Chapter 483: Mock Battle
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 483: Mock Battle
“Of course, I’m grateful.”
“Th-Thank you, sis. Hehe… The Coming-of-Age Ceremony isn’t far off, either…”
“You said you’d be participating too, Nicole.”
“Yeah. Dad actually said you older girls didn’t have to participate, but…”
“Everyone is looking forward to it, and more importantly, this is about choosing the tribe’s successor… In truth, it’s probably more important than the Coming-of-Age Ceremony. Since we have the right to vote, it’s only right that we participate. There’s a clear reason why Lord Blood Dagger went out of his way to give even the young Green Skins the right to vote. It must be his way of telling us to create the clan we desire.”
“I-Is that so?”
“Of course. He said that all Green Skins over the age of three are required to vote. The young Green Skins are still so happy about it that they’re shouting every day.”
“I was a little surprised, too. Hehe.”
“A-Anyway, Lady Laveua, do you happen to know how Lord Blood Dagger has been lately?”
“Oh, Dad? Um… yeah. I’m not sure what exactly you’re asking, though…”
“I was just wondering if you’ve noticed anything different about him… or if he seems to be worrying about something…”
“Ah. Ummm. I don’t think so. The last time I saw him, he seemed to be in a pretty good mood. Th-Though, of course, he also looked a little worried.”
“Ah… I see.”
“Why? Did something happen to Dad?”
“Oh… it’s nothing like that. In any case, I’ll be counting on you, Lady Laveua. Let’s do our best together. Did you say Mr. Lee Wanyong is here, too?”
“Yeah. I heard they’re having a meeting. They’ve been having them constantly these days, and I think Mom and the goblin aunties are enjoying it. They seem a little too excited, actually, to the point where it’s making me nervous. Still, having you here makes me feel a bit more confident. Hehe.”
“Of course, I’m happy to be able to join you.”
“A-And… I was sorry about… about what happened a long time ago.”
“You don’t have to keep apologizing. I don’t hold it against you at all. Both you and I were younger then than we are now.”
“S-Still… I was the one who was being mean for no reason… I still feel bad about it to Yoora. Lapura doesn’t really like you either, Yoora.”
“Lady Lapura must have her reasons. Besides, she doesn’t hate me as openly as you used to, Lady Laveua…”
“S-Sorry.”
“I’m kidding. Well then… shall we go together?”
“Yeah!”
I could see Kim Yoora and Laveua talking with each other. Eavesdropping wasn’t my hobby, but this was the most important matter in the clan, so I wanted to see how things were progressing.
Since the children were approaching this with such seriousness, I felt it was only right for me to do the same. Thus, I had no choice but to watch the situation from beginning to end. Naturally, there were no problems. In fact, things were proceeding so smoothly that I could even feel a little relieved.
Jang Ye Ri, who I thought would try to control Ratga, had instead chosen to let him be. It seemed my question back then had been effective. It must have been quite a shock for her, as she even apologized afterward.
In contrast to the changed Jang Ye Ri, Jung Hayeon supported Lapura just as she always had. She seemed to be watching silently from behind, subtly correcting any mistakes Lapura made, but I felt that even this was a burden to Lapura. It was so obvious that she was trying her best not to rely on anyone that it made me wonder what was making things so difficult for her.
The most interesting one was Mev. Despite having been the most hands-off with Laveua, the moment a crisis arose, she began to offer her all sorts of advice. I had an idea of what had gotten into her, but it had been quite a while since I’d seen Mev so passionate.
Of course, most of her advice was useless, but her unique ability, ‘Cornered Fairy,’ which occasionally flared up, produced some decent results.
“Elia, it’s alright now.”
“Ah… Yes.”
“You’ve worked hard.”
“N-Not at all.”
“I’ll be counting on you in this test as well. If there is anything you desire…”
“Y-Your words alone are more than enough, thank you. I-I don’t particularly desire anything… However, I was wondering if I might be permitted to visit my homeland for a short while after this is over.”
“You don’t need my permission for something like that.”
“Ah… Yes! Thank you.”
The Eveluse Kingdom was now officially and completely free from the Blood Dagger Clan’s influence. Elia, however, was still residing within the Blood Dagger Clan. She was staying at the embassy located inside our territory. To be precise, her position could be described as similar to Choi Seulgi’s.
Naturally, neither Choi Seulgi nor Elia could participate in this mock battle. Of course, they couldn’t vote either, and I remembered that Choi Seulgi had been quite disappointed about that.
By the time Choi Seulgi’s desire to get pregnant was burning fiercely, the recruitment war was mostly over. It would be more accurate to say that the recruitment of the clan’s executives was already finished.
As I organized my thoughts, the compositions were quite interesting. I slowly picked up a pen and started writing things down, which felt like it made it a little easier to sort out.
[ Jang Ye Ri, Ratga - Half Blade Gark, Orbo of the Shield, Baek Ahyeon, and Nicole ]
[ Troop Composition - High frontline ratio, low elite Orc swordsman ratio, high priest ratio. ]
[ Special Units - Blood Dagger Clan Pagans, Blood Dagger Clan Elite Shield Unit. ]
It wasn’t a bad composition. In fact, I could practically see what Ratga was thinking. His foundation was solid, and just as strong. His decision to recruit Baek Ahyeon was undoubtedly intended to showcase the power of priests.
