Chapter 150 – Nuia (３)

Gijun felt a tangle of emotions.

Should he be glad it hadn’t fallen into the Monarch’s hands yet?

Or regret losing a Heart he could have claimed so easily?

‘No. Still, this is something.’

But then Gijun corrected his thinking.

‘At least I got a lead, and it didn’t end up with the Monarch.’

Right.

This was a situation he could frame positively.

After all, how often did one get a clue about the Heart this fast?

If Gijun put in a bit more effort, he might not be far from claiming it.

Of course, an obstacle still remained.

He had to convince them.

To them, the Heart was literally a divine treasure.

Whether the Nuia would willingly let him take it was still an open question.

“First, let us help you.”

If so, earning their trust was the key.

And the best way to earn trust was to offer aid.

Especially aid in something they desperately wanted—that could forge even deeper trust.

“Tell us where they are. We’ll go and retrieve that treasure.”

“…But.”

The old man hesitated.

“They are strong.”

That was why he hesitated.

“We are nothing but defeated soldiers. All that’s left is this small village. But they have many troops, good equipment, and excellent warriors.”

“No wonder there are only women and children here.”

Amalta said, nodding.

True to his words, the village held mostly elders, children, and women, save for a few sturdy young men.

And even those youths clearly fell short of being called warriors.

“I thought facing the Monarch’s underlings with just these numbers was outright absurd.”

“You’re right.”

The old man agreed with Amalta.

“If things continue like this, we’re as good as dead. And if they truly fall under the Monarch’s command, this land—along with the treasure our ancestors have guarded for generations—will become theirs entirely.”

The old man was utterly terrified.

Death was frightening, but what he dreaded more was that his ancestors’ legacy might end with his generation.

Reading the old man’s emotion, Gijun spoke.

“Leave it to us. No matter how strong the enemies are, we’re strong enough not to be ignored.”

Gijun looked at the two people beside him.

Klaim and Amalta.

Both were naturally strong.

Klaim was a man at the apex of Real Spirit Users, needless to say.

Amalta, too, had grown continuously and had become strong enough to push Gijun to his limits.

And finally, Gijun himself went without saying.

At Gijun’s gaze, Klaim and Amalta spoke.

“Of course. Whenever it comes to helping Master Jun, we will roll up our sleeves and step forward.”

“I feel the same. And besides, there’s no way we can just let those who betrayed the clan walk free. Right now, I’d charge in alone and crush their skulls to pulp if I could.”

At last, the old man spoke.

“…Then would it be all right to ask for your help?”

His voice trembled.

A knot of complicated emotions twisted through his words.

“Yes. Leave it to us.”

Gijun met the old man’s eyes.

The old man held his gaze in return.

There was no mistaking the fear brimming in the old man’s eyes.

“It’s all right.”

Gijun said it again, his voice thick with certainty, trying to reassure the old man.

“We’re strong.”

Silence stretched between them once more.

Finally, the old man broke it.

“…Bodge.”

Bodge.

The moment the name left his lips, Lira’s mouth tightened.

“Bodge is my nephew. My younger brother’s son. That boy… he’s wicked-tempered. I held the chieftaincy of the Nuia, but he resented that deeply, and in the end…”

The old man couldn’t finish the sentence.

He seemed to be blaming himself.

Lira, as if moved by pity, wrapped her arms tight around his waist.

“….”

In that instant, a quest window appeared before him.

[Quest Activated!]

[Punish the Traitor]

– Grade: Legendary

– Defeat ‘Bodge’, the traitorous chieftain of the Nuia.

– Reward: Fragment of the Ancient Heart

‘…Just as I thought.’

Gazing at the quest, Gijun clenched his fist.

Exactly as he’d guessed.

That treasure was a Fragment of the Ancient Heart.

It hadn’t been long since he’d obtained the Fifth Heart, and now the chance to claim the Sixth was right in front of him.

“Don’t blame yourself. We’ll take care of everything from here. Instead, please tell us more.”

“…Understood.”

And so the old man began again, recounting the story of Bodge and the other Nuia.

*

Around that same time.

Inside a massive fortress, dark-skinned Nuia had gathered, their faces grim as they exchanged words.

These were the other Nuia.

They looked starkly different from the Nuia of the village.

Most were large, well-conditioned warriors.

They carried finely forged armor and weapons, and nearly all of them had sharp, predatory eyes.

It was clear at a glance that these were beings of formidable combat prowess.

Then the Nuia seated at the head of the gathering asked, his red eyes gleaming.

His name was Bodge.

The current chieftain of the Nuia, and their most outstanding warrior.

“A light?”

“Yes. They say they definitely saw a light.”

“….”

Light.

At that word, Bodge’s eyes narrowed.

“Could it be that one?”

Then another Nuia seated beside Bodge spoke up.

“That one?”

“…The one they called the Seeker.”

“…Hmm.”

Seeker.

At that word, Bodge’s face twisted again.

They knew of the Seeker too.

The Monarch’s minions had left a warning: a Seeker would come soon, and they should be on guard.

“That bastard’s probably after the treasure we’ve got.”

“Damn it. Why now of all times…”

Bodge spat a curse, his face twisting in irritation.

There was good reason for his fury.

They had just secured the treasure and were about to head for the Monarch.

But then, some incident had forced the Monarch to hole up in his fortress.

‘…Right there, right under our noses.’

By the original plan, they’d have already presented the treasure to the Monarch and become his lieutenants.

