Chapter 312: Puberty
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 312: Puberty
“Judging by the atmosphere, it seems you have a lot to ask me… but is it alright if I ask a few things first?”
“Well… I’ll answer what I can.”
Shakara spoke up as they walked, and Nicole replied.
“Is it true that Lord Blood Dagger has unique tastes?”
I felt Nicole’s eyes turn to me at the sudden question. She was clearly passing the responsibility to me. Seeing this, Kim Yoora stepped forward slightly and opened her mouth. Honestly, for some reason, I didn’t feel like telling her, but this much should be fine.
“That’s right. It’s already a famous story.”
“Still, it’s only natural to want to hear it confirmed, isn’t it? Hehe. Ah! By any chance, do you know what kind of preferences he has?”
“Th-That’s…”
“You came to me for advice, didn’t you? In that case, this much shouldn’t matter…”
“I don’t know for sure either. I heard he likes women with large chests.”
“Oh my… oh my… Too bad for you, Yoora.”
This was why Shakara was a little uncomfortable to be around. Contrary to her image as a kind, sharp, and considerate Green Skin, Shakara had a bit of a cheeky side. Kim Yoora forced down the harsh words swirling in her mouth and spoke again.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Never mind… Hehe. If you don’t know, then it’s fine.”
Just then, Nicole spoke to Shakara.
“That’s not necessarily true if you consider Lady Mev, the mistress of the Blood Dagger Clan, Shakara. And Yoora will continue to grow, so you don’t need to worry about her.”
“Hmm… Well, I certainly heard that humans grow slowly, little by little. One more thing? Is it true that Lord Blood Dagger doesn’t want to have many children?”
“That’s also true. More importantly, how is Lord Black Spear doing?”
“Father is always doing well. He’s gotten completely hooked on raiding dungeons with Lord Goff… Did you hear the three of them are having a meeting today?”
“Yes.”
“This is just something I heard… but they’re saying they’ll open the Eastern Continent to humans and other Green Skins. To get to the East, you have to pass through our Brother’s Land. I think that’s why they’re in a meeting.”
“Ah…”
This was news to Kim Yoora. Hearing this kind of information, it was clear that Shakara was being properly trained as a successor. Having been in the Eastern Continent until recently, both she and Nicole knew it was a comfortable place to live. Of course, it wasn’t as good as the Brother’s Land, but the East was vast and fertile. If they opened that place up, many things would likely change.
“Unlike the humans here, the ones living in the East are very weak, so there are a great many unconquered dungeons. That’s why it seems to be considered a land of opportunity for humans. In fact, it’s the people under the chieftains who are making a bigger fuss than the chieftains themselves.”
“Construction will begin, then.”
Only then could I understand why Hakajin had been so busy lately. If this plan went through, the Brother’s Land would be opened to humans. We couldn’t show a shabby side to our allies. A massive construction project was probably about to begin.
“Right? They’ll probably assign us separate tasks as well. It won’t be anything major, but we are the future of the tribe, after all.”
As we walked, we found we had come quite a long way. It would have been fine to talk inside the tent, but there was a chance the mother goblins might overhear our secret conversation. Kim Yoora and Nicole subtly turned toward an empty clearing, and Shakara smiled as if she found it amusing.
“Well then, I’d like you to explain why you dragged me all the way out here… It’s a secluded spot, after all…”
It was a little difficult to bring it up. We weren’t that close with Shakara yet. But having come this far, I couldn’t just stay silent. Kim Yoora slowly began to speak.
“The truth is…”
Of course, she omitted the subject, Blood Dagger. She just said that she had become very sensitive lately, that all sorts of thoughts were popping into her head, and that she sometimes had lewd thoughts. What was a little surprising was that, just like Nicole earlier, Shakara was listening with a very serious expression. I was grateful, but also found it strange.
“That’s about it. Thanks to that, I can’t concentrate on my training… It’s a little embarrassing, but… I feel like I’m not myself… Do you have any idea why this is happening?”
