Ch.400Chapter 400 – To Catch a Bear (3)

Baren had challenged me to a duel.

‘This is taking an unexpected turn.’

I had hoped that since Baren was the chief of the Bear tribe, he might eventually stop after I subdued enough of the bear beastmen. I planned to steer things toward dialogue at that point, but things had gotten strangely complicated.

‘Beastmen’s thinking has always been unpredictable, but…’

Still, I hadn’t expected him to challenge me head-on. According to the law of survival of the fittest, I didn’t think Baren would challenge me to a fight.

Baren was already known to have been defeated by Lizanis, and I had easily beaten that same Lizanis.

In a way, the outcome was almost predetermined before we even fought. Even if reality might be different, comparing our records alone, Baren was charging at me despite having no chance of winning.

‘Does he have a reason he can’t back down?’

Or perhaps there was something I didn’t know pushing him to step forward?

Even as these thoughts crossed my mind, I raised my weapon and stepped forward.

‘My heart is still fine.’

Though I felt some pain, likely from fighting too hard earlier, I wasn’t about to collapse suddenly. I thought I could win without revealing my deteriorating physical condition to my companions.

“If I can move, I can handle this.”

I narrowed my eyes as I faced off against Baren.

Sia immediately approached me and said:

“Kay.”

“I’ll handle this alone again.”

I quietly answered Sia as I stepped forward.

Unlike with Lizanis before, it wasn’t out of disgust.

I was simply responding to his challenge.

And in this situation, I couldn’t completely rule out the possibility of some kind of trap, so it was better for Sia and the others to keep watch around us.

“…Everyone. Please keep an eye on our surroundings, just in case.”

Eve seemed to understand my intention and spoke to everyone.

Soon, they all stepped back, leaving Baren and me facing each other alone.

At the same time, I could feel Sera and Chris watching with worried eyes.

I gave a slight nod, hoping to reassure them as I stood alone before Baren.

Then Baren smiled and said:

“Hmm! I said that, but I wouldn’t have minded if you all attacked at once!”

“I had no intention of doing that.”

I looked at Baren as I spoke.

“I’m enough on my own.”

“…Indeed! That’s the spirit of someone who defeated Lizanis!”

Baren laughed heartily as he spoke.

While I was getting the feeling that this was somewhat theatrical, Baren made his move.

With a thud, he stomped the ground once.

In an instant, Baren was in front of me, swinging his massive forepaw.

I blocked his paw with my halberd, and another thud echoed as Baren grinned and shouted:

“As expected, you can block this much!”

“It would be strange if I couldn’t.”

Normally, this would have been a blow that could dent a shield, but honestly, I had seen and experienced countless strikes stronger than this.

I deflected his arm with my halberd, and Baren laughed heartily as he clenched his fist.

“Then, in succession!!”

His enormous body, which would make most bear beastmen look up to him, began to move nimbly.

He circled behind me and started swinging his arms multiple times.

He launched a series of attacks using his fists and hands for striking, along with his sharp claws for slashing.

I continued to block and deflect his surprisingly heavy blows with my halberd.

Then, seeing Baren suddenly putting strength into his leg, I quickly raised my own.

Our legs crossed in mid-air as our kicks connected.

“Kuh!”

Though Baren was wearing leg guards, he seemed to feel the impact as I saw him slightly grimace.

In that state, I rotated my waist again, spinning my body and driving a kick toward Baren’s body.

Perhaps because I had held back somewhat, I saw Baren quickly cross his arms to block my leg.

And his massive body moved back about three steps after blocking the kick.

“The chief is being pushed back!”

“Good heavens! Despite the size difference…!”

The bear beastmen shouted in surprise.

Baren managed a smile as he shook his arms.

“This is… your strikes are heavier than I expected…!”

He massaged his arms while forcing a smile.

He was trying to pretend it didn’t hurt, but judging by his expression, he had failed.

Still, perhaps thinking he couldn’t lose shamefully here, he readjusted his stance and said:

“Yes. This is how it should be! Indeed it is!”

Baren said with a strained laugh.

Then he shouted behind him:

“Throw me my iron mace!”

“Yes!!”

Several bear beastmen shouted in unison as they threw something with all their might.

A large iron mace flew over them and landed beside Baren.

Lifting the mace with its ridiculous iron head as big as his own, Baren grinned.

“Human warrior, state your name!”

Though news about me must have already reached Baren’s ears, he asked for my name.

There was no reason not to answer.

“Kay.”

When I stated my name, Baren laughed heartily.

And still acting as if in a play, he spoke loudly:

“Kay! A good name!”

Baren shouted loudly.

“Here I come, Kay! Warrior, accept the challenge of Baren!”

Even though the test that Baren had arbitrarily started had shifted from testing my skills to showcasing his own, Baren laughed.

“The victor shall take everything from the loser!!”

As I deflected his iron mace with my halberd, our eyes met.

I saw Baren’s eyes, looking as if he was prepared for death.

+

Jusha opened her eyes.

‘…Was it a dream?’

Had the pressure been too much these past few days, with reports bursting her bubble and a darkening future ahead?

Jusha was lying on her bed.

‘I think I had a nightmare.’

Jusha closed her eyes and thought quietly.

She silently hoped that everything that had happened was just a nightmare, and that her subordinates hadn’t yet departed for their recruitment mission.

Of course, nothing happened.

‘I suppose that’s how it is.’

Though she had held a strange expectation, that hope was shattered.

Jusha was a child, but fortunately or unfortunately, she wasn’t at an age to regret that fact.

