STM 136

What if Tairok could also accept Sarne’s power? And what if he figured out how to use it? But I quickly shook my head.

“No, no way. Back then, the power of the Borhumi divine beast was weak.”

“Then the Sarne divine beast could just give him a weaker power. There’s no harm in trying.”

“It’s bad. I’d have to spill everything about why I entered the Acorn Forest and met Black Bear.”

“Damn it.”

Doctor Kim muttered a curse under her breath before making a serious prediction to me.

“If he finds out the Acorn Forest is mine, he’ll probably kill you first, since you’re closest.”

“……Thanks for worrying about me.”

“Haah, it’s a minefield all around.”

She was the one who planted those mines. I suppressed the urge to retort and changed the subject.

“By the way, is everything okay on your end?”

“……Yeah, I guess.”

“Really? Hoiga’s just sitting there?”

Doctor Kim turned her head away instead of answering, and then a strange sound came from the communication device.

“Chiiiii~~ chiiiii~”

“Huh? Doctor?”

“Ah, the communicator’s acting up. I can’t hear you.”

Really? I tapped the communicator and tilted my head. Then why did it sound like someone making static noises with their mouth?

“Anyway, I’m hanging up now. You find a way to persuade Tairok.”

“But you said the moment I confess about the Acorn Forest, my head will be chopped off?”

“That’s why you need to cover it up well.”

How the hell am I supposed to do that?

“Even if the excuse works, there’s no guarantee Tairok will accept the power of the Sarne divine beast. That means he could absorb the power of any other divine beast, right? Does that even make sense?“

Unlike me, who felt dumbfounded, Doctor Kim twisted her lips into a wry smile.

“If it makes sense, it would help us. Though it feels pretty shitty.”

Yeah, it doesn’t feel great. But if gaining that power meant defeating all our enemies, it would be worth it.

And if we could lift the curse soon too. A brief gust of wind blew. Doctor Kim immediately noticed.

“What? You don’t feel crappy?”

“No, it’s just… nothing.”

“Huh? You slept with him? You slept with him?!”

I flinched.

“Wh-what are you talking about?”

“Hey, you two did it?! You did it!”

Crash! With a loud noise, Doctor Kim jumped up. I quickly made noise with my mouth.

“Chiii~ Huh? What did you say? Chiii~ Doctor, I can’t hear—”

Click. I immediately cut the communication and ran my hand through my hair. I felt pathetic for panicking like an idiot.

What’s wrong with just saying I slept with him? But I felt inexplicably embarrassed. Yeah, I’m an Earthling. Not a shameless Tubain. That’s why.

The next day, I ran to the Acorn Forest the moment I opened my eyes. There wasn’t much to do at the mansion, and I needed plenty of time to exchange even a single word with the bear. And once again, I faced the kneeling Black Bear.

“Lord Salvation, please allow me to receive the power of the divine beast once more.”

Caught off guard by the unexpected request, I couldn’t help but glance at the bear. The divine beast didn’t react, merely watching us with its dark eyes.

“But you passed out because you couldn’t withstand the power.”

“I will endure it. And I will learn the method on my own. Will you grant me permission?”

“It’s not for me to grant or deny.”

I looked at the bear again. The creature that blurted out useless words at my slightest prompting didn’t even move a finger now. Reluctantly, I asked the bear.

“Can you give the power again?”

Its eyes darted to look at Black Bear. But the gaze I’d always found somehow terrifying felt completely different in that moment.

It was gentle and warm. Suddenly, I remembered how the Borhumi divine beast had described Zav as cute. Divine beasts truly do bestow infinite affection upon the humans they choose.

So when the furry hand reached out toward me, I grasped it. At least it wouldn’t harm Black Bear. And then I took Black Bear’s hand again.

“Ugh!”

Thud.

She clutched her chest and fainted right there. …What the hell?

“She fainted again?!”

Grrr~~~~ng~~~~~~~~Cha~~~~~~

The bear raised both arms again.

‘ㅇㅇ.’ (Yes)

What the hell, is this divine beast a psychopath?!

‎

‎

‎

A tavern in a small, sparsely populated town.

