Episode 208. The Way of the Sword (1)
Outside the Chieftain’s Tomb.
Kundalit, who had been waiting for the two to finish their conversation, cautiously looked inside without even realizing that his name was being mentioned.
‘Why can’t I hear you?’
Kundalit, who went inside to take a peek because it was so quiet, immediately turned around and came out as soon as he saw the two sitting on the floor with their eyes closed.
“Kundalit?”
As soon as I came out, Rayubia came over with her eyes sparkling brightly. She seemed to be wondering if the story was over yet.
“It seems like Inyakitu is checking out Luhan’s inner world.”
“Really? That imperial?”
Envy was added to those eyes.
After Inyakitu became the chieftain, when the children of the Tuhon tribe turned fourteen, they were required to sit down in front of the chieftain and have their souls confirmed.
It was a ritual that every child of the Tuheun tribe looked forward to, and thirteen-year-old Rayubia could also perform it next year.
“By the way, where’s your wolf?”
“Oh, that’s right!”
Rayubia hid her wolf to one side, worried that the horses would be startled. Now that she remembered, she wanted to check on him.
“Get away from there!”
Rayubia pulled out a blunt dagger. The opponent was Nerheim. She was observing the wolf from a distance, and then she was startled.
“I was just watching with my eyes, kid.”
“Are you looking at the sky? You never know when lightning might strike.”
“Watch your words, kid. Something worse than lightning could strike you.”
Either way. Rayubia stroked the wolf’s neck and carefully examined the blood donor, the lord, to see if he had done anything bad. The wolf glared at Nerheim fiercely in Rayubia’s hands.
“That wolf, does he have a name?”
“El Quio.”
“Elquiora… Yeah, that’s a name a troublemaker from the Touhou tribe would give him.”
Nerheim smiled sinisterly.
It’s a mysterious wolf. I could feel it clearly just by looking at it. Elchio is completely pushing away my ability to control beasts.
Even with all her might, it seemed like it would take quite some time to subdue that wolf. Of course, that would require the Inspector to finish his work and leave first.
‘I’m looking forward to it.’
Another girl approached them. In some ways, she was even more annoying than Rayubia: Blane.
It was Nerheim who realized that Blane was a poisonous and scary child after moving through the meadows together for several days.
“Your Majesty.”
“… … .”
“Lord Luhan told me not to covet the wolf of Rayubia.”
“I only saw it with my eyes, just with my eyes. Tsk!”
Blane glared at Nerheim. Her darkness had become even stronger thanks to the tidal wave of the fight. She surrounded Nerheim with her aggressive darkness.
“… Please be careful. The conversation between Luhan and the Chieftain has just ended, so please go there.”
“Why?”
“Well, I guess now that our business is over, we’re going to be ordered to return to the military camp city.”
Nerheim blinked as if asking what that meant. Rayubia giggled as she found that sight delightful.
Blanet’s prediction was correct.
After talking to the chieftain, Rubin decided to drop Nerheim first. He was going to thank him for showing him the way and tell him that he could now return to Hiverdad Castle.
Rubin asked Nerheim, who was reluctant to move even after being told that he could return.
“Do you have any other business?”
“… No, that’s not it.”
“The Clavicle Tribe has agreed to provide ten of its own to escort the Lord. You do not need to worry about the return journey.”
“Is Kundalit coming with me too?”
Rubin shook his head.
“Kundalit will move with me. Instead, my attendant, Kuje, will accompany me until the midpoint of the meadow.”
“… … .”
Nerheim turned his face to one side. It was as if he was protecting her, but it seemed more obvious that he was trying to watch her.
Since she couldn’t argue with that, she reluctantly nodded.
“Then let’s go.”
“Now?”
“Yes. Now.”
The warriors of the Collarbone Tribe, who had received instructions from Kundalit, were waiting on one side. Kuje, who had already completed all preparations, said as he mounted his horse.
“Lord Luhan, I will move as you instructed. Lord Seongju, let’s go.”
