Wolves of Hader

Chapter 94

The elders who once insisted that the Gate of Magic should not be given out passed the motion.

It made their earlier opposition seem pointless.

Then, the elders' attitudes completely changed, treating our group as honored guests.

Urald and Wundbark understood why the chief elder was being reserved with his words, but they still didn't know the reason for the elders' change.

Either way, we headed to the dining hall with the rest of the party.

"What do you think did the chief elder tell them?"

"I'm not sure. I have no idea."

Wundbark also shook his head, saying he didn't know.

I asked again.

"Then, what exactly is the mistake of Dran? You both said twice that it wouldn't be repeated."

Urald and Wundbark exchanged glances.

Their faces seemed to ask if it was okay to talk about it.

In the end, Urald spoke.

"You asked once before, young lord, didn't you? Why did the heroes break apart?"

"You said it was because of a slip of the tongue."

"That slip of the tongue... was made by our Dran's own hero."

Both of them gave wry smiles.

Urald continued.

"It's a shameful part of Dran's history. It was so bad our hero even left a will behind."

"What did he say?"

"He said, no matter the age or the hero that appears, any descendant who goes around carelessly bragging about them will suffer three generations of poverty."

"It was a cruel curse, ha ha ha."

Perhaps that mistake left a deep scar.

"You said you didn't know what that slip of the tongue was, right?"

"Except for the chief elder, even the elders don't know. All we know is that the heroes broke apart because of hero Blenbor's mistake, so we just follow the will."

Urald and Wundbark still had something they weren't telling me.

It seemed to be for the same reason as the chief elder's silence, but I didn't really care enough to press further.

Urald looked at my expression and laughed.

"You'll find out later. Like the chief elder said, it's best to just let it be. Wund and I are having fun just being with our young lord."

"That's exactly how I feel."

The two Dran chuckled and walked ahead.

A lavish feast awaited us in the dining hall. Everyone was famished, so we started eating as soon as we sat down.

Urald, tearing into a large piece of meat, said,

"I still can't believe we're actually going to get the Gate of Magic."

"By the way, do you think we can really catch the beast?"

"It might be difficult, but we'll do it."

"Even three thousand Dran warriors couldn't do it."

"Numbers don't mean much. The number of people who can actually fight the beast underground is limited."

Eilin looked at me and the two Dran tribe members.

"But you two, and young master Roger as well, you're all taking this so nonchalantly."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean the word 'hero'."

True, I had been surprised, but Urald and Wundbark hadn't seemed that shocked.

As if they'd known all along. That's probably why they kept things from me.

Eilin continued.

"And can we really defeat the beast?"

"It'll be a challenge, but it's possible."

To Eilin, my team and I must've looked like people from another world.

After all, warriors like us are rare in the Robe Republic.

This time I asked,

"Eilin, has your father ever said he met my father and Count Drian?"

Eilin shook her head.

"I only heard that he had been to the south. Other than that, he never talked about his younger days."

"Not even about Count Drian?"

"No. I didn't even know my father was friends with your father, young master Roger. I only knew that my father had trained as a knight for a long time."

"He never told you anything about the south?"

"He just smiled once, saying he had a fun trip with friends. That's all. But..."

Eilin stared quietly at me.

"Maybe my father knew I would meet you someday."

"Maybe he saw us in his vision. That might be why he moved to that port."

Eilin nodded and ate her food.

I think the three knights foresaw a more distant and numerous future than anyone else.

That's why they made their decisions.

Without influencing things too greatly.

How to live, what to prepare.

While I was eating, my chest suddenly felt hot.

If my father knew what would happen to our house,

If he knew he and my mother would die,

That means he endured knowing all that.

I can't even imagine how deep that pain must have been.

If only he hadn't seen that part, it would have been a blessing.

/ / /

The next day, our party freely toured Dran's capital city.

Since there were people waiting for us, we only had one day to enjoy ourselves.

The ten Dran tribe members held a separate meeting.

