Chapter 476: The Successor
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 476: The Successor
And I would come to regret ever saying it. Whether it was Storm Shadow’s idea or Park Ah-jung’s, I couldn’t be sure, but it was a trump card played with the sentiment that they could back down no further. Having grown weary of waiting, Storm Shadow had announced his retirement to all of Green Skin society.
“What do you think, honey?”
“I expected it to some extent. If anything, I should be thanking him.”
He was the one who had been shielding me from the murmurs of discontent that were slowly rising due to my frequent departures from the Land of Glory. Perhaps this announcement was another measure to protect me in his role as a spokesperson. The way he managed to secure his own interests in the process, however, made me think it was probably Park Ah-jung’s handiwork.
[Once Great Tribe Leader Blood Dagger concludes the affairs of the Blood Dagger Clan, the Land of Glory will complete its preparations to take another step forward.]
That was the gist of the announcement.
Although he mentioned his retirement here and there, and spoke of the positive changes he’d observed as the former Great Tribe Leader, the final sentence was the crux of it all.
Naturally, Goff, Black Spear, and the other Green Skins who visited the Land of Glory nodded in satisfaction, and even the new Green Skins who had yet to join showed a positive response.
Everything was fine. At least, from an external perspective.
The problem, rather, was with the members of the Blood Dagger Clan.
“Uwoooooooh! Who has inherited the strongest blood!”
“Indeed, who! Who has inherited the strongest blood!! Uwoooooooh!”
I couldn’t help but sigh at the voices coming from outside.
For several days after the news broke, those shouts had been echoing throughout the clan. Even the elite Orc swordsmen, who were usually men of few words, had joined in. Cries of who had inherited the strongest blood were erupting everywhere, and the entire atmosphere of the Blood Dagger Clan had become quite boisterous.
“Again today…”
“From the perspective of the other Green Skins, they’ve been waiting for this for a very long time. As a member of the family myself, I’m also curious to see how things will unfold.”
“Hmm…”
Choi Eunju had a point, of course.
Choosing a successor was something they had all been eagerly anticipating.
Among the clans of our generation, including the Goff Clan and the Black Spear Clan, there wasn’t a single one that hadn’t appointed a successor. In the entire history of the Green Skins, the Blood Dagger Clan was unique for having neither a chieftain nor a designated heir.
It had been quite some time since Gark started avoiding certain areas, terrified of being cornered by the increasingly loud voices of the clan’s mothers. In such a situation, Storm Shadow’s welcome news had ignited the flames of their impatience.
“It’s not bad to see things so lively for a change, but…”
“Do you think it’s still too soon?”
“Something like that. I knew the time was coming, but the children haven’t all fully matured yet.”
“They’re more thoughtful than you might think.”
“…”
If Choi Eunju, whom all the children followed and called Great Mother, said so, there was a high chance she was right. It was true that the children were precocious, but they hadn’t reached full mental maturity. If someone was chosen, others would not be. My concern was how the children would feel in that situation.
“It would be more accurate to say I’m deliberating. If I had my way, I’d think it best to leave things to Gark until all the children come of age…”
I had actually suggested it to him once, but he had been quite firm.
‘I appreciate the sentiment, but I am a sword, Great Tribe Leader. Not the one who wields it.’
It was a polite but firm refusal.
I subtly dropped the subject.
There was no doubt that a successor needed to be chosen. Years had passed since the quest I’d received had been left to gather dust.
The executives who knew my personality hadn’t brought it up directly, but they were subtly showing their interest in the selection of an heir.
‘About the Blood Dagger Clan…’
Orbo of the Minotaur Shield, who rarely spoke his mind.
‘Lord Blood Dagger. What are your thoughts on Lady Laveua or Lady Lapura…’
The clan’s brain, the goblin Hakajin, asking various questions about the children.
‘Uhm. For Blood Dagger!’
Gark and Hark, who seemed happy just to be by my side. Of course, the Goblin Three Sisters also occasionally approached me and would talk at length about Laveua before leaving.
They never said it outright, but it was what everyone wanted.
The only ones who truly kept their mouths shut were Mev, Jung Hayeon, and Jang Ye Ri. That was because I had told them beforehand not to mention it until the time was right.
In any case, for the sake of the Blood Dagger Clan, a successor had to be chosen.
If I selected an heir, I could have Storm Shadow stay a little longer under the pretext of training them. I decided that making a decision was better than dragging things out. Nodding slightly to myself, I looked at Choi Eunju and spoke.
It was about the children.
“How are the kids these days?”
“Ah… well…”
*
“I told you I was right, Lapura. Right, Ratga?”
