Chapter 415

Words : 2531 Updated : Oct 15th, 2025

Eileen frowned when she saw Hans’ dumbfounded face asking why she was looking at him. That scrawny man is their strongest force? “What an unfunny joke.” “Did it sound like a joke to you?” Rudger maintained his stance of not bothering to convince her. Seeing this, even the skeptical Eileen showed an expression of “Could it be true?” However, she didn’t question what kind of ability it was, or if it was possible with such a pathetic body. ‘Does he possess some unique ability?’ Come to think of it, just looking at Pantos and Alex, they were exceptionally talented individuals. If he was treated as an executive like them, Hans must have something too. ‘I’m a bit envious.’ Despite having such skills, they work in the shadows and show loyalty to Rudger. Having such people by one’s side to command was truly enviable for Eileen as a leader. Although she had talented individuals too, practically speaking, Pasius was the only one she could openly entrust with tasks. If she had to count one more, it would be Madeline, but since she wasn’t someone who moved purely out of loyalty, it was ambiguous to evaluate. ‘The old days were better.’ The times when she commanded Jack the Ripper, not Rudger Chelici. In fact, rather than commanding, it was more of an equal partnership, but he was more reliable than anyone else. However, Eileen decided not to be too greedy. She was maintaining a good relationship with Rudger now, and above all, there were quite a few matters that needed immediate attention. “Anyway, we’ve sufficiently confirmed each other’s abilities, and since we’ve finished our business, I’ll be going now. I shouldn’t be away from my post for too long.” Rudger thought she might as well not have come at all, but he didn’t bother asking that. Before leaving with Pasius, Eileen left one last warning to Rudger. “Be careful of the Lumensis Order. After their contact with the elves, they’re trying to move their base from the capital to somewhere else.” “Where do you think they’ll go?” “It doesn’t seem like they’re returning to their home country. I’m not sure if they want to search around more since they’ve already come.” Eileen trailed off as she said this. That alone made it easy to guess where the Lumensis Order might be heading. “You mean they might come here.” “So it would be good to be cautious. I have a bad feeling.” Eileen didn’t warn any further than that. Even if she didn’t bring it up, this man would make sufficient preparations on his own. “More importantly, the interior has become completely messy.” Eileen smiled amusedly as she looked at the arena that was torn up here and there. Her smile was so radiant that it created an illusion of the dark indoor arena becoming brighter for a moment. However, even at this sight, Rudger shrugged indifferently. “I suppose it was woefully inadequate as a sparring ground for master-level practitioners.” If Pasius had drawn his aura and Pantos had used his spirit, the arena would have been split in half, even though it was built sturdy enough for knights to fight. That’s how much both of them were beings that far exceeded specifications but Eileen thought there was still something gained because Pasius’ appearance, standing quietly in place, was different from usual, more serious. He had shown a similar reaction after the underground cavern fight in the capital previously and after that, Pasius’ sword had noticeably changed. Pasius was a Master Knight with the potential to grow further and Eileen thought she had made the right decision to visit Rudger personally. * * * Eileen left with Pasius. Rudger tried to send Bellaruna with them but they refused, saying to contact them later when she arrived at the capital separately. Bellaruna also thought it was fortunate, saying she still had preparations to make. “They’re gone.” Hans muttered, thinking of Eileen and Pasius who left as quietly as they had come. The First Imperial Princess isn’t practically the closest to becoming the next Emperor? Hans felt like he was dreaming at the fact that such a person was close with his brother. ‘I always thought he was amazing, but to think he extended his reach even to the light like this?’ Hans glanced at Rudger as if seeing him in a new light. His noble appearance would impress even men, though it wasn’t particularly strange considering his true bloodline. -Hmm. Hans nodded as if understanding. ‘This dirty looks-obsessed world.’ As Hans grumbled inwardly like that, his gaze caught sight of two people sitting quietly to one side, Alex and Pantos. After the sparring match in the underground arena, something had gotten into them, and they were sitting still, deep in meditation with their eyes closed. “They’re reviewing what happened today.” At that moment, Rudger suddenly spoke to Hans. “Review, you say?” “Today’s fight was enough of an experience for those two.” “Well, I can understand Pantos, but didn’t Alex just watch?” “That alone is enough for him.” -Huh. Hans let out an exclamation of disbelief but it wasn’t the first time he’d heard this. Since becoming an executive of U.N. Owen, he had basically heard about each other’s abilities. Wasn’t it said that Alex could copy just by watching others’ movements? Since Hans wasn’t a knight, he couldn’t fully appreciate how alien and remarkable Alex’s talent was but it was quite fascinating to see Alex, who usually acted relaxed and frivolous, concentrating so intently on something. If he was concentrating to that degree, it meant it was that important, and the sparring match they had witnessed earlier had quite an impact. “Then both of them will become stronger.” While it was fine for Alex to get stronger, Pantos getting even stronger from here? He already seemed like a monster, how much stronger was he trying to become? Rudger smiled at Hans’s inwardly fearful appearance. “What? Afraid you’ll lose your number one combat ranking?” “Fear? What nonsense! Why am I number one in the first place?” “Because you’re the strongest when you use that but seeing Pantos’ growth rate, even that might be overturned.” “I don’t care about that.” Hans shuddered as if disgusted. He wasn’t someone suited for combat in the first place. “Besides, I can’t even control the Beast of Gevaudan. Using something that could go berserk at worst to talk about combat power just sounds like mockery.” “For something like that, hasn’t your authority been getting stronger lately?” “That’s...” Hans swallowed his next words. While it used to be just hearing the voices of beasts, now he could go beyond communication to giving commands. Starting from being able to control rats, he could now handle cats, dogs, and even crows. What used to require implanting the beast’s teeth and using sign language was now possible to control in his bare state. If he really put his mind to using it, how many beasts would he be able to command? “...Honestly, it’s not a very good feeling. It feels like I’m in the process of giving up being human.” “The very fact that you think that way is proof that you’re still human.” “I’m honestly scared. I don’t know when I might suddenly be consumed by the wild nature again. It’s still okay for now, but I can’t shake off this feeling of something gradually tightening around my neck.” -Hmm. Rudger pondered a bit at Hans’s answer. It seemed Hans had become like this after using the Beast of Gevaudan’s teeth. ‘Since it was such a powerful cryptid, I suppose its effects remain firmly in the body.’ And it was getting stronger gradually. Judging by Hans’ reaction, it was clear that the Beast of Gevaudan’s thoughts remaining in his body were having some influence but there was no proper way to treat it. If it were a curse or something else, that would be different, but this was purely a genetic issue causing mutations. How could there be a way to change genes themselves? He could provide a neutralizer, but that would only revert the beast transformation back to human form. It’s difficult to do anything about beast powers gradually getting stronger while in human form. In the end, this was Hans’ own trial that he had to resolve himself. ‘Still, there doesn’t seem to be any influence from other beasts. In the end, is the Beast of Gevaudan the main problem?’ ‘Ah. Perhaps.’ Rudger suddenly had a thought. * * * The group returned not to their hideout, but to an unused warehouse-type building. Hans was wondering why Rudger came here when he blinked at the hand suddenly thrust before his face. “Hans. Take it.” “What is this?” Hans quietly received what Rudger held out. When he opened it, he saw three white pieces. Hans instinctively felt it. “These are teeth, aren’t they?” “Yes. I picked them up on the way back from Kasar Valley. Consider them souvenirs.” Hans was dumbfounded at those words. What kind of souvenir are beast teeth? “...Besides, these seem unusually large. They don’t look ordinary at all.” “Two are from giant predators that lived in Kasar Valley, and the largest tooth next to them is from a Spirit King.” “Spirit...King, you say?” “Yes.” Hans knows that Spirit King is something that transcends beasts while being a beast, literally something so mystical that it can barely be found in the continent’s remote regions. Knowing how extraordinary such a Spirit King is, he’s saying this is its tooth? “Don’t tell me, brother. Did you hunt the Spirit King in Kasar Valley? Were you unable to break your hunter habits?” Rudger frowned at those words. “What do you mean hunter habits?” “Well, I just thought you’d try to kill any suspicious