Chapter 205. Beggar Sibling – Uban**
– Thud.
Uban lightly set down the bundle he was carrying. As he did, he responded rather kindly.
“Hehehe. A hunter comes down to sell jerky, what other reason would there be? Why so upset?”
“…This time, without causing any trouble, stay out of trouble and go back quietly.”
“Tsk—what trouble did I cause… here, give me some alcohol.”
There was a reason he was being so humble. This was the hall of the Taamun village, and the man in front of him was the one managing the hall’s supplies.
Just like other villages, the Taamun village carried the goods they produced to other villages or cities to sell.
But sometimes the goods were needed by the Taamun villagers themselves, so the hall would trade them for other necessary items when villagers brought them.
For Uban, who lived alone in the mountains without any relatives, this was convenient.
At his age, it wasn’t appealing to accompany the young men from the village on their trading trips just to get a drink. He also didn’t have any close friends to ask for such favors.
Fortunately, what he wanted was none other than alcohol. And there were quite a few households in Taamun village that brewed good quality alcohol for sale. The problem was…
In the past, there had been some disagreements between Uban and the women of those households. The man managing the supplies furrowed his brow.
“Just know, if you cause trouble in the village again after drinking, I won’t trade with you ever again. Do you know how much trouble I had to go through… never mind, wait here.”
He wanted to draw the line and refuse to trade, but if he did, Uban would start a commotion.
He went down to the storeroom and tightly sealed two pots of alcohol. He packed the stoppers so tightly it wouldn’t be easy to open them, and then returned, warning Uban, who had once been a sort of friend.
“Take it to the mountain lodge to drink. The pots aren’t for sale, so bring them back later.”
Uban exited the hall with a very displeased expression, as people often do when they’ve received what they wanted.
Trudging along, holding the rather heavy pots of alcohol in both hands, he crossed the village. He encountered a group of villagers chatting animatedly about something that seemed amusing to them.
“Did you see the cart earlier? I’ve never seen such a big cart before…”
They also saw Uban. But they didn’t acknowledge him. The women averted their gaze as if they’d seen something they shouldn’t have, and the men stiffened their expressions. Feeling even more irritated, Uban huffed and quickened his steps.
Eventually, he reached the foot of the mountain. Sitting by the stream flowing down from the mountain, he lamented.
Damn this world.
Such a shitty world.
Among the women he had just passed, one had been someone he truly liked when he was younger. He had confessed to her, and been rejected.
‘Maybe my standards were too high,’ he had reflected and had then proposed to the woman next to her. Come live with me, he’d said.
“Damn woman.”
No one liked him.
It seemed as if all the village girls had conspired to reject his proposals, simply because he was an outsider. Of course. There’s no other reason why a girl would reject a man like him.
Unlike you country bumpkins, I’ve even been to the big city of Rutetia.
Muttering under his breath, Uban took out a piece of jerky from his sack. Chewing it vigorously, he tried to drink his alcohol.
– Squeak…!
“Damn it. Why won’t this open?”
The damn stopper wouldn’t budge. After stubbornly struggling and getting his face red, the cork finally popped open.
Damn it. Shitty thing.
Grumbling, Uban drank straight from the pot. The evening glow shimmering on the stream and the fireflies beginning to emerge. It wasn’t a bad sight. But every time the village surrounded by low stone walls came into view, his mood soured.
Just because I’m a damn outsider.
I could be just like that traitor…
Uban cursed at the village. He openly poured out curses toward the pointed church steeple, his gaze filled with resigned hatred.
The sun was setting.
After finishing one pot of alcohol, Uban considered leaving but then pulled out the other pot. Damn world, he needed at least one more drink to endure it.
– Splash.
But again, the stopper wouldn’t open. Slightly tipsy, Uban couldn’t pry it open as easily as he had before. Struggling for a while, he eventually threw the pot into the stream in frustration. Regretting it immediately, he chased after the floating pot.
Retracing his steps down the path he had climbed.
He managed to retrieve the pot of alcohol at a calmer section of the stream, but by then, he was already near the village.
Ugh, the taste is ruined now.
Uban decided to head back to the lodge, his steps drenched and heavy. But then,
“Kids, it’s dangerous if you go too far.”
“Okay~”
“Tian! Tian! Look over there. Fireflies! My brother used to…”
A family?
My family was all murdered. As Uban stood there blankly watching the boy, who seemed likely to be a girl, and the young woman, he realized they weren’t a family.
Even though the twilight was growing darker, Uban noticed that the woman was quite pretty. He spat on his hands.
He was middle-aged but still in his mid-thirties. The pretty woman who seemed to be in her late teens could be considered his niece, but he combed his hair back with his spittle and swaggered towards her confidently.
As he got closer, he noticed she was stunningly beautiful.
Her flowing black hair was mesmerizing. The delicate, pale contour of her jaw indicated she was from the city. Her neat attire and the fact that she was still wearing makeup despite the late hour distinguished her from the village women who had no sense of self-care.
Of course, he wasn’t a fan of women who only cared about their appearance while men worked themselves to death. Natural beauty was true beauty… But she was so beautiful he could forgive her for it out of generosity.
“Ahem!” Uban cleared his throat and said, “Excuse me, miss. Hello?”
“…Hello. It’s a nice night. Tian, Lena! Let’s go back now.”
“I don’t think I’ve seen you before. When did you arrive? By the way, let me introduce myself. I’m Uban, a successful hunter. Look at this fur coat. I made it myself. Isn’t it great?”
