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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: Legendary Weapon (2)
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"You'll need a weapon, won't you?"
At Munjuk's question, Attila showed him the hand axe at his waist.
"I already have one."
"Don't try to fool your father. You can't unleash your full Bravery with that."
"You knew?"
In that case, no need to hold back.
"Hand it over, then."
"Hahaha. Quite the impatient one, aren't you? No rush. I just happen to have the perfect weapon for you."
The perfect weapon.
Attila recalled the various weapons Munjuk owned.
There were a few that caught his eye.
"Can't I pick one myself?"
"Oh? You have something specific in mind."
As if he'd been waiting, Attila spoke up.
"I want the Dragon Jaw Axe."
"Son, that's my main weapon…"
"Why so stingy? You've got the Tiger Jaw Axe too."
"That's my sub weapon as well."
"They're both two-handed axes. You don't even have the stamina to wield them as a pair, so why hoard gear like that?"
It was the kind of talk that would shock anyone else into fainting, but Munjuk just laughed.
He took great joy in these casual, unreserved conversations with Attila.
"Don't dodge the issue— just hand them over boldly. I'm not asking for both, am I?"
"What? You're saying you could wield the Dragon Jaw Axe and Tiger Jaw Axe as a pair?"
"Of course."
"You'd better be able to back that up."
What kind of weapons were the Dragon Jaw Axe and Tiger Jaw Axe?
They were axes of monstrous size and weight that even seasoned golden-belt warriors could barely lift.
Only someone of Munjuk's caliber could swing them like limbs with both hands.
"I can back it up. I only asked for one since you'll need to fight too, Father, but if you give me both, that's honey to me."
On the first night he'd fallen into this world, Attila had stayed up sorting through his thoughts.
He'd been brought here by some transcendent force.
And if there was a way in, there must be a way out.
As he explored the vast worldview he himself had created, he eventually reached one conclusion.
'Elves.'
The race that wielded the most powerful magic in Bawang Hero Chronicle.
'I'll head to the Elf Kingdom.'
Maybe he could find some clue there.
But reaching the Elf Kingdom meant crossing many mountains.
Countless battles were a given, so securing solid weapons was an absolute must!
"Very well. I'll give you the Dragon Jaw Axe. But you must prove you can wield both as a pair, just as you claimed."
"Easy enough. But if I'm proving it with both, why only give me one axe?"
"Your father needs to eat too."
"Hmm."
Munjuk grinned at Attila's disappointed look.
"But I'll give you something even better in exchange."
"Something even better?"
Something flashed in Attila's mind.
Long ago, Eastern immigrants had settled this land.
Their king had possessed a holy relic that doubled as a weapon.
'It was just a throwaway setting too.'
The immigrants entrusted the relic to the guardian of the northern forest, and the guardian protected it through generations.
Awaiting the day the Great Martial God King's reincarnation would come.
The guardian also bore another name, one revealing its dark side.
'Forest Calamity Grizzly.'
* * *
"That's Okhtar over there."
"Heard he returned at dawn today."
"And already at it without rest? A true contender for next chief."
"Not so much now, though."
"Ah, you mean Attila."
"Yeah. Getting a golden belt right after his coming-of-age is unprecedented."
Okhtar scowled again at the tribesmen's whispers.
Was he being lumped in with a punk like Attila?
"Shouldn't we show them your valor too, Lord Okhtar?"
"Exactly. The more spectators, the better."
But Okhtar wasn't tempted.
He was a warrior who prized honor.
Showy duels just to flaunt skill held no appeal for him.
"Huh? Okhtar, you're back?"
Until Ilek appeared.
"I-I-Ilek!"
"Still panicking as ever. Where are you rushing off to right after returning?"
"Lord Okhtar plans to challenge Attila to a duel."
"A duel? With Attila? Why?"
"What reason does a sacred warrior's duel need?"
"But who are you guys?"
The three idiots blushed crimson at Ilek's question.
Okhtar had unwittingly saved them.
"W-Well, we heard Attila got a lot stronger, s-so we got curious."
Ilek nodded as if it finally made sense.
"Sounds fun. Mind if I watch?"
"Then we'll round up more spectators."
Without waiting for a reply, the three idiots vanished into the crowd.
Okhtar matched pace with the limping Ilek as they walked, soon reaching the training ground.
"Looks like he's sparring with Father."
Okhtar's eyes widened.
'A one-on-one with Chief Munjuk?'
There was more astonishment to come.
'That's Attila? When did he bulk up like that? He looks like a different person.'
Then Attila spat a curse, tossed his weapon aside, and dashed to the corner of the training ground, grabbing two axes in both hands.
He charged at the chief cackling like a demon.
"Ah, son! That's cheating…!"
"Not cheating— it's item luck!"
"You brat!"
Okhtar's jaw dropped as he recognized Attila's weapons.
'Th-The Dragon Jaw Axe and Tiger Jaw Axe!'
Munjuk, flailing to block the storm of blows, spotted Ilek and declared a break with a look of relief.
