Chapter 525

Thesaya narrowed her eyes and turned to Ian, who had jerked his chin toward Idris.

"That archdemon’s little brat is coming here?" asked Thesaya.

"Probably," Ian replied, watching Idris enter the hut.

The bead of chaos essence had resonated once again just a moment ago. It had been the clearest echo so far. Nehat was clearly not far away.

"So reckless, suiting the boss of kitties," said Thesaya as Idris quickly set down his bag.

Meeting Ian’s gaze, she shrugged nonchalantly.

"What? If Ian really killed Inaskurgl, Nehat should know they don’t stand a chance. And yet here they are, walking straight in. If Nehat didn’t think that far, Nehat is an idiot. If Nehat actually believes they are stronger than the archdemon, then Nehat is just arrogant."

And you’re as sharp-tongued as a fairy should be.

Ian let out a dry laugh.

"The Great Chieftain is not foolish," Idris said, holding a piece of hardtack wrapped in a leaf. His tone was even more polite than before, likely because he had witnessed everything that had just happened in the hut.

"The Great Chieftain probably knows that no one here can defeat the Dragon Slayer. For the Great Chieftain to come in person despite that means the Great Chieftain has something else in mind."

Thesaya, taking the offered package, frowned slightly. "What, Nehat is planning not to fight?"

"Or maybe the opposite. Maybe the Great Chieftain resolved to sacrifice the entire tribe for revenge."

"Great Chieftain is certainly capable of that," said Palmer, from the hut’s entrance.

In his right hand, he now held a fang sword, its blade chipped in several places. He must have been quietly guarding the hut.

"The reason Nehat left Charlotte alive was not out of mercy or respect. It was to make an example of her—that those who stand against will not die an honorable death."

"Not exactly like you cats. Kitty didn’t say that… aha." One corner of Thesaya’s mouth twisted.

As she undid the string holding the leaf wrapper, she said, "She lied. Worried that Ian would really kill all the other kitties. I’m deeply moved. Our Kitty, telling a lie."

Palmer nodded and looked at Ian with his one eye. "Nehat served as a subordinate to the Great Church and spent a long time in the central region. That is why Nehat is familiar with their ways."

"So they’ve been tainted by the Empire…"

So it wouldn't be strange, no matter what kind of cunning trick Nehat pulls.

Indeed, Nehat had deceived the beastfolks by overturning Charlotte’s claims in the first place. It wouldn’t be strange if Nehat were trying to make Ian back down without shedding a single drop of blood, nor would it be strange if they were trying to make Ian the public enemy of beastfolks.

As Ian’s eyes narrowed slightly, Thesaya, who had popped a piece of honey-soaked hardtack into her mouth, said, "Well, whatever. Thanks to that, Kitty survived, so who cares? Let’s think simple. Anyone who comes at us, we just wipe them all out—"

"What is all this talk about?"

A suppressed voice spread from the side just then. Thesaya, who was holding out a piece of bread to Ian, flinched.

As Palmer and Idris also froze, Ian put the bread Thesaya offered into his mouth and turned to look at the bed. Charlotte, having opened her eyes, was looking up at him with golden, shimmering pupils.

"Y-You’re awake already?" Thesaya stammered with an awkward smile. "It’s nothing, so don’t worry about it and get some more sleep. This is all a dream. Yep, a dream."

"Nehat is coming?" Charlotte asked, not even sparing her a glance.

Ian nodded. "Yes."

"How on earth? N-No… that’s not what’s important." Charlotte, who had been asking blankly, shook her head. A golden shimmer flickered like an afterimage as she moved. Golden light covered her right hand, which was now almost fully formed.

"There’s a way to minimize the damage," said Charlotte.

Ian tilted his chin. "What is it?"

"I just have to fight Nehat one more time and take back the position of Great Chieftain. Or… kill with my own hands."

"What?"

As Ian, his brow suddenly furrowed, gripped his left arm, Thesaya’s eyes went wide.

Waving her hand over the bread as if shooing a fly, she said, "I know what you’re thinking, but don’t be crazy, Kitty. Are you trying to turn my elixir into shit? There’s no elixir this time, so if you end up in that state again, there’s really no hope."

"Ian is here. And so are you." Charlotte said in a lowly, as if enduring pain.

She added, without avoiding Thesaya’s gaze, "If you and Ian are present as witnesses, Nehat won’t be able to wield Chaos recklessly. If so, I have a chance."

"No, you reckless, foolish Kitty. Look at yourself. You grew a new arm, but that doesn’t mean you’ll be as strong as before right away." Thesaya pressed a hand to her temple, as if trying to stave off a headache. "Ian. Please stop her. She’s talking nonsense again."

She turned to Ian, her brow creased. "You’re not actually going to listen, are you?"

"Well, it doesn’t seem entirely baseless."

"What did you say?"

"She might even gain strength she never had," muttering, Ian closed the quest window. The moment Charlotte spoke, his left arm had burned hot, and a new quest had appeared.

"Well, let’s just wait and see."

Ian glanced from Charlotte, who was baring her fangs, to Thesaya, who sighed and squeezed her eyes shut, and added calmly, "Let’s see how they approach this."

