Rising-Monk v3c152

Volume 3 Chapter 152 The Flow Of Time


Edited by: Kanaa-senpai


 There was still no change in the conditions of Vestacia and Ninini.


 Vestacia remained partially encased in dark crystals resembling black onyx across her lower body. Ninini, meanwhile, slept in a death-like state, completely dependent on an insect-type golem for both nourishment and bodily functions.


 When Kian and Linca entered the room, Rean stood leaning against the wall. Though a flicker of disappointment crossed his face, he quickly composed himself. Sarah was at the desk, silently examining the Horn Cup.


 ”Hey, Rean,” Kian said, stepping forward. “Is it alright to spill a little secret about that armor of yours?”


 Rean shook his head, his expression serious.


 ”No. It’s not something I should go around revealing… but since nothing’s happened so far, I suppose it’s fine for now.”


 ”You sure about that?”


 ”I suspect something happened to the man I made the contract with. This armor usually demands a price—a soul, as payment, just for wearing it. But I haven’t been billed at all. No cost for repairs either, even after battle damage or when I use the magic sword. It feels like the collector’s… gone. Wouldn’t you agree?”


 ”I can’t say,” Kian replied flatly.


 ”I’m convinced of it,” Rean said.


 ”Wait, wasn’t that magic armor powered up by absorbing magic from the enemies you kill?”


 That had always been the assumption: the armor absorbed, stored, and used magic power to increase its capabilities. Rean had clearly grown stronger the more foes he defeated—so the logic had seemed sound.


 But Rean shook his head.


 ”I don’t really get the full picture myself. It’s true that killing enemies lets me absorb magic, but maintaining the armor and using the sword still cost something. I doubt that the absorbed magic alone could cover it all.”


 ”It’s being sustained by a spiritual vein,” Linca interjected from nearby, her black eyes focused intently on Rean’s armor as her fingers traced over it with curiosity.


 ”Here, they call it the Spiritual Vein. Judging by the flow of energy around you, I believe the magic you collect from the dead is stored within your body.”


 ”So when the armor is damaged… it just heals itself?” Kian asked.


 ”It depends on how severe the damage is,” Linca replied. “But yes, it draws power from the Spiritual Vein. For smaller wounds, the armor’s own regenerative abilities are enough. Look—see this purple section?”


 She pointed at three claw-like lines etched into Rean’s chestplate. The marks faintly shimmered, visible only when he released energy or when the armor activated against powerful attacks. Normally, the black armor revealed no such patterns.


 The faint purple glow made the design look striking—cooler than even the famed ‘Silver Ice’ armor, Kian thought privately.


 Not that he’d ever wear something like it. Not even if it killed him.


 ”The ancient spirit runes inscribed here say the armor carries a blessing of rebirth,” Linca explained. “As long as the world’s laws aren’t rewritten, it will continue to draw from the Spiritual Vein and maintain its complete form.”


 ”You can read the spirit runes?” Kian asked, eyes wide.


 ”Yes,” Linca said, standing upright. “It’s because of my bloodline.”


 ”Only those of your clan can read them?”


 ”Likely. Just like the lost vampire ruins.”


 Kian glanced at Vestacia, then back at Linca. Her words hinted at the possibility of restoring those trapped in black onyx. If he asked, she might say “Maybe” or “Seems possible,” and then Rean would jump in and cause a fuss. It was better to stay silent for now.


 Rean would probably dump a heap of Franz Kingdom Gold Coins in front of Vestacia and demand she lift the curse. But more than money, what Rean sought now was freedom of movement.


 Their next decision—head south or take another job in this region—would be heavily affected by the need to resolve Vestacia’s condition. They should probably leave that task to the guild staff supporting Eleonora’s party.


 ”How much can you read?” Rean asked loudly.


 Sarah gave him a sharp glare from across the desk. Linca leaned in close to the armor once again.


 ”It says the armor’s true potential is sealed by the wearer. By offering specific sacrifices, the armor’s abilities can be unlocked. Currently, the active features include automatic defense, will-based weight control, magic absorption, strength and speed boosts, automatic counterattack, evasion, and self-repair during combat. Many more lines list additional abilities, but they’re crossed out—still locked.”


