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Chapter 06
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“I wondered why the owner of the clothes didn’t show up, turns out the ogre had captured him. Hehehe.”
Thinking for himself and responding on the chosen topic, Heukhan gave a hearty laugh, shoulders tensing with confidence.
“Is that so? Indeed, intelligence is intelligence. Very, very clever. Kekeke.”
Ultimately, there was no proper answer as to where the ogre found the human. However, Duraan had even forgotten the fact that he had doubts.
“But why is the little human still asleep? Are him pretending to be dead because they’re scared of us?”
“Oh, that? He fainted from fright after seeing the ogre. Kekeke.”
Baekhan concealed a slight lie. If Heukhan were to learn that the little human had fainted while attempting to wield the ego sword, he would likely dislike Baekhan for the perceived weakness.
Caught in unknown contemplation, Connie Heart struggled with her emotions.
Is everything they’re saying now the truth?
Especially, Heukhan’s assertion troubled Connie Heart. The attitude toward Dhiope and the unfamiliarity with it, too.
[I wondered if that monster called Heukhan confronted the child…]
At least the young child couldn’t have inflicted harm on the monstrous Duraan. Moreover, even when Duraan’s body corroded, there was no sense of the ominous energy from blood. The other monsters encountered on the way were the same.
Some monsters among them had just fought and sustained injuries, yet there was no hint of discomfort in the air.
Of course, there was a chance that a mundane, inferior monster, unencountered by her, might have attacked the child. It could have been a curious and malicious monster forcing its blood on the child to torment them.
[But the likelihood of that is slim.]
It was more reasonable to hypothesize an attack by fellow creatures. Perhaps intentionally abandoned in this mountain.
Why, of all places, did the monsters gather on this simmering mountain?
The reason was obvious.
To disguise the incident as if it were caused by monsters. Or perhaps to be genuinely attacked and killed by real monsters.
[It’s quite plausible.]
Connie Heart glanced back at the monsters.
A sense of intimidation emanated from the fierce-looking Duraan. Broad shoulders resembled a sea, and the cold armor exuded an austere aura.
Yet, their actions seemed somewhat lacking.
“Hehehe.”
“Kekeke.”
Even their seemingly empty laughter.
Connie Heart sat on the ground, staring at Dhiope. The boy’s pale face felt particularly pitiful.
[Looks unnecessarily painful.]
It would be great to give Dhiope another Lava Fruit at a time like this.
She subtly glanced at Heukhan.
[Should I ask Heukhan? If he truly believes I am part of his mind, he might fulfill my request.]
Connie Heart’s hesitant eyes hardened with determination. It seemed not a bad idea to understand how far their generosity extended.
[Boldly making a request.]
Connie Heart, with awkward steps, crawled straight up Heukhan’s legs. Now, the pocket of the pocket dimension was right in front of her.
[Just staring, huh?]
Heukhan foolishly grinned under his helmet. With boosted confidence, Connie Heart raised her wings above her head.
Flutter, flutter.
Small and sturdy wings shook forlornly.
[Can’t reach the entrance with my hands.]
Even lifting her heels and extending her arms high, only the bottom of the pocket brushed against her wings.
Moreover, the armor was smooth, making her feet slippery. Despite exerting force on her soles to regain balance, she only stumbled awkwardly.
Unable to do anything, Connie Hart lightly tapped Heukhan with her wings.
[Heukhan! Pull out a Lafva Fruit from there.]
“…… Huh?”
Heukhan scratched his helmet like a fool. The black horse lying beside him also raised its head curiously.
“Is my head trying to greet me right now? Hehehe.”
Lost in misconception, Heukhan joyfully shook his wings. However, what Connie Heart wanted was not a handshake.
She focused her eyes, firmly gestured, and then decisively tapped the pocket with her short, round wings.
[It means open the pocket dimension.]
“Chest?”
Heukhan pressed his gauntlet against his ample chest.
[Open it!]
“Pull?”
The light blue pocket dimension was round and adorable. When you pulled the entrance, it stretched like dough, and when you let go, it automatically closed.
“Is my head trying to grab my neck now? Hehehe.”
Communication didn’t go smoothly this time either. However, giving up was not an option.
Connie Heart alternated between neck and the pocket dimension once again.
[No, what you’re wearing on your neck. It means open the pocket!]
Was Heukhan secretly frustrated too?
“Huh. I hear it, heard it, it’s heard…! Hehehe.”
Placing his index finger on Connie Heart’s forehead, he murmured as if casting a spell.
As the act of patiently waiting began to feel a bit tedious, Heukhan started mumbling to himself.
“Chest, pull. Chest, pull? But the only thing to pull is the pocket?”
[Oh. That’s it!]
Connie Heart’s disappointed expression brightened up like the sky after rain.
Simultaneously, the black horse’s eyes also gleamed with joy.
“Are you asking me to open this?”
[Yes! Exactly. Can you open the pocket? I’ll take out the fruit from there.]
Connie Heart deliberately shook her head vigorously.
Duraan’s words collectively widened their eyes at her resolute response.
“Huh? Do you understand what I’m saying now?”
[Of course! I said I’m your head. So, I can understand everything you say.]
Connie Heart made a grand gesture to express affirmation.
“Really?”
She nodded again, and a voice filled with joy poured out.
