Chapter 44

Vlakaf is a wolf beastman. Beastmen are a race that possesses both human and animal characteristics, and in the case of wolf beastmen, they have the appearance of a human wearing a wolf's fur, or one could say they look like a wolf standing upright. Among beastmen, they are a race with a strong animalistic presence.

Because of this, they often face unwarranted discrimination and slander, and even in the capital, a city overflowing with diverse races, it is rare to see one of his kind.

Vlakaf's clan lives in a desert where no one dares to venture. Perhaps due to their disadvantaged position, they are a closed and pessimistic group, with a future that is clearly bleak.

Vlakaf had disliked his clan since he was young. But at the same time, he wanted to give this clan a future.

The only way for a discriminated wolf beastman to gain a strong social position is to become an explorer and rise through the ranks by strength. That's why Vlakaf came to the capital.

At first, he was anxious. After all, he didn't know if there would be any explorers willing to team up with a wolf beastman. But that anxiety disappeared when he met Leon and the others. The Heavenly Wing Knights were a wonderful party. They were not only strong but also upright, and their goal of improving the status of wolf beastmen aligned with his own.

However, he knew this relationship wouldn't last long. As they fought more battles, everyone began to think that the Heavenly Wing Knights existed because of their leader, Leon. By now, Vlakaf and the others were merely Leon's sidekicks. If the Heavenly Wing Knights continued, it would be impossible for Vlakaf to achieve his goal.

That's why, even when the Heavenly Wing Knights were defeated by Azure Sky and disbanded, Vlakaf wasn't particularly shocked. He had already planned to leave soon.

"Welcome, Vlakaf-sama! We've been waiting for you!"

When Vlakaf visited the Boar Demon's Club, Veronica Redbone, the leader of Crimson Lotus, greeted him with a broad smile. It was still early in the morning, and the shop wasn't open yet, so no one else was inside except for Vlakaf, Veronica, and the owner.

Veronica had approached Vlakaf over a month ago, with the intention of headhunting him. She had seen through his purpose as an explorer and his dissatisfaction with the current situation, and offered him a good deal to join their party. They had agreed that if he was interested, he would contact her via owl mail.

The night the Heavenly Wing Knights disbanded, Vlakaf sent a letter. The response was quick, inviting him to the Boar Demon's Club the next morning.

"Vlakaf-sama, does this mean I can expect a favorable answer?"

She was a hasty and forceful woman, but her straightforwardness was appreciated.

"Yes, I'll join you."

As Vlakaf placed his fists together in front of his chest, performing a wolf beastman's salute, Veronica let out a loud cheer.

"Yesss!! Now all that's left is to absorb the party of the stupid wolf and the stupid monkey! Then, we'll become a major party—no, a major clan! Just watch, Noel! I won't let you put on airs again!"

It seemed this woman also had a grudge against Noel. While he intended to follow Veronica as a teammate, he hoped they wouldn't have to fight Noel again.

Because Noel was someone no one could match.

†

†

"Kaim, why don't you go home now?"

As Kaim drank, the bar owner looked at him with concern.

"…Just a little more, please."

"How many drinks is that now? I understand you're in pain, but don't drown yourself in alcohol. You're still young, and there are plenty of ways to make a comeback."

"There's nothing like that... I'm finished..."

It had been two days since the Heavenly Wing Knights disbanded. After the test, Kaim and his teammates parted ways without much conversation. Since then, Kaim couldn't stop drinking. If he didn't drink, his hands would shake uncontrollably.

"Even now, I can still feel the sensation of stabbing Leon... I did something terrible... Noel was right; deep down, I wanted to be free... But that doesn't mean I had to do something like that... I prepared a knife coated with paralyzing poison without even trying to talk it out..."

The more he thought about it, the less it seemed like he was in his right mind. He had turned away from what he should have faced and tried to justify himself, leading to that act of violence.

"I said terrible things... He was just worried about me... Calling him a traitor was something I should never have said... The real traitor was me... I'm the worst scum..."

Kaim couldn't help but bury his face in the table and sob. As he cried, the owner gently patted his back.

"Kaim, you did something unforgivable, but is this really the end? Will your sins be forgiven by drowning yourself in alcohol? No, they won't. You have something you need to do."

"…Something I need to do?"

Kaim looked up, and the owner nodded.

"Set Leon free."

"He's already free... The Heavenly Wing Knights have disbanded..."

