Munch! Crack! Crack!
There’s a common expression that goes, “기가 막힌다는(giga maghindaneun)” in Korean. It’s used universally to describe a situation that is absurd or beyond comprehension, similar to being rendered speechless.
(tl: I have no idea how to translate it or spell it in the latin alphabet so you get a literal translation from google tl.)
My current situation was quite similar to that. It’s because of a beastman, a girl who was sitting in front of me, enjoying her steak so deliciously.
The steak that the beastman ordered is a T-bone steak, a cut of meat attached to a T-shaped bone structure. Normally, the bone was left behind, and the remaining portion was eaten using a knife and fork.
But look at this beastman behaving, not like a girl, but like a beast. She was creating her own unique way of eating. Without even cutting it with a knife, she picked it up with a fork and devoured it. This alone was strange enough, but what followed was mind-boggling.
After finely mincing the bone structure that was meant to be left, she used the fork as if it were a spoon and put it into her mouth. Then she chewed it thoroughly.
I wasn’t using metaphors, she was literally chewing the bone whole. If she were an ordinary human, not only would her teeth be gone, but her jaw would be completely destroyed. Yet she was happily eating it as if it were snacks.
‘…Could she be a hyena, not a lion?’
Hyenas, known for their role as scavengers, have incredibly strong jaws and can chew not only ostrich eggs bones but even bones.
Of course, Leona has stated that she’s a lioness, not a hyena, so she definitely isn’t one. However, doubts still arised. Lions eat meat, not bones.
Crunch! Crunch! Crunch!
“Hmm. Hmm. Bones taste delicious too. The sauce seeped into the marrow, giving it a subtle flavor.”
“…Doesn’t your jaw hurt?”
“It’s a piece of cake. Easy peasy.”
At first glance, she genuinely looked like she was enjoying the meal. I couldn’t even use the expression “sucking the marrow” in front of Leona. After all, she was not consuming the marrow but chewing the bones whole.
I quietly watched Leona’s meal until it was finished. When I looked down, there was still a considerable amount of steak left, perhaps because I stared at her too intently.
Afraid it might be snatched away by Leona, I resumed my meal immediately. The sound of chewing, “crunch!,” echoed from the front, causing a bit of noise, but we still managed to proceed smoothly.
“Ah. It’s been so long since I had such a delicious meal… I’m really grateful.”
“…I’m glad you find it tasty. Your jaw doesn’t hurt, right?”
“It doesn’t hurt.”
Leona raised her hand to answer my question and shook her head lightly. At the same time, she wiped around her mouth with a napkin and chuckled softly.
Although her expression seemed happy to anyone looking at her, there was still a sense of uneasiness. I cautiously took a bite of neatly cut steak and asked her.
“Leona, you said you’re a lion beastman, right?”
“Yeah. So what?”
“Not a hyena?”
“Oh, come on… Seriously.”
Upon hearing my question, Leona took a deep breath instead of getting agitated. It seemed like she was trying to regain her composure.
After a moment, she crossed her arms with a slightly sullen expression and opened her mouth with a dismissive tone.
“There are questions that can be asked and questions that shouldn’t be asked. It’s fortunate that it’s me, but if you blurted out something like that in front of another lion beastman, you’d immediately get challenged to a duel. Hyenas don’t have a good image even among us. It’s not a wise move.”
“A duel?”
I’ve heard about it not in this world but in my past life. It was one of the important cultural aspects of the Vikings, who are considered symbols of masculinity and ‘barbarians.’
A duel wasn’t just a simple fight; it could determine the life or death of the opponent. If you refuse the challenge or shamelessly beg for your life, you lose all your honor and won’t even be treated as a person.
‘Even Yggdrasil and Norse mythology occasionally come up in various places here.’
The capital of Alvenheim, Yggdrasil, was also a world tree that appears in Norse mythology. Perhaps this world has a deep connection with Earth.
Of course, this is a question that only the gods would know the answer to, so it’s not something I was immediately concerned about. I am just an ordinary human living in this world.
Right now, the content of Xenon’s Biography was more important.
“Is what I know about it correct? A duel that can determine the life and death of the opponent.”
“It’s similar. And the winner can have everything the loser possesses. Not only their body but also their power, wealth, and finally, their life. It’s a duel where everything, including honor and life, is at stake, so it is considered very sacred. However, it must not be used recklessly but rather with a clear justification and the permission of the chieftain.”
“Can you explain it in more detail?”
Leona readily accepted my request. First and foremost, there were conditions required when applying for the sacred duel.
First, a witness is required.
