Chapter 90
Chapter 90
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 90
Chapter Title: Strategic Restraint
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"Phew, they're finally gone. Ugh... What a heavy-ass burden for such a simpleton. They never listen, those damn savages. That's why I hate working with them."
Lying flat on his back atop the corpses of the sub-dragonkin, Aelion grumbled curses at the departed Olga and her trolls.
"Lady Aelion. If I may ask one question...?"
"Huh?"
Aelion scowled lazily and shifted his body as Byona, his deputy who had just returned from scouting, posed her question.
"I'm busy. Later."
"......"
Aelion waved her off firmly, but Byona held her ground, staring intently at the back of his head.
Perhaps sensing that piercing gaze...
"...Ugh, fine!"
He shot upright, scratching his head in surrender.
"You win. Yeah, yeah... I went through hell because of that idiot, so I owe you that much. What's on your mind?"
"When Olga mentioned burning all the lizardmen corpses upon joining us... I'm sure you anticipated that her methods would cause problems."
"Who wouldn't? With those pig bastards' habits... Anyone knows you can't just torch 'em like that. Basic stuff."
Byona pressed on at Aelion's curt reply.
"Yet you didn't intervene yourself. I know you don't care for Olga, but with the grand plan so close, you wouldn't let personal feelings jeopardize it."
"...Heh! You little brat, always so blunt."
Aelion chuckled dryly at her bold question.
It grated a bit, but what could he do?
Unlike the other pathetic fools, he'd appointed her deputy precisely because he liked how she never minced words or kissed up.
"Isn't it obvious? Tell the one who shat the mess to clean it up. Were we on a damn picnic in the hills? Chasing orcs, hunting lizardmen for bodies... Why should we fix their sloppy screw-up?"
"......"
Aelion grumbled on, but Byona kept silent, fixing him with a steady gaze that said there was more to it.
With a sigh, he relented.
"Sigh... Kid, those eyes of yours... Listen up. Golden Heaven has troll tribes under the Golden Eye too. But in the Deluge, we're the only dark elves. That uniqueness ties our hands. What if we're one step late and one Takryu slips away?"
Aelion dropped the playfulness, his tone turning deadly serious.
"Takryu's Four Dragons aren't muscle-headed idiots like those ogres. They're cold, rational. Unlike trolls scattered everywhere, if they spot us, they'll instantly know the Great Veil intervened. Even if it's that bonehead Olga's fault, the blame falls on us. You wanna risk pointing that second finger at ourselves?"
"...My apologies."
Byona bowed her head at his words.
She too sensed it wasn't just dislike for Olga.
"Tch, no need to grovel so quick after pushing... And that's not all. No reason to, and couldn't anyway."
He yanked up his shirt.
"That wound...?"
"Ran into an unexpected monster in the Mist Mountains on our mission... Got banged up."
His densely muscled torso bore a massive gash, like claws from a huge beast.
Far from "a little banged up," it was a gut-ripping mortal wound that must've spilled his innards fresh.
The parting gift from Turka, the white ghost they'd clashed with in the mountains.
"Golden Heaven, Golden Heaven... Not like Takryu taming giant sea beasts, yet the Fingers fear them so much. Now I get it. Too many sly bastards there who hide their power to dodge frontline duties like the Wraiths."
Golden Heaven, led by Golden Eye, with powerhouses like Silver, Bronze, and Iron Mask.
Outwardly, their numbers didn't reach half of Takryu's Four Dragons and Ogres.
Yet they matched Takryu because of warriors uninterested in anything but battle, who returned to their tribes.
They made Golden Heaven one of the Deluge's absolute powers.
"We paid a huge price on our mission—no way we're cleaning their shit too. Once Karaktus awakens... competition among the Fingers is inevitable."
Aelion's eyes gleamed as he touched the wound.
The Deluge North's overlord, the Great Veil.
They already eyed a future beyond crushing Golden Heaven and Takryu.
"Hah, hah..."
Her lungs burned at the limit, breath coming in ragged gasps.
"Ngh...!"
But 'she' clamped her hands over her mouth, desperately stifling it.
Painful, but she had to endure. No choice.
Fail, and the forest hunter would snag her for dinner.
Boom! BOOM!
Each step shook the earth with immense weight.
Primal terror made her teeth chatter involuntarily, but she gritted them and bore it.
'Pass by, please pass by...'
Sniff, sniff sniff!
The forest hunter snorted comically.
But its prey-lust obsession left no room for laughter.
Her heart pounded wildly, body shrinking, but she forced calm.
'It's fine. This is the swamp. No way it'll find me.'
No matter its keen nose, impossible here.
Beneath the swamp's surface.
Her sanctuary, swallowing all traces and scents.
"Grrrrrrr...!!"
