The Return of the Iron-blood Sword Hound

Chapter 96: Madam Eight Legs (2)

“Now, I want to meet her and ask her why.”

Vikir’s final words shocked all of Ballak’s warriors.

It’s not that they hadn’t considered such thoughts before.

Innocent children, the elderly, patients, comrades, and wolves had perished, and they had lost their homes, food, and other necessities.

However, despite all this, the warriors were skeptical of Vikir’s words.

“Confront Madam? That’s impossible. None of the bravest warriors have been able to do that.”

“Vikir, no matter how much you’re the hero of all Ballak now, it’s impossible.”

“Madam Eight Legs is the god of these Mountains, and she’s one of the darkest evil gods.”

“Damage will be repaired eventually. Forgetting quickly is the only way.”

Ballak’s warriors, who had never doubted anything Vikir said, for the first time, shook their heads in response to Vikir’s words.

It gives a sense of how much fear they had of Madam over all these years, to make such fearless individuals speak like this.

At that moment…

…Thud!

Someone touched Vikir’s shoulder.

Aquilla, the tribe leader, the Night Fox, was looking at Vikir with a pale face.

She had lost much of her overwhelming presence.

Aquilla had battled the legendary Adonai one-on-one and turned him into dust.

However, in the process, she had also suffered many wounds.

Countless scratches all over her body, even the lingering poison from Madam Eight Legs, which resisted healing even with the recovery abilities of a master-level expert.

“Vikir, the young hero of all Ballak and the rising sun. Don’t let your immediate fervor sway you. We need extreme caution in anything related to Madam.”

Aiyen, who was standing next to her, also agreed.

“Madam Eight Legs” is not just Ballak’s problem. She is the terror of all tribes. She’s an inescapable fate and the core of darkness. Her existence is like a natural disaster, so harboring the emotion of revenge is…”

But Aiyen didn’t finish his sentence.

[Bzzzz…]

They saw a figure crawling out from the debris of the collapsed building.

Bakira. Born on the same day and at the same time as Aiyen and a lifelong companion.

He had run ahead to deliver Vikir’s victory news to the village before the Illiad battle between Vikir and Aheuman.

The results of that simple errand had turned out to be so tragic.

[Bzzzz…]

Bakira, dragging his hind leg, struggled to crawl and sniffed at Aiyen’s feet with a wet nose.

One of Bakira’s right hind legs was in terrible shape.

Not only were all its bones broken, but the venom had also penetrated deep into the marrow.

It was too obvious why this had happened. What else could it be if not the result of resisting Madam Eight Legs?

The poison was still spreading at this very moment, to the point where they would have to amputate the leg if they didn’t do something quickly.

Aiyen examined Bakira’s condition with a vacant expression.

Vikir replied briefly, “Even if I say so, would revenge be in vain?”

“…”

Aiyen couldn’t respond this time.

Aquilla alternately looked at her daughter Aiyen’s face and Bakira’s whimpering leg, then let out a deep sigh.

“Let’s talk later. First, we have to treat Bakira. Hurry and check on the other patients.”

Despite suffering a potentially fatal injury herself, Aquilla was concerned about taking care of the other tribe members first.

Under the chief’s orders, everyone started moving busily, rescuing survivors, checking on the injured, and preparing food and shelter for the night.

That night was particularly dark, and heavy rain fell.

The moon didn’t appear, and the only light came from sporadic flashes of lightning that illuminated the flood in the pitch-black darkness.

A shadow passed through the pouring rain like a spear.

It was Vikir.

Once again, he left Ballak without saying a word to anyone, heading towards Madam.

“…Anyway, I had to face this opponent sooner or later.”

Madam Eight Legs was one of the real goals Vikir had when he entered the flood.

She was still an ultra-high-risk-class monster unknown to the Empire.

If he could be the first to capture her and hunt her, the potential benefits were immeasurable.

Whizzing-

Vikir thought while listening to the rhythmic beating of his Beelzebub’s pulse in his wrist.

“If the era of destruction comes later, monsters like Madam might become relatively common, but for now, she’s quite a unique presence.”

Furthermore, Madam was also a culprit who forced Ballak’s warriors to abandon their homes and wander from place to place.

Ballak’s warriors were in a tough spot, trying to avoid Madam, who kept expanding her territory out of hunger, avoiding the encroachment of Baskerville while trying to expand the empire’s territory. They were in quite a difficult situation.

“I can set them free.”

Madam Eight Legs and Baskerville. Vikir had the intention of subduing these two beings under his command, pressuring Ballak.

It was both a reward for Ballak, who had taken care of him all this time and a good thing for their mutual future.

Vikir also wanted to test himself.

During the two years in the flood, he had contemplated how much stronger he had become.

“I had a glimpse of the abyss after the Adonai battle. I should be able to climb one more step soon…”

With these thoughts in mind, Vikir pushed forward through the curtain of rain.

However, the hunting dog soon had to stop its steps.

Beyond the pouring curtain of water, a familiar scent wafted.

It was a scent he had smelled every day for the past two years.

Aiyen. She stood in front of Vikir, soaked from head to toe.

“Have you been waiting?”

“…”

“Since when were you standing there?”

“…”

Even in response to Vikir’s questions, Aiyen remained silent.

Finally, she opened her mouth.

“You can’t tame a wolf.”

“…”

“No matter how tight you tie it, it will break free.”

Aiyen looked straight into Vikir’s eyes.

“A wolf can never be tamed. It can only be allowed to come back on its own when it wants, without tying it.”

She smiled at Vikir.

“You’re not a hunting dog, Vikir. You may call yourself that, but… No hunting dog behaves like you do.”

“…”

Vikir looked down at Aiyen’s leg.

Her right leg was tightly wrapped in leaves and leather.

When they fought against Adonai, Aiyen had been injured in the leg while saving Vikir from a poisoned arrow.

Due to the aftereffects, she was still limping.

After a silence, Vikir finally spoke.

“…With that body, you won’t be of any help. Go back to the village.”

The atmosphere was so humid that it felt like water was wrung out of the air, but his words were as dry as ever.

But it seemed that Aiyen had expected this level of response, as she bit her lips tightly as if to say nothing.

Finally, she gave something to Vikir.

It was dried meat, fruits, and nuts wrapped in leaves.

Vikir chuckled.

“It’s like a packed lunch.”

“Don’t make jokes like that.”

Aiyen narrowed her eyes fiercely and stared at Vikir.

Then, she added one more thing.

“Promise me.”

A sense of urgency hung in the air.

The hunting dog found this situation somewhat familiar.

Aiyen spoke again.

“You don’t have to promise to come back.”

Her voice crept in with anxiety, restlessness, and a sense of desperation.

Aiyen looked into Vikir’s eyes with a fierce expression.

“No, you don’t have to promise to come back.”

Her voice wavered with anxiety, restlessness, and a choking feeling.

Aiyen looked into Vikir’s eyes with determination.

“You don’t have to promise to come back. Just… stay alive.”

Vikir stayed silent for a moment.

Then, he opened his mouth a bit late and said, “Of course.”

Upon hearing this, Aiyen finally exhaled the breath she had been holding, and it came out white in the dark sky.

The distant silhouette of the hunting dog, or rather, the wolf, moved away, and the owner watched quietly from where he stood.

The wolf was running through the darkness once again.

However, unlike last time, there was one thing Vikir didn’t say.

‘You don’t have to promise to come back. Just… stay alive.’

Women often make such difficult demands.

For the first time since his rebirth, he had told a lie.

He didn’t know if he could keep this promise, as he couldn’t even be sure himself.