His Breeding Obsession – Chapter 179 – The Underground of All Dimensions

Author: Nikss

The bear clan leader, out of habit, brought some food to his mouth and stared at Mirania while holding a fish head between his teeth.

The fishtail dangling out of his mouth added a strangely comical touch.

“Well, it’s not bad, but…”

“…”

“If you’re asking if I’m satisfied, not really. Every time I move, my belly folds, and I can’t climb trees or run as fast as I used to. It’s frustrating sometimes. Back then, even 30 years ago, I could outrun wolf clan warriors with this build.”

The bear clan leader muttered to himself, his face twisting. His features, buried in fat, crumpled.

“But why am I even telling you this? Why does it matter? Nothing’s going to change anyway. It’s better now than when humans were running wild. Who cares? It’s better than when those bastards who harvested our gallbladders for their stamina ruled.”

“You don’t have to stay here like this, do you?”

“What do you mean?”

“As the leader of your clan, you could take care of your abandoned kin, return to the mountains, and carve out a place to live.”

His blank expression quickly turned into a scowl.

“Hakan said most of the mountains are burned, and there’s nothing to eat. Staying here, he takes care of everything for us. He can’t take care of every clan, but it was like that even before…”

His words echoed the mermaid leader’s. What stood out in both their statements was the name ‘Hakan.’

“But this state of things won’t last long.”

“…”

“Humans are preparing for a new world. They oppressed, persecuted, and exploited beast-kin in the past, but just because humans have fallen doesn’t mean the world has become better.”

The bear clan leader chewed on the fishtail and glared at her.

“What are you trying to say?”

“Your bear clan kin are also part of their gatherings. I’ll tell you how. If you want change, go find your abandoned clan and see how they live. Learn about their lives and what they want. If that doesn’t move you, then fine. Live on, driven by habitual greed even when you’re not hungry, until you’re consumed by food. But remember, whether it’s health issues or external changes, that life won’t last long.”

Leaving the bear clan leader, who looked either baffled or stunned, Mirania walked away without looking back.

“What kind of person is Hakan?”

When she returned to her quarters and asked, Grecan, who had laid her down on the bed, fell into deep thought.

“He’s a bird-kin leader with decent political skills. He hates humans. He’s taken on all the troublesome tasks of the imperial palace. I hear he listens to the complaints and desires of the leaders you just met. Thanks to him, I’ve had less to worry about.”

“…”

As Mirania sank into thought, Grecan gently brushed her smooth cheek, which had no blemishes or hollows.

“Physically weak, but mentally sharp, you could say. He’s older than he looks. He lived as a human slave when he was young. His wings were torn back then. Now, he’s somehow managed to heal them with medicine from the mermaid clan.”

“…Really?”

“Yeah. He’s got a sharp tongue and likes to manipulate those around him. The beast-kin leaders are no exception. He gives them what they want and gets their cooperation in return. He’s not a big deal.”

As Mirania’s gaze deepened, Grecan subtly and intently stroked the corners of her eyes.

“Should I go meet him if you’re concerned?”

“You?”

“No matter how sharp his mind is, it can’t overcome sheer power. One word from me, and he’ll spill everything. If he’s hiding something.”

Mirania furrowed her brow.

“You’re underestimating him too much.”

“It’s not underestimating. What can Hakan even do?”

Grecan shrugged one shoulder.

“Your complacency might be something he orchestrated. From what I’ve heard, both the leaders and the humans outside mention Hakan. He doesn’t seem like someone to be taken lightly.”

“…”

“For now, act as usual. If we’re to tear down the walls of the imperial palace and build a bridge of coexistence between humans and beast-kin, Hakan’s cooperation will be crucial. We shouldn’t act rashly and make him wary.”

Grecan, who had been wearing a somewhat puzzled expression, nodded obediently.

Mirania watched as he let her hand touch his cheek. She twitched her fingers slightly. Her fingertips brushed against his firm, resilient skin.

She avoided his confused gaze, feeling a bit unnatural.

The fingertips that had poked her warm cheek now stretched out. Her pulse quickened.

💫

The Underground of All Dimensions, the Dark Realm, accessible only through specific entrances.

Malandor had broken his long seclusion in the tower and descended onto the crimson-black earth.

After Mirania left, he spent most of his time barefoot, treading the ground. Beads of red sweat formed on his forehead.

The number of steps he could take in a day was barely a hundred.

Even though he had moved every single day since sending Mirania away, he hadn’t even achieved half of his goal.

He took a step. The dark energy beneath his sole screamed as if in agony, thrashing violently.

Malandor pressed down with a fearsome gaze, his foot exerting force.

