Chapter 373: The Mother of Green Skins
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 373: The Mother of Green Skins
“Hmm…”
I had expected the position of Great Tribe Leader to be a hassle, but it was proving to be a bit more troublesome than I’d anticipated. There were still many matters that required discussion.
“If I had my way, I’d summon both Goff and Black Spear to the Land of Glory, but…”
“We can’t just leave the Brother’s Land empty, can we?”
I nodded at Storm Shadow’s words. He was right. The Brother’s Land could not be abandoned. It was a place of great symbolic importance to the Goff Clan, the Blood Dagger Clan, and the Black Spear Clan. Even though I had become the Great Tribe Leader, it made no sense for Goff and Black Spear to leave the Brother’s Land and stay here.
“As for the Blood Dagger Clan…”
“It would be right to leave matters concerning the Blood Dagger Clan to your discretion. As you know, in my case, I brought all of my clan members with me.”
“What about the matter of a successor?”
“There’s no need to worry about that just yet. Although you sit in the seat of the Great Tribe Leader, the fact that you are the chieftain of the Blood Dagger Clan has not changed. However, since you will likely have less time to tend to your clan, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to appoint a successor. In my case, I entrusted the clan to my sub-chieftain.”
“Hmph… That’s a relief.”
If he had told me to decide on a successor for the clan right now, I would have had to give it some serious thought. Since I had some time, it seemed best to think it over slowly. As I was lost in thought, Storm Shadow’s voice reached me once more.
“You are aware that by residing in the Great Tribe Leader’s tent in the Land of Glory, you will also take command of all the Green Skins here, are you not?”
“Of course. They are the old warriors who fought alongside Agar, and their descendants.”
I knew them to be a fairly powerful military force. They were a group that belonged to no clan, moving only for the Great Tribe Leader. I hadn’t paid them much mind before, as I’d never felt that the Blood Dagger Clan was lacking in military strength. It was best to think of it as a bonus added to what I already possessed.
“It would be wise to speak with their leader as well.”
“Are they difficult?”
“They could be. I had no trouble, but your case might be a little different.”
“I’ll meet with them when I have the time.”
Storm Shadow continued.
“More importantly, were you serious about what you said?”
“Ah. Of course, I was.”
“Hmm…”
The very first thing I had addressed upon my inauguration as Great Tribe Leader was the treatment of the Green Skins who had fled the exam of Strength, Wisdom, and Honor.
‘I will give them one more chance.’
They were simple words, but I remembered the ripples they caused being quite significant.
“My clan also has a fair number of members who fled the exam. This will be good for them, and for us.”
“That makes sense. Hakajin, was it?”
“He’s a brilliant goblin. In Broken Bow’s case, it was his father who fled the exam. I simply thought there would be many Green Skins who wish to be like him. They must all miss their homes. There are even those who, despite living in isolation, still obey the Great Tribe Leader’s commands… If they are that sort, there should be no problem in allowing them back.”
“There may be objections.”
“It can’t be helped.”
As I finished speaking, Storm Shadow nodded his head repeatedly. He seemed quite pleased. Come to think of it, although he had said he was retiring, I began to wonder exactly how he planned to spend his later years.
“After you retire, will you return to the East with the Storm Shadow Clan?”
“No. I plan to live quietly near here with the woman I love.”
At Storm Shadow’s words, Park A-jung, who had been sitting quietly beside him, blushed slightly. It might be a happy plan for the two of them, but for me, it was a bit disappointing. I didn’t want to let him go until I had grown accustomed to the work. As if reading my expression, a look of anxiety began to creep onto Storm Shadow’s face.
“Ahem…”
It wasn’t an easy atmosphere to bring it up, but power was meant to be wielded. In the end, I spoke quietly to Storm Shadow.
“I would like you to stay here for at least a few years…”
“Hrm… Hrm… I appreciate the offer, but I believe it is time for me to rest, Blood Dagger.”
“No, your body is still able to move, is it not, Storm Shadow? I am not asking you to do other work. You need only build a tent on a corner of this Land of Glory and live quietly. That is all I ask.”
“Hmm…”
“This is my first request as Great Tribe Leader. Storm Shadow, I hope you will not refuse my proposal.”
“..................”
He looked as if he’d been struck on the back of the head. It was only natural that the corners of my mouth turned up without me realizing it. Park A-jung was also staring at me with her mouth agape. He probably wouldn’t refuse.
In truth, for Green Skins who value freedom, there is no right of command. A clan’s affairs are handled by the clan itself. The Great Tribe Leader only makes requests. He requests that they refrain from fighting with humans, and he requests that they do not fight amongst themselves. If there is something he wants, he requests it and makes his thoughts known.
While they have an obligation to follow the Great Tribe Leader’s word on matters of public announcement, he doesn’t bring down the hammer of justice if they disobey.
He simply expresses his regret. With that one phrase, everything ends.
‘That is truly regrettable.’
In that moment, as if by magic, everything is resolved. The tribe that acted selfishly begins to be ostracized, and in an instant, they are isolated from Green Skin society and branded a tribe that has lost its honor.
In this case, it was a simple request with no ulterior motive, but it was naturally difficult for Storm Shadow to refuse.
‘He feels a sense of responsibility.’
He, too, undoubtedly felt responsible for stepping down from his position so quickly. At my words, Park A-jung glanced around and was about to say something, but Storm Shadow spoke first.
“If it is the will of the Great Tribe Leader, it is right to follow.”