In a single moment, the plan had turned to ash.

They’d begged the Monarch, but he wouldn’t even listen.

Worse, he’d threatened to kill them on the spot if they bothered him again.

Left with no choice, they had to wait for another chance.

“Bad timing.”

And now, this so-called Seeker had entered their domain.

It wouldn’t be long before he attacked them to claim the treasure.

“But more importantly…”

Another Nuia picked up the thread.

“They seem to have met with Hadon.”

Hadon.

Bodge’s own paternal uncle.

“If that damned old man has allied with the Seeker, he’ll definitely come for us.”

Bodge hated Hadon.

Because the man, weak as he was, had dared to try leading the Nuia.

What infuriated him more was that his dying father had passed the chieftainship to Hadon instead of him.

“That spineless old coot’s bound to pull some dirty trick.”

He loathed those who schemed without strength.

And Hadon was the very picture of that.

To top it off, the man had stolen the seat that should have been his.

Bodge’s hatred for Hadon had swelled to its breaking point.

“A weak old man with nothing but greed.”

If Hadon had stepped down long ago, maybe Bodge wouldn’t have gone this far.

But in Bodge’s eyes, Hadon had crossed the line.

So he’d made this choice.

“Under that old man, the Nuia will only get weaker. We can’t have that. We have to be strong. Only strength protects us.”

Strength.

That was the only thing that mattered to Bodge.

He’d even bow to the Monarch of the Underworld if it meant keeping his power and growing stronger.

“Good.”

Bodge, his thoughts now settled, spoke.

“Dispatch the forces. Until the Monarch returns, we must protect that treasure at all costs. Hak, Polka, Dos.”

“Yes.”

The three Bodge named rose and answered.

“Each of you, lead a hundred troops. When you find them, eliminate them on sight and bring their heads to me.”

“Understood.”

Hak, Polka, and Dos.

They were Bodge’s three trusted generals.

No sooner had they received the order than they began arming themselves.

“I’m curious. Just how strong does he have to be to walk in here without an ounce of fear?”

A crooked smile twisted Bodge’s lips.

“No.”

Then he spoke.

“Don’t kill him—bring him to me. I want to feel him out myself.”

“Understood.”

Bodge ran his tongue over his lips.

‘Maybe I’ve found a tasty prey.’

*

‘Bodge.’

Jun had already heard enough from Hadon to have a thorough picture of Bodge.

‘He said his fighting style focuses on speed.’

According to Hadon, Bodge’s weapon was a claw.

Which meant he specialized in lightning-quick strikes and ambushes.

‘Interesting.’

The thought sparked a thrill in Jun.

If it was a speed-oriented fight, wasn’t that his own strong suit too?

Plus, he now had a weapon that could unleash devastating power even in close combat.

‘One that overwhelmed even Amalta.’

Blaze Sword.

With that weapon in hand, he almost looked forward to facing this Bodge.

Of course, that confidence stemmed from his absolute certainty that he wouldn’t lose to Bodge.

“Hoo….”

Then a rough breath sounded.

It came from the young Nuia man assigned to guide Jun and the others.

He was wound tight with tension.

“Nervous?”

Amalta said, watching the young man’s tense demeanor.

“…Yes.”

His fear, naturally, was of Bodge.

“Bodge is strong. And he’s crueler than anyone. He killed two of my friends. I begged him to kill me too… but he wouldn’t.”

“Why?”

“He said he wanted me to suffer. To mourn my dead friends and remember that moment I defied him, for the rest of my life….”

“Tch.”

Amalta clicked his tongue.

“A rotten bastard. You could tear off his limbs and hang him from a tree, and it still wouldn’t be enough.”

Jun shared the sentiment.

He’d heard bits and pieces from Hadon, but Bodge might be even more vicious than he’d imagined.

No—he definitely was.

‘Good riddance.’

That’s what Jun thought.

At least he could take him down without a shred of guilt.

“Are you… really sure you’ll be okay?”

The terrified young man asked.

At that, Amalta burst into booming laughter.

“Kuhahahahaha!”

“…?”

The young man stared at Amalta as if asking why he was laughing.

“I get it—you’re scared of that piece of shit Bodge. And I know he’s strong. But!”

Amalta slung an arm around Jun’s shoulder.

“This guy’s a monster.”

“…But—”

“Shut your mouth and watch. You’ll see what kind of monster you’ve got in front of you, and how you were trembling over a mere puppy.”

The young Nuia man glanced sideways at Jun.

Then, when their eyes met, he quickly looked away.

What Gijun read in that young man’s eyes was doubt.

‘Well, judging by appearances, it’s only natural I look weaker than that bastard.’

According to Hadon’s description, the Nuia were built sleek and predatory, like beasts of prey.

Gijun’s own features, by contrast, carried none of that sharpness or aggression.

‘…Well.’

Not that he cared much for that kind of look.

‘They’ll find out soon enough.’

As always, proving it would be enough.

And now.

Thud.

A heavy footfall rang out.

“Here they come.”

“Looks like they came out to greet us in advance.”

“Good.”

Far from being frightened by the footsteps, the three of them drew their weapons instead.

Their composure was almost exaggerated.

An ease that suggested defeat had never even crossed their minds radiated from their entire bodies.

‘…Really…?’

In that instant, the young Nuia found himself, against his own will, infected by their unnerving calm.

It was strange — he couldn’t pinpoint why he felt that way.