After confirming something with the tavern owner, Enya sat down at a corner table and immediately reported.

“Your Grace, we’ve confirmed Bayan’s whereabouts.”

Tairok, his eyes disguised by magic and his hood pulled low, signaled for her to continue. Enya’s voice dropped further, and the others at the table leaned in.

“They did stay here three days ago. But they left after just one day.”

Enya paused briefly before naming a location.

“They’re said to have moved towards XXX.”

Instantly, the expressions of those listening grew grave. Even Haas was startled and asked back.

“Huh? That’s right on the border with Kun. Just across a small river from Kun…”

But no one agreed with Haas. They had already been suspicious while tracking Bayan.

“They might be coming to Kun.”

One subordinate seated opposite Tairok murmured softly, and Enya beside him nodded.

“I think so too.”

“But why would they come to Kun?”

When Haas interjected, Enya narrowed her eyes slightly.

“Who knows. We’ll just have to catch them and ask.”

What had begun as a simple pursuit to eliminate Sarne’s core forces was unfolding into an unexpected situation. It felt chilling, like realizing the tip of a shot arrow was behind you after running to find it.

“Haas.”

Tairok opened his mouth and gave a short order.

“You return to the manor immediately.”

Me? Just me? Haas’s eyes widened in surprise, but he nodded seriously at Tairok’s following order.

“Tell Rick to prepare for any possible attack. And you, stay by the Duchess’s side.”

This time, the others’ eyes widened in surprise. Even though they hadn’t yet held the wedding ceremony, Tairok used the title Duchess as if it were a given.

‎

‎

‎

‎

For the next few days, caring for the fainting Black Bear became routine. Despite fainting repeatedly, she never gave up receiving the divine beast’s power. Maybe Black Bear was the psychopath. Today, she stubbornly refused to let me hold her hand.

‘You’ll die at this rate.’

‘I’m still alive, so I’ll try harder.’

But even as she said that, she simultaneously gushed blood. Her stubbornness was infuriating. It rivaled that of the bear. In the end, unable to persuade her, I had to return to the mansion.

“Lord Lu, are you alright?”

Rick, who had been lingering outside my room, asked me with concern.

“Yes, I’m fine.”

I replied listlessly, about to walk past him, but belatedly noticed something wrong and turned back.

“You have something to tell me?”

“The curse that fell upon Kun is an unprecedentedly powerful black magic.”

I blinked at the sudden topic, and Rick added in an awkward voice.

“Even someone like you might not be able to solve this.”

Ah, so he’s trying to comfort me. Why suddenly?

“Did something happen to the Grand Duke?”

“……No.”

“Something did happen.”

“Huh? Ah, no, it’s just—”

“Did he find Sarne Bayan’s trail?”

“I can’t say for sure.”

Rick shook his head. But to me, it was an omen of misfortune.

“He found her. And he really went to fight her.”

Rick’s face froze in shock.

“Do you know how to read people’s minds?”

Rick was flustered, but I had no time for pointless conversation with him.

“Rick, tell me. Has the Grand Duke already started fighting Bayan?”

“I cannot say. Haas came this morning to deliver the news, and a full day has already passed…”

Rick couldn’t finish his sentence and shook his head. Even if Tairok had the upper hand over Bayan, what if he got seriously injured in the fight? What if he really ended up bedridden for over a year? No, what if he… Goddammit.

“Contact the Grand Duke. Tell him to return immediately.”

“Lord Lu, I understand your concern, but once the Grand Duke makes a decision, he sees it through to the end.”

Rick expressed his opinion with a resolute expression.

“I share your concerns about this mission, but if we must face Sarne, we must first take down the greatest threat: Bayan. Since this battle is unavoidable, it’s better to finish it while Sarne hasn’t yet gained the power of the divine beast. There’s no other alternative.”

“There is another alternative.”

“Pardon?”

Rick asked stupidly.

“An alternative? You mean there’s a way to defeat Sarne Bayan?”

“Yes.”

“What is that…”

“Don’t ask questions. Go call the Grand Duke.”

But Rick still looked skeptical. Ah, Tairok might doubt it too. Then I’ll have to add something convincing.

“Tell him I heard the method from a divine beast.”