Failed?
Tiller Seton slowly turned his head. The Chungru with the long scar on his cheek lowered his head, looking utterly ashamed.
“Why?”
“S-Sorry.”
The Chungru’s head sank even deeper.
“Not sorry. I asked why.”
Tiller gave a faint smile. A bright smile, yet malice dripped from it like poison.
“You had plenty of time to sink the ship before the Zieghart bastards arrived.”
He had timed the attack to sink the vessel and let the sailors drown in front of the villagers and Zieghart’s burghers. The perfect plan had collapsed, and irritation surged through him.
“T-The Chungru suddenly froze when we tried to attack the ship.”
“Froze?”
“I don’t know exactly, but the ship didn’t break through—it just stayed still in the water.”
The Chungru could not meet Tiller’s eyes and trembled.
“Before long, the Chungru started moving again, but by then the Zieghart bastards had arrived and saved the sailors.”
“Was there a malfunction? Those incompetent bastards.”
Tiller kicked the kneeling Chungru. Even though he was struck hard enough to spit blood, the Chungru made not a single sound.
“Rimer must have stepped in from Zieghart.”
“N-Not Rimer. It’s Raon.”
“What?”
“Raon jumped into the water and froze the Chungru in an instant, saving the people.”
The Chungru explained how Raon had driven them away and rescued the sailors.
“Even if it’s not a martial artist, was there a water-walking technique in Zieghart?”
“I don’t know that either…”
“No. It could be. But Raon Zieghart who has only lived on land until now learning it is strange…”
He frowned, clearly displeased.
“How did the villagers react?”
“They were shocked that it wasn’t just floating on water but creating ice islands in the center of the river. Some seem to have fallen into a trance, seeing the Water God descend.”
“Haa, those bastards. Trying to suck on candy someone else licked. Pulling out their eyes wouldn’t be strange. Right?”
“Y-Yes.”
“I didn’t like them from the start. The little brat got arrogant after gaining fame and I wanted to rip his tongue out.”
Tiller’s smile was sinister, completely different from the polite one he had shown in front of the Light Wind Squad.
“This is all because of that bastard. If it weren’t for him, I would have eaten the Gazelle River long ago.”
He sighed irritably, regretting it.
“Speaking of which, the Chungru?”
The answer came from behind. A middle-aged man with a majestic presence like looking at a tower. This man was Hackil, the vice-captain of Tiller’s battleship Baekchang.
“Yeah. I thought if I trained the Chungru, they’d become like him, but it wasn’t the case.”
Tiller clicked his tongue. No matter how much he trained them, the Chungru could not speak human language or read.
“Since they couldn’t communicate, it took a long time to make even simple signs. The Chungru who had learned human language on his own was special.”
“Just a bunch of empty-headed idiots.”
He stepped on the head of the kneeling Chungru. Even though his head scraped the floor and blood flowed, he did not resist.
“If I hadn’t saved him, I would have made sign language for every river branching from the lower Rable River.”
If he had not killed the Chungru, the Gazelle River sign language would have been perfect, and using it to swallow Doran Village and Yuin Village. The Chungru except for that one were all useless except for fighting.
“If I knew this, I should have kept him alive.” Thinking it was over, he killed him, but that was wrong. It was too bad he handled it emotionally.
“Ever since, I was curious. How did you force that Chungru to reveal the secret? At first he would have refused.”
“It was simple.”
Tiller kicked the Chungru he was stepping on and smiled.
“From the beginning, I made his world only about me. I went to see him every day, but for the first week I didn’t go, making him worry and anxious.”
When the only one who could talk and understand disappeared, anxiety spread from head to body. The pain ate at the guy’s mind for a week while he did not show up.
“After that, it was easier. I gave him gifts to make him more miserable. The pain he felt when I disappeared and the gratitude and remorse for the unexpected gift made him open his mouth.”
“Haa…”
“He was smarter than humans, but emotionally, he was like a child. Controlling emotions was easy.”
To control emotions, he led the Chungru to meet only him. Using the naive mind of such a fool was too easy.
“After all, the leader is the worst of villains.”
Hackil gripped the ship’s railing and laughed.
“Not villain, call him hero. Heroes and villains die early, but heroes live to the end, right?”
Tiller propped his chin on the railing. In his calm eyes, the collapsing village was reflected. It was the fishing village where Belga met his friend.
“But do we really need to exterminate that place? It’s a bit early…”
“Cut off the rotten branches. Then the remaining branches will grow cleanly.”
He looked at the crumbling village and smiled happily.
