Bul-Kathos brought Jill back to their blacksmith forge, intending to start familiarizing him with weapons.
Jill's body wasn't ready for barbarian training, but handling weapons didn't require great physical strength.
At worst, he'd craft some toy weapons for Jill to play with.
As for his clash with Volusk, it ended when Mount Harrogath ceased supplying Volusk's power.
The proud barbarian vanished silently in a fit of rage.
The good news was that Talic finally learned who had called him to guard the gate.
But upon discovering it was Bul-Kathos—not the one now at the forge, but the living, original Nephalem and first Immortal King—Talic's complaints faded.
With Mount Arreat's fall to demons, the first Immortal King vanished.
Since he wasn't dead, his soul wouldn't appear on Harrogath.
Bul-Kathos added coal to the furnace, preparing to forge.
Today, he planned to craft a small hand axe. After all, what barbarian didn't start their battlefield journey with a crude hand axe?
Even if it was soon discarded, picked up by some lucky Fallen One as a weapon.
Those axes weren't even worth salvaging for materials.
"Uncle, can I see my father?"
Jill's expression carried a hint of fear as he asked.
"You can, but you can't seek him out yourself."
Bul-Kathos answered without hesitation.
Frank Castle surely knew of his family's death. Unless he was a fool, he'd uncover that his son still lived.
Per the Ancient One, Frank and S.H.I.E.L.D.'s cunning black-hearted "egg" were close comrades.
If Nick Fury hid Jill's survival from Frank, their "close" friendship deserved quotation marks.
Jill hesitated at the response but, being sensible, said nothing more.
Bul-Kathos wanted to offer comfort but didn't know where to start.
Consoling a child was tougher for him than playing around with one.
Knock, knock, knock~
A forceful knock came at the door, its strength notable to Bul-Kathos.
But, accustomed to barbarians who'd barge in, he didn't immediately think to open it.
Jill, however, darted past Bul-Kathos's massive frame, scampering to the door and cautiously cracking it open, peeking out with half his face.
"Hello…"
A crisp female voice came from outside, tinged with surprise at a child answering.
"Jill, it's not time to open yet, is it?"
Bul-Kathos's booming voice rang out as he stepped forward, fully opening the door.
He gently nudged Jill aside, facing the woman himself.
Short hair, Asian descent, poised for combat—that was his first impression.
Strength didn't matter. To Bul-Kathos, no human in this world could surpass him.
Unless they were a protagonist.
"Hello, I'm S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Melinda May, here to discuss matters concerning the child."
Bul-Kathos shrugged, leaving the door wide open and returning inside.
He didn't care what she did; it was irrelevant to him.
"What do you want to know?"
He kept adding coal to the furnace, not bothering to turn around.
Melinda, unfazed by the situation, stepped into the rough forge.
"Our investigation shows the child's father is alive. Why isn't he with him?"
Melinda was acting on Nick Fury's orders. The sly director wouldn't put himself in potential danger unless necessary.
Even if that danger was minimal.
"That's not for you to know."
Bul-Kathos turned briefly to respond.
Jill, anxious, hid behind him.
Having witnessed Death herself, Jill's desire to live was extraordinary.
Driven by a hope to save his mother and sister, he stayed with Bul-Kathos.
He knew only Bul-Kathos could protect him from Death.
Though he longed to see his father, reason restrained him.
"It's unfair to the child. He hasn't even been to school since staying with you."
Melinda seemed angry, though Bul-Kathos had no interest in her reasons or continuing the topic.
"If you're just here to cause trouble, leave before I get mad."
The furnace glowed hot as he stood, turning to face her.
"Neither you nor the child's father can protect this poor kid."
His eyes carried a warrior's authority. Though the Barbarian King, he had no concept of regal bearing.
His was the resolve to charge any enemy, roaring, and tear them apart.
Melinda knew little of Bul-Kathos, only Fury's warning not to provoke him.
Recently shifted to desk work, she still harbored a need to make amends for children, but her agent training kept her composed.
Exhaling deeply, she adjusted her demeanor, speaking sternly:
"You can't deny this child an education. What future does he have with you, hammering at a forge daily?"
Bul-Kathos's brow furrowed, growing annoyed at this woman's overzealous sense of justice.
Especially as a nauseating aura, like Rumlow's, emanated from her.
Jill, sensing Bul-Kathos's waning patience, grabbed his hand and placed it on his head.
As a child, this was his way of urging Bul-Kathos to stay calm.
Bul-Kathos ruffled Jill's hair:
"Alright, woman, leave. His schooling is already arranged."
Truthfully, he had no plans, only trust in the Ancient One.
She wouldn't botch this. At worst, the mages in the New York Sanctum could teach a child.
Faced with his brusqueness, Melinda barely contained her anger.
But her training kept her body still.
"Am I interrupting?"
Luke Cage's voice came from the door. Bul-Kathos felt an innate fondness for the robust man.
His barbarian-like temperament and sturdy physique were qualities Bul-Kathos admired.
"Trouble already? That was fast."
(End of Chapter)
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