 ”A roulette unlock system?” Kian asked in disbelief.


 Linca nodded.


 ”By offering ten average monster souls, the wearer can spin a roulette. There’s a one-in-ten chance to unlock or strengthen an ability. But strong abilities rarely come that way. A higher-tier spin requires sacrificing a hundred souls.”


 ”What… are you talking about?” Kian muttered.


 Rean stepped in to clarify. “She means the terms of the contract with the spirit—who owns this armor.”


 He continued, “Dedicating your soul lets you wear the armor and wield the sword. But beyond that, you can enhance them by spinning the roulette with monster souls. It’s like a casino game. Makes me wonder if the spirit who made this played at Châtillon Casino or something.”


 ”But ten souls for a random chance… that’s rough,” Kian frowned.


 ”You won’t get anything decent with just ten,” Rean said. “You need a hundred to get a real shot at strong abilities. Most spins are garbage.”


 Kian’s brow furrowed. “So all this time, you’ve been mass-slaughtering monsters just to spin your ability roulette?”


 ”Exactly. I calculate it all. To maintain the armor and enhance the sword, I balance kills and costs. For example, killing an Aquavore Alligator without drawing the sword, or downing a veteran Griffin? That’s enough to keep the magic sword and armor active for days. During that time, I spin the roulette with the collected souls, hoping for useful traits. And when I land a big win… that thrill is unmatched. Once you feel it, you can’t stop.”


 ”That’s… disturbing.” Kian said.


 ”It’s like an addiction,” Sarah muttered. “That roulette’s a problem even in Châtillon, isn’t it?”


 ”Ms. Priscilla said something similar. It’s gambling addiction,” Kian confirmed.


 In Western countries, gambling isn’t typically treated as a disease. A few scholars in Azrael insisted otherwise, but they were a minority.


 ”──Analysis complete,” Sarah announced, rising from her chair.


 She returned the Horn Cup necklace to Rean.


 ”To put it simply… I don’t really get it. But the Horn Cup seems to have some sort of counter function, and right now, it’s counting something. A lot of something.”


 ”I knew it! I wasn’t wrong!” Rean clenched the necklace in his fist. “That man who gave me the armor… he must be dead!”


 ”Hard to say,” Sarah replied. “But if no one’s come to collect, it could mean something’s preventing them.”


 ”He’s dead!”


 Rean looked up, overwhelmed, raising his fist high. Emotion surged within him—rare for him.


 ”I’m free! That bearded tyrant—serves him right! I’m finally freeee!”


 ”Quiet down,” Sarah scolded.


 ”So now the armor and sword come with no price?” Kian asked.


 ”Exactly! No maintenance fees means I can spin as much as I want! This is amazing… but first, I need to bring Ninini and Lyritisse back.”


 ”That’s the main issue, isn’t it?” Sarah said, looking at Ninini’s still body, gently held open by the golem.


 ”If we’ve gathered the souls, shouldn’t we act quickly to recover them?”


 ”Yeah… but wait. Wasn’t Ninini’s soul still safe, while Lyritisse’s was already processed? That means we need to buy Lyritisse’s back.”


 ”That’s right. But we only have enough for one.”


 ”Then we need to save Lyritisse first. If we wait, her soul might disappear entirely.”


 ”…Isn’t there a way to get them back without paying?” Rean asked, face turning serious.


 Sarah crossed her arms and sighed.


 ”I don’t know how. Ms. Priscilla might know something when she arrives. But don’t get weird ideas. They’re your comrades, aren’t they?”


 ”But if I can get them back for free and I pay anyway, that’s a loss. I could spin four times instead! I haven’t even spun much lately…”


 ”And whose fault do you think it is that I’m keeping Ninini alive this whole time? Priscilla and the successor Witch are both helping, you know. Think about someone besides yourself.”


 ”…Still, I hate wasting potential spins. Ms. Sarah, can you keep maintaining her for just a little longer?”


 ”No.”


