Chapter 178: Jang Ye Ri’s Visit
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 178: Jang Ye Ri’s Visit
“Isn’t it only natural for the first wife to meet the concubines? I’m short on time, so I’d like to resolve this quickly.”
I could only predict that a war was about to break out. It was terrifying. Plenty of Green Skins must have already known she had arrived in the village. The news had surely reached the ears of Mev, Jung Hayeon, and Baek Ahyeon.
Green Skins didn’t typically get jealous, but Mev was in a rather sensitive state, so I thought she might be a little on edge about the sudden appearance of the Queen of the East.
“First, let’s have a meal…”
“There’s no need. I appreciate the offer, but I’ve already eaten. I came straight to your tent and haven’t had a proper look around your village. I’d be grateful if you would calmly show me around.”
In the end, we went outside. It seemed she really had come directly to my tent, as Jang Ye Ri was impressed by one thing after another. What particularly caught her interest was, as expected, the children’s battlefield, including the card games. Kim Yoora, Nicole, and the other children were still running around as if they’d never tire of the game. It was quite surprising to see Jang Ye Ri watch them with such a warm smile.
The massive skeleton of the Eastern Beast in the center of the village was also a point of interest for her. When she saw the trainee Green Skins, who were still in the middle of their drills, she watched them with a serious expression. As someone who managed a city herself, she was bound to be interested.
“Jang Gi Young was also preparing to hunt the Eastern Beast. It’s enormous. Your training methods are quite good, too. To train them in such a way… it’s no wonder you were able to take it down in such a short time. Are those the new Green Skins who joined recently?”
“That’s right. For something I started as a trial, it’s yielding pretty good results.”
“Hmm… It seems somewhat similar to the ‘army’ from Earth that Park Han Cheol told me about.”
As someone who had never experienced Earth, she seemed to have a great deal of interest in stories about it. It appeared she had picked up various things from Park Han Cheol and the members of the Green Belt Clan. We were in the middle of looking around every corner of the village when it happened. Whether it was because they heard a guest had arrived, or because that guest was Jang Ye Ri, I saw Mev, Jung Hayeon, and Baek Ahyeon approaching from a distance.
The most conspicuous was Mev. Escorted by the Goblin Three Sisters, she wore a crown on her head and walked with a dignified air. The way she gently cradled her belly made it obvious to anyone that she was pregnant.
Baek Ahyeon, who’d had her own run-in with Jang Ye Ri, appeared with Mev at her back. As if sensing the arrival of a formidable enemy, she stood proudly with Mev, with whom she wasn’t usually so close.
Jung Hayeon was just her usual self, looking very much like she had been dragged there against her will. Mev must have roped her into this.
Mev didn’t run up to me and jump into my arms, calling me ‘Chieftain’ as she usually did. Instead, she slowly opened her mouth, her voice filled with dignity. Naturally, Jung Hayeon stood beside her to translate her words. It was quite amusing to see her translating for Jang Ye Ri’s benefit, even though Mev was speaking to me.
“I trust you have rested well.”
A benevolent smile. It didn’t suit Mev. She was trying her best to maintain a dignified expression, but it felt like her facial muscles were about to relax at any moment.
“Had I known earlier that a guest had arrived, I, the matron of this clan, would have prepared a banquet. It is most regrettable.”
Someone else was definitely pulling Mev’s strings from behind. The mastermind was probably Baek Ahyeon. I naturally turned my gaze to Jang Ye Ri beside me. Despite this clear attempt to intimidate her from the start, Jang Ye Ri remained quite aloof.
Unlike Mev, who was merely wearing a crown, Jang Ye Ri was a true queen who ruled a city. If she were to be cowed by such childish games, she wouldn’t be able to manage her domain. Jang Ye Ri looked at Mev and scoffed.
Mev, who had been maintaining her composure, looked quite flustered as she saw Jang Ye Ri’s reaction.
Without giving Mev so much as a glance, Jang Ye Ri spoke.
“So this is the child.”
There was no way I didn’t know what she was asking. I gave a slight nod in response.
“I’m relieved.”
“………?”
“My apologies, but Alraune, would you please translate?”
Was it because of her unapproachable aura? Jung Hayeon nodded. Of course, Mev was utterly bewildered. This was probably not the picture she had envisioned.
She must have imagined a scene where Jang Ye Ri would kneel before her—the one carrying the heir of the Blood Dagger Clan—and beg for acceptance. To be met with a scoff instead of a look of respect, she was naturally taken aback.
“To be honest, I was a little nervous. Although I met my mate late, I never thought he would already have a child. And with a Fairy, a race renowned for its beauty… I was, in fact, a bit anxious.”
She used the past tense. Meaning she wasn’t anxious anymore. Mev, sensing that something was wrong, opened her mouth.
“Wh-What are you talking about?”
“No matter how I look at her, isn’t she still a child? Pfft…”
What escaped Jang Ye Ri’s lips was unmistakably a sneer. Her eyes weren’t looking at Mev’s belly. They were looking at Mev’s chest and hips. In truth, Mev didn’t deserve to be dismissed like this. She was clearly an adult with an average body. However, an undeniable difference in their physical specs existed.
I unconsciously glanced at Mev’s entire body before my eyes shifted back to Jang Ye Ri. An overwhelming difference in combat power. I almost nodded in agreement but decided to just wait quietly for this situation to resolve itself. I knew it wasn’t wise to carelessly interfere in a women’s battle.
