Chapter 95: Madame Eight Legs (2)

Chapter 95: Madame Eight Legs (2)

"Madame has made a mistake, and I will confront her."

Vikir's last words stunned all of Balak's warriors.

Not that they hadn't thought about it.

Innocent children, elders, patients, companions, and wolves had been killed, and they had lost buildings, food, and everything else they needed to survive.

But even so, the warriors were skeptical of Bikir's words.

"Impossible. No brave warrior has ever been able to do that."

"'Vikir. Even if you are the hero of the whole region, that's a myth."

"Madame Eight-Legged is the deity of these jungle. She is the evil one of the evil spirits."

"The damage will eventually be repaired. The only way is to forget."

For the first time, Balak's warriors, who trusted Vikir with anything he said, shook their heads at his words.

For such brave men to say such a thing gives one an idea of the extent of their fear of the Madame.

Then.

...tee!

Someone put a hand on Vikir's shoulder.

It was Chief Aquila, the Fox of the Night, staring at Vikir with a pale complexion.

She had lost much of her usual overwhelming majesty.

The one who had gone one-on-one with the Ancient One, the legendary Adonai, and sent him back to the dust.

But Aquila, too, had suffered many wounds in the process.

Countless arrow marks scratched his body, and even the poisonous venom of Madame Eight-Legged was too much for even a Master-level warrior to heal.

"Vikir. Young hero of all the jungle and the sun just rising, do not be swayed by the heat of the moment. Where Madame is involved, extreme caution must be applied."

Aiyen, beside him, agreed.

"The Eight Legged Madame is a terror to all tribes, not just the Balak. She is a force of unstoppable causality and the essence of darkness. Her presence is like a natural disaster, and even if we harbor feelings of vengeance...."

But Aiyen didn't finish her sentence.

[chuckles...]

She saw a figure crawling through the rubble of the collapsed building.

Bakira. The wolf who had been born on the same day and time as Aiyen, and had been with him all his life.

The one who had run to the village to tell them of Bikir's victory before the Iliad between Bikir and Ahriman.

For a moment, Aiyen couldn't help but think of his last words to Bakira.

"Go to the village and tell them to prepare to welcome the winner of the Iliad."

Little did he know the consequences of that simple errand would be so terrible.

[snicker... snicker...]

Bakira crawled over, dragging his hind legs, and wiped his wet nose at Aiyen's feet.

One of her right hind legs was in terrible shape.

Not only were all the bones broken, but a dark poison had seeped into the marrow.

The reason for this was obvious. What else could it be but the result of resisting Madame Eight-Legged?

The poison was still surging at this moment, and the situation was so serious that the leg had to be cut off. Diiscover new stories at novelhall.com

Aiyen looked at Bakira in disbelief.

Bikir spoke briefly.

"Will you still say that revenge is futile?"

"...."

Aiyen did not answer this time.

Aquila glanced between her daughter's face and Bakira's moaning legs and sighed deeply.

"You are not a hound. Vikir. You call yourself that, but... no hound ever behaves like you."

"...."

Vikir looked down at Aiyen's legs.

Her right leg was wrapped in a tight bundle of leaves and leather.

Once, when they had fought the Adonai, Aiyen had wounded her leg while saving Vikir from a poisoned arrow.

He still limped from the aftermath.

Vikir broke the silence.

" ...You can't help me with your body. Go back to the village."

The air is so thick with water that the words come out dry.

But Aiyen kept her mouth shut, as if she'd expected that much.

Then she held out something to Vikir.

It was dried jerky and fruit and nuts wrapped in leaves.

Vikir smirked.

"It looks like a sacrificial meal."

"Don't joke about that."

Aiyen opened his eyes fiercely and glared at Vikir.

Then he added a word.

"I promise."

The scene was eerie.

The Hound thought it was a little familiar.

Aiyen spoke again.

"Promise me you'll be back."

"...."

When Vikir didn't answer, Aiyen spoke again, in a tone that sounded like he was holding his breath underwater.

"No."

She hesitated for a moment, then spoke again.

"I don't. You don't have to promise to come back."

A voice that crawls. A voice that hangs with anxiety, nervousness, and bitterness.

Aiyen looks into Vikir's eyes with a voice that sounds like she's about to vomit blood.

"You don't have to come back, just stay alive...."

Vikir is silent for a moment.

Then, a little too late, he speaks.

"...of course."

Then the breath he'd been holding came out of Aiyen's mouth, all white.

A darkness that swallowed him whole.

The master stood still, watching the hound, or rather the wolf, walk away.

The wolf runs through the dawn again.

Unlike last time, there was one thing she couldn't say to Bikir.

"You don't have to come back, just stay alive....

Women have a way of making difficult demands.

For the first time in all his life, since he was born twice, he had lied.

He didn't know if he could keep this promise or not.