 ”…Then I’ll go negotiate.”


 Rean slumped and exited the room, shoulders heavy.


 Kian watched him go, wondering what form the negotiation would take. That Azraelian man wouldn’t come to an ancient temple. Would they meet in some spirit realm, like Priscilla’s dream world?


 ”Honestly… I feel bad for both Ninini and Lyritisse,” Sarah murmured.


 Linca stared down the hallway Rean had left through, her face blank.


 ”To prioritize roulette over their souls… What a strange man.”


 ”It’s insane,” Kian said. “I don’t know if he’s changed because of some contract or if he was always like this, but I never want to end up like that. Feels like selling your soul to a demon.”


 ”That cat Beastman is Ms. Ninini, correct? Has Ms. Sarah been handling her care all alone?”


 ”Yes. Because of that, I haven’t been able to do anything else. But starting today, with you here, I’m finally getting some relief.”


 ”I won’t do it. Being trapped in this room monitoring a bug is suffocating.”


 ”Huh? You’re part of Kian’s party now, right? This is part of the mission.”


 ”I still refuse.”


 ”Linca, help us out in shifts. Please?”


 ”Ugh, Sir Kian… What should we do?”


 ”Kian, your followers have no loyalty. Natra and Rufna are just as odd. Why are all of you like this?”


 ”Don’t ask me,” Kian said.


 With a sigh, Linca relented.


 ”If it’s my master’s order, I suppose I have no choice. We’ll take turns. Half a day each.”


 ”Then you get the night shift.”


 ”That’s bad for my skin. Ms. Sarah should take it.”


 ”What kind of reason is that? We don’t even need sleep. Skin doesn’t matter.”


 ”Sleep helps maintain mental health. If I skip sleep, I might end up swinging my sword all night without thinking. I make sure to rest.”


 ”Then I’ll take night duty. Ms. Linca will handle the day. Thank you.”


 ”Understood. Shall I summon the spirit?”


 Linca clapped her hands.


 The space beside her shimmered—and a monkey-like spirit appeared.


 It was large, nearly Kian’s size, and its eyes sparkled with intelligence.


 ”…That’s huge.”


 ”It’s a baboon. A magical creature from the East. Known for its smarts and aggression. It focuses more on magical ability than physical force. I thought it lost the ability to use Shikigami after eating brains, but… apparently not. Either way, we’ve gained a strong pawn.”


 ”It’s not a pawn, Sarah. Linca is an important companion.”


 ”Huh?”


 ”I mean… a companion.”


 Sarah’s stare was sharp, but Kian held his ground. If he reduced Linca to a tool, she’d be hurt. He stood firm.


 Sarah averted her eyes, face sour.


 ”Whatever. Companion or pawn… you’re a fool, Kian.”


 ”You could’ve just called me a pawn, but… thank you, Sir Kian.”


 ”N-no, I just said the obvious. Haha…”


 ”Uhehehe.”


 Sarah glanced at Linca, who covered her mouth with her hand and giggled softly.


 ”She’s way too open about it. What is with this vibe…”


 Meanwhile, Kian wore a polite smile—his expression hiding a weary soul.


 It felt like sitting on a bed of nails.


* * *


 That evening, a strategy meeting was held to discuss the envoy from the Beastmen Alliance.


 After dinner in the courtyard, everyone involved in the response gathered around a round table Linca had prepared—though it looked awkward, likely due to Sarah’s influence.


 The attendees numbered eight: Kian, Sarah, Linca, Katyusha, Yelmar, Natasha (formerly the Head Magician of Izerland Fortress), Umar, and Demete.


 Umar, now looking much healthier than in the morning, arrived in a wheelchair pushed by Demete. Since the table was round, there was no concept of head or foot, and Umar chose a spot between Sarah and Yelmar.


 Kian stood between Sarah and Linca.


 With Linca so close their arms nearly touched, Sarah’s sharp stare was hard to ignore.


 ”Is everyone present?” Umar asked, scanning the table like a hawk.


 Natasha, the flamboyant blonde witch next to Yelmar, raised her voice.


