Chapter 374: Mother of Green Skin
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 374: Mother of Green Skin
“Hmm… she’s doing better than I thought, isn’t she?”
“Yes, honey. It’s clear even from watching her here. I don’t think she’s played cards for several days now. I was surprised, too. It feels like she’s really changing…”
“I know… Even seeing it with my own eyes, it’s hard to believe…”
Choi Eunju replied to my question with a small smile. I hadn’t known that Mev hadn’t played cards for days. It was hard to imagine Mev, who would complain of severe withdrawal symptoms if she went even a short while without a game, giving it up entirely. But for her to not even pull out her deck in front of Choi Eunju was a huge step forward.
The fact that the cards were still hanging from her waist was proof that she hadn’t completely abandoned the old Mev. Still, even this much was something to be thankful for. It felt like we had gained another trustworthy talent.
“Look at her. It’s a completely different person from when she was in the Blood Dagger Clan, right? To be honest, and I’m sorry for saying this, but until now, there were times I felt like I was raising four children.”
The sight of a fairy with her hands on her hips, directing the work, was certainly unusual.
“This way!”
“Move the goods over here! The monster meat goes over there! Move the aged Troll liquor inside the tent!”
“Move it inside the tent!”
“The Mother of Green Skins, Lady Mev, is with us!”
“Lady Mev is with us!”
“The Mother of Green Skin! It is Lady Mev!”
Mev’s loyal retainers, the Goblin Three Sisters, had also taken a short break from the Green Skin training camp to do their best to assist her. This was probably very welcome news for the trainees currently suffering there.
But it was truly unbelievable. I had expected it, but the Green Skins of the Land of Glory looked ready to pledge their loyalty to Mev.
They were even more enthusiastic than I’d imagined.
It seemed that my ascension to Great Tribe Leader and the establishment of a stable matriarch was a great source of comfort for them. Besides, Mev had already proven her worth on various battlefields, including the Northern War. While she wasn’t an exceptional powerhouse, she had consistently participated in battles large and small. Since the Brother’s Land began to make a name for itself, she could often be seen attending other social gatherings. Of course, the problem was that those gatherings were for card games, but what mattered was that she was getting her name out there.
Her skill with a bow was on par with any clan chieftain, so she had more than passed the qualification of strength. She was far wiser than the average Green Skin and had her own deep thoughts on honor, so from the other Green Skins’ perspective, they couldn’t ask for more.
If Agar had had a wife, and that matriarch had received fervent support from the Green Skins, Mev might have had a rival to be compared to. But as it was, Mev’s only competition lay in the future.
Thanks to all this, Laveua was also watching her mother from the side. It was likely the first time Laveua had ever seen her mother like this. It was no wonder that her mother, who had always seemed so childish, suddenly looked so cool. Even Lapura was staring at Mev with a look of astonishment.
“M-Mom’s amazing! She doesn’t seem like my mom.”
“I’m… not used to seeing the fairy mother like this, either. She’s like my mother, or Ratga’s mother.”
A charisma that could be compared to Jang Ye Ri’s. Even though Mev wasn’t paying her any attention, Laveua was sending her mother such a look of love that Mev’s own gaze grew even more intense. It seemed she had noticed her daughter’s cheering. There was no falsehood in Laveua’s voice, which had been shouting “amazing” ever since they arrived in the Land of Glory.
And that wasn’t all. When I focused my magic into my ears, I could hear the murmurs of the other Green Skins.
“They say she’s been with the third Great Tribe Leader from the very beginning. She must have overcome countless crises with him to get this far.”
“I heard it from the Goblin Sisters myself. It’s also known that she bore his first heir.”
“Laveua, was it? She seems like a bright Green Skin.”
“They say that without her, the Blood Dagger of today might not exist.”
“A good spouse makes both partners stronger.”
“The third Great Tribe Leader has several good partners. In that respect, he’s different from the first and second.”
I couldn’t tell who it was, but someone had started manipulating public opinion from the shadows. No matter how much you dug, only good stories came out. Seeing how Mev’s embarrassing past was being perfectly concealed, it seemed they were determined to control the narrative.
‘Clumsy, but clever.’
It was obvious that Mev and the Goblin Three Sisters were at the center of it. There was no reason to stop them. In fact, I welcomed it. She was trying very seriously to raise her own value, but honestly, to my eyes, it just looked clumsy and cute.
The method was incredibly primitive and simple. They would dispatch one of the Goblin Three Sisters to a group of Green Skins who were gathered around, talking or resting.
‘This is a story I heard…’
‘I see. So there was such a tale.’
‘Lady Mev was truly incredible back then. I think she deserves to be called the Mother of Green Skin.’
‘Hmm!’
It was manipulation on par with paid internet commenters from some small country. If any Green Skin expressed doubt, they would send in another Goblin Sister. They were simply adding weight to existing truths.
‘I’ve heard that story, too!’
‘Hmm… I see. So it’s true…’
It wasn’t causing any problems, nor were they seeking any other personal gain. While there was surely a desire to solidify her position as the matriarch, it seemed more like she just wanted to make a better impression on others.
In her own way, she was desperate.
If they had been humans instead of Green Skins, they would have been found out in an instant and faced a counterattack. But aside from a few, not many Green Skins noticed Mev’s true nature. The few clever ones were keeping their mouths shut, so it was fair to say things were proceeding smoothly.
But I was anxious.
