Chapter 637: Power, Pride, and Pekkos ( 637 )

Meanwhile.

In a vast, secret hall beneath the Beastkin Royal Palace…

Gumarak lay sprawled flat on the polished stone floor, twitching slightly.

His beard was frizzed, his clothes wrinkled, and his proud dwarven forehead had been smacked so many times he lost count after thirty.

His limbs ached from being thrown, flipped, and pinned in every wrestling style known to elves, beastkin, and demons alike.

“Ugh… Just kill me already…” he groaned.

Mylezra stood nearby, arms folded, smiling like a gentle older sister—except her heel had just moments ago pinned him during a submission lock.

“No~ you have no use if you die,” she replied sweetly. “Besides… this is your fault.”

Lioness chuckled as he cracked his knuckles.

” I haven’t even used my full-body suplex on you yet.”

“Eeeek…!” Gumarak tried to crawl away slowly.

But Veldrac stomped in front of him with a grin, cape billowing ominously. “Your punishment isn’t over yet, old friend. You forgot one thing…”

“…W-What…?”

Veldrac raised his hand dramatically.

“We haven’t done the forehead slapping relay for today.”

Gumarak whimpered. “W-Why is that even a thing…?!”

Lioness, Mylezra, and Veldrac all stepped forward.

Their expressions turned serious.

Lioness’s voice rumbled, low and firm.

“You became stupid, Gumarak. Claiming a Celestial… knowing damn well how dangerous it is. You knew it could backfire.”

Mylezra stepped beside him, her soft gaze turning sharp. “If not for Garius sending his youngest son, you’d be dead. Not just you—your sons, your daughter… your entire kingdom would’ve been lost.”

Veldrac knelt beside the battered dwarf, voice calm but heavy with weight. “You gambled with your people’s lives.”

Gumarak said nothing.

He couldn’t.

He just lay there, jaw tight, breath ragged, and eyes staring at the floor in shame.

The tension lingered.

“We’re your friends, Gumarak. Old ones. That’s why you’re still alive.”

Mylezra slowly loosened her grip on his beard. “But next time… we won’t be slapping foreheads. We’ll be burying one.”

Gumarak nodded weakly, eyes moist, and barely croaked out, “…Understood.”

Veldrac stood, brushing off his cloak. “Good.”

Then with a smirk, he added, “Now—Lets continue!”

He casually took a few steps back, loosening his shoulders like warming up for a performance.

“Let’s make this a good one,” Veldrac grinned, raising his hand and slowly swinging it side to side.

Gumarak’s eyes widened.

“No—no! Wait!!”

But it was too late.

The binding magic activated, forcing Gumarak to kneel—his back straight, his beard swaying, and most importantly… his forehead wide open and gleaming under the palace lights.

Veldrac smirked wickedly.

“I’m going to smack it… just like this!”

He dashed forward in a spinning dance-like motion, hand pulled back in dramatic flair.

“Then I’ll bang it like this!!” Gumarak shouted desperately, jerking his head forward to meet the slap midair—thinking he’d counter it, maybe hurt Veldrac’s palm, maybe reclaim a bit of dignity.

PAAAAK!!!

A clean, thunderous slap echoed through the hall.

Veldrac’s hand connected perfectly, while Gumarak’s timing was completely off.

Instead of countering, his head jolted backward from the sheer force and tumbled flat onto his back, beard twitching and eyes spinning.

“…Ughh… m-my pride…”

Mylezra and Lioness both clapped.

“10 out of 10!” Lioness chuckled.

“My, my~ that was art,” Mylezra added with a gentle, satisfied nod.

Veldrac blew on his palm proudly. “Told you I’ve been practicing.”

Gumarak groaned. “This… this is worse than death…”

“Hmm? Where’s Garius?” Mylezra asked, tilting her head slightly.

Lioness, still casually watching Veldrac slap Gumarak’s forehead like a percussion instrument, answered without turning, “He said he was waiting for someone in the courtyard.”

“Oh?” Mylezra raised an eyebrow. “Who?”

“Don’t know.” Lioness gave a small shrug. “Probably my future son-in-law.”

Mylezra chuckled softly. “Ah… Garius’s youngest son.”

“Yeah.” Lioness smirked. “The infamous one.”

Mylezra’s eyes gleamed. “The baby boy who stole half the continent’s daughters.”

They both laughed lightly as another smack echoed.

Veldrac, now slapping with both hands like a bongo drummer, grinned, “Hey, can you two keep it down? I’m making art here!”

Gumarak, on the floor, raised one hand weakly, “Help… please… I hear bells…”

Mylezra and Lioness both smiled again—this time, dangerously.

Meanwhile, in the Beastkin royal palace courtyard.

Garius stood with his hands behind his back, his cape fluttering slightly in the warm breeze. The morning sun cast sharp shadows across the polished stone beneath his boots.

Behind him stood three figures—serious and silent.

“Alf. Erinnette. Hesbeirn.”

“Yes, my lord,” the three answered in unison.

Garius nodded slightly. “We’ll be returning to Armand after this.”

“Yes, my lord,” Alf replied firmly.

“Alf,” Garius turned slightly toward his oldest and most trusted butler. “Make sure our Pekkos are ready.”

“Already done, my lord. Giddie is calm and fed. The others are prepared for departure at any moment.”

“Good.” Garius narrowed his eyes in the direction of the palace entrance. “Once I finish handing Javier his next mission… we’re leaving straight for Armand.”

Erinnette glanced toward Garius, then exchanged a silent look with Alf and Hesbeirn.

Alf leaned in slightly, his voice low.

“My lord… is this because of that?”

Garius didn’t shift his gaze.

“Yes. We have to make sure our region and people remain safe.”

His tone was calm, but heavy with intent.

“I trust Javier’s detection system—those devices he installed at every border gate have already proven their worth. Not even high-tier cloaking magic could bypass them unnoticed.”

He paused.

“But no matter how secure we think we are… we must stay vigilant.”

“Understood, my lord.” Alf nodded deeply.

There was a brief pause before Garius spoke again.

“Anyway, Alf.”

“Yes, my lord?”

“Where is Cedric? His mission to purify the miasma should have been completed by now.”

Alf gave a slight smile.

“He’s with Meira and Zania, my lord. From what I heard… they’re probably sightseeing.”

Garius let out a small sigh.

“I expected as much.”

He turned his gaze toward the distant hills.

“Tell the shadow units to relay this: once both Cedric and Marcellus complete their tasks, they are to return directly to Armand. No delays.”

“Understood, my lord. I’ll have the shadow unit pass it immediately.”

Garius gave a short nod, then looked to the palace doors.

“It’s time to see if my son is ready for what comes next.”

( End Of Chapter )

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