 ”Excuse me, but I don’t see Lady Colinna or Lord Rean~. Were they summoned~?”


 ”I called on Lord Rean, but he had no interest. He said he’ll help if there’s a battle, so we’ll just update him later,” Umar replied.


 ”And Ms. Colinna?”


 ”…She will not be attending this meeting.”


 ”Huh? Why?”


 Yelmar’s suspicious glance was met with a calm reply—this time, from Demete.


 ”It would hinder the meeting’s progress. I’ll explain more later, but among the Beastmen Alliance’s envoys is a member of the Storm Herd. Naturally, they’ll demand her return. The recent Bloodsucking Kind incident occurred because the gate was opened and sustained by the ladies. They’ll likely offer apologies to other tribes—and may even attempt to offer up Lady Colinna as a form of atonement. From our perspective, keeping her alive offers no strategic advantage. To avoid stoking resentment, it would be easiest to hand her over. But if we try that… she’ll resist with everything she has.”


 Standing beside Natasha, the Black Panther Tribe’s warrior monk—Katyusha—spoke up.


 ”We’ve placed a guard on Lady Colinna to keep her from fleeing Hall. Until the envoys arrive, she’ll be under house arrest. Everyone, please refrain from speaking to her about our plans. If word leaks, it could cause complications.”


 ”So, offering her up means we’re choosing not to fight the Beastmen Alliance?”


 Sarah turned toward Umar, who nodded—his expression clouded with uncertainty.


 ”There’s no winning if we fight them head-on. Their numbers are overwhelming. I’ve received a report on their envoys from our intelligence agents. Demete.”


 ”Yes.”


 Demete, the Dark Elf mage, unfolded a parchment on the table. Sketched on it were portraits and simple dossiers—names, races, ranks, and past deeds.


 ”The delegation includes Arminus of the Black Panther Tribe and his son Fraus; Malbodous and Marcomanni from the Steel Tiger Clan; Juji of the Wolfmen’s ‘Burning Spear’ along with several elite guards; and from the Cat Beastmen Tribe, their top warrior, Kakaka, and his retinue.”


 Umar swept his gaze across the room.


 ”Led by Arminus… these are not mere envoys. They’re elite warriors. If they chose to, this delegation alone could wipe us out—without even mobilizing their main forces.”


 ”Is that so…?” Yelmar muttered, glancing toward Kian.


 ”I don’t know for sure,” Kian replied, “but we’ve got our own monsters. We could probably push them back.”


 ”Lady Sarah. Linca.”


 ”Yes.” “Hah…”


 Umar addressed them, and both women straightened, giving him their full attention.


 ”Can either of you defeat Arminus?”


 ”I do not know.


 ”…Nor do I.


 Sarah responded without hesitation. Linca, however, paused briefly before answering.


 Judging by her expression, Linca likely had intel on Arminus and the others—and in a duel, she was confident. But admitting that might steer the discussion toward a full confrontation and dump the responsibility squarely on her shoulders.


 She hated the thought and chose to defer.


 Umar continued.


 ”The Black Panther Tribe possesses physical prowess beyond even the Wolfmen. When they use the Western Knight’s body enhancement techniques, their fur envelops their bodies and repels both physical energy and magical attacks. And when they suppress their presence, not even sharp-nosed Beastmen can detect them. They strike before their enemies even realize they’re being hunted.”


 He paused, his voice grim.


 ”Arminus is said to surpass High Warlord Isthbaran in both speed and strength. His enchanted sword, Balmung, allegedly split the northern ice dragon Dahaka in half with a single blow. To defeat him, neutralizing that sword is essential. But even if you’re a mage with overwhelming firepower, his beast-enhanced fur might still deflect your spells. What’s more, with his black fur, fighting him in the dark or in low visibility makes it easy to lose sight of him—and when that happens, you’ll be struck from behind. To win, you’d need to detect him even in concealment and match him in close combat. Otherwise, survival is unlikely. That said…”


 He took a long breath.


 ”If one can deflect his sword, detect him under stealth, and match his strength, there’s a real chance to kill him.”