To prevent someone from arbitrarily applying for the sacred duel and taking what belongs to the other party, there should be a truthful witness.
However, if there was no witness, it must be directly approved by the chieftain. The chieftain becomes a sort of judge, and in this case, a rather rigorous procedure must be followed.
Second, a clear justification and motivation are required.
The sacred duel cannot be arranged simply because one dislikes the other party. A reason that the other party tarnished your honor, an overall accumulated dissatisfaction or resentment, etc. A justification that anyone can understand was necessary.
This was a rule designed to prevent the strong from arbitrarily plundering the weak, and conversely, if the weak accepted the challenge, the duel was then considered valid.
Third, it must be observed by a minimum of a chief-level authority figure.
The sacred duel was believed to be more than just a simple duel. It takes place under the protection of the divine power of Harte, the god of nature. Therefore, the chief must unconditionally witness it to ensure the honor of the applicant and the opponent is preserved even after their deaths.
Fourth, if someone gives up during the sacred duel, they are marked with a stigma on their forehead.
They are not merely regarded as a simple loser but as a coward who has even forsaken the protection of the gods, and they are treated as a disgrace to their tribe. As a result, those who give up halfway through are not only expelled from the tribe but often meet their demise due to shame and humiliation.
Moreover, they are denied a proper funeral. It signifies that even in death, they continue to receive contempt, unable to enter the homeland of the warriors, called “Valhalla.”
“Lastly, warriors who have participated in the sacred duel cannot request or accept challenges for a year. As proof, the winner receives a bone necklace, while the loser receives a bone ring.”
“But won’t it be emotionally challenging for the loser?”
“It’s about channeling that anger and sadness into strength. Besides, there’s no mocking or insulting of the loser. In fact, someone who was close to the loser can also apply for the sacred duel.”
“Hmm.”
It seems more complex than I thought. After listening to Leona’s explanation, I slowly organized my thoughts.
I understood that being able to take everything from the other person was possible, but the process leading up to it was subtly difficult.
“So… if we were to compare it to humans, the Chieftain would be like a king?”
“Yes.”
“Then, can you also apply for the sacred duel from the Chieftain?”
“For now, it’s possible. Whether it’s for the sake of justice or due to some personal grudge, the sacred duel is equal to everyone. It doesn’t matter if the desire for power arises. Power can be seen as strength, so you can apply for it with the pretext of desiring strength. However, there will be strong opposition. There is a very high possibility that another sacred duel will come flying at you in a year.”
“Has that happened before?”
“From a historical perspective, it has happened a lot. As you know, we revered power, and the concept that only power mattered was widely spread. Until we established our own civilization, it was common to apply for the sacred duel to challenge the Chieftain’s position. However, the Chieftain’s power was so strong that it rarely changed.”
“History, huh…”
As Leona had told me, I carefully reviewed the history of the beastmen in my notes. The beastmen had lived separately in different tribes without establishing their own civilization until they founded Animers 300 years ago after the tribal war.
If they hadn’t been massacred by humans, while they might not have been as numerous as humans, their population would have been significant. Moreover, there are still beastmen out there in various parts of the world who have not yet joined Animers.
In that case, is Animers still well united to this day? When the former Great Chieftain and wealthy individual ‘Hick’ was alive, all beastmen were united as one, but it’s hard to believe that there were no political issues.
‘Just a moment ago, she mentioned that they were divided into factions—one saying they should interact with humans and the other saying they shouldn’t, right?’
Upon reviewing my notes again, I realized that I had written it down correctly. I nodded and moved on to the next question.
“Well then, can you tell me about the structure of Animers? I’m curious about how the beastmen are divided, like how humans have royalty, nobility, and commoners. Oh, and if there are any specific terms used among beastmen, please let me know.”
“Well, first, we have the Grand Chieftain, who represents the king. Below the Grand Chieftain, there are the Chieftains, who are like the nobles, and beneath them are the warriors, like the officials. In the past, we used to call the Chieftains ‘Yal,’ but we hardly use that term anymore. As for the ranks of warriors… except for the Chieftains and the elite units, there are very few ranks, you could say. Anyone can bravely fight for achievements and honor.”
“Is it normal for beastmen to risk their lives for honor? Even sacrificing their lives?”
“Of course. That’s what being a beastmen is about. Although humans may see us as ignorant and savage, we can unite as one under the name of honor.”
Leona spoke in a serious tone, not her usual cynical and fierce voice. Her originally low-pitched voice became even deeper, emitting a peculiar sense of power.
