The Shadow of Murder
"So you're saying there's a chance they weren't killed by monsters, but murdered."
"Yes."
Shadows fell across Muel's face as she heard Adel's report.
"Amta, what do you think?"
"After coming back and comparing the bodies, there were definitely subtle differences in the wound edges, just like Adel said. Even a seasoned hunter would have a hard time noticing."
Amta stated his thoughts plainly.
"That's some impressive eyesight for a kid. I didn't catch it myself."
He made no effort to hide it or cover up his own oversight.
"So it's to Adel's credit, then."
"Yes, Muel."
Muel nodded at her subordinate's response. Amta wasn't a grand hunter, but his skills rivaled those of a captain. Since it was a report from someone she trusted, she saw no need to inspect the bodies herself.
"Does that even make sense, Muel? This is a remote spot with a spider cave—no tribes live here. Dragging kids from the distant Great Plains' Bi-gung tribe all the way out here just to kill them? What's the point?"
Yoran, summoned at Muel's command, glared at Adel as if he wanted to devour him.
"It's just some greedy punk's delusion, born from chasing glory. Right, brother?"
Yoran snorted and looked to Syrin for agreement. But Syrin's expression had turned icy.
He's digging his own grave.
Adel nearly applauded Yoran's stupidity but kept his mouth shut.
"Hey, tell me straight—no bullshit. You really convinced it's murder?"
"The possibility is strong enough. We need to confirm it."
"……Brother?"
As Syrin questioned Adel, Yoran swallowed hard, his face uneasy.
"Yoran, what do you make of this place?"
"……Huh?"
"You're right—it's unclaimed territory, no tribes around. But it's still desert land. If murders happened here, we can assume someone’s trying to pin the blame on us. That's a direct challenge to the Ulan tribe."
His face sharpened like the beast that named his unit, the Beast Squad.
"If such treacherous scum exists, I'll tear them apart myself and string their guts up for the desert eagles to feast on."
He was always consumed by envy and jealousy, but for once, he seemed different.
As expected... the one who clawed his way past his brothers to become the tribe's king.
Adel didn't like Syrin, but he had to admit the man had the makings of a king. In his own way, separate from his brothers, Syrin cherished the Ulan tribe above all. He burned with the desire to solidify their dominance as the unchallenged lords of the desert.
"Shouldn't we report this, Muel?"
"We should. It's no ordinary matter. But we can't halt the sweep either. Yoran, pick a fast runner from your hunting squad to report this to Lord Hien."
"Uh, yes, ma'am."
Rebuked by Syrin and getting no support from him, Yoran nodded at Muel's order and fled the tent like a whipped dog.
"Hul, prepare the route to the next outpost as planned. We've wasted too much time. Snow's starting to fall already."
"We'll hurry."
"And this doesn't seem like something we can handle alone. We should inform the Bi-gung tribe too..."
"I'll go."
Adel raised his hand as if he'd been waiting for Muel's words.
"You? You've only had a year of training at the Nest, and you want to head to the Great Plains? That's dangerous."
"I'll travel with Brother Hul's unit. From there to the Plains isn't far."
"Still too risky on your own."
"Don't worry, Muel. I walked here from the central lands on foot. And now I've got Kargon—several times faster than my legs."
"Hmm..."
"And please let me go with my cohorts, Muel. Kasla and Haron are more than capable."
Adel saw this as his chance. He could check on Hul's safety, and separating from the main unit would give him freedom to move.
"If it worries you, I can assign escorts from the outpost. A few Nakrang hunters know some Great Plains tribes."
Hul backed him up.
"Fine. You three should be reliable enough. But stay cautious—treat anywhere outside the desert as enemy territory."
"Understood."
"Here, take this, Adel."
Muel unfastened the badge from her chest and handed it over. It marked her as a captain of the Ulan tribe.
"The Bi-gung will respect it at least—they won't take you lightly."
"I'll keep it hidden."
"Why?"
"Lord Hien took me in because he saw potential in me. To live up to that, I should handle my missions on my own merits."
Muel chuckled at Adel's reply.
"Spoken like a true hunter. But you're still young, kid. It's okay to lean on things like this sometimes. You can shoulder the weight once you've built your own squad."
"My squad has already begun."
"...What?"