"No, he's not. I haven't seen Leon since that day, but he's probably just as trapped in his heart as you are. He's probably struggling because he couldn't trust his teammates. After all, he's like a younger brother to you."

Indeed, the Leon Kaim knew was just as the owner described. He was responsible and tended to blame himself when problems arose among his teammates.

"That might be true... But what can I do to him, after hurting him like this... I stabbed him with my own hands..."

"Even if you can't do anything, talk to him. I've seen you and your team for a long time. I know that if you talk, you can understand each other again."

"…What if it doesn't work?"

"That's also a path to freedom for both of you."

"Right... You're right..."

Kaim nodded, making a decision.

To face his weakness and Leon.

†

†

The sky was overcast, and heavy rain was falling. It was a cold, penetrating rain. In it, Leon walked without an umbrella.

The precious Heavenly Wing Knights had disbanded. Despite having many chances to win, it all fell apart because of Leon's incompetence.

He couldn't stop regretting it. The Heavenly Wing Knights were like a part of Leon. Losing that part was like losing his life.

People on the street sometimes mocked him, sometimes pitied him. To them, Leon was no longer the explorer they once admired. He was just a failure, someone who had fallen behind them.

At that moment, a young boy came running up to Leon, out of breath.

"Leon, please! Help me!"

"Huh? What's wrong all of a sudden?"

"My sister slipped and hit her head! She's bleeding a lot... But we don't have any money... If we don't do something... hic hic..."

Seeing the crying boy, the fire in Leon's soul, which had almost gone out, was reignited.

"Don't worry! I'll definitely help her! Don't cry!"

"…Really?"

"Yes, really. I'm not as good as a professional, but I'm confident in my healing skills. Come on, show me where your sister is."

"Okay! This way!"

The boy led Leon from the main street into a back alley. The back alleys of the capital, a result of rapid development, were a maze of twists and turns. It would be troublesome to lose the boy, so Leon carefully followed him, making sure not to lose sight of him at the many turns.

"This way! This way!"

They eventually came to a square between buildings. It was either a demolished site or abandoned land, but such squares were scattered throughout the back alleys of the capital.

"Is your injured sister in this square?"

As Leon looked around, he suddenly sensed a large number of armed people. It was a trap. By the time he realized it, he was already surrounded.

The boy who had led Leon here stuck out his tongue and left, replaced by about twenty rough-looking men, who approached with lecherous grins.

"Who would have thought you'd fall for such a trick. The Heavenly Wing has really fallen."

A large man with a hawk-like nose stepped forward. Leon recognized him.

"…Edgar, the raid captain of the War Hawk Fierce Claw."

"You remember me? That's nice."

"What do you want with me?"

"Nothing much. I just never liked you. So, I thought I'd give you a taste of pain."

"To do that, you used a young boy? That's sick..."

Leon shook his head, unable to understand. Edgar's face twisted in anger.

"You wouldn't understand, genius. While you were being praised, we were being mocked. One newspaper even wrote, 'Compared to the exemplary Heavenly Wing Knights, the War Hawk Fierce Claw is just a bunch of thugs. They're just a bunch of third-rate people who pretend to be a clan.'"

"That's true. You're doing this now."

"No, it's your fault, Leon. If you weren't around, we wouldn't have been mocked. You're a hypocrite, yet you're adored. When I heard you lost to Azure Sky and disbanded, I felt a great sense of relief. Finally, the mask was off."

The irrationality of his words made Leon's anger boil.

"Edgar, you're insane..."

"Maybe. But what about you? Wandering around like a ghost was the best. You've fallen as far as you can."

"…Shut up."

"The glory of the Heavenly Wing Knights is in the past! All that's left is the miserable end of the defeated. The slums suit you now!"

"Shut up!!"

As Leon, enraged, reached for his sword, he was struck hard on the back of his head. Though he didn't faint, the sudden attack made him fall to the cold ground.

"Die! Just die, Leon! You have no right to live! So, die here!"

Edgar and his companions swarmed around Leon. A part of him calmly observed that he was going to die. But it was true; he had no value now. Maybe it was better to die this way—

"AAAAHHH!!"

Just as he was about to give up, the people surrounding Leon started screaming. Looking up, he saw that one man's fingers were cut off, and another had a metal needle deeply embedded in his hand. All of them were dropping their weapons and writhing in pain.

"Ugh, who's there!? Show yourself!!"

As Edgar, who had lost fingers on his right hand, shouted, the sound of footsteps on the cobblestones came from the back alley.

"You're having fun. Let us join in."

A demon in a black coat stood there.