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Chapter 05
A small girl with brown skin and cream-colored hair—Ateruna—slapped away Ishanka’s hand that was still gripping the back of her neck.
“Don’t you know that if you treat a cat carelessly, you’ll be cursed?”
“You’re not a cat.”
“I am a cat. I’m a cat beastkin. Or are you saying I’m just some animal?”
“Don’t twist my words. I never thought that.”
“Of course you didn’t! You’re the noble incarnation blessed by Aibanu, the God of War, from birth!”
Ishanka Aibanu Nanuk.
Before he was born, the most respected great shaman of all tribes pointed his staff at the Nanuk chief during the yearly gathering.
“The God of War, Aibanu, will descend upon this land through Nanuk’s blood.”
And the child born afterward was Ishanka.
Aibanu was the most worshiped god among all tribes. It was only natural that everyone’s expectations were placed on him.
“I’ve heard the elders repeat that story so many times my ears are tired. ‘Aibanu has come to Nanuk! What glory!’”
“It’s just old men talking.”
“When you say that, it only sounds humble. You should brag instead. You led the fight against the dead who eat humans, united the scattered tribes, conquered the southern kingdoms, and built a nation. You deserve pride.”
“You used to just have a sharp tongue. Now your heart is twisted too.”
“I’ve always been like this. You just saw me too kindly. Anyway, why are you here? Is being king such an easy job that you can wander alone?”
“My stubborn, disobedient little sister disappeared. I was worried.”
He answered calmly despite her sarcasm.
“And don’t worry about my absence. I left things to Ezion.”
“What? To Second Brother? What if other chiefs try to influence him?”
“He won’t be shaken. You know that better than anyone.”
That was true. Ezion respected Ishanka like a god.
Ateruna waved her hand.
“You’ve seen I’m fine. Now go back.”
“I will. Together with you.”
“I’m not going. I left on purpose. I’ve completed my coming-of-age ceremony. I choose where I stay.”
“So that’s why you’re pretending to be a cat?”
“Yes. It’s better than staying in your kingdom.”
“Did something happen?”
His direct question made her flinch. He waited quietly.
After a long silence, she spoke.
“…The daughter of Chief Billona started it.”
Her expression hardened.
“Nanuk must be very open-minded. Accepting such a dirty beastkin as a daughter.”
Unlike Nanuk, where different races lived together, the Billona tribe believed in pure blood and human superiority.
“A human giving birth to a beastkin. Unthinkable in Billona. I even wonder about your mother’s behavior. Are you really the chief’s daughter?”
There are rules even in fights. You do not insult family.
“So I scratched everything except her face and left. But she’s your marriage candidate. If it’s awkward, one person should leave.”
“Yes. One person should leave. The Billona chief’s daughter.”
“What? But Billona is the second strongest tribe. Marrying her would help Nanuk—”
“I don’t need strength gained by joining hands with those who insult my family.”
There was no hesitation in his voice.
“We are strong not because we are many, but because we do not step back when protecting each other. If I cannot protect my own blood, how can I protect my tribe?”
Ateruna’s eyes grew wet.
People whispered that he was too rigid, too uncompromising. But she knew—
His unbending pride was why the tribes trusted him completely.
“I understand. But I like it here. I won’t leave. So give up and go back.”
Under the moonlight, she looked serious for the first time.
When did she grow up so much?
“I won’t force you. You are an adult now. But I cannot leave immediately.”
“Why?”
“I became a worker here.”
“What?!”
He remembered what happened earlier.
When he reached for Tanbbang—Ateruna in cat form—a message appeared.
<The farm owner is trying to expel you. Those who are not farm workers can be expelled and cannot enter without permission. Would you like to become a farm worker?>
He quickly regained his senses.
If he were expelled, he might never return. If Ateruna hid inside the farm to avoid him, he would lose his chance to even speak to her.
So he pressed accept.
<Congratulations. You are now a probationary farm worker. Probation period: 3 months. You cannot quit during this time, and the farm owner cannot expel you. Enjoy your worker life!>
For now, he would have to work here.
But that also meant the woman could not chase him away.
Working was nothing compared to finding his sister.
“Ha—hahaha! The incarnation of Aibanu, future ruler of the continent, working as a farm laborer!”
Ateruna rolled on the ground laughing.
“Be quiet. You’ll wake your master.”
“She’s not my master. She’s my butler.”
Even while trying to calm down, she kept laughing.
Then Ishanka asked, “Why is this land alive while the rest of the continent is dead? Is that woman a mage?”
“I don’t think so. I’ve never seen her use magic.”
He narrowed his eyes.
Ateruna was bad at lying. She looked calm.
Still, it made no sense. The whole continent was ruined, yet this place was fertile.
‘She must be hiding something.’
He would work here—and uncover her identity.
Thus ended another eventful day at the farm.
