Raising the Princess to Overcome Death-Chapter 205: Beggar Siblings - Wooban
- Thud.
Wooban lightly set down the bundle he was carrying. As he did, he responded with a semblance of kindness.
"Hehehe. What other reason would a hunter come down to sell jerky? Don't be so harsh."
"...This time, don't cause any trouble and behave yourself."
"Tch- What trouble did I cause... Just give me some liquor."
There was a reason he was being so humble. This was the hall of Taamoon Village, and the man before him was the one who managed the hall's supplies.
Like other villages, Taamoon Village also took the goods they produced to other villages or cities to sell.
However, sometimes these goods were needed by the residents of Taamoon Village, so the hall would exchange them for other necessary items.
For Wooban, who lived alone in the mountains without any kin, this was convenient.
At his age, joining the young village men on their trading trips just to have a drink didn't sit well with him, and he didn't have anyone close enough to ask for such favors.
Fortunately, all he wanted was liquor. And Taamoon Village had several houses that brewed high-quality liquor worth selling. The only problem was...
In the past, there had been some disagreements between Wooban and the women of those houses. The man managing the supplies frowned.
"If you get drunk and cause a ruckus in the village again, I won't trade with you anymore. Do you know how much trouble it is for me in the middle... Sigh, never mind. Wait here."
As much as he wanted to outright refuse, he knew Wooban would cause trouble for him if he did.
The man went down to the storage and securely sealed two casks of liquor. He wedged the stoppers in so tightly that they would be difficult to open. Coming back up, he warned Wooban, who was once his friend.
"Take them to your lodge and drink there. The casks aren't for sale, so bring them back later."
As the saying goes, people change when they get what they want. Wooban left the hall with a very displeased look on his face.
Trudging through the village with the fairly heavy casks in hand, he encountered a group of villagers laughing and chatting amongst themselves.
"Did you see the wagon earlier? I've never seen one that big before..."
They noticed Wooban as well, but they didn't acknowledge him. The women averted their gaze as if they saw something they shouldn't, while the men hardened their expressions. Feeling even worse, Wooban quickened his pace.
Soon, he reached the edge of the mountain. Sitting by a stream that flowed down from the mountain, he lamented.
What a damned world.
Such a fucking world.
Among the women he had passed earlier was one he had truly loved when he was younger. He had confessed, and she had rejected him.
Thinking his standards were too high, he had then confessed to the woman beside her, asking her to live with him.
"Damn bitch."
No one liked him.
Every single woman in the village had rejected his confession as if they had conspired together, all because he was an outsider. Of course. Why else would a woman refuse a man like him?
Unlike you country bumpkins, I've been to the big city of Lutetia.
Muttering curses, Wooban took out a piece of jerky from his pocket. He chewed it vigorously and tried to drink his liquor.
- Creak...!
"Ah, damn it. Why won't this open?"
The damn stopper wouldn't come out easily. After struggling with it until his face was red, he finally managed to pop it open.
Damn. Fucking thing.
Grumbling, Wooban drank straight from the cask. The twilight reflected off the stream and the emerging fireflies. It was a nice view. However, every time the village surrounded by low stone walls came into view, his mood soured.
Damn it, just because I'm an outsider.
I should be just like that traitorous bastard...
Wooban hurled curses at the village. He outright spewed curses at the protruding church, with a resigned hatred in his eyes.
The sun was setting.
Having finished one cask of liquor, Wooban contemplated leaving but then pulled the other cask towards him. Damned world, I need another drink to see straight.
- Splash.
But the stopper wouldn't come off again. Being a bit drunk, Wooban couldn't open it as easily as before. After struggling for a while, he threw the cask into the stream. Immediately regretting it, he chased after the floating cask.
He retraced his steps down the path he had come up.
He managed to retrieve the cask where the current was weaker, which brought him close to the village.
Ugh, the taste for drink is ruined.
Wooban turned his wet feet towards his lodge. At that moment,
"Kids, don't go too far. It's dangerous."
"Okay~"
"Tian! Tian! Look at that. Fireflies. Our brother once..."
A family?
My family was all killed. Watching the boy, the presumed girl, and the young woman, Wooban realized they weren't a family.
Even though it was dusk and getting dark, he noticed the woman was quite pretty.
Wooban spat on his hands.
In his middle age, but still in his mid-thirties. The beautiful girl, appearing to be in her late teens, was young enough to be his niece. Slicking back his hair with spit, he approached with confident but unsteady steps.
As he got closer, he was struck by how beautiful she was.
Her wavy black hair was mesmerizing. Her fair, graceful jawline indicated she was from the city. Her outfit was neat, and despite the late hour, she was wearing makeup, unlike the village women who didn't know how to take care of themselves.