“I think I understand the gist of it.”
“Shakara is a year older than us. I thought she would probably know.”
At Nicole’s words, Kim Yoora nodded along with her.
“Hehe… You’re right, Nicole. I don’t know everything, but I know a little.”
“I knew it!”
“Yes.”
Kim Yoora’s eyes sparkled as she waited for Shakara to speak.
“From what I know, I heard it’s the process of becoming an adult. In fact, I’m still going through it. I don’t show it, but there are many times when I feel frustrated, like something is stuck inside me… I found out by asking the older sisters in my tribe.”
“The process of becoming an adult?”
“That’s right. You start looking in the mirror a lot, you get irritated easily, and honestly, these days it’s annoying when my younger siblings and older sisters even come into the tent. It’s uncomfortable talking to my father, I worry a lot because of useless thoughts… and I start wanting to fall in love… By any chance, has Lord Blood Dagger ever appeared in your dreams?”
He appeared very often. But for some reason, I felt self-conscious and couldn’t nod my head. Shakara spoke again.
“I dream of him often… and they’re really lewd dreams. You’d be shocked if you heard.”
“L-Lewd…”
“I-I have dreams like that sometimes, too.”
But I felt like I was losing somehow. Kim Yoora bluffed for no reason. She had actually had a few lewd dreams. They were a little more intense than a kiss, but a lewd dream was a lewd dream. Her face flushed a little at Nicole’s shocked expression, but she had already said all the embarrassing things earlier. Saying this much was nothing.
“I knew it.”
“Y-Yeah.”
“That’s how it is. The males our age are probably going through the same thing. Haven’t the boys in the tribe been acting a little strange lately?”
That was certainly true. Some had started holding hands, and many had become strangely shy.
“They say it’s all part of becoming an adult. It means the time for us to mate is approaching.”
“W-We’re still a long way from that!” Nicole shouted, her face red.
“You think it’s far? I have a year and a half, and you two have about two and a half years until you’re adults. We’ll have our coming-of-age ceremony, and then it’s only natural to find a partner, isn’t it? And… the Blood Dagger Clan didn’t have many young Green Skins, right? Aren’t you guys the first ones who will have the ceremony?”
“That’s right.”
Shakara was right. I had heard that a long time ago, the Blood Dagger Clan had a severe shortage of mother Green Skins. Considering that Nicole was the first child of the tribe, everyone was surely looking forward to the coming-of-age ceremony in a few years.
“You don’t have to worry too much. It’s a natural thing. It’s something we can all do when we become adults… I’ve already decided on my first mating partner.”
“Wh-Who?”
“You’re asking even though you know? Of course, it’s your clan’s chieftain. Lord Blood Dagger.”
“R-Really?”
“That’s right. Those magnificent horns… that charisma. His voice is amazing, too. I thought I didn’t have unique tastes, but the moment I first saw him, I knew I was wrong. Actually… at night these days, I’m alone…”
“Wh-What! H-How lewd! Shakara, you’re being lewd.”
“You’re the one who’s a kid, Nicole. This much is normal these days. Don’t tell me… you’ve never done it before?”
Listening to Nicole and Shakara’s conversation left a bitter taste in my mouth for some reason. Kim Yoora found herself speaking without thinking.
“Lord Blood Dagger is busy, so he might not have time for you. And Shakara, you’re the heir to the Black Spear Clan. You can’t act so recklessly.”
“I’m not interested in being the heir. My younger brother will inherit the clan. And just because you’re a clan chieftain doesn’t mean you can’t be with the chieftain of another clan. Have you forgotten that both the battle-sorcerer Kruga and Giant Scream Apachi married Little Finger? Once the Green Skin training camp is finished, they’ll probably go find a suitable place to settle down.”
“That’s…”
“If I marry him, our brotherly clans could be bound by marriage… and that would be even better.”