They had to decide whether to stay here or go with us. Of course, I hoped everyone would come.

I asked Wundbark,

"How many do you think will join us?"

"All but three or four, I'd say. It's not like they're any happier here in the capital. Two of my friends have already promised to live with me."

"Are those friends skilled at anything?"

"Well, in terms of Dran technology from the south, it's basically just blacksmithing. I wish they would pick up new skills while here."

"Will they share their generator tech too?"

"Well, since young lady Eilin says she'll try making the generator herself, it doesn't matter if they don't."

Urald, who was walking ahead, suddenly stopped.

A young Dran was blocking our way.

He gave us a crooked look.

"Who here is Roger Hader?"

He was a close-cropped Dran.

For a Dran, he was tall and powerfully built. But his manner and attitude were unbelievably arrogant.

Wundbark stepped up.

"Don't you have any manners?"

"Step aside, old man."

"Old man?"

"I asked who's Roger."

"That's me. Why?"

The Dran approached me.

Then Donnie quietly stepped in front of me.

"What's this hunk of meat? Move."

"What business do you have with the young lord?"

"Move while I'm asking nicely."

An aura surged from the young Dran's body.

Donnie held his ground. Rather, it was the abrasive Dran who seemed surprised.

"Your underling isn't ordinary, is he?"

"I asked what your business is."

"I'm warning you. Move while I'm still being civil."

The guy's power flared even more.

I didn't know much about Dran warriors, but with this level of magic, he was almost on par with the Sword of Light.

Finally, I stepped forward.

"What's your reason for seeking me out?"

The close-cropped Dran looked me up and down.

Then he smirked.

"I hear you said you'd take down the beast?"

"I have no reason not to try."

"Not only did you look down on us Dran, you asked for the Gate of Magic? Try beating me first, then."

"You want to fight here?"

"The Council of Elders ordered me to help you people out. In my life, I've never heard anything so ridiculous. I wondered what kind of guys you were—ha ha ha!"

The Dran laughed with his whole throat exposed.

Then, suddenly suppressing his laughter,

"If you can defeat me, I'll help you. But if you lose, your party leaves this city immediately. I can't forgive what you did to us Dran."

"Hey, young man!"

The Dran shot an angry glance at Wundbark.

"I can't forgive Dran who side with humans either. So move unless you want to get hurt, old man."

"That's no way to speak to your elders."

"I told you to step aside, didn't I?"

"And if I don't?"

Thud—

In the blink of an eye, Donnie was sent flying backward.

Apparently, this guy had reason to be so cocky. He was so fast he was almost invisible and, as a Dran, his strength was monstrous.

Donnie landed five steps back. Even so, Donnie was remarkable. When his opponent struck at his abdomen, he caught it with his palm mid-attack.

I spoke to the guy.

"You're going to regret this. Will you still fight?"

"You're the one who'll regret it."

"Hot-blooded, aren't you, kid?"

"What?"

Urald stepped forward.

"You're like a frog in a well. Being the best in a city with no rivals, you think you're unbeatable? Never been out in the world, people waiting on you hand and foot—lost your head already!"

"You old—!"

The Dran lunged at Urald.

At the same moment, I sprang forward.

Thud—

The punk went flying backwards.

He landed, clearly startled, before immediately dashing at me. He launched himself with a punch—

Thunk—

I dodged lightly and kicked his abdomen. He blocked with his hands, but perhaps because his frame was smaller, he was sent spinning into the air.

"Argh! Damn it!"

Was it backlash from the magic collision?

As he fell, twisting his body desperately to avoid my kick, I booted his back this time.

Boom—

Spinning like a top, he shot even higher.

That was a result of the backlash from the magic collision and our difference in weight.

As he fell, he screamed curses.

"I'll kill you!"

I could see him trying to block with both hands as he spun to the ground, but he couldn't control his fall.

Boom—

This time I kicked him under the butt, sending him into the air again.

