The Marked Basilisk
“Look over there!!”
“He’s coming……!!”
“No way. Did that guy from the center really pass Ulan tribe’s rite?”
The watchmen’s shouts from the watchtower stirred the tribe’s children as the sun rose on the next day.
“Merka. That guy’s not really joining the Day of the Hunt, is he?”
“Yeah. It means a lowly bastard like him becomes one of our brothers. I hate it. I’m against it, against it!”
Magan and Ur clamored noisily around Merka.
As expected……
Merka’s face hardened slightly at the sight of Adel dragging something from afar.
It wasn’t particularly surprising. From their first meeting, he’d thought Adel would succeed in the rite.
He was just curious about what the boy was hauling.
Thud—
When Adel reached the tribe’s gate, he tossed down the heavy load with effort.
“Th-that’s……”
“No way……”
Those who recognized it fell silent, and Magan and Ur gaped.
“B-basilisk?!”
As Magan cried out, Adel had brought a desert monster.
The desert teemed with all sorts of beasts, so a basilisk wasn’t shocking.
The problem was the Ulan tribe brand on its pincer leg.
A branded monster.
It was none other than the prey they had to hunt on the Day of the Hunt.
“Where’d you catch this?”
As everyone stared blankly, Merka pointed at the basilisk and asked Adel.
“Saw it on the way back and caught it.”
"Caught it on the way back my ass. Do you know how much I sniffed around all night looking for that thing? My nose is raw. Does that make sense? An ancient god breaks its seal and steps into the world, and the first thing it does is root around in the dirt?"
You don’t even have a nose. Your wolf form is just a hobby anyway. Quit yapping.
"Boring guy. You know too much for no reason. Guess you did know me in your past life."
Adel smirked and placed a hand on the forehead of the black wolf standing beside him.
“Not only did he survive the rite, but he hunted a basilisk too…… Has there ever been a kid like that during the rite?”
“Nope. Excluding Hien’s feats, it’s probably the greatest achievement ever.”
“Impressive……”
“Does that make this kid Hien’s son too?”
“Eighth one, right?”
Murmurs spread.
Their gazes held bewilderment and suspicion, but also some goodwill.
For hunters, what mattered most was whether you hunted.
“A basilisk isn’t prey you take alone. What trick did you pull?”
“If a hunter uses anything but a bow, he’s a clown. I shot my bow and killed it with arrows. Isn’t that what hunting is, hyung?”
Even under Merka’s piercing glare, Adel just smiled.
“You know that’s not what I’m asking.”
“Well, it wasn’t just luck. Nazan’s bow helped.”
“……What?”
“Didn’t know it myself, but seems I’m a bit favored by them.”
At that moment, Adel showed Merka the shortbow he carried.
The pattern engraved on the bow glowed, widening eyes further.
“Th-that’s……”
“Did you see? The bow’s glowing!”
“No way…… Did that kid use the pattern?”
“That would explain it.”
“Explain it? Being able to use the pattern means he’s chosen. That’s huge in a whole other way!!”
Even a low god’s God's Blessing was immense power for a human.
“He can use a god’s blessing, passed the rite, and caught the Day of the Hunt prey……”
“He’s done something incredible.”
“What happens now? Does the festival end?”
“End? No way!! It’s just coincidence. This can’t count!”
“Yeah, yeah! No way!!”
Magan shouted irritably amid the uproar, and other hunters grimaced at the monster corpse.
“Everyone, quiet.”
Then it came.
“Prey is singular. Going after a bear and catching a deer doesn’t make the deer worth a bear.”
People parted at Nazan’s voice.
His presence meant another was near.
“Bold as brass. You succeeded in the rite, just as you said.”
His voice pierced Adel like a heavy arrow, and even Kalderet bristled instinctively at his spirit power.
“Calm down.”
Adel stroked Kalderet’s forehead.
“I see the master of the desert.”
He bowed in desert fashion, as if waiting.
“As you know, passing the rite holds value beyond joining the clan.”
“I know.”
“I don’t dwell on the past. To survive the desert, you need only will and fight. You proved it in the rite.”
“Thank you.”
“I have seven sons. Some share no blood of mine. All talented, yet all disappoint me in ways.”
Merka’s shoulders twitched.
“From today, you are my son. Merka, teach him well. He’s your first brother and the only one in the village now.”
“Understood.”
Merka looked at Adel, emotions swirling in his eyes.
“Hien, Adel caught even the Day of the Hunt prey. What shall we do?”
Nazan asked cautiously.
“You always bring chaos. You halted the festival, and now you end it. Lucky, or……”
“White Ghost.”
Then Adel spoke to Hien gazing at him.
“Passing the rite and hunting the festival prey first—it’s nothing compared to what’s coming.”
“……Hm?”
Clatter—
He spilled curved jade demon cores from his pouch onto the ground.
