Chapter 268: A Brief Respite
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 268: A Brief Respite
“Ah! It’s going very smoothly. Believer Lee Wanyong has been working with far more enthusiasm than usual, so it looks like it will be completed much sooner than we anticipated.”
“Hmm…”
Her eyes were sparkling. She was delighted that I was showing interest in the temple. In truth, I only wanted to gather the power of the Seat of Sorrow, but I didn't mention it. I thought Baek Ahyeon might be disappointed.
“Sooner than you thought?”
“Yes, that’s right. We were initially planning to completely demolish the elves’ palace… but it seems the direction has changed to remodeling it. I don’t know much about architecture, so I’ve left a great deal in Believer Lee Wanyong’s hands… but I’m sure you will be very satisfied, Savior!”
The existing elven castle was the very definition of splendor. The thought of redesigning such a place made me think they were trying to build some kind of landmark, and I stared at Baek Ahyeon with a blank expression.
“First and foremost, a great and majestic statue of you, our Savior, will be erected. It will be a statue of you, Savior, standing tall after trampling all sorts of trash-like humans. We will leave the elven structures themselves intact but will refurbish them into a magnificent style befitting you and the Green Skins. You will surely be satisfied. I was worried we might be short on funds, but the development of the gold mine in the Foggy Forest is proceeding at the same time, so I don’t think there will be any problems.”
In fact, the development of the gold mine had been ongoing for some time. If there was a problem, it was distribution, but that too was being resolved thanks to the alliance with the East and the North. They didn't need a large amount of gold, but it would be enough to purchase and transport the necessary materials.
“I see.”
“I-I am truly sorry that I failed to bring the blueprints. If I had known you would be so interested, Savior, I would have brought a model at the very least…”
“Don’t worry about it. How is the underground city I mentioned before coming along?”
“We are pouring our hearts and souls into it for the sake of those elements who dare to act against your will, Savior. Inquisitor Park Jihye is leading several other inquisitors, and they are working with Believer Lee Wanyong to plan the city.”
Inquisitor Park Jihye. The name was memorable. I recalled her as the believer who was diligently torturing a man wearing a peculiar mask, who claimed he had been purified, when I visited Baek Ahyeon’s temple.
I’d heard she was called the greatest Inquisitor the interrogation rooms had ever produced, and it seemed her abilities were quite outstanding, as she had risen to a high position.
“A memorable name, indeed.”
“Yes, that’s right. Inquisitor Park Jihye is also a loyal believer who would lay down her life for you, Savior, as if it were nothing. Her abilities are so exceptional they are beyond words. She also gets along very well with Believer Lee Wanyong. I have often seen them together even when they are not working.”
‘That son of a bitch…’
It was just a guess, but for some reason, the news that the two of them were getting along sounded rather strange. I wasn't one to talk, but hearing that the man was fooling around despite his wife, Lee Jihee, carrying his child in her belly was quite startling. Still, I couldn't say his choice was necessarily the right one.
I had only seen Park Jihye briefly, but her eyes were clearly not those of a sane person. I was certain he would regret it if he took a wrong step. For our side, this was just one more way to keep him on a leash, so it wasn't a bad thing.
“I’m glad to hear they’re getting along.”
“Yes, that’s right. And while we’re on the subject, may I say one more thing? W-What are your thoughts on the matter of marriage among the believers!”
I saw her shout with her eyes squeezed shut. It felt like she was more worried about herself than the other believers. I didn't know much about the doctrine, but hearing her speak like this, it seemed marriage had been forbidden in the early days.
“I do not mind. In fact, the more couples there are, the better. The same goes for Inquisitor Park Jihye, and the same goes for you, my lovely believer, Baek Ahyeon.”
When I gave her a slight smile, my mood lifted as I watched Baek Ahyeon lower her head, her face turning red.
Hearing that, separate from the post-war cleanup, things were progressing as quickly as possible put me in a good mood. The more of the Seat’s power I gathered, the stronger I would become. At a time when the continent was changing in unsettling ways, maximizing my personal combat strength was an absolute necessity.
The clan’s growth was just as important as my own, but for now, I thought it wouldn't be a bad idea to rest while my body recovered.
“Th-Then I shall take my leave, Savior.”
I nodded, and Baek Ahyeon left the tent, her face still flushed. To be honest, being stuck in the tent, unable to move, was incredibly taxing.
I had browsed the Item Shop several times and formulated many future plans in my head, but the boredom was impossible to fill. Of course, what saved me from this were the get-well visits from the others in the settlement.
I ate and had various conversations with Jung Hayeon and Choi Eunju, who always brought me my meals.
“Honey…”
Among them, Choi Eunju was especially devoted. It was a natural reaction, since she believed I was her dead husband, but because I was using her out of necessity, a sense of guilt grew within me.
Baek Ahyeon, who popped in and out of the tent more than three times a day, always brought new information with each visit.
