Chapter 115: Into the Fold of the Tribe
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 115: Into the Fold of the Tribe
[Excellent. You have successfully conquered the small city of Somorah! Rank up. Please select the individual to evolve.]
[1. High-Rank Demon, Mid-Rank Gladiator]
[2. Mid-Rank Demon, High-Rank Gladiator]
I had more or less expected this, and it turned out just as I thought. While it becomes harder to evolve the higher one’s species, it seemed I had accumulated more than enough experience. I had secretly hoped to evolve twice, but that didn’t seem to be the case. Still, to evolve again so soon after the last time… it wasn’t a bad feeling.
The problem was that the options were a classic case of six of one, half a dozen of the other. It felt like either choice would yield a similar result.
It was hard to judge whether it was better to raise my species or my class. However, considering the nature of the Demon race, I liked that my magic power increased with each evolution, so I decided to pave the way to becoming a High-Rank Demon for now. My class rank was a little low compared to my species, but if I started raising my class from the next evolution, at least I wouldn’t be all show and no substance.
Without bothering to read the descriptions, I immediately made my choice. I felt my compressed muscles expanding further. A dull ache began to spread from my forehead.
My horns, which already felt a bit large, started to grow even bigger. My fangs, too, were growing slightly, though they were still no match for an Orc’s.
When I looked down at my body, I saw a frame packed with muscle, not quite on the level of an Orc, but close. The magic power dwelling within me had also noticeably increased. It didn’t seem like a bad choice, and I couldn’t help but smile.
It was then.
“You’ve grown strong…”
Goff, having finished dealing with the aftermath, approached and spoke. I, too, replied to him with a joyful heart.
“You as well… You’ve become unrecognizably strong, Goff.”
He didn’t answer my words, instead raising one corner of his mouth in a smirk. This time, it was my turn to extend a hand. We had caught up through battle, but there was still so much more I wanted to talk about in detail. I reached out to him, and Goff clasped my hand in his.
Just then, I sensed a presence nearby. The one approaching was, of course, Black Spear. Goff was also looking at him. Before any questioning looks could be exchanged, a greeting was offered. Black Spear spoke to Goff first.
“It is good to see you, brother.”
It seemed he had overheard Goff calling me brother from a distance. Goff showed no surprise and immediately replied to Black Spear.
“It is good to see you, new brother.”
A brother’s brother is a brother. I smiled, pleased. And so, after that brief exchange, the three chieftains began to move.
We had left the task of finding survivors within the city to our clan members. We judged that the city’s inhabitants had, in one way or another, sent a request for aid to Hadum or other small eastern cities, so we had to leave as quickly as possible. Thanks to this, Mev and the assassins were moving with extreme urgency. I found a spot with Goff and Black Spear amidst some suitable ruins and began to watch them.
Naturally, my eyes fell upon the clan members diligently clearing the area. The ones who stood out the most were Gark and Hark. Interestingly, they had evolved into Ancient Orcs. For the two of them, who wished to stick with the Orc race, it was the right choice. I myself had considered going all the way as an Ancient Orc, so I was sure Gark and Hark could see it through to the end and still achieve a good result.
They, too, seemed happy to see their brothers after so long, working with wide grins on their faces.
“Gara! Move this rock over here. Krrrk.”
I didn’t remember him, but it seemed an Ogre named Gara had gotten along quite well with Gark and Hark since the Tutorial days. The interesting thing was that he was a Twin-Headed Ogre. He was a little smaller than Goff, but he certainly looked strong.
“Ah! You mean this rock?”
“No! Gara! The one next to it!”
“Then you mean this rock? No. That rock! Yes. That rock!”
Even from a glance, he seemed incredibly chaotic. Seeing him talking to himself, it was clear his mind was truly split in two, and I thought it was a good thing I hadn’t evolved into a Twin-Headed Ancient Orc.
Those who were Orc Warriors had become Swordsmen, and all the Hobgoblins had evolved into Orcs. Mev, Ragia, and Jung Hayeon must have heard the voice as well, but seeing no change in their appearance, it seemed they would finish their evolutions after their urgent tasks were complete.
I turned my gaze from them and spoke to Goff. I was extremely curious about how he had found his way here.
“How did you find this place, Goff?”
“Krrrruk. Actually, I could have arrived a bit sooner. It’s a shame I couldn’t enjoy a battle like this from the beginning…”
“………?”
“Blood Dagger. After I went west to find you, I met the Green Goblins and realized our paths had crossed. Hearing you had left for the East, I immediately turned around and headed that way, but…”
“You were held up…”
It was Black Spear who spoke. A slight smile appeared on my face as well. I had a feeling I knew why he was late.