beast right away.” “When did I ever...” He was about to argue when he realized he first met Hans while trying to hunt him, and closed his mouth. “...Anyway, no. I didn’t hunt it, I received it legitimately.” “How does one legitimately receive a tooth from a Spirit King?” What, did he perform wisdom tooth extraction or something? Ignoring Hans’s suspicious gaze, Rudger calmly threw out his words. “Try using it.” “What? What?” “I said try using it. It might help you.” “...This?” Although Hans was doubtful, when Rudger spoke with such certainty, he couldn’t bring himself to refuse. Rather vaguely, his instincts, far more developed than before, were urging him to do so. “...Don’t tell me you’re planning to suppress the Beast of Gevaudan’s wild nature with the Spirit King’s power?” Hans immediately understood what Rudger was thinking. Fighting poison with poison. Now Rudger was telling him that if it’s difficult to suppress the beast inside Hans, he should borrow another power. “Huh.” Hans thought it might be a bit too much, but thinking about it carefully, this seemed like the best method available now. After all, the way to stop a gradually but surely spreading fire is to start a counter-fire and since it was a Spirit King’s tooth, it somehow felt safer. At least it wouldn’t have the bestial nature that was called the nightmare of the Durman Kingdom. “However, try this first.” Rudger pointed to the smaller one next to the Spirit King’s tooth, not the Spirit King’s tooth itself. It was small when compared to the Spirit King’s tooth but in reality, this tooth was also quite huge, making one wonder what kind of beast it came from. “What beast’s tooth is this?” “It was a bear that lived in Kasar Valley, and it could handle magical power due to the surrounding environment.” “Handle magical power, you say?” “Yes. So perhaps, if you use this, you might gain similar abilities.” Magical power, he says. Hans was tempted by those words. For an ordinary person, using magic held a certain romance. Of course, there was also the possibility of just turning into an ordinary werebear but since there was nothing to lose, Hans lightly pierced his palm with the tooth, since it would hurt if he pierced too deep. The same strange energy as when usually transforming into a beast swirled around his body. However, unlike before, something more ticklish could be felt. Hans’s body gradually grew larger and eventually transformed into a huge werebear. But there was something different from ordinary bears – the U-shaped horns protruding from his head. Moreover, the horns were made of rock. “This is...” Hans tapped his horns with his thickened hands. They were solid, unlike simple horns, but they had the distinct texture of rock. “Indeed.” Rudger also nodded while looking at Hans. The other U.N. Owen members also gazed curiously at Hans. Perhaps because of evolution due to the magic-filled environment, Hans had also evolved into a fitting form. “Can you use magic?” “I’ll try. Like, this?” No advice was needed. When he acted on the intuition that told him he could do it this way, there was a response. The ticklish energy inside his body gathered in his right hand, and eventually, armor made of stone covered his thick bear paw. “Oh, ohhh. Brother! Look at this!” “Yes. I’m looking.” Rudger was amazed that he could even use magic. The same was true for Arpa, Violetta, Seridan, and Bellaruna who were quietly observing the situation. ‘To think he could really use magic.’ Of course, the magic he used was just slightly beyond the basics of converting magical power into elements but what was important was that Hans, who had never known even the basics of magic, could use that. If he had known this would happen, he should have brought more teeth from other beasts. “Hans. How’s the wild nature?” “Hmm. Somehow it feels different from transforming into other beasts. Like my head is clearer, perhaps?” “Is that so? I suppose it’s less intense, probably due to the influence of magical power.” Rudger handed Hans the neutralizer he had prepared. “Next is the Spirit King’s tooth. Since Giant Bear and Cheshire Tiger would be similar, let’s go straight to the main one.” “...Whew. I’ll try it.” Hans, who had returned to normal after inserting the neutralizer, stared intently at the Spirit King’s tooth. If it’s a Spirit King’s tooth, it should be at least on par with the Beast of Gevaudan. Surely he won’t be consumed by the wild nature? Hans had such worries, but Rudger was here, and so were Pantos and Alex. The fact that there were people who could stop him if he went berserk gave Hans reassurance. “Hup.” Hans pierced his palm with the Spirit King’s tooth. This time it was okay even if it hurt a little, so he did it slightly harder.

Chapter 415

Comments (0)