Chapter 195: Laveua
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 195: Laveua
“Time sure flies.”
“And it’s all thanks to you, Giant Scream Apachi.”
Crugar spat out the words bluntly. Although he was finally getting a little used to this work, even now, a year later, he was still having an incredibly hard time. They had overcome hardships and adversities together after getting on better terms, but despite that, he couldn't help but resent Apachi from time to time.
Especially when his body ached.
Of course, as if he knew this better than anyone, Giant Scream Apachi lowered his head slightly. Little Finger, too, was looking at Giant Scream Apachi with a resentful expression.
“Still, you can feel yourself getting stronger, can’t you?”
“Well…”
It was an undeniable fact.
Apachi had gained the unique ability [Giant’s Roar], fitting for his name, and Little Finger, who had lacked a distinct specialty, had for some reason acquired the [Curse-caster] class. It was just Crugar’s personal theory, but he suspected it was because Little Finger's subconscious hatred for Apachi had finally burst forth. Crugar had also gained much; he'd acquired the special class [Battlemage] and was recently aiming to awaken a unique ability of his own.
Their growth was overwhelmingly faster than the other Green Skins who had joined at the same time. Crugar was truly beginning to understand firsthand just how special this Brother's Land was. It was only natural that they were growing stronger. The leaders were all competent, and the settlement, growing alongside humans, seemed ideal even in Crugar's eyes.
‘The scale is even larger than when I first arrived.’
It was literally true. The great fortress that had made him gape in awe when he first arrived had grown even larger and more solid. The Goff, Black Spear, and Blood Dagger Clans never stopped hunting, and they had even introduced something called ‘farming.’
There was no need to starve.
The stable settlement led to an increase in the birth rate, and now even the young children, barely three years old, were participating in combat training.
Observing this scene and occasionally recording it was something Crugar wanted, but constantly moving in the middle of the training grounds was definitely not.
Apachi and Little Finger seemed to be adapting in their own ways, but that was all. It was still unavoidably exhausting. Especially recently.
This was because the Goblin Three Sisters, known as the “Demon Instructors,” had been in a bad mood lately. He knew the reason, of course.
‘Laveua.’
The sole heir of the Blood Dagger Clan. Blood Dagger's daughter, who was not yet even a year old. From a distance, he could hear the Goblin Three Sisters huffing and puffing in anger.
“Gnnnnh!”
“Endure it! We must endure it. Kkik!”
It seemed Laveua had caused some kind of trouble during their break. Crugar, who shared lodgings with the Goff Clan, didn't know as much about the Blood Dagger Clan's internal affairs as Apachi did, but he knew at least one thing.
That she was an incredible troublemaker.
“Looks like Blood Dagger's daughter caused trouble again.”
Since Apachi had muttered this, Crugar continued with a curious expression.
“You mean Laveua. What is she like inside the clan?”
“She's growing up beloved by all. It's a bit embarrassing for me to say, but she's utterly spoiled.”
“Hmm…”
“I think it's because she's the sole heir of the Blood Dagger Clan. Everyone respects, follows, and cherishes her simply because she is Blood Dagger's daughter. The other young Green Skins are the same. There isn't a single Green Skin in the Blood Dagger Clan who hasn't been helped by him. This is probably their way of showing respect.”
“I see…”
Naturally, most clan members respect their chieftains. Crugar's own clan members were no different, nor were Apachi's. But the loyalty of the members rooted in the Blood Dagger Clan was truly astonishing. This was true not only for Orbo of the Shield, the human children, and the young Green Skins, but also for the Green Skins who had been with him from the beginning. Even the captured humans looked at him with respect.
He figured it made some sense for the clan members to treat the sole heir of such a chieftain with respect.
However, he thought that if this issue was ignored for too long, it would surely become a problem. Breaking the unspoken rules was, of course, not a good thing. It was a case similar to the mistake Apachi made when he first came here.
“What about Blood Dagger?”
“He's always busy. Probably because of matters related to Ragia, the clan's former sub-leader. If not that, it could be something entirely new, but he's often away from the clan. Since the Blood Dagger Clan is primarily composed of swordsmen, they're a bit short on personnel like Spirit Archers, so Blood Dagger's High Fairy Queen has also been extremely busy.”
In other words, they didn't have time to properly look after Laveua.
Truthfully, he had no right to meddle in the Blood Dagger Clan's affairs. His role was simply to observe them, but the problem was that the consequences were now affecting him and his people.
Just as he thought, the Goblin Three Sisters were approaching again, their faces looking rather cross. Little Finger, who was low on stamina, let out a small sigh as he saw them approach. Of course, they claimed not to let their personal feelings affect the training, but there was still the matter of atmosphere.
If given a choice between the same training in a relaxed atmosphere versus a much tenser one, anyone would obviously choose the former. Moving his body was enjoyable in its own way, but this training was truly brutal. Just as he was talking a bit more with Apachi, a shout erupted from one of the Goblin Three Sisters.
“No chattering! Kkik!”
“Who told you to talk!”
They were definitely in a bad mood. Crugar, Apachi, Little Finger, and even their clan members all shut their mouths, and once again, the hellish training began.
*
“When is Papa coming back?”
“I heard he'll be back soon. Kkik. I heard he'll probably arrive today or tomorrow.”
Nicole answered Laveua while drawing a picture on a flag. Her friend, Kim Yoora, had said it wouldn't take many days this time, so he should be arriving soon.
“The goblin aunties were super mad.”
“Hmph!”
Nicole sighed, looking at Laveua's pouting cheeks. She didn't know why, but she realized Laveua was very angry. She was always causing trouble for the adults, and it seemed she had done something again today.
