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Chapter 200

As expected, the Carabel arrived at Rundalian around noon the next day. The warm sunlight was pouring down, just enough to melt the snow. It was still cold enough to make one’s breath visible, but the earthy smell carried by the wind hinted that it was summer.

Rundalian was surrounded by towering stone walls, much grander in scale than any other major city, which made Ronan whistle in awe.

“Damn, it’s insanely high.”

“It’s because it’s a city built by powerful beastmen.”

Adeshan nodded. It occurred to him that it was the first time he had come to a city where beastmen were the main residents. The rugged but sturdy walls were designed solely to defend against external enemies, disregarding aesthetics. The priority seemed to be to pile up large and heavy stones first, worrying about appearance later.

“Stop right there.”

The gate was also enormous. Seven sentinels blocked the entrance. There was one apparent leader among them, a Weretiger. Three Werebears and three Werewolves accompanied him. Despite their small numbers, their imposing presence was considerable due to their large stature.

“Are you from Balon?”

“Yes, indeed.”

“Hmm… It’s the first time such a large merchant has come. We’ll inspect your cargo, so everyone get off the carriage.”

The Weretiger said. Unlike the band of thieves from the previous night, who were closer to beasts, their attitude and actions were much more rational. Although they seemed wary of humans, they did not show any hostility.

The beastmen crowded around, sniffing at the carriage. Despite Ronan’s subtle anticipation, there were no suspicious items in the carriage. After a quick inspection, the leader Weretiger gestured to Duon.

“You can go in, but don’t cause any trouble. The residents here aren’t particularly friendly to humans yet.”

“Of course. Here, we brought some relief supplies from our Carabel, please share them among your comrades.”

“Relief supplies?”

The leader’s ears perked up. When Duon gave the order, the merchants unloaded the cargo promptly. About a dozen large boxes were piled up in front of the gate. When a Werebear opened one of the boxes, his eyes widened.

“By the gods, it’s honey, Leader. And this box here contains salted pork.”

“Pork?”

The tiger leader’s eyes widened too. Both honey, which required flowers, and pork, which required a lot of water to raise, were rare foods in the desolate North. The leader, quickly scanning the surroundings, cleared his throat.

“Hmm, you seem to know something.”

“Hehehe, I hope you like it, Leader.”

Duon and he shook hands. The soldiers, with tails wagging, started distributing the boxes. The leader, in high spirits, waved until they passed through the gate. Marching at the forefront, Marya poked Duon’s side.

“Well, did I prepare well?”

“Yeah. You did great, my daughter.”

Duon patted her back. It seemed like the idea came from Marya rather than himself. Ronan whistled as he watched from behind.

“You’re quite resourceful.”

“Heh heh. It was worth investing in. Besides the bribe, it’s also a promotion for Carabel. Soldiers in small towns like this have strong ties with the locals, so they’ll spread the word well.”

Indeed, she was the future Count Armlen. Judging by the expansion of the Carabel, it seemed she would be able to become a noble much faster than before. Unconsciously reaching out, Ronan stroked her head. Snap! Marya, lifting her face, tried to bite his finger.

“Hey, how long are you going to treat me like a child?”

“I’m proud of you.”

“Ahaha. I guess I am pretty great.”

Marya chuckled in response. Her subtle laughter was beautiful. Adeshan, watching them from behind, twisted her lips.

‘…I must have misheard last night.’

The refreshing feeling from just a moment ago suddenly vanished. At that moment, Adeshan turned her head and locked eyes with Marya. For a second, they stared at each other, and then Marya flashed a smile.

“Hehe.”

“…Huh?”

Adeshan froze in place. There was much meaning behind her coy smile. By the time she managed to return her heart from where it had sunk to in her stomach, the two had already disappeared into the distance.

Meanwhile, Ronan had been stroking Marya’s head as if petting a dog. Marya, glancing up at him, murmured quietly.

“This must be the last time.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“It’s nothing.”

Her tone sounded somewhat bitter. As they entered the gate, a small town came into view. The buildings, like the walls, were made of large, rough-hewn stones.

Most of the residents wandering the streets were beastmen. Despite the still chilly weather, they were all dressed lightly for a stroll. Indeed, fur coats were ideal for winter. As Ronan looked around, he heard murmurs in the crowd.

