42-30

Chapter 30: The Devilbear Attack 

“Are you here, my son? Ah, now I feel alive. Sniff sniff!” 

As soon as Honkale saw Milk, he clung to him, taking in his scent with a smile. Milk, used to this, just let him be. 

After charging himself with his son’s scent, Honkale let go and sat down across from Milk, letting out a deep sigh. 

“Haa!” 

“Dad? What’s wrong? You look worried... your face doesn’t look good.” 

“Hm? Ah... Is it that obvious? There’s something I have to tell you, Milk.” 

“To me?” 

“Yes... it’s important. Well, you see...” 

Honkale hesitated, staring at Milk’s face for a while, unable to continue. 

After some time, with a look of resolve, Honkale continued. 

“It’s a bit early, but... how about becoming chief in my place, Milk?” 

“What?!” 

Honkale’s sudden suggestion froze Milk in place. 

He’d guessed from Buren’s words that it would be serious, but this was even more than he’d imagined. 

“Why all of a sudden, Dad? Of course, I’ll take the chief’s seat when the time comes, but this is so sudden. Why?” 

“Huu... Well... it’s about Bark...” 

“.......” 

Even just hearing that, Milk could guess the rest. Though he’d lived 15 years as a young Holstaurus, his soul had spent 40 years in the harsh world of Korea, battered by life. 

He’d seen enough of life’s bitterness losing wages to foremen’s fees, referral fees, construction sites closing and losing all his pay, and more. 

He’d had to bow and flatter those above him just to survive. 

What he was worried about was internal strife Holstaurus fighting among themselves, he and his younger brother Bark battling for the chief’s seat. 

“I get what you’re worried about. But Holstaurus women always obey the chief’s orders. You’ve already named me as your successor. Who would question that?” 

But... after 15 years of peaceful life, Milk had come to believe that the dirty, petty things from Earth didn’t exist here. It was a naive thought, but after all he’d been through, who could blame him for seeking peace of mind? 

Honkale, hearing Milk’s pure answer, gave a bitter smile and explained it wasn’t so simple. 

“Of course, women absolutely obey us men. But only when there’s a focal point the chief. What if I died before you became chief? Or if I fell ill and never recovered?” 

“Dad! What are you saying!” 

“Just a hypothetical. Let’s imagine.” 

“....” 

Honkale’s words snapped Milk out of his innocence. The experience of 40 years on Earth returned to his mind. 

He realized this was dangerous. The situation was not as simple as it seemed. 

Honkale continued. 

“Do you know what happens when Holstaurus women lose their focal point? They become nomads, wandering the world. Sometimes, they attack other Holstaurus villages, kidnap men, and build new tribes. That’s our nature.” 

“Dad...” 

“And if there are two men who could be the focal point?” 

“....” 

Milk knew the answer but found it hard to say. It was too heavy. Seeing this, Honkale answered his own question. 

“If I suddenly collapse or die, the tribe will split around you and Bark. Sure, I’ve named you successor and more women will side with you, but lately, I’ve seen many women gathering around Chiraya...” 

“.......” 

“I don’t want the tribe to split. That’s why, even if it’s early, I want to hand over the position to you. What do you think...?” 

“I’m not sure... I thought you’d hold the seat for another 20 years... This is all so sudden.” 

“I’m sorry... Of course you’d feel that way... I won’t force you to answer now. But give me your answer before the year is out. Before Bark grows any older.” 

“Okay... I’ll think about it and give you an answer.” 

Milk, shocked, didn’t even remember how he got home. Linda and Bel watched him worriedly, then went to consult with Millie. 

“Haa...” 

[Milk] 

‘You heard?’ 

[Yes. I came to warn you.] 

‘Warn me?’ 

[Holstaurus women obey men and never raise their voices. But when there’s more than one man, they start forming factions.] 

‘I heard from Dad.’ 

[I’m telling you because you don’t seem to realize how serious it is. No matter how peaceful Holstaurus are, when it comes to the chief’s power, they show their teeth. And if their son can’t become chief, they know he’ll be weeded out and die.] 

‘What?’ 

[There’s something Honkale didn’t tell you. Any Holstaurus male who isn’t chosen as the next chief is castrated upon coming of age. This is a tradition to prevent any man but the chief from sleeping with women, carried out by the chief’s order.] 

‘What!’ 

