V2 Chapter 184

There is no value in this place. Nor benefit to had, even if one stays. And besides, as long as there is life, you can still change your future.

Choosing death is a fool’s choice.

It’s not smart—not something like Cian could do.

Harley and Cornelia heard his words. However, they were not angered.

Most people will surely respond like that.

Indeed, this is not something you should do if you value your life.

However, his next words surprise the two women;

“…however, can’t say I dislike such foolishness,”

Cian shrugged and stared at the sky.

“It’s not something I could do, for sure. But knowing someone out there could do what I cannot do, it makes me somewhat envious. I think it’s cool—pride and loyalty is what makes a woman beautiful than she already was,”

Cian turned towards Cornelia and grinned, showing his trademark playboy smile as he grasped her grilled meat and take a bite at it shamelessly.

Hold that gal tight, you pansy…!

Shut up!

Cornelia’s face turned beet red from his stare.

Seeing this, Cian can’t help but feel satisfied with his charm.

Still, from what I know, Harpies, or rather Varkas, are treated as dangerous Demi-Humans, because some of them were carnivorous and hunted humans and other species.

Cian heard that once Varkas is sighted near a town, there would always be a subjugation request that would be issued immediately after. Although not dangerous, their numbers, as well as their ability of flight, made them troublesome enemies.

They also like to attack humans and steal, so they are treated like some sort of pests, similar to Goblins.

Still, Cornelia and her tribe are Varkas but they don’t seem to be that similar to those Varkas he knows of.

Especially Cornelia…

Although Varkas are humanoid, they are basically considered as one of the species that possess the lowest intelligence quotient among humanoid races. And in fact, from what Cian knows and read in books, only their bodies are similar to humans, but their intelligence was that of a beast, or worse- a Bird.

But Cornelia was different…

Even though she’s a Varkas, she was intelligent. That can be seen through her speech and action and mannerism, as well as her being so innocent and friendly. However, that carnivorous gaze that she sometimes looks at him with is something that Cian can never understand.

There was no hostility, rather… it’s complicated.

Nevertheless, if I can take guess… this woman is a Blessing Holder… isn’t she?

She must be a subspecies then…

Cian contemplated.

However, he didn’t say anything as he would surely be misunderstood by them if they know that he had known of it.

Blessing Holder or those people who received the blessings of God has always been treated as a secret by any races and tribes.

They are hidden with the utmost secrecy and treated as extremely important.

This is probably the reason why she was betrothed to the Patriarch of the Bearmen Clan.

Harley look at Cian and her bosom sister; Cornelia and couldn’t help but find it amusing. They had shared the same husband once before but she knows that Cornelia actually didn’t feel the same as her.

She turned towards him.

She was about to speak but suddenly met his eyes.

The smile on his face was so gentle, it slowly wiped any doubt and suspicions inside her heart. His meaningful glance was gentle and deep as if containing a deadly attractive force pulling her heart and all her attention--it was positively addicting.

Looking at the young man whose face was full of smiles, in Harley’s mind, a strong sense of curiosity arose.

This young man is simply a mystery.

He suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

He has the power to subdue a Manticore, and from what she had heard from Roma and the others, this young man’s strength is extremely powerful, enough to immediately kill a large group of Grakilis without any problem. And despite what he looks, and his physique that can't actually be compared to the men in her tribe, one that exuded a masculine aura of a warrior, he looks more like a woman, appearing thin and frail.

Despite this, his looks and handsome features could dazzle and charm any woman who saw him.

And despite what he appears outside, if one looks closely and examines him, there's no air of delicateness and feminine contrary to his appearance, and instead, he exuded a type of indescribable sumptuous and elegant temperament, and his demeanour exuded courage, authority and power naturally, which gave off a feeling that he held others in contempt as if he had never attached any importance towards other people, but strangely, he didn't let others feel enmity towards him.

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His two eyes were as deep the Grand Lake, and under the touch of his gaze, it made even Harley have a strange feeling of wanting to get lost within the depths of his eyes.

So strange...so mysterious.

Although Harley didn't understand what she was feeling, and why she did it, despite only knowing the Fox man for less than a day, what is most certain is that she felt a peculiar feeling she had never felt before.

Even though she looked twenty, Harley’s actual age was already more than fifty years old. She had already lived in the Black Lands for dozens of years and had seen many different kinds of people. However, this was the first time she had seen someone with a temperament like Cian has.

He’s probably a son of a very rich family or something!

Perhaps, even an heir of some large Clans or Tribes in the Black Lands.

...even more, perhaps he is a Royal Prince from somewhere.

In her mind, Harley could only come up with this explanation.

After all, to be able to nurture someone so capable and yet so young like him, it could not be done so simply. Even large tribes could only produce geniuses and talents like this, once in a hundred years, and each of these talents would never be allowed to leave the tribe alone.

They will be nurtured and groomed like kings or princes.

And yet this youth, he was actually allowed to roam around in this dangerous forest?

“I can't help but curios. The way you talk is really strange…especially in this Black Lands. Even how you act and behave. From which tribe are you from?”

Harley asked with a soft voice, and small ripples formed in her heart the moment those alluring eyes found her.

