novelGlobal Chapter 46: Just Take One Hit, You Little Punk (6)
Chapter 46: Just Take One Hit, You Little Punk (6)
"Captain, we've
Instead, it was Karon who charged at Jordic. He didn’t swing his spear half-heartedly; he swung his fists like a wild beast. Judging by his fighting style, he looked like either a bear or a wolf.
“This is a misunderstanding! If you search that guy, you’ll find the token!”
As Jordic spoke, Karon hit Jordic’s side with his fist.
“Keter, Keter!”
Just as Keter was enjoying the spectacle of the fight, Luke shook him, shouting his name.
“Why.”
“Geez, you scared me. A-are you okay?”
“It hurts. A lot.”
“Can you get up? Let’s get out of here quickly.”
“All you think about is running away.”
“I don’t think fighting is the only solution to our problems.”
“Neither do I.”
Jordic was just taking hits from Karon to prove his innocence. Watching him get beaten up was somewhat satisfying, but just watching wouldn’t balance the scales.
“Where are you going?” Luke asked Keter.
“I always make sure to return whatever I’ve received, no matter what it is.”
Keter approached Jordic, who was getting pummeled by Karon. Karon was trying to control his strength. It seemed like his anger was dying down, as his punches were getting slower and weaker.
“Ugh?”
Keter kicked Jordic’s side, where his guard had become loose.
Feeling the immense pain, Jordic dropped his guard and raised his head. Keter immediately gifted him a punch as their eyes met.
“Just take one hit, you little punk! No, two!”
Keter continually aimed for the back of his hand.
“…I’m going to kill you.”
Jordic dropped his guard and approached Keter with a menacing glare. At that moment, Karon stepped between them.
“Stop!” he shouted.
Jordic halted at those words, and Keter slipped a punch through Karon’s side and hit Jordic in the stomach.
“You... bastard!”
Karon tried to calm Jordic, who became agitated. No matter how strong Jordic was, there was no way he would be able to withstand the strength of a beastfolk.
“You, the one claiming to be the representative of the Moon Rabbit Tribe: what is your name?”
At Karon’s serious tone, Jordic managed to regain his composure and replied. “Jordic El Bydent.”
“My name is Karon. Jordic, it’s hard to believe you are the representative of the Moon Rat Tribe without proof. However, I can at least tell that you don’t harbor any ill will towards me.”
“That bastard stole the proof. I’m sure of it.”
“Is that true?” Karon asked Keter.
Looking wrongfully accused, Keter said, “Karon, I don’t care if I get stripped bare and get humiliated. What’s truly unfortunate is seeing you be so easily deceived like the other beastfolk.”
“Hmm.”
As Karon looked troubled, Jordic shifted his target.
“Keter, no Lord Keter. It seems we need to have a conversation.”
“I have nothing to discuss with a tool of the empire.”
“I am not a puppet of the empire! Just as you protect the Flying Wolf Tribe, we do the same.”
What Jordic said next gave Keter certainty.
“Our Bydent family also protects the Moon Rabbit Tribe, just as the Sefira family protects the Flying Wolf Tribe. We are comrades who share the same secrets. I believe there’s plenty of reason for us to talk.”
Jordic was claiming that the Bydent family was protecting the beastfolk that the emperor was hunting down with fierce determination. And it seemed like Jordic was under the impression that the Sefira family protected the Flying Wolf Tribe as well.
“Really? You should have said so sooner,” Keter said.
“I did! I said I’m the representative of the Moon Rabbit Tribe!”
“But you have no evidence, do you? No proof.”
“I will get back the token you stole. For now, let’s negotiate. We received information from the Moon Rabbit Tribe about the location and dangers concerning the Flying Wolf Tribe. We cannot stay here for even a day longer; we must leave.”
“Sounds like you’re saying the Bydent family will take the Flying Wolf Tribe.”
“The crumbling Sefira family cannot protect the Flying Wolf Tribe; only our Bydent family can. Don’t deny that.”
“You said we should negotiate, yet you are threatening me. Should both of our families just hold hands and march into hell together? You know that the emperor doesn’t hesitate to eliminate families that help the beastfolk, right?”
“Are you saying you would kill your entire family with your own hands?”
“Because family is one body.”
“You're insane.”
“You’re correct.”
No matter how low they tried to keep their voices, the other was an overpowered beastfolk. Karon was listening to their entire conversation, and with no progress being made, he was now suspicious of both Jordic and Keter.
“How about we resolve this through a fundamental approach?”
“Spit it out quickly.”
“I agree with what you said. To protect the beastfolk, we need power.”
“...?”
“But I keep hearing that it’s a given that Sefira is weaker than Bydent?”
“Ha. I was wondering what you were getting at. Are you suggesting a war between our families?”
“That wouldn’t be bad, but as you said, it would be a waste of time. So, let’s confirm through the two of us as representatives.”
“Are you saying you want to fight me right now? You, a mere conman, against me, the Spear Dragon?”
“No, not that.”
Keter pointed behind Jordic. A group of people was approaching from afar. The Bydent knights, or in other words, Jordic’s subordinates, were coming this way.
“Not just you. I’ll take them all down.”
“You truly are insane. I have no reason to refuse. I accept your challenge.”
It seemed like Luke thought differently. He approached Keter with a horrified expression.
“Keter, what are you thinking? I know you can fight well, but the opponent is a genius known as the Spear Dragon!”
“Well... now that I think about it, I probably can’t win.”
“Winning or losing aside, you might die! The opponent is a Bydent who despises us. Let’s run away.”
“From now on, you can only mention running away three times. Got it? If you say it four times, I don’t care whether you’re the Gramps’s kid or not.”
“Are you saying you want to die? I don’t.”
“What if you think about it this way? Let me tell you what will happen if you run away right now. You’ll be known as the knight who abandoned Keter, your partner and the patriarch’s son, and fled. You’ll be a knight who couldn’t protect Sefira’s secrets, and…”
Luke was frowning so deeply that it was hard to tell if he was angry or wanted to cry. It really seemed like he wanted to escape badly.
“Don’t worry. We have a trump card.”
“Right, Amaranth!”
Luke’s expression brightened as if he had just remembered something.
“I won’t use Amaranth. Because I have you.”
“Huh? Me?”
“Yeah, you.”
Keter placed his hand on Luke’s shoulder.
“You are the secret weapon that will save Sefira.”
Keter glanced at Jordic.