***

Beastfolk warriors, clad in mismatched armor, surrounded the village entrance and the palisade in a tightening ring.

Fweeeet— Fweeeeeeet

A sharp, dissonant whistle echoed wildly, heard only by beastfolk ears. The sound came from a few warriors gripping thin, long flutes between their teeth.

Tap, tap, tap—

Then, as the notes cut through the air, the villagers emerged, weapons clenched in trembling hands. The old came first, followed by the sick and the wounded, and then those bearing sins that could never be washed away. Among them were warriors—battered, broken, yet still alive—refusing to let death claim them just yet.

While exiting the village, they couldn't help but look at the ash-furred beastfolk warrior standing guard at the entrance.

She wore weathered plate armor, dulled to match the color of her coat, a jagged crimson sword hanging from her hip like a saw, and a massive, dark-hued greatsword strapped bare across her back. Her thick mane spilled from the crown of her head, rippling faintly in the lukewarm wind.

Even the elders, who glared with thinly veiled displeasure, lowered their heads in passing, offering a show of respect.

"Great Chieftain."

For she was none other than Nehat, daughter of Inaskurgl—the Butcher’s heir.

The strange gleam in their eyes was nothing more than the faint hope that at last, they might earn an honorable death.

However, Nehat offered no acknowledgment, barely tilting her chin as the beastfolks filed past. Arms crossed, her gaze remained nailed to a single point beyond the haphazard rows of huts.

By the time the beastfolks had all left the village and even the sound of the flutes had ceased to spread, Nehat’s eyes finally twitched.

Between the huts, a black-haired human emerged.

Ian Hope.

The one she had been waiting for.

He was wearing worn-out full-plate armor that matched the color of his hair, and in his right hand, he held a sword with a blade so white it seemed to glow. However, Nehat’s eyes sharpened not just because of his extraordinary appearance.

Rumble…

The moment her eyes met Ian Hope’s sunken ones, her bestial nature bared its fangs. It was enough to make her realize he had truly killed Inaskurgl. Otherwise, there was no way her bestial nature, blessed by Kruxica, would react so sensitively.

"Grrrr…"

"How dare he…"

Hissing breaths mixed with killing intent spread among the warriors who had lined up around them. It was likely because of the silver-haired fairy walking alongside Ian.

The fairy’s uniquely arrogant, expressionless face was so disgusting that they wanted to rush forward and tear it to shreds.

The two beastfolks following behind them grated on Nehat’s nerves just as much. Not only the wretched-looking Palmer, but even Idris had the deferential attitude of a servant.

If I had my way, I’d tear them all to pieces, but…

Nehat clenched her fists tightly.

For now, she had to wait, crouched and patient. That was the promise she had made to the one who sent her South. She had only come here to send Ian Hope away without losing her authority.

"I am Nehat. The official Great Chieftain of the beastfolk clan," said Nehat. She felt conflicted, wanting him to stop but also wanting him to ignore her and attack.

Ian Hope, while narrowing his eyes slightly, chose the former. He stopped and faced Nehat for a moment with a strange smile, then said, "Ian Hope. A mercenary."

"You are currently trespassing on the land of the beastfolk without permission. I am well aware that you are the Superhuman of the North and the Agent of the Platinum Dragon, but that grants you no right to roam freely here. Nor the right to insult me and challenge my authority," said Nehat.

With a smile still on his face, Ian said, "So it was true that the Empire heavily influenced you."

She could easily infer that he had heard it from Palmer, even without the glance the silver-haired fairy shot to her side.

Nehat clenched her fist. "Leave with your companions. If you do, I will not hold you responsible for anything further."

"I don’t know about that. From what I hear, you’re a corrupted one."

"Do you have proof?"

"I have witnesses."

He likely meant Charlotte, Palmer, and Idris, who were behind him.

Despite feeling a sense of betrayal, Nehat answered immediately, "Then take your witnesses to the Great Church and receive permission. After that, I will gladly cooperate with the investigation."

She knew that the Great Church would not grant permission. Those despicable snitches would be the first to suffer capital punishment. Both Palmer and Idris had once served Kruxica.

"But if you challenge my authority one more time without material proof, you will become a public enemy not only to me, but to all the warriors present here, and to all beastfolks. Also…"

The corners of Ian’s lips remained upturned.

Gritting her teeth with a strange sense of humiliation, Nehat finally continued, "Be aware that your crimes will be carried to the royal family and the Order."

"And if proof appears before then?" Ian asked.

Nehat’s brow narrowed slightly.

Meeting her gaze without flinching, Ian added, "Or if your authority were to disappear, what will you do then?"

"Ha. So that’s your play." A laugh slipped past her lips.

"Interesting… So, who plans to challenge me?" Her sharp gaze swept over the two beastfolk warriors standing behind Ian.

"I will challenge you."

The voice that followed was neither Palmer’s nor Idris’s.

As the stunned Nehat’s eyes widened, a black-furred beastfolk warrior emerged from a hut behind them. Her golden eyes met Nehat’s.

"I, Charlotte, hereby challenge the Great Chieftain