The Human Hunter Kizzel (1)
After the brief embrace ended, Akasa listened as Hisoral described the kind of monster he was hunting.
The human hunter, Kizzel. A perverted serial killer who preyed upon women and children. As Akasa realized the truth about the creature he had encountered, a chill ran down his spine.
"That’s strange."
"What is?"
"I might have been targeted by that killer, and yet, I happened to meet the very person hunting him."
"Now that you mention it, you're right. It must be because the Ul guided us."
"The Ul?"
"There is a saying that the gods help those who help themselves. It is said that the heart is the place where the god's omnipotence is displayed most fully."
Akasa fell into a strange silence. It was a signal to ask for Urnil's opinion, and Urnil responded.
"Is that so?"
"Indeed it is."
Although Hisoral had answered, the question had been directed at Urnil as well.
Akasa nodded. His reaction was a beat late, and Hisoral looked at him with a puzzled expression, but his interest soon shifted elsewhere.
"Let's get moving for now."
Akasa nodded and tried to stand, but he stumbled. After walking all day, his legs had no strength left.
"Climb on my back."
"I'm fine."
"It’s better to conserve your stamina, even a little. You never know what might happen from here on out."
After a moment of hesitation, Akasa finally climbed onto Hisoral’s back. Hisoral chuckled, seemingly pleased, and carried Akasa as he scouted the surrounding terrain.
"This position should be fine."
It was only when the sun showed signs of dipping toward the horizon that Hisoral stopped.
"Asdin. I saw footprints about your size around here earlier. Is this a path you frequent?"
At Hisoral’s words, Akasa nodded.
"It’s the path I kept circling back to before you caught me earlier, sir."
"Then if that bastard is tracking your trail, he’ll come through there."
Hisoral said with a fierce grin.
He finally moved as if he had set his target. It was a spot where the Jeokgeo tree could be seen vaguely through the dense forest from afar. Conversely, the path leading back from there was clearly visible. Other areas were full of bushes and shrubs, so if anyone tried to approach stealthily, they would surely be spotted immediately.
"You look exhausted, so let’s spend the night here and look for his tracks tomorrow. That’s alright, isn't it?"
"What if he comes tonight?"
"That would be fine, too."
The gentle yet chilling remark made the hairs on Akasa’s arms stand on end. Even as the sun was setting, Hisoral worked tirelessly to prepare the area. He wove blades of grass together in various places so that if anything tripped them, the bushes would rustle loudly.
"Now, let’s find something to eat. Follow me, but stay at a reasonable distance and rest."
"Oh, as for food, I’m fine."
Hisoral looked at him with a questioning gaze. Akasa took his staff and sword and led the way, guiding Hisoral.
When they reached the other side of the stream they often frequented, there was a tree laden with fruit.
"A good spot. But the proximity to that tree is a flaw. Did you really have to come all the way here?"
"Otherwise, the sun would have set soon. It’s better than looking in the dark. And, I want to keep this place as my base if I can. I suppose I can do that once I catch that killer. Oh, and wait a moment."
Akasa ran lightly and pulled out a fish trap he had set in the stream. Hisoral watched him with a bewildered face.
"Did you make that yourself?"
"Yes. It’s annoying because I have to remake it whenever it breaks."
Only then did Akasa’s face look like that of a boy his age. Hisoral felt his heart ache as he imagined the harsh failures this young child must have endured to survive in the wilderness.
"Let’s go now."
In any case, they had confirmed an abundance of food. Hisoral responded energetically to Akasa’s cheerful declaration.
"Right. I’ll grill it for you, and it will be delicious."
Hisoral truly did grill the fish deliciously. Akasa had previously been eating fish while chewing on sour berries, but Hisoral had somehow added salt and unknown herbs to create a seasoning.
Compared to what he usually ate, it was a delicacy that left him ecstatic.
Akasa couldn't help but ask Urnil in secret.
"Urnil, why didn't you teach me how to cook?"
It was a valid reason. Akasa muttered a request for forgiveness for his ignorance and quietly brushed his teeth with sage.
"You know a bit about herbalism. Did your father teach you?"
Hisoral asked as he approached from behind. When Akasa turned, Hisoral was holding some sage that seemed to be his own share.
"Yes."
Asdin replied vaguely.
Hisoral tucked the extra sage into a small leather pouch and sat by the fire. The sun was setting further.
"Is it alright to light a fire?"
Hisoral nodded with a look that told him to be at ease.
"It’s unlikely that anyone nearby will easily discover this fire. Unless they are on the hill that touches the middle of that giant tree. If they are tracking your trail, they wouldn't climb up that hill."
But it didn't matter if they found them. As if to say that, Hisoral took out his favorite weapon and began to maintain it.
"That’s a unique weapon. It looks like a sword, but it isn't, and yet it’s too short and pointed to say it isn't."
"It’s called a Cheomgeom (Piercing Sword)."