 Umar turned to Linca with narrowed eyes.


 She didn’t move—just smiled faintly.


 But beneath the table, her fingers darted across Kian’s palm.


 ”Say no. Please, Sir Kian. Say no for me.”


 Kian spoke up immediately.


 ”Lord Umar, Linca does not wish to engage.”


 ”Wait, Kian! That’s not what she meant—!”


 ”Linca, don’t tell me you’re backing out again?” Umar frowned. “This is why Lady Sarah was named the Deathblade in your stead.”


 ”…Sir Umar. I never said I refuse to fight. My current master is Sir Kian. If he commands it, I will face Arminus with my life on the line.”


 ”So you can defeat him?”


 Kian asked. Linca sighed, as though surrendering to fate.


 ”I can. But if I use ‘Penetration,’ my mobility drops. That makes it hard to strike Arminus, Fraus, and Juji with the ‘Burning Spear.’ Once they realize they’re safe from my blade, they’ll ignore me and go for our leaders. If that happens, I won’t be able to stop them.”


 ”No problem,” Umar said. “We just need to strike Arminus by surprise. With you and Lady Sarah, the rest will fall easily.”


 ”Sir Umar,” Linca frowned, “that strategy could lead us into a drawn-out battle.”


 ”If our gate falls, or if Sir Umar himself is defeated, we’re finished,” she warned. “The odds are clearly against us. We should—”


 But Umar’s hawk-like glare cut her off. Her voice grew faint under the pressure of a nearly seventy-year-old man bearing down on a young woman. The sight was… deeply unsettling.


 ”Demete.”


 ”Y-yes?”


 ”Am I misunderstanding something?”


 ”…No, sir.”


 ”Katyusha. Your thoughts?”


 ”If annihilation is our goal, then we should proceed~. As you wish~.”


 ”Lady Natasha?”


 ”I… believe that if victory is within reach, then it’s better to strike,” Natasha said smoothly. She clearly had no intention of joining the fight herself.


 Umar exhaled heavily, his eyes drifting back to Linca.


 She looked back, half-defeated.


 (Alright. This is where I speak up.)


 Kian turned slightly, placing himself between Linca and Umar.


 ”Lord Umar, we should talk this through. As Linca said, rushing into battle will only make us seem like savages—just like the Beastmen. If you wish to negotiate with the Princess of Izerland, you must show the composure of a civilized leader.”


 Umar raised an eyebrow but quickly hid the reaction, then nodded.


 ”Of course. I don’t plan to start with aggression. But it’s unlikely they’ll come to the table. Once they see we refuse to hand over the ancient temple, they’ll attack. They’re brutes with no concept of diplomacy.”


 ”So you’re talking worst-case scenario.”


 ”There’s a ninety percent chance that’s how it plays out. If anyone here truly believes negotiations will succeed, raise your hand.”


 Kian raised his hand first. Linca followed.


 Yelmar eventually raised his thick arm. Then, slowly, Sarah joined as well.


 ”…Lady Sarah?”


 ”Sir Umar. It’s not about whether they’ll listen—it’s about going in with the intent to make them listen. I know this is hard to hear, but if Kian, Linca, and I stay here—with Lady Eleonora and the Guild staff—then we’ll leave this matter to Mr. Rean and the others. After that, you’ll need to cooperate with Lady Eleonora to handle the rest. But I believe a hardline stance would only make things worse given our current military strength.”


 ”Lady Sarah, won’t you stay here—for the sake of old friendship?”


 Sarah looked at Umar with a calm expression.


 ”No. Because Kian matters more to me than you.”


 Umar’s fingers twitched. “I will pay any price. It’s essential for the Nakash family’s revival.”


 ”I’m afraid I must decline. I’ll earn what I need on my own. I don’t want to owe you anything.”


 ”……”


 Umar fell silent.


 For the first time in the meeting, the sharp-eyed elder—who had seemed so composed until now—visibly faltered.


 A dozen years ago, perhaps Linca and even Sarah would have followed his lead without question.


 But the times had changed.


 He had grown old.

 Meanwhile, those two had grown stronger—into capable women with their own judgment and will.

