Chapter 169: The Election
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 169: The Election
“You look tired these days, Taesung.”
“Not really. In fact, it’s quite interesting.”
I gave a brief reply to Jung Hayeon, who had spoken to me with a worried tone this morning. She always worried about me, so it seemed even trivial matters weighed on her mind.
The atmosphere in the Land of Glory had been rather strange lately. It would be more accurate to say it had grown subdued. The Great Tribe Leader’s death had not yet been announced, but the chieftains’ somber mood was enough for the regular tribe members to sense that something was wrong. The same was true for the elite Orc swordsmen who had come with us, and for Orbo of the Shield. Gark and Hark also remained silent.
‘The Great Tribe Leader’s death.’
They hadn’t asked why the Great Tribe Leader hadn’t made an appearance recently, but they had likely drawn their own conclusions.
Of course, Jung Hayeon understood the situation perfectly. She hadn’t asked me directly, but she was sharp enough to have grasped how things were unfolding even without me telling her.
She looked at me as I lay there and began to serve me breakfast. It was a simple stew made with monster meat, but it was far more palatable than tearing into raw flesh or eating it simply grilled.
“This is delicious.”
“Yes, Taesung.”
She was, I thought, very much the ideal wife. If we were on Earth, I would have chosen Jung Hayeon as my ideal type. The weapons I carried and the armor-like gear I wore were always kept spotlessly clean. When I returned late from meetings, I would find her polishing my already clean equipment with a cloth. Thanks to Mev, I’d been quite careful about contraception lately, but I couldn’t help but think that Jung Hayeon would make a good mother.
After finishing my meal, I rose from my seat. Jung Hayeon helped me into my armor and gear, and only then was I ready to step outside the tent.
Just as I was about to leave, I pulled her chin toward me and kissed her. Her face immediately turned red.
“Thank you.”
“N-No… It’s… it’s my duty.”
One would wonder where the cruelty she displayed in battle had gone. I left the tent and immediately headed for the meeting place.
Three more days had passed since I spoke with Earth Wave, the Minotaur of the Plains. The meetings had continued, but they were not without progress. The proposal I had made earned the unanimous support of the chieftains. Yesterday and the day before, the main topic of discussion had been who was most suitable as a candidate, and just as we’d discussed initially, we were able to narrow down the list.
As I entered the tent, I noticed that far more people were greeting Goff, who was beside me. The naturally extroverted Goff had been drinking here and there with the other chieftains, making a good impression. It seemed that by consistently showing his better side in Green Skin society, he had earned a reputation as someone worth knowing.
Many also greeted me, as my own stock had risen considerably due to recent events.
Thanks to this, the somewhat quiet Black Spear had become a bit of a loner. I sometimes saw him fiddling with his spear by himself, but whenever Goff or I spoke to him, he would raise his hand with a very pleased expression.
As I moved deeper into the tent, an Orc greeted me. He was someone I had mentally classified as a radical.
“Blood Dagger. We should talk sometime.”
“Of course, Stone Turtle.”
Strangely, they didn’t seem to care much about the invisible factions of moderates and radicals. A Troll who had served under the southern Orc for three years, or an Orc chieftain who secretly followed the northern Werewolf, would speak casually to Storm Shadow, and Goff would likewise exchange words with the southern Orc.
They paid little mind to the power structure itself.
The act of giving honor and the act of receiving it. It was meant to be a sacred affair. I had made it so; I had proposed it. Yet, it felt as if I was the only one here dividing them into moderates and radicals. A bitter taste filled my mouth. If I could just stop thinking like a human, life would be much easier. It was only then that I understood what Jung Hayeon had meant this morning when she said I looked tired. My body wasn't weary, but I was feeling the stress and strain of this whole affair in my own way.
Finally, after exchanging a few words with the surrounding chieftains, the meeting began.
“Then, based on our meetings so far, I will speak of those who are qualified.”
The candidates had already been decided. The Dark Moon elder, who had agreed to moderate this meeting, spoke slowly and calmly.
The first was Sand Glave, the Orc of the South. From what I’d heard, he was a true Orc who had always survived on the front lines of glorious battles. He was far more of a warrior than a strategist, but one famous anecdote told of how he once charged into a battle against humans alone to protect his subordinates. He was Great Tribe Leader Agar’s Warlord, a true and faithful vanguard captain who had endured hundreds of life-or-death struggles.
He was far more loyal and straightforward than I had expected. The only problem was that he was excessively belligerent. Not bad, but not suitable.
The second was Storm Shadow of the East. He was the Green Skin who had stood closest to the Great Tribe Leader, watched over him, and understood him better than anyone. He was a Troll who had looked after the new Green Skins taking the Warrior’s Exam, volunteered as the Great Tribe Leader’s messenger, never shied away from difficult tasks, and had sacrificed much.
