Chapter 166: Storm Shadow
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 166: Storm Shadow
There was no formal funeral. Instead, all the chieftains simply watched as the Great Tribe Leader was buried in the Land of Glory. It was a sign of respect for the man who had won this glorious land through struggle and dedicated his entire life to it.
The style was different from a human grave. The Great Tribe Leader’s weapon was placed before his tomb, and the ceremony concluded with the placement of an enormous stone, much like a dolmen from the ancient stone age.
—In memory of Agar, the greatest Great Tribe Leader, who lived his life in struggle.
The words were carved deeply into the massive stone.
Everyone gazed at the inscription and placed a hand on their chest. An entire day passed in this manner.
The council began immediately the next day, as the Storm Shadow Clan’s elite assassins were currently undergoing the trial of Strength, Wisdom, and Honor. A new Great Tribe Leader was needed to greet them when they arrived at the Land of Glory.
Great Tribe Leader Agar had not mentioned a successor. I believed this was the final trial, the last challenge he had left for us.
He must have thought this was a problem for those who remained to solve. Though countless chieftains had gathered in the Great Tribe Leader’s tent, the problem was that very few of them seemed qualified. The meeting stalled, as no one could even agree on how a new leader should be chosen.
“We must honor the Great Tribe Leader’s death with the blood of humans. The next Great Tribe Leader must be the Green Skin who best embodies what it means to be a leader.”
The Orc chieftain from the South, who was spouting utter nonsense, was the most absurd of them all. It made me doubt if he had even heard the Great Tribe Leader’s final message. His belligerent reputation preceded him, but his words were completely irrelevant to the current discussion of how to select a new leader. What was even more ridiculous was that some chieftains actually agreed with him. The Werewolf from the North was one of them.
“I concur. Great Tribe Leader Agar was strong and led us to countless glorious battles.”
“Fighting for the sake of fighting alone is not the Great Tribe Leader’s will.”
The Minotaur of the Plains was one of the chieftains who directly opposed their words.
“........................”
What was surprising was that Storm Shadow remained silent, saying nothing. No, it was more than that—he seemed to be genuinely lost in thought. I couldn’t guess what was on his mind, but his faintly trembling eyes seemed to hold a look of uncertainty.
The meeting ended without any significant progress. Afterward, I spoke with Goff and Black Spear.
“What do you think?”
Goff responded to Black Spear’s question. It was an uncharacteristically thoughtful statement from him.
“The Southern Orc and the Northern Werewolf have a point, but being strong doesn’t automatically make one the Great Tribe Leader. There are many strong chieftains, but not all of them are qualified to lead. In that sense, the number of chieftains who meet the criteria can be counted on one hand.”
“Hmm…”
His perspective had certainly broadened. Goff was right. Of course, the Great Tribe Leader had to be strong, but that wasn’t everything. The position was the focal point that held together all these unpredictable chieftains. It was a decision that could not be made lightly.
“Blood Dagger, what are your thoughts?”
“I agree with Goff. If I were to personally consider who should be the next Great Tribe Leader, it would be either Storm Shadow or Earth Wave, the Minotaur of the Plains.”
Those two were the ones who came to my mind.
Storm Shadow had dedicated his entire life to the Great Tribe Leader; no further explanation was needed. It went without saying that his martial power was among the best. He was also the one who had served Great Tribe Leader Agar the longest and from the closest position. I didn’t know if he had any ambition for the role, but Storm Shadow was the man who most closely resembled my idea of a Great Tribe Leader.
The same could be said for Earth Wave, the Minotaur of the Plains. He hadn’t shown as much of himself as the other prominent chieftains, but rumor had it that he was a wise and just Green Skin who could maintain neutrality. If I had to name someone whose disposition was most similar to Great Tribe Leader Agar’s, it would undoubtedly be the Minotaur of the Plains.
“As I thought. I was thinking along the same lines,” Black Spear said. “Storm Shadow watched over the Great Tribe Leader from the closest vantage point. Considering his life of devotion, he is certainly qualified.”
“I agree,” Goff added.
I figured that, aside from a few, most of the Green Skins probably thought the same way we did.
If I had to classify them, I would divide them into moderate and radical factions. The Green Goblin and the other chieftains settled in the West were similar to us in disposition, while the Southern Orc and the Northern Werewolf were part of the more radical group. Their behavior during the meeting made that clear. As I mulled it over, Goff spoke again.
“It seems Big Ogre thinks similarly to us. He enjoys battle, but he appeared to have properly understood the Great Tribe Leader’s message.”
I didn’t think we would split, but I felt a little uneasy. It seemed Great Tribe Leader Agar’s death had affected them more deeply than I realized.
Considering the future I knew, a war with the South was inevitable. From a human perspective, I only knew that the South was destroyed, but from a Green Skin’s perspective, there was no way that fight would come without sacrifice. Preparing for war was no simple task. Since the only future I knew was that of the Green Skins, I was intensely curious about how events would unfold from now on.