[Your grandfather even took their lives. Looking at your father’s past, it’s clear this was a trauma for him.] 

‘That’s even possible?’ 

[Yes, for those with high favorability toward you. Anyway, a castrated Holstaurus male must do hard labor among the women, and since they’re already weaker, they get sick and die young.] 

‘....’ 

[Chiraya, Bark’s mother, knows this. She’ll do anything to save her son. That’s why I’m warning you. Take the chief’s seat as soon as possible. It will save you and the tribe.] 

‘No way...’ 

[It may sound cruel, but one more thing: if Orca hadn’t died when you were born, you’d be in Bark’s position now.] 

‘.......’ 

Ru’s advice, stripped of all humor, hit Milk like a punch to the gut. 

‘How can peaceful daily life change so suddenly?’ 

[I believe you’ll get through this. And wasn’t your previous life even harder?] 

‘It was.’ 

He remembered his past scrimping and saving, never spending on himself, only to lose everything in the end. 

But now? He had a family the thing he’d always wanted. 

Chiraya and her son were family too, but if they threatened the whole, he’d have to make a decision. 

‘But...’ 

[Are you worried about Bark and Chiraya?] 

‘Yeah. I’ve grown close to Bark over three years, and Chiraya’s never been bad to me. I hope there’s a way everyone can be satisfied.’ 

[Understood. I’ll consider all possibilities and find the best answer. You must be tired please rest.] 

‘You?’ 

[Living with you, I’ve learned and grown as well. Trust me to find a solution that won’t leave anyone in tears. But I’ll need to go deep into your mind for a while.] 

‘Alright. I’ll leave it to you.’ 

Milk left the problem to Ru and went to bed, tossing and turning all night. 

The next morning, he joined the gatherers on a hike. Linda and Bel, seeing his improved mood, sighed in relief. 

Yuke, oblivious to yesterday’s seriousness, chattered beside Milk. 

“Tired? Want me to carry you?” 

“I’m fine thanks, Yuke.” 

“What’s got you coming gathering today? Isn’t it usually textile day with Auntie?” 

“I wanted to clear my head with a hike. Things have been confusing lately.” 

“Hiking’s the best for that! Want me to ask Mom if we can go higher?” 

“No, that’s fine.” 

“Hmm...” 

Yuke didn’t insist she, too, was one of the women who obeyed Milk absolutely. 

They gathered wild strawberries and bananas, then shared roasted corn for lunch. 

‘Ru’s taking longer than I thought... Must be a tough problem.’ 

As Ru had said, finding a solution that left no one in tears wasn’t easy especially with power at stake. 

Milk looked around at the peaceful faces of the Holstaurus women, Yuke eating corn with a smile, Yuri laughing such innocent people. 

He felt alone in his seriousness. He picked up a corn cob, but his throat tightened. 

“Kyaa!” 

“It’s a devilbear!” 

Suddenly, two women burst out of the forest they’d gone deeper to pick fruit. 

“What? Devilbear? Where are the others? There were six of you!” 

Yuri asked, but the two just shook their heads in terror. 

“Everyone run! Head back to the village at full speed! Leave the baskets! Our lives are more important!” 

“Yuri!” 

“Milk, get ready!” 

“What about the four who aren’t here?!” 

“Milk... devilbears live in packs. They’re expert hunters. If only two escaped, the other four are already surrounded... It’s too late to save them.” 

“No way...” 

“We’re just gatherers. We train to run, not to fight. What are you doing?! Move!” 

“Master, let’s go.” 

“Milk...” 

‘Damn it.’ 

Milk, already troubled, now faced the deaths of his tribe’s women. When the survivors returned, the warrior women immediately set out and brought back the bodies mangled by the devilbears. 

The women had fought fiercely, even biting off pieces of the devilbears. 

They’d sacrificed themselves for the others. Holstaurus truly cared for each other, willing to die for the tribe. 

The tribe’s priestess performed a ritual to guide their souls to the spirit world. Blue flames burned around the dead, growing brighter. 

The tribe mourned, honoring the dead as if at a funeral. 

When the flames died, Millie and Buren placed necklaces on the bodies made from the very materials Millie used to craft. 

When the ritual ended, the bodies dissolved into sand and scattered into the earth returning to nature. 

Next came a tribe meeting. The devilbear attack was no ordinary event. 

Despite daily hunts to keep their numbers down, the fact that devilbears attacked meant their population had increased.