Chapter 108
Chapter 108
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 108
Chapter Title: Tribal Chiefs' Meeting
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Hatan Woo-jul struggled to soothe his throbbing headache.
"...I've said it over and over, but it wasn't just a temporary death followed by resurrection. Complete annihilation has been confirmed. The entity itself can no longer be detected."
Silence fell over everyone.
It was the kind of silence that arises when people hear something so absurd their thought processes short-circuit, unable to comprehend the situation.
It was a question repeated countless times, but once again, someone couldn't hold back and spoke up.
[...One of the demonic realm rulers in the jungle sector has been perfectly killed?]
"Yes. Without a doubt."
[And the rulers of the other demonic realms have all suffered damage equivalent to annihilation as well.]
"Yeah."
[And that was all done by—]
"One guy, and a single hunting party that received orders from him. If you ask me one more time, I'll take it as a challenge to a duel."
As he spat out those words in a voice barely containing his anger, a heavy silence spread among the nearby tribal chiefs.
Emergency gatherings of all the tribal chiefs weren't something that happened often, but if those words were true, it wasn't incomprehensible.
[This is unprecedented.]
One of the tribal chiefs muttered in a low, gravelly voice.
Throughout the history of the tribal alliance, there had been scarcely any who had even once succeeded in killing a demonic realm ruler, let alone erasing their very existence.
Merely succeeding in hunting one ruler would earn recognition as the greatest hunter of the era.
Four rulers from four demonic realms—all of them?
[...In accordance with the traditions of the tribal alliance, that individual deserves commensurate rewards.]
"Of course the Great Hunter title should be granted."
[That's not what I mean, Hatan. You know that.]
The tribal chief who spoke let out a sigh as he continued.
[...Given the nature of our alliance, for someone who has achieved a 'feat' unprecedented in our recorded history, that alone isn't enough.]
Rewards matching achievements. It was the tribe's tradition.
For someone who accomplished such an extraordinary deed, simply tossing them an existing title wouldn't suffice.
Even if that person was an outsider.
The heavy voices led everyone to seal their lips once more.
“...”
“...”
Though everyone present kept silent, they were likely all thinking the same thing.
It was something no one in this room could accomplish.
Not even the Great Tribal Chief who led the entire tribal alliance.
So, what on earth should be given to someone who achieved such a monumental feat?
[Is it really that big a deal?]
But no matter the accomplishment, there will always be those who try to downplay it simply because they don't like the person.
"Barol."
Hatan sighed as he looked in that direction.
Barol Ge-rdo. The chief of the Blue Boar Tribe, the most troublesome among all the tribes.
He was also the father of Krun Ge-rdo, who had picked a fight with Riru Garda and Dawood Campbell not long ago and gotten thoroughly thrashed.
[Anyway. From the way this discussion is going, it looks like you're all planning to throw something massive his way. Doesn't that require unanimous approval from all the tribal chiefs?]
"...Are you saying you're going to oppose it?"
[I already said it. Is it really that big a deal?]
Just from these exchanges, it became even clearer.
'...That punk snitched to his father.'
The fact that he was throwing such an unreasonable tantrum made it obvious he was driven by personal grudges.
That idiot—next time they met, he'd fold him in half.
[What is the Great Chief doing?]
Such words slipped from someone.
Utad Han-chai.
The father of Luka Han-chai, who was currently studying at the Imperial Academy Elpante.
[In a situation like this, the Great Chief should have directly commended him without even needing a vote from us.]
It was a logical point.
When a monster of this caliber popped up, the norm would be for the Great Chief to step in and handle it personally before the tribal chiefs even gathered.
"Allan hasn't shown any reaction at all. He visited the Forge of Struggle, but hasn't shown his face anywhere else. No one's seen him."
[...That's troubling.]
But the Allan who had arrived at the Forge of Struggle was, as Hatan said, engaging in no public activities whatsoever.
As if he were already dead.
[For now, let's call the person in question and hear his side.]
[You're suggesting we bring an outsider into a tribal chiefs' meeting, Utad?]
[What choice do we have in this situation?]
Right now, that was undoubtedly the most logical solution.
[...]
[...]
In the end, the other tribal chiefs could only agree with reluctant expressions.
