âI asked you first, Human. The Maya you were talking about, is that the SorcererâŠ?â
There was no need to listen anymore. Kim Bongpal stood from his seat and faced the werewolf. His face was contorted into a grimace.
âDoggy, Iâm not very patient. Answer quickly, you fucking bastard.â
He spat out the words. However, werewolves werenât inferior to any other species regarding their wild nature. The werewolf shouted.
âArrogant human! I tried to hold back because you seemed to be an acquaintance of my Maya!â
His words keep getting longer. Kim Bongpal tried to follow one lesson from his long experience: anyone would eventually answer if he beat them, no matter what kind of bastard they were.
Dash-!
Even before the Werewolf finished, Kim Bongpal stepped forward. He used the Bow Shooting Shadow technique he recently learned.
âHow dare you!â
The werewolf quickly reacted, befitting a master at their peak. He wasnât an easy opponent to deal with.
Swoosh-!
The werewolf boosted his mana at Kim Bongpalâs charge. His unique mana as an Inhuman, the mana he inherited from his fatherâs blood, could intimidate his foe just by revealing it. However, the werewolfâs plan wouldnât work on this foe.
Kim Bongpal hadnât drawn his sword. There was something he had to hear from his opponent, so he rushed in with mana focused on his fist. His answer was to beat any bastard who didnât listen.
The mana contained in Kim Bongpalâs fist, in terms of the amount, seemed inferior to the werewolfâs. But considering its densityâŠ
Bang!
It was no wonder that the moment it hit the werewolfâs abdomen, not only the ship they were in but the surrounding lake shook.
âGaargh!â
The werewolf gasped. He was prepared for the blow, but it arrived faster than he expected. The sudden shock caused the werewolf to bow his head.
But no matter how great the pain, he had to somehow get hold of himself and prepare for the next move. Or he could step back right away and prepare to beastify.
Bang!
Werewolves were the strongest among the Werebeasts, even if they didnât beastify. Their bodies were incomparable to that of an ordinary human. Besides, the level of martial arts he had learned could match a master, so Warg, the son of Wargen, had skin as strong as steel.
But now, his strength was no use in front of Kim Bongpal.
âGasp!â
A strange sound escaped the werewolfâs mouth. This time, the blow hit his ribs. It hurt. It was the first pain of its kind that Warg had felt in a long time.
When was the last time he felt this way? Was it five years ago? When he reached his peak, the very first time he faced his father. It was a fight between parent and child, but that day was a life-and-death decision for Warg. It must have been the last day he was beaten like a dog by his father.
Why did he remember that day now?
ââââ!â
This time, he blocked Kim Bongpalâs fist. And then, only by concentrating mana into both his arms to stop it. However, the shock still pierced his mana shield and reached his insides.
It was so painful that he couldnât even groan. Wargâs balance started to collapse. He pulled a foot back to steady himself, but Kim Bongpal was ready for him.
Crack-!
When Kim Bongpal kicked Wargâs left thigh, there was a loud popping sound. His werewolfâs skin, which was actually famous for being as hard as most monstersâ hide, burst. Warg couldnât keep his balance and had no choice but to kneel.
âFuck. I like the eye level now.â
A werewolf became a monster nearly 3m tall after beastification, but even before that, they were taller than ordinary humans. Warg was one of those werewolves who boasted an exceptionally large body, standing about 2m 20cm tall in his human form. But kneeling down, his head was just the right height to grab.
Kim Bongpal tangled a hand into Wargâs mane-like hair.
âKugh!â
Warg felt his face tighten. Pain, anger, and the sheer absurdity of the situation warred inside him.
âAm I being held down by a human right now?â
âIâll ask you one last time. Where the hell did you get that?â
âŠHowever, the anger quickly disappeared. The pain and absurdity remained, but other emotions quickly eroded his anger. Fear is the strongest of them. The fear that this unknown opponent might hit him again.
Thatâs right. Now Warg was terrified by Kim Bongpal.
* * *
ââŠI do not know.â
Kim Bongpal stared at Warg as he answered. At the same time, he gathered mana in his fist. Noticing the veins bulging up his forearm, Warg hurriedly spoke.
âI-itâs true! One of my fatherâs bodyguards was wearing it, so I took it because it looked cool! Thatâs it! Really!â
From how he waved his hands after looking at Kim Bongpalâs fist, it seemed that Kim Bongpalâs experience was again correct. In the end, whoever they were, they would answer after he beat them up. However, despite Wargâs subservient attitude, Kim Bongpal didnât relax.
âHey, how old are you?â
âI donât know why you ask, but this year, I am forty-nineâŠ.â
Kim Bongpal let go of his hair and raised his other hand.
Clank!
He smacked Wargâs head with the side of his fist. Something similar to the sound of metal clanging rang out.
