The Forest Race Clonne

Chapter 72

“This is actually pretty thrilling. These guys have some strange tricks, huh? It’s the first time I’ve been bound so easily.”

“They must have some skills. After all, they’re supposed to be our natural enemies.”

“Still, this one doesn’t seem like much. Ah, is this the weakest one? Then we should kill it quickly and draw out a stronger one.”

“Ha, try killing me if you can!”

Infuriated, Aron launched the next attack. He thrust his sword and summoned plant vines at every potential escape route. His coordination with his Guardian Lydis was seamless and continuous.

“Kuhuhu! This is really entertaining!”

However, this time, the Demonic Beast wasn’t easily captured. Dodging each thrust with ease, he cut through the vines shooting out from all directions. Then, suddenly changing his path, he charged directly at Aron. It was an unexpected attack just when Aron had grown accustomed to the repeated patterns. Startled, Aron quickly assumed a defensive stance but collapsed with startling ease after only a few exchanges.

Crash! Boom!

“…Ugh!”

“Aron!”

When the dust settled, the Demonic Beast was hoisting Aron up by his neck. Despite his desperate struggles, Aron couldn’t break free from his grip. Faces contorted in horror at the pitiful sight.

“Kukuk! Struggle all you want. It’s quite the spectacle.”

“Damn you, let Aron go!”

In a fit of rage, one person drew their sword and charged. But the attack didn’t even reach its target. Like swatting away an annoying fly, the Demonic Beast swung his arm, sending the attacker flying. They fell silent, seemingly unconscious.

“I-Ishe!”

“Ishe, down in one hit…!”

The onlookers gasped. He wasn’t someone close to them, but they knew who he was. He was considered the best swordsman in the village after Thalis and Irei. And yet, he had been subdued without any proper preparation.

“Hey, you bastards! If you keep fussing, I’ll snap this guy’s neck right off!”

The Demonic Beast shouted loudly and applied pressure to Aron’s neck. Since it was clearly not an idle threat, no one dared to move recklessly.

“Ha! Yeah, stay still like that. If I get annoyed and kill this guy, then what will you… huh?”

The Demonic Beast, who had been laughing slyly, suddenly turned his head with a frown. Despite the pain, Aron, who had caught the Demonic Beast’s eye, lifted the corners of his mouth. He was holding the hand that clutched his neck. That hand was now wet with crimson. Aron had cut his palm to draw blood.

‘Good!’

Clonne’s blood is toxic to Demonic Beasts. It’s a powerful acid that can burn skin on contact. They thought they had seized another chance to counterattack, believing theD emonic Beast would release Aron due to the pain.

But the expected groan from the Demonic Beast didn’t come. He didn’t even seem to frown. Aron was still standing there, unmoving, with his hand on the Demonic Beast’s grip around his neck. Aron’s and the clan members’ faces were filled with confusion. The Demonic Beast, as if waiting for their reactions, grinned widely.

“Hmm, it stings a bit. So what?”

“N-No way…”

Aron mumbled blankly. Even I couldn’t understand. When Taron attacked me that day, he clearly felt pain the moment he touched my blood. The sound and smell of burning flesh were still vivid. Since Aron was an adult, his blood’s effect should be stronger than mine. But to only feel a bit of sting? Maybe it was because he was a stronger Demonic Beast, but everyone looked shocked, suggesting this situation itself was extraordinary.

“A Demonic Beast isn’t reacting to our blood?”

“No way. According to records…”

“What’s happening? Why is this…?”

Among the disturbed crowd, Kalph was the only one calm. “Can you all get a grip?” His cold shout barely managed to quench the chaotic atmosphere. Though their confusion hadn’t subsided, their faces remained pale.

“Wow, Eliha was right. These bastards can’t do anything, can they?”

The Demonic Beasts’ spirits soared even higher. Those who seemed tense when Aron used his blood immediately became jubilant upon realizing it had no effect. Their reaction suggested they hadn’t been entirely sure of the outcome either.

“Damn, we got scared for no reason. But why did Taron get affected then?”

“Looks like that guy is particularly weak.”

“Just looking at him, he seems the weakest of them all.”

“Come on, that’s too much, everyone.”

The boisterous laughter echoed around, but none of us on our side could laugh. Amidst the already dire atmosphere, one particular remark struck a nerve.

“They say Clonne is nothing without their King.”

A momentary silence fell over the area. The Demonic Beasts, who had been snickering amongst themselves, raised their eyebrows as if surprised.

“Oh, so these guys knew that too?”