“Mom, look over there. It’s a human.”

“Shh, don’t get too close.”

The residents’ attention was all focused on the Carabel. Their stares were not particularly friendly, to say the least. But more important than their opinions was the fact that they had reached their destination. Duon, who had paused for a moment, bid farewell to Ronan.

“Thank you for all your hard work getting us here safely.”

“It was nothing. We also enjoyed the journey.”

“We’ll definitely repay this favor. As my daughter said, all the expenses at the Hyran forge will be covered by us. Please make sure to leave a receipt.”

“Oh, right. But that’s not necessary.”

Of course, there was no sincere intention to refuse. Ronan chuckled and scratched the back of his head. After all, saving on expenses was a good thing, even if it was just for one sword. They couldn’t possibly use a Garcia family promissory note at Hyran.

Duon said he would stay here for a while longer before leaving. To maximize profits and conduct trade effectively, he first needed to understand the entire city of Rundalian. Marya, who had been listening quietly, expressed her appetite.

“I envy you. Hyran, I wanted to go too.”

“What, you’re not going?”

“No. I’ve thought about it carefully. Before I’m a warrior, I’m a merchant. This seems like the priority for now.”

Her tone revealed a hint of regret. Ronan raised an eyebrow at the sudden change of heart. She had been all excited about going together until the day they departed from Philleon.

“Sorry. Suddenly changing my mind.”

“Well, if you’re not going, it doesn’t matter much…”

“Hehe, then please put in a request for me. I have this greatsword, so it would be nice to have a set of armor.”

Ronan nodded. Though it was disappointing, her reasoning was understandable, so there was nothing more to say. After exchanging a light handshake, Marya approached the dejected Adeshan.

“Unnie. I guess we have to part ways here for now. It was so nice traveling together.”

“Yeah… I enjoyed it too.”

“Haah… Until we reach Philleon, I’ll have to stick with those sweaty men again. Come here.”

“Hey, stop it.”

Their height difference required Marya to bend her knees slightly. Adeshan, feeling her chest being squeezed, wheezed. As if savoring the sensation of the embrace, Marya closed her eyes and leaned in close to Adeshan’s ear. Then, in a whisper too soft for anyone else to hear, she said,

“You’re going to have a hard time too, Unnie. You’re dealing with a boy who’s terribly clueless.”

“Marya, you…!”

“Hehe. Did you expect me not to know?”

Adeshan’s face lit up. Marya’s gaze lingered on Ronan, who was yawning lazily. She spoke with a slightly melancholic voice.

“No, it’s nothing. I just heard from the guard earlier that there’s a decent inn called Fang and Furl. It seems to be the only inn with rooms for humans anyway… How about you stay there for the night?”

“Th-thank you. But Marya, since when…?”

“It’d be strange not to know. It’s him who’s weird. Ah… My eyes feel itchy.”

Marya quickly wiped her eyes and stepped away. Catching Ronan’s eye by chance, she stuck her tongue out at him. What’s gotten into her suddenly? Ronan asked, but she didn’t respond. When Marya met Adeshan’s gaze again, she chuckled mischievously.

“Well, it’s a relief, unlike someone else, it doesn’t seem like it will end as unrequited love.”

“Huh? What do you mean…?”

“It’s nothing.”

Marya turned away. With a single leap, she reached the roof of the wagon. It was a movement worthy of admiration, but perhaps because it was a city of dwarves, it didn’t attract much attention.

“See you in Philleon then.”

“Yeah. Farewell.”

Marya waved her hand from the rooftop. Taken aback by the sudden parting, Ronan waved back in response.

The procession from Carabel gradually moved away into the depths of the city. It seemed they were planning to visit the mines first, which were likely bustling with activity. As Ronan watched until Carabel disappeared around the corner, he scratched his head.

“What did I do wrong? Why is she acting like that all of a sudden?”

“I-I really don’t know.”

“Well, from now on, it’s just the two of us until we reach the Sea of Ghosts. Let’s do our best.”

At the mention of “just the two of us,” Adeshan was startled. It was the situation she had been waiting for for almost twenty days. She nodded, trying to conceal her expression.

“Yeah.”

“Well, let’s stay here for today and regroup. Ah, it’s been a while since I slept in a bed.”

