I Will Surpass You, Father
"From ancient times, it's said that dragons are kin to the gods. It seems this Kargon, with dragon blood in its veins, can only be tamed by one who has mastered a God's Blessing."
Hien reached out and lightly stroked the chin of Kargon, who stood behind Adel.
"Hmm. Most lose their draconic power as they grow, but this one's a truly rare breed. Now I understand why Dawen failed."
Kargon flinched, trying to back away, but Hien's overwhelming presence froze it in place. The sheer pressure radiating from him allowed no room for resistance.
"A fine beast. I give it to you. Treat it well."
"Thank you."
The tribesfolk wore shocked expressions at Hien's decision. Of course, Adel had calmed the rampaging Kargon, so it wasn't entirely unexpected—but accepting a Kargon carried immense weight.
It was proof of one's qualification as a hunter. Even after becoming a hunter, possessing one's own Kargon required years of hard-earned experience.
Yet granting one to Adel, who hadn't even begun hunting, let alone received basic nest training? Utterly unprecedented.
"It was fated to be yours from the start. Nazan, return the bracelet to this child."
At Hien's command, Nazan brought forth the prize for the Day of the Hunt's victor: 【Haiener's Bracelet】.
"Congratulations."
As Adel took the bracelet from its case, it trembled faintly, as if responding to him.
Woooong...
"It boosts strength and agility. Infused with the power of the desert's ancient tree spirit, Haiener, it also grants resistance to heat."
"A fine piece. Just holding it fills me with energy."
"Haha, you speak well. Indeed, you can sense the God's Blessing in it, so you know its worth. A treasure of true value."
Nazan chuckled at Adel's words and nodded.
"It might be large for you now, but it adjusts freely—expands or contracts at will. You can wear it as a necklace or ring, not just a bracelet."
"Impressive."
When Adel gripped the bracelet, it stretched like rubber with a smooth shloop.
"Keep it safe."
The bracelet's effects paled compared to other artifacts, but for a ten-year-old to possess one? Unheard of. And this was no ordinary relic—it was a gift from Hien himself, carrying profound significance. Any tribesman would cherish it as a lifelong heirloom.
Clink.
"...?!?!"
In that instant, everyone gasped in shock. Syrin's face twisted in particular.
"Perfect."
To their astonishment, Adel casually fastened the bracelet Hien had bestowed upon him... around Kargon's neck.
"Y-you madman..."
"What the hell are you doing?!"
"That was a gift from Hien..."
"Does he even know what it is? An artifact engraved with a God's Blessing!"
The uproar spread like wildfire—greater even than when Adel shattered the ritual records.
"Kuhuku... This kid's driving me crazy. Nazan, I really have to take him with me. No one fits the Jackals like he does."
"This isn't something we can just overlook. Giving Hien's gift to a mere beast... It's as good as defying him."
"So what? No one's ever asserted their will against Hien before. They've only obeyed."
"Of course they obey. He's the patriarch."
"You know that's why I saw potential in him. He's different from the other brothers."
Muel grinned, oddly thrilled by Adel's audacity, but Nazan felt his heart sink.
"Hoo... Watching that boy makes my guts twist and shaves years off my life."
Nazan cautiously gauged Hien's mood, yet he couldn't deny his curiosity about how Adel would navigate this mess.
"How am I to interpret your actions, boy?"
Hien's voice carried a pressure that crushed the very air. The gathered crowd felt their chests tighten, struggling even to breathe.
"Father."
Adel spoke. Everyone held their breath, hearts pounding as they awaited his response.
Pah!---!!!
"You brat!!! Do you even realize what you've done?!"
In the suffocating tension, Nazan lunged forward, seizing Adel's wrist and bellowing.
"Daring to use Hien's sacred gift as a trinket for a dumb beast? Have you got a brain in that head?!"
"Worried about your lifespan or whatever, but still looking out for him..."
Muel shrugged awkwardly at Nazan's preemptive outburst—meant to head off real trouble—and strode toward Adel.
"Right. Listen up, kid. You ought to be grateful Hien took you in and act with respect."
She planted herself before him.
"Sure, you pulled off miracles at the ritual and the Day of the Hunt, but that doesn't excuse this arrogance. How long have you been Hien's eighth son? And you're already this rude?"
"It's not rude, Muel."
"So giving Hien's artifact to a Kargon is justified?"
"Yes."
Adel answered her question as if he'd been waiting for it.