"A Cheomgeom?"
"That’s what we call a sword meant for stabbing. It may look weak because it has no blade, but it’s made entirely of iron, so it’s quite sturdy."
Saying this, Hisoral held the sword short and poked the tip out slightly to show him.
"Would you like to touch it?"
Akasa nodded and took the sword to examine it. Although it had no edge, the shape of the sword, which started as a rhombus and narrowed to a single pole, was quite solid.
That was Asdin’s perspective, but Urnil saw something else.
Asdin slowly brought his finger to the tip of the sword. It wasn't sharpened, but it was as pointed as a needle.
"At the Wind Temple where I once belonged, we mainly handled weapons with this kind of penetrating power. The surrounding area was a denser forest than this place, so such martial arts developed. Come to think of it, you handle a staff."
"Yes."
"I might be able to help you a little."
"Is that so?"
"As you can see, I’ve set up a perimeter. If you’re alright with it, I’d like to take a look at your form. What do you think?"
Urnil whispered immediately.
"Is it really okay?"
"Of course."
One question, two answers.
As expected, Akasa answered Hisoral’s question a little late.
"I’d like that."
"Thank you for accepting. Then, before the night gets deeper, I’d like to see the staff techniques you know. Is that alright?"
Akasa was momentarily taken aback, not expecting him to suggest doing it right away, but he soon stood up with his staff. Since it was an opportunity even the god had permitted, he wanted to seize it immediately.
Akasa gripped the staff at the end and at the one-third mark as he had been taught, letting his arms hang loosely to waist height. His arms, positioned at his hip joints, allowed for a light tension so he could always shift his center of gravity.
"Show me slowly. Speed isn't the issue."
Akasa did as Hisoral instructed. On the canvas dyed by the night, the flames began to express themselves through the brush that was the boy. The staff swung, thrust, dropped, and struck upward, spreading out like fluttering sparks.
Akasa did his best to demonstrate the movements he knew, even though there were only a few. When Akasa finished demonstrating and hesitantly lowered the staff, Hisoral said with admiration.
"Amazing! Your body usage understands the principles of generating power. They are simple basic movements, but the level of completion is high. Who taught you?"
"Someone taught me. A long time ago..."
Akasa trailed off. Hisoral continued as if it were no big deal.
"I suppose that’s also difficult to talk about. If it’s staff technique, it could be from the Water Temple or the Flower Temple. Do you happen to know who your master was?"
"No. They told me to consider it a fleeting connection."
Akasa decided to lie on purpose. Even young Akasa could feel that Hisoral was genuinely looking out for him. However, his identity was something he could not reveal under any circumstances.
"Is that artifact related to your master as well?"
"Ah, this... yes. That’s right."
Akasa looked down at the Karmatio wrapped around his left wrist and nodded a little late. Fortunately, Hisoral didn't seem to have any suspicions about it.
"More importantly, what do you think of my staff technique?"
"Hmm. About that."
Hisoral smacked his lips and said.
"To be honest, I don't need to say anything about your posture or movements. You were taught very well."
Akasa nodded, holding two meanings in his heart. Hisoral spoke again.
"If you consistently train at the level you’ve mastered now, you won't have any rivals among your peers. Even now, if it’s a surprise attack, you could probably take down an adult. I guarantee it."
That was the highest evaluation a Martial Priest could give. No disciple or subordinate could ever hear such an evaluation from a Martial Priest.
This was a praise that could only be heard by a boy who had survived in the barren wilderness.
"However, the disadvantage is that you are overly focused on offense. Is this the only thing you’ve learned?"
"No. What I just did is called the Advance Stance, and there is also a Defensive Stance. But it’s just a form of doing what I did in the Advance Stance while retreating... so there isn't much difference."
"So you’ve only learned the basics. Hmm."
Hisoral wore a thoughtful expression. Then, Akasa opened his mouth cautiously.
"Then, could you possibly teach me what I want to learn?"
"There’s no reason I couldn't. Is there something you’re curious about?"
Akasa nodded and said calmly.
"Earlier, you grabbed my staff and took me down."
"I did."
"I felt it then. The staff is a long weapon, but it’s not a bladed one. If I get grabbed like that again, I won't be able to do anything and will just be defeated."
"You want to know how to deal with that situation."
"Yes."
"Understood."
Hisoral answered readily.
"However, let’s stop for today. Kizzel might be aiming for us under the cover of night."
Just the mention of the killer’s name seemed to make the air around the campfire turn cold.
"I understand."
Hisoral stroked the head of Akasa, who answered with a stiff face, and said.
"Go to sleep first. I’ll keep watch until dawn. I’ll wake you at daybreak, so please take over for a while then."
As Akasa nodded, Hisoral smiled broadly and sat by the fire to begin his watch. Akasa, who usually slept lightly, fell into a deep sleep for the first time that day.