“So, news even reaches this backwater?”

“You also know about your Knight who got killed trying to save the King?”

“……!”

“They say he split his own body open, even pulled out his heart. I heard he screamed in agony, shedding bloody tears. It must have been quite a sight.”

“Man, I wish I had seen it with my own eyes. It would have been a real spectacle. Eliha sure is a kind soul. If it were me, I’d have brought his corpse back so everyone could take turns spitting on it.”

The Demonic Beast holding Aron said the last part. The way he smacked his lips in regret turned everyone’s faces pale.

“Don’t think you’ll die with your limbs intact.”

Kalph, who had been silent, drew his sword. Its tip was pointed directly at the Demonic Beast holding Aron. His low warning was surprisingly calm. Perhaps that’s why the Demonic Beasts just snickered without any sense of danger.

“Hah, looks like he’s pretending to be all cool.”

“Kid, you shouldn’t talk big like that. It’d be embarrassing if you ended up dying a dog’s death.”

“Shouldn’t you be falling back to the rear? Can you even hold a weapon properly with that small frame? We’ll be nice and let you retreat far back. Okay?”

Despite the blatant mockery, Kalph showed no reaction, though the rest of the clan members looked on with distaste, not out of anger but more out of contempt.

“Those idiots have no idea who they’re messing with…”

“I guess that’s why they say ignorance is bliss.”

“Why do I feel embarrassed on their behalf…?”

Thanks to this, the previously disrupted atmosphere quickly regained its composure. And Kalph was a person who kept his word. He nonchalantly drew his sword and stepped forward. Even then, the warned Demonic Beast was still grinning foolishly.

“Heh, try if you dare…”

But he never finished his sentence. Before he could even complete his words, his head was already soaring through the air.

“…Huh?”

He didn’t quite register what had happened to him. His head, separated from his body, belatedly uttered a dumbfounded sound.

Thud!

The headless body lost its balance and collapsed to the ground. Shortly after, the head rolled pathetically before coming to a stop, eyes wide open.

“……”

“……”

It was a pathetic end for someone who had so effortlessly toyed with two members of the Clonne race. No one saw how or when the attack happened. If not for the blood dripping from his sword, signaling the change in his stance, they wouldn’t have realized that Kalph had even attacked. Judging by their reactions, the Demonic Beasts seemed equally clueless.

“Damn it, what the hell?”

“What just happened?”

Only then did the confused Demonic Beasts hastily grab their weapons. Amidst the clamor, a commanding voice barked out. It appeared to be their leader.

“You pathetic fools! Snap out of it! Why are you getting shaken up by this?”

“B-but, Lord Kerion! Hamel was just…!”

“Shut your mouths!”

Though the harsh command continued, the Demonic Beasts couldn’t calm down easily. In contrast, our side relaxed even further. Their faces showed a sense of relief, as if saying, “Of course.”

“As expected of Lord Kalph.”

“Even Lord Semeion can’t win against an angry Lord Kalph. They must have huge guts.”

During this time, Kalph was attending to the now-freed Aron. With Kalph’s support, the staggering Aron managed to stand and expressed his gratitude with difficulty. Kalph lightly patted his shoulder.

“You did well. Fall back.”

“…I’m sorry.”

Soon enough, the Demonic Beast leader strode forward. His greatsword pointed directly at Kalph.

“I underestimated you, thinking you were just a youngster, but you’re quite skilled. Are you perhaps a Knight?”

Kalph remained silent, but the leader seemed to have already received his answer. The other Demonic Beasts swallowed hard.

“A Knight?”

“A Knight, really?”

“Damn, what’s going on? Weren’t the remaining Knights supposed to be in Dongryeong?”

Caution started to show on their faces for the first time. It seemed their incursion was based on the assumption that there were no Knights left. Just as Clonne didn’t fully understand them, they hadn’t fully grasped the situation here either.

“Everyone shut up! Even if that’s true, he’s weakened! How much can he possibly do alone? If that fool Hamel hadn’t been careless, he wouldn’t have gone down so easily!”

As the unrest grew, the Demonic Beast leader shouted and brought the crowd under control. Quieting everyone down instantly, he turned his gaze to Kalph.

“You must know that the tide of battle is against you, right? I acknowledge that you’re quite strong, but you can’t fight all of us alone.”

“So what?”

“I dislike complications. Therefore, I’m offering you a special proposal: surrender.”

His next words were even more surprising. None of us had expected him to demand a surrender. Judging by the startled glances exchanged amongst our group, no one else had foreseen it either.