Unintentionally, I found myself staring at her eyes, which had turned golden. They had definitely been a deep brown just a moment ago, so the change in color might have reflected a change in her emotions.
I wasn’t sure why she had enrolled in the Halo Academy, but I preferred to avoid asking about personal matters.
“So, summarizing everything we’ve discussed so far, beastmen are a group of warriors who value honor, even though their numbers may be small. Is that correct?”
“Very accurate. Well, occasionally there may be power-hungry tyrants who end up consumed by their greed, but most of the time, we handle things within our own ranks.”
“Hmm…”
A very interesting story unfolded in my mind. It’s a story related to one of the Seven Deadly Sins, involving Satan of Wrath. If Lilith has lost the person she loved and become a demon, there is a situation where Satan betrays his homeland and turns into a demon. There could also be a sacred duel, and at the end, Xenon makes a request…
‘No, the sacred duel should be requested by Wrath’s younger brother.’
He would be a presence that would become Xenon’s friend and alleviate the conflict between humans and beastmen. Despite having a frail physique, this character was the child of a tribal chief with a strong spirit.
Furthermore, he would have a significant role as a character who will later be revealed to be Satan’s sibling. This character then requests a sacred duel from Satan, and reluctantly, Satan accepts, leading to a fight between them.
During the battle with Xenon at that time, Satan had exhausted all his strength, but as his younger brother was inherently weak, he was defeated as expected. However, the sacred duel was a duel that didn’t end unless one side declared surrender.
The younger brother, despite having a weak body, fights desperately, and Satan must summon the remaining strength to protect his brother’s honor.
‘And then Wrath overdoes it and perishes. Isn’t this perfect?’
Perhaps this could shatter the mindset that the beastmen worship strength alone.
When listening to Leona’s story, it seemed that the beastmen considered physical strength important in many ways. However, if it can be shown that one can become a tribal chief not just through physical power but through a different kind of strength, it could make the story quite interesting. Furthermore, by utilizing Satan’s situation, it could address the internal issues within the beastmen community one by one.
“Thank you. I was able to obtain valuable information thanks to you. Indeed, the knowledge one can acquire from books has its limits.”
“Don’t mention it. I, for one, enjoyed being able to eat delicious food. But…”
“Yes?”
Leona began to mumble and hesitate, obscuring her words. She seemed too embarrassed to meet my gaze, constantly shifting her eyes as she spoke.
As I pondered in confusion, she tilted her head and, with a perplexed expression, quietly opened her mouth.
“That.”
“This?”
She pointed with her finger to none other than the steak placed on my plate. It was also a T-bone steak, with only the bones remaining.
Then, Leona, seemingly suppressing her embarrassment, tightly closed her eyes and stated her request.
“If you’re not going to eat the bones… Can I have them?”
“… …”
“It would be a waste to leave them. Don’t you think so?”
It was normal to leave them. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing, so I burst out laughing.
“In that case, I’d rather order another one. It’s fine to have that much, right?”
“Wh-who do you think I am, a pig?! Even if I have no shame, it’s not to that extent…!”
“Wipe the drool from the corners of your mouth before you speak.”
“Ah!”
She was lying. Watching Leona hurriedly wipe her mouth with a napkin, I chuckled.
growl-
“… …”
Even her belly, which loudly demanded more, was a bonus. Since beastmen, being part beast, can eat much more than a human, it was natural that even a whole steak wouldn’t fill her up.
I stared intently at Leona’s face, which had turned as red as a tomato, and without saying a word, I moved my hand. It was a signal to call the waiter.
Ding
“I’ll order one more. Medium-rare again?”
“…Yeah.”
Leona answered while covering her face with both hands. Her ears were flushed with embarrassment.
When I called the waiter like that, Leona peeked through her hands covering her face and called me softly.
“…Hey.”
“Yeah?”
“If there’s anything else you want to ask later… feel free to ask anytime.”
“That would be great. I still have a heap of things I want to ask.”
“Instead…”
“Instead?”
Then she hesitated for a moment, her lips trembling, and spoke with a voice full of embarrassment.
“You have to buy me something delicious…”
“… …”
“…Will you?”
Why did it feel so cute and trivial to reveal one’s desires while being shy?
I chuckled and responded as if giving permission.
“Do whatever you feel like.”
“Thank you.”
Leona sincerely expressed her gratitude.
And…
“Um… sir? I’m sorry, but could you please tell me where the bones are?”
“… …”
I was at a loss for how to answer the staff’s question. Without saying a word, I looked at Leona…
Chomp…
She was chewing on the bones as we watched.
