Chapter 26

Unlike the elf Zeon had met before, her ears weren't completely pointed. They were somewhere between human and elf in size.

Only then did Zeon understand what Deioden meant by "mongrel."

That girl was clearly of mixed human and elf blood.

'A child born between a human and an elf…'

Even setting aside Deioden's intense hostility toward elves, elves themselves didn't have particularly good feelings toward humans either.

At least, the elves Zeon had encountered were like that. So the idea that an elf and a human had formed a family together was surprising.

The girl hid behind the middle-aged man, secretly peeking at Zeon and Deioden.

Her face was full of fear, but there was curiosity mixed in as well.

At that moment, the man's gaze turned toward Zeon.

"I haven't seen you before. Are you his disciple?"

"Disciple? That idiot? Heh!"

Deioden burst into mocking laughter.

Zeon's face twisted, but he didn't bother arguing. Compared to Deioden, being called an idiot wasn't entirely wrong.

The middle-aged man spoke to Zeon,

"My name is Go Du-won. What's yours?"

"Zeon."

"Are you perhaps of Korean descent?"

"I don't even know who my parents are."

"I see… My apologies. I didn't mean to dig into your wounds. I was just glad to see someone who seemed to share the same roots."

"It's fine."

Even in the slums of Neo Seoul, there were quite a few people who cared about lineage.

Old Seoul had once had many foreigners.

When the world changed like this, those who couldn't return to their homelands settled in Neo Seoul.

They struggled to survive and married Koreans or other foreigners, having children.

As countless races mixed together like a melting pot, pure-blooded Koreans became rare.

Deioden scoffed at Go Du-won.

"Still clinging to nonsense like Korean or foreign bloodlines? When your own child is a half-breed mongrel with an elf?"

"You truly haven't changed at all. Still crude, still rude…"

"If a person changes easily, it just means their death isn't far off."

At Deioden's reply, Go Du-won shook his head.

After seeing him again for the first time in years, Deioden hadn't changed one bit.

He still didn't care about others' feelings and spoke words as sharp as blades.

Go Du-won understood better than anyone why Deioden hated other races so much.

It wasn't that he couldn't understand his anger—but a hundred years had passed.

Of those who experienced the incident back then, only a handful, including Deioden, were still alive.

Everyone else had quietly buried those memories in their hearts, but Deioden alone still lived with that burning hatred.

Go Du-won asked carefully,

"Why have you come here? Did you perhaps come to deal with the Bomb Bees?"

"Why would I deal with them?"

"So… you didn't?"

"Are you still chasing foolish dreams? Pathetic."

"It's not a foolish dream. If we eliminate the Bomb Bees, this forest can live again. Do you truly not understand?"

"There's only one thing I know. A tree that's already dead can't be brought back, no matter what you do."

Deioden struck the tree with his hand.

Thud! Thud!

A metallic sound rang out from the charred trunk.

"It's not just dead—it's completely carbonized. And you think it can be restored? Did that woman whisper such nonsense to you? You believe the words of that filthy elf? You'd be better off putting a blade in your mouth and killing yourself."

At Deioden's venomous words, Go Du-won bit his lip.

The man's rage toward elves and other races was far too deep—there was no persuading him.

"If you won't help, then why are you here?"

"I was just passing by. The outskirts of the Black Forest are shaded—good enough for a short rest."

"I'd prefer if you didn't stay long. My tribe fears you."

"You think I care about that?"

"Of course not. You are Deioden, after all. The butcher, Deioden. I must have momentarily forgotten."

"Now that you remember, get out of my sight—before I cut down your mongrel brat."

"You know better than anyone that you can't do that."

"Shall I try? Whether I can or not?"

"…Then I'll take my leave here. I wish you a safe journey."

Go Du-won lowered his head with a grim expression.

Deioden was the kind of man who always followed through.

His madness had only grown over the past hundred years—no one could stop him now.

Go Du-won took his daughter's hand.

In an instant, both of them vanished without a trace.

Zeon muttered in surprise,

"An awakened…"

"He's the one leading a tribe, after all. If he hadn't awakened, he wouldn't have been able to keep them alive this long."

They were called the Goya Tribe—descendants of the Go family who lived out in the wilds.

The name had been given by Go Du-won's elf wife.

Which made it all the more displeasing.

"We'll leave shortly. Get ready."

"Yes!"

Zeon nodded.

There were still many things he was curious about regarding the Goya Tribe, but he decided to drop it here.

Before setting off on a long journey, he needed to eat first.

Zeon took out a piece of jerky and bit into it.

He chewed as slowly as possible before swallowing.

He had just woken up, and his mouth felt dry and stale, but he kept chewing anyway.

After finishing two pieces of jerky and drinking some water, Zeon brushed off his hands and stood up without hesitation.

It was time to leave.

Deioden picked up Crayon, which had been stuck into the ground.

Just as the two were about to leave the Black Forest without looking back—

Wooooong!

A powerful noise suddenly echoed from deep within the forest.

It was the sound of Bomb Bees' wings.

Not just one or two—but hundreds, thousands, all beating their wings at once.

Deioden muttered,

"Something must have stirred them up."

Bomb Bees were magical beasts.

And ones with an intense obsession over their territory.

They would never tolerate another living being entering it.

Something had clearly intruded into their domain.

But that was as far as Deioden's interest went.

This place was only a temporary stop.

Whatever happened next didn't matter to him.

"Let's go."

Deioden coldly turned his back.

Just as Zeon was about to follow him—

"Har! Har!"

Go Du-won came running toward them, desperately calling out. Several men who appeared to be from his tribe followed behind him.