“…yes.”
Soon, the two people on horseback began to leave the territory of the Clavicle Tribe under the escort of warriors.
“Then shall we move too?”
Rubin, mounted on his horse, spoke to the remaining people. Next to him were Kundalit, Rayubia, and Blane.
Kundalit was to guide him to the watchtower, and Rayubya would disperse before that.
“Kundalit, how long does it take to get to the barrier?”
“I will arrive around sunset.”
The Tuheung tribe spreads out the Tuheungpu in a new location once every two weeks. The Swallowtail tribe said that they stayed right near the wall until two months ago. Thanks to that, traces of their herding still remain, and the route is clear.
“But, Luhan.”
“Yes, go ahead.”
Kundalit looked back at the two girls following them, keeping their distance. They were chattering nonstop, not knowing when they had formed a friendship.
“Why are you taking Rayubia with you?”
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Rubin pointed to Blanet.
“While I’m up on the watchtower doing archaeological exploration, my attendant over there will be examining the soil here. He may look like a child, but he’s quite capable. Still, since this is an unfamiliar land, it’ll take a while for him to do it alone. I’ll need Rayubia’s help.”
“It seems like the two kids are getting along well.”
“I instructed you to keep as much distance from the barrier as possible, so there shouldn’t be any problems. By the way-”
Rubin turned his head back and looked at Rayubia.
The most common taunt that Pelkion has encountered is Nublar. The child is noteworthy because she is Nublar’s daughter, but there are also a few other unique features.
“There are no children in the clavicle tribe. Except for Rayubia.”
“… You noticed. In fact, a few years ago, there was a plague in our tribe.”
“It’s a plague… … .”
“At that time, many people, children and adults alike, became the wind again.”
I don’t know what kind of plague it was, but if the Empire had a medical system in place, it might have prevented the disaster.
The Tuhun tribe, separated from magic and other civilizations, accepted even deadly plagues as ‘companions of the wind’.
“The only one who survived among the children was Rayubia.”
That was why thirteen-year-old Rayubia could be the youngest member of the Clavicle Tribe.
“When Rayubia introduced herself, she said, ‘Nublar’s daughter.’ Did she die then too?”
Kundalit nodded bitterly.
“Near the wall are the graves of those who left at that time.”
“Really? I thought the Tohun people practiced wind burial.”
“There are exceptions. Of course, it was only that time. It was to prevent the plague, but it was also a sadness that could not be easily forgotten. Rayubia still often spends time there.”
Although Kundalit spoke in a sorrowful tone, Rubin was not particularly moved by the sentiment. He simply relayed the message directly to Blanet.
“… … .”
Blane, who was chattering with Rayubia, heard Rubin’s voice ringing in his head. His eyes turned sharp for a moment, but soon returned to his smiling face.
-Blane. When we part ways, ask Rayubia to take you to my mother’s grave.
Then Rubin relayed exactly what he had just heard from Kundalit: about the plague, death, and his mother’s grave.
-Yes, I understand.
-Buy as much time as possible so that Rayubia is not visible to others. That way, you can lure Imakarum.
Stealing Rayubia’s time wasn’t a problem, but I was curious. So how do you lure Imakarum?
It was natural for Blane to have such doubts, since she still did not know the identity of Rubin’s Roinekrow.
Tina had been protecting herself because of the blood transfusion master, Nerheim. But now that Nerheim was gone, it was time for her to do her part.
-Tina, when the sun sets, transform into Rayubia and roam around the Clavicle Tribe’s territory. You’ll definitely meet Imakarum.
* * *
The sun was setting.
“Damn, when will it end?”
Out of boredom, Imacallum was killing time by putting some of the grass the horses were eating in his mouth.
They are in hiding so as not to be noticed by the Imperial visitors while they are in the Clavicle Tribe’s territory.
He insisted that he, who was stronger than anyone else, should remain, but the Chieftain and Kundalit would not allow it.
