After receiving the sword from Aorn and saying his final farewells, Yujin found Theresis waiting at the rendezvous point. Yujin had expected the other children to be there as well, but Theresis stood alone.
A brief exchange followed.
"…I see."
If that was the children's wish, he had to respect it. He had wanted to see their faces one last time before leaving, but it wasn't to be. Yujin lowered his head, a heavy feeling settling in his chest. At first, he had only intended to look out for Theresis and Theresia, but somewhere along the way, those children had become part of his life.
"One day, let's change it."
Theresis spoke. Yujin understood exactly what "changing it" meant, and he nodded solemnly.
Yujin then shared his concerns about the "test" with Theresis. He wondered aloud what would happen if he failed. It was a hypothetical, but one worth considering.
"If he gives you a written test on common sense, you're failing for sure."
"…I don't know. If that happens, I'll make Kalaisha take responsibility."
Theresis, once again shifting the blame to Kalaisha, looked at Yujin. Kalaisha was a mysterious girl. She clearly possessed powerful Arts related to the wind, and Theresis felt that if it came down to a fight, he wouldn't stand a chance against her.
She had that same aura of strength that Yujin carried.
Yet, thinking about Kalaisha—who was likely lounging around the lodging at this very moment—Theresis felt a strange sense of dissonance. Yujin felt the same. Kalaisha seemed serious when she spoke of important matters, but her daily behavior was that of a total slacker.
While Yujin was recovering, she had refused to step outside, claiming she hated the outdoors. Unlike Yujin or Theresis, who trained diligently, she spent her time shut in her room playing games. She even gave Theresia money to go buy groceries and cook for her, acting for all the world like an unemployed loafer.
Staring at her from his sickbed, Yujin finally understood how Tarkan had managed to give her the slip.
"..."
"..."
The conversation fell into a long silence as they both contemplated Kalaisha's personality. Finally, Theresis broke the quiet.
"By the way, some guy was looking for her, so I gave him the address."
"Since when do you, a guy raised in the backalleys, just give out locations to strangers?"
Yujin stared at him, but Theresis simply shrugged.
"He was an outsider, and he had a picture of them together. I told him we weren't involved and sent him on his way."
"…So you were ready to cut ties the moment things went south?"
"Basic survival rule of the slums."
Yujin didn't think Kalaisha was in any real danger, though. The moment he had met her, he realized her hidden power far exceeded even Tarkan's. He didn't know the full extent of her strength, but she wasn't someone who would be easily taken down.
"Let's head back to the lodging."
Just in case, Yujin and Theresis kept their footsteps quiet as they approached the building where Kalaisha was staying.
And there, they were met with a sight they didn't expect.
Kalaisha was standing against a wall, her arms raised in punishment, looking absolutely miserable.
Theresia was standing nearby, letting out a tired sigh.
"My apologies."
Yujin was speechless as he looked up at the giant of a man bowing his head. He had never seen someone so massive—he was a literal giant.
"No, there's no need to apologize for that..."
Yujin tried to clear his mind. He didn't care much about the fact that they hadn't caught the target during the pursuit. It was just bad luck that Tarkan had ended up in his neighborhood. What still bothered him was the fact that Kalaisha had watched him fight and hadn't lifted a finger.
the giant introduced himself as Buldrokkas'tee. He told Yujin he could simply call him Buldrokk. Yujin reached out and shook his massive hand.
"But what brings you all the way here?"
"It is a bit embarrassing, but I came to ensure Kalaisha was actually performing her duties. The Master... well, he was concerned about her personality."
Kalaisha's mission: the execution of Tarkan.
Yujin still didn't quite get why she was standing in the corner with her hands up, but he had to know the full story.
"…Why is she being punished like that?"
"I heard everything."
"Theresia snitched—ow!"
Kalaisha tried to chime in, but Theresia immediately silenced her with a sharp rap to the head.
"You dumped your mission on someone else... and then spent your time lounging in a lodging without reporting back? Master will be so disappointed if he finds out."
"I told him I didn't want to go, but he forced me—ack! You hit the same spot twice!"
This time, it was Buldrokk who delivered the blow to Kalaisha's head as she complained.
"Regardless, be prepared for what's coming when we return."
"Ugh. It's not like I didn't want to do the mission. It's just that someone beat me to it—ow?!"