In truth, everything was going perfectly. But for some reason, Mev in this state…
“Something feels off…”
I was genuinely anxious. The confident expression, the corners of her mouth turned up high—it was the same dignified look she had right before starting a card game. But once the main game started, that expression would vanish as if it were never there. In its place, tears would well up in her eyes as she desperately reached out, calling for me.
‘Chieftain! Chieftain… sob…’
If I closed my eyes for a moment, I could almost hear her voice.
I’d had that experience so many times that, like one of Pavlov’s dogs, just seeing that expression on Mev’s face made anxiety well up in my chest.
Like Schrödinger’s cat, there was no way to know how this would end until we opened the box.
This pattern had repeated itself intermittently for a very long time. As I swallowed hard, Choi Eunju smiled and spoke.
“No, she really seems different this time. Look over there.”
Ogres and Minotaurs were carrying monsters to be served as food. It was also impressive to see building materials appearing, as if they were planning to remodel the palisades and tents. Not only that, I could see them diligently decorating the place with the skull of the eastern monster I had hunted, which they must have brought at some point.
It looked very similar to how the Brother’s Land had looked when construction first began under Lee Wanyong’s supervision.
“Hmm… I guess so.”
It certainly looked plausible.
“Yes. If she works hard, there will be good results. Even if things go a little awry midway, it looks like she’s already earned their trust. It’s a little sad that I’m not in that position, but that kind of display definitely suits the Green Skins better. Especially Mev, more than anyone else.”
“Hmm…”
“By the way… I’ve always thought this, but Green Skins care surprisingly much about appearances, don’t they?”
“They do, right?”
Choi Eunju was perfectly correct. That was probably why Mev and the other Green Skins were moving so frantically.
Humans were visiting the Land of Glory.
To them, that was naturally significant.
“It’s especially true since it’s the first visit. They have almost no desire for material possessions, but they do appreciate things that are large and magnificent. They also want others to see them in a better light… You could call it an instinct.”
It was likely due to their unique mindset of wanting to appear honorable. Bigger and wider. It was a relief that Baek Ahyeon wasn’t here; no other words were needed. For now, everything was perfect. Just as Choi Eunju said, there was nothing to be anxious about.
“Yes. Ah! Speaking of which, I received word that everyone has departed from their respective cities. It seems Yeri is coming from the East herself… You probably heard directly, but she seemed a bit sad about leaving the East. Not only that, but the rulers of the smaller cities and members of all the influential clans and guilds seem to be coming as well. The Queen of the North has business and can’t come to the Land of Glory, but it seems she’s sending Seulgi in her place…”
“…”
“Hmm… Have you still not made up with Seulgi?”
“It’s not that we haven’t made up at all… it’s just a bit ambiguous, I’d say.”
It was, quite literally, a little ambiguous. To be precise, I had apologized. But her cold expression still hadn’t thawed. She would often visit me at night, pouncing on me as if to devour me and screaming, “I love you, you fucking bastard,” but after we were done, she would always sit on the edge of the bed and mutter.
‘Sorry I’m not Eunju. Fuck… I wish my breasts were a little bigger…’
Choi Seulgi certainly couldn’t compete with Choi Eunju’s assets. But Seulgi had her own charms, and I respected and loved her very much. I would have felt more at ease if she had just cursed me out. This state of affairs had continued for a year, so it was only natural that I found myself walking on eggshells around her. It had reached the point where it was easier to just think of it as karma.
“She’s a proud girl, so she just can’t express herself properly. A lot of time has passed, so she’s probably over it by now. The fact that she went out of her way to join the delegation to the Land of Glory must mean she wants to congratulate you more than anyone. It would be good to talk to her during this opportunity. I can arrange a place for you.”
“I’d be grateful if you did.”
Choi Eunju smiled slightly at my words. Seeing her like this, I could tell that her personality had changed a little after the final battle. Before, she seemed to watch from a step behind, but afterward, she became more proactive.
This change was, of course, a positive one for me. As the eldest, she would soothe and manage the women of the tribe. Sometimes, she would even complete tasks I hadn’t assigned and report back, or find things to do on her own.
Actually, it would be more accurate to say she had returned to her old self rather than changed.
The Choi Eunju of today was quite similar to the person she was when she was with her former husband. She never showed a different side in battle like Jung Hayeon, who was usually quiet. It felt like she was in good control of herself. If I had to pick the most normal person among us, I would choose her without hesitation.
Finding her particularly lovely at that moment, I gently stroked Choi Eunju’s hair.
“This feels nice. I feel like Mev.”
“Ahem… Your hair color is still the same.”
“Hahaha.”
At my question, Choi Eunju flicked her fingers. As if by magic, her hair began to return to its previous color. Her long black hair was as captivating as ever. I had felt a sort of magical aura around it, and it seemed she had been using a dyeing spell.
“Actually, it came back a while ago.”
“Why didn’t you change it back?”
“Because you look at me more when my hair is white. It’s also a way of asking you to feel a little more guilty and love me more. I don’t like looking older than the younger girls, but… I like it when you give me a second glance.”
“…”
“I’m… I’m kidding.”
Seeing my flustered expression, Choi Eunju stuck out her tongue and spoke. A faint smile appeared on my face. She had a stunningly beautiful face, but this was the first time I had seen such a cute side to her. As I raised the corners of my mouth, Choi Eunju leaned against me slightly and spoke softly.
“Congratulations.”
“Thank you.”
The time was drawing nearer. Until now, I had simply thought it wasn’t bad, but I began to think that if I got used to this life, new joys might be waiting for me. There was much to do and not enough time. My body was busy, but this kind of pleasure added vitality to life.
I smiled, and the promised day was drawing ever closer.