Billis drank his cold beer with a swollen face. Joonbum smiled as he drank the beer also. His face was also swollen since he fought with six men. Billis was also more powerful and skilled than the other soldiers he fought. The reason why Joonbum was able to fight them hand to hand was because of his training with the Ainos warriors.
‘I let out my anger on the wrong people.’
Joonbum felt apologetic at the thought.
‘Dammit.’
Count Brant Khalodian visited them every day after their first visit. They claimed the visit was to show hospitality towards the visitor, but it was obvious that he visited to meet Joonbum’s mother.
‘Why am I so jealous?’
There were times when he wished his mother would meet a good man who could take care of her. But he was troubled to see a man wanting his mother.
‘Maybe it’s because he’s full of debt. That’s right.’
It wasn’t. The count had paid back most of his debt and what was left of it was very little.
“Wow! Doral and Gazlow are fighting!”
Ainos warriors began sparring and people gathered to watch. They loved to see a fierce fight that did not require swords.
“Oh, you were here!”
Joonbum turned to the voice. The count was standing in front of him, smiling alongside his mother.
“Good evening, milord.”
Joonbum bowed and everyone at the table stood up to bow to the count. He waved it off.
“Don’t mind me. I’m just here to watch.”
“Milord, please take a seat here.”
Billis stood up and prepared a chair for the count to sit in. The count escorted Sunsook to have a seat first, then took a seat for himself. He began watching the fight before he glanced at Billis’ swollen face.
“Did you…?”
“Yes, I fought with Sir Joonbum in a fair match. He was too powerful for me to keep up.”
“Really? Stronger than you?”
“Yes, I am ashamed to believe it, but it is true. He already fought four of my men before I challenged him, but I couldn’t manage to beat him.”
“That is amazing.”
“No, no. It was a tie.”
Joonbum bowed as he heard Billis and the count speaking next to him. Brant nodded.
“So, you only can fight with your fists?”
“Yes, but there is a match where you are allowed to use your feet, or even when you are down on the ground.” Joonbum explained as he saw Brant brightening up.
‘Wait, are you interested in…?’ Joonbum thought as the count blurted, “Fight me!”
“Count! No!”
“Why?”
Billis tried to stop him, but the count was already walking toward the ring. Joonbum let out a sigh as Sunsook shrugged.
“Men are so foolish,” Sunsook mumbled. It was a man’s instinct to show off in front of the woman he fancied.
“Here! Come on up!”
Brant was already in the ring, pointing at Joonbum. Billis came to him, quickly whispering, “Sir Joonbum, please go easy on him.”
“Shouldn’t I be more worried? Look at my arms and legs!” Joonbum shouted to Billis. Brant had a very big, muscular body. Joonbum had a lot of muscles on his body, but they were not like Brant’s.
‘Ugh, he’s serious.’
Joonbum raised his eyebrows as he saw Brant taking off his shirt to show off his buff body.
‘Well, he needed to show off something.’
Sunsook only greeted him once on his first visit. But it was never like that afterward and Brant now wanted to prove himself. Joonbum came up to a ring, prepared to take it on seriously.
The bell rang, signaling the beginning. Brant charged at him.
‘Ugh! He sure looks like a bear!’
Brant was at least a head taller than Joonbum. It was a fearsome sight to see such a man running toward him. Joonbum carefully threw a quick punch that made Brant’s head turn to the side. He slowly turned back, grinning.
“You have some punch!”
“I have some experience, milord.”
“You will see that I have some too once you taste it!”
Fists were thrown at Joonbum, creating fierce wind noises. They began punching away at each other.
“Men really are foolish.”
“That’s right.”
Sunsook stood up and turned back as Mayze followed her. They were soon gone, but the males kept on fighting.
*
Time passed quickly as the trade went well with the count approving all the trades that were made. Joonbum also managed to trade with the merchants with ease. He managed to earn a lot by selling a huge amount of lighters and he also earned a lot from selling some of his liquor and dishes. They were mainly here for the potions, but they were also interested in the strange items that Joonbum showed them.
Ainos who were done with the trade began preparing to return. Joonbum and Sunsook did the same. The campsite was now busy with preparations to leave.
The sound of Durans filled the area as they began pulling the Marauder out of the village. Trains of carts followed behind, filled with food and other essentials.
‘He really is in love with her.’
Joonbum thought as he saw the count standing, watching them leaving the village. Sunsook knew he was into her, but that was it.
‘It’s not easy.’
Joonbum was a bit jealous, but he also thought it might be a good chance for her to get married. The man was a count that owned land. Billis told Joonbum that he never married or set his eyes on any woman other than his deceased wife. He told Joonbum that the count refused to get married to anyone until now.
‘He seems like a good man.’
Joonbum thought it was a good idea, but Sunsook did not think of it that way. She was still deeply scarred by her failed marriage. She seemed like she wasn’t impressed by any of Brant’s efforts, but she still smiled and responded nicely to him.
‘That made him fall in love even more.’
Joonbum sighed. At least they were able to take advantage of the count’s hospitality.
“It’s too complicated.”
Joonbum glanced at the count and the village for the last time and turned his eyes away. It was time to go back. He pulled the rein to speed up. They were now at a small hill.
“Mom, it’s a hill. Start the engine.”
“Okay.”
The Marauder roared as Sunsook turned the key to start the engine. It helped ease the weight off the Durans as they pulled the vehicle uphill. She turned off the engine as soon as they were up the hill.
‘It was all good. But one thing still remains…’
They had stayed longer than what they originally planned, but it was successful. One concern remained.
-Be careful on your way back. I heard a rumor from the capital.-
-What is it?-
-The Donian Merchant Group is the strongest merchant group within the Toria Kingdom. They are being quiet now because they cannot object to anything we say, but they won’t back down easily. I am not sure what they will try to do, but it’s a matter of when. Be careful.”
-Thank you for your advice.-
Joonbum thought the count did live up to his name at the advice. It was obvious that such a big merchant group would not let some forest dwellers and nameless nobles take advantage of them so easily.
‘What will they try to do? I can only think of hiring an assassin or mercenaries…’
That was the only possibility he could think of. Powerful as they were, they had no influence over the Ainos who lived inside the forest. The only way for them to show their power was through physical means. It would not be possible on Earth, but it was very possible here.
Doral came up to him on his Galim and asked, “What is it?”
“There will be an ambush.”
“Ugh, I knew it…”
“Did you?”
“Yeah, don’t mind it much. There’s no one stronger than the Ainos once we’re inside the forest. We will show them what hell looks like. But it’s a shame.”
Joonbum was confused as Doral shook his head.
“I heard those Berdoc guys were taken to the quarry for a life sentence? Nobody would’ve dared to attack if they spread the word.”
“Oh.”
Joonbum nodded as what Doral saying was true, but he also thought it would be different this time.
“I think the people coming for us this time will be professional killers. We should be ready.”
Doral nodded. They never underestimated anything they fought. It was the only way to survive in the forest.
“We will have the scouts move ahead of us for a possible ambush. They will have to use our trails if they come anyway.”
“Yeah.”
Joonbum grinned. Anyone who visited the mountain range had to use the trails made by the Ainos. It meant that no one could move around inside the forest unseen by the Ainos. If they were expected like they were now, there was no chance for the Ainos to miss them.
‘They are invincible in the forest. Let them come.’
There was nothing to worry about.