“But it’s too noisy outside.”

Shouts, screams, and the sound of clashing metal could be heard from outside.

Could the lizardmen be attacking this place?

Jusha approached the door quietly with fear in her heart.

And to assess the situation outside, she pushed the door open slightly.

What entered her eyes was:

Her father, Baren, desperately blocking a halberd swung by a man with his weapon.

“Urgh…!”

Having fought for quite some time already, Baren’s entire body was drenched in sweat.

Now he was groaning as if running out of strength.

Still, he somehow managed to swing his iron mace, but it was instantly blocked by his opponent.

‘There are no serious wounds yet, but…!’

From Jusha’s observation, Baren didn’t have any significant injuries yet.

But her father was clearly at a disadvantage.

The nimble footwork and fists that didn’t match his large build were easily blocked by the human male, and the iron mace swung with all his might was continuously intercepted by the halberd.

To someone with little knowledge of martial arts, the two might appear evenly matched.

But a closer look revealed that wasn’t the case at all.

The opponent wasn’t even trying to dodge her father’s attacks.

Though he occasionally deflected attacks, he mostly just met them head-on.

As if to demonstrate the difference in skill, he was overwhelming Baren in a direct confrontation.

Despite Baren’s continuous attacks, it was he who was being pushed back.

‘That person must be…!’

Jusha immediately recognized who the opponent was.

There was only one human she knew capable of such feats.

It was the warrior she had wanted to form an alliance with.

‘No.’

Jusha’s face turned pale.

The chances of Baren defeating that warrior were slim.

Baren had already lost to Lizanis and hadn’t been able to win since.

Yet his opponent was famous for having already overwhelmed Lizanis.

Since he didn’t seem injured or having any physical issues, her father had no chance of winning.

Baren’s defeat, or even death, was almost certain.

‘Absolutely not.’

If it were her, it wouldn’t matter.

But not Baren.

It was her father who had united the Bear tribe.

In other words, Baren was the central figure of the Bear tribe.

If he died here, the Bear tribe he had gathered might disintegrate.

For the future of the Bear tribe, that couldn’t be allowed to happen.

And the young Jusha had an even bigger reason.

‘No, Dad!’

The young girl was afraid of losing her family.

Jusha rushed out immediately.

+

The outcome was becoming clear.

Baren was getting tired and starting to falter, while I was still in good condition.

The other bear beastmen also seemed to realize that defeat was certain, as their voices, which had been cheering for Baren at first, gradually diminished.

As if for the final blow, Baren raised his iron mace high and brought it down, which I easily deflected with my fist and then switched my halberd to a sword, pointing it at Baren’s neck.

With the iron mace rolling helplessly on the ground, the match was decided.

“It seems I’ve won.”

“…Yes. I am defeated.”

Baren looked at me and grinned.

“I may not have reclaimed my position as a great warrior, but it was fortunate to meet and fight someone stronger.”

“Indeed.”

As I quietly responded to Baren, the bear face smiled slightly and was about to say something.

“Then….”

“W-wait a moment!!”

Suddenly, a young girl’s voice was heard.

Turning my gaze, I saw a pretty little child running quickly toward us.

“Wait, wait! Please make way, everyone!”

“I thought she’d be hiding somewhere, but an unexpected person has appeared.”

As Noah’s voice was faintly heard, the small girl finally ran up to me.

Then, spreading her hands, she shouted:

“Please forgive our tribe!”

“What?”

My mind went blank for a moment.

While I was wondering what this little one was talking about, the girl continued:

“My name is Jusha! Baren’s daughter, Jusha! All the rudeness of our warriors is my responsibility!”

“Jusha, go back inside!”

Baren shouted urgently.

Then, looking at me, Baren said:

“…Ignore the child’s words. This series of events is my responsibility, so it’s right to hold me accountable. I am the chief, not that child.”

As I looked at Baren, he continued:

“Please take that child and let our tribe…”

“W-what are you saying, Dad?!”

Jusha shouted loudly.

“Dad, are you trying to die taking responsibility and asking him to spare your daughter and tribe?”

“Isn’t the responsibility mine?”

“By that logic, I also failed to predict that you and the tribe members would do such stupid things…!”

Jusha continued to shout:

“No! Dad needs to live! I’ll take responsibility!”

“It’s right that I die! You stay back!”

The father and daughter began shouting at each other.

Perhaps because of this sudden absurd family quarrel, the tense atmosphere around us began to dissipate.

And Sia quietly approached and spoke:

“The conversation is taking a strange turn again.”

“Indeed.”

While I did intend to pose some threat, the direction things were taking was different from what I had expected.

I could understand Jusha, but I couldn’t comprehend how Baren’s thinking had diverged.

“I really don’t understand how beastmen think.”

The thought I had been holding in finally escaped my lips.

Meanwhile, I could see the bear tribe members disarming as they recognized their defeat, making me realize that this situation was coming to an end.

There was no need to fight anymore.

“Kay.”

“Yes.”

Nodding at Eve’s words, I quietly changed my weapon back to a sword and sheathed it.

Then I approached the father and daughter, who were still raising their voices, each insisting on taking responsibility.

“I should take responsibility…!”

“No, I should bear it…!”

The shouting pair soon noticed my presence.

Both father and daughter looked at me.

“Well then.”

“W-wait…!”

Baren shielded his fearful daughter with his body.

“The responsibility…”

“Before that.”

In that state, I spoke to the two:

“Let’s have a time for honest conversation.”

Baren’s eyes widened slightly.