 They could no longer be ordered around.


 ”…Demete.”


 ”…Y-Yes?”


 Umar’s voice was heavier now, quieter.


 ”And Katyusha. Lady Natasha.”


 ”Yes. What is it?”


 Umar let out a sigh, and it sounded as though the air leaving him carried a decade’s worth of weight.


 ”Do you think you could defeat Arminus… if you fought alongside Lord Rean?”


 There was a long pause.


 ”────”


 ”……”


 ”I absolutely cannot~desuwa.”


 ”I see.”


 Without emotion, Umar gathered strength in his arms and rose from his wheelchair. The creaking of the wheels echoed through the room. Outside, the sun had already dipped below the horizon, and Sarah’s beetle-shaped golem entered the courtyard, holding up a magic lamp.


 Wrapped in his white robe, Umar crossed his arms behind his back and began pacing slowly, as if deep in thought.


 After a while, he stopped, leaning both hands onto the round table before him. The weight on his shoulders seemed heavier than before.


 ”…We’ll negotiate peacefully with the envoy. Avoid combat at all costs. In the meantime, gather as much information and data as you can.”


 ”And after that~?” Katyusha asked quietly.


 Umar straightened.


 ”We’ll head south. Meet with Lady Eleonora near the Great Forest and formulate our next steps. But with our current forces, we can’t accomplish anything significant. The Guild and Eleonora’s people are likely stuck in the marshes—and we can’t afford to be trapped there too.”


 His gaze flicked to Linca, sharp and pointed, before turning to Demete.


 ”Once that’s done, we’ll aim to fly from Ramsey to Izerland. If Lady Eleonora has prepared a teleportation gate, we’ll use that instead. Either way, begin your investigations and make preparations to retreat accordingly.”


* * *


 After the meeting, Kian, Sarah, and Linca quietly stepped into a corridor. They found a shadowed corner behind a pillar and pressed their foreheads together in a private huddle.


 ”…Sir Kian, thank you for speaking up earlier,” Linca said first.


 Kian blinked. “I didn’t really do anything.”


 ”No, you did. If things had gone on like that, we might’ve ended up in a full-scale war with the Beastmen Alliance. That would’ve been… disastrous.”


 Sarah nodded beside her, her expression tense. “If we killed the envoy, we’d be trapped. On top of guarding the gate, we’d also need to protect Lord Umar and his entire retinue. The pressure on us would’ve been immense.”


 Kian turned to Linca. “Was that why you didn’t give a clear answer earlier? Because you didn’t want to fight Arminus?”


 ”I didn’t,” Linca admitted. “Killing and fighting aren’t always the right answers. It’s too risky. The best victory is one won without battle. Of course, if you command it, Sir Kian, I’d gladly go now and eliminate every envoy they send.”


 ”…Wait, you could really do that?”


 ”Why wouldn’t I? I’m under Lord Jibril’s direct orders, and I’ve gathered intel on the Beastmen Alliance. I know their tactics.”


 Kian turned to Sarah.


 ”…She’s not bluffing, is she?”


 ”No. That woman is a walking death god,” Sarah said flatly. “If you don’t have a counter to her ‘Penetration’ technique, she’ll kill you before you blink. Arminus and the others don’t have spirit-based gear—so if she gets close, the fight’s already over.”


 ”That’s… true,” Kian muttered.


 ”When do you think we’ll join up with Natra and the others?” Sarah asked.


 ”Hard to say. But they should’ve left the ancient temple near the southwestern edge of the forest four days ago… maybe three or four more days before they reach us.”


 ”If they can cross the Great Forest in a week, that would be remarkable. The territory is crawling with Beastmen settlements.”


 Linca nodded. “Still, we can stall negotiations with the envoys. If we hide the fact that the gate’s power source is crystallized people, and propose a joint investigation…”


 ”No,” Kian interrupted. “Yelmar already sent the image of the crystallized ones using the crystal.”


 ”What!? Why would they do that!?”