The crimson-black soil caved in. The black energy, which had been writhing as if trying to escape, finally seeped into Malandor’s eyes.

His red eyes momentarily turned pitch black before returning to their original color.

As this process repeated, the Black Realm inhabitants and demons, who had been rolling on the ground wailing in anguish, began to calm down.

“I’m just reclaiming what originated from me in the first place, but damn, it’s exhausting.”

Malandor wiped the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand and habitually cursed Grecan.

He was in the process of absorbing the body of the King, which Grecan had torn apart to seal the entrance to the Black Realm.

The Dark Realm’s denizens, who had been influenced by the pain and rage of the King’s tearing and mourned his death, bowed their heads as Malandor, radiating an even more intense aura, passed by.

“My Lord, something terrible has happened!”

A Dark Realm inhabitant with horn-like protrusions on his head flew in like the wind.

With bronze skin and red eyes resembling Malandor’s, he gasped for breath.

“What is it?”

“The 3rd generation of Lethe has disappeared. It seems they’ve left the Dark Realm.”

“The entrance seal hasn’t been broken yet. You must be mistaken.”

Despite Malandor’s dismissive reaction, the Black Realm inhabitant wore an uneasy expression.

“It wasn’t the sealed entrance.”

“…Then?”

Malandor, who had just stepped on a surge of black energy, shifted his gaze. The inhabitant gulped.

“It seems they used the Lord’s secret passage.”

The Lord’s secret passage—the place Malandor called the ‘rat hole.’

“The 3rd generation of Lethe was granted permission to use the secret passage 200 years ago.”

Only then did Malandor’s face harden.

“Why did they leave all of a sudden?”

“I’m not sure of the exact reason, but the 3rd generation of Lethe was one of the most grief-stricken over the King’s death. It’s hard to believe they left with good intentions…”

Malandor, having absorbed the subdued energy into his eyes, roughly wiped his face with a calloused hand.

“Damn it! I’ll have to go out there.”

“What?”

“That bastard must have gone to meet Grecan. The 3rd generation of Lethe has an uncanny ability to pinpoint an opponent’s weakness.”

“What?”

“Don’t you get it? They’ve gone to destroy Grecan.”

“Him? He has no weaknesses, so it’s a futile effort. Shouldn’t we be rescuing the 3rd generation of Lethe instead?”

Malandor shook his head with a dark expression at his startled subordinate.

“Until now, it would have been futile. For the Grecan of the past century, that is. But now, it’s different.”

“What?”

“Mirania is by his side!”

With those words, Malandor vanished in an instant.

💫

Hakan was in his prized collection room.

Born to parents who were slaves singing for humans, he had nothing to call his own until adulthood.

But the world had turned upside down, and he had tenaciously followed Grecan, who was revered like a demon.

Eventually, he became the bird-kin’s leader and the imperial palace’s second-in-command.

The collection room was a testament to his efforts and status.

It was filled with rare, mysterious, and priceless items. His collection was used to persuade and appease unruly leaders.

It was also used to discreetly eliminate troublesome individuals and to orchestrate schemes too vile to witness.

‘Humans are cunning and cannot be underestimated. To deal with them, I must become the same.’

Lately, Hakan had been pondering how to kill the human emperor.

The puppet emperor he had set up had, unfortunately, not been much help in capturing the enemy’s leader.

There was no longer any reason to keep him alive.

‘I hear the number of humans gathering in groups has been increasing lately. Persistent pests.’

What if I use him to provoke them?

Announcing the public execution of the human emperor would surely break their spirits.

For dramatic effect, burning him at the stake would be ideal.

The farther the screams spread, the more humans would tremble in fear, too terrified to even think of emerging into the light.

‘The reason for the execution can be anything, really. Like, say, he stumbled in front of Grecan, the High Lord.’

Hakan’s chuckling laughter abruptly stopped.

[He told us to let them go. It seemed he was acquainted with the human who appeared to be their leader.]

‘No matter how I think about it, it’s strange.’

Hakan turned his gaze away from the glittering collection. As was his habit when deep in thought, he rubbed his sharp lips.

He was thoroughly pleased with the current situation.

Both humans and the beast-kin leaders now listened to his words without defiance, and he found it deeply satisfying.

However, there was one dangerous element: Grecan, the High Lord.

His overwhelming power, akin to that of an absolute being, was something even Hakan’s cunning couldn’t fully control.

Thus, the most dangerous thing in the current situation was one thing.

‘The High Lord harboring positive feelings toward humans is the real danger. Whether it’s affection or pity, any emotion that weakens his resolve must not be allowed.’

His expression turned cold.

‘I must take action.’