Of course, he didn't appreciate women who just focused on their appearance while men worked hard. Natural beauty was best... But someone this pretty could be forgiven.
Clearing his throat, Wooban spoke.
"Excuse me, miss. Hello?"
"...Hello. It's a nice night. Tian, Lena! Let's go inside now."
"You're a new face. When did you arrive? Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Wooban, a successful hunter. Look at this fur coat I'm wearing. I made it myself. Impressive, isn't it?"
"Oh... yes. I'm Jenia, and I arrived today. Nice to meet you. We just came out for a short walk, but it’s already getting late. Tian! Lena! Hurry up."
"Oh, you're leaving already? The view here is quite nice. If you go up just a little further..."
"No, I think I'd like to see it properly during the day. We're staying at the village chief's house as 'guests.' If it's not too much trouble, would you come visit tomorrow? I'll remember you. Have a good night."
"No, wait. Why don't you come with me..."
Wooban grabbed Jenia's wrist. She could have easily pulled away but chose to stay still, smiling softly.
"There's the children, and it's very late. You said your name was Wooban, right? How about we have lunch together tomorrow if you're available? I'll make time for it."
Trying not to offend the drunk man, Jenia spoke as politely as possible. However,
The village chief will definitely say something bad if he sees me!
Wooban regretted mentioning his name. This was the first woman to show him any interest in a long time, and he wasn't going to let her go.
"Oh, come on, Jenia. How about we drop the formalities? Jenia, I'll show you a wonderful place. The kids will love it."
Calm down. Jenia spoke softly.
"A wonderful place? That sounds exciting. But it's really too difficult today. It's so dark."
"It's not that dark. The fireflies make it bright enough, don't they? And this isn't the best spot. I know a place with so many fireflies. It's so beautiful. But not as beautiful as you."
Holding her hand, they tussled back and forth. But when the children, sensing something was wrong, approached and Jenia repeatedly declined politely, Wooban, having been rejected by many women, realized she was pushing him away.
This bitch is playing me?
His affection turned into sudden rage. Furious, he roughly grabbed Jenia's chin and forced a kiss on her.
- Slap!
"How dare you...!"
She slapped him. Wooban raised his arm to hit her back but then met her piercing eyes.
"How dare you touch me! Let go of me!"
For a moment, Wooban froze.
Surprised by the authority in her voice, it didn't last long under the influence of alcohol. Thinking she was just putting on an act, Wooban grabbed her collar. He was about to slap the cheeky woman when,
"What are you doing to my sister!"
Santian Rauno lunged at him. The boy's weight caused Wooban to stagger.
But he was just a boy. He couldn't topple a grown man. Wooban shouted, "You little brat!" and punched Santian in the stomach, knocking him to the ground, where he vomited what he had recently eaten.
Next, it was Jenia's turn. Wooban's fierce eyes turned to her.
"Why, why are you doing this!"
Lena, with her hood pulled low, stepped in front of Jenia.
A girl wouldn't stop him. "Get out of the way!" Wooban shoved her aside, and she fell, her hood slipping off.
Wooban froze again.
Her golden hair and eyes shone brightly in the early evening darkness. Her delicate, maturing features, rosy lips, and perfectly white teeth. Her innocent, pink cheeks tugged at Wooban's heart. Though her beauty was beyond words, Wooban, drunk and emboldened by his earlier victory over the boy, was intoxicated by his own arrogance.
He changed his target.
A bit young, but she's mature enough. Far better than that deceitful woman. And much prettier...
"You bastard!"
As Wooban approached Lena, Santian lunged again.
Standing on shaky legs, he clung to Wooban's waist, shouting.
"Sis, sis. Run away! Quickly...!"
"Let go, you little runt!"
- Thud! Thud!
Wooban struck the boy's head repeatedly. But even after several blows, Santian clung on, as if willing to die there.
"Ugh, ugh... Hurry..."
Run away. Santian, clinging to an adult three times his size, kicked his legs in desperation.
But Lena couldn't run. Jenia pulled her arm, urging her to fetch help, but Lena stared blankly at Santian.
It felt like she had seen this scene before. The small back telling her to run. Santian had clung to a fat man once before.
Then, Wooban changed his tactics.
Realizing he couldn't shake off the boy by hitting him, he lifted Santian by the waist.
Intending to smash his head into the ground, Lena screamed, "No!" and grabbed Santian. Jenia also pulled at Santian.
- Rip!
In his semi-conscious state, Santian clung desperately to Wooban's prized fur coat, tearing it.
You damn brats.
Furious, Wooban pulled out a hunting knife. Drunk and filled with rage, he threatened the boy, the girl, and the young woman.
"You fucking bastard."
Two young men, one with light brown hair and the other with striking golden hair, came running with their swords drawn.
.
!
Chapter 205: Beggar Siblings - Wooban
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