Chapter 49

The Treasure of the Harin Clan (1)

......Didn't he say it was just one meal?

But before I knew it, other Harin clan members had gathered around, and the number of bonfires increased, creating an atmosphere as if a festival had started.

"Are you the human who healed the chief's injury? I'm really grateful, thank you! Haha!"

"I'm sorry for the rough welcome earlier. And thank you for healing the chief. You are truly a good human."

The clan members passing by me threw in a word or two. Mostly words of gratitude.

Their attitude had completely changed from the wary one they had shown earlier when they treated me as an intruder.

It seemed everyone was genuinely grateful for healing the chief's injury. It was only natural, after all.

"Here, it's done. Try this."

Anne held out a large piece of freshly grilled fish on a skewer, steam rising from it.

I took it, blew on it to cool it down, and took a small bite.

The fire of the bonfire reflected her confident smile.

"How is it, isn't it great?"

"Yeah."

It was as good as she had claimed.

Fruits, smoked meat, and not just the fish Anne caught, but other foods also appeared, turning the spot where I sat into a feast.

"I'm glad it suits your taste."

The chief also laughed heartily and chewed on the fish, bones and all.

"Still, it would have been nice to have some alcohol. Unfortunately, we don't have any here as this is just a temporary stop."

Alcohol.

Now that he mentioned it, I hadn't had a single sip of alcohol since I was reincarnated into this world. I hadn't been in a situation to do so.

I glanced around.

I took in the sight of the Harin clan members sitting in groups, enjoying their meal.

Some were roasting meat, some were talking loudly, and some children were throwing tantrums, asking when the meat would be done.

On one side, some men were even walking into the forest with spears, apparently planning to catch more fish.

It was a scene of freedom and lack of restraint.

"We always gather like this to eat. It's truly a joyful and abundant time."

The chief also looked around at the clan members and said.

I asked him,

"Since you recovered, will you leave this place soon?"

"I plan to. We've been delayed for too long, so we need to leave as soon as possible."

This time, the chief asked me,

"Are you the one who found what you were looking for?"

I nodded.

"Fortunately, thanks to you, I found it."

At that moment, Anne, who was enthusiastically eating the meat, spoke with her mouth full.

"Right, old man! Earlier, I almost got trapped and killed by a school of fish in the water, but this guy spurted out blood and killed them all in one go!"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, the blood in my hand clumped together, and when I burst it, it... "

To someone who didn't know, her explanation would be incomprehensible.

However, the chief just smiled and said nothing.

I suddenly became curious and asked,

"From the moment I met you, it seemed like you had a good grasp of me. Is that right?"

"Yes."

"Is that a Harin clan ability?"

As far as I remember, the Harin clan didn't have any special abilities in that regard. Was it just the chief's exceptional intuition?

He chuckled and shook his head.

"Not really an ability. It's just that as death approaches, things that were once invisible become visible. The noble aura emanating from your soul is one of them."

Ah, the soul of a king...

I had nothing to say in response.

But Anne, with a serious and stern face, said,

"Why are you always talking about death, old man? Stop saying such things. Your wound is healed, so why would you die?"

The chief chuckled.

"Brat, can you reverse the natural order by denying it? Don't make me repeat what I've already said several times."

"......That's right!"

Now that I think about it, he had mentioned something about not having much time left.

The chief seemed to be certain that his life was coming to an end. How?

"Our clan's homeland is the Polub Sea in the north of the continent."

Before I could ask, he started to tell me.

"A long time ago, we left that place and traveled down rivers, sometimes walking on the land, from the north to the west of the continent. Like our ancestors and descendants, we spend our lives wandering without settling down. It's a cycle."

He spoke as if reminiscing about the past.

I listened quietly to the chief.

"The elders used to say that when it's time to return to nature, one would yearn for their homeland, and all Harin clan members feel this way. Now that it's my turn, I can feel it, even if I can't explain it to others. Strangely, I yearn for the sea of my homeland."

......So, he was returning to his homeland?

To meet his end in the place where he was born.

"That's why I'm truly grateful to you. If not for you, I might have died here without ever reaching my homeland."

The chief smiled calmly and patted Anne's head.

"......"

She looked annoyed but also sad, not avoiding his touch.

The chief with little time left. The reason to return to his homeland.

Only then did I understand why she had cried so bitterly at that time.

For the clan members, especially for her, it was important to fulfill the chief's last wish.

After the meal, it was time for me to leave.

I was seen off by the chief, Anne, and other Harin clan members.

"Ron, I hope you find the happiness you seek on your journey."

I also said to the chief,

"I hope you all reach your homeland safely."

It was a sincere wish, not just a formality.

The chief smiled and nodded.

"Hey, you can come back tomorrow for breakfast."

Anne scratched her nose and said.

Of course, I had no intention of coming back, so I didn't respond.

I left the cave and returned to the carriage, glancing back for no reason. It was quiet.

Perhaps it was because I had heard about his homeland.

I felt a strange, indescribable feeling as I turned and walked back through the forest.

***

After finishing the cleanup, Anne was looking up at the night sky in front of the cave.

A fellow clan member passing by and entering the cave asked her,

"What are you doing, Anne?"

Anne waved her hand as if she was annoyed.