***
Raon put a robe on Garam and returned to Doran Village. Since he told them to wait, the Light Wind Squad was waiting in the inn.
“Why so late.”
Burren frowned, asking what he was doing.
“Obvious. Training again.”
Marta shook her head tiredly.
“Raon.”
Runaan called his name without a word and stared blankly at his face. His eyes were flickering, as if he might collapse like this.
All three had been training, their breathing rough.
“But who’s that behind you?”
Unlike the other swordsmen, Rimer, who had a leisurely breath, pointed to Garam behind him. He tilted his head curiously, as if sensing the water aura.
“The vice-leader brought someone?”
“Who is it?”
“A villager?”
The other swordsmen poked their heads out, not expecting someone to be brought at this time.
“Sit down. I have something to say.”
Raon spread his palms to block the sound, then looked at Garam.
“P-Prepared.”
When Garam nodded, Raon removed his robe.
“A Chungru!”
“Why a Chungru here!”
“I-Is it dangerous?”
The swordsmen widened their eyes and reached for the swords at their waists.
“Ugh…”
Garam flinched and backed away.
“Hey, look at his eyes.”
Rimer pointed to Garam’s eyes.
“They’re transparent and clear. No killing intent like other Chungru.”
“Y-Yeah.”
“His eyes aren’t red.”
“Is this really a Chungru?”
The swordsmen nodded, seeing the clear eyes of the Chungru they had only heard about.
“So who is he?”
Marta scanned Garam with her face still alert.
“I’m going to tell you from now on. This guy’s name is Garam. I met him when we saved the people from the river earlier…”
Raon explained to everyone what he heard from Garam about meeting him.
“What kind of trash bastard is there!”
Burren gnashed his teeth, wanting to rip his tongue out for praising Tiller. It was unusual for him, who preferred nobility, to swear.
“Damn! Those bastards…”
Marta raised her aura as if ready to jump out. It seemed she could not help but immerse herself more because she lost her mother to the White Blood Cult.
“Hmm…”
Runaan bit her lip tightly, angry this time. A cold light appeared in her dazed eyes.
“Crack!”
Dorian covered his mouth and cried tears.
“He really suffered.”
He approached Garam and took out candies and snacks from his belly pouch.
“Here, eat this at least. Yeah, yeah.”
“T-Thank you.”
Garam nodded, holding the candies and snacks in both hands. He seemed not to understand what was happening, looking awkward.
“Hey!”
Dorian could not hold back and hugged Garam tightly.
-Yeah. Instead of me, you hug him!
Wrath clenched his fist, saying he did well. As always, he felt that among the people around him, these two had the most tender hearts.
“You stopped the Chungru who were trying to attack the ship, right?”
“Y-Yeah…”
Garam nodded.
“Stopped the Chungru?”
“I heard the Chungru were still for a few minutes before we arrived. It was strange, but I thought this guy might have done it.”
“You can stop your own kind. The power is weak, but…”
He said it was the ability he gained after being hit by Tiller and dying, then revived.
“After being beaten by humans, trying to save them…”
“How can he live such a life?”
“It’s not enough to say he suffered.”
“But his own mistake was too big. Why tell such a secret…”
“Huu, I don’t know what comfort to give.”
Some regretted Garam’s mistake in revealing the clan secret, but most just felt sorry for him.
“Leaving Garam’s story aside.”
Raon opened his mouth, facing the Light Wind Squad.
“Tiller of the South-North Alliance is targeting our territory. Of course, we can’t just give it up. It’s war.”
“I was waiting for that.”
Marta gripped her sword as if wanting to fight now.
“This time, I can’t hold back.”
“Yeah.”
Burren and Runaan nodded.
“I know your anger, but I can’t just move.”
Raon shook his head.
“Because they have the Chungru as hostages.”
Now that the truth is known, the Chungru are not enemies but hostages. If there is no way to save them, we cannot move rashly.
“Need to find the Water God Stone first.” If he cannot find the Water God Stone in Tiller’s hand, there is nothing he can do.
“Do you know the location of the Water God Stone?”
“The one in the ship is sure, but I don’t know the position.”
Garam shook his head.
“Wait. You said the Water God Stone can command the Chungru, right?”
“Yeah.”
“And you can stop the Chungru for a while?”
“Huh? Yeah.”
Garam tilted his head, wondering why he was asked while knowing.
“Do you know where the Chungru are staying?”
“They’re hiding between the Gazelle River and the Rable River.”
“Why there?”
“Tiller isn’t just using the Chungru for the Gazelle River. He made a residence next to the Rable River so they can move anywhere.”
