Chapter 375: Mother of Green Skin
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 375: Mother of Green Skin
“Where did they say they were?”
“They’re almost here!”
“Almost here! I heard they passed the statues of Agar and Sand a few days ago! There’s no doubt!”
“Ah! Right. Thanks. Hehe.”
Mev nodded in satisfaction at the Goblin Three Sisters' reply.
“It’ll be a day or two at most. The preparations are almost finished, so everything is truly perfect!”
“R-Really?”
Although she asked the goblins with a half-doubting expression, Mev’s own opinion was not much different.
‘It really is perfect.’
Everything truly was perfect. The Great Tribe Leader's massive tent, remodeled with the skull and bones of the eastern magical beast that now hung from the large palisade, was ready. The interior, too, had been perfectly prepared. And that wasn't all. There were all sorts of rare delicacies and dishes that humans would enjoy. The sight of the Land of Glory, with its imposing structures—unnecessarily large just to inspire awe—and the massive flag painstakingly drawn by Nicole, looked far more magnificent than before.
In the end, they had succeeded in integrating the Blood Dagger Clan into the Land of Glory. Many Green Skins had already expressed their astonishment, and the chieftains still staying in the Land of Glory repeatedly placed their hands over their chests in respect.
Perhaps thanks to the constant manipulation of public opinion, the stock of the Blood Dagger Clan’s “mother Green Skins,” including herself and the Goblin Three Sisters, was rising day by day. Not only was it a spectacular debut, but they had also succeeded in defending the clan's honor.
“I couldn’t have done all this without your help.”
“It was all thanks to Mev.”
“Mev did all of this.”
“Y-You guys…”
The goblin sisters nodded sincerely, and tears naturally welled up in her eyes. But she couldn't cry yet. Tears were for after all the work was finished.
“Amazing…”
“Does just having a Mother of Green Skin make this much of a difference?”
All the Green Skins were nodding. It was astonishing even to her own eyes, so it must have been for others as well. When she went outside to gauge public sentiment, she found that some Green Skins were even calling this great change, achieved in such a short time, a miracle of the Land of Glory. Nothing more needed to be said.
“Hehehehe…”
She kept telling herself she had to change, that she had to present a dignified appearance, but she couldn't stop her face from breaking into a smile.
‘It’s good to have something to focus on.’
She hadn't even played cards for days. A lingering attachment remained, and the cards still hung from her waist, but that was all.
Her lovely daughter kept looking at her with what seemed like respect, and even Lapura, the daughter of the plant, who rarely showed emotion, gave her a strange look as if seeing her in a new light. She couldn't count how many compliments she'd received from the Chieftain, Blood Dagger.
‘This is what it means to be alive!’
She couldn't understand why she had spent so much time so idly before. Mev was reborn. She had clearly been reborn as a new Mev.
Even now, the humans must be walking the Path of Penance to see this glorious sight. Mev nodded once more and opened her mouth.
“Let's do our best until the very end!”
“For Mev!”
“For Mev, the Mother of Green Skin!”
A pleasant cheer spread through the small tent, and time flew by. She could hardly remember how the next two or three days passed.
She constantly reviewed the script she had prepared and did her best to get ready for the festival to welcome the guests. She couldn't remember the last time she hadn't wasted a single minute, a single second.
The decisive moment was drawing nearer. The only problem was that they arrived much faster than Mev had expected.
“Mev! Mev! The humans are coming.”
“A-Already?”
“W-Wait a minute.”
All the preparations were already complete, but her throat was dry from nerves, so Mev gulped down the water beside her. She was the one who would greet the humans in front of the fortress first. Blood Dagger was to wait inside the tent, and the plan was for her to spend time with the human delegation before they all met with him together.
“Is the… the magical beast meat being cooked?”
“It's being roasted over the fire!”
“The… the aged Troll wine?”
“It's already prepared.”
“The… the snacks too?”
“They're already prepared!!!”
“Wh-What was my first line again?!”
“Everything is ready! Be brave, Mev! You are the Mother of Green Skin! The Mother of Green Skin!”
“U-Ugh… I'm just… just a little nervous. Hoo… hoo… I'm just a little nervous, that's all!”
“Have confidence, Mev!!”
She still wasn't mentally prepared. Just as Mev was frantically looking around, a loud voice echoed from somewhere.
“The humans have arrived!!”
Thump!
Thump!
Thump!
Bwooo!!
Everything was going according to the script. The loud beating of drums and the blare of a great horn echoed out to welcome the humans. But with every sound that reverberated through the massive settlement, Mev's heart shrank a little more.
“The humans!! The humans have arrived!!! Prepare to greet our guests!!”
The Ogres' voices continued to echo, announcing the humans' arrival. Naturally, Mev's face was colored with anxiety. Her head grew dizzy, and she felt like she might faint at any moment. It was becoming too much to bear. Finally, Mev hung her head low and had no choice but to speak.
“I… I guess a role like this d-doesn't suit me after all. Ch-Choi Eunju could do a better job…”
“What are you talking about, Mev!”
“M-Mev!”
“I-I'm too nervous… I can't take it… hic…”
“Are you going to let all your hard work go to waste, Mev!”
“Huh…?”
“Everyone has been pushing forward, believing in you! Choi Eunju may be capable, but what is here was not achieved by her! If you keep acting like this… I will no longer consider you my sister!”
