Challenge
After the covenant was concluded, the gnoll tribe returned half of the captured prisoners and half of the seized tarasks.
Losing half the tarasks was a significant loss… but Conrad and Edwin did not dare raise any objections. Like men being chased, they hurriedly regrouped the remnants of the expeditionary force and prepared to depart.
Woojin glanced over the survivors.
"…Fortunately, the Saintess is alive."
Vines covered the dirt ground. They were plants cultivated by Cecilia, the Saintess of Flora. It seemed she had used them to bind the gnolls' ankles and buy time.
Her survival was a relief. If Cecilia had died, it would have caused serious conflict with the Order of Prosperity.
"Beomont somehow survived as well… and among the leadership, only Cornelius died?"
The old viper's death was unexpected. Woojin had assumed he would have retreated early to save himself—or at worst, become a prisoner. Why had he died?
He was a little curious about the reason…
But he made no effort to find out. He had little interest, and even less desire to mourn. Besides, there were mountains of other matters demanding his attention.
"You're sending an envoy?"
At his question, Braknark answered politely.
"Yes. We wish to attempt contact with the humans."
The gnoll tribe knew little about the human world, and humans likewise knew little about the gnolls. They hoped to send a delegation to the Wall City so that the two races could learn about one another.
It was certainly a reasonable proposal. But one concern lingered.
"Descending south is one of your tribe's taboos. Is that truly acceptable?"
The native inhabitants of the Demon Realm, including the gnoll tribe, considered traveling south to be taboo. When Woojin pointed this out, Braknark nodded as if it were of no consequence.
"The taboo has already been broken. After the Old One eroded our territory, the entire tribe migrated south."
"…That's true."
The Old One's range of activity had expanded. That was not welcome news.
"Are the other tribes in similar situations?"
"The serpent folk seem to be enduring somehow, but as for the others, I do not know. They are a quarrelsome lot. We lost contact long ago."
Braknark appeared to know little more. It was unfortunate not to gain further information, but it could not be helped.
Even humans struggled to understand each other once they crossed borders. The natives of the Demon Realm were entirely different species. Such differences made interaction between tribes rare.
Braknark gestured to his subordinates. Three gnolls stepped forward.
"I intend to send these three as envoys."
"They look quite strong."
"Yes. They must represent the tribe."
Braknark introduced them one by one.
"This one is Jaka. He will serve as the leader of the delegation."
Vanguard Jaka.
A warrior with a lean, agile build. He had distinguished himself in the recent battle—sneaking in atop a bull-type demonic beast and striking priests with barbed projectiles. It had been an impressive sight.
"This one is Brodul. He possesses several useful skills and will be of assistance."
Shaman Brodul.
The very shaman who had overseen the covenant ritual with Conrad and Edwin. He had likely been included to handle various situations flexibly.
"And lastly… this one is Rogar. He managed the southern gate."
Gatekeeper Rogar.
He required little explanation. Rogar grinned at Woojin.
"Jin, we meet again."
"…Rogar. I told you several times to show proper respect to the Guardian."
Braknark bared his fangs. Rogar merely shrugged.
"Go easy on me, Chief. We're not used to showing respect."
"Honestly, that's true," Jaka added with a yawn.
Gnoll warriors obey orders, but they do not show deference to anyone but the chieftain. Every warrior is a rival who must one day be surpassed.
To rise in rank, one must defeat a superior. That was why the warriors looked at Woojin with competitive eyes.
Braknark shifted uneasily.
"My apologies. They are still somewhat young…"
"It's fine. They're lively. I like it."
Too much formality was tiresome. Woojin smiled back at them.
The return journey won't be boring.
If anything, it was better this way.
**
"Give my regards to the chieftain."
"Yes, I will."
With that final exchange, Woojin parted ways with Braknark. He returned to the expeditionary force alongside the gnoll delegation. Seeing them, Conrad turned pale.
"Surely… those monsters aren't coming with us?"
"They are an envoy for peace."
"Even so, that's a bit…"
Conrad swallowed whatever he had been about to say. The oath he had sworn earlier weighed heavily—one careless remark might cost him his divine power.
Woojin prompted him coolly.
"Yes, and?"
"…It is nothing."
Conrad muttered under his breath. He clearly found the situation distasteful, yet he dared not speak freely.
In truth, most of the expedition members were unlikely to welcome the gnolls. They had been enemies not long ago.
"Still, their presence is not a bad thing. Beyond diplomacy, there is a significant advantage."
Demonic beasts avoided entanglements with gnolls. Offend the tribe, and they would storm the forest and overturn everything in sight.
The expeditionary force had been greatly weakened by the recent battle. They would likely have faced multiple ambushes on the way back—but with the gnolls accompanying them, that concern was greatly reduced.
"Announce this fact. Ensure the soldiers do not resist their presence."
"…Very well."
Rex, suddenly addressed, flinched. The red wolf looked between Woojin and the massive gnoll with disbelief in his eyes.
You want me to fight that monster?
His gaze seemed to say.
Woojin smirked and said to Rogar,
"If you can subdue this wolf, I'll spar with you."
"That is not a difficult request."