Attila grumbled as he lowered his axes, gazing greedily at the two weapons that had withstood his Bravery.
Munjuk turned to Okhtar, who stared at Attila like he'd seen a ghost.
"What brings you here?"
"J-Just passing by for a moment…"
"A moment?"
"N-Now heading to rest."
"I see. Rest well, then."
Okhtar's retreating foot stopped cold.
Ilek was staring at him with wide eyes.
'W-What do I do? Say I'm not in top shape? But that's unwarrior-like. Fighting him now, though…'
His dilemma didn't last.
The three idiots returned amid raucous noise, herding a massive crowd, faces beaming with pride.
"Lord Okhtar! We brought plenty!"
For the first time, Okhtar felt murderous intent toward a tribesman.
* * *
Okhtar's luck was that Attila didn't choose the Dragon Jaw Axe and Tiger Jaw Axe for the duel.
"Okhtar versus Attila!"
"The mighty next-chief contender, Okhtar!"
"The rising star, Attila!"
The crowd roared as the two warriors faced off in the training ground's center.
Munjuk bellowed to start the match.
Okhtar struck first.
'First strike, no matter what. No matter his monstrous strength, a swift technique-laced weapon attack will—!'
It was Okhtar's plan, inspired by seeing Attila swing his axe without finesse.
"Haaap!"
Okhtar's two-handed axe charged with ferocious momentum.
But Attila blocked it effortlessly.
'Oh. This works?'
Attila had learned the Black Wolf Tribe's secrets from Munjuk since he could walk.
But with no physical output to match the input, he'd been all theory.
Now, his body—re forged by his power—executed those techniques flawlessly.
"Attila blocked it!"
"Such a massive blow!"
"Amazing, Attila!"
Just before, Munjuk had chided Attila for relying too much on brute force.
Attila had his defense.
'When you attack like a madman without giving me a moment to think.'
Even Attila couldn't afford leisure against a warrior like Munjuk.
But against Okhtar? Yes.
Attila unleashed his blooming skills, parrying Okhtar's strikes in succession.
"Attila's blocking everything!"
"Okhtar's attacks aren't landing at all…!"
"W-Wait, is Okhtar really going to lose?"
Okhtar was the most shocked.
'N-Not just strong? Then…!'
He ramped up his attack speed.
Attila matched it, blocking the onslaught.
"Wow!"
"L-Look at that speed!"
"Can't even follow it with the eyes!"
Okhtar was on the verge of breakdown.
'Strength, skill, speed—all better than mine? This is impossible…!'
Attila's lips curled into a grin.
A different thrill from facing the bear or Munjuk swept through him.
'My body moves on its own against his attacks. Pushing skills to bloom more like this isn't bad.'
Then a powerful strike shot from Okhtar's hand.
Not as strong, but akin to Munjuk's flash-like blow.
"Warrior's Strike!"
"Okhtar's going all-in!"
"He can't block that!"
But Attila swatted it aside demonstratively. Its power sent Okhtar's axe flying high.
A status window popped up right then.
[ Skill: Counterattack activated. ]
The message and Attila's axe launch were near-simultaneous.
Munjuk shouted.
"That's enough!"
Attila's shoulders twitched at the voice, halting him.
Silence fell.
"Fuuu…"
Okhtar exhaled long, staring at the axe stopped at his chin.
Thud. His weapon hit the ground.
"I lost. Attila."
A massive cheer shook the training ground.
* * *
The next afternoon, Munjuk and Attila walked through the northern forest.
"You did well yesterday, Attila."
He meant sparing Okhtar's face.
Attila could have crushed him from the start with that horrific Bravery if he'd wanted.
"Okhtar's a strong, loyal warrior. No need to wound his pride."
Though skill blooming was the goal.
Even without that, Attila wanted to give Okhtar face.
'In the original story, Okhtar fights for the tribe to the very end.'
After a long trek, they found a massive cave overgrown with thickets.
"This is where 'Muhul'—one of the Great Martial God King's sacred arms—is kept."
Attila silently eyed the cave.
"Only you can enter. The guardian attacks anyone not the Great Martial God King's reincarnation without mercy."
"You haven't considered I might not be the reincarnation?"
Munjuk just smiled.
"Lend me the Tiger Jaw Axe."
"Hm? Don't you already have the Dragon Jaw Axe?"
"The thing might charge. Better two weapons than one."
Munjuk sighed.
Moments later, satisfied with the hefty pair of axes, Attila strode into the cave.
'If it acts up, I'll just lop its head off.'
Glowing stones embedded in the walls lit the way easily.
As he walked, something suspicious caught his eye on the floor.
'An arrow?'
He picked it up to check.
'This is a Black Wolf Tribe arrow. And that one.'
A Blood Axe Tribe one.
A hypothesis formed in his mind.
Attila spun and bolted for the exit.
An incomprehensible roar from an otherworldly presence and Munjuk's unintelligible shouts rang in his ears.