Chapter 410: Bullshit
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 410: Bullshit
“..........”
I was well aware that some of us here had sharp hearing. For him to speak like that, he clearly meant for us to overhear, so I started to stare at him, a little dumbfounded.
“Ahem.”
He looked a bit older. He had to be the type Choi Seulgi had mentioned before the meeting began—the kind summoned after the tumultuous era had passed, now raising his voice for the rights of the latecomers. While it seemed a stretch to call him their representative, it was undeniable that he was looking our way with disdain.
As I continued to stare, dumbfounded, the eyes of those around him began to shift toward one of his companions.
‘He’s the one in charge.’
Indeed, the other Northerners weren't looking at him favorably either. Han So-Hye seemed indifferent, but the North Knight, Kang Changhoon, was frowning as if he’d seen something unpleasant. Truth be told, that man isn't friendly toward Green Skins—which was to be expected, as he had once crossed swords with Silver Fang. But for even him to look at the man that way meant he probably disliked that faction more than he disliked us.
I glanced at Han So-Hye. Her expression was complicated.
‘............’
It was then that I realized Han So-Hye was not an ideal leader. The Han So-Hye I knew had been an authoritative and dignified queen who always led from the front. There were countless anecdotes about her from my past life, and all the people of the North had followed her with genuine loyalty. But things were different now.
‘So it’s peace.’
She might be a fitting leader in times of constant threat, when there are enemies to fight, but she was by no means suited for an era of stability and peace.
To put it nicely, she wasn't accustomed to scheming or political maneuvering. To put it bluntly, she was incompetent. I couldn't be sure, but she was likely relying heavily on Choi Seulgi and the others.
While I was lost in these useless thoughts, the man began to speak. The meeting had yet to begin, so thinking he must have something to say, I quietly watched him.
“You’ve arrived a little late, Lord Blood Dagger.”
“As far as I know, I arrived on time. I’m not late.”
“Perhaps it is difficult for you, Lord Blood Dagger, and you, Lady Alisha, to understand, but it is customary to arrive a few minutes before a meeting begins. Especially with an issue of this gravity, it would have been better if you had arrived a bit earlier. Seeing as everyone else, aside from you and Lady Alisha, is already here...”
‘That lunatic.’
Just as I was about to open my mouth, Alisha slowly began to speak.
“Have we made a mistake? If so, I will offer a formal apology.”
I thought she'd grown tougher, but it seemed her elven nature was hard to shake. What was amusing was that after hearing Alisha's response, the man began to stammer.
“Ah! No, it's not that. Since you truly didn't know... it can't be seen as a mistake, but...”
“If it can't be seen as a mistake, then I don't understand why you brought it up...” Choi Seulgi muttered, loud enough to be heard.
The fact that she wasn't immediately unleashing her killing intent and magic with a murderous glare suggested she'd been asked to restrain herself. If Han So-Hye still had her back, she would have acted as she always did, but with the cabinet reorganized, it seemed she could no longer act so freely.
“Heh heh heh.”
Nevertheless, the way he avoided her gaze and let out an awkward laugh at Choi Seulgi's words showed he was still afraid of her. But it seemed he wasn't afraid of me. The man began to speak once more.
“And, there are many empty seats. Did the other Green Skin chieftains not come with you? Especially Lord Black Spear and Lord Goff...”
I didn't know what he wanted, but it certainly wasn't normal for him to bring that up so suddenly. I couldn't tell if it was a ploy to take control of the meeting or an attempt to expand his influence, but it was so absurd I almost laughed out loud. Unable to watch any longer, just as Choi Seulgi and Kang Changhoon were about to intervene, I began to speak.
“I simply didn't think it was a matter worth gathering the other Green Skins for.”
The man's expression was one of slight bewilderment.
“Are you saying that the Western Clan Union is lying?”
“If I had to say, I'd tell you that what they're saying is true.”
As soon as I finished speaking, a murmur spread through the room. This was true for the few from the East who were unaware of the facts, as well as for those from the North. Unidentified voices began to rise from all around.
“Huh... so it was true...”
“How could this happen...”
Most of the reactions were similar to this. Jang Ye Ri and Han So-Hye's expressions remained unchanged. I couldn't tell if they were the normal ones or if we were, but I did not find this situation the least bit amusing.
“But then why... the other chieftains...”
“The reason I did not come with them is because I represent them. I cannot say that my will is theirs, but they respect my opinion and follow it. If they wished to speak, they would be here. However, it seems they have little desire to be involved in this matter. The same goes for the Black Spear Clan, the Goff Clan, the Silver Fang Clan, and the others.”
“Does that mean...”
“At least to us, this is not an important issue. It would be more accurate to say the other Green Skins are not interested.”
It was a rather blunt statement, both for me and for them. As expected, the room grew a little louder. To get this kind of reaction before the meeting has even begun... frankly, it's a huge pain.
“And.”
“..........”
“Do not demand human customs of me.”
I looked directly at the man and spoke.