The three sisters' shocking declaration was enough to make her mind go blank. But what they said wasn't wrong.
“Look around you, Mev! All of this is what you have changed! You are undoubtedly qualified!”
What she saw was a Land of Glory transformed from what it once was. Mev had no choice but to nod. She was still anxious, but she couldn't disappoint those who believed in and followed her.
“S-Sorry. I guess I got scared for a moment.”
“That's it, Mev.”
Her hands were trembling, and a cold sweat kept breaking out. She kept swallowing dryly, but she had to do this. Mev instantly downed the cup of water beside her and muttered.
“I… I have to do this.”
“It's easy. You can do it, Mev!”
“Okay!”
She slowly began to walk toward the gate. The sound of the drums, the horn, and the cheers of the Green Skins grew louder and louder. The gate of the large palisade came into view. Mev flapped her wings and stretched out her hand.
“Open the gate!”
“Open the gate!!!!”
“Open the gate!!!!!”
As the gate slowly began to open, she saw humans carrying enormous loads. She had heard beforehand that they were bringing various gifts, but she had never imagined there would be so many. Thanks to this, she began to realize just how grand and important this occasion was.
The Witch of the East, Jang Ye Ri; the North Knight and Choi Seulgi from the North; besides them, other powerful individuals she had seen at least once, and famous people from human clans and guilds. She even caught sight of Lee Sung-eun from the Golden Eagle Clan, her card game rival.
Her body trembled, perhaps from the pressure, but Mev opened her mouth with great composure.
“Wel….. Wel….”
“........................”
“Hoo… hoo…”
“..........................”
“Welcome… Welcome to the Land of Glory. Esteemed friends of the Green Skins. We sincerely welcome and thank you for visiting our Green Skin settlement. I… I am Mev, the first wife of the third Great Tribe Leader, Blood Dagger.”
‘I… I did it.’
The humans couldn't see it, but Mev clenched her fist tightly. She had done it just as she'd practiced. She had hesitated a little at the beginning, but this was well within the safe zone. For some reason, she began to feel a surge of confidence.
One of the human representatives nodded and replied.
“Thank you for the welcome, Queen of the Green Skins.”
Queen of the Green Skins. It was an incredibly sweet sound. Her expression softened, but Mev composed herself once more and quietly continued.
“Not at all. You have worked hard coming all this way. I apologize for inviting you via the Path of Penance. Here in our Land of Glory, we call the trial of walking the Path of Penance the test of Strength, Wisdom, and Honor. There is an unspoken promise that only those who pass this test may set foot in the Land of Glory…”
Before she could even finish her sentence, she heard murmurs from the crowd.
“Ooh… so that's what it was.”
“Indeed…”
“The civilization of the Green Skins…”
The positive reactions made her confidence swell even more. What she saw on everyone's faces was not caution, but curiosity and amusement. Contrary to the heavy atmosphere she had expected, it seemed quite relaxed.
“I believe you all saw the great statues on your way here.”
“We did. They were truly massive statues…”
“They are statues to honor the first Great Tribe Leader, Agar, who founded this Land of Glory, and his friend, Sand Glave. Agar was originally buried in this land, but he was raised by the undead's magic and walked the Path of Penance. It was Sand Glave who stopped him, and our current Great Tribe Leader, Blood Dagger, who witnessed their battle.”
“Ooooh… I have heard of that.”
“It was just as I heard.”
The reaction seemed especially good from the humans who looked like old magicians. Mev had heard about this as well. Just as there were Green Skins interested in human ecology, there were also humans interested in Green Skin ecology. She'd heard they were mostly magicians who enjoyed research, like Choi Eunju, and seeing their reactions, it seemed to be true.
The results of her studies were showing.
“Is this the Green Skin style of architecture?”
“Hmm…”
“It's a little different from the Brother's Land…”
“Yes. It looks a little different from the Brother's Land. In fact, the architectural style of the Free Economic Zone in the Brother's Land was partially influenced by humans, but the Land of Glory adheres to and preserves tradition. We have a little more time, so it wouldn't be a bad idea to look around slowly.”
“I think it would be better to see the new Great Tribe Leader, Blood Dagger, first.”
The one who spoke was Jang Ye Ri. Mev was momentarily speechless at the unexpected turn of events, but the Mev of today was a new Mev. After taking a slow breath, she spoke again.
“Ah. That does seem better. For your reference, the areas you can tour are limited, so if you let us know after the meeting, we can have others guide you. Then, let us head to the tent together.”
“Thank you.”
“We're grateful for the hospitality.”
It was all very positive. This was the exact scene she had wanted. If it hadn't been for the goblin sisters, she would never have witnessed this. Mev nodded repeatedly.
“Then, let's go.”
No variables. Everything was flowing smoothly, according to plan. Mev, the Mother of Green Skin. Mev, the Queen of the Green Skins. A smile kept breaking out on her face. Her tension vanished in an instant, and she wanted to enjoy this situation.
Perhaps because she had drunk too much water before the humans arrived, her bladder was sending gentle signals, but she couldn't keep the guests waiting, and above all, she felt she could hold it for now.
‘It'll be fine, right?’
It would probably be fine. The desire not to interrupt this happy moment began to creep up on her.
‘I drank too much water.’
But there were no variables. Things had to proceed as planned. Mev took a step forward, trying her best to ignore the surging signal.