Raon nodded while listening to Garam’s answer. He answered without hesitation, as if he had prepared a lot alone to solve the problem.
“What does the Water God Stone look like?”
“Round and transparent like a jellyfish.”
“Hmm…”
Raon used Glacia to create a round bead in his palm.
“Like this?”
“No, bigger.”
“Then this much?”
“Yeah.”
Only after making the bead the size of a human head did Garam nod.
“Inside it, a white bead moves like smoke, imbued with pure water mana.”
“That’s not hard.”
Raon infused high-purity cold energy from Glacia into the ice bead he made.
Chiiik!
The cold energy inside the bead flowed like waves, and smoke began to rise as Garam said.
“Eh, right! Exactly like that.”
Garam nodded, saying it was almost the same.
“This will work, right?”
Raon smiled faintly. If he just moved as planned, Tiller would tell him the location of the Water God Stone.
“You can save the Chungru?”
Burren opened his eyes wide.
“Yeah. I have a way to take out the Water God Stone.”
Raon turned to Dorian.
“Dorian. Tell the village chief to call Tiller tomorrow. Choose a time when there’s plenty of time.”
“So soon? Isn’t it too urgent?”
Marta narrowed her eyes, telling him to be calm.
“Don’t worry. We can definitely save him. It’s just that the young master’s role is a bit bigger…”
“Hmm, okay.”
Rimer smiled and stood up.
“Finally my turn. I just need to cut that trash’s neck nicely, right?”
“No. I’ll behead him.”
“Huh? You, you’re going to be a bit too much for you…”
“I’ll do it.”
Raon shook his head firmly.
“Th-Then…”
Rimer nodded hesitantly, his eyes burning with Raon’s heat.
“Then what do I do?”
“It’s really important.”
Raon smiled and raised his finger.
“You’re the main character of this matter.”
***
Since they agreed to call Tiller in three days, Raon trained his swordsmanship on the mountain during that time. It could be considered a daily routine, but there was one difference from usual.
-You idiot! The sword is slow! You can’t do that there! The transformation is even later! Why is the sound so loud!
Wrath, furious at Tiller’s atrocities, reluctantly pointed out the flaws in the swordsmanship.
-Then can you even behead him! Tear off his arms and legs, freeze his body, and show him dying!
“Talking like that makes you sound like a demon king.”
Raon laughed. He was sadder than anyone about Garam’s situation, but when it came to killing Tiller, he became demonic. What a mysterious guy.
-Don’t laugh, swing the sword!
“Wait a bit.”
He shook his head and looked at the mountain path. Soon after, with a rustling sound, Belga and Morin appeared.
“Ra, Raon-nim!”
Belga, still not healed, knelt with bandages, and Morin bowed his head with a limping leg.
“Why all of a sudden…”
Since he received enough thanks, it was hard to understand why they came here and bowed.
“My, my friend. The village of the friend who told me about the South-North Alliance’s atrocities was, was exterminated.”
“Huh?”
Raon widened his eyes.
“A small village called Peren by the Rable River, it, it was all killed the day before yesterday…”
His lips were torn from putting too much force, blood flowing down his chin.
“The, the Chungru attacked, but there’s no way. I’m sure he gave them a demonstration by telling Belga about the South-North Alliance!”
Morin gritted his teeth and trembled.
“Why only me… why there…”
Belga clutched his chest, thinking it was his fault, and spat blood. But this was not his fault. It was an event that would have happened anyway if he was under Tiller.
“P-Please! Please stop those bastards!”
“Please!”
Both scraped the floor bloody and bowed their heads.
“Huu…”
Raon exhaled roughly and closed his eyes.
“Good.”
-What good? You crazy bastard!
-Not that, it’s good that I didn’t kill Tiller right away.
-Huh?
-Those kind of guys shouldn’t be killed. They should be thoroughly trampled and then crushed.
He calmed his boiling anger and approached the two.
“Don’t worry.”
Raon helped Belga and Morin up and gave a cool smile.
“I’ll drop him from hero to trash and get rid of him.”
***
Two days later.
Raon faced Tiller in the meeting hall of Garam’s village.
“I heard you saved people with outstanding prestige recently. As expected, you’re great. The rumors don’t seem to match your skills.”
Tiller smiled brightly, like when they first met.
“No. Compared to the power you showed, it’s like a drop in the bucket.”
Raon shook his head, playing humble.
“You even polish gold well. So, what did you want to see me about today?”
“Sorry for calling you in the middle of busy times.”
