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Chapter 96

"Then, I\'ll drink until it\'s back to normal."

Laughter erupted among the warriors.

The hall located beyond the square had a spacious interior, devoid of anything, and was the space where almost all village events took place. Sometimes, it also served as a refuge for women and children. Today, it has been transformed into a space for the banquet.

"The number of people guarding at night has decreased, so eat and drink without worry!"

"If you\'re full, just look at that disgusting head. It will allow you to empty your stomach and start anew."

All sorts of meats like deer, goats, and boars were roasted whole, and bread, salted meat, and homemade alcohol were generously taken out of storage.

A white devil\'s head, which was skewered on a pole, was set up in the center of the hall for everyone to see. Freed from their nightly nightmares, the villagers ate, drank, and shouted with joy and solidarity.

Ian silently stuffed meat and alcohol into his mouth in a corner.

The villagers hoped he and Charlotte would sit next to the Great Warrior, but Ian firmly declined. He didn\'t want to eat proper meat and drink with everyone watching. And everyone respected his decision.

"..."

Only Charlotte noticed that Ian\'s refusal wasn\'t just because of that.

"Why are you staring like that?" Ian, munching on the meat, looked at Charlotte seated opposite him.

Charlotte spoke calmly, "This banquet was made to thank you, but you don\'t seem happy at all."

"There\'s nothing to be happy about. I didn\'t ask for this banquet. Of course, there\'s nothing bad either." After taking a sip of alcohol, Ian glanced at Askel sitting next to Charlotte and added, "The meat is fine, and the alcohol is good. It feels like all the grease is being washed away."

"Eat a lot, sir. I\'ll keep refilling it so it won\'t run out."

What a commendable guy.

Ian smirked and took another bite of the meat.

"You\'ve all worked hard!"

It was then that Valeri stood up abruptly, holding his cup high. The assembly fell silent at the Great Warrior\'s toast.

"We have endured another time as harsh as a blizzard. Karha must be watching over us. But this hardship was not overcome by our strength alone." Valeri\'s voice, suited to his size, boomed authoritatively. His voice and beard made him appear experienced beyond his years.

"Hunters of monsters from the mountains. We owe a great debt to these foreigners. Let us express our thanks and I ask for a toast. Everyone, raise your glasses!"

The villagers pounded the tables and raised their glasses. All eyes were on Ian. Ian, holding his cup, spoke with an indifferent face.

"We just solved a request. Yet, you treat us to such fine food, thank you. But you owe me nothing, so don\'t worry about it." Ian drank the alcohol in his cup.

The villagers looked at each other with puzzled expressions, then burst into laughter and brought their cups to their lips. Valeri\'s hearty laughter echoed as the hall became noisy again when suddenly someone stood up.

It was Urd. Holding his cup, he looked at Ian and eventually spoke, "I have something to ask the monster hunter who killed the White Devil."

Ian turned to him with a slight tilt of his head.

"Go ahead."

"Look at the strong warriors in front. And also look at the others." The voices and laughter died down. Urd looked around at the villagers and then back at Ian. "Do you think the village can continue to protect itself without you?"

What is he thinking by asking this? Does he want to pour cold water on this celebration?

Ian slightly furrowed his brow, but Valeri\'s laughter broke out first.

"What are you bringing up at a celebration, old man Urd? Surely you\'re not suggesting we abandon our homeland again—"

"That\'s not for me to decide. But..." Ian\'s voice cut off Valeri\'s.

Valeri\'s thick eyebrows twitched.

"This is already the territory of monsters. Not the domain of humans."

Ian continued calmly. "So the village will continue to be a target for monsters. Even more so with a holy statue here. The weak fear the sacred, but the strong despise it."

Ian brought the cup to his lips as if he had said all he needed to.

The hall had suddenly become quiet. Anxiety, momentarily forgotten with the alcohol and food, showed on some faces, while a faint anger flickered across others.

Urd looked at Valeri.

"Do you still have no intention of moving into the autonomous zone within the barriers, Great Warrior of the village?"

"This is our homeland. It is also the site of Karha\'s great battles and where his sacred image stands. Born a warrior of the North, how could I abandon my homeland?"