Conrad opened his mouth to object, but the memory of his oath made him concede. An oath sworn in a god's name was not light. The Archbishop would have to cooperate fully.
The expedition had failed, and his political standing was already shattered. If he broke his oath and lost his divine power as well, he would be cast out from the Order of Wisdom and fall to the very bottom.
Led by Conrad, the priests of the Order of Wisdom announced the arrangement to the expeditionary force.
The soldiers reacted with suspicion at first. But as no ambushes occurred, they gradually accepted the gnolls' presence.
Everyone was exhausted—too exhausted to stir unnecessary conflict.
Few dared provoke the gnolls. Soldiers and knights alike simply wanted to return home as quickly as possible.
Retracing their path was relatively easy. The expedition marched south.
"…How dull."
Rogar spoke up suddenly. With nothing but walking and no conflict, he was bored.
"Hey, Jin. Since there's nothing else to do and it's peaceful… would you accept my challenge?"
"I'm busy."
Woojin answered like that, staring down at the paper with a quill in hand. He was personally drafting a report to submit to the Religious Alliance.
Conrad and Roland had said they would file separate reports, but that alone did not reassure him. He intended to mobilize all the knowledge he possessed to emphasize the importance of the ceasefire agreement.
"Rex. You go handle it."
"…Huh?"
Rex, suddenly called out, flinched. He looked as if he doubted his own ears. The red wolf glanced back and forth between Woojin's face and the massive gnoll.
You want me to fight that monster?
His eyes seemed to ask exactly that.
Woojin smirked and said to Rogar,
"If you subdue this wolf, I'll spar with you."
"That is not a difficult request."
Rogar answered confidently. As Rex's tail drooped, Woojin leaned close to his ear and whispered,
"Don't be timid. It'll be manageable."
With that, he shoved the wolf forward, forcing him to stand face-to-face with the gnoll warrior.
Woojin picked up the quill again.
Krrrunch—!
A strange sound came from behind him. Since he was focused on writing, he could not see it, but it seemed Rex had released his tentacles and even layered on stone hide.
The cracking snap of a stone whip split the air.
Craaaash!!
A thunderous boom erupted. Something split apart, followed by the sound of a tree tilting and collapsing.
"…What? That's too strong for a wolf."
Rogar muttered in surprise, realizing this would not be an easy opponent. Even Rex blinked, as if startled by the force of his own attack.
Without looking back, Woojin scribbled with his quill and remarked,
"That much should be expected. Think about how many inner cores you've devoured."
Throughout the expedition, countless demonic beasts had been hunted. Woojin had secretly butchered the carcasses and extracted their inner cores. All of those had gone to the wolves.
Rex had consumed more than the others—along with a gargoyle's inner core. No matter where he went, he now possessed enough strength to hold his own.
…But there was one critical problem.
He lacks experience.
Having grown mainly by consuming the inner cores Woojin provided, Rex was struggling in the tactical exchange against the gnoll warrior. Meanwhile, Rogar found himself stalled, unable to break through the wolf's four stone whips.
Perhaps both judged it difficult to decisively subdue the other.
After trading blows for a while, wolf and hyena stepped back, as if silently declaring a truce. Rogar approached Woojin, grumbling.
"Subduing that wolf without killing it is too difficult. What should I do?"
Breaking through four stone whips to land a clean strike was no simple matter. When Rogar asked for guidance, Woojin replied without much thought.
"Try harder."
"That's easier said than done… Can you subdue that wolf?"
Rogar voiced his doubt.
Woojin smirked and raised his right hand, extending his index finger and thumb like a pistol.
Thud—
As Woojin mimed firing the gun, Rex instantly flopped onto the dirt, sprawling flat on his back.
Rogar tilted his head.
"…Was that sorcery?"
"Not really."
Woojin reached into his coat and pulled out a strip of jerky. Rex sprang up as if he had been waiting and accepted it eagerly.
He looked like a well-trained hunting dog.
Rogar frowned, clearly thinking it unfair.
"That's not subduing him with strength."
"Isn't it?"
Let's test it.
Woojin casually turned and pointed his finger at Rogar.
"Bang."
...
Rogar stared silently at the finger aimed at him. His expression showed disbelief. As if he felt insulted, his face gradually hardened with anger.
"Hey, I'm not in the mood for jokes—"
His words trailed off.
The moment he lifted his gaze, he met Woojin's eyes.
Something caught in his throat.
A cold sensation crawled up his spine. Dangerous.
The gnoll warrior swallowed unconsciously.
What should I do?
It felt like being a mouse before a cat. Instinct screamed at him in warning, yet he could not move rashly. Any action felt like the wrong one.
As he hesitated, Rogar suddenly recalled Rex's earlier behavior—the red wolf dropping flat onto the dirt.
That was it. He needed to imitate that.
Just as Rogar began lowering his stance—
"…Alright. That's enough."
Woojin grinned and grabbed Rogar's arm, stopping him midway. The gnoll froze awkwardly in place.
"You held out well. You definitely have talent… but don't rush. There's probably a reason Braknark never challenged me."
Rogar slowly nodded.
"…Yes. I understand."
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