonkin War—Kalderet was right; unlike Belun, these soldiers were young and hadn't lived through it.
"Here."
Instead of words, Adel tossed Crul's seal to them.
"...!!"
The young soldiers blinked in confusion, but Belun's eyes widened in recognition.
"Crul's in Zen Kingdom right now. There were some issues, but he's under the Storm King's protection now, so no need to worry."
"Are you... the Meister's disciple?"
"Not a disciple. A comrade."
"Comrade?"
Belun stared at Adel. It was hard not to be stunned that a boy of barely fifteen called a great ancient dragon of centuries a comrade.
"Looks like these guys were born after the Dragonkin War... We'll talk about the rest on the way. No need to stir up more trouble."
Clack! Clack!
At the sound of footsteps from above the gorge, the Red Dragonkin soldiers hurriedly raised their weapons.
"I was wondering why it was so quiet when it was time. There you are. Figures—you always bring chaos wherever you go."
A familiar voice rang out.
"I got your messenger hawk early. Nearly jumped out of my skin when the Storm King's hawk arrived. Thought Zen Kingdom had declared war or something."
"Brother."
Adel greeted Hul lightly with a nod, spotting him atop the cliff. Nakrang's hunters stood behind him.
"Heard Zen Kingdom was eyeing Gold Death Gorge. But seeing you here, looks like it's not the case. Lucky."
"They were after it... but I handled it."
"Haha. I'd smack anyone else for bullshit like that, but from you, I wanna hear what went down."
Hul had changed quite a bit since the desert. The red headband and thick brows remained, but his massive frame was even more solid, and the rough beard added an intimidating air.
'Looks like Brother's stepped into the Expert realm.'
It was inaccurate to classify hunters—who didn't formally train in swordsmanship or use aura—by swordsman stages. Hunters didn't divide themselves beyond the Great Hunter title anyway. They saw such distinctions as meaningless; strength was just about what prey you could hunt.
'Fitting for a hunter from Gold Death Gorge, full of massive beasts. He's growing faster than the other brothers.'
Adel thought, sensing the seasoned hunter's aura from him.
"I'll tell you later."
"Looks like you called me here to avoid pointless friction. Using your big brother right away, huh?"
Hul placed a hand on the two swords at his waist and straightened.
"That was the plan, but you're late. Friction's already resolved."
"Haha, sorry. Had to hunt a Nescula at dawn. Miss today, and it's three months minimum."
"Nescula... That's an A+ grade monster. Looks like you'll be the first brother to claim the Great Hunter title. Congratulations."
"Save the flattery—it doesn't suit you. Grades aside, what I hunt are just beasts. But yours? Probably more than that."
"We've got a lot to catch up on."
"That we do."
Finishing with Hul, Adel turned to tense Belun.
"Red Dragonkin outpost should be closer from here... What do you say? Mind mediating with Kasan while we're at it?"
"You want to bring all those hunters into our territory?"
"If that's enough to scare you, I can guess the Red Dragonkin's standing."
Hul gave a wry smile at "that's all." He'd thought he'd toughened Nakrang's hunters, but it hadn't impressed Adel much.
"Belun, I heard some things on the way here. About the disturbances in Gold Death Gorge too."
"..."
"Ulan and Red Dragonkin overlapping causes friction, right?"
"Yes."
"Spot on. Our hunting grounds overlap theirs, sparking big and small disputes. But that's not the real issue."
"It's the ancient beast's egg in Gold Death Gorge, isn't it?"
"...!!"
Hul couldn't hide his surprise.
"How do you...?"
"Crul the Red Dragonkin Meister is in Zen Kingdom. The White Ghost Tribe targeted the egg here, putting him in a bind. Zen Kingdom was involved too."
"Hm... Did you resolve that?"
"Yes. Otherwise, the Storm King wouldn't have sent his hawk directly to you."
"...Incredible. That could've sparked a tribal war."
"Haven't pacified the desert yet—why waste strength on outsiders?"
"So you settled Garam Archipelago too?"
"Just helped Sister Rania."
"Worthy of an Ancient God contractor. Father must've sent you to the Windless Zone to toughen you up, but you became a beast unchained from the world."
"A-An Ancient God contractor?!"
Belun recoiled in shock at Hul's words, glancing at the black wolf that had bitten his nape earlier.
What're you looking at?
Belun paled and shrank back at Kalderet's remark.
"So, with my ties to Crul, I figured I'd mediate Gold Death Gorge before heading north."
"That's really why? Not after the phoenix egg?"
"Two birds, one stone. I'd take it if I could."
"Sounds to me like 'mine now, hands off.'"
Hul chuckled.
"Haha, yeah. Adel, mediating between tribes is tougher than it sounds. Got a plan?"
"Of course. The issue is Ulan and Red Dragonkin sharing space. Make it so their presence here doesn't conflict."
"How?"
All eyes turned to Adel.
"Belun."
Adel turned.
"Crul said the Red Dragonkin leader seat is vacant. That right?"
"...Yes."
Belun nodded stiffly. Hul let out an involuntary laugh.
"Adel, you don't mean...?"
"Yes."
Everyone grasped his intent instantly.