"Even if that decision leads to everyone\'s death?"

"We are not born fearing death, old man. Those who are afraid should stand up now and leave this place. And never come back. I won\'t stop you."

Valeri added as he looked around the assembly. No one stood. To do so would brand them a coward who had abandoned their homeland.

Such a clever manipulator.

Thinking this, Ian brought his cup to his lips. What intrigued him was Urd\'s intent. The old man must have anticipated how things would unfold.

"Delaying the judgment that a great warrior must make is cowardly. A great warrior should bear the most difficult and painful decisions." Urd spoke calmly.

Ian\'s gaze shifted to Askel. An expressionless face, but his eyes could not fully hide the anxiety.

After a moment of staring at Urd, Valeri finally spoke.

"I am already bearing the most difficult and painful decision, old man. If you are so displeased with my decision, show me through action, not words."

Action...? Ian\'s brows furrowed slightly.

At the same time, Askel\'s pupils began to quiver.

Urd\'s voice continued. "Yes. A warrior should show his intent through actions, not words."

He set his cup down on the table. Valeri scoffed. "You should stop there, old man. Out of respect for the past great warriors, I do not wish to kill an old man."

"...!"

Only then did Ian\'s gaze turn to Urd. He was smiling serenely.

"As a former great warrior, I want to tell you that there is no order in death." Valeri\'s expression became strange. It seemed he was either trying to hide a smile by frowning or trying to smooth out a furrowed brow with a smile.

"Come outside. In front of Karha, I shall challenge the authority of a great warrior." Urd said calmly as he turned around.

What it meant to challenge the authority of a great warrior needed no deep thought.

That old man... Ian\'s brows deeply furrowed.

Ian now understood why the old man had made such bold claims. Without him, Askel had no reason to stay in the village.

"It seems we are about to spill a warrior\'s blood on a festive day..." Valeri stood up, murmuring.

The villagers also began to move outside, holding their cups.

"Are the Great Warrior and old man Urd going to fight each other?" Charlotte turned to Askel and asked.

With a gaze as heavy as his voice, Askel responded. "Yes. Until one admits defeat... or one of them dies."

Ian downed the alcohol in his cup in one go.

Looking for a place to die... Such a foolish act, old man.

Clicking his tongue, Ian set down his cup and stood up.

***

In front of Karha\'s sacred image, Valeri faced Urd, who had been waiting first.

The villagers who followed stood back, forming a circle around them. No one intervened or stopped them. The duel over the position of great warrior was a sacred ritual.

Valeri spoke as he took off his cloak. "Even now, stop, old man. There\'s neither pride nor honor in defeating an old man like you."

"A warrior does not take back his words," Urd replied calmly as he loosened his body.

"I will not wield a weapon. That is the greatest respect I can offer."

A smile flickered across Urd\'s lips at Valeri\'s words. "How cruel, little one."

His one eye then turned to gaze at Karha\'s sacred image.

"Watch, oh Superhuman of the North."

Swoosh—

A faint sanctity spread from the tip of Karha\'s greatsword right then.

"Oh... Karha blesses..."

"Blessings are being bestowed upon old man Urd..."

The warriors watching let out exclamations. The villagers too held their breath as they witnessed the miracle unfolding before them.

"The God of the North is kind. Does he always watch over like this?"

Leaning askew, Charlotte asked from a corner. She seemed displeased with the duel unfolding. Next to her, Askel, clenching his fist, shook his head.

"No. It used to be rare for the sword to be stained with blood, and even rarer for such sanctity to descend. And that Karha would bless our old man..."

His tone was more of resentment than joy.

Charlotte was about to speak when suddenly—

Dash!

Urd charged at Valeri. His speed was unbelievable for an old man. A red trail, created by the faint divine power, scattered behind him like a mirage. In an instant, Urd reached right in front of Valeri and threw a punch.

“...!” Slightly startled, Valeri raised his arms.

Crack—!

The sound of the impact was unbelievable for one produced by an old man. Valeri stepped back, curling his lips slightly.

"Karha desires a fair duel, it seems."

Simultaneously, he threw a punch. Urd did not dodge but blocked it. The old man\'s gaunt body did not fly back even from the Great Warrior\'s punch.