“Yes. You were right, sister.”
“…”
Lapura sighed as she looked at Ratga, who remained silent.
“But it feels like he’s being forced into it. The voices within the clan demanding a successor keep getting louder. There’s no way Father wouldn’t be concerned about that.”
“S-Still…”
“Father is a perfect Green Skin. To be honest, there’s no way we could ever live up to his standards.”
“Is that so.”
“Yes, brother.”
She was convinced she was right. It felt less like he was finally ready and more like he was being pushed into action by the pressure from the former Great Tribe Leader.
“I-I don’t think he thinks that… D-Daddy definitely said he loves all of us.”
“I’m not doubting Father’s love. I just think that loving us and choosing a successor are two completely different matters.”
“…”
“Sister, you’ve caused countless troubles until now,”
“Eung…”
“And brother, you caused a huge uproar in the village over a girl, didn’t you? I heard you’re still meeting that kid sometimes.”
“We’re just spending time together…”
“It’s the same thing. I feel sorry for Sister Nicole.”
“I’m on good terms with Nicole, too.”
“That’s a relief. So, one is a troublemaker who’s been causing problems since she was little, and the other raised his voice at his parents over a kid. And finally, a moron who still can’t even control her own power. You don’t really think the three of us could ever satisfy Father, do you?”
“N-No, but… M-Mom…”
“Mother Mev is always positive, so of course she’d say something like that. I’ve heard similar things from my mother many times. This is the clan Father built with his blood and sweat. It’s a clan that’s finally stabilizing after overcoming countless sacrifices and struggles since he was just a tiny goblin. It’s a clan built by Najin, Gaon, Kurajin, the former chieftain Lady Ragia, and so many other Green Skins. Do you really think any of us is worthy of inheriting Father’s position?”
No one answered. They probably all felt the same way.
Everyone was clamoring for a successor now because of the immediate need.
“All this talk about who inherited the strongest blood is because of the expectations they have for us. But we didn’t create those expectations ourselves; Father did. I’ll be frank. If Father hadn’t become the Great Tribe Leader, this issue wouldn’t have even surfaced yet. I’d go so far as to say Kim Yoora is more suited for the position. Of course, that woman has no interest in it.”
It was only a small fraction, a very small one, but the repeatedly postponed selection of a successor was even starting to generate talk about whether Blood Dagger didn’t trust his own children. The Green Skins who were calling for a fourth heir to be born were the ones saying it.
“What do you think, brother?”
“I don’t think you’re wrong… I’ve disappointed Father a few times, too… and sister…”
“You don’t have to say it, Ratga… B-But I’ve been doing well lately…”
“You know that Kim Yoora has received a banner directly from him… right?”
“Uh… eung…”
“It seems no one here has ever received a banner from Father.”
“So you’re saying Yoora could become the successor?”
“I don’t think so. Father has probably considered it… but he knows a lot about that woman, and he knows her personality is such that she would never accept the position.”
“Then?”
“Then it will reluctantly pass to one of the three of us. As a substitute for someone else.”
“…”
“…”
“There might be some kind of test. I’m telling you just in case, but you must not show any disgraceful behavior in front of Father. We have the eyes of others on us now, and disappointing Father any further is…”
“I know, Lapura.”
“Eung… I get it, Lapura.”
“Don’t cling to me. It’s hot, sister.”
“Ah! Okay! Hehe…”
“Anyway, I have to go. My mother called for me urgently… She told me to start coming home a little earlier from today.”
“You could stay and play a little longer…”
“You have brother, don’t you?”
“Ah. My mother called for me too… I think that’s it for today, sister. I’m supposed to go back with Great Mother later.”
“That’s a shame…”
“There’s always tomorrow.”
After a brief nod and farewell, Lapura quickly left the tent.
I can’t disappoint him.
This was a crucial time. An event that seemed far in the future was now right before her eyes. Regardless of whether she became the successor or not, she had to show a good, respectable side of herself.
No… I have to.
Though it was never said aloud, she knew her mother wanted her to be the successor. That was why her mother was the one working the hardest.
The memory of her mother looking utterly dejected after hearing the rumors that Blood Dagger didn’t trust his children was still vividly etched in her mind. If she were to behave disgracefully now, she felt she would never be able to face her mother again.
Her mother, who had always given her an overwhelming amount of love, and her father, whom she admired more than anyone in the world. If she disappointed them, she would be unable to lift her head from the shame.
‘Lapura, you are the most special child in the world. Mom will always believe in you. You can do anything. I love you, my daughter.’
“I can’t disappoint them… Not Father… and not Mother…”
Lapura nodded firmly.