Chapter 363: The Path of Penance
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 363: The Path of Penance
One does not become the Great Tribe Leader simply because they want to. There’s a saying that the position makes the man, but in a case like this, what’s needed is a man who befits the position.
Only one who has earned the recognition of all, one whom everyone can nod their heads to, is qualified to become the Great Tribe Leader. In that sense, Agar and Storm Shadow were more than qualified.
Agar established the Land of Glory, creating a massive community from nothing. The same was true for Storm Shadow. He gifted the Green Skin tribes much and sacrificed the most.
He was the Green Skin Agar trusted above all others, the one to whom he had entrusted the most. In terms of carrying on Agar’s will, he was certainly qualified. The same could be said for Silver Fang and Sand Glave, who were candidates in the last election.
They were the living heroes of the past.
Perhaps they could still serve actively in the present.
But the deaths of Agar and Sand Glave must have made them feel many things.
‘A new era is coming.’
It wasn’t a metaphor. It was literal. Of course, it wasn’t that the heroes of the past could no longer fight, but Agar and Sand Glave had indirectly declared that their play had come to an end.
Perhaps the reason Silver Fang and Earth Wave weren’t being greedy was that this understanding formed the basis of their thoughts.
“Many changes have come, centered around the Brother’s Land.”
As I was walking slowly atop Abar, I heard Earth Wave’s voice. He had suddenly requested a brief conversation as we made our way to the Land of Glory.
“It is a welcome change, one that carries on the will of Agar, who chose coexistence over conflict.”
“..................”
“The Brother’s Land… and at the center of it all was you.”
“I appreciate you thinking so.”
“A few others, myself included, all think the same. Of course, there are certainly those who are not pleased with this change. Not that they necessarily wish for conflict with the humans here. They’ve simply grown accustomed to the old ways. Things like the Free Dungeon Agreement or the Free Economic Zone.”
The Free Dungeon Agreement I created and the Free Economic Zone Goff created had indeed brought about great change. Rather than seeking conflict outside, they began to find it within, and in truth, the Green Skin tribes and the humans were prospering as if in competition.
If before they were exposed to danger, now they were in a position to choose their dangers. The gentle-hearted Minotaur, Earth Wave, was likely satisfied with such things.
“I know that you changed the Green Skins for your own sake, Blood Dagger.”
“Ahem…”
“But you are qualified.”
“I don’t really think so.”
“You have proven yourself in countless wars. All Green Skins have witnessed it, and the number of those who admire you has grown. Looking at your battles thus far, I believe no one would doubt your qualifications. You don’t seem very pleased.”
“To be honest, no.”
“Storm Shadow did not want to be the Great Tribe Leader either. The one who made him the Great Tribe Leader was you, Blood Dagger. Is the reason for your hesitation because of your brother? It cannot be said that he lacks qualification, but I believe you are a better fit for this new era.”
In truth, what Goff and I pursue is nearly the same. The difference lies in our methods. The path the Green Skins will walk is already set. If I am closer to the radicals, Goff is closer to the moderates. If I want to bring about change more rapidly, Goff prefers to take his time, allowing for a slower transformation.
It’s impossible to say which is right. And there are likely very few Green Skins who realize this fact. Some might judge Goff and me based solely on the legacy of conflict we’ve built, but for those like Earth Wave or Silver Fang, their thoughts might be different.
To the figures of the past, who wish to entrust the new era to new people, this is how we must appear.
“Knowing your personality, you probably want to cast aside anything troublesome. But think it over carefully. Think about whether Goff truly wants it.”
“Ahem…”
“I’ve said what I needed to say, so I’ll head in now. We’re not far from the Land of Glory, so I hope you’ll make a decision quickly.”
Frankly, it’s a pain in the ass. No, more than a pain… it’s a burden.
I may have ended various battles and now hold the position of chieftain, but when I think about who I really am, I can’t help but feel burdened. I’m that same Kim Taesung who lived like a wastrel on the streets. Leading an entire race is something that naturally doesn’t suit me.
I’m the type to watch from the sidelines rather than take the lead, and even after becoming one of the three chieftains of the Brother’s Land, I was content to watch from behind.
I have no ambition, and I have no qualifications.
As I was wearing a grave expression, Lapura and Laveua once again hurried over to my side.
A little time had passed since all the Green Skins had begun their march from the place where the statues of Agar and Sand Glave stood.
Though the voices opposing Storm Shadow’s retirement were still loud, the children couldn’t have failed to notice what was happening as other chieftains approached me to exchange a few words. Laveua might not understand, but Lapura could probably guess the reason.
“Father…”
“..............”
“You don’t have to worry so much. No matter what you choose, I will still love and respect you.”
“M-Me too!”
Laveua also agreed with Lapura, her face bright. Seeing her still-innocent expression, it seemed Laveua hadn’t yet grasped the current situation.
“Thank you for that.”
My thoughts were still a tangled mess, but it was a comfort. Just as a few Green Skin chieftains were approaching me, a few were also visiting Goff. A situation similar to mine was likely unfolding around him.