In addition to recruiting Baek Ahyeon, he had reduced the proportion of elite Orc swordsmen among the troops he could bring and balanced his forces by bringing in her followers. It was a good choice, prioritizing defensive power over offensive might.
Beyond that, he focused on maximizing the diversity of his troops, including archers and a few shamans like Nicole.
The most interesting part was:
‘He has no strategists.’
It was literally true. Ratga had not recruited a single mind for his staff.
The reason for such a choice was obvious.
The entire plan was inside his head.
“She certainly beat it into him…”
Perhaps this could be called the fruit of Jang Ye Ri’s education. He had completely excluded Hakajin, Lee Wanyong, and the other strategists of the Blood Dagger Clan. Ratga himself intended to serve as the commander.
If he succeeded, he would achieve a remarkable feat.
Personally, in this recruitment phase, I gave Ratga the highest marks. If it had been me, I would have made the same choice.
The second-best hand was, as expected, drawn by Lapura.
[ Jung Hayeon, Lapura - Choi Eunju, Mirror Blade Hark, Hakajin ]
[ Troop Composition - Low frontline ratio, moderate elite Orc swordsman ratio, high magician and shaman ratio. ]
[ Special Units - Blood Dagger Clan Orc Elite Shamans, Blood Dagger Clan Goblin Magicians, Blood Dagger Clan Elite Staff. ]
It was a composition that made me think, as expected of Lapura.
After recruiting the exceptional magician Choi Eunju first, she then recruited Hark, conscious of Gark, and Hakajin, conscious of Lee Wanyong. It seemed she was that confident in her ability to counter her opponents.
She seemed to think that she could rely on Hakajin’s healing magic, however lacking, to contend with Baek Ahyeon.
And that wasn’t all. She had recruited troops from within the Blood Dagger Clan that could truly be called elite. If I had to name a strength of the camp Lapura had formed, it would be its instantaneous burst firepower.
The ratio of magicians and shamans was good, and in terms of firepower, her composition could be called the best. She had recruited all the new executives who specialized in magic or shamanism, so she would not be lacking in firepower. Of course, the clear disadvantage was her relatively low defense, but Choi Eunju’s abilities more than compensated for that penalty.
It was a composition that, contrary to Ratga’s, showed her intent to join the fray herself by recruiting a staff.
She believed she could take Jung Hayeon’s former place.
“She can do it.”
Of course, she was more than capable.
But the most interesting was Laveua’s camp.
[ Mev, Laveua - Lee Wanyong, the Goblin Three Sisters, Kim Yoora ]
[ Troop Composition - Moderate frontline ratio, high elite Orc swordsman ratio, high archer ratio, low magician and shaman ratio. ]
[ Special Units - Blood Dagger Clan Goblin Corps, Blood Dagger Clan Ranged Specialists, Blood Dagger Clan Wolf Riders, Blood Dagger Clan Elite Orc Swordsmen 1st Squad, Blood Dagger Clan Infantry. ]
Although the squad looked relatively weak, it didn’t seem bad at all. Lacking in prominent executives, it had the largest number of troops.
The goblin and orc archers who had previously served under Mev were there.
Centered around Hazaku, the captain of the 1st Squad of elite Orc swordsmen, she possessed the highest ratio of elite Orcs. Securing the 1st Squad in particular was a huge achievement. Gaining a large number of warriors who ranked among the clan’s strongest meant she would have more options in the upcoming mock battle.
The presence of Lee Wanyong made it possible.
“Kim Yoora…”
That too was a good choice. She hadn’t just brought Kim Yoora. Centered around her, she had recruited all the Wolf Riders awaiting their Coming-of-Age Ceremony. While their individual combat strength might still be lacking, they were a group that created great synergy when they moved together.
Overall, her composition resembled the Blood Dagger Clan of the past. Of course, unlike the chaotic mess of before…
“It’s refined.”
It was a strategy learned superficially.
But even a fool could tell this was Lee Wanyong’s work.
At a glance, it looked like a simple composition, but a closer look revealed a solid structure with no gaps. A strike force utilizing the Goblin Corps and Wolf Riders, and mixed in among the troops were Orcs who used throwing spears in addition to archers, and Green Skins with decent unique abilities. This made it difficult to predict how he intended to operate his forces.
“That useful son of a bitch.”
He was still a useful son of a bitch.
My overall assessment was…
‘A cycle of predation.’
Laveua’s high mobility, gained by recruiting Kim Yoora, was meaningless against Lapura. It was uncertain whether Lapura’s immense firepower could break through Ratga’s defenses. And Ratga, whose forces were sturdy but slow and less adaptable to change, would likely be easily shaken by Laveua’s mobility and strategy.
It wasn’t that I couldn’t guess who would win, but as I always said, a fight isn’t won on specs alone.
The preparations were complete.
Some immediately began training, while others took the time to get to know their camps. I was grateful that everyone was approaching this game with such seriousness, each in their own way.
“A successor…”
If I had my way, I’d want to adopt a federal system, but I knew better than anyone that it wasn’t possible.
I, too, had a duty to watch this competition with a serious eye, and a duty to help the tribe members enjoy this festival even more.
“Would you summon the children and their mothers here?”
“Yes. Understood.”