This time, Yujin was the one who hit her.
"I think it would be more helpful if you just stayed quiet, Kalaisha," Yujin said with an icy stare. Kalaisha pouted and lowered her head, though she kept her arms raised.
Yujin spoke with Buldrokkas'tee for a while. The giant already knew that Kalaisha wanted to recommend Yujin as a disciple, and he didn't seem to mind.
"It is ultimately for the Master to decide. And capturing a disgraced Knight of the Royal Court... is no easy feat."
"…A Knight of the Royal Court?"
This was news to Yujin. He turned to look at Kalaisha, but she awkwardly avoided his gaze.
"Sigh, it seems Kalaisha didn't bother to explain the background. Tarkan was a Knight who abandoned his honor. He was cast out for illegal activities and fled, which is why Kalaisha was sent to track and eliminate him."
"Son of a..."
Yujin bit back a curse. It finally made sense why Tarkan had been so absurdly strong. Considering another slap to the back of Kalaisha's head, Yujin turned back to Buldrokk.
"So... Kalaisha mentioned that there's a trial I have to pass to become a disciple."
Buldrokk nodded simply. "Since you have already dealt with a criminal of Tarkan's caliber, I doubt the Master will raise much issue. Besides, Kalaisha is a witness to your strength."
Despite his intimidating size, Buldrokk answered questions with surprising kindness. Yujin clicked his tongue. Buldrokkas'tee and Kalaisha—both disciples of the same Master, yet so fundamentally different.
"Hey, he just looked at me like I was trash!"
"I look at you that way every day."
"You shouldn't! Buldrokk!"
"Stop talking nonsense and start thinking about what you're going to say to the Master."
Buldrokk, looking at Kalaisha with the same tired eyes as Yujin, set down his gear and turned back to the boy.
"…I must admit, I am curious."
"Yes?"
"I would like to see your blade. If you are someone this 'special case' has acknowledged... I am interested."
Buldrokk had massive, stag-like horns and wore a mask made from a deer's skull. His red eyes glowed from behind the mask as he spoke.
Yujin, feeling a bit stiff after being in bed for so long, was about to accept the sparring match with a smile. But Theresia grabbed his shoulder.
"No."
"Huh?"
Buldrokk looked confused, as the question had been for Yujin, but it was Theresia who had answered.
"He just got out of bed... he hasn't fully recovered yet. Right, Yujin?"
"…U-uh, right."
Theresia's gaze told him everything: If you get hurt fighting again before you're healed, I'm going to be very, very angry. Yujin couldn't ignore that look.
"I see. Then it cannot be helped. I shall look forward to clashing with you once you have recovered."
Buldrokk looked back and forth between Theresia and Yujin before turning to enter his room.
Thump.
...Because he was so tall, Buldrokk slammed his forehead into the top of the door frame as he tried to go in. Rubbing his head and hunching over, he finally managed to disappear into the room.
"Phew. So, is that it then?"
"I guess so. We've packed everything. I suppose we'll head out soon, though maybe we'll wait a bit since he just arrived."
"Probably."
They couldn't just demand to leave the second Buldrokk arrived, so they planned to stay a little longer before setting off. Theresia nodded. Yujin decided to just go with the flow, not knowing what the future held.
"Ow, my arms are killing me."
"You deserve the pain."
As soon as Buldrokk was gone, Kalaisha finally lowered her arms, rubbing them.
"Buldrokkas'tee might seem gentle, but he's terrifying when he's angry. Besides, he's currently the only remaining..."
"Only remaining what?"
"…Pureblood Wendigo."
A Wendigo. A monster from ancient legends. So that's why he was so tall? The fact that he was the last pureblood Wendigo didn't stir much in Yujin.
"Kalaisha, is being a pureblood Wendigo that big of a deal?"
"I told you. Unless there's another kin out there, he's the only one left. That's why the Master has to stop the Royal Court from interfering with him and trying to control him."
"Hmm... and what do you think of the Royal Court?"
When Yujin brought up the Royal Court, Kalaisha's expression twisted into a savage grin. She spoke through gritted teeth.
"Bastards. Old fogies stuck in their ways. I hope they all drop dead soon."
"…Oh."
Her evaluation was... surprisingly harsh.