“One, two, three, four…… No way. The number of cores……”
“How many is that?”
“Don’t tell me……”
Silence fell, then the ordinary monster cores became objects of awe.
“This is chaos.”
Tribe members who knew Hien’s childhood rite record counted the cores with trembling eyes, murmuring.
“This is just the beginning.”
Adel said to Hien.
* * *
“Hahaha, indeed. You’re you. Daring to provoke Hien. Breaking his record makes it possible, but you live on the edge.”
Nazan led Adel to the barracks.
Shocked by the unexpected act, yet seemingly enjoying it.
“Adel, when you came to the plaza with Yoyeon, I thought this bow and string were fated for you. Even the blessing follows you.”
“This bow’s name is Yoyeon?”
Adel feigned ignorance, showing the shortbow though he knew.
“Yes. Hien bestowed it on me with that name. Naming a weapon isn’t trivial. It means it holds commensurate power. Like the one you used.”
Nazan took the bow.
Hummm……
The pattern on the bow glowed faintly, like with Adel.
“Do you know what power you drew from Yoyeon?”
“Not really.”
Adel answered calmly.
Contracted with Kalderet, he knew blessings well, but no need to reveal.
“It’s a God's Blessing. You’ve heard of them. Blessings affect humans in various ways. Yours from Yoyeon is the hunting god Kindel’s. Boosts bow power and accuracy.”
Adel nodded.
“Having a blessing means chosen by a god. Not everyone can. You’re lucky.”
“Thank you.”
"Smooth talker. Hear that? You’re chosen by me, an ancient god above all continent gods. Lucky you."
I saved you. Without breaking your seal, you’d still be trapped.
"Grr……."
Kalderet, crouched in the barracks corner, rubbed his head against Adel.
“A mere low god, but perfect for a hunter. With his blessing, you could aim for great hunter status.”
"Kindel? Please. For hunting, you need at least a high god like Kilderen. Making the bow sturdy? Useless."
He yawned boredly and shook his head.
“Breaking records and luckily hunting a patterned basilisk—you’ve caught Hien’s eye for sure.”
Adel gave a wry smile.
Nazan wasn’t careless.
Yet as leader of the elite Gal Black Crows, he had blind spots with kids.
He seemed to truly believe the basilisk was coincidence.
“Be twice as cautious. You’re clan now after the rite. But the results are too outstanding—you’ll stand out.”
Nazan bent one knee slightly, hand on Adel’s shoulder.
“Not just the rite, but you haven’t grasped the bow’s blessing yet. Using a god’s blessing sets you apart among hunters.”
He eyed Adel.
“Enviable power. Some may envy, others hinder you.”
“You mean the brothers.”
Nazan grinned as if confirmed, ruffling Adel’s hair.
“Right. Hien’s seven sons. All outstanding hunters, but only four have blessings. The blessed will wary of your talent; the others may envy. Not bad kids, but watch out.”
He gazed at Adel.
“I’ll remember.”
“Not seven—eight now.”
Brothers.
A cherished word for Adel.
Of the seven, five share Hien’s blood directly. The other two are adopted like me.
He called them ‘adopted’ because they hunted solely to survive, like him.
Their talent made them brothers, but tribesfolk won’t lend power to the adopted.
Most thought the chief contest was among the five blood heirs.
That’s why the other two.
Adel needed them as allies.
The problem is……
Second brother, Syrin.
And his loyal fourth, Yoran.
They’d be Adel’s biggest obstacles now.
First brother Merka is most fit for chief, and tribesfolk thought so too……
After Hien’s death, Merka never took the throne.
Second, Syrin, was greed incarnate.
But that greed honed him; his skill topped the seven.
By Merka’s death.
Ulan’s praised firstborn’s death crowned Syrin chief.
High chance Syrin was involved in Merka’s death. Suspicious, but no proof.
Adel never forgot Merka’s sudden end.
He died vomiting blood before Adel’s eyes.
Thanks to that, despite becoming clan, I was framed for his death and exiled.
In his past life, without Kalderet’s blessing, he’d have died beaten after the frame-up.
Revenge drove him with Karon to arrow the desert later.
Looking back, he bore blame for the tribe’s fall.
One of his life’s deepest regrets.
Adel eyed the barracks door slowly.
Clatter—!!!
As expected, the flap opened, and Muel nodded at him.
“Hien summons you, Adel.”
Adel nodded and rose, as if waiting.
“Your brothers gather to welcome the rite survivor. Be polite in the barracks.”
“Polite…… you say?”
He asked Muel.
“Has Syrin Temir come?”
“Well, well. You already know the brothers’ names. Yeah, seems he has.”
“Aha.”
Adel smiled faintly, satisfied.
“Got it.”
Syrin, this time it’s different. You’ll be the one exiled, not me.
He lifted the flap.