From Decay Fragrance Blooms. (Epilogue)

"Dodge! Dodge!"

"Kriieck!" (Handan! It's too late for me! Get away!)

"Wha! Noo!"

*Crack* *Smash* *Cleave*

"Heek!"

*Split* *Crack* *Splash*

With that final slash, I split the gargantuan monster with a single swing as it throws it rider off to save him just in time.

(Seems I'm begginng to hear monsters speak).

As its entrails pours out, I swing my sword towards the remaining bugs with a magic slash and cut them all easily with a similar folding slash of the tiger claws technique.

(No matter how strong your armour is, the moment it turns to dust it means nothing. Also, since I keep standing in place to prevent any monster entering the path behind me with Heon.

"Nooo! Gidrun! You! Hraaagh!"

*Grab*

"Eheck!"

As he charge me with a lance made of the mosnter's horn, I easily parry the weaoon away and grab him by the throat. I lift him up amongst the mountain pile of corpses below me. Heightening my senses, I try to scan all around and realize this kid and Heon is the only one left. Like sweeping the leaves of a shedding tree, this whole battle is more of a chore than a challenge.

(And here I thought this would be a hurdle after waking up... Did I accidentally entered a children's fight? I mean their attack didn't even nick me, so I guess I can count this as a warm-up?)

"Khohock! W-What are you waiting for!? Finish this- kahack!"

Pushing those thoughts aside and reasoning this as self-defense, I tighten my grip and bring his face closer asking:

"Before that, tell me why? From what Heon said, there's suppose to be no one here."

*Gurgle*

"Oh?"

*Spit* *Dodge*

Just like the smaller beetles, as I hear it gurgle I quickly dodge by simply tilting my head to the side before I loosen my grip and,

*Smack* *Pang* *Crash*

With the side of my halberd, I slap it across his face that has the carapace growing on it. The impact sent him flying and planting his face to the marble ground as the sound echo across this natural wonder. His face now deformed like a helmet that got squish on one side.

(At least now he won't be spitting anyone).

Despite all the injury, his tenacity shows as he tries to crawl away saying:

"I may fall here, but know that Lord Kagan shall avenge us! No matter how much you grow, you'll be no match for him-ack!"

*Crash*

I land right on top of him and push the pummel at his back like pushing a pin at the back of those insect box.

"Just to be clear, did you think of me as... As a monster King Vessel?"

"Kahack! Heh, hehaha! No matter how good your disguise, we will always find you! If not us the sentinels of the mountains then it'll be the forest guardian to the south or the Sand Wardens of the north! As long as we're here, the False God shall never awaken- aaack just kill me! Torment me no longer!"

I push the pummel deeper to his spine as his carapace crack and I can't help but feel a sense of deja vu over this and then remembered.

(Oh yea, this is just like that wolf-kin duo from when I first arrived here. While the silver wolf-kin died at my hands, I wonder if the other one is still alive? I mean, if they really wanted to kill a MK Vessel they would at least bring 2 of those silver wolf-kin not... These? Are the MK I met just that powerful? Or maybe they've been fealing with what Jacky calls sprouts?)

As I wonder that, I contemplate on what to do with this brat as the memories of my time inside those abandonned station with Saya resurfaced.

(I wonder what's wrong with me? I'm taking away life willy nilly but now that there's kids I'm hesitating? This is normal to hesitate right?)

"Gwishin nim! Is it finally over?"

My contemplation comes to a halt when finally emerge tip toeing around the scattered and severed corpses of the monsters with awe and wonder.

"You really are strong and completly ruthless. I really am what those flower nobles say, paying premium. To think this whole cave was infested... I shudder to think all my time here I have something always watching me."

Noticing a good time for assistance I lift my halberd,

"Huff! Huff! Aha-ck!"

Which the brat use this time to flee but I quickly stop him by stomping my feet.

"Uuuh.... Uurrrgh!"

*Hick*

"Heon, what do you think I should do? Let this boy go or not?"

"Boy- woah! Tch! Stupid large corpses!"

*Kick*

Heon almost trip over the large chunk of monsters before he looks at the boy. I give him his light stick back so he can see better, and when he shines it on the boy I get to see a sorry sight. The rabbit-kin compared to his previous bravado is now in tears and oozing with snot as he is under my mercy. Seeing this, Heon contemplates and sit at one of the corpses.

