Chapter 272: Kim Yoora’s Fury
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 272: Kim Yoora’s Fury
I had a rough idea why she was suddenly shedding tears. This wasn't the Brother's Land; it was the Land of Glory. I had accepted Kim Yoora as a Green Skin, but she was still human. That fact remained unchanged.
She was probably an object of great curiosity, and I suspected she might have overheard things or been subjected to unpleasant stares.
Even stares born of simple curiosity could be a burden. By human standards, she was still just an adolescent girl.
She was strong and worked tirelessly, but that fact did not change.
Identity.
It must be a significant issue for her.
Perhaps she was starkly reminded of the fact that she was human when the chieftains from the Brother's Land arrived for the meeting yesterday. That was likely why such a simple comment had shaken her so easily. I looked at Kim Yoora and spoke again.
“You are a Green Skin. A member of the Blood Dagger Clan. No matter what anyone thinks or says to you, that is an undeniable fact.”
“Thank you.”
Her voice was much more vibrant than before. Thanks to that voice, it felt like a rather fine morning.
“It would be best if you came to the tribal council today. Go and get ready.”
“Yes!”
Being a sharp child, she must have already guessed what was happening. I immediately sent Hark to ask Storm Shadow if Kim Yoora could attend the tribal council, and the reply came that he had readily agreed.
Bringing her along was by no means a bad choice, as her presence was directly relevant to the protest Sand Glave, the Orc from the South, planned to lodge against the Eastern tribes today.
Kim Yoora was dressed in Green Skin attire, just as she had been yesterday. It seemed they had painted her with indelible markings; they even seemed to give off a faint glow.
When the time for the meeting arrived, Goff, Black Spear, and I made our way there together. Kim Yoora, of course, came with us. Seeing her walking behind me, striving to appear confident, the Eastern Green Skins offered a few words, to which she replied with a nod.
The Southern contingent was also moving as a group, and they seemed to be looking our way with particular displeasure. What was quite unexpected was that, strangely, the Northern Green Skins didn't seem to care much.
It seemed the Orcs and Werewolves of the North didn't view humans with much hostility.
‘The Great Tribal Council’
As they had yesterday, all the chieftains offered their greetings, and the Great Tribe Leader accepted them. The only thing that had changed was the presence of Kim Yoora.
“A human… inside the Great Tribe Leader's tent, a place only honorable chieftains may enter.”
He was coming on strong right from the start. I felt Kim Yoora flinch, but she calmed down as soon as I patted her on the shoulder.
“Pay it no mind. Just remember what I told you this morning and remain quiet. Don't be hurt, and don't take it to heart.”
“Yes, Chieftain.”
He would likely launch a rather cutting attack. I spoke quietly to Kim Yoora, who nodded in response. Then, Storm Shadow's voice cut in.
“I gave my permission, Sand Glave. Furthermore, that child is already a member of the Blood Dagger Clan. Blood Dagger formally accepted her into his clan, and as I've said, that is not a matter in which we can carelessly interfere. You must remember, Sand Glave, that I granted you the right to speak only because you requested it, not to defy the will of Blood Dagger.”
“I am well aware, Great Tribe Leader Storm Shadow.”
He gave a single nod. As one who valued discipline, he had to acquiesce to the Great Tribe Leader's words. Even the most oblivious Green Skins in the tent now seemed to understand.
They understood why Sand Glave, the Orc from the South, was criticizing the East and what he found so disagreeable.
“Today's council was called at the behest of Sand Glave of the South. He formally requested this meeting, and I accepted.”
With that, Storm Shadow fell silent. He could have handled this as a private matter between two tribes. But he had deliberately brought the issue to light before so many chieftains—and, crucially, under his own watch—likely to prevent any further division from festering.
From Storm Shadow's perspective, it was better to have any schism happen out in the open, where he could manage it. He had no choice but to accept Sand Glave's proposal.
As Storm Shadow fell silent, the Orc from the South rose to his feet, looking quite triumphant.
“First, I wish to thank Great Tribe Leader Storm Shadow for convening this council. You are all aware, I am sure. You know that one month ago, the Brother's Land fought alongside humans in their great war. And I trust you are all also aware that they have accepted humans as tribe members, bestowing upon them the honorable title of Green Skin.”
“Hmm…”
“Humans are the object of our struggle. The Brother's Land has allied itself with the humans of the East's great city and is now pressuring other Eastern Green Skins to cease their own struggles. This is not the will of the God of the Battlefield, nor is it the will of the Green Skins of the East!”
It was as if he possessed an ability to see into the hearts of Green Skins, much like the inquisitors of the East.
“They are defiling our honor.”