“Yes. That Big Ogre, that bastard kept holding me back… Begging me to stay just one more day… One day became two, and two became three… I don’t know if you’ve met him, but I recommend you be careful when passing through the jungle.”
“We met the Big Ogre as well, Goff. He was an interesting Ogre.”
I had pretty much expected it, but he had indeed been held captive. One moment he was shouting about how ungrateful Goff was, and the next, as soon as Goff showed up in the jungle, he seemed to have changed his tune completely. At this point, I had to wonder what on earth that story he told us back then was all about.
‘He’s a very ill-mannered brat! Never trust Goff! You’ll be betrayed in an instant…’
A fool who couldn’t help but welcome someone, even knowing he would be betrayed again. That, I realized, was the Big Ogre.
“Krrrruk. Anyway, after spending some time there, I felt I couldn’t stay any longer, so I slipped out in the morning. When I went to Storm Shadow’s village, a human kid and a small goblin named Nicole told me you had left for the human city… That’s how I was able to come here.”
Seeing his smiling face, I could tell Goff had enjoyed his journey in his own way.
“Come to think of it, I don’t see the one who drew pictures.”
Just as I had remembered the goblin who beat the drum, it seemed Goff also remembered Najin. When I hesitated for a moment, Goff scratched the back of his head as if he had made a mistake.
“Did he die with honor?”
“He did.”
“…………………”
After that, I, Black Spear, and Goff continued to talk slowly. As the cleanup work took longer than expected, the Orc who beat the drum brought over a large bowl, and it even turned into a small drinking party. He had undoubtedly been influenced by that Big Ogre.
A little more time passed, and Ragia approached me and began to speak. Perhaps conscious of Black Spear and Goff, she seemed even more polite than usual.
“We have found the hiding humans. We have captured all humans who appear to be of high rank and are currently detaining them. The rest have been killed. We have also finished clearing the bodies of our clan members and our brothers’ clans. We await your command.”
She was waiting for my order. But this was not a matter I could decide alone. This wasn’t a solo operation, and of course, we had received their help, so I had to at least ask their opinions. I subtly glanced at Black Spear and Goff. They were both nodding. Seeing this, I slowly turned to the clan members and spoke.
“We are returning.”
“For Blood Dagger!”
Goff and Black Spear likewise began to gather their own clan members.
“Sound the drum!”
Their entrance had been loud, and their departure was just as loud. At Goff’s command, the Orc hurriedly began to beat the drum again, and the group started moving toward Storm Shadow’s village. I offered the lead position to Goff, and true to his nature, he didn’t refuse. Not only were Ogres the most suitable race to respond to any unforeseen situations, but more importantly, I judged it most appropriate for our clan, which was holding the human captives, to be at the rear.
Soon, the Goff Clan began to forge the path ahead, waving their large banner. I followed behind them, and Black Spear brought up the rear.
It was then that Ragia, who had been walking silently beside me, spoke up. Her voice was tinged with a hint of dissatisfaction.
“Is it alright for you not to stand at the front?”
It was an unexpected question, but coming from Ragia, it didn’t feel that strange. I could understand her thoughts. This was a plan devised by the Blood Dagger Clan, a battle led by the Blood Dagger Clan. From her perspective, she was bound to be curious why our clan wasn’t taking the lead.
Seeing her ask me with a questioning look, it seemed she had her own thoughts when she reported to me earlier and asked for my command. Ragia wanted the Blood Dagger Clan to lead the three clans. I looked at her and spoke.
“Who stands at the front is not important.”
I didn’t know if it was personal ambition or loyalty, but it seemed she was thinking of the clan, so it wasn’t a bad feeling.
“They are brothers we will walk with from now on. I understand how you feel, but look around you.”
At my words, Ragia’s gaze slowly shifted to our surroundings. The Goblin Three Sisters and Mev were laughing in amusement. Mev’s expression seemed particularly bright. Jung Hayeon was also smiling, as if she had finally relieved some long-held stress. The Orc Swordsmen were the same, their faces looking incredibly excited. Separate from the victory in battle, they were simply overjoyed to have met their brothers.
Orbo was walking with his child held tightly in his arms, and the members of the Black Spear Clan and Goff Clan also seemed unconcerned with who was in front or behind. Ragia’s way of thinking was probably necessary for her own survival before, but now, it was not so important.
“I see.”
Ragia nodded, and I gently stroked her head.
“I know you work hard for the Blood Dagger Clan. I still do not regret making you a chieftain. You don’t have to push yourself so hard.”
I meant it. She was competent and seemed relaxed, but she always appeared to be chased by something. If before, she had been looking out for herself, now it was clearly the clan. Ragia always seemed to be thinking of something further ahead.
At my words, Ragia gave a faint smile. Seeing her smile so differently from usual, I wondered if this was the first time I had ever truly seen her smile.
“For Blood Dagger…”