He stubbornly refused to go far and hid in the residence of the nearest ‘Balteppbu tribe’.
“Hey, Imakarum!”
As he was watching the horses of the footless tribe running on the hill, he saw a man approaching him to tell him the news. It was a man of the collarbone tribe.
“Why are you coming now? Is it all over?”
“Yes, the imperials are all gone. You can come back now.”
Before the words could be spoken, Imakarum mounted the horse.
The man who brought me the news said that there had been no problems with the people of the empire, but I felt uneasy for some reason. I felt that I would have to see the situation of the tribe with my own eyes to feel at ease.
“Come on! Come on! Let’s go faster, Bloodline!”
Heeeeeelp! Purrrrr!
As if he knew his mind, the horse picked up speed. Just like his nickname, ‘The Wind of the Horse’, Imacalum ran across the meadows quickly.
It was evening earlier than expected. He was able to reach the territory of the clavicle tribe. He passed the toungeun poodle and looked around, but contrary to his worries, the tribesmen were having a peaceful night with a campfire.
“Is everything okay?”
The sounds of laughter and chatter. The horses’ neighing sounds are the same as usual. Was my worry for nothing?
At that moment, one of the Tuhunins noticed that Imacallum had arrived and called him.
“Imakarum, have you met Rayubia?”
“Rayubia? Is Rayubia back?”
Imakarum only knew that Rayubia had disappeared a few days ago. He did not know that the child had been among the group of Rubin and his men who had come to meet the chieftain.
“I was looking for you earlier. I wonder what kind of trouble you’ve had. Why isn’t there a wolf with you this time?”
The silenced anxiety stirs again.
Separated from the wolf? Rayubia has never been more at one with the wolf than she is these days. Especially since she is a child who sleeps with the wolf in her arms even at night.
Did something happen on the prairie? Or did the imperial people come here?
“Okay, I’ll go to Rayubia Tohunpu.”
The Tuhunpu of Layubia was in communion with the Tuhunpu of Kundalit and Imakarum. After Nublar died, he inherited and used his mother’s Tuhunpu.
“… … .”
There was a bonfire burning inside the tent. Beyond the tent, the silhouette flickering in the light was clearly Rayubia.
“Rayubia!”
“Hey!”
As he ran in shouting, Rayubia looked at him with surprised eyes. This can’t be happening. Rayubia wouldn’t make such a fierce face.
“Are you okay? What’s going on? What about your wolf? Where did you put that guy named Elquior?”
Rayubia just swallowed her saliva and didn’t answer. That made Imakarum even more anxious, so he clenched his fists. What on earth happened with the imperial people?
“… This, this is Imakarum?”
When Rayubia calls his name, Imakarum raises his eyebrows.
“What about Kundalit? It’s dark inside the tohunpu.”
“Imakarum! I missed you!”
“It’s been a while since I came back from prison, and now you’re doing this? Did you get into some kind of trouble?”
“Ah… Prison.”
Rayubia, or rather Tina, rolled her eyes while being held by this first-class prisoner. Not even knowing his face, she couldn’t recognize him as Imakarum until he suddenly entered the tomb.
‘Why don’t the Tohun tribe have a knock? I almost got caught.’
Just before the Imakarum barged in, Tina had temporarily transformed into another creature due to the constraints of the transformation time. If the transformation had been even a little bit later, it would have been a disaster.
“First, follow me, Imakarum.”
“What’s going on?”
“It’s an emergency situation. We must not go to the Chieftain, and we must move on our own.”
The words urgency and emergency alone were enough to excite Imacarum.
“Let’s talk first.”
“What about your wolf?”
“That’ll be later. First, hurry up because it’s urgent.”
Tina didn’t give Imakarum a chance and urged her on. I don’t know how smart Imakarum is, but she shouldn’t let him judge the situation.
‘The trick has to work.’
Slowly. Slowly.
The two quickly escaped the Clavicle Tribe’s territory on horseback. Rayubia still hasn’t told them the whole story.
