Chapter 123

The highlands where the Natives of the Great Jungle resided.

At a training ground on the outskirts, Hastings and Terrien stood, loosening up their bodies.

Before long, Erzan, the Son of the Tribal Chief, stood before the two as their instructor.

“You came early. Good. To learn, you need at least that much determination. Ah, and you’re Terrien, right? Honestly, I’m surprised. To think you could sense your intuition in the very first lesson. Of course, sensing it isn’t everything. That’s only the beginning. Don’t grow conceited. Simply starting to feel your sixth sense is of no use.”

The tribe’s warrior acting as interpreter for Hastings and Terrien was Sparrow.

He earned that nickname because of the hat he wore—crafted from the head of a bird-like monster. With exaggerated gestures and broken speech, Sparrow struggled to relay Erzan’s words.

“Sixth sense… not all. Just start.”

“Close your eyes and block your ears. It’ll help if you block your other senses too, but for now, just those two will suffice. You’ll realize just how much you’ve depended on your sight and hearing.”

Sparrow immediately mimed covering his eyes and ears to emphasize the point.

“Eyes… ears bad. Not help learn.”

Thanks to Sparrow’s desperate efforts, Terrien and Hastings roughly grasped the meaning.

“I think he means to shut off our sight and hearing.”

“Yes, I think so too.”

Judging from their expressions and tone that they had understood, Erzan continued his explanation.

“The sixth sense isn’t something that appears out of nowhere just because someone teaches it to you. It’s about learning how to draw out what already exists within. To forcibly awaken it, cutting off sight and hearing—the senses humans depend on most—is essential. Now, take these.”

Erzan pulled out blindfolds and earplugs he had prepared beforehand and handed them to the two.

Terrien and Hastings exchanged light smiles, as if they had expected this, and each took a set.

Earplugs, blindfolds—and beside Erzan, a large pile of stones. Terrien and Hastings instinctively understood what that meant, and their faces twisted slightly.

“From now on, I’ll throw these stones at you. All you have to do is dodge them. Simple, right? Oh, and of course, you are absolutely forbidden to use your magic. When magic and the sixth sense align, they can produce great power, but for now, it will only delay your awakening. Got it, you stupid pigs from the continent?”

Sparrow, standing beside him, looked troubled at Erzan’s long tirade.

“Uh… should I translate that last part too?”

“Can you even manage it properly?”

“That’s….”

“Forget it. Just tell them not to use magic and to dodge the stones properly.”

At that, Sparrow let out a sheepish laugh, relieved, and relayed the simplified version.

“No magic. Stone throw. You dodge. Eyes close, ears block. No magic.”

The moment their worst fears became reality, Terrien and Hastings grimaced.

“…Quite a rough method.”

“That bastard’s complaining looks more like he’s itching to vent some anger than to teach us. I just hope he doesn’t use this as an excuse.”

At Terrien’s words, Hastings glanced at Erzan.

Already prepared, Erzan stood proudly beside the pile of stones, smirking.

“He’s a thug, but since this is an order from Elder Herran, the Chief, he probably isn’t doing this just to mess with us. We’ll have to endure it.”

“…Seems so.”

The two exchanged wry smiles. Then, they donned their blindfolds and earplugs, ready for training.

Seeing their preparation complete, Erzan smiled with satisfaction and called out to Sparrow.

“Hey, Sparrow.”

“Uh, yeah?”

“You can head inside now.”

“Huh? Really?”

The interpreter’s face brightened, and Erzan flashed a grin, revealing white teeth.

“Yeah. Screams don’t need translation.”

While Terrien and Hastings desperately dodged the fierce hail of stones, another lesson was underway on the far side of the jungle.

Rok Kahaad, who had taken charge of Bernid’s training, stood quietly beside him.

‘Interesting. I don’t know what their scheme is, but even those primitive natives are getting involved. Have they ever gone this far for outsiders before? Anyway… I wonder how the others are being taught. Surely none of them are still doing something as brutish as throwing rocks, right?’

As that very “surely not” was happening on the other side of the jungle, something occurred to Kahaad. He called out to Bernid, who was focused on his training.

“Bern.”

“Yes, Master.”

“That young one you serve as your lord—what kind of person is he?”

“Why do you ask all of a sudden…?”

“No one who comes to the Great Jungle is without a story. That’s why I never pried into your past. But from watching you for a while, I can tell—you’re not the sort to serve under just anyone. You’re from a high noble family, aren’t you?”