“In the worst-case scenario, we could split in two.”
“That could happen,” Black Spear agreed with my assessment.
We fell silent for a moment. Just then, a voice came from outside the tent.
“Storm Shadow summons Blood Dagger.”
It was the voice of Half Blade Gark. At his words, Goff and Black Spear’s eyes widened in curiosity. I, too, looked up with a questioning gaze, and Gark’s voice came again.
“He said he has something to give you.”
“Ah, that’s right. There was something I was supposed to receive. I’ll be back.”
The two of them nodded. I had completely forgotten that I was supposed to receive a weapon as a reward for liberating the Green Skin slaves in the East. Storm Shadow must have been incredibly busy, and now that things had settled down, he had likely remembered me.
When I stepped outside, Gark was holding his flag and looking my way, with Orbo of the Shield beside him. I followed them toward Storm Shadow’s tent. His tent, located not far away, was decidedly modest.
As soon as I entered, Storm Shadow spoke.
“Things have been chaotic. My apologies for the delay.”
“I understand.”
If it had been a natural death, Great Tribe Leader Agar would have slowly lost his strength over time. It was only natural that Storm Shadow, who would have been watching over him, had no time to think of anything else. I placed my hand over my chest in a gesture of respect, and he returned the greeting in the same manner.
“The Great Tribe Leader was especially grateful to you, Blood Dagger.”
“Hmm…”
“He was grateful that you discovered and stopped something he himself was unaware of. He asked me to tell you he was particularly thankful for you saving the young Green Skins.”
“I only did what was necessary, Storm Shadow. I was lucky.”
“.....................”
He watched me quietly for a moment before slowly extending a hand toward me. In it was a very crudely made hammer.
“This is…”
[The Great Tribe Leader’s Hammer]
[A hammer that Great Tribe Leader Agar used continuously since he was first summoned to this land. It was originally an ordinary weapon, but constant struggle made it stronger and harder, eventually granting it new abilities and rebirthing it as an entirely different weapon. The more blood and magic it absorbs, the heavier it becomes and the greater its attack power. It has an additional function that helps the user maintain a clear mind.]
[Strength +2, Intelligence +1, Magic +2]
“Am I truly allowed to accept this?”
I couldn’t help but be astonished. It was fascinating that a weapon could gain new functions this way. But beyond its abilities, the symbolism of this weapon was the real issue. This was a hammer the Great Tribe Leader himself had once used. Although its stats seemed far inferior to the hammer he had used recently, this weapon was imbued with his life.
“The Great Tribe Leader wished it. A hammer that grows heavier the more blood it absorbs. Do you understand why he bestowed this hammer upon you?”
It was strange, but I felt like I was being tested. It was a rather philosophical question, and the answer didn't come to me immediately. If I had to guess, it was likely a reminder to always consider the other side of our instincts, just as his final message had implied.
It doesn’t matter whose it is. Blood is heavy.
I thought long and hard. After a long silence, I finally spoke to Storm Shadow.
“It must mean that I should always think before I swing my weapon. That the blood of our tribe is heavy, but the blood of humans is heavy as well.”
“..........................”
It was difficult. It was incredibly difficult to grasp what the Great Tribe Leader had meant, how he had lived, and what kind of life he had wanted for us. Moreover, his philosophy didn’t quite align with my own, as I acted primarily for personal gain. As I wondered whether my answer was correct, Storm Shadow spoke again.
“You are wise… Just as the Great Tribe Leader said. You are a wise Green Skin.”
“You flatter me.”
“This isn’t empty flattery, Blood Dagger. The Great Tribe Leader always used to mutter the same things you just said… He loved the struggle, but he always worried. He worried about honorable deaths, and he worried about Green Skins dying before they could bloom. Battle was a joyous thing. But after a battle ended, he would always be lost in thought. I was too dull to fully comprehend his will… but I tried my best to follow him. As time passed, I, too, came to understand his meaning. The instincts we possess are a double-edged sword. Surely… surely he would have understood. Surely…”
I swallowed hard.
I didn’t know why, but I felt the atmosphere around Storm Shadow shift. What he held was rage. I didn’t know who it was directed at, but he was unmistakably exuding a quiet yet suffocating pressure.
As I stared at him in surprise, Storm Shadow seemed to realize what he had done and spoke to me.
“My apologies… I got a little carried away…”
His gaze became calm once more. I began to consider a very small possibility—the reason for his anger, the reason he had remained silent during the earlier meeting. The chances were low, but for some reason, a certain possibility came to mind.
‘The fall of the South…’
This wasn’t just about electing a new Great Tribe Leader. I looked at him and slowly opened my mouth.
“It wasn’t a natural death, was it?”