“…”
“The Brother's Land, and Blood Dagger in particular, is defiling the honor of all Green Skins! To accept humans as Green Skins is to tarnish the honor of all who came before. I know it is our way not to meddle in the affairs of other clans. But to join hands with the very object of our struggle, to demand an end to that struggle, and to call humans Green Skins—this is a problem! Vile, honorless humans… being called Green Skins? The former Great Tribe Leader, Agar, must be weeping in the Warrior's Rest! If Blood Dagger cannot give a worthy reason for this, he will pay the price in blood.”
I was a little surprised. He was a far better speaker than I'd expected. There was a certain logic to his words, laced with just the right amount of provocation. It was a fine speech, one capable of swaying the hearts of others.
Invoking the name of the former Great Tribe Leader Agar at the end was a particularly nice touch. I almost wanted to commend him for it.
All eyes fell upon me, demanding an answer. I looked at him and began to speak.
“First, you all know that each clan has its own authority, which no other clan may infringe upon. I do not fail to understand Sand Glave's point, but it is he who distorts the will of the former Great Tribe Leader. I made the decision to accept this child and other human children into the Blood Dagger Clan. That is the sovereign will of the Blood Dagger Clan, a matter with which Sand Glave has no right to interfere. I, and I alone, determine the worthiness of those I accept.”
“Hmph.”
“The other Green Skins of the East know this as well. I have never forced them to cease their fight against the humans.”
“There's no way the other clans can simply ignore the will of the great Eastern tribe, the Brother's Land. Blood Dagger's words are sophistry.”
Perhaps some of the smaller clans did feel pressured, whether they realized it or not. The Brother's Land was that influential.
“Sand Glave, your words are tantamount to disrespecting the smaller clans of the East.”
As I spoke, Goff and Black Spear nodded in agreement. They have their own will. The Brother's Land never once ordered them to stop fighting humans. It was a decision made by the other clans, influenced by our example. Something they came to accept slowly, over a long period, after observing us.
This is because a culture of raiding the monsters in the Forest of Mist has now taken root in the East. Of course, we do not care if they choose to fight humans. I turned back to my accuser and continued.
“Furthermore, the reason we joined that alliance is because the leader of the East's great city carries my child. She is not human. She is a demon, like me.”
It was a shocking revelation. Perhaps it was a truth even Storm Shadow was unaware of. Sand Glave's jaw hung open.
“She is a Green Skin raised in the arms of humans, yet she thinks herself human and reigns as their leader. And what of this child? She is human, yet she lives her life believing she is a Green Skin. Between these two, who is the Green Skin, and who is the human? Is there any honorable chieftain here who can give a definitive answer?”
It was a deeply ambiguous question. It was ambiguous even to me, so of course it would be for them. The Southern Orc's expression soured. My point was valid, but so was his. For someone who truly held discipline in high regard, this entire situation must be grating.
I understood that perfectly. But I could not tolerate him picking a fight with my clan. Sand Glave, the Orc from the South, slowly began to speak again. It seemed he had run out of arguments, as he now resorted to spouting nonsense.
“I know you have a fondness for women with human-like features, Blood Dagger. The Alraune, the Fairy… I'm sure you have human women as your consorts as well. Is it not that you simply favor humans? I find it distasteful. Perhaps even the little brat beside you…”
He was still speaking when a powerful surge of magic erupted from somewhere nearby. It wasn't from Goff, nor was it from Black Spear. It was from Kim Yoora, who had been listening silently at my side. Each time he spoke, I had seen her tremble slightly and worried that his words were hurting her. But my concern had been misplaced. What I saw was not hurt, but fury.
Just as I was about to raise a hand to stop her, Kim Yoora spoke.
“Honorable Chieftain Sand Glave of the South, you will retract those words at once.”
A blazing, furious anger.
Sand Glave, on the receiving end of the young girl's fury, looked utterly dumbfounded. Storm Shadow nodded, a clear sign that he was permitting her to speak. I started to intervene, but seeing Storm Shadow's gesture, I held my tongue. Since permission was granted, she had to be allowed to finish.
“Sand Glave, Orc of the South, I do not care what you say. Whether you consider me an honor or a disgrace is of no concern to me. You can insult me, you can condemn me, but I am a Green Skin. That was decided by the chieftain of the Blood Dagger Clan himself, and it is my own will as an honorable Green Skin. Furthermore, if you do not immediately retract your insult against Chieftain Blood Dagger, I will not forgive you.”
“Your spirit is certainly that of a Green Skin, human child. I wonder, can you take responsibility for those words? I am curious as to how you will 'not forgive me.' What will you do if I say I have no intention of retracting my statement?”
He was clearly sneering. I decided this was the moment to intervene and opened my mouth to speak.
“That's enou—”
“I formally request a duel with you, under the banner of the Great Tribe Leader.”
Kim Yoora's voice rang through the tent. Her declaration was so absurd that I couldn't help but turn and stare blankly at her face.
Whether she knew what was going through my mind or not, Kim Yoora's face was still ablaze with fury.