Because of that, I felt strangely self-conscious and hadn’t been able to speak with Goff for several days. Black Spear was still watching us with an observant smile, but honestly, I didn’t feel good about it.
It was because I felt like something was growing distant between us.
There was no change to the fact that we were brothers, but the strange atmosphere made me feel needlessly awkward. I wanted to talk to him once before we reached the Land of Glory.
Time passed, and just as we were on the verge of arriving at the Land of Glory, a suitable opportunity arose. Unexpectedly, it wasn’t me who created it.
“Father.”
“I know.”
Late at night, Goff had come to my tent.
“Do you have a moment?”
“Of course. Let’s go outside.”
Lapura, who saw Goff and me, opened her mouth as she watched us.
“No, it’s okay. We’ll sleep somewhere else. Unni. Unni, wake up.”
“Mmm… just a little more…”
“We should go outside for a bit and stay with Shakara-unni.”
“Whyyy…”
“Just get up.”
“Ugh… mmm…”
A small smile crept onto my face as I watched Lapura wrap Laveua, who couldn’t even support her own body, in roots and carry her out of the tent. Goff also let out a hearty laugh and spoke to me.
“They’re cute kids.”
“They are. I once heard that when you get older, you live for the joy of watching your children. It was true.”
He smirked at my smooth words. But in an instant, his relaxed expression vanished, replaced by a somewhat serious one. No, rather than serious, it was quite earnest. He, too, must have a rough grasp of how the current situation was unfolding. Thinking he was about to say what I wanted to, I smiled quietly, and as if in answer, he began to speak.
“It’s been quite a long time since we’ve been together.”
“It has. To be honest, I never thought we’d make it this far. Not when I first came here. Personally, I think it’s thanks to you, Goff.”
“I appreciate you thinking so.”
“......................”
“Truthfully, I didn’t much care for you at first, Blood Dagger. It would be most accurate to say I didn’t approve of your methods. Back then, I was just a greenhorn who only believed in the strength I possessed. In reality, if it weren’t for you, I would have died.”
He was right. In my past life, an Ogre named Goff had never made a name for himself. If he hadn’t fallen with me, he likely would have lost his life in the Tutorial, the Warrior’s Exam, or some other battle. I didn’t bother to reply to his words. I could neither affirm nor deny them.
“When we first took the exam, it was you, not I, who fought with the most cunning. The Green Skins who sought strength approached me, but they followed my power, not my inner self. But the clan members who followed you were different.”
“...............”
“They didn’t follow you for your strength. They followed the values you held dear.”
“.............”
“That’s why I didn’t like you, Blood Dagger. Of course, that thought didn’t last long. It was the same after we came to the continent. I chose to move, but you chose to rest. In the end, you were right. If the Goff Clan had headed straight for the Land of Glory after fighting the demonic beasts, we surely would not have survived.”
“That’s not true, Goff.”
“It is all thanks to you that we can walk this path of penance, Blood Dagger. You and I grew strong together. We clashed swords, fought the same enemies, and gazed upon the same landscapes as we grew.”
“................”
“Funnily enough… you may not have, but I was watching you. When you first fought the woman you call the Queen of the North, when you severed the head of the East’s demonic beast, when you fought the one called the Sword Saint, and when you fought the fallen prince, I was always watching you.”
As he spoke, the words he had once said to me slowly began to surface in my mind.
‘The one I want to fight is you, Blood Dagger.’
I was certain those were his words.
“You have become stronger than I could have ever imagined. At first, I never thought you could become this strong. In appearance, I am larger than you, but the one who is truly great is not me. It is you, Blood Dagger. You are a great Green Skin. Like the statues of the Great Tribe Leader Agar and Sand Glave we saw today, you are a great Green Skin.”
“You flatter me. I don’t think so, Goff.”
“It doesn’t matter what you think. At the very least, I think so, and the countless Green Skins who follow you think so. You know… you know about the talk that’s surrounding us now, don’t you?”
I nodded at Goff’s question.
“The one to become the Great Tribe Leader is you, Blood Dagger. I have been with you for a very long time. I know what you’re thinking, of course. I also know that you don’t like to step forward.”
“I’m not qualif—”
“Qualifications are not something you create, Blood Dagger. They are something that is forged. You have already proven yourself before countless Green Skins. You have struggled, you have fought, and you have changed our race.”
“The same is true for you.”
“I don’t think so. But my dream hasn’t changed from back then. I still want to become the Great Tribe Leader. Even though I am lacking, I want to become great like them, and I want to remain in the memories of others. I will not give up on my dream.”
“................”
“If Storm Shadow truly retires, I will put my own name forward as a candidate for Great Tribe Leader. However, the actual election will only happen after everyone is in agreement. If you betray the expectations of those who follow you and give up halfway… I will not forgive you. I will never forgive you for as long as I live. My brother.”
I couldn’t think of a single thing to say in response. I just stared at Goff in silence, and without waiting for my answer, he turned and left the tent.