Crack! Snap!
Furious at losing prey right there?
-Roooaaarrr!!
The ogre rampaged, roar shaking trees, devastating surroundings, before finally huffing off the way it came.
Boom, thump!
Even as steps faded, she didn't rush.
Deluge monsters survived endless daily battles.
They never easily gave up marked prey.
Footfalls... suddenly vanished.
In other words...
'...Still nearby. Definitely.'
The high sun dipped further before she stirred.
...Then, boom, boom...
Finally, the massive steps resumed, receding from afar.
The predator had abandoned her for easier game.
'Haaaaah...'
Cautiously peeking above the swamp, tension broken, she exhaled the held breath.
Sheltered by her father her whole life, always with warriors on outings.
Despite a lifetime in the Deluge, this raw face was her first.
And the Deluge alone was neither kind nor warm.
Proof: a week's journey now dragged a month, barely halfway.
No, her sharp wits kept her alive that far.
Average kin alone would've died several times over.
Gurgle!
"...Ow..."
Emerging, sharp tail pain drew her eyes unwittingly.
Scraped raw, scales flaked, flesh split and oozing.
Tears welled, but she clenched teeth.
She was special.
Not the first kin to die saving her.
Compared to their sacrifice... mere scratches weren't worth whining.
And if she couldn't deliver her truth...
Far more kin would bleed.
"...Almost there."
A bit further... Oroa.
Once there, Uncle Regulus would expose the Great Veil's dirty schemes.
Renewed vow hardened her once-faltering gaze with resolve.
"...I'll avenge you for sure, Uncle Duke."
Just wait a bit longer, even if lonely.
Takryu never forgave those who touched them.
Plink!
Crystal-clear tea filled the cup with a pure note.
"Must've been tough getting here. Drink up. Nights are still chilly, even in spring."
Concern uncharacteristic of him.
"Tomorrow, right? Off to the Deluge."
Asking after her well-being, something he'd never done.
"The Patriarch's too much, really. Even if the kids are skilled, sending newbies from a strike team barely a year old on this? Totally unfair."
Feigning empathy that didn't suit him at all.
"And our Ralph devoured a guardian pill but hasn't grown a bit! No consideration for the lagging ones. Right?"
Then, mocking and sneering as always.
"......"
Ralph showed no reaction to Manus's antics.
"Sigh..."
Irked by it?
Crunch!
"...Guh!"
Manus sighed faintly, then gripped Ralph's shoulder viciously, wrenching a pained grimace from him.
Satisfied at last, a sly smile curled Manus's lips.
"That's it, Ralph. Love that reaction. Been too long since cousins chatted. Even if I wanna care for you now... keep rebelling like this, and I'll pull back my hand. I'm human too, y'know."
"...What... do you want...!"
Ralph glared through pain-twisted eyes.
A full week.
Manus had spent it hovering, trying to 'care' for him.
But Ralph never opened up.
Manus never gave favors without reason.
Even if he did... after all he'd done, it just disgusted.
"Whew, yeah. Pretending nice was giving me hives. Should've asked straight."
Relief like shedding tight clothes, Manus sneered at Ralph.
"You know it too, right? As is... no spot for you in that fancy Latent Dragon Squad. Yeah?"
"......!!"
Ralph glared with fury and shame, but Manus didn't flinch.
"Remember when you first got dragged in? Talent there, but tiny misunderstanding with me stunted it, right? Now look at you."
Stroke!
"Guardian pill from the Patriarch, yet stuck below mid Expert. Pitiful. Time to admit your 'talent' was the issue."
Releasing Ralph's shoulder, Manus continued.
"I overreacted to a talentless threat. My fault too. So, here's compensation: an offer."
Sneering, he extended a haughty hand.
"Take my hand, brother. On the Kalia soldier clan's name, full support promised."
So unexpected...
"...Why suddenly this?"
Ralph growled warily.
"If my talent's that worthless, no reason to back me."
"Pfft! That's what bugged you?"
Manus laughed at the guarded Ralph.
"Exposing I exiled a non-threat tanks my rep. Better make you useful now, boost my image. 'Wow, Kalia soldiers embrace even aura-less idiots if loyal!'"
He patted Ralph's shoulder lightly, chuckling.
"...Doesn't explain it."
Many talentless in Kalia soldier clan.
No reason to pick the one he hated.
"Tch, kid's suspicious after outside hardships. Fine, one condition. Tiny one."
Clicking tongue, Manus whispered in his ear.
"Not hard. Just... take out a few on this mission."
"...What?"
Ralph's eyes widened, as if mishearing.
But Manus tempted steadily.
"More you get, bigger reward. Promise from Patriarch Wilhelm Kalia himself."
Voice slithering like a serpent, shaking the soul.