The Great Bow's Nest
As Adel stepped out of the barracks and followed Nazan, he could feel eyes on him from all directions.
'That kid? The one who broke Hien's childhood record?'
'Yeah. And they say he even caught the basilisk that was supposed to be taken down on Hunt Day.'
'Lucky bastard.'
'Pfft, luck my ass. Now he's caught the brothers' attention. Merka might let it slide, but Syrin won't.'
'Exactly. And soon it'll reach the ears of the brothers out hunting monsters on the frontier.'
'As long as it doesn't stir up trouble.'
Ever since contracting with Kalderet, Adel's five senses had skyrocketed. He couldn't fully wield the God's Blessing yet, but his hearing was far beyond that of ordinary people.
'No surprise my reputation with them isn't great yet. Doesn't matter. It just takes time. To earn the tribe's trust, I'll hunt stronger monsters.'
And the place he was headed was preparation for exactly that.
Clack—
That was when Nazan's footsteps halted.
"Adel, from now on, you'll learn hunting techniques here. Any Ulan Tribe hunter worth their salt must master them."
He turned slowly.
Click! Scrape—! Click!!
In front of a sturdy fortress walled by tall wooden palisades, the soldiers split to either side, placed hands over their hearts in the tribe's salute, and faced Nazan.
"You've arrived. We've been waiting. We've heard the report."
A middle-aged man standing before the soldiers approached Nazan. His posture, with a thick bow slung across his back, spoke of vast experience.
"I'm Myurn, the one managing this place. Even if you're Hien's son, there are no exceptions here. Abandon any hopes of being coddled."
"He's Muel's father. He was once a captain of the Ulan, but handed the position to her and now does the grueling work of guarding the nest for kids like you."
"Pleased to meet you. I have no desire to be carried up by anyone."
"I like that answer."
Adel nodded at Nazan's words.
Songgoni Myurn. Naturally, Adel knew him well. He was a hunter so famous in the Ulan Tribe that virtually no one hadn't heard of him.
"He'll also be your instructor for the basics, so learn well."
"Won't you be teaching me, Nazan? You told me to join the Black Crows."
"Haha, Nazan. Already staking your claim?"
Nazan gave an awkward smile at Myurn's laughter, looking embarrassed.
"Kid, even if you've got talent, you can't just waltz into the Black Crows without achievements. Polish yourself here first and prove your worth."
"Got it. And when I end up in the Jackals, don't be too jealous."
"Ugh……."
Nazan let out a sigh.
"The Ulan's Jackals are Muel's unit, right? Adel, I'll put in a good word with Muel for you. Haha."
"Myurn, that's enough joking."
Adel felt his tension ease without realizing it amid their banter. The string he'd kept pulled taut until now was finally loosening a bit.
"Adel. This place will be different from what you've known. But if you stand out here, you'll surely receive the desert's grace."
Nazan lightly patted Adel's shoulder.
Adel knew exactly what he meant.
The Great Bow's Nest. This was a symbol of the Ulan Tribe, a place only the selected elite could enter.
And there was a special reward given to just one graduate of this nest.
[Hmm, I sense a god's presence inside that nest.]
'Yeah. The god who rules the desert.'
[Garon, huh. Not bad. To house a mid god of fierce flames right in the tribe.]
Kalderet, who had followed Adel, gazed at the massive bow-shaped structure carved from rock atop the Great Bow's Nest and spoke.
'That's one reason Ulan is strong. Even among the same rank, high gods choose only one contractor. But from mid gods on, multiple can wield their blessings.'
[The high, mid, low ranks are just human labels. Gods grow stronger with more followers. So sometimes a mid god can beat a high god. Nothing's absolute.]
'What about you?'
[I'm different. Think any polytheistic hack would challenge an ancient god?]
Adel chuckled at his response.
'Nest graduates get a chance to challenge Garon's trial. The score you get determines the power of Garon's blessing you can wield.'
The tribe called that trial the desert's grace.
And those who fully passed it could contract with Garon.
[Whatever. You don't need it. You've got me.]
Kalderet spoke dismissively, as if bored.
But Adel thought differently.
'If it's just about blessing power, sure. But I need a contract with Garon.'
[A contract? What for, with that guy?]
'The Red Dragonkin.'
Adel gazed at the nest's peak with a faint smile.
'What I'm after is Garon's relic hidden in the nest: Rundel's Gauntlets.'
The gauntlets once used by Rundel, the former head of the Red Dragonkin, were also Garon's contract artifact.
'The dragonkin have power rivaling central kingdoms or desert tribes, but their strong personalities have kept them from ever uniting.'
[The Ardragon Legion…… So Garon's treasure is the first step?]
'Exactly.'
[This could be fun. Dragon-blooded folk are all so damn arrogant. Wonder how you'll rein them in.]
Kalderet chuckled softly.
"This way."
Under Myurn's guidance, Adel bid Nazan farewell and entered the nest.
'I never came here in my past life.'
Five years later, he'd realized his talent late, undergone the ritual, and contracted Kalderet—but before he could properly handle the ancient god's power, Syrin had forced him to flee the tribe.
'But this time is different.'
With Kalderet's blessing, memories of future events, the cold pragmatism from countless past trials, and the advantage of being thirteen—all conditions were perfectly aligned for him.