“I ain’t from any tribe if that’s what you wanted to ask. Though I can’t tell you where I came from, for now, one thing for certain is that I don’t have any tribe behind me,”

Cian smiled faintly. Then, he looks at the harpy Roma who was sleeping while drooling on his lap. It seems like he had really gone soft.

Since, that time when he unknowingly entered a holy land, and his soul being somewhat purified, if that even happens, his mind seemed to have gotten clearer than before. Though it didn’t really affect him that much, sometimes he noticed that he particularly changed, especially in small actions like this.

He would have never given these people food and instead had conquered them—turning them into slaves was not unrealistic either. It seems like his identity as a modern person was starting to resurface and begun to affect him now. Or perhaps, the influence of Aanuel on him had slowly faded and disappeared, and his nature as the human Cian Cahlo was now starting to take over?

Was this the effect of the Holy Land?

A part of him suddenly appeared, wishing to pursue a better world after witnessing the people of this village. Although, at first, this was nothing but an excuse for his actions towards Ezra, perhaps now he thought, it seems like it was not a bad ambition to pursue…

Cian smiled wryly.

For some strange reason though, he realized that he finally found a way to bridge himself to his past and the current Aanuel.

He was never a person to be mired in rules, but the recent days ever since he had come into this world made him feel that there was a huge hand continuously pushing him from behind, and that made him feel breathless at every turn.

Although he tried to act like before, he always needs to plan in advance and carefully at every step he took, which was somewhat arduous and exhausting at times. But with his growing strength and the baptism from that unknown holy land, clearing his mind, he finally felt the carefree feeling from the past returning to him.

This made him feel like things could be solved easily.

Aanuel’s daring and idiotic self have, and the addition of the former Cian Cahlo’s flexibility and adaptable mindset might actually produce an incredible monster.

Well, I don’t know if this change was good or bad, though, let’s just observe for now.

Gently stroking the hair of Roma, the latter squirmed and curled like a pleased child.

Roma, still asleep, smiled happily and softly rub her head against his lap, as gentle as a sleepy cat...or bird?

She even sniffed his scent, her nose twitching adorably before her breathe once again turned even.

Judging from her expression, it's as if she had finally found the place where she belongs and felt a great sense of security.

Cian smiled gently and continued to comb her hair with his fingers.

“I see… still, you seem to like children, that’s quite an unexpected side of you,”

Harley grinned teasingly.

“What do you think I am, then?”

“I don’t know… perhaps, someone cold, someone mighty… though not thoroughly evil, but you cannot really be classified as good as well. In fact, I’m pretty certain you have some motives for helping us,”

Harley muttered while chomping on a large thigh of a beast she grabbed from the plate of food placed in front of them.

“…everyone do,”

Cian chuckled in amusement, “If you say, I had, perhaps I did have motives behind it. Still, since you know about it, why did you still accept it?”

“That’s how desperate we are…”

Harley smiled bitterly.

“… …”

“Truthfully, I was somewhat hesitant, at first. I know better than to trust a man’s goodwill in this land. One mistake, and it will lead life into a hellish world. But I also know that our life is at the worst end, already. Without someone’s help, we would be good as dead…perhaps, even becoming sex slaves and food for those disgusting Grakilis…”

She turned towards Cian, staring at his eyes.

She smiled, somewhat exhausted, somewhat tired, somewhat giving up—

“If we go and seek for help from the other Tribes, perhaps we will live, but our life will surely be forfeited. Our rights and freedom will be trampled. That might not be the worst outcome… but you suddenly came…”

“… but I’m not as good as you think I am,”

Cian muttered with a mischievous smile.

“Perhaps… but you are still better than the other Tribes. I wondered, wouldn't it be better to submit to you…instead?"

"... ..."

"...You might not know this, but even if we ask help from the other tribe, no one’s going to give us this much food. They might give some left-overs, but not enough to fill us. It’s not like they are also overflowing with resources either. They will then took the abled, and let the others die in starvation—especially the elderly and disabled.” Harley said with a sorrowful sigh.

“She said right,”

Cornelia nodded her head in agreement with her bosom sister’s words.

She knows this as well; hence, she was prepared to leave if Harley would choose this option.

Although she wanted to stay with her until the end, however, if Harley indeed chooses to stay with the other tribe, then Cornelia would lose the reason to be with her. She cannot let her tribe be under another tribe’s rule. After all, unlike their equal cooperation with the Sorgon Beastmen, her tribe would be given a slave treatment from the other tribes. Still, she didn’t say anything about this.

But Harley knows this, knowing the outcome of such grave decision.

However, if that happens, she could only apologize to her and sent her away with a smile.

But now, it seems like her last resort had change…

Harley stared at Cian, hope slowly surge in her eyes.

“… I can’t say, I have good eyes, especially an eye for men. However, I have a feeling that submitting to you wouldn’t be a bad choice either.”

Her eyelashes trembled lightly, and her eyes sparkled with dependence and hope. Though her body was boiling with nervousness, still, she displayed a strong and brave front, not wanting to feel shame and helpless in front of him.

“So you already decided that?”

Cian smiled wryly.

Although he indeed has some ideas about this Tribe before, he still actually has not made his decision. After all, this tribe is too weak and perhaps might just become a burden instead of profiting. And he was not from here either, with little to no knowledge of this land. Thus, he still has not made any concrete plans to follow.

However, to think that they would approach him first…

Now what should I do...?