Translator: RaidenTL

Chapter 437: The Continental Front

“I’m ready, honey.”

“Alright, Mev.”

“Yes! Chieftain!”

“I doubt anything will happen, but make sure to contact me if anything out of the ordinary occurs.”

“Okay!!”

“Taesung-ssi, it’s time.”

It seemed some time had already passed while I was giving Mev various instructions. I could hear Jung Hayeon and Choi Eunju urging me on. We had already confirmed there were no Western Continent forces around the Black Rock Mountains, but I still felt a little anxious about what might happen in my absence.

In fact, just having Mev as the general manager of this mine felt like a recipe for disaster. Of course, with Gark there, it would be easy to handle any problems that arose, but her strangely overconfident expression made it hard to leave. I was worried she might do something reckless.

For some reason, I could suddenly relate to the parents in that movie that always airs on Christmas. [A reference to Home Alone]

“You have to behave.”

As I said it one more time, Mev naturally clenched her small fists. It wasn't entirely reassuring, but I decided it wouldn't be good to show too much doubt, so I nodded and started to walk away.

“Leave it to me! Chieftain!”

“Alright. Let’s go, then.”

“Yes.”

“O, Savior. Please have a safe trip.”

“Have a good trip, Chieftain!”

I wasn't heading off to do anything particularly grand. Still, their enthusiastic cheers made me raise the corners of my mouth and wave, and then my vision shifted.

The only ones accompanying me to the continental front were Jung Hayeon and Choi Eunju. This was the lineup I decided on because Choi Eunju was still strained from using large-scale teleportation, and I had judged that the other Green Skins didn't need to participate in this particular battle.

They were probably enjoying themselves at their respective posts while waiting for the approaching enemy, so there was no need to summon them here. A place had been prepared for them elsewhere.

After entering the space Choi Eunju had created, the first thing I saw was the inside of an ice fortress wall. It was the same fortress wall where Jang Ye Ri and Han So-Hye were holding the line with personnel from the North and East.

“We’re here.”

“Thanks. If you ever feel like you're pushing yourself too hard, always let me know.”

“Yes. I’m still fine for now. I haven’t just been sitting around, you know… my magic power has increased a bit.”

“That’s a relief.”

“Taesung-ssi. To the conference room…”

“Got it.”

If Choi Eunju was responsible for transportation, Jung Hayeon was in charge of managing my schedule and diplomatic affairs. Just as with the East, I planned to have her take the lead in the negotiations with the West. It wasn't because I couldn't be bothered; she genuinely has a talent for this kind of work.

She's business-like, level-headed, and knows exactly what I want.

Of course, Jung Hayeon was doing her best to live up to these expectations. Ever since Lapura learned to control herself to some extent, she too began to desperately study the relevant subjects, not even hesitating to receive instruction from Lee Wanyong.

While my other mates were similar, the truth was that Lapura's mother, Jung Hayeon; Laveua's mother, Mev; and Ratga's mother, Jang Ye Ri, were engaged in a subtle competition. Because of what I had told them, they weren't openly fighting or engaging in various secret schemes.

However, they were under the delusion that my favor toward them would directly benefit their children. It might not be entirely wrong. But I'm sure they also know that ranking affection is a ridiculous notion. It wasn't openly discussed, but this was likely influenced by the talk of a successor that had started to emerge after I became the Great Tribe Leader.

And…

Among these three mothers, Jung Hayeon was by far the most zealous.

As the door slowly opened, the people in the conference room came into view. There was Han So-Hye, seated, with Choi Seulgi behind her. To one side, I could see Jang Ye Ri and her subordinate, Park Han Cheol. The Dark Elf Alisha was absent. She probably had the most to do. After a brief silence, it was Jang Ye Ri who spoke first.

“You’re late.”

“…”

I was a little late. But Jang Ye Ri was glaring at me, as if she suspected I'd been up to something else.

“We had a few things to wrap up… I apologize.”

It was Jung Hayeon who offered the greeting with a slight smile. The atmosphere felt less like a heavy meeting and more like some kind of regular get-together, so it wasn't too uncomfortable.

I glanced over and bowed my head to Han So-Hye. She nodded back, but her face was incredibly red. It had been quite a while since we'd properly faced each other after the incident that day. She was undoubtedly recalling our 'American-style' greeting.

I had originally planned to start with some light conversation after arriving, but the mood wasn't light at all.

Jung Hayeon and Jang Ye Ri were staring at each other, their thoughts unreadable, while Han So-Hye was blushing. Of course, Choi Seulgi was looking back and forth between Han So-Hye and me, and Park Han Cheol, whom Jang Ye Ri had brought as her subordinate, remained silent as if terrified by the atmosphere.

If the enemy commander were to see this, they would surely think the atmosphere ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠in our camp was far from good. I cautiously tested the waters and spoke up.

“Any movement?”

“Of course. You were right. I expect they'll launch a preemptive strike this way soon. Judging by the troops gathering to the right of the fortress wall…”

“Doesn’t that just mean that capable man is doing his job perfectly?”

