Chapter 20
"Haha... I don't really want to fight."
Haron replied awkwardly to Adel's words.
"Fight him."
"Huh?"
"It stings my pride a bit that he chose you over me... but honestly, you're the right match for him."
Kasla said, pursing her lips.
"You're accepting surprisingly easily."
"I heard about you from my father. No reason for him to exaggerate, and I saw what happened in the plaza myself."
She shrugged. She seemed prickly, but her eye for talent was unexpectedly sharp. It looked like she knew exactly where she stood in terms of skill.
"Haha. Cut the flattery... Kasla, you're the top of our class. So why me?"
"We're among ourselves here—drop the sweet talk. Everyone knows I'm top because you slack off."
"Haha..."
He scratched his head helplessly.
"Fine. If it's your request, Kasla, I'll do it. By the way, Adel, I'm a year older than you."
He was only fourteen, but his height was tall enough to pass for an adult, and his frame carried solid muscle—not bulky, but firm. Every time he reached for the greatbow on his back, his arm muscles rippled.
"So?"
"Eh, just saying."
Haron scratched his head sheepishly in response to Adel's words. It was a subtle warning to Adel: Kasla's fine, but don't treat me casually.
Still can't say things outright, huh.
Adel thought as he watched him. Truth be told, they hadn't been close even in his previous life. If anything, they'd only spoken a handful of times after Adel passed the ritual.
Yet Adel knew so much about Haron because of what happened years later, after he'd been exiled from the tribe and returned with the empire's Karono. That's when he met Haron—and instead of greetings, swords and arrows flew.
"..."
In other words, they'd fought. And naturally, that meant Adel had taken Haron's life.
"Age means nothing before the blade."
"That's the kind of thing kids say. I really don't want to fight..."
But Adel knew Haron was inwardly curious about his skills. Without that curiosity, he never would have become a grand hunter.
Especially since he's not even native here—he was taken in, yet rose that high.
His background was unique. That was why Adel paid attention to him. Like Adel, he wasn't from the desert, yet he'd reached that position. The difference was Haron hailed from the Garam Archipelago, a cluster of islands in the strait below the southern desert—not the central lands like Adel.
He never talked about his origins, but Haron's the bastard son of the only family on the pirate-infested Garam Archipelago.
Adel eyed him.
Nazan took him in. Nazan doesn't adopt just anyone—bringing him along says enough about his talent.
That was part of why he followed Kasla.
"Hm."
Haron took a slow breath, straightened his chest, and stood tall. Then he slammed his greatbow into the ground with all his might.
Shring—
He drew his sword slowly. It was a standard training wooden sword, but as it left the sheath, it rang like clashing steel.
"I put steel inside the wooden sword. Reinforced the sides too—not the edge, but still. The training ones are too light."
The training swords weren't light; they had weights inside to match real iron blades for the trainees.
"Honestly, I'm curious too. They say you broke Hien's ritual record. I wouldn't even dream of challenging it."
"It's not that you can't—you just don't want to."
"Huh?"
"Pass the ritual, and you'd have to compete with Hien's sons. Doesn't seem like your style. Am I wrong?"
"Thanks. Music to my ears."
Haron assumed his stance slowly.
"Hm."
Adel did the same.
"Not drawing your sword?"
"No need."
"Why?"
"I want to go a bit longer with you. Can't use my sword for that."
"Why?"
"You might die."
"Haha?"
Haron's expression hardened at Adel's words. Adel had provoked him on purpose. Few in the tribe knew Haron's true talent.
When my own talent awakened, five years had already passed. If Haron's was visible, he'd have made a name by then.
But Adel hadn't known. He was shocked when Haron appeared as a grand hunter later.
So Adel was curious about his current level too.
Haron. I'll force your talent into the open soon enough.
This was preparation.
"Heila. Step back."
"Understood."
She retreated a step at Adel's command and watched the two with keen interest.
Haron... Bucket Serpent's son. Not someone worth noting before.
His name wasn't on her list of promising nest trainees. She might need to add one more to report.
"..."
But unlike her intrigued gaze, Haron facing Adel looked unsettled.
"What're you waiting for?"
Kasla urged him. But Haron still hadn't moved, locked eyes with Adel.
Couldn't move, rather.
