Chapter 278: To Become Stronger
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 278: To Become Stronger
“Then the reason you summoned us to the Brother’s Land was…”
“Yes, because of that method.”
At my words, Storm Shadow spoke again.
“Training, fighting, struggling, clashing with one another—these are the only ways we Green Skins know. But you are different. The various methods you created in the Brother’s Land, such as how to hunt magical beasts, how to utilize the new Green Skins, and even the small details of how to train the young ones… those methods were incredibly diverse and brought us a great deal.”
Storm Shadow had a point. Train and fight. That was the most traditional method in Green Skin society. But this case was a little different. The problem was that we had no one to fight.
We didn’t know what the humans intended, but for now, the Green Skins had decided to form an alliance with them. Considering the future, and for the sake of a greater battle to come, we had to refrain from clashing with each other.
We would gather our forces, train, build palisades, and prepare for war. It was clear that Storm Shadow was now trying to entrust me with an even greater role.
“Hmm…”
“I wish to borrow your wisdom, Blood Dagger.”
“Nothing comes to mind right now, but… for now… I think it would be best to start by gathering the forces of each tribe for joint training. Each has its own unique traits, but their roles are different. The Ogres and Minotaurs can serve as great shields, while the Werewolves and Orcs can be sharper fangs than any other. The Goblins, too, can help in areas we cannot reach, and they are more agile than anyone. The same goes for the humans. It’s not enough to simply form an alliance and fight; we need some kind of systematized movement.”
Storm Shadow nodded at my words. The Minotaur did as well. The Werewolf, however, widened his eyes and retorted.
“Are you not telling us to abandon the identity of each tribe?”
“That’s not it. If there are units that can operate independently, then of course they should. In that sense, the Werewolves are perfect. But the Goblins are not. To make use of their agility against a vast number of enemies, they need the help of other Green Skins. The Ogres, who lack agility despite their large bodies and great strength, also need help. This is what I meant.”
“Hmph…”
In truth, they probably already knew this.
Green Skins, who specialized in combat, learned with their bodies before they learned with theory. They would surely know that fighting together is advantageous, that everyone has a role, that Ogres are better at fighting from the front, and that agile Werewolves are best for striking the flanks or the rear.
But knowing and understanding are two different things.
What is my position? Is it time to defend or time to charge? Simply understanding this basic concept would be of great help to the Green Skins.
Just as I was wondering if I needed to teach them how to raid all over again, Silver Fang spoke up.
“I think I know what you’re saying. Human combatants all have their designated roles. When we fight them, it’s advantageous to take out the priests who use holy power or the mages who use powerful magic first. Of course, their warriors try to block our path to prevent us from reaching them. It’s the same for us, isn’t it? You’re suggesting we arrange our shamans, Goblins, and Orcs according to their respective specialties. Is it something like that?”
“It’s not exactly the same, but it’s similar.”
As expected, he was quick to grasp this sort of thing.
Storm Shadow listened to me and nodded silently. He likely had much on his mind. This was the first large-scale battle he would command since becoming the Great Tribe Leader. It would be strange if he didn’t feel burdened. But when I looked into his eyes, I could see their depth.
He was not ashamed to ask questions and seek help. He was different from the former Great Tribe Leader, Agar, who tried to carry so much on his own. He had probably discussed a great deal with the others here as well. Storm Shadow was also a righteous ruler.
The meeting stretched on as everyone began to put their heads together.
“Didn’t you say the path to the Eastern Continent is still open? How about gaining experience there?”
“Those humans are not of that caliber. The humans of the East are fit only to be toys for young Green Skins.”
“Mock battle training doesn’t sound bad either.”
“We will consider it.”
Quite a few opinions were offered. Among them was the suggestion to gain experience in the East, and another to hold mock battles between the tribes. What was decided for certain was that we would meet periodically for joint conferences, and that finalizing the alliance with the humans was our top priority. As time passed, the Minotaur of the plains spoke quietly.
“How do humans become strong?”
It was a question that cut straight to the core.
In the case of Green Skins, they fight constantly. They fight, and fight, and fight, and in the end, only the strong survive. Of course, some talented individuals died due to bad luck, and some tribes, unable to contain their fighting spirit, charged at humans before they were ready.
Only the strong survive. They train and fight, train and fight. The ‘Three Years of Patience’ that Great Tribe Leader Agar had personally introduced was a minimum safeguard to protect them. Even so, it couldn’t stop those who fell in battle.
In comparison, humans were different.
If Green Skins were what was left after a process of attrition, humans became strong under a meticulous plan.