Whether it was news from the East, stories about the elves, or her subtly testing the waters to see if she could get the Ring of Covenant back, it was all quite cute in my eyes. Of course, I was also in constant communication with Jang Ye Ri.
The clan’s executives, including Orbo of the Shield, Gark, Hark, and Hakajin, as well as elite Orc swordsmen like Hazaku, and even Kim Yoora and Nicole, spent time with me with worried expressions. Among them, the Goblin Three Sisters, who were always clustered with Gark and Hark, were incredibly talkative, as if trying to inform me that they were all born from the same mother’s womb.
“It was a glorious battle! The final sword strike still lingers in my mind! Blood Dagger is amazing!”
“Amazing! Amazing! So cool!”
“You don’t have to worry about the tribe. For Blood Dagger, I, Gark, will do my best to manage the tribe.”
“Gark alone is not enough. If you entrust me, Hark, with a great responsibility, I will not spare my life and will focus on my work until I collapse and cough up blood.”
“No! I, Gark, will cough up blood first!”
“No! I am already coughing up blood! It is glorious blood shed for the tribe.”
Of course, there was no work that would make them collapse and cough up blood. Their theatrics naturally made me laugh. Compared to them, the time spent with Orbo of the Shield and Hakajin was quite calm.
“How is your son, Orbo?”
“He is growing well. I had hoped he would grow up to be a warrior… but his talent as a shaman is so great that I am indebted to Hakajin.”
“He is an amazing child, Chieftain.”
Their life stories were incredibly interesting.
However, I spent the most time with Mev and Laveua. Laveua was sad that I was hurt, but she also seemed happy that I couldn't move and had to play with her. She didn't seem to know she was getting a younger sibling, and the thought of how surprised she would be when I suddenly revealed it was very amusing.
Mev, too, spent more and more time with me, as if trying to make up for all the time she had lost me to various affairs. Absurdly, she tried to drag me into this card game, and after playing a few times, I found it was more fun than I expected and it became a good pastime.
“Daddy! Daddy won!”
“I summon the Gark card and attack Mev.”
“…”
Laveua was excited, while Mev hung her head.
“Daddy, that’s ten wins in a row! You’ve won every game except the first one!”
In truth, a better pastime was watching a fuming Mev.
“N-Not bad, Chief. I guess it’s time to get serious now, shall we?”
I remember hearing her say “get serious now” exactly eight times. We played another round, but the result was the same.
“Daddy’s a genius!”
“I summon the Blood Dagger card and attack.”
“…”
“Now I’m really… really serious! I’m not going easy on a beginner anymore, Chief!”
But after her ultimate Ibar deck was defeated, Mev’s expression was on the verge of tears. I had resolved not to make her cry today, but for some reason, she looked so pitiful that tears were welling up in her eyes.
“W-Wait a minute… I got some dust in my eye… L-Laveua, Mommy’s just going to see your aunts for a bit.”
I was sure she was going to research strategies with the Goblin Three Sisters and Kim Yoora.
And so, time passed.
My recovery was slower than expected, and by the time I could move my body normally, nearly a month had gone by. I heard that even the tough Goff took about that long to recover, which spoke volumes about how fierce that battle had been without needing any further explanation.
There was much to be done.
There were many things to attend to, but the first priorities were naturally the issues concerning the East and the changed continent. I had expected a Great Tribal Council to be held soon. Given the gravity of the situation, I didn't think Great Tribe Leader Storm Shadow would let this matter slide.
On top of that, it was about time for the next wave of Green Skins to arrive. How we would lead them from now on was incredibly important.
I slowly rose to my feet, and the moment I stepped outside, Goff and Black Spear arrived as if on cue.
“You look healthy, Blood Dagger.”
“You too, Goff.”
Black Spear smiled as he looked at the two of us. He must have been more worried than anyone. It was unlikely they had come to my tent just to congratulate me on my recovery. I looked at Black Spear and spoke.
“The Land of Glory, I presume.”
“You are correct, Blood Dagger. It seems they waited for the chieftains of our Brother’s Land to recover. A consideration from the Great Tribe Leader.”
So, Storm Shadow had indeed been considerate of us. If we had been an ordinary tribe, they might have held the council without an invitation, but given the gravity of the situation, there was no way they would exclude us—the main protagonists of the great war a month ago and the largest tribe in the East, the Brother’s Land.
A discussion about the changed continent.
I thought that some of the more radical ones might pick a fight with us for allying with humans. Just because they hadn't all gathered together didn't mean there weren't Green Skins with various opinions. There were bound to be one or two.
As if my prediction was correct, Black Spear slowly opened his mouth.
“An Orc from the South has challenged the Brother’s Land. And… only one Green Skin tribe crossed over to the continent this time. Just ten brothers, and that’s it.”
It was a somewhat baffling statement. My jaw dropped at Black Spear’s words.