Chapter 251: Brutal Honesty
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 251: Brutal Honesty
“This is truly incredible.”
“Isn’t it?”
It was beyond comparison to anything I had seen before.
Looking down from the top of the ice wall, I was struck anew by just how sturdy it was. The wall, raised by the collective mana of the North’s ice mages, was quite cold, but it wouldn’t be easily broken by any ordinary magic. Jung Hayeon had also reinforced it with a skeleton of roots, making it look even more robust. I could now understand why the North had abandoned their city so easily.
If they wished, they could build a fortress and walls anywhere.
After the meeting that day, the North had left their city behind without a second thought and thrown their strength into the eastern front. This overwhelming wall was the result. The Eastern and Northern troops had already been organized. The Green Skins from the Brother’s Land had decided to act independently, so they were positioned at the base of the wall, preparing for any unforeseen circumstances.
The number of participants from the Blood Dagger Clan included every member capable of combat—excluding Kim Yoora and Nicole, of course. The Ogres of the Goff Clan were to be in charge of defending the Brother’s Land, and the Twin-Headed Ogre, Gara, had been given that heavy responsibility. He had desperately wanted to fight, but I remembered him nodding eagerly at Goff’s words of trust.
“By the way, is that North Knight fellow doing okay?”
“Ah… well. We’ve fought so many werewolves and orcs. It’s bound to be awkward, but I think your words had some effect. In fact, he might even be grateful in his own way.”
“What?”
The idea of him being grateful to a Green Skin didn’t suit him at all. When I looked at Choi Seulgi with a questioning gaze, she immediately elaborated.
“Aha… The truth is, our Queen really hated pulling back the front line. She was determined to fight and die in the North, but thanks to you guys, So-Hye’s complaints were somewhat addressed. So it’s worth being thankful for.”
“Ah…”
I had a rough idea of what she meant. A retreat was necessary, but given her personality, she wouldn’t have liked the idea of running away. Even back in the Tutorial, despite knowing about us, she had clearly waited for us. That was the kind of person the Queen of the North was.
“So, have you heard anything else from her?”
“She seemed to have quite a few complaints about you…”
“…”
“Things like, ‘I never imagined he’d start a family.’ ‘He seems to be lost in the beauty of the Eastern Queen.’ ‘He must be weaker than before.’ ‘It’s clear he’s neglected his training.’ ‘You can’t even call him a warrior.’ ‘Seeing that tail, he must have only focused on cheap tricks.’ ‘I had high hopes, but I’m a little disappointed.’ Etcetera, etcetera. Why? Want to hear more?”
“No…”
I didn’t need to. It was a little embarrassing because it was different from the image I had of her, but it didn’t seem so bad.
What I found somewhat fortunate was that the Northern warriors accepted us better than I had expected. It seemed the people who had settled in the North had a disposition that meshed well with ours. Despite the language barrier, they were already sharing rations and simple liquor, a sight that made me nod in approval.
The fact that our clan had lived alongside humans probably contributed to the Green Skins accepting them so readily.
Glancing down, I saw Hazaku mingling with Lee Wanyong and a few Northern warriors.
They were a friendly bunch.
Jang Ye Ri had been appointed the supreme commander of the war between the Southwest Alliance and the Northeast Alliance. Originally, Han So-Hye of the North was slated for the role, but Jang Ye Ri had close ties to both the Green Skins and the North. Besides, from the North’s perspective, they were essentially just borrowing land in the East for a while.
Even if Han So-Hye had been offered the position of supreme commander, she likely would have refused. She preferred to be at the forefront of battle rather than sitting around, so it was only natural that she would have tossed the title aside.
“Ah, isn’t it about time for the fairy to return?”
“You’re right. Is it your turn next?”
“No, it’s the East’s turn. But the fairy’s patrol is probably the last one. Based on what we saw the last time she went out, they should be arriving soon.”
Each city and clan had its own reconnaissance team that periodically went out to check the situation. For Choi Seulgi to bring this up now, it meant the enemy was getting even closer. As if on cue, Mev came flying toward us.
“Chieftain!”
She had come straight here after finishing her work. A small smile formed on my lips as she immediately threw herself into my arms. Choi Seulgi was still giving me a suspicious look, but I did my best to avoid her gaze.
“Your report?”
“I’ve already spoken to the Minotaurs of the plains. I also confirmed there are large groups of humans. They should be arriving within sight of this place very soon. I informed the plant and Baek Ahyeon on the way. You won’t need to go yourself, Chieftain.”
“You’ve worked hard.”
“Heehee.”
She clung tightly to my arm as if she had no intention of letting go. At that sight, Choi Seulgi’s eyes sharpened once again. It was incredibly difficult to avoid her gaze.
A considerable amount of time had passed since that meeting, so I had expected them to arrive soon, but their movements were much faster than I thought. We had already anticipated that they would cross the plains instead of the jungle. Of course, our forces were already on standby in the jungle as well, so we were prepared for any contingency.
As the enemy drew closer, the area below became quite busy. News had reached Jang Ye Ri’s ears, and Lee Wanyong, the elite Orc swordsman Hazaku, the Northern warriors, and the people of the East, who had been moving at a leisurely pace, were now all moving with urgency.
“Prepare for battle! Prepare for battle!”