Large guilds or clans scouted talented individuals from the start and made them offers. They were intensively nurtured; if they failed to produce results, they were demoted, and if they succeeded, they rose. Of course, there were unique cases like the Queen of the North—the type to create their own guild and rise on their own. But such people were a tiny minority and were strong from the very beginning.
You could say that among Green Skins, the strong are the ones left standing after a great expenditure, while among humans, the strong are the ones who have risen to the top after careful investment.
‘I hadn’t thought of something so simple.’
I smiled.
The gazes of the Green Skins, wondering if I had thought of a good idea, landed on me as I grinned at the Minotaur’s words.
“Dungeons. Humans become strong through dungeons. They obtain decent weapons there, gain experience, and accumulate wisdom.”
“I’ve heard of them.”
The Queen of the North was able to rise so quickly because she had the support of Choi Seulgi. The countless dungeons she knew of, from those yet to be discovered to those deemed impossible to clear—it was highly likely they had plundered every dungeon in the North.
And it wasn't just Choi Seulgi. I knew about them, too.
The reason I hadn’t entered any dungeons until now was that there had been no need. Simply fighting constantly had been efficient enough, and the Brother’s Land had been moving without rest. Naturally, there was no time to explore dungeons.
But that didn’t mean dungeons were useless.
“There are hidden weapons and accessories with various mystical powers. Of course, there are also dangerous enemies and countless life-threatening traps. Most of the famous humans are those who have achieved great results in dungeons, and most of these dungeons are not openly known.”
Even if they knew of the existence of dungeons, they probably had never tried to find them.
‘Their enemies were right in front of them.’
There had been no reason for them to enter a dungeon.
Until now, that is.
As I continued to speak, the Great Tribe Leader and the others began to nod their heads.
“Then where are these dungeons?”
“They are everywhere. They could be on the plains or in the sea. They might be hidden beneath the blizzard-swept mountains of the North, in the foggy forests of the East, or even in the sky. They could be located in the volcanic regions of the South.”
“Oh…”
“All dungeons are in different locations and are discovered through different methods. I’ve heard that renowned human archers even hire a separate class of people just to find dungeons.”
“You know a lot.”
“Of course I do. I obtained this weapon by entering a dungeon, after all.”
I casually drew Levatain and slammed it into the ground. In truth, it had become strong through special reinforcement; before that, it was just a decent, cost-effective sword. But a little salesmanship was necessary.
The expressions on the Green Skins’ faces began to widen slightly.
“There were some Green Skins who said they had been to a place called a dungeon. I remember them sighing that it was nothing special.”
“They were probably unlucky. The difficulty of dungeons varies wildly. Some are filled with very weak magical beasts or monsters, while others contain enemies we cannot possibly handle. I nearly lost my life during a dungeon exploration. The scent of danger and the looming fear of death… I miss it. It will be of great help to the Green Skins as well. Especially since there must be many undiscovered dungeons in the Eastern Continent…”
I bluffed a little, wanting my proposal to be received more positively. As expected, the Werewolf immediately took the bait.
“The scent of danger, you say…”
The older Storm Shadow and the Minotaur of the plains had a relatively calm reaction, as did Broken Bow. Goff let out a low growl and added his own words.
“For Blood Dagger to speak of it like that… It is a regret I will carry for a thousand years that I could not go with you.”
“There are also dungeons with undead. Unlike the enemies in the North, they lack intelligence, but it will be sufficient training.”
There is a huge difference between having experienced something once and never having experienced it at all.
As if that was the final blow, Storm Shadow nodded.
“We will accept your proposal. If you know of any dungeons, I hope you will introduce them to us. If it is a place that all Green Skins on the continent will use, it is only right that the chieftains of the tribes enter it at least once. Danger always makes us stronger. But we cannot afford to be reckless.”
“I agree with Great Tribe Leader Storm Shadow’s thoughts.”
“Me too.”
“I wish to enter one as well.”
Everyone nodded. The Werewolf and Goff, in particular, seemed to want to go not for their tribes, but for themselves.
Great Tribe Leader Storm Shadow; the North’s sharp fang, Silver Fang; Goff, who would be offended to be called second in terms of raw strength; Broken Bow, the master archer who never missed; Black Spear, who throws a mighty spear; the Minotaur of the plains, quiet but stronger than anyone; and finally, me, who has obtained the power of the Seat.
To call it a simple dungeon raid would be a gross understatement of the lineup.
It was a group so powerful that I began to wonder if I should feel sorry for the dungeon master. A normal dungeon would be shattered and come crumbling down in less than an hour.
I swallowed hard. If they found it boring, it could lead to a rather awkward situation.
‘It has to be the highest difficulty.’
For this lineup, even a dungeon of the highest difficulty wouldn’t be enough. I looked at the Green Skins, a cold sweat breaking out on my brow.