"Hmm... To think I would be making a huge decision as a Hyung this quickly..."

"H-Hey! Just quickly end my misery!"

The rabbit-kin yells which cause Heon deeper into thought before he snaps his finher shouting:

"Aha!"

As he walks closer, I gesture him to stop for his safety.

"Don't get too close, he can spit corrosive stuff on you. I did shut half his mouth but just to be safe, keep some distance."

"Wha!? Well then... You, tell me your name."

I'm surprised by Heon's but the rabbit-kin is simply fuming as he shouts back:

"I have nothing to say to the followers of the False God!"

"What has he been saying all this time?"

(So he can't understabd the common tongue?)

"He says he has nothing to say to the followers of the false God or something along those lines."

"Oh, a fanatic huh?"

Heon immediately turn his eyes on me as if an idea just sparked in his head.

"Hmm... I wonder if..."

Seeing a bulb light atop his head as he seems to finish his plan I can't help but ask,

"Heon don't tell me you're..."

"That's right! A fam is not a Fam if there's no members but luckily I have you here Gwishin nim."

"H-Huh? Wait, how am I going to help?"

(And seriously, what is a Gwishin for him to have so much hope and confidence?)

"I may not know what he says but from his reaction, it seems no words can convince him so... Gwishin nim! Bound him to us and turn his fanaticism against him! Give him a curse that'll enslave him!"

" "Huh? " "

Both the rabbit kin and I collectively look back with confusion. Before I could ask, Heon starts saying:

"I'm not like my Hyung, I can't convince everyone with ideals and flower speak... Nor do I want to repeat his mistakes. I always wonder how I can create my own Fam that won't betray me until you show up Gwishin nim. With Gwishin nim, I will avenge him no matter what. Don't worry Gwishin nim, I'll definitely pay the ultimate price so do the curse!"

He shouts with determination filled with his burning ruby eyes and I can't help but simply get swept along as I cast my lot with him. It seems the rabbit-kin seems to understand him as it then realize something befotr shouting:

"N-No! You can't no! Noooo! Just kill me!"

He tries to run away, dragging his body forcefully, peeling away at his own nails and I can't help but feel baffled by how the events rolls around.

"(You really are an evil being of the legends, to torture them before making them submit. Truly evil, Gwishin nim)."

(Torture? Me evil? I admit, I'm not a saint nor a good person but I'm not evil right? If I am, I would've rip the legs of every insect and crack their mandibles open before hanging them to let them see their own lifeline trickle before their eyes... I did a good deed with death from a single strike).

I hear Heon softly mumble to himself before I just decided to roll with whatever he is doing.

"Ack!"

Grabbing the rabbit-kin by the shoulder, I flip him on the stomach and pin him down by sitting on him and letting my weight do the rest before casting...

(What was the spell again? Now that I lost my notebook... Aha!)

"[Larie Nahxis]"

*Cling* *Clang*

"Ooh! What magic is that!?"

Heon look in shock as chains emerge from the ground and chain the rabbit-kin like a worm. Coating a finger with my magic, I grab the boy from his chin and force him to face me.

"Mmm! Mmm! MMMM!"

His face is covered with snot and tears pouring down as I bring my purple finger closer to his face and...

*Sizzle*

"Mmmm!"

I press my weight on him and tighten my grip to prevent him from moving so much as I then finish what I did.

"There. Pfoo!"

Giving him a small scar right under his left eyes similar to mine, I blow away the skin that turn to ash before I stand. Despite that not really doing nothing, I dispel the chains saying:

"You're... One of us now?"

The rabbit Kin seems to have lost the life in his eyes as he lays motionless in the ground with tears still streaming down his cheeks. Heon hearing the news walks closer to us saying:

"Mm! Good, Hyung nim would definitely beat me up if he's alive to see me do this but I must do what I must! You! Get up!"

Like a slave bound to his words, with shaking arms he slowly lift himself to stand on his wobbly feet.

(Huh? I'm pretty sure I didn't cast no spells on him. I mean, it's not even that deep and will probably dissapear with time).

"Huhu~ Since I'm the Dad, Gwishin nim's the mom, you shall be the little brother!"

"M-Mom?"

"Yes... Master..."

The rabbit-kin answers back softly in Hwansea with his shoulders low while my mind is completely baffled by my new title...

(Maybe this is just what they call the second in command?)

"Now then, as my first decree as Hyung nim in this new home! Clean it up!"