“Thank you, Storm Shadow.”
Having such a symbolic figure remain in the Land of Glory was a great benefit to my side. It would help in governing the unfamiliar Green Skins of this land and act as a shield for my unconventional actions. The other Green Skins would undoubtedly be conscious of his presence.
Storm Shadow didn’t have to do anything.
Though visiting him from time to time for advice wouldn’t be a bad idea.
“I’ve been had…”
“Is this not all the burden of the second Great Tribe Leader?” I replied with a smirk to Storm Shadow’s mutter as he left the tent. It was a little childish, but I couldn’t stand the thought of suffering alone.
I hadn’t yet thought about what kind of Green Skin society I would build in the future. It wasn’t that I hadn’t drawn a picture at all, but it wasn’t a detailed one. Rather than trying to do too many things at once, it seemed best to tackle what was right in front of me, step by step.
First was dealing with the new Green Skins who had arrived here. I heard they had fallen to the continent along with the humans after the undead had been completely wiped out.
‘Foreigners.’
A precise assessment was impossible, but when I heard there were many humans with various hair colors, I figured they must have encountered foreigners.
There are humans who have survived in the South or the West, maintaining their own civilizations. It was fortunate that they weren’t fighting with the Koreans, who are our allies, but if our future struggle were to be against humans, there was no telling how they would react.
Humanity!
It wouldn’t be strange if they suddenly turned on the Green Skins, shouting such a slogan. Of course, with Choi Seulgi and Jang Ye Ri around, the probability was extremely low.
Three years’ time, the southern investigation team, the western investigation team, the Brother’s Land, and I also had to visit the Eastern Continent. I had also decided to check the newly built Magic Tower in person. There was so much to do, my head felt like it was about to explode.
I felt like I wanted to bring Lee Wanyong here. If he hadn’t been tasked with managing the temple in the East, I would have summoned him immediately and worked him like a slave for three days and three nights.
‘Should I ask Storm Shadow for a hand…?’
It wasn’t unreasonable to think so.
Come to think of it, preparing to receive guests was also a problem. As the news of my ascension to Great Tribe Leader spread across the continent, the large and small human cities had decided to send envoys.
Originally, I hadn’t planned on receiving them, but since we had already confirmed our alliance with the humans, I thought it wouldn’t be a bad idea. Green Skins had already stayed in the great cities that could be called the hearts of the North and East several times, so I figured showing them the Land of Glory wouldn’t be an issue.
Of course, since this was a place of great symbolic importance to the Green Skins, there was a condition, of sorts. They simply had to walk the Arduous Path, but that was no problem.
The work was a mountain, and the manpower was lacking. I was clutching my head and letting out a sigh when it happened.
“You seem to be in some trouble, my husband, the Great. Tribe. Leader. Blood Dagger. Fufufu.”
“Mev?”
The one who had suddenly entered the tent was Mev, whom I felt I hadn’t seen in a while.
“Is that really you, Mev?”
“Yes, it is I.”
Calm, subdued eyes, a demure expression and tone of voice—there was no trace of her former mischievous self.
“I rushed here immediately to share in the joyous news. Choi Eunju and Hakajin have also come and are with the children now. Fufu…”
Her smile seemed somewhat awkward, but it was unmistakably Mev. The crown on her head seemed to shine even brighter today.
“It is a shame we could not share in such an important discussion together, but I feel it is a relief to have learned of it, even if late. I wonder if there is any way I might be of assistance.”
‘Does the position make the person?’
Come to think of it, Mev’s current position was quite significant. The Mother of Green Skins. Position-wise, she was the mother of all Green Skins. I was surprised by her sudden change in demeanor, but bringing Hakajin and Choi Eunju was an excellent choice. I had been about to contact the executives of the Blood Dagger Clan in the Brother’s Land anyway.
“The Blood Dagger Clan is currently preparing to move to the Land of Glory, so if you tell me what is needed, I will make sure to relay it to the sub-chieftain.”
“Uh…huh…”
Astonishing judgment, so unlike Mev. I couldn’t help but think she had finally matured. The set of playing cards still hanging from her waist bothered me, but her calm expression and subdued eyes were real.
‘Should I entrust it to her?’
In the world of Green Skins, guiding and entertaining guests was originally the role of the mistress of the clan. Agar didn’t have one, and in Storm Shadow’s time, Park A-jung had fulfilled that role splendidly. The one thing I had been worried about was the mistress of our clan, Mev herself. Since Park A-jung was human, there were even some Green Skins who placed their hopes on Mev, an original Green Skin. Like me, she was under the public eye.
If it was a situation we had to face eventually, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to entrust it to her on this occasion. It wasn’t a difficult task. And right now, Mev was exuding a strange aura.
“It is good to share difficult tasks, my husband, the Great. Tribe. Leader. Blood Dagger. Fufu.”
“For now, thank you. I was just short on hands… If you don’t mind, I would like to ask you to handle the reception for the human envoys coming to the Land of Glory. You can get help from Hakajin and the others, so it won’t be too difficult, will it?”
“Uh… Uh-huh!! No. No. Yes… I understand. Fufufu.”
Her face was grotesquely contorted. It was the face of someone desperately trying to hold back a burst of laughter. It was only natural that an inexplicable sense of anxiety erupted within me.
“W-Wait.”
But just as I was about to speak, Mev dashed out of the tent.
‘It’ll be fine, right?’
It’s not a difficult task.
And yet, I couldn’t stop swallowing the dry lump in my throat.