Choi Seulgi was right.

Everything was going according to the script.

The elves were in charge of the right side of the wall. The right flank was the area that would be attacked. It was the area where we must show a weakness, the area we must open up to the enemy.

“The interesting thing is, it feels like a lot of dwarves are concentrated on the section of the wall that I and the Queen of the North are holding. They seem like more useful warriors than the humans, but…”

“They must be keen on preserving their own troops. This formation is probably intentional. They also want to reduce the number of dwarves in this war to strike a balance… There might be a different official reason, but they're already thinking about what comes after the war. I've ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠heard their leader is quite an ambitious figure.”

“Absurd.”

“Because we made them think that way.”

We really did make them think that way. We made them believe this was a fight they could win. Perhaps she didn't realize it yet. Reports of successive defeats had been coming in, but she hadn't stood on the battlefield herself.

At the Wilderness Forward Base, thanks to the Twin-Headed Ogre Gara's acting skills, we were creating a situation where it looked like we were on the verge of breaking but never quite did. And Black Spear's daughter, Shakara, while strong, was still inexperienced and made various mistakes.

This kind of trivial information is laughable, but it would give her confidence.

The Green Skins in various regions were not invading small cities, instead focusing on guerrilla warfare and were extremely reluctant to expose their settlements.

‘The reason they're pushing themselves to block the supply lines is because they're also in a hurry.’

‘It's true that Green Skins are strong individuals, but that's all they are. They lack the capacity and intelligence to conquer a city. They're just monsters who can only fight in forests or dungeons.’

‘The main force sent the Green Skins into the West first to buy time. They're also trying to keep the Western Continent's forces in check.’

‘A long war would be disadvantageous. We have to settle this with a short, decisive battle.’

Everything they believed to be true was, without exception, a lie. It's not that I didn't understand. They had genuinely grown in size and had acquired the weapons to protect that size. It was only natural for them to be overconfident, and at the core of it all was the belief that they were superior.

‘Fools.’

I got lost in various useless thoughts and couldn't keep up with the meeting. Jung Hayeon was participating in the conversation in my stead, and just as I was about to speak up again, I heard Han So-Hye's voice.

“Um…”

“…”

“Come to think of it, you haven't had a detailed look at the situation here yet, have you? How about we take a tour of the fortress walls… I can guide you.”

It seemed the meeting was wrapping up anyway, and I had been planning to inspect the walls regardless. Just as I was about to nod without thinking, I sensed a rather peculiar atmosphere.

Jang Ye Ri was looking at me as if to say, ‘What is this situation?’, and Choi Seulgi was sighing. Even Jung Hayeon, uncharacteristically, had her eyes wide open. Wondering why they were all making such faces, I looked at Han So-Hye, and their reactions started to make ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠sense.

Her face was bright red. She had started speaking confidently, but her voice trailed off toward the end of the sentence. With her head bowed low, I felt like I could somehow guess what she was thinking.

There was no need to guess.

[Target - Han So-Hye]

[Status - Tense, Anxious, Uneasy.]

The listed words were quite concerning. Seeing her act like a teenage girl meeting her first love, my own mouth fell slightly open.

“Ah…”

“Right. Let's take a look around together.”

It was Choi Seulgi who blocked Han So-Hye's initial rush.

“I seem to recall you had something to do, Unni…”

“…”

“In that case, I shall go with him. I happen to have some free time.”

“I believe the Queen of the East also has something scheduled for today.”

Seeing the look in Park Han Cheol's eyes, it was clearly true that she had a schedule. However, Jang Ye Ri spoke slowly with a nonchalant expression.

“I didn't realize you were so interested in my schedule. But rest assured. It's nothing urgent, so I can certainly make time to tour the walls with my child's father. I'd like to spend some quality time with him for a change, so how about you yield? I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠believe you already inspected the walls just yesterday…”

“N-No… Th-This isn't a private matter, it's official business, so… q-quality time is… a little…”

Han So-Hye started to mumble. I had expected it, but she was a bit weak in these kinds of situations. Jang Ye Ri, on the other hand, was very accustomed to them. The battle hadn't even begun, but one side was clearly the underdog.

“Hmm… I see. In that case, it can't be helped. Since you want to, it wouldn't be so bad to go together.”

In the end, the one who made the offer ended up just tagging along.

Han So-Hye wore an expression that said she didn't know what had just happened, but the mere fact that she was going with us seemed to have lifted her spirits, as the tension in her mouth and eyes eased a little.

Jung Hayeon also moved her lips as if she wanted to join, but unfortunately, she too had duties to attend to.

And so, an inspection team was formed by a strange turn of events. I wasn't sure if the waiting troops would appreciate an inspection from Jang Ye Ri, Han So-Hye, and me—the very center of the continent's power. But as soon as the decision was made, people were already on the move.

“Well then, let's get moving.”

“Alright.”

The three of us, myself included, set off.