Not just Muel—everyone in the tent looked at him quizzically.
"Even if we're under the Beast Squad now, I consider Kasla, Haron, and myself an informal hunting party from the Nest."
"What nonsense. You think forming a squad is kid's play? Just banding together with your buddies?"
Syrin scoffed.
"It's no game. In my situation, it's how I find capable hunters."
But Adel pressed on without hesitation.
I can't waver here. I won't get official recognition yet, but I need to plant the idea that I'm building a squad.
They were Hien's sons, but there was a clear divide between his blood heirs and his adopted kids. To stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the direct lineage, he needed his own force. Even as a child, declaring his intent like this from now on was crucial.
And the perfect person to say it to was Muel.
"An informal squad with your cohorts... Interesting."
And Adel's hunch hit the mark. He knew her past.
Just as I thought...
She eyed him.
"It'll be good experience for you."
"Muel! You're buying into this brat's nonsense? Three kids as a squad? Father hasn't approved it."
"Nazan and I formed our first squad at fifteen. By twenty, we each had our own... Adel's fourteen. No different."
"But...!!"
"It's not official. Could be kid stuff, like you say, Syrin. But taking on roles builds responsibility—won't hurt them."
Muel shut down Syrin's complaints.
"Adel, go to the Bi-gung with those two and report this incident. Get clear descriptions of the three bodies—find out who they are."
"Yes, ma'am."
"Be careful. Sure, you made it from the center by some miracle, but the road to the Plains has too many variables."
"Don't worry. I'll keep it in mind."
Adel clenched his fist as he replied.
Finally, free to move.
And he could watch over Hul too—one stone, two birds.
"Adel, head out as soon as you're ready."
"Got it."
Following Hul's Nakrang unit, Adel hurried to pack with his two companions.
"...Why do we have to follow you?"
"Why not? It'll be fun. Endless hunting was getting boring anyway. Plus, riding Kargon like this is a stroke of luck."
"Speaking like you've got no worries. Haron, can't you see his sneaky intentions?"
Kasla and Haron, racing along with Hul's vanguard before dawn, glanced at Adel up ahead as they talked.
"Huh?"
"He slipped it in so everyone thinks we're really under him now. The folks back at camp already figure we're in Adel's squad."
"Oh? Is that so? Haha..."
Haron laughed awkwardly at Kasla's words. Truth be told, he didn't mind it much.
"Adel, who do you think attacked the Bi-gung?"
Hul, leading the way, turned back to ask.
"Hard to say. The Plains aren't at war like the center, and unlike our desert where Ulan dominates, no single power rules supreme. It wouldn't be odd if one of the other two major forces did it."
Adel answered calmly.
"But the key is they tried to frame it on us. That means stirring conflict between desert and Plains. Might not be internal strife."
"Who benefits from desert and Plains at war..."
"Too many to count, honestly. Not just the five central kingdoms—the western federation, eastern seven duchies... Plenty eye our desert resources."
"Hmm."
Hul nodded. The desert seemed a barren wasteland at first glance, but it wasn't. The vast southern oasis still housed spirits, and bloodstones from canyon beasts were priceless to mages. Countless resources lay buried, making it a prize everyone coveted.
Yet Ulan has never lost control—thanks to their unmatched might. You need three times the numbers just to have a shot here.
"You're right. Plenty want us weakened. But who..."
"Lots target us, sure. But this might not be about sparking some decisive gain from Plains-desert conflict."
"Then what?"
Many rivals, but Adel was certain of the culprit.
"Time. Time to draw eyes to desert-Plains blades clashing, letting them move freely in the chaos."
He knew the future.
After over a hundred hunters died and the tribe mourned, Ulan prepared for war. But mobilization fizzled due to some incident—the cause forever unknown. Yet he clearly remembered the one force that moved first after the massacre.
"If they need free movement... it'd be travel time. Crossing Plains to desert? That points to central lands."
"Central bastards?"
"Who knows what they want. What's beyond the desert?"
"Hmm... Our desert's the continent's far south, so ocean, right?"
Hul shrugged.
Didn't expect Shalon's disaster to connect like this...
The scattered pieces were forming a picture.
"No. There's one more thing at the desert's end."
"What?"
"The Cult of the Forgotten."
Hul's face hardened.