What is this?
He swallowed dryly without realizing. He'd avoided it, but Haron believed no trainee in the nest could match him. He just never showed it.
No openings...
Yet facing Adel—smaller than him—he felt like he was up against a wall. His eyes wavered. He imagined countless paths, but all were blocked.
Without a weapon? How?
Haron realized Adel's words weren't empty.
BOOM!!
His words unheard, but as if on cue, Haron lunged. The gap closed in an instant.
Haron gripped his sword two-handed and slashed at Adel with full force.
Whoosh!!
Adel ducked low, narrowly dodging the horizontal sweep, and slipped inside.
Got him!
Haron twisted the blade's path instantly. Changing direction mid-swing was impossible for most trainees. Only Haron's transcendent strength allowed it.
"Urk?!"
But Adel had anticipated it.
Sorry. I've seen your perfected swordplay before.
Haron's current technique looked raw to Adel's eyes.
Even without God's Blessing, this power and speed.
Adel wondered how much further he'd grow. But that was the future. For now, Haron was no match.
Adel already knew he used irregular arcs powered by raw strength.
His 'irregular' swings still have habits.
Horizontal slash to overhead smash. Inexperience bred predictability.
Slipping into Haron's guard, Adel kicked his leg hard.
"Kuh...!!"
His leg buckled under the side blow while braced low. But true to his strength, he didn't fall from one hit.
Thud—!!
Adel slid between his legs, targeting the ankle from behind. Unable to withstand, Haron dropped to one knee.
"Impressive. You withstood that."
Adel said to the fallen Haron.
"Hearing that from the winner doesn't feel great."
"It's praise. Honest."
"Haha..."
Haron gripped his throbbing ankle with a wry smile.
Even better.
That was why he'd handled him roughly—to ignite that spark.
"But you're in no position to blame others."
"What?"
"You saw it too."
"What do you mean?"
"You're better with the bow than the sword. Bows suck up close, but you seem different."
Adel pointed to the greatbow stabbed into the ground. Unlike normal bows, it had wooden reinforcements at the tips—where blades should be.
Haron's family, the Bucket Serpent house, isn't martial, but they have one heirloom archery style.
"How'd you know?"
"Your grip's different. Sword hand vs. bow hand—you're a bowman. Right?"
But Adel saw no need to reveal secrets here, with eyes everywhere.
Haron let out an involuntary laugh at Adel's words.
"Adel, you got eagle eyes or something? How'd you spot that?"
"I use a bow too."
Adel gave his prepared answer.
"Haron. Want to learn archery from me?"
"...What?"
Haron frowned slightly.
"Even if I lost, we've got proper instructors here. Learn from you?"
"Yeah."
His brazen confidence left Haron speechless.
"I shoot better."
The three stared at him, dumbfounded—he'd been in the nest barely a day.
"And Kasla. You too."
"Me? You're not saying you're better at swordplay too, right?"
"Beat Haron barehanded. That say enough?"
"Heh, this guy's nuts."
Heila couldn't hide her confusion—report this or not?
"Fine, say your skills beat the instructors. Why come here?"
Kasla asked Adel.
"Something to gain."
"Desert's Grace? Makes sense—mid god Garon of scorching sands is the goal for nest trainees."
"No. Not that."
"...Hm?"
"Winter's coming. There's a test for trainees."
Their faces hardened.
"You mean... the Tomb Tournament? You're doing that? You've been here one day."
"Sure. Desert's Grace from mid god Garon is only for graduates, but the tournament's open to any trainee."
"Forget it. Upperclassmen join too. Winner's already picked anyway."
Haron shook his head.
"I hate rigged games, but can't be helped. Over thirty upperclassmen will make Yoran Temir the victor. No one to stop them."
"...Annoying."
Haron sighed at Kasla's words.
"Someone can stop it."
"...Huh?"
"Me."
Adel said.
"Things changed. I wasn't here yesterday. I am today."
"What?"
"Jeez... nuts."
They gaped at his confidence.
"I'll make you stronger than anyone. Follow me?"
"Starting a new faction?"
"What do we have to trust you on?"
Adel's gaze shifted between them.
"You'll see soon enough."
They swallowed nervously at his words.
"In the Tomb Tournament."