He'd been spinning forward—now he shot up backward. I'd spun him when I kicked.

"Argh! Damn it all!"

I moved to where he would land and waited.

This time, the guy balled his fist, trying to hit my leg as I drew near.

But what could he do? My leg was much longer.

Boom—

"Uuurgh!"

He went flying again with a whistling sound.

He curled up mid-spin, perhaps worried he'd break something if he landed wrong.

Easiest thing in the world for me to kick.

Boom—

I kicked him hard. He blocked with magic and curled up, propelling himself up in one explosive motion.

"Argh! You bastard!"

Even soaring in the air, he kept shouting. I followed as he fell along a parabolic path.

"Apologize to those two!"

"I'll kill you!"

"Apologize!"

"No!"

"Then you're not coming down for the next hour!"

Boom—

Up he went again.

The world spun around him, so he curled up and tried to absorb the impact.

That only sent him even higher.

"Apologize!"

"No! Never!"

Boom—

He spun and shot upward again.

"Aaaaagh! I'm going nuts! Seriously!"

As he kept going up and down in the middle of the plaza, the crowd grew.

His fellow warriors were among them, standing off against my team.

Up he went again.

"Enough already!"

"I told you, apologize!"

"Let's fight fair!"

"I am fighting fair."

"You damn bastard!"

Thud—

I missed this time.

He pretended to block with his hands, then twisted. As soon as he landed, he charged at me.

"Die! Die—huh? Huh?"

Charging at me, he veered off to the side.

Like a drunk staggering around.

Boom—

He shot up again.

Don't you know you get dizzy if you stop spinning suddenly?

"Uuurgh! Not again!"

"Apologize!"

"Sorry! Damn it!"

"Properly!"

"Sor- ry -"

Boom—

Up he went again, twisting as I kicked his spinning body.

"Argh! I apologized!"

"Again, properly!"

"I'll kill you! I'm gonna kill you for this!"

"What's going on here?!"

Hearing the shout, I stopped.

"Argh! Someone catch me—catch..."

Thunk—

The close-cropped Dran crashed onto the plaza floor.

The impact left him groaning and unable to move. His arms and legs trembled.

The one who shouted was Elder Renbo.

He looked sternly at me and the guy.

"What is the meaning of this?"

"He said he would only help if we beat him."

"He really said that?"

"He also tried to hit our Dran friend here, so I stopped him."

Renbo looked at Urald and Wundbark.

They just gave awkward smiles.

Eilin wiped her tears away.

"Why are you crying, young lady?"

"It's— it's nothing."

Most of the onlookers were laughing. Donnie and the crew were holding back laughter, their teeth clenched.

Renbo approached the guy lying on the ground.

"Is this true?"

"I just wanted to see their skills! I mean, fewer than ten people saying they'd take down the beast!"

"I asked if it was true!"

"I don't want to help them! I don't like humans, but I hate Dran who betray us even more!"

"Who taught you to be like this?!"

"Please help me up, grandpa!"

"Don't fake it. Get up!"

"I'm really too hurt to get up!"

"You brat!"

Renbo rapped him on the head.

Still, the guy didn't get up.

Probably out of sheer embarrassment.

/ / /

"Damn it!"

He'd been cursing for hours now.

"Damn it! The hell! Screw this rotten luck!"

Trailing furthest behind, the guy's voice echoed through the mountains.

My crew and Eilin continually shook their heads.

The day after the scuffle, he joined the expedition by order of the Council of Elders.

He was the only warrior besides my team—everyone else was just carrying supplies.

Eilin insisted on coming along. She said the chief elder had encouraged her to join us.

"Why is this mountain so rough?! Damn it!"

"Would you please shut up already?!"

"You shut up!"

"Heheheh!"

Eilin and a few of my team burst out laughing.

Since yesterday, Donnie and the guy had become fast rivals.

His name is Allen.

He's Elder Renbo's great-grandson.

The capital's strongest troublemaker.