“Did Kim Yoora go with him this time, too?”
“That's what I heard. Kkik.”
Lately, Kim Yoora had been going out with Blood Dagger often. Nicole thought it was probably to teach her combat training and give her various experiences. It was the same for Nicole herself, but Kim Yoora's recent growth was so immense that even Nicole, who considered her a rival, was astonished. She was a different type of warrior, and though some of the other young Green Skins were jealous of Kim Yoora for already going out with the adults, she had definitely earned the right.
Of course, she wasn't just talking about physical aspects.
Nicole gently stroked the Giant Wolf by her side and continued to draw.
Having turned three, and after hearing stories about her father, Nicole had decided to walk the path of a shaman rather than a warrior. There wasn't any other particular reason.
The biggest reason was simply that she wanted to carry on the tradition of the Blood Dagger Clan's flags. Thanks to that, she had recently been able to awaken a wonderful unique ability.
“It's done. Kkik!”
Nicole laughed with a bright voice, and immediately, the voice of the God of the Battlefield began to ring out.
[You have completed the first flag of the Blood Dagger Clan.]
[Flag of the Blood Dagger Clan]
[Nicole of the Blood Dagger Clan has once again drawn upon the flag of her father, Najin. This flag, which inspires honor and pride, will remain undamaged for a long time. Those who see the flag of the Blood Dagger Clan will have a small amount of their health and mana restored.]
Nicole held up the Blood Dagger Clan's flag as if to show it off to Laveua. She had drawn on the bodies of the clan's warriors many times, but this was the first time she had officially repaired a flag. A great sense of pride swelled within her. It was a magnificent drawing of a dagger dripping a red drop of blood. It was Nicole's own masterpiece. She opened her mouth happily, and a reply came back immediately.
“Laveua! Look at this! Kkik!”
“What's that? It looks stupid.”
A flash of anger rose in Nicole at Laveua for calling her father's drawing and the clan's flag stupid, but she took a shallow breath before speaking again.
“It's not stupid. Kkik. You'll understand one day, Laveua.”
Nicole nodded to herself. She, too, had gone through an immature phase where she disliked the humans who joined the settlement. Even though she was only three, she hadn't grown that much, but she had changed a lot. She figured Laveua would also change slowly over time.
Laveua twirled her sparkling silver hair with a finger and flapped her wings. The same hair and wings as Mev, the clan's mistress. Nicole nodded and smiled. Laveua possessed a great deal of mana, and in training, she was incomparable to other children her age. It went without saying that she was incredibly smart and bright, and she showed even greater talent in the magic and archery classes taught by the Alraune, Jung Hayeon.
Even the other adult Green Skins who taught basic training at the school were amazed, saying she truly had Blood Dagger's blood. It was still a distant prospect, but there was already talk of her being a candidate for the next chieftain. Nicole looked at Laveua and grinned.
“Whatever. Anyway, Nicole, let's play cards. It's been a while.”
“I want to, but I haven't finished my work yet.”
At Laveua's words, Nicole looked at the flags still spread out around her with a troubled expression. No one had ordered her to, but she wanted to repair the Blood Dagger Clan's flags as quickly as possible.
“Then can I borrow your wolf for a bit?”
It was only natural that Nicole glanced nervously at her Giant Wolf. Over the past year, Gurva of the Goff Clan and Ibar of the Blood Dagger Clan had given birth to many pups, and a few of them had already chosen their masters. Nicole and Kim Yoora were among the lucky ones. When she looked at her Giant Wolf, Yajaa, the creature turned its head away sharply, as if to say no.
She didn't like to force it. Seeing Yajaa's reaction, Nicole looked back at Laveua with a troubled expression, and Laveua puffed out her cheeks again.
“I can fly anyway, so it's not like I need it.”
“Th-that's…”
“Forget it. I don't like you, Nicole. I don't like Yajaa, and I don't like any of this.”
“Th-then let's ride together! If we ride together, I'm sure Yajaa will allow it.”
She looked at Yajaa again, and the wolf reluctantly rose to its feet as if it had no choice. It would probably be fine for a short while. Nicole reached a hand out to Laveua, who took it, pretending to be reluctant.
“Let's go! Yajaa! Let's go!”
Seeing Laveua kicking Yajaa's sides with her feet, Nicole stroked Yajaa's head as if begging it to be patient. It was a very awkward situation.
‘Chieftain…’
She found herself instinctively calling for Blood Dagger. Because when Blood Dagger was around, Laveua would at least become a little more docile. She suspected she wasn't the only one looking for the Chieftain. After a while, as they roamed around the clan's perimeter, Laveua spoke again.
“Nicole! Let's go outside!”
“W-we can't do that. Kkik. We always have to be with an adult when we go outside.”
“Hmph…”
It seemed she'd gotten the urge to go outside after wandering around the open area near the gate. But going outside was still not permitted. They ran around the area for a good while. Then, she sensed a Giant Wolf approaching from somewhere at an incredible speed.
Nicole's eyes widened slightly. Because there was only one person from the clan who had gone on an expedition riding a Giant Wolf.
“Yoora!”
“Nicole!”
Atop the massive Giant Wolf that approached at great speed, she saw her friend, still small but much bigger than before. A rather magnificent sword hung at her hip, and a small shield and spear were strapped to her back.
It had been quite a while, so of course she was happy to see her. Just as Nicole called out Kim Yoora's name with a happy face, she heard a slightly annoyed voice from behind her.
“I want to get off.”
For some reason, Laveua was angry.