“Not only are you brave, but you also understand language! Indeed, the head is smart! Hehehe.”
It would be considered odd if an animal understood human speech. However, Duraan had no doubts. Instead, Heukhan, delighted to leave the cave, praised his clever head consecutively.
“Indeed, if you’re a Duraan, you shouldn’t be afraid of things like divine power!”
With a resolute shout, Heukhan pulled the pocket strongly. Like a dog’s mouth opening wide, the pocket unfolded to Connie Heart’s eye level.
[You may be stubborn, but thank you anyway.]
Connie Heart gathered her wings and lifted the Lava Fruit a bit. Finding it amusing, Heukhan also took out a Lava and placed it on the ground.
“What is my head trying to do with this?”
The Lava exuded a sacred aura. Even monsters hesitated to touch it. However, Heukhan followed Connie Heart without hesitation. His blackened plate armor showed no signs of change.
The more you looked, the more mysterious it became.
Setting aside her doubts, Connie Heart fed the Lava to the boy.
[Friend, let’s eat this one more time!]
Whether he wanted to imitate her, Heukhan playfully passed a Lava to the white horse. The white horse, tilting its head, gracefully accepted and ate the fruit.
“Ugh. Tastes bad.”
Though it was the white horse that ate, Baekhan evaluated the taste. The white horse made a disgusted expression as if chewing on spoiled food.
It was inevitable.
Duraan could move separately from the horse, but in the end, they were one. They shared everything with the horse—touch, taste, smell, sight, and even proprioception.
“Feeding such a tasteless thing to the little human. Truly befitting of the leader’s cunning nature.”
Baekhan, who had been watching Connie Heart, suddenly flattened on the ground. The empty helmet was precisely facing Connie Heart’s face.
“Head, are you going to eat this human?”
[No. Absolutely not!]
Connie Heart’s black fluffy head shook firmly from side to side.
Soon, the joyous cheers of Baekhan echoed through the Stone Cave.
“Kekeke. See, Commander? The head just shook! The little human won’t eat it because they want to play. Then, can I raise this little one as my pet human?”
It was a whimsically distorted statement.
“Huh? Raise a human here? No way. The sound of a baby crying is absolutely annoying.”
Heukhan clenched his fist, displeased.
“You brought a head too. I want to have something brave too.”
“No. Children cry a lot, and it’s annoying.”
“I’ll make sure there’s no crying! Commander won’t have to lift a finger. I want to raise something brave too! Let me raise one too, please, let me!”
Baekhan pleaded. The solemnity he showed in front of the ogre was nowhere to be found.
“If Commander doesn’t let me, I’ll just die!”
Baekhan abruptly stood up. Looking around defiantly, he forcefully thrust his helmet into the cave wall. The white horse also banged its head on the ground, participating in the protest. It resembled a self-inflicted punishment, a bizarre spectacle.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Every time Baekhan forcefully banged his head, rock fragments tumbled down from the cliff. It was a noisy yet pitiful display. Eventually, permission was granted from Heukhan.
“Fine. Do as you wish. But if the little human cries loudly, acts arrogantly, or dares to touch my head, I’ll toss them to the skeletons as food.”
It was an reluctantly accepting tone.
“Kekeke! There’s no one like the Commander!”
“Hehehe!”
Baekhan and the white horse embraced each other joyfully. Baekhan spread his arms, wrapping them around the white mane, while the white horse coiled its long neck around its master’s helmet.
“Since the family has grown, you’re in charge of housekeeping.”
Heukhan forcefully handed the pocket dimension to Baekhan.
“Kekeke. Sure! Our house has too many dangerous things for the kids to play with. I’ll take care of organizing it properly. Trust me.”
Baekhan confidently stood up, his shoulders swaying cheerfully. With each movement, a modest scraping sound emanated from his armor.
Baekhan applauded grandiosely in front of the pile of miscellaneous iron pieces, including his plain stone and glamorous treasures, sword and shield, and armor.
The white gauntlets spread out stiffly like a broom.
“Shall we start cleaning now!”
The pocket dimension opened wide like the entrance of a trash bin. With the help of the white horse’s hooves, the pocket unfolded.
Baekhan crudely shoved the items piled in the cave into the wide-open pocket.
How much time had passed?
“Cleaning done.”
Baekhan looked proudly at the cave floor.
Now, all that remained there were tangled clothes. The pile of clothes was stacked so high that it reached Baekhan’s knees, resembling a large nest.
He pointed to the nest-like pile of clothes.
“Why didn’t you clean that up?”
“Humans are weak, Commander. It’s cold sleeping on the floor.”
For a monster, it was quite a thoughtful consideration.
With excited steps, Baekhan embraced the boy. He laid him on the clothes, replacing the torn ones with new ones. Despite the roughness, there was a hint of warmth in his touch.
“Kekeke. How can our little human look so brave even while sleeping…!”
He was clearly immersed in parenting.
[Leaving only small clothes earlier was intentional. He planned to change the clothes from the beginning.]
Connie Heart thought it was an unfortunate stroke of luck. As long as Baekhan was infatuated with the boy, the child’s safety would be assured until they escaped from here.
It was when the boy’s body was dressed in a new tunic and cloak that Cheonghan confidently returned to the cave bathed in light.
“Phuahaa…!”
He held a snowball in his azure gauntlet.
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