“Have you told Lord Black Spear?”
“Not yet… but seeing how I’m changing, I think he probably knows…”
Seeing Shakara trail off, Kim Yoora’s lips curled up slightly. Seeing that, Shakara stirred things up again.
“Hmm… I see.”
“Wh-What?”
“You’ve decided on Lord Blood Dagger too, haven’t you? Is that why you’re acting like this? Because you want to be with him before I do?”
“Th-That’s…”
I couldn’t think of a proper response. No, in the first place, I didn’t even understand why I had been speaking so aggressively to Shakara. People like Lady Mev, Choi Seulgi, Jung Hayeon, Jang Ye Ri, Baek Ahyeon, and Choi Eunju were fine. But for some reason, I didn’t want to lose to Shakara.
“It’s not… like that… Lord Blood Dagger is just my benefactor… and someone I… I respect. I’ve never once thought of him that way.”
“Even though he appears in your dreams?”
“…………………………………………”
“It’s better not to hide your own feelings, Yoora.”
“I’m not hiding anything…”
“Then… are you going to marry one of the other Green Skins who proposed to you when we went to the Land of Glory? One of the southern Green Skins?”
“That’s not it either!”
Remembering that absurd moment made my face turn red on its own. I had never told anyone, but seeing that Shakara knew, the rumor must have spread far and wide.
“I’ve already made a little move on him once… If you’re giving up, I don’t mind.”
“What? D-Did you just say you made a move on Lord Blood Dagger!”
At Shakara’s words, Nicole’s body trembled as she shouted. Kim Yoora also felt as if she had been hit by a rock. A pang of pain made her clutch her chest, but she pretended to be unfazed and began to stare at Shakara with a pale face.
“Yeah. It wasn’t anything major, but…”
“Back then, when we received the flag in the Eastern Continent, I secretly sent him a little wink without my father seeing. He seemed a bit flustered and avoided my gaze. I don’t know if it’s okay to say this, but he was incredibly cute… I want to see him again… Lord Blood Dagger.”
“R-Really?”
“It’s true. If you’ve made up your mind, shouldn’t you be proactive? Whether I succeed or fail, after my coming-of-age ceremony, I’m going to keep expressing my feelings to Lord Blood Dagger. It doesn’t matter whether he accepts them or not. What’s important is that I try. And honestly, I’m not lacking in any way. I’m sure it’ll work… I’ve been drinking lots of milk, too…”
“I… see…”
“It’s a shame that Yoora is giving up.”
“I-I’m not giving up.”
“But you said you don’t like him, didn’t you?”
“I never said I don’t like him.”
“Do you even know what you’re saying? Are you scared? That he’ll come to hate you? Or that you’ll be disliked? Or that you’ll be abandoned?”
“I said no! Shakara!!”
Startled by her own shout, Kim Yoora looked at Shakara. Shakara was definitely smiling. It wasn’t a mocking smile, but rather a look of pity. Just as tears began to well up in her eyes, she felt Shakara gently reach out and wipe them away.
“Like I said before… it’s better not to hide your own feelings. I’ve never once thought of you as a human, Yoora, but right now you seem a little human. A Yoora like that doesn’t look bad either… Well, you’re cute.”
“S-Sorry.”
“No, I had fun too. Thanks to you, I got to look around the Blood Dagger Clan with my head held high. Call me again anytime. I’ll head back now. And you should think about it carefully, Yoora. Because I want to become family with you, too.”
Shakara slowly turned and walked away. The sight of her strolling leisurely, taking in the sights of the Blood Dagger Clan, was beautiful to anyone who saw it. As Kim Yoora hung her head, she felt a commotion start up around her.
“The Queen of the East has visited the village! Begin preparations to welcome the second heir!”
“Jang Ye Ri is here!”
The loud voices of the mother goblins echoed through the air.
Kim Yoora herself didn’t know it, but this was incredibly welcome news for the Blood Dagger Clan.