Heon then walks to me holding my arms smiling sheepishly saying:

"Except for you Gwishin nim~ You can take a rest, we'll do the menial task."

"Right..."

"Come on! Gather it up! And you have some good spells to burn it up, right!?"

"Yes... Master."

As the two start sorting the pieces and gathering them in one spot, I disperse my weapons and sit on a rock wondering,

(What the hell did I rope myself into?)

"You know, rather than letting smoke gather inside this tiny space, just let me turn it to dust and we can dump it in a hole seomwhere."

"O-Oh? You would do that much Gwishin nim?"

*************************************

*CRACKLE* *BOOM* *Drip* *Drip*

Even without my enhanced senses, I could hear the loud thunder coming from the outside. The rain slowly enters with drops fron the cracks up above to fill the undergound lake near us. Before the bright light, shadows are cast where water is the endless chasm brought the water. Thanks to the rabbit-kin who casts a massive light source atop the tall ceiling, I could finally have a good grasp of this place. If there's one good way to describe this place would be is that... If there's a coast inside a cave. A sea cave? Or a Lake cave?

Unlike the rough wave and shores I'm used to, the waters in this cave are calm. A serene clear water that if you shine a light, you could actually see the bottom of it. As for where the water leads, I think I'm confident it'll lead to the ocean. As I'm standing near the water, Heon approach me saying:

"This is where I found you. Imagine how shocked I was when I saw a body stuck at the edge of that tunnel leading Goddess knows where."

He points at the edge where there's wedges of marble at the entrance of the tunnel, looking closer I could see traces of my ripped clothes there too.

"I see..."

*Brush* *Sweep*

I look back seeing the rabbit-kin brushing the ashes of his companions into a hole with magic, with dead eyes he mumbles:

"I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I should've..."

(Seriously, just run away...)

As our eyes meet the rabbit-kin immediately duck his head to avoid me.

(Well I suppose I did slaughter his friends... Hmm, Gidrun, Kugan... I don't think that sound native).

Seeing his terrifed demenear I walk up to him trying to break the ice asking:

"Hey, where did you or the others come from?"

Hearing my question, his eyes open wide and his body trembled like never before. Shaking more than being soaked on water in winter, he slowly open his mouth repeating:

"I... I... I... I..."

"Heh, right, silly me. My name is-"

*Glare*

"Our temple fortress is built atop of the Jwasan range!"

"Oh?"

(Come to think of it, didn't Yoo-Ah said something about ancient ruins built at the mountains when I first arrive here).

Gripping his own hands until it shakes, he fell to his knees hugging himself with self loathe as he then mutters:

"Ah... Ah...! I... I... Betrayed Lord Kagan, I betrayed my family! Aaah!"

"(Lord Kagan...)"

I softly whisper to myself and realize the title of lord means he must lead some group right?

"Hm? What's wrong with him? Gwishin nim, I know we got ourselves a new slave but please don't torment him."

He walks to my side carrying the horn lance the rabbit-kin used. Feeling a bit offended I quickly reply with,

"H-Hey now, what kind of person do you think I am? I didn't do anything yet. Still..."

Seeing how they could just suddenly attack us like this all the time and endanger Heon who is my only guide to the republic for now...

"Heon."

"Yes, Gwishin nim?"

"Seeing how this brat could attack us suddenly with great numbers in our own hideout... Don't you think our base is comprimised? Or do you perhaps have another base in mind?"

"Oh! You're right Gwishin nim, if they suddenly attacked us again in our weakest moment it could be dangerous! But... This really is the only place I have in mind."

"Huup, that's why I have a plan in mind. Why don't we go to their place instead and have a... Talk if possible?"

*Jolt*

The rabbit-kin stops shivering as he heard me and Heon pump his fist with a huge smile shouting:

"Woaah! As expected of Gwishin nim! It seems you're already set on something. I guess after securing our base, we'll be assaulting the other fams at the city next right!?"

"Right...?"

"Ah...! Mother, father! I'm sorry... I'm sorry! I shouldn't have delve to the monster's nest..."

I pick up the panicking rabbit-kin by his nape and lift him up saying:

"Well then, stand and lead the way, to this Lord Kagan."

(Also, this might be the perfect time to bolster my numbers as well for my cause. The more the merrier right?)

"Sniff... Someone, anyone, please save me..."

(Seriously, run away! Or maybe don't, I need you right now).