“No. Today I had no work, so I was free.”
Tiller waved his hand as if it was fine.
“Then it’s fortunate.”
Raon smiled faintly and continued.
“I called Tiller-nim not for any other reason, but because I found the Chungru’s hideout.”
“Uh, hideout? You really found their hideout?”
Tiller’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“I found it for sure.”
Raon nodded with a calm expression.
“The location is…”
“They’re hiding between the Gazelle River and the Rable River. I’ll tell you the exact location while walking.”
“Hmm…”
Tiller could not answer and hesitated.
“You look displeased. What’s wrong?”
“Ah, no. It’s just refreshing to think we can end it now.”
“Then it’s fortunate.”
Raon smiled faintly and raised his finger.
“Since you said end, shall we make a bet?”
“A bet?”
“Yeah. How about the one who catches more ‘monsters’ today gets to plant the flag in this village?”
“Haha, betting on the village isn’t really that much. We don’t have such greed…”
“Then can we protect it?”
Tiller’s smile froze like plaster at Raon’s words.
“We haven’t been here for a few days, but the village chief and other villagers seem to like us a lot. If Tiller-nim is fine, I want to plant Zieghart’s flag in Doran Village. After all, Yuin Village next door is also our territory, so there won’t be any major issues.”
“Haha, that doesn’t sound right.”
Tiller bit his lip slightly and turned to the village chief and officials.
“I got quite close with the people here too. If Zieghart’s territory becomes it, it won’t be easy to see.”
“Hmm…”
“Um!”
“Th-that…”
The village chief and officials avoided answering Tiller’s words and looked away.
“Hm?”
Tiller’s eyebrows furrowed. He did not expect the village chief and officials to react like this.
Raon smiled faintly while looking at Tiller and the village chief.
“Good, I showed the water-walking technique well.”
After seeing the Water Lily, the villagers’ favor towards Zieghart skyrocketed.
Thanks to Rimer and Dorian’s charisma, the village’s opinion was now split between South-North Alliance and Zieghart.
“It won’t be hard to see. We don’t control the territory, so you can come anytime.”
“Hmm, even so, we can’t freely come and go, right?”
“No. It’s really fine. Come as much as you want.”
Raon smiled faintly, seeing Tiller’s trembling lips.
“Yeah. It won’t stay like this.”
Tiller tried to swallow more river currents to gather power and forces to rival other South-North Alliance leaders. Especially for the Gazelle River, he put a lot of effort, so he would not miss it.
“Because it has significance too.”
Half of the Gazelle River is Zieghart’s territory. He was probably aiming for the reputation of stealing Zieghart’s land and river.
“By the way, my young master won’t participate in this battle because of other missions.”
Raon threw another bait.
“You sure make it hard for yourself.”
Tiller rolled his lips. The same smile as before, but the feeling was icy.
“If it’s for this village, apart from catching the Chungru, it seems better to protect it a bit closer. Zieghart is a bit far.”
“That’s a problem that can be solved by setting up a branch.”
“Huu…”
“I personally don’t like long-winded things, so let’s end it simply. Will you accept? Or give up?”
Raon tapped the table with his finger and asked.
“Huu, no choice. For this village, I’ll accept the bet.”
Tiller added “for this village” without revealing his true colors to the end.
“I knew you’d accept. I didn’t think you’d keep saying unnecessary words.”
“Th…”
Raon smiled faintly and let out a behind-the-back comment, and in that moment, Tiller’s expression hardened sharply then relaxed.
“Raon-nim is more than I thought…”
“Then let’s start right away.”
Raon cut off Tiller who was muttering and pointed outside.
“R-Right away?”
“Yeah. It’s not even noon yet, so we can finish today.”
“But we have time…”
“You said earlier that today you had no schedule.”
We cannot give time to Tiller and the South-North Alliance. That is why he asked the village chief to call Tiller when his time was free.
“Let’s go.”
Raon smiled, looking at Tiller like a predator eyeing prey.
“Let’s completely exterminate the ‘monsters’ today and end it.”
…
While the two started the swordless fight.
“Ah, damn…”
Someone’s muttering echoed weakly from the bottom of the battleship Baekchang Tiller rode.
“Is this even possible? Why do I have to hang here wet from water!”
Rimer gnashed his teeth, sticking to the bottom of the ship.
“I’m the young master, and you’re the vice-master, why do I have to suffer! You saw that bastard glaring at me, right? Huh?”
“S-Shut up.”
Garam, who was in the water, tried to calm Rimer and waved his hand.
“This is what kind of protagonist!”