“I am not human. The same goes for Alisha, the Queen of the Elves, who is also present. I don't know what you may think, but this gathering is by no means a place solely for humans. That holds true even if humans are the majority here. This is a place for everyone. It is meaningless to quibble over human customs or elven traditions.”
“B-But... the issue...”
“I don't understand what you keep going on about. I told you not to think from your own perspective. If a lack of time is the problem, then I believe discussing this absurd matter is an even greater waste of it. According to the customs of us Green Skins, I would have already proposed that we cross swords. Human. With our very lives on the line.”
“N-Now...”
“This is not a threat. I am speaking of Green Skin custom, just as you spoke of human custom. Finally, Alisha and I are not your friends. Our relationship is not one of equals, but one of hierarchy. Even if I were to make a mistake, it is not your place to reprimand me. In this room, there are only two others who could dare speak to me as you have. Especially on a matter like this.”
After I finished, I glared at him again. He fell silent as if he'd swallowed his tongue, but I could tell he was thinking something else.
“That's not a pleasant expression. Isn't showing such a face disrespectful to the other party? According to your own words, that is.”
The man's expression twisted further. I couldn't tell if he realized his mistake or if my threat—which was not a threat—had worked, but he was now hesitant to speak further on the matter.
As the man shut his mouth, Han So-Hye slowly began to speak.
“I will apologize on his behalf for the rudeness, Great Chieftain.”
“I will not take it to heart, Queen of Humans.”
It was quite frustrating. I thought I could understand what Choi Seulgi found so frustrating. Looking at Han So-Hye, she had a strangely weary expression, though I didn't know why. Things like this must have happened often.
She is brilliant and intelligent, but not worldly. On Earth, she would be at an age where she'd just be starting a career. That crown must weigh heavily on her.
Her case is different from Jang Ye Ri, who was raised to be a queen from the start. She has no problem leading the charge in battle, but a setting like this must be poison to her. Even if I had become a king of humans instead of Green Skins, I would have experienced the same growing pains.
‘Tsk.’
I found myself hoping she understood the meaning of what I had just said.
Once the atmosphere had settled, Choi Seulgi looked around and began to speak, intending to start the meeting in earnest.
“The Western Clan Union officially announced their position today. Furthermore... the Western Continent did as well.”
“.............”
“What I am about to read is the full text of the letter that came from the Empire today.”
Choi Seulgi took a breath and then slowly began to read.
“We support the Western Clan Union in its condemnation of the East for enslaving the Japanese people. We will fully and actively support the West's actions to protect human dignity and will strive for world peace, no matter the sacrifice.”
Such talk of world peace. I don't know if they're trying to play the role of America here, but even a three-year-old would know their goal isn't world peace. I watched Choi Seulgi quietly, as did the others. Feeling our eyes on her, she spoke again.
“We hereby declare and demand of the Queen of Garia and the Great Chieftain of the Green Skins, who trample human rights alongside beasts. First: Immediately liberate the Japanese people on the Eastern Continent and open its borders. As the victims on the Eastern Continent desire protection, we formally request the creation of a path from the West to the East to allow for our passage.”
“They're insane.”
Someone muttered. I didn't know who, but it was an apt description. It looked like they were using the Eastern Continent as a pretext to cross over to our continent, so it was no surprise someone would think that.
“Second: The Queen of Garia and the Great Chieftain of the Green Skins shall, immediately after liberating the Japanese people, officially admit their crimes and apologize. We formally request that appropriate reparations for their wrongdoings be made through the Western Clan Union.”
“That's ridiculous.”
I had no idea why reparations had to be made through the Western Clan Union, but their intentions were so transparent it was baffling. There weren't even any specific terms laid out.
“Third: We request that the Great Chieftain of the Green Skins, Blood Dagger, and his wife, the Queen of the East, Jang Ye Ri, after admitting their guilt, receive appropriate punishment through the Western Continent.”
“Fourth: We request that the elves being detained and imprisoned by the East be officially handed over to the Western Continent via the path created under the second article.”
“Fifth: We formally request that the North, which is allied with the East, not interfere in this matter.”
“Finally, should the above four articles not be properly fulfilled, our Empire will impose various sanctions and, as a last resort, will subdue you by force and ensure you receive appropriate punishment.”
After Choi Seulgi finished speaking, the hall fell silent. I glanced at Jang Ye Ri and saw her expression was frighteningly distorted. It was the greatest reaction she could have shown.
“Bullshit.”
After that short reply, the room fell silent once more.
“That was the end of it. We in the North are not directly involved, but as a faithful ally, we called this meeting to confirm the facts with Queen Jang Ye Ri of the East, the Great Chieftain of the Green Skins, and Queen Alisha of the Elves, and to discuss how we should proceed.”
“We'll need to hear the story.”
“I'm curious... how much of it is true and how much is false.”
While everyone was muttering amongst themselves, the first to speak was Alisha.
“We elves are not being imprisoned or detained by the East.”