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!!!!!!!!!!!Demon Alert!!!!!!!!!!!
[ ‘Demon-related’ emergency event has occurred! ]
[ This is a top-priority event! ]
[ If you fail to act correctly within the time limit, you will die! ]
[ This is an event related to the target ‘Riru’! ]
[ Immediately devise survival countermeasures! ]
“...”
Hm.
Yeah.
I figured it was coming sooner or later.
'...No wonder I'm not pissed off.'
By now, the effects of Feynol's spatial transfer spell had probably dumped her in the middle of the vast ocean.
What I did to her was trash-tier by any measure. If the thing inhabiting that body was the ‘Demon of Wrath,’ it’d be weirder if it didn’t go berserk.
She’d probably track me down in a few hours at most.
“...”
Of course, that was that.
For now, deal with what's right in front of me.
"Dawood Campbell. Please enter."
I checked my watch as I heard one of the staff members say that.
Just barely safe.
The biggest reason I took down the demonic realm rulers within five minutes was my certainty that convening this ‘tribal chiefs’ meeting’ would take quite a while.
'...Gathering all the bigwigs is always the hardest part, no matter where you are.'
With that thought, I stepped into the room, where holograms of all the tribal chiefs were staring me down.
As expected of a place with advanced tech—when there was urgent business, they could convene like this.
An eerie silence stretched on before finally, someone addressed me.
A massive warrior draped in wolf pelt. His face looked familiar.
[...Pleased to meet you, Dawood Campbell. I'm Utad Han-chai. Luka Han-chai's father.]
"You know me?"
[Luka once told me about you and Riru Garda. Said you had impressive capabilities.]
Ah, him.
That guy had talked about giving Riru something with his rights as the next chief in line. Makes sense he'd tell his father.
[Do you know why you've been summoned here?]
I met the eyes of Utad, who spoke in a calm tone.
"Isn't it to discuss the rewards you'll give me? The alliance has a tendency to especially favor hunters, after all."
[...You know quite a bit about the alliance. Yes, you're correct.]
Utad replied with an intrigued smile.
[What you've accomplished is unprecedented, even searching through our alliance's history. As you know, such feats demand commensurate rewards.]
[I already said I'm against it. The Great Hunter title is fine, but nothing more.]
[Barol, don't be so petty.]
[Hah. I'm just exercising my rights as a tribal chief—]
I silently watched the holograms of the tribal chiefs exchanging words among themselves.
'...Well, whatever.'
Frankly speaking.
"That's not the issue right now."
I would definitely claim those rewards.
The tribal alliance had a position I needed to place Riru in later, for future purposes.
Everything about rehabilitating Riru before had been for that.
But for now.
What I needed was simply to have all the tribal chiefs gathered like this.
Because there was something I urgently needed their permission for.
[...]
[...]
At my words, Barol, Utad, and all the other tribal chiefs turned to me with puzzled looks.
[...Not the issue?]
"The Great Hunter title seems to be something you'll unanimously grant me. Correct?"
[That's right. With achievements like yours, it wouldn't make sense to deny it.]
I fell silent for a moment at Utad's response.
Truth be told, my foremost feeling was one of apology.
As mentioned several times, the tribal alliance was an extremely insular group. For a place where the leadership gathered, bringing in an outsider like me with no ties was far from normal.
The fact that he spoke to me first, and seemed to be looking out for me, probably made this possible.
He wasn't the kind of person who could justify the 'damage' I'd cause to this place from here on.
I'd have to apologize properly later.
"...Then, I assume I can exercise one rightful authority."
The Great Hunter title denoted the supreme authority in matters concerning ‘magical beasts,’ to the point of consulting even other tribal chiefs.
I didn't care about riding coattails on demons for some grand title—I just needed the authority to make even the other chiefs listen to me.
"...Right now, the tribal alliance—and this Forge of Struggle—is facing an unprecedented crisis."
Something like that had nearly happened once before, but Elnor had blown it sky-high.
But now.
Whether as backlash or not, that threat was multiplying several times over and closing in.
"As the bearer of the Great Hunter title, I solemnly declare."
And to overcome that situation.
"Hand over the entire Forge of Struggle to me, just for a little while."
This entire ‘academy.’
Needed to become my long-term pawn.
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