Thump! Crack! Crunch!

The brawl continued. Valeri was fast and strong, and Urd, blessed by Karha, was seasoned and resolute.

Smack! Crack!

Neither hesitated to attack vital spots or to roll on the ground and display unseemly tactics. Blood spattered from both warriors, staining the surroundings.

Ian, who had been quietly observing, finally turned his head. His gaze stopped at Askel, who did not even blink. Askel’s eyes were as cold as mountain ice and as deep as an abyss.

You\'re mistaken, old man.

Even if he were to die, Askel would not leave the village. Instead, he would surely stay to the bitter end, seeking to avenge him someday. And perhaps eventually die in the attempt, regardless of whether the revenge succeeded or not.

Then Ian\'s gaze moved to the sacred image, shimmering with divine power.

Do not interfere, Karha.

A strange sensation followed. For a moment, time seemed to stop, then his vision stretched like taffy. His consciousness pushed into an indistinguishable center where everything swiftly covered in lines turned stark white.

...Do not interfere.

Though it wasn\'t intentional, Ian was not perturbed. He calmly waited for what would happen next.

Beyond the curtain of light, something indiscernible was felt. He needed a new kind of sensory organ to precisely perceive that presence. All he could sense was an immeasurable vastness.

Of course, Ian already knew who it was.

I have no intention of serving you, nor becoming your great warrior, Karha.

Unable to speak, Ian thought it. He wasn\'t sure if the message would get across, but it didn\'t matter.

So kill me if you will, keep me here forever if that\'s what you want. Otherwise, get out of my way. I want nothing more to do with you.

Woosh.

A gust of wind burst from beyond, soon followed by a thunderous rumble that covered everything. The curtain of light trembled like rippling waves.

Incredibly, it was the sound of laughter.

And the next moment,

"...”

As if sliced by a blade, his consciousness snapped back to reality. A quest completion window popped up in front of him and strange warmth was felt on his left shoulder and forearm. As the last echoed voice lingered in his mind like an afterimage, Ian furrowed his brow.

—Have it your way. I will too.

...Truly a law unto himself.

Thinking this, Ian closed the window and looked at the clients still engaged in their deadly combat.

It was time to break a contract.

***

Not bad, old man.

As he parried Urd\'s punch, Valeri\'s eyes shone brightly. Urd proved to be a stronger opponent than expected. Yet, it wasn\'t alarming for Valeri.

In fact, Valeri relished it. It meant he wouldn\'t hear the whispers of having mercilessly beaten a powerless old man. He would be remembered as the mighty warrior who overcame the challenge of an experienced, God-blessed fighter.

I think it’s enough now—

Crack!

As Valeri blocked Urd\'s punch with his forearm and dove into his flank, he was already aware of the old man\'s weaknesses: no left hand, no left eye.

Swoosh—

It was then that Urd extended what was left of his left arm. It wasn\'t a fist, but this very limitation allowed him to concentrate the impact on a much smaller area—a hidden move of desperation.

...unless it was unexpected.

Valeri easily twisted his body aside.

That Urd had been saving his left hand as if he couldn\'t use it, was something Valeri had picked up on during the course of their fight. Watching the old man’s face contort, Valeri grabbed his collar.

Crash!

Urd hit the ground hard. Blood spattered from his open mouth. Valeri did not stop.

Crunch!

His fist, as large as a head, crashed into Urd\'s face. Once. And then again.

Your words were correct, old man. It is cruel.

Valeri continued his thought as he punched down.

I\'ll use you, old man, to show clearly what happens to those who defy me.

Urd’s eyes began to glaze over as he coughed up blood. Karha’s divine power was scattered with each of Valeri’s blows.

Crash!

As he delivered another punch, Valeri realized that the divinity bound to the old man was nearly extinguished. His clenched fist rose higher.

“What is... happening...?”

“Why all of a sudden...”

A murmur of dismay spread among the villagers at that moment. Intent on delivering another blow, Valeri felt a grip on his wrist and turned his head.

“...?”

The monster hunter from the mountains was looking down at him. Staring back at Valeri’s bulging eyes, Ian spoke.

“Do you really need to kill an old man who would die soon anyway?”