 ”Maybe to sacrifice their own leverage. Umar probably wanted to break free from Jibril’s grip and start talks with Maribel. Investigating the temple was never his first goal. That’s why they were so slow to act.”


 …Or perhaps they tried to stop the message, and failed.

 Given Umar’s condition, quick and decisive action was probably difficult.


 ”We should bring up territorial concerns in the talks with Izerland’s government,” Linca said. “We can adjust the number of Bloodsucking Kind ourselves and make sure Beastmen travel through the marshes safely.”


 ”But Ramsey and the Beastmen Alliance are at war,” Sarah reminded her.


 ”Use that as leverage. We’ll work with Lord Owl and find mutual ground. He’s cornered too—reinforcements aren’t coming. If we offer wheat for the winter, wool, or valuable metals, and politely ask them to move north of the swamp…”


 ”You’re saying a lot for someone with no authority,” Sarah said, half-joking.


 ”Words are free. We just need to keep the talks going. If Lady Eleonora and the Guild arrive in time, we hand everything over to them.”


 Sarah nodded at his reasoning.


 ”Yes. That’s the best route. If we’re going to endure this mess, it’s our only real option. But let’s avoid making promises we can’t keep—those who come after us will suffer. At the very least, we’ll need Lord Owl’s cooperation.”


 ”I’ll send him a letter right away,” Kian said. “Hopefully his reply arrives before the envoy gets here.”


 ”If what Lord Umar said is true, they’re already on their way. They’ll probably arrive by midday tomorrow.”


 ”Then we’re cutting it close.”


 ”As long as we get the reply before negotiations end, we’ll be fine.”


 Sarah sounded optimistic—but whether she was right or not didn’t matter.


 Kian already knew what he had to do: send the letter. Wait for the response.


 He glanced at the two beside him.


 ”Once negotiations with the Beastmen are over, it might be wise to head to Ramsey for a formal report.”


 ”Let’s regroup with Natra and the others first,” Sarah replied. “Then we can decide whether to travel south or stay in Ramsey for a while and gather some points.”


 ”…That group includes Serena, doesn’t it?”


 At that, Sarah bit her lip.


 ”…Yes. I’ll need to figure out how to explain things to her. But one thing’s for sure—I can’t take Colinna along if she’s with us.”


Notes:


• Linca – Jibril’s favorite girl. High-ranking warrior monk woman from Shin, with strong abilities like ignoring attacks and poisons.

• Katyusha – A female warrior monk of the black panther race and a follower of Abbas Hashmalik Shakerdoust.

• Demete – A male dark elf shaman and a servant in the Umar household.

• Mag – The wolfwoman under Yelmar—the one who was caught by Kian’s group earlier.

• Colinna – Serena’s mother.

• Marcomanni – Male. Member of the Steel Tiger Clan. Known for his strength and tactical skills. Relationship: Part of the Beastmen Alliance’s delegation.

• Malbodous – Male. Member of the Steel Tiger Clan. A formidable warrior with significant combat experience. Relationship: Part of the Beastmen Alliance’s delegation.

• Arminus – Male. Leader of the Black Panther Tribe. Possesses extraordinary physical abilities, enhanced by the tribe’s unique technique that repels energy and magic attacks. His speed and strength surpass those of High Warlord Isthbaran. Wields the magic sword Balmung, capable of cleaving through an ice dragon with a single strike. His black fur provides camouflage in low visibility, making him nearly undetectable. Relationship: Leader of the Beastmen Alliance’s delegation.

• Kakaka – Male. Top warrior of the Cat Beastmen Tribe. Known for his agility and precision in combat. Relationship: Part of the Beastmen Alliance’s delegation.

• Fraus – Male. Son of Arminus. Member of the Black Panther Tribe. Shares his father’s enhanced physical abilities and combat prowess. Relationship: Subordinate and family to Arminus.

• Juji – Male. Leader of the Wolfmen’s ‘Jinsou’. A skilled warrior with sharp senses and combat abilities. Relationship: Part of the Beastmen Alliance’s delegation.

• Isthbaran – The High Warlord of the ‘Storm Herd.’

• Serena – Wolfmen Girl


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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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