âYou cheeky bastard. How dare a young bastard like you speak casually like that to me?â
âUgh!â
Warg bit his tongue because he was hit while talking. Of course, the werewolfâs strong vitality quickly regenerated the minor wound.
Warg, swallowing the taste of iron lingering on the tip of his tongue, carefully asked.
ââŠSir, were you blessed with Half-Turn Aging by any chance?â
Clank!
But without a reply, Warg was hit again.
âWhere did this bastard learn how to ask questions instead of answering?â
ââŠâ
âFuck! You didnât even ask me a question! I answered them all!â
Warg thought so but couldnât bring himself to say it aloud. His opponentâs fist made him dizzy every time it hit. What kind of fist gave such a shock even though it was swung without any mana? It felt like his brain was shaking.
Still, Warg was quick-witted.
âI-if you want, I can call that bodyguard and confront him about it.â
While werewolves usually took human forms, their wildness surpassed reason. Therefore, they thoroughly followed the laws of the wild. Survival of the fittest. It wasnât for nothing that Wargenâs pack had settled in the territory of the Evil Alliance.
Anyway, thatâs why Warg didnât feel any shame in showing such a servile appearance to a stronger opponent.
âShall I call him now? Iâll call him and ask where he got this bracelet! Just tell me!â
No, maybe it felt a littleâŠ
âLetâs do that later. Whatâs your name?
âMy name is Warg!â
âWarg? Okay? Hey, Tearing Mind! Come over here and have a look.â
Kim Bongpal called the Tearing Wind Sword, who was hunkered down on the other side.
ââŠIt is Tearing Wind Sword.â
âYeah. Tearing Mind.â
He timidly protested against Kim Bongpal, who still couldnât get his name right. Of course, Kim Bongpal knew it was Tearing Wind, but he found Tearing Mind easier to pronounce.
âAnyway, Iâm going to ask this bastard something, but if thereâs anything I get wrong, you tell me.â
âOkay.â
Tearing Wind Sword glanced at Warg while replying to Kim Bongpal. He couldnât believe he was seeing Warg, the son of Wargen, like this here in the Purple Clouds. But it was a drop in the bucket of the many shock sights heâd seen the last two weeks.
âGood, all right. Then Warg? Iâm going to ask you some questions. If I get an answer I donât like, I will hit you just like before. Got it?â
ââŠYes?â
He would hit him not if he didnât answer but if he didnât like the answer. What the hell was thatâŠ?
âDonât you understand?â
âI understand!â
âŠWarg answered Kim Bongpalâs question without hesitation. At the same time, he made a face that looked as harmless as possible to Kim Bongpal.
âOkay. I hear you are well. First of all, that bodyguard. Can you call him now?â
âYes! I need to contact him, and he will pop right out!â
With those words, Warg pulled a magic tool from his pocket. Tearing Wind Sword, watching the exchange, showed Kim Bongpal that it was a magic tool for long-distance communication.
âYeah. Then call him right away. Ah! If you felt it was unfair that I hit you, you also can call more of your friends. Itâs annoying if you come back later, so if youâre going to call them, just call them right now.â
âOh, no! That wonât happen!â
âItâs true. Although the Werewolves live in packs, each has a strong sense of independence. Nothing will happen if he doesnât die.â
âIs that so? I like it.â
âThatâs right! Thereâs no way my father or friends will seek revenge just because Iâve been beaten!â
If he called the other werewolves because he was hit a few times, Warg, the next successor to the pack, would be treated as a lesser werewolf. That was many times more terrible for Warg than the pain he suffered from being beaten by Kim Bongpal.
Therefore, Warg only called his bodyguard. He was planning to call in the bodyguard, confront him, andâŠescape from this place. And as a bonus, he was going to torture the bodyguard who gave him this damn thingâor, to be more precise, whom he took the smartwatch away from.
âAnd what did you say about Maya? Do you know Maya?
ââŠYes. I saw her a few times when I was a kid.â
âHmm. Really? She used to live in Purple Clouds, so I guess she knows some werewolves. Sheâs the Maya youâre talking about, right? A 300-year-old supernatural being who calls herself an Arch Sorcerer?â
âYes! Thatâs right!â
Maya was a Sorcerer, still only a wolf cub, but he remembered her well. Wargâs first love was Maya. So when he heard Mayaâs name, he looked for the boat where Kim Bongpal was.
Warg looked into Kim Bongpalâs eyes. In his view, this tremendous opponent was quite close to Maya. So Warg tried to loosen up his opponentâs ominous mood by referring to the old image of Maya he remembered.
âI can still remember Lady Mayaâs appearance. Her flower-like beauty and mature charmâŠ.â
Clank-!
âKurgh!â
Warg bit his tongue again, tasting the iron stronger than before. Kim Bongpal had hit him.
âWhat? Flower-like beauty? Mature charm? How dare this bastard lie?â