The battle wasn’t starting just yet, but they were getting ready. It probably wouldn’t begin immediately.
Since they were looking for a cause and justification, they would most likely offer a formal declaration of war or a chance to surrender.
I infused my eyes with mana and scanned the incredibly long wall. The Queen of the North and Jang Ye Ri had also appeared at their respective posts. The enemy would be here soon. Naturally, they would want to greet them.
Several hours later.
As expected, the dignitaries from the South and West began to appear.
I could see the Saint Knights Order approaching, their long halberds raised high, along with the guilds and clans under their command.
The same went for the Southern warriors, dressed in attire more suited for a desert. The men, flying a banner emblazoned with a sun, looked quite relaxed. The King of the South came into view, sitting slowly in a large palanquin pulled by horses. He was an old, ugly man. The thought that this man had made advances on Jang Ye Ri made my stomach twist a little.
But my gaze, naturally, sought out the Sword Saint. Choi Seulgi’s would be the same. Soon, the Sword Saint, Ha Yuri, protected by the Saint Knights, came into view.
Unlike the others, she rode a pure white horse, looking holy and quite at ease.
Her face showed worry and concern, but we weren’t foolish enough to not know it was an act.
“That fucking bitch is putting on her costume again.”
I almost burst out laughing at Choi Seulgi’s mutter.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
The sound of the Saint Knights and the Southern humans marching in unison was quite intimidating, but I didn’t feel tense. Around that time, I descended from the wall. I wanted to see the Sword Saint’s face one more time, but showing myself could complicate things.
—I wish to offer you the chance to surrender.
A voice rang out a moment later. It was an incredibly clear voice. The same voice that had offered me a helping hand. It seemed she was planning to give a speech with voice amplification magic, which made me laugh.
—We do not wish to fight the innocent. We have risen to fight for the suffering citizens of the North and the oppressed slaves of the East. We do not wish to cross swords with the Summoned who follow the words of the Witch of the East and the Barbarian of the North. You are all being deceived.
The one doing the deceiving was the Sword Saint.
We, of all people, knew best that there were no slaves in the East, and while the North was harsh, it was a better place to live than the West. This wasn't a speech meant to sway us. It was an act to find justification and a cause for the coming battle.
They would surely gain great strength from this.
In other words, they were fighting under the banner of justice.
—I speak to the Barbarian of the North and the Witch of the East. Please, liberate those who suffer under you. We will not ask about your past sins. We do not want a meaningless fight. The King of the South and I do not wish to fight you. If you truly have any heart left for your citizens and the Summoned, please… please… listen to my words… I earnestly beg you.
Suddenly, a murmuring sound arose. From the base of the wall, I glanced up at Choi Seulgi, who spoke to me with a look of disbelief.
“That crazy bitch… she’s on her knees, bowing her head to the ground.”
“What?”
I couldn’t stand not seeing it.
“You should see this… Ha… It really makes us look like the bad guys, doesn’t it? With her pretty face and all that holy power she’s radiating. Who would think she’s the evil one? Anyone would think we, the ones with you guys, are the villains.”
But there was no unrest among our troops.
Meanwhile, a loud voice began to rise from the enemy camp.
“Liberate them!”
“Liberate them!! Liberate those who are suffering!!”
The whole song and dance they were putting on seemed utterly absurd. I infused mana into my Ring of Covenant, connecting with Jang Ye Ri.
[Did you hear that?]
[It’s bullshit not worth responding to. I don’t want to waste my energy. We will wait, and if the enemy advances, we will fight. That is all.]
As expected, it seemed Jang Ye Ri planned to respond with silence. But I couldn’t bear not saying something back.
[I’m sending someone up, so please be ready. It’s a human, not a Green Skin, so it should be fine.]
[As you wish.]
I immediately sent a Green Skin to summon the man. He must have been nearby, as he came running at once, bowing his head with a voice full of reverence.
“Hehe… L-Lord Blood Dagger, what can I do for you?”
“I have a job for you.”
“Y-Yes?”
“Go up there, say one thing, and come back down.”
A flicker of anxiety crossed Lee Wanyong’s face. He was being told to curse out the representative of the West, an enemy though she was. It was only natural for him to be anxious. But perhaps because he firmly believed I would protect him, he nodded after a long moment of contemplation. Thinking of his safety first, I offered him a large pie as a reward.
“W-What should I say…?”
“If you can piss off that bitch spouting bullshit, I’ll guarantee your position.”
“I… I understand!”
Lee Wanyong’s face lit up. For him, just being on the battlefield must have been terrifying enough. But perhaps seeing this as an opportunity, he walked up to the platform where Jang Ye Ri stood with an uncharacteristically serious and dignified expression. It was quite a sight. This, too, was an extension of his job. If my hunch was correct, he was about to give me some much-needed satisfaction.
I couldn’t see the situation in the enemy camp, but I could hear a growing murmur. It wasn’t the Queen of the East, nor the Queen of the North. From their perspective, some unknown person was stepping onto the platform to give a speech. Their feelings must have been quite complicated.
They must have been incredibly curious about his identity, his rank, and whether he was a new power player. In reality, of course, he was a nobody.
Soon, the voice amplification magic activated, and Lee Wanyong took a deep breath.
—Lift your head, you fucking worthless whore!
That one refreshing blow made both me and Choi Seulgi double over.