“Oh… Yes. I’m Xenia. I just arrived today. Nice to meet you. I came for a short walk, but it’s already this late. Tian! Lena! Come quickly.”
“Oh my, you’re leaving already? The view here is lovely. If you go up a little more…”
“No, I’d rather see it properly in the daylight. We’re guests staying at the village chief’s house, so if you wouldn’t mind, could you visit us tomorrow? I’ll remember you. Have a good night.”
“Oh no, wait. Don’t go yet, come with me…”
Uban grabbed Xenia’s wrist. She could have pulled her hand away even if caught off guard, but Xenia merely smiled softly while being held.
“There are kids here, and it’s too late tonight. Did you say your name was Uban? How about having lunch together if you’re free around noon tomorrow? I’ll make time for you.”
She spoke politely, trying not to offend the drunk man. However,
The village chief will definitely have something bad to say when he sees me!
Uban thought it had been a mistake to give his name. It’s been so long since any woman showed interest in him. He couldn’t let this chance slip away.
“What does time matter? Xenia. No, how about we speak casually? Xenia, I’ll show you a great place. The kids will love it too.”
“I’m looking forward to that place. But tonight truly isn’t a good time. It’s too dark.”
“It’s not that dark. The fireflies light the way, don’t they? And this isn’t even the best part. I know a place with loads of fireflies. They are so beautiful. Not as beautiful as you, though.”
They continued their back-and-forth, with Uban still holding her wrist. Yet, as the kids approached, sensing something was off, and as the polite but firm rejections repeated, Uban, who had been turned down by many women before, realized she was trying to brush him off.
Is this bitch playing with me?
His initial interest quickly turned into rage. Filled with anger, he grabbed Xenia’s chin roughly, trying to force a kiss.
– Slap!
“How dare you…!”
She slapped him. Uban raised his hand to slap her back but then met her fierce eyes.
“How dare you lay a hand on me. Let go now!”
Uban froze for a moment.
“Is this bitch playing with me?”
His affection rapidly turned into intense anger. Enraged to the point of boiling over, he roughly grabbed Xenia’s jaw and forcefully tried to kiss her.
– SLAP!
“How dare you…!”
He was slapped on the cheek. As Uban raised his arm to slap her back, he found himself staring into her fierce, piercing eyes.
“How dare you lay a hand on my body? Let go, now!”
For a brief moment, Uban froze.
Surprised by the regal aura emanating from her, he couldn’t shake off his drunken stupor. Thinking it was another one of her acts, he grabbed Xenia by the collar. Just as he was about to mercilessly slap the impudent woman who didn’t know to fear men,
“What are you doing to my sister?!”
Santian Rauno rushed in. With the boy clinging to his arm, Uban stumbled and swayed.
But it was just a boy. He couldn’t topple the well-built adult male. Enraged, Uban shouted, “You brat!” and punched the boy in the abdomen. Tiaan, who was knocked away in one blow, fell to the ground and vomited the contents of his stomach.
Next up was Xenia. The menacing eyes of Uban turned towards Xenia.
“Why, why are you doing this?!”
Lena, with a hooded cloak pulled tight, stepped in front of Xenia.
As if he cared she was a girl. “Get out of the way!” Uban shouted, pushing and kicking her aside. Lena fell with a thud, and her hood was pulled off.
Uban froze again.
Under the early evening darkness, bright golden hair and golden eyes shone brilliantly. Though still youthful, her red lips and neat, white teeth showed signs of maturity. Her delicate jawline was just beginning to lose its girlishness.
Even without a drop of makeup, her flushed cheeks struck Uban to the core. Her beauty was enough to prevent any lustful desires from arising, but Uban was drunk, lost in the darkness, and intoxicated by his victory in overpowering the brat.
He changed his target.
She might be a bit young, but she’s grown enough. Far better than messing with some filthy woman who plays with men’s hearts. And her appearance is much…
“You scumbag!”
Just as Uban was bowing his head toward Lena, Tian lunged at him again.
Getting to his feet with trembling legs, he clung to Uban’s waist, shouting as if he’d never let go this time.
“Big sister, big sister. Run away! Quickly…!”
“You little brat. Let go of this!?”
– Thud! Thud!
Uban repeatedly struck the boy clinging to his stomach. However, no matter how much he hit, the boy just clung on as if he was ready to die there.
“Hurry, hurry… Ugh, hurry…”
Run away. Santian, who was clinging to an adult three times his size, flailed his legs. He didn’t have the strength to gesture, so he scratched the ground with his dangling feet.
But Lena couldn’t run away. Even though Xenia’s older sister pulled her arm and told her to go get help, she blankly stared at Tian.
It was a scene she had seen somewhere before. The small back shouting to run away looked familiar. Back then, Santian was also clinging to some fat man.
At that moment, Uban changed his mind.
Realizing he couldn’t shake the boy off by hitting him, he grabbed the boy by the waist and lifted him upside down.
Intending to slam his head into the ground, Lena shouted, “No!” and grabbed Tian. Even Xenia ran over and pulled on Tian, and then
– Rip!
Even in his dazed state, Santian desperately clung, tearing the fur coat Uban was so proud of.
You little bastards.
Enraged, Uban drew a hunting knife. With his bulky figure reddened by the alcohol and anger, he threatened the boy, girl, and young woman, and at that moment,
“That bastard.”
Two people, a young man with light brown hair and another with bright blond hair, drew their swords and came running madly.
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