However, seeing that he followed her out of the blue, one of two things could happen. Either Imakarum is not very careful, or he is too fond of Rayubia. It could have been both.
Of course, the most crucial factor was the culture of the Tuhun tribe. They were a tribe that absolutely hated lies, so they could not even imagine that all of this was a trick.
“Imakarum. What is the current situation… … .”
Tina started telling lies.
Two Imperial men were heading to the Wall under Kundalit’s guidance when a minor skirmish occurred, with Kundalit being threatened by Imperial men.
“What? Is that true?”
Imakarum began to tremble. The murderous intent overflowed without being able to control it. It was so intense that it created a chilling echo in Tina’s darkness.
‘Now it gets really exciting.’
In the process, his own wolf was badly injured, and he himself had a hard time escaping.
“The Imperials have dragged Kundalit towards the Wall. I don’t know what will happen, Imakarum!”
Tina sobbed. Then she called out Imacalum’s name again, loudly. Imacalum!
It was then that Imacalum stopped talking. Did she notice? This was her first time acting as a girl from the Tohun tribe… Was I too clumsy?
While I was thinking about transforming into Royne Crow and flying into the sky-
“Don’t worry, Rayubia.”
“… … .”
Imakarum hugged Tina’s small body tightly.
“Those imperial people, I’ll just throw them all away.”
“… You’re saying it’s a bit much?”
“No matter how hard you try, it’ll be too late if things continue like this.”
Imakarum got down from his horse. Then he tore the top he was wearing. Then he threw it on the floor.
His stubborn, scarred muscles were clearly visible in the moonlight.
“…What are you going to do?”
There was a slight delay before the response came. Besides, it wasn’t even an answer. It was just a creepy, terrifying cry.
Grrrrr.
At that moment, Rubin’s advice came to Tina’s mind.
‘Suinhwa! I told you to be careful because Imacalum is a proven Suinhwa… …!’
Tina unconsciously tried to turn her horse’s head to one side. No, actually, she didn’t need to. The horse was instinctively moving away from the imakarum.
She had seen the ‘giant transformation’ of giants before, but the ‘human transformation’ was a first for her.
Ssssssssut.
The rough, tough fur of a wild beast began to grow from his wrists, and spread across his entire body in an instant, like paint being applied. His already large body also grew in size.
Soon, Imacallum completed its transformation into a beast covered entirely in black fur. The beast’s pupils flashed white, as if the white and black had been switched.
‘Leopard, the human body of Imakarum was a leopard.’
Human body.
It was a man with the power of a beast, but it was not a beast itself. It had a tail that moved on its buttocks, but its body was upright like a human’s.
With that appearance, Imakarum took a deep breath of air. It was indeed the first time in a long time that he had seen a water personification.
Krrrrrr.
He took a quadrupedal stance, ready to start running.
‘You said that even if you become a human, you won’t lose your reason, right?’
Before moving, Imacalum looked at Tina. Tina couldn’t meet his eyes. If she said one wrong word here, it could have been a big problem.
Soon, the voice of the number one person followed. It was darker than his original voice, but the ripples of anger could be clearly felt.
“Rayubia, you go back to the chieftain. Stay safe there. I will bring your wolf and rescue Kundalit.”
“… Uh, yeah.”
Imakarum lowers his posture and gauges the direction. Towards the barrier, the watchtower to the east, and where the damned Imperials are.
“… … !”
Tadah! Pavabavat!
The water man who seemed to be jumping quickly disappeared from sight. It was a terrifying speed that could not be compared to the speed of the tornado.
“…mission success.”
Tina, who had taken the compensation with a sigh of relief, immediately transformed into Roinecrow and rose into the sky. Now she had to meet Blane.
‘Rubin, are you okay?’
But my worries were quickly put to rest.
The fight with Imacalum is something Rubin will do on his own. He’s a guy who’ll do anything to become stronger, so he’ll welcome the fight.
