It's Not Luck
"It's not luck, huh... Yeah, maybe. I deliberately saved Syrin a beat late. So he'd get trampled by Kargon."
Muel nodded at Nazan's words.
"Clever kid. But it could just be experience. Isn't it the mark of a true hunter, like the boy said? I like him."
"My heart's heavy. Hien's sons are fated to fight each other... but for this to happen right after the eighth one's arrival."
"That wasn't a fight. It was a fair contest. Nazan, you're too soft on the kids."
"Hmph..."
Nazan let out a low sigh at Muel's words.
"We're a desert tribe. The way we've survived generation after generation isn't by holding hands and playing nice."
"Of course I know that. I just wonder if sharpening blades against each other is truly right."
Muel understood what Nazan meant. But the competition among brothers wasn't limited to Hien's sons alone.
"To survive in the desert, you have to at least pull your weight. And only those who rise above the rest can protect the tribe in this harsh land."
Muel shrugged.
"As sons of Hien, they'll have to lead the tribe someday. They need to be even more ruthless."
"True. But I don't like the rule that seven must die to make one leader."
"Even the famed assassin Black Crow has some softness left?"
"Don't be ridiculous."
Nazan didn't bother refuting Muel's jab. But Merka and Syrin were like his own children, taught by his hand. Seeing them now clawing to crush each other just hurt.
"Who knows."
"Hm?"
"Maybe a new way to stop the brothers' rivalry will come along."
"Like what?"
"One overwhelming existence. A perfect powerhouse so absolute that no one dares compete."
Muel glanced at Adel.
"If such a one appeared, the brothers would unite around him, not see him as a rival."
Not just Merka, Syrin, Yoran, and Bin, summoned by Hien's command, but all the rest. They were all prodigies.
'If they could unite as one without fighting...'
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it the greatest force ever.
The Ulan tribe, rulers of the desert, still faced many others across the vast sands.
'The central lands are now erupting in countless wars between kingdoms and thrones.'
Chaos now, but when a power unified the center, their next target would likely be here.
'We must fully unite the desert before then.'
"Unite as one... Possible?"
"Who knows. Might be early, but I think I just saw that possibility. Nazan."
Muel smiled faintly, as if reading his thoughts.
Hiiiiiing---!!!!
At that moment, as if answering her, Kargon let out a sharp neigh.
"Whoa, whoa..."
Surprisingly, the Kargon carrying Adel caught its breath, unlike before, and slowly planted its four hooves neatly on the ground.
"Wh-what's happening?"
"Is that Kargon submitting to that little kid?"
"He's Hien's eighth, right?"
"Yeah... something's different about him."
"Whoa, whoa..."
Adel stroked Kagor's mane contentedly, then slowly dismounted and took the reins.
Kargon obeyed his touch without a hint of resistance.
'Hmph. They know nothing. Of course they wouldn't. That it's thanks to me you can handle Kargon.'
Watching Adel stroke Kagor's mane, Kalderet snorted.
'Kargon, inheritor of dragon blood, is a spirit beast if not quite an ancient tree. That means it senses the divine presence.'
Thud- thud- thud-
'And only one with a god's presence can command a dragon-blooded Kargon.'
As Kalderet approached, Kargon stepped back warily.
Grrrrrr...
Hiiing----!!!!
When the wolf-formed Kalderet growled, Kargon shrank back behind the much smaller Adel, as if hiding.
'Kalderet. Cut the games.'
'Kekekeke. Just making sure that pathetic beast knows its place.'
'...What does a god care about hierarchy with a mere Kargon.'
Adel was dumbfounded, but Kalderet circled Kargon smugly before retreating.
"No need to fear. It'll be your companion from now on."
'You got lucky, honestly. Unless you calculated this too, then I got nothing.'
He continued.
'Adel, among your rivals, Merka's contracted a low god, unlike the others who just borrow blessings.'
'Right.'
'If Syrin weren't the greedy one and Merka had challenged first, Kargon might have followed him instead.'
'Don't worry. He never would have.'
Adel gripped Kagor's reins and glanced back.
'Things might change from now on, though.'
Merka's good nature played a part, but his established image kept him from rushing in first.
Still, he hadn't expected Adel to truly tame Kargon; his face hardened as it bowed its head.
'Brother. You need to look deeper inside yourself. If you're truly fine giving everything to your siblings out of kindness, you'd have abandoned the desert throne long ago.'
Abandoning it would make him no rival, no target.
But he clashed with Syrin and ended up poisoned.
Adel pitied him.
With talents like Merka and Bin alive, the Ulan tribe never would have vanished under the empire.
'Though I bear responsibility too...'
Exiled by the tribe, he unleashed Kalderet's power in revenge.
Thinking back, already orphaned by central politics, he'd been cast out once before. Was his revenge against those who took him in just childish spite?
"..."
Adel stared at Kargon, lost in thought.
Maybe it was mere kid's rebellion. Hatred of abandonment twisting into self-abandonment.
And desperate flailing to protect the last support, Emperor Karon of the empire, who he thought believed in him alone.
'But even that support abandoned me.'
Adel knew.
Having survived countless brutal battles, he knew better than anyone.
Life like war meant no leaning on others.
Don't seek supports—become one.
This was one step toward that.
"You... really did it."
Merka spoke to Adel, his face a mix of bewilderment and awe.
"Thanks for the chance."
"No. We should be thanking you. You saved Syrin."
"Even if not me, you would've. Right?"
"No. I hesitated. Honestly, seeing him get hurt, I thought he had it coming."
"Honest, aren't you."
Merka looked sheepish at Adel's reply, but Adel chuckled.
"Sometimes honesty builds more trust. And I agree completely."
Merka chuckled too.
"You... you bastard... You stabbed your sword into Kagor's thigh on purpose!!! You dare!!!"
Unlike them, Syrin—propped up by Yoran, staggering—glared murderously at Adel.
"Told you, brother. Without startling Kargon, you wouldn't be standing now. Don't forget you owe your life."
"Shut up!! You think you'll get away with making me like this!!!"
"Syrin. People are watching. Stop the ugly display."
Merka finally intervened, but rage-filled Syrin just ground his teeth.
"All of you... I won't forget this day."
His fury peaked, but Adel ignored it.
Syrin Temir was never part of his plans anyway.
'The more he bares his fangs, the better.'
Eye for an eye. The more Syrin threatened, the more excuse to eliminate him.
"B-brother..."
Yoran looked worriedly at Syrin.
"...Let go!"
He shook off his arm in misplaced anger.
He huffed, but no one paid the loser more mind.
All eyes were elsewhere.
"As expected."
Then, as the Kargon commotion ended, Hien, Nazan, and Muel descended into the plaza.
Thud-! Thud-! Thud-!!!
At Hien's appearance, the crowd knelt once more.
The only one not kneeling, aside from the three, was Adel.
Only he could stand.
It was time for the reward.