'Now it begins.'
Adel felt his steps lighten, not with tension, but anticipation.
All that remained was to seize it.
Inside the nest, someone awaited Adel.
His assigned quarters were not far from the training grounds.
'Not bad.'
The worn lodging creaked with every step, as if long unused.
"I'm Heila."
Unlike the gloomy atmosphere, the woman before him seemed warm and gentle.
"I'll be attending you during training, Adel. Let me know if you need anything, anytime."
With manners uncharacteristic of desert folk, she bowed politely.
Early twenties. Older than Adel, but still youthful.
But he knew better. More than the dim surroundings, he had to watch her closely.
"Doesn't seem like anyone's around."
"The quarters are at full capacity. As you know, you joined midway…… So this was the only spot available."
"Hm."
Adel nodded at her words.
But he didn't buy it.
He knew better than anyone that his lodging had been deliberately assigned here.
'A secluded spot perfect for surveillance. Obvious who pulled the strings.'
No need to guess.
Only one person in the tribe he'd humiliated: Syrin.
'Guess being Hien's second son has its reach, even here in the nest.'
More precisely, the influence of the captains backing Syrin.
"I see."
Adel smiled faintly as he eyed her standing there.
Belying her gentle demeanor, she was once called Mad Kill, a hunter of another name.
'Heard she was pretty skilled……'
Regrettably, in his past life, he'd spent nearly five years blind to his own talent.
Because of that, he knew more about central events after leaving the tribe than internal tribal affairs.
'If I knew which family she's from, I could trace the puppet master easily.'
Adel clicked his tongue in mild frustration.
Her role as servant was secondary; reporting his actions upward was primary.
'Doesn't matter if she's watching. Might even be useful.'
Having his every move reported meant he could craft perfect alibis, after all.
"Am I the only one using this place?"
"No. There are a few other trainees already living here."
"Not captains' kids, I hope."
At Adel's question, she gave a wry smile and nodded.
The ten representatives called captains were akin to nobles in central kingdoms.
They had long aided the chief in ruling the tribe.
'Stagnant water breeds rot. Sure, some have real skill, but most cling to ancestral merits without the talent, desperate to keep their seats.'
Adel knew most backed Syrin.
Unlike bastard firstborn Merka, second son Syrin—as legitimate—becoming chief let them stay via bloodline excuses.
'Judging by blood over skill? They've forgotten the desert's spirit.'
"Gonna have to purge them all later. Must be tough for you. Anyway, fine. Let's make this work."
"……Pardon?"
"Just means looking forward to working with you."
Heila couldn't quite hide her bewilderment at his odd phrasing but soon nodded.
"The training grounds were close on the way in."
Adel grabbed the practice wooden sword and bow he'd received upon entering the nest.
"Um…… But class is still in session."
"That's why I'm going."
"……Pardon?"
He grinned and headed out.
"Just to say hi."
'Gotta greet whoever planted you before I crush them.'
Adel swallowed his inner thoughts and spoke plainly.
"Let's go."
"Ah, yes! Right away!"
Heila hurried after him with a worried look.
Clang—! Clang—!!
The clash of blades filled the training grounds.
"Today, right?"
"Yeah. Everyone's on edge because of it."
"Where the hell's he even from? Breaking Hien's record from the central lands? Makes no sense."
"That's not all. What about the plaza incident."
But despite the fierce clashes, the trainees seemed unable to focus.
The storm of events over the past few days had them buzzing.
"That damn punk dared hurt Syrin……."
"Watch your mouth. He's Hien's son too."
"So what? The tribe's chief will be our Syrin anyway."
"What nonsense. There's the rightful eldest, Merka. You're the one talking shit."
"Merka? Eldest my ass—he's a bastard. You think he stands a chance?"
"Hien values only talent. That's why he gives us all a shot at the ritual."
Clang—!! Clang—!!!
The trainees' chatter wove through the din of strikes.
"True, you'd want Syrin as chief. They say your lot are sitting out the hunt again—only ones among the captains."
"Shut it. My father's away trading with the grassland tribes beyond the desert."
"Exactly. You should head central and learn to run your mouth instead of training here."
Tonya, son of captain Tonda—one of Ulan's ten—grimaced at the jab.
Utterly rude, but his insulter was also a captain's son.
"You mad bastard……!!!"
Their skills were even, but Tonya's agitation made his movements sloppier.
"Hup……!!!"
Sian, Tonya's opponent, seized the opening and thrust his sword.
"Kuh?!"
Tonya tried to dodge the wooden blade piercing toward his chest, but it was too late.
Thwack—!!!!
That was when.
"Aaaagh!!"
Shockingly, the scream came from attacker Sian.
Pain exploded at the back of his head, crumbling his stance as he pitched forward.
"Gah!!"
Tangling with Tonya as he fell, both crashed to the ground.
"W-what the hell?!"
As the dazed Tonya staggered up, an arrow struck dead-center on his forehead.
"Aaaagh!!"
Blunt-tipped for training, but its speed left a vivid red welt on Tonya's brow.
"……Which fucking bastard!!!"
Sian shot to his feet, yelling irritably.
"Ah, sorry. My bad."
Adel, standing at the training ground's edge, waved coolly at them with a cold smile.