"As Nazan said, I have no intention of mishandling the artifact given to me. But I don't wish to use it myself."
"You don't want to use it?"
Muel frowned slightly at his reply.
"An artifact bearing a God's Blessing is coveted by all. And you say you don't want it?"
"That's right. Which is why I chose to store it in the safest place possible."
"...That being the Kargon Hien granted you?"
Not wrong. No matter how much they disliked Adel, who in the tribe would touch a beast bestowed by Hien?
"Moreover, a Kargon is a hunter's cherished companion—valued like life itself. And this one was gifted to me by you, just like the artifact. Equally precious."
"Hmm, fair enough."
"Not all hunts are group sweeps like subjugations. In groups, the weak can coast on others' strength, but alone? It's different. You never truly test your limits, mistaking the group's power for your own."
Adel glanced pointedly at Syrin as he spoke. An obvious provocation, but one that hit home.
"Hunts are full of variables. To prepare for the worst, strengthening your closest ally directly ties to your own survival."
"And?"
"That closest ally? For a hunter, it's their Kargon. Unlike others, I've been fortunate to receive one at such a young age."
Jingling.
Adel lightly tapped the bracelet around Kargon's neck.
"Can't argue with that."
"Makes sense."
The crowd began to murmur.
"So rather than just growing stronger myself, for my own survival, I figured I should make my Kargon grow alongside me."
Adel seized the moment. With a cheerful chime, Haiener's Bracelet enveloped Kargon's body.
[Hiiiing--!!!!]
Kargon neighed joyfully, head shaking as power surged through it. A faint breeze stirred atop its red mane, laced with blue energy. The onlookers watched with intrigued gazes.
"Giving an artifact to a Kargon, though..."
"Never even crossed my mind."
"Of course. Artifacts are rare enough—why give yours to a beast?"
"Still, it's disrespectful."
Reactions to Adel's act were mixed.
"Right? Handing something that important to a mere Kargon?"
"It's a challenge to Hien."
Thus, all eyes turned to Hien.
"Giving an artifact to a Kargon..."
Chuckle.
Contrary to their fears, Hien laughed as if amused by Adel's stunt.
"Pretty words, but in the end, you're scheming to flee rather than grow stronger."
He pierced Adel with a sharp gaze. The crowd nodded in agreement.
"You could see it that way. But then let me ask: Have you given your own Kargon no artifacts at all, Father?"
The others might not know, but Adel did. Hien's beloved mount, Bi-yeong—Flying Shadow—wore no fewer than three artifacts.
'Bi-yeong's a rare dragon-blooded breed too, but that alone doesn't explain its absurd prowess.'
After Hien's death, Bi-yeong vanished, only to be found later as a rotting corpse.
The sight shocked the tribe. Even a well-tamed mount rarely follows its master in death.
But Adel, unlike those moved by such loyalty, thought differently.
'Kargons make excellent companions for hunters. But when the master falls, a miserable end awaits.'
Whether following its master in death like Bi-yeong or serving another—it didn't matter. It followed someone else, not him.
"You're right. My Bi-yeong bears three artifacts."
Murmurs rippled through the crowd. Hien, the tribe's absolute pinnacle and master of ten thousand arrows, had equipped his own Kargon? Shocking.
"But you and I are different. Strengthening a companion? Fine words for lazy reliance."
Hien's tone grew icy.
"One who hasn't honed their own martial might to its peak presuming to think of allies? Mere arrogance."
"I'm not relying on anyone."
Yet Adel met his words with a knowing, bitter smile.
Companions. In his past life, he'd fought to protect them, as Hien implied. But all he received was fear turned against him.
Blades aimed at him flashed by like a lantern slide once more.
"Then what?"
"The opposite."
Hien's eyes flickered faintly at Adel's reply.
"To avoid needing to protect companions. Fussing over them leaves no time to watch your own back."
"Hmm."
"I'll grow strong on my own power. So it doesn't matter. The reason to strengthen companions? Just so they don't drag me down."
"Kukuku, intriguing words."
"Artifacts would make me stronger faster. But their effects would obscure my true limits."
Hien eyed Adel.
"Forgoing artifacts to grow on your own power..."
He chuckled.
"Not wrong. Well, do you have the confidence to reach your end?"
"Who knows. I'm just beginning, so I can't say where my limits lie. But..."
Adel held his gaze unflinchingly.
"Before I reach that end, I'll grow stronger than you, Father."
Hien's lips twitched upward.
A blatant challenge.