Bernid quietly marveled at his master’s sharp eye.

‘I tried my best to live roughly and not stand out, but he still saw through it. What a terrifying old man.’

Reading even that expression, Kahaad spoke as if amused.

“You look surprised. Did you think I wouldn’t notice something that obvious?”

“Haha… Yes, Master. You really can’t be fooled.”

“So, what kind of person is that boy?”

“Yurion… that boy is….”

At the mention of Yurion’s name, countless thoughts flashed through Bernid’s mind.

Dozens of words to describe him lingered on his tongue.

“….”

Kahaad waited patiently, and after a long silence, Bernid let out a faint chuckle and answered.

“He’s my brother.”

“Brother? An older one? No, judging by how you speak, a younger one, right?”

“Yes, my younger half-brother.”

Kahaad burst into hearty laughter.

“Haha! The classic story. You lost your position to a half-brother of higher birth and ended up serving him, eh?”

“No, that’s wrong. Even you can be mistaken sometimes, Master.”

“I’m wrong? How so?”

“In terms of lineage, I actually outrank Yurion. He’s just… naturally gifted.”

“A self-made genius, huh… fascinating. So that’s why that thing chose him.”

At last, Kahaad began to understand why that monstrous being had chosen Yurion.

“Bern.”

“Yes, Master.”

“I must confess—I am not the strongest in the Great Jungle. But….”

At Kahaad’s suddenly solemn tone, Bernid pricked up his ears.

“If you walk the Demonic Path as I have, learning from my mistakes and using them as nourishment, one day you will become the strongest in this cursed land. You might even surpass me.”

“….”

“When that day comes, when all revere you, will you still be content to stand below your brother?”

“Are you testing me, Master?”

“No. I’m merely asking. Answer honestly.”

“I….”

This time, there was no long hesitation.

“While serving under him, I’ve realized many things. I don’t wish to be a ruler, but rather a researcher—a magician. So even if I surpass him someday, I’ll still follow him. Just as I need him, he’ll need me.”

The heart of the Great Jungle.

The battlefield soaked in the blood and flesh of countless beasts—there, Yuwon stood tall, not a single drop of blood on his hands.

“You may withdraw now. Thank you. You’ve been a great help. I’ll call for you again when needed.”

Tsszzzt—!

Kirrkrrrk—!

At Yuwon’s words of praise, the serpents that had fought on his behalf hissed cheerfully, flicking their tails before slithering away one by one.

Not long after the snakes withdrew, only two figures remained—Yuwon, and beside him, the ever-present Dragon-Scaled Serpent.

Yuwon swept his gaze across the bloodstained jungle, then spoke softly toward the empty air.

“You’ll accept the outcome, won’t you?”

At his call, his teacher—who had perfectly hidden his presence through mysterious stealth—lifted the concealment technique and appeared.

“Well, well. You already knew I was here. To think you could detect my concealment—you truly are gifted.”

Yuwon replied with a faint smile, then repeated his earlier question.

“The answer?”

“…Yes. I accept.”

The agreement was about the promise between Yuwon and his teacher—to slay a hundred beasts.

Without lifting a finger, Yuwon had annihilated them all through the serpents under his command.

“And?”

“…Your Majesty.”

Satisfied, Yuwon grinned broadly.

“I used to think the serpents merely liked you, but no… they seem to revere you as their king. Using them instead of magic this time was clever. But can you handle the consequences?”

“You’re talking about the River Serpent.”

“Exactly. The scale of the snakes you used this time wasn’t large enough to draw its wrath, but if you keep this up, it won’t stay silent. You’re trespassing on its domain.”

Yuwon replied, unconcerned.

“I have no intention of befriending it. If we’re destined to settle things someday, doing it sooner changes nothing.”

“Are you confident?”

“Right now, I’d say the odds are half and half… but if your lessons prove useful, I’ll soon be able to overwhelm it.”

As if implying that his teacher’s skill mattered more, Yuwon spoke with infuriating calm.

“What an outrageously arrogant statement.”

“Expressing confidence in one’s ability—is that arrogance? The arrogance I know isn’t quite that.”

“Hah… you little brat, you always have the last word.”

Unable to help himself, the teacher let out a laugh. But Yuwon didn’t wait for his comment, urging him onward.

“Now then, one lesson’s done. What’s next?”

In Yuwon’s eyes burned a fierce will to learn.

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