He laughed mischievously and said,

"Are you thinking about that human?"

"......What?"

"No, I mean, you've been staring at him all this time. Wow, are you really into that? I didn't know you had that taste... Ouch."

Her fist landed heavily on the man's side.

He staggered back, whimpering.

"That was just a joke, no need to hit me... "

"Shut up and go to sleep."

As the other clan members went inside, Anne, who was left alone, glanced at the forest. She sighed with regret.

"......His face was kind of my type, though."

He won't come back tomorrow morning, will he?

She shook her head and was about to go into the cave.

"......?"

At that moment, a doll slowly approached, pushing through the bushes.

Anne's face lit up, thinking it might be Ron.

"Hey, why did you come back... "

Her excited voice quickly turned serious, and her face paled.

The figure that emerged from the bushes was a middle-aged human man in a robe.

The man calmly asked her,

"Is the chief inside?"

"......"

Anne couldn't answer.

She just stared at him with fear, her hands trembling.

The human who had attacked the clan while they were passing through Saintea's territory and severely injured her grandfather.

Why was he here again?

"......!"

Just as she was about to scream and alert the others inside the cave, footsteps were heard.

The chief was already walking out of the cave.

"Grandfather."

The chief's face hardened as he saw the man and asked,

"How did you find us here?"

The man ignored the question and said,

"Chief, hand over the magic crystal. Then at least everyone can die without suffering."

"......"

"This time, there's no water nearby. You won't be able to escape as you did before."

Kwaang!

The man waved his hand, and a massive magical force struck the chief at an incredible speed.

The chief raised his arms to block the attack and took a step back.

The commotion drew the other clan members out of the cave.

"What's happening?"

"......That human!"

They were shocked to see the man.

The chief took a deep breath and shouted,

"Everyone, run! Take care of those still inside and head for the lake without looking back!"

The man said coldly,

"Do you think you can survive?"

The previous attack was just a greeting, and a more massive magical force was now flowing around him.

The chief, pulling all his strength, swung his fist.

A lightning-fast punch aimed at the man but was blocked by a defensive barrier and disappeared without a trace.

At the same time, the chief launched himself forward, relentlessly attacking the man with his fists.

The collision of the two massive energies caused the ground to shake and the bushes to be torn apart.

The clan members, who had hesitated, had no choice but to follow his order and run towards the lake.

"......No! No, Grandfather!"

Anne, who was shouting desperately, was forcibly held back by other clan members.

The chief was pushing the man with the last of his strength, but it was all he could do.

"Ugh......!"

The chief, who had been moving violently, suddenly stopped, spitting blood and collapsing.

The backlash from his intense movements, while still injured, had caught up with him.

"Is this the end of your struggle?"

The man, still standing in place with his defensive barrier, said without emotion.

"......Hey, Anne! No!"

Anne broke free from the other clan members and ran towards the chief.

"Brat, you should run... "

"Shut up! What's going on? Why does Grandfather always do this alone!"

She was in tears, trying to support the chief, who was in a daze.

The man, watching her struggle with a cold eye, slowly raised his hand.

A massive wave of fire engulfed the two of them.

Whoosh!

The other clan members, who were running away, watched the scene helplessly.

The man turned his body, intending to deal with the other Harin clan members.

"......?!"

But he had to turn his head back, frowning.

A man was standing where the fire and smoke had cleared.

The fire, which had been blocked by something, had not harmed the two Harin clan members.

Anne, who had been sitting on the ground, looked up at him in a daze.

"Ron......"

A young human man with black hair and golden eyes.

He had appeared suddenly, and no one had even sensed his approach.

The man, feeling a chill, asked,

"Who are you?"

***

......It was a close call.

I sighed in relief, keeping my eyes on the man in front of me.

I had felt a massive magical force while moving in the carriage and hurried back. What a mess.

I had barely managed to block the attack by using consecutive spatial leaps from a distance......

【Lv. 91】

The situation was completely dire.

I knew who this guy was.

His insane level and the story the chief had told me made it easy to guess.

'Lakewul, the head mage of the Saintea royal court.'

Had he been tracking the Harin clan all the way here?

The guy, who had been silently staring at me, finally spoke.

"Who are you?"

I glanced at Anne and the chief, who were lying on the ground behind me.

......I'm really going to lose it.

I had reflexively stepped in to save them, but now I was facing off against this guy.

I cursed inwardly at the defensive barrier around him.

'Shit.'

With that barrier up, there was no way to expect an instant kill. It was my fatal weakness.

If a battle broke out, my best option would be to defend and run.

"If you don't want to talk... "

The guy started to gather his magical power again.

Many thoughts raced through my mind.

Keep defending? Or run? What about the remaining Harin clan members? Should I reveal that I'm a ruler? Would he believe me?

At that moment, laughter came from the side of the forest.

Everyone's attention turned to the source.

"Wow... What's going on here?"

A woman with red hair emerged from the bushes.

Seeing her, I was shocked, and the head mage's expression hardened. He muttered in a perplexed voice,

"......Gwangrang?"

Gwangrang, one of the Five Rulers.

Her sudden appearance only added to the confusion.

Gwangrang, looking at the head mage who was reaching out to me, chuckled and said,

"Come on, mage. You'll die if you keep this up."