As the meeting progressed, he kept looking at me, his expression quite calm, as if recalling the conversation we’d had recently.
The third was White Silver Fang, the Werewolf of the North. If the southern Orc was a radical, this one was even more of a hardliner. His respect and loyalty for the Great Tribe Leader were second to none, but he was not friendly toward humans. I’d heard that he had lost several important tribe members in a battle long ago, and that seemed to be the reason for his thirst for vengeance.
The last, of course, was the Minotaur of the Plains, but there was no need to explain him. I glanced his way, and the speech that had been flowing smoothly came to a halt.
“I am grateful for the proposal from my brother chieftains, but I will forfeit receiving your votes.”
He was declining to run.
It was exactly as we had discussed.
“Earth Wave is also worthy of receiving honor.”
The one who spoke was another Minotaur chieftain who seemed to follow him closely. His expression was one of deep disappointment. But Earth Wave’s face remained unchanged. Instead, he looked at everyone with steady eyes and spoke in a heavy, low voice.
“I spent much time with the Great Tribe Leader, but I believe I am greatly lacking compared to the three candidates just mentioned. I am very grateful for the sentiment of my brothers who think of me… but I do not believe I can stand above you. I was not the one who assisted the Great Tribe Leader the most, nor was I the one who contributed the most in the fight to win this Land of Glory.”
He wrapped it up nicely. The other chieftains who had intended to support him looked disappointed, but this, too, was as I had planned.
The goal was, of course, a consolidation effect.
The factions weren’t clearly defined, and they didn’t label themselves as moderates or radicals, but from what I could see, the radicals were slightly more numerous. Of course, the outcome of an election is unpredictable, but if I had to guess, Sand Glave had a high probability of becoming the next Great Tribe Leader, albeit by a narrow margin.
The next largest group would likely throw their honor to Storm Shadow. After Storm Shadow, it would be White Silver Fang.
With Earth Wave dropping out, Storm Shadow was essentially fighting a two-on-one battle. Funnily enough, in this kind of election, the ‘one’ held an overwhelming advantage.
The votes for the southern Orc and the northern Werewolf would be split, but Storm Shadow would absorb Earth Wave’s votes. Of course, since Earth Wave had maintained a neutral position, it was predictable that some of his votes would go to the others, but I still believed the vast majority would throw their honor to Storm Shadow.
Avoiding the worst-case scenario was naturally the best course of action. The Minotaurs, who could be called moderates, were unlikely to throw their honor to the radicals.
The factions were invisible, but only in the sense that they weren't formally established. They weren't at a stage where you could call them factions, they hadn't been officially formed, and they weren't hostile to one another, but their tendencies were quite sharply divided.
Moreover, Storm Shadow’s name recognition was much higher than I had thought. His was the first voice new Green Skin chieftains heard when they arrived on this continent. The analogy was by no means perfect, but if I had to force it, it was as if he had been making the rounds among the common folk for a very long time, so his recognition was certainly well-established.
And playing an important role here was White Silver Fang.
‘He’s pleased.’
He was extremely happy that the Minotaur had declined to run. From his perspective, one less rival was cause for celebration. If he truly wanted to achieve his goal, the right move would be to drop out himself, but he looked like he had absolutely no intention of doing so.
To put it bluntly, he was trolling.
A hint of greed flickered in his eyes. The situation was developing favorably. The Dark Moon elder nodded at the Minotaur’s words and spoke.
“Then we will consider Earth Wave to have forfeited his right.”
“Understood.”
“Now that all candidates have been presented, it would be best to proceed with the election as proposed by Blood Dagger. There are a total of 71 chieftains here. As stated before, this is an exercise of your one honorable vote, so deliberate carefully before casting it. We will take a short break, then gather in the tent again to conduct an open vote.”
“For Strength, Wisdom, and Honor…”
“For Strength, Wisdom, and Honor…”
A few left the tent, but far more remained inside.
The reactions were quite varied. There were those still deliberating carefully, those discussing their opinions with each other, those contemplating what kind of tribe would be best, and even some who seemed to be casting their vote purely for honor, completely disregarding any personal interests.
Funnily enough, they all looked like they were enjoying themselves. Storm Shadow, Sand Glave, and White Silver Fang remained quietly in their seats. I had no desire to become the Great Tribe Leader, but seeing them like that, I couldn't help but wonder if I, too, could one day sit in that position.
‘Great Tribe Leader.’
It was still too soon. I glanced at Goff and saw that he, too, was staring at the three seated chieftains with a burning expression. I looked at Goff and shook my head. I believed he was far more suited for that position than I was.
Time passed.
One by one, the chieftains began to gather in the tent again. Looking at the 71 assembled chieftains, the Dark Moon elder spoke.
“Let us begin.”