It took them four days to reach Hyran without stopping. They had to replenish all their supplies here, in a place so remote that they even doubted if there was a small village.

Ronan stopped passersby and asked them a few questions about the city. Most of them were wary of him being human, but with some persuasion, he managed to get some answers. Asking about the difference in material between dwarf leather and animal fur while resting his hand on his sword hilt proved to be particularly effective. After gathering enough information, Ronan spoke up.

“Hmm. Everything sounds good, but it seems the market is opening tomorrow of all days. I’m tired, so how about we relax with a glass of distilled spirit first?”

“Sounds good. Hey, they say there’s an inn called Fang and Furl.”

“How did you know about that? Alright, let’s go there then.”

The two headed for the Fang and Furl. It was located a bit off the beaten path, but it wasn’t difficult to find. As they opened the stone door, warmth from inside poured out. A middle-aged man with tousled hair and beard greeted them, almost making them doubt if he was a Wereyak.

“Welcome to Fang and Furl, boasting over 20 years of tradition. Haven’t seen you folks around before.”

“Human? Is that right…?”

“Haha, it’s a question first-time visitors always ask. We’ve arranged it this way to reduce the aversion of beastfolk guests.”

The middle-aged man chuckled knowingly. It was a strategy to survive in a Rundalian where human discrimination existed. Whether it was effective was questionable, but with such skill, he must have been running the inn for over twenty years.

Fang and Furl was divided into a tavern on the first floor and an inn on the second floor. Inside, there were long tables and a few chairs, as well as bar tables connected to the kitchen.

It was still early, so besides two Werewolves giggling in the corner, there were no other guests to be found. Just as the two found a suitable spot to sit down, they were about to sit down.

“Damn it, where’s that disgusting smell coming from? Oh, humans are here.”

“Really? That’s unfortunate.”

Their voices were barely audible as they muttered. Ronan turned in the direction of the sound. The Werewolves sitting in the corner were glaring at Ronan and Adeshan. Both of them gave off the impression of being thugs in the city. The werewolf who met Ronan’s eyes spat on the floor.

“What do you want, little bugs like you.”

“Haha.”

Instead of replying, Ronan let out a laugh. It had only been a few hours since he had slaughtered about forty of their kind. He was contemplating how to appease these mutts. The innkeeper, who was cooking in the kitchen, nervously approached them.

“Um… guests. Please restrain yourselves. They are also guests.”

“Innkeeper, don’t interfere and stay in the kitchen. Didn’t I say it many times? The reason you’re still alive is because you make the best liquor in this city. No more, no less.”

“Th-that’s…”

The innkeeper faltered and stepped back. It seemed like not a very welcoming city for humans after all. Another werewolf, who had been alternately staring at the two, spoke up.

“Those two look similar to the people I killed back then in Barsa. Humans all look alike, don’t they?”

“Hehehe. Maybe. I was thinking the same thing.”

“That was a good time. Hey, do you know how many humans we killed back then? This bastard and I are proud veterans of the Night of Fangs.”

Ronan’s face hardened. Barsa was none other than Adeshan’s hometown. It was the city of misfortune engulfed in the Night of Fangs, the rebellion of the Werewolves. Barsa, the Blackened Citadel.

‘Fuck.’

For a moment, a ominous feeling brushed against Ronan’s neck. This conversation was not appropriate for the present moment. A sibilant voice escaped between Adeshan’s stiff lips.

“What…?”

“Sunbae, wait…”

It was too late to stop her. A black aura emanated from Adeshan, enveloping the inn. It was the shadow mana that seized control of the mind. In the eerie and ominous atmosphere that stimulated all senses, the innkeeper dropped the ladle he was holding.

“Keuk…”

“Wh-what’s…”

The laughter disappeared from the Werewolves’ faces. Enveloped by the shadow mana, they stiffened like wax dolls. It seemed like their minds were not completely controlled, as only their bodies seemed to be affected. The muscles of their limbs exposed outside their clothes were twitching grotesquely.

“Damn it. When did she grow this much?”

Ronan cursed. It was akin to what he felt on the battlefield in the past. The shadow mana was gradually intensifying its influence. Ronan took a deep breath and grabbed Adeshan’s shoulders.

“Sunbae, stop it.”

