Chapter 13
A Friendly Duel
Silence lingered for a short moment, while the old man, moon fai, stared at Einver with a look of deep thought.
Einver felt that quiet weight in the air, so he asked in a calm voice:
"Tell me more about the Four Kings… old man."
Moon fai exhaled slowly, then began speaking in a low tone, as though recounting an ancient tale:
"As for the emergence of the Four Great Kings, no one knows where they came from.
A hundred years ago… perhaps more, for the books of history do not mention the exact time… four individuals appeared… men of immense power, stronger than all of humanity combined."
The old man looked at Einver and saw clear interest in his eyes, so he continued:
"At that time… humanity lived in hardship and misery.
Beasts ruled the world, and mankind was on the brink of collapse.
They fought with everything they had… but it was pointless.
The strength of men was nowhere near the strength of the beasts."
At the mention of the kings and the beasts that once ravaged mankind, Einver was able to piece together a simple outline of this world:
'So in this world there are several categories…
First, there are humans.
Second, the beasts.
Third, the kings. I do not yet know if they are human or not, but they stand in their own category, for they are the strongest.
Humans seem to have training methods — as I noticed from the aura of the guard earlier. They can train, refine themselves, and manifest their aura and strength. Which means there must be systems, divisions, and stages of cultivation.
The kings… well, I have no information on them.
But the question remains: what of the beasts?
What kind of entities are they?
What kind of power do they wield?
What kind of races exist among them?'
Einver's thoughts came to a halt when he noticed the old man close his eyes, as if recalling in his mind that dreadful devastation of the past.
"…But after the appearance of the Four Great Kings, they spread martial arts across the world, and strong humans began to emerge once more.
And so mankind was divided into the three categories I mentioned to you earlier."
Einver nodded in understanding, having expected as much.
'So martial arts spread only after the arrival of the Four Kings, not before. Interesting… this is important.
If martial arts came with the kings, then what did humans do before them? How did they fight the beasts?
And if the beasts were as powerful as the old man described, and that entire era was nothing but blood and ruin… then why weren't humans wiped out?
How exactly did they survive against such monsters?
There is something missing from this story…'
A proud smile briefly touched moon fai's face as he spoke of mankind's growth… but soon it faded, and his expression turned solemn once again.
"After humanity learned martial arts, and after a long and terrible war… mankind triumphed over the beasts.
That war lasted for fifty years, from the day of the kings' appearance."
In truth, Einver listened with complete composure.
Inside, he dissected every word with precision.
On the outside, he displayed natural expressions of amazement and quiet wonder, just like any young man hearing such a tale for the first time.
His expressions were realistic — not exaggerated, nor empty… perfectly within the believable range.
After seeing how moon fi had pierced through his unnaturally perfect honesty before, Einver had resolved to show natural, balanced reactions — neither too sharp, nor too dull.
"…But after the end of the war… the Four Kings turned against one another.
They could not agree on who deserved the title of 'Supreme King' above the rest.
And so the Four Kings entered into a bloody conflict… a war that lasted for ten whole years."
'From the very beginning… the appearance of those kings was shrouded in mystery.
And now it's revealed that they sought dominion over the world… and their conflict unleashed this war…'
Einver thought quietly as he listened.
At that moment, he noticed sorrow flicker in moon fai's eyes as the old man continued:
"Humans and beasts alike were dragged into the heart of the fighting… countless lives were lost, and the earth itself was devastated.
Each king gathered allies — from men… and even from the beasts themselves…
And the war devoured all who stood in their path."
At this revelation, Einver froze in his seat.
His thoughts tightened like steel chains:
'If the appearance of the Four Kings brought the end of the beasts, then why did they recruit their strength after defeating them?
And why… would beasts even fight alongside them in this war?
There's something very strange here.
A hidden truth…
Does the old man not know it himself? Or is he withholding it… because he does not trust me?'
Moon fai continued calmly:
"And after ten years of battle… none of the kings could prove themselves the strongest.
Because of this, the land was divided into four—
Four great domains, each ruled by one king, with no interference from the others.
Every ten years, the kings gather in one king's domain to judge how he rules his land.
If they see weakness… or negligence…
The other three kings unite… to erase him, and divide his territory."
The old man slowly raised his eyes:
"It has been thirty-eight years since the end of that war… and the signing of that pact."
Silence fell for a moment before moon fai said:
"This… is what I know.
In the end, they are all stories and fragments of history… no one knows the whole truth.
If you want to know the true truth…
Then you must see it with your own eyes, boy."
Einver contemplated his words in silence:
'Perhaps what the old man says is the truth… or just a piece of it.
But why did none of the kings emerge victorious?
Were they truly equal in power?
Or did the balance shift afterwards?
I will have to see for myself…'
Then the old man spoke again, this time with heavier seriousness:
"One thing is certain…
The gathering of the Four Great Kings will be held in our lands… two years from now.
That… is the state of our small world."
Einver understood much — and yet many questions still lingered.
But he had no time to ask them, for the door burst open at that moment…
A young girl entered, with short black hair falling to her shoulders, clear brown eyes, and a slender, athletic frame. She wore tight red garments bound with a strip of black cloth.
A bow was strapped across her back — she tossed it aside along with her quiver, then rushed forward to embrace moon fai.
The old man smiled, patting her head gently:
"Compose yourself, moon fu… we have a guest."
Startled by her father's words, the girl turned her head—
And saw a young man with a well-built frame, long black hair, and eyes glowing crimson like burning embers.
He wore black garments, and at his waist hung a straight black sword, around fifty to sixty centimeters in length.
She took a step forward and asked her father nervously:
"Father… who is this person?"
Moon fai sighed softly:
"Isn't it shameful… to ask such a thing of my guest, girl?"
Moon fu's face flushed red, and she bowed quickly:
"Forgive me, father… I did not mean it."
She lifted her head, meeting Einver's eyes directly:
"I am moon fu, daughter of the noble warrior moon fai…
Will you honor me with your name?"
Einver smiled quietly, as though this moment had been lifted straight out of an ancient tale of kingdoms:
"I am… Einver.
As for my father's name and history… it matters not now.
I am a man… who will forge his own name.
My father lived the life he loved…
And I will do the same — with my name… and with my strength."
Moon fai was struck by the strength in his tone — it was not the voice of an eighteen-year-old, but of a man who had been crushed by the world and yet stood tall again.
As for moon fu, anger flashed in her eyes; she had spoken of her father's name with pride, yet this stranger boasted not of his lineage, but of himself. It was something she found distasteful.
"…Do you fight with the sword?"
Before Einver could answer, moon fi leapt to his feet, shouting in anger:
"You fool! Do you want to disgrace our father's name with such a question!?"
Moon fai looked at his daughter quietly… for he knew very well what would follow such words.
Meanwhile, Einver had already discerned her nature the moment she entered:
Impulsive… kindhearted… a little foolish… and rash.
He smiled calmly:
"Yes… I use the sword in battle.
And you — since you wield the bow…
Would you like to duel me, in a friendly match?"
Moon fi was stunned, and even moon fai raised his brows… for the young man seemed genuinely eager at the mere thought of combat.
Einver placed his hand on his sword, stood up, then sheathed it back at his waist.
He looked directly at moon fu:
"…Let's go."
Moon fu's lips curved into a smile — a mixture of excitement and anger burning in her eyes:
"Very well."
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