Chapter 633: Bold Old Men and Shadowy Pursuits ( 633 )

“You chuckled when I got pummeled by three women! That’s the highest betrayal in bro code!!” Javier said, tightening the knot.

“I was choking on air!! That was not a laugh!!” the dwarf argued helplessly.

“I saw the smirk!! That smug little smirk under your beard!”

Javier stood proudly, tying the final knot with a flourish. “Heh. Mission complete. Operation Old Man Extraction is a success.”

Gumarak, now a neatly bound, rolled slightly on the floor.

“Eeeek!! I’m still not mentally ready!! You don’t understand what it’s like to be judged by childhood friends with fists!!”

Javier casually dusted his shoulder.

“Let’s go, old man. Time to face your true punishment squad.”

And with one hand, he dragged Gumarak away like a sack of potatoes, while the dwarf wailed.

NOOOO!!

After hours of full-speed Pekko dash, they arrived at the border between the Beastkin Kingdom and the Dwarven Kingdom.

Javier rode ahead on Buddy.

Liana followed behind him with Pikko.

Gloria on Peanut.

Felicia shared a Pekko with Ferine, who insisted on coming.

Tied and gagged at the back was Gumarak.

“Mmph!! Mmph!!”

He kept trying to wiggle free.

Javier didn’t even look back. “Keep squirming, old man. I’m still mad you laughed while I got punished.”

“Mmph!!”

Liana glanced back. “Still struggling?”

Gloria replied calmly, “He should be grateful it’s only rope.”

Felicia didn’t say anything.

She simply tightened her grip on the reins.

Ferine looked at her father, bound and wobbling on the back of the Pekko, his muffled cries barely making sense.

“Mmph!! Mmph!!”

“…I’m sorry,” Ferine said softly, turning her gaze away, embarrassed.

Javier sighed. “You’re not going to die, old man.”

He reached over and tugged the cloth from Gumarak’s mouth.

“Not die? But torture!! Eeek!! Let me go!! Ferine!! Help papa!!”

Ferine still looked away, pretending not to hear him.

Javier pinched the bridge of his nose. “This wouldn’t have happened if you didn’t claim that celestial.”

“Eeeeh!? That was the past, right? Right?” Gumarak grinned like a child caught sneaking snacks. “We good now, right? Hahaha? Right?”

Javier just looked away and muttered, “Sorry, old man… but you know how dangerous and serious my father is when it comes to missions.”

Gumarak’s face paled.

Ferine whispered under her breath. “…Just hold on, papa.”

“Hold on? HOLD ON!? I’M GOING TO DIE!!” Gumarak wailed. “Well… actually—I prefer death over this punishment!! At least it’d be faster!”

He turned to Javier with a forced, shaky smile. “Javier… Javier… ehehe… Let me go, okay? Okay?”

He dropped his voice and leaned in as best as he could while tied up, putting on his thickest dwarven accent, ”

‘Elp me lad… we buddy now, right? Ye gonna marry me daughter… so come on, just untie me, aye? We kin now, right? Let ol’ Gumarak off the hook, huh?”

Javier gave him a flat look. “…Old man. We already arrived here. Where exactly do you think you’re going to run?”

Gumarak blinked. “What do you mean?”

Javier exhaled heavily, then nodded ahead. “Just look around you.”

Gumarak hesitantly turned his head.

Then he froze.

“…Crap…”

All around them—emerging silently from the forest, rooftops, even shadows cast by boulders and wagons—figures in pitch-black cloaks moved with eerie coordination. Their faces were fully concealed behind featureless black masks, the only emblem visible being the golden Armand crest stitched on their cloaks.

“Armand Shadow Unit…” Gumarak muttered.

His gaze shifted further.

Behind trees, rooftops, and lining the outer path: beastkin royal assassin units, each cloaked in patterned armor with ceremonial blades.

Then to the right, stationed silently along ridgelines, were the elven royal archers, their glowing bows aimed casually downward—arrows notched but relaxed.

And then—his eyes widened as the air shimmered unnaturally.

“…Shadow… demon… units?” he whispered.

Half-formed figures cloaked in smoke and shadow hovered just at the edge of the light, their eyes glowing red, silent and terrifying.

“SHIT!! EEEEEEKKKKK!!!” Gumarak screamed. “THEY BROUGHT EVERYONE!! Even the smoke ones! That’s not fair!!”

Javier just rubbed his temple.

“You see now? There’s no escape, old man.”

“Young Master.”

The calm voice came from the shadows.

The leader of the Armand Shadow Unit stepped forward and bowed slightly—his right palm pressed flat to his chest. His entire body was clad in sleek black cloth armor, with a featureless obsidian mask covering his face. The only mark: a small golden Armand crest on his chest.

Javier gave a light nod. “Continue as planned.”

Behind him, Gumarak, still half-bound, suddenly burst out, “At least let me try running, Javier! Just once!!”

“…Haaah…” Javier sighed, then waved lazily. “Fine. Old man, go. Run.”

He reached out and untied the ropes binding the dwarf.

“Freedom!!” Gumarak shouted, bouncing to his feet. “I’m a dwarven king! NONE of you should touch me!! Wahahaha!!”

The nearby units said nothing.

They all stepped aside, opening a single, narrow path forward through the forest trail.

Gumarak’s eyes gleamed. “Oh-ho?! What’s this?! You’re giving me a chance!? If I manage to escape, don’t you dare take me to those crazy rulers!! Wahahaha!!”

He sprinted forward.

The shadow unit calmly followed—flanking his sides from the trees above and below, never blocking his path, simply guiding him in one clean direction.

Gumarak glanced around. “…Damn they’re fast. How do I shake these creepers?!”

Then he spotted it.

A golden Pekko, bigger than any he had ever seen, stood just past the next hill. Its feathers glistened like fire-forged armor. Its gaze was proud. Unmoving.

Gumarak’s eyes sparkled. “Yes! That’s it! That bird is my savior!!”

He leapt forward and clutched its saddle. “Alright, birdy birdy! Help me escape!! Let’s fly to freedom!!”

The majestic Pekko, Giddie, slowly turned his head and looked at Gumarak with a side glance.

Then…

CUQUAWK!!

A thunderous dash. A flash of gold.

Giddie shot forward like a comet, dragging the unprepared Gumarak with such force that the dwarf’s arms and legs flailed like flags in the wind.

Meanwhile, Javier stood in silence and watched the dust trail.

He sighed.

A long, tired sigh.

“…Father’s Pekko… is definitely going to bring him straight to the capital.”

He shook his head.

“…Ah. Poor old man.”

( End Of Chapter )

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