Ronan said, looking into Adeshan’s eyes. The sunken gray pupils were emitting a sinister light.

“Ronan…”

“Don’t get your hands dirty. These bastards are not worth it.”

The two Werewolves were struggling to breathe, gasping for air. If left alone, they seemed like they would just die there. She was someone who would do great things later, so Ronan couldn’t afford to let her get her hands dirty here.

After staring at each other for a while, Adeshan nodded. As the shadow mana lifted, the murderous aura that had filled the inn subsided. Freed from mental control, the Werewolves rose to their feet.

“D-damn humans… What did they do to my body!”

“Kill them!”

Realizing vaguely who had done such a thing, the two Werewolves lunged forward simultaneously, their arms outstretched. The pointed hooks at the tips of their fingers emitted an eerie gleam.

“These bastards.”

Ronan grasped the hilt of his sword. At the moment the two Werewolves closed in, their attack, almost imperceptible in its speed, danced gracefully through the air. The Werewolves, feeling a pain akin to being burned, froze in place for a moment. Shrrrr! Twenty clawed fingertips were severed and scattered across the floor.

“Grrrgh!”

“M-my fingers!”

Twenty strands of blood vessels burst forth. The Werewolves, realizing too late what had happened, crumpled to the ground, clutching their changed hands. They screamed in agony, just like any human would, staring at their transformed hands. Unlike human nails, the claws of the beastmen were closely connected to nerves and, once pulled out, would hardly grow back in a lifetime. Click. Ronan, with his sword sheathed, spat out coldly.

“Get lost.”

“Argh! Aaargh!”

The Werewolves dashed out of the inn as if their backsides were on fire. The trembling innkeeper, unaware of what had happened, was left shaking.

“Those bastards, if it weren’t for the city, I would’ve slit their throats.”

“…Thanks.”

Adeshan, finally regaining her composure, bowed deeply. Every time she exhaled in frustration, her shoulders rose and fell. She must have been furious enough to lose her senses. Ronan shook his head.

“It’s fine. You lost your temper, that’s all.”

“…You’re really kind.”

Adeshan smiled softly. The two of them sat down as if nothing had happened and ordered two glasses of distilled spirit. The twenty extracted nails shimmered under their feet. The innkeeper, who came late, asked in a trembling voice.

“D-dear guests, are you okay?”

“Yes, we’re fine. Thanks for coming forward earlier.”

“Th-that’s… it was my duty to do so. Here are the two glasses of Rundalian distilled spirit you ordered.”

The innkeeper placed the glasses on the table. He turned out to be a decent person. The distilled spirit in the stone-carved cups looked surprisingly good, given the circumstances with the werewolf thugs.

“Oh, are you sure about this?”

“Well… it’s my first time drinking alcohol.”

“Take a sip, and if it tastes bad, you can spit it out. Cheers!”

“Ch-Cheers…”

As the glasses clinked, transparent droplets of alcohol splashed. Ronan was about to take a sip when he heard a familiar voice nearby.

“Both of you have changed so much. I could hardly recognize you.”

“What?”

Ronan and Adeshan both turned their heads simultaneously. A Werefox, plump with self-importance, stood at the top of the stairs leading from the second floor to the first. Judging from his fluffy fur, he seemed quite young. Ronan raised an eyebrow and asked.

“Who are you, kid?”

“This is quite disappointing. Can’t you recognize me?”

The Werefox sighed deeply. Ronan’s brow furrowed slightly. What’s with this fluffy fur acting like a know-it-all? While pondering if there was any hidden significance to it, a faint mana emanated from the Werefox’s small shoulders.

“…Huh?”

Suddenly, Ronan felt a strong sense of familiarity and gasped. It was definitely mana he had felt somewhere before. As he tried to recall, he narrowed his eyes and spoke up.

“Sekreet…?”

“It’s been a while, Ronan.”

“What the hell, seriously?”

Adeshan’s eyes widened. Ronan cursed under his breath as he stood up from his seat. The chair toppled backward, creating a loud noise.

“Ugh!”

Startled, the innkeeper screamed from the kitchen, but there was nothing he could do. Meeting after two years, the cursed professor Sekreet had turned into a young beastmen.

[TL/N: yaay chapter 200 :3… thank you for stickling with me guys, lets get to chapter 420 next..]