“Eek… Eeeeeek…”
When Jung Hayeon also let out a “Pfft” and translated, tears immediately welled up in Mev’s eyes. Baek Ahyeon, whose position was closer to Mev’s than to Jung Hayeon’s or Jang Ye Ri’s, also looked extremely flustered. Her expression said she hadn’t expected the Queen of the East, who ruled a city, to resort to such a vile personal attack. While Mev was momentarily stunned, Jang Ye Ri continued.
“You were lucky. It hasn’t been long since I met my mate, but I know his tastes for certain. He prefers big things over small things. Most men do. You, Fairy, are unfortunately very small. And not just in height. Of course, I’m not denying that you’re cute… Yes. You are cute. But that’s all. It might be nice once in a while. The same goes for you, Saint of the West. I doubt words are even necessary. Look at my body.”
Jang Ye Ri proudly straightened her back and lightly crossed her arms. Naturally, one part of her body became extremely prominent. Seeing this, Baek Ahyeon’s face turned a little pale. This was an opponent she couldn’t defeat even if she fused with Mev. Even Jung Hayeon, as she translated, found herself nodding unconsciously.
“Yes. The Alraune over there, in that respect, could be considered qualified. Your body is also excellent. It’s understandable that he would like you.”
The second attack. It was the moment a trusted ally suddenly turned into an enemy and swung a mace. The one who saved the panicked Baek Ahyeon was, surprisingly, Mev.
Mev, who had been on the verge of tears, was comforted by the Goblin Three Sisters. After regaining her composure, she returned to her dignified expression and spoke. But the concept had already been shattered.
“I-I… heard you are the queen who rules a human city. I do not mean to disrespect you, but I am the fir-first matron of the Blood Dagger Clan. I carry his first child. You should show me more courtesy and respect. I-I know that he… sniff… likes… likes big things, but…”
She was sniffling, but she wasn’t wrong. Even Jang Ye Ri couldn’t deny it, and she didn’t respond to Mev’s jab at the core issue. However, her expression was still proud.
“The order doesn’t matter. What matters most is who is the best match for him.”
Jang Ye Ri casually brushed her hair aside, revealing her severed horn. She must have been embarrassed, but I could see her desire to be the victor in this fight.
“I am a Demon. The same as my mate. I am very free when it comes to the pregnancy you all so desire. One a year. In ten years, I can bear ten children; in twenty years, twenty. And I am extremely strong and healthy. I’ve heard that is very important to Green Skins. What do you say to that?”
“Sob… Eek… Ch-Chieftain… sob. Chieftain!”
In the end, Mev’s mask shattered into pieces. As Mev ran toward me, scattering tears and snot, I couldn’t just push her away, so I began to comfort her a little. Jang Ye Ri watched the scene and clicked her tongue in annoyance.
“Tch.”
It was a battle with no winners or losers, only wounds. Caught in the middle of a fight like this for the first time, I wore a very bewildered expression.
*
The incident was over, but the pain would surely linger in their hearts. Jang Ye Ri looked a little surprised. I figured it was because of what Mev had said before she left.
‘It’s been a while… and you’re a… a guest… so… I will yield today to you… sob… sniffle. Tell the mother goblins to prepare for your union.’
‘My thanks.’
Mev had made a bold decision for the development of the race and for a new member. Even if Mev hadn’t said anything, Jang Ye Ri would have come into my tent anyway, but it was still a good thing for the official matron of the clan to say it.
Thanks to that, Jang Ye Ri also seemed to feel a pang of guilt. As soon as she entered the tent, having had the Green Skin patterns drawn on her body just as Mev had last time, she opened her mouth.
“I see why you trust that Fairy. Your Fairy may be small, but she is a wise woman. Her willingness to sacrifice the small for the sake of the great is impressive.”
“She is.”
I nodded.
Mev was truly worthy. She relied on me a lot, but in other areas, she was independent and wise.
However, it was rude to keep thinking about Mev while Jang Ye Ri was looking at me. In fact, the moment I saw Jang Ye Ri’s nearly naked form, all other thoughts vanished. I slowly began to look at her.
She was always aloof and proud. Her skin, like snow fallen from the sky, and her slightly shy face came into view. To put it directly, she was sexy and deadly.
I realized this wasn’t just my own feeling; Jang Ye Ri was subtly trying to seduce me. She was teasing me by casually crossing her legs or excessively emphasizing her chest.
Despite that, a strange confidence was hidden in her expression. Truly like a queen. I gently pulled Jang Ye Ri toward me.
“I have waited a long time, my indifferent mate. It has been truly long.”
“Ahem…”
It was true that I had made her wait, so I honestly had nothing to say. But Jang Ye Ri didn’t bring it up again.
“In truth, I wanted to pounce on you the moment I first arrived in this tent. I only held back because I was afraid you would think me a strange woman.”
“I would have welcomed it. What a shame.”
“Haha. What an amusing joke. But it doesn’t feel like a lie. If that is truly what you think, then I shall ask of you.”
“…………”
“I have held back for a long time…”
I didn’t know what she was going to say, but I focused on Jang Ye Ri, whose eyes seemed to be pulling me in. Then, her lips parted.
“Go on, try and satisfy me.”
For some reason, her words ignited a sense of challenge within me.