Reaching the two, Go Du-won asked Deioden,

"Have you seen my daughter, Har?"

"Why would you ask me about your daughter's whereabouts?"

"She was playing in front of the bunker, but suddenly disappeared."

At that moment, one of his tribesmen pointed toward the Black Forest.

"Over there—"

"The Bomb Bees are reacting."

At their words, Go Du-won's face turned pale.

He had hunted all the magical beasts in the surrounding area himself.

By regularly clearing them out, he had protected his tribe.

Naturally, there shouldn't have been any creature capable of provoking the Bomb Bees.

"Don't tell me… Har went into the Black Forest?"

"We have to save her!"

"She's in danger!"

Urgency filled the faces of the tribe members.

The Black Forest, home to the Bomb Bees, was one of the most dangerous places on the surface.

Bomb Bees were swarm-type creatures, like ants.

They would not hesitate to self-destruct to repel intruders.

No matter how strong a magical beast was, survival inside the Black Forest was not guaranteed.

And now, his daughter had entered that place alone.

He had no idea how to save her.

Go Du-won dropped to his knees before Deioden.

"Please… save my daughter. I will pay any price—"

"Heh… Why would I bother saving a mongrel like that?"

"Didn't you make a pact?"

"A pact?"

Deioden's expression twisted.

"You owe your life to my father. In return, you promised to watch over Har until she turns twenty."

Veins bulged on Go Du-won's neck.

His eyes were bloodshot.

He was begging with his life on the line—because Deioden was his only hope.

Long ago, Deioden had suffered a fatal wound. The one who saved him back then was Go Du-won's father.

At that time, Go Du-won had already married an elf.

Though Deioden's hatred for other races ran deeper than anyone's, he could not bring himself to kill the daughter-in-law and granddaughter of the man who had saved his life.

When Deioden offered to repay the debt in another way, Go Du-won's father simply asked that Har be left unharmed until she turned twenty.

Deioden had agreed.

"Har is only twelve. There are still eight years left before your promise ends."

"I said I would watch over her—not protect her."

"Can you watch her if she's dead?"

Crunch!

Deioden clenched his teeth.

It was the contradiction of the pact.

'That sly old fox… I've been played.'

Only now did he understand why Go Du-won's father had made him swear such a promise.

He had clearly prepared for a situation like this.

Go Du-won continued,

"If Har doesn't survive, there's nothing left to watch. Am I wrong?"

"Don't twist things. Do you think I'll indulge your nonsense?"

"I will give you my life. Please… save my daughter. She is the only hope for our tribe—and for the people barely surviving in this region."

Go Du-won's voice was filled with desperate sincerity.

Deioden frowned as he looked at him.

Though Go Du-won's argument was close to forcing the issue, it was enough to make Deioden hesitate.

Deioden had lived his entire life as he pleased, but there was one thing—he had never lied to fellow humans.

A trace of conflict appeared on his face.

At that moment, a voice broke the tension.

"I'll go."

It was Zeon.

Having spent so long with Deioden, he could read his complicated emotions.

If Deioden truly had no intention of helping, he would have simply cut Go Du-won down and left. The fact that he lingered meant he was conflicted.

Deioden looked at Zeon.

"Why you?"

"I've been curious about what lies inside the Black Forest anyway."

"Hm."

Deioden frowned.

The danger of the Bomb Bees lay in their nature as a swarm.

With countless individuals launching suicide attacks, ordinary awakened could never handle them.

That was why, despite his desire to reclaim the forest, Go Du-won had been unable to do so.

He hunted using bow and arrows like an elf.

Effective against large beasts—but against swarm-type enemies like Bomb Bees, he was at a disadvantage.

That was why he had begged Deioden so desperately.

On the other hand, Zeon had the perfect affinity against swarm-type creatures.

For someone who wielded sand as a weapon, numbers meant nothing.

Deioden spoke bluntly,

"You seem confident."

"There's something I've been wanting to test anyway."

"If you're going of your own will, I won't stop you."

"Please wait until tomorrow morning. If I haven't returned by then, you can leave."

"Hmph. I would've done that even if you hadn't said it. Remember—until tomorrow morning."

"Then I'll be back."

Just as Zeon stepped into the Black Forest—

"I'll go with you."

Go Du-won followed him.

Zeon glanced at him.

"Are you sure?"

"My daughter's life is on the line. As her father, how could I just stand by and watch?"

"…Understood."

Zeon nodded.

There was no reason to refuse a father trying to save his child.

The other tribe members didn't dare follow. Unlike Go Du-won, they weren't awakened.

Walking closely beside Zeon, Go Du-won said,

"Thank you… for stepping forward so willingly."

"It's nothing."

"Not everyone can act for the sake of others. I won't forget this kindness."

At those words, Zeon gave an awkward smile.

He hadn't stepped forward out of pure goodwill.

After reaching D-rank, he had gained new skills.

And the best way to test them was through real combat.

Bomb Bees were the perfect target.

That was why he had volunteered without being asked.

Because his intentions weren't entirely pure, he felt a bit embarrassed.

At that moment—

Bzzzz!

A fierce buzzing sound came from ahead.

Go Du-won's expression immediately changed.

He recognized it as the sound of Bomb Bees approaching.

He nocked an arrow onto his bow—but Zeon moved faster.

Whoosh!

Sand surged upward in front of them.

Then—

Boom!

A thunderous explosion rang out.

A Bomb Bee charging at them slammed into the sand wall and exploded.

Go Du-won's mouth fell open in shock.

"My god…!"