Chapter 486: Like Father, Like Daughter
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 486: Like Father, Like Daughter
Nicole casually began to look around.
She could see Minotaurs moving giant trees and building walls. It was obvious what they were doing. Led by Orbo of the Shield and the Orcs, they were establishing a temporary settlement.
She felt like she finally understood why the Great Tribe Leader, Blood Dagger, had allowed the first generation awaiting their coming-of-age ceremony to participate in this test.
They weren't just watching a tribe being formed, albeit a simplified one; they were actively participating in it.
The tribe's finest swordsman, Gark, was currently out on patrol, but the faces of the few elite Orc swordsmen and the others who had previously helped Blood Dagger build his first settlement were clearly filled with joy. As she was lost in thought, a voice came from her side.
"Did you want to be with Sister Laveua, Nicole?"
"N-not particularly. I was a little disappointed, but Ratga found me first, so I'm quite happy to be here with him."
"I'm glad you think so, Nicole."
It was her groom-to-be, Ratga, who had participated in the mock battle despite his small frame.
At first, she had thought he was just a child pretending to be an adult. But having watched Ratga since arriving here, Nicole had no choice but to acknowledge him as Blood Dagger's son.
‘He’s smart.’
No other words were needed.
After securing their position, he had instantly constructed a fortress and was continuously expanding their sphere of influence. The way he had Gark tied down to check the unpredictable Choi Eunju, and how the camp was structured to encircle and annihilate any intruders, was astonishing even to Nicole, who was ignorant of military strategy.
She could now see why he had so desperately wanted Orbo of the Shield and the other Minotaurs. The priests were pouring divine power into the walls, while the mages and shamans were setting up various devices to protect the base.
Contrary to her initial thought that he had wanted her simply because she was nearby, the flags she had drawn were also playing their part splendidly.
The flags distributed to each outpost were being used to raise the defense of those stationed there. Compared to Brother's Land or the Land of Glory, the wooden palisades being erected were incredibly crude.
But it was common knowledge that palisades imbued with magic or shamanism were not easily broken. Watching Ratga's camp continuously expand its power and territory reminded her of the Blood Dagger Clan in its early days of development.
‘It was amazing.’
She had been young, but she remembered everything about how the Blood Dagger Clan had changed.
After arriving in Brother's Land, various buildings had begun to spring up as if by magic, and the surroundings started to change in the blink of an eye. She recalled it as the first time she had truly understood what it meant for the scenery of today to be different from the scenery of yesterday.
The reason the clan members were now nodding their heads toward Ratga had to be because of that.
"By the way, Ratga. This is truly amazing. I was half in doubt when I heard the plan, but to think you'd actually..."
"This is just the beginning. If it weren't for Lapra's plants, we could have expanded further... And I've been hearing that my sister's wolf riders have been seen moving around a lot lately. She must have her eyes on us."
"S-still, at this point, you could say it's half a success... The clan members are genuinely happy, after all."
"Th-the plan has gone a little awry. There's a lot to think about."
What was most incredible was the absence of a large command staff. The only ones discussing strategy were Orbo of the Shield and Baek Ahyeon. Every course of action was decided by Ratga, and he had indeed been operating his forces that way.
He was just a kid, but she found him rather cool. He was engaged in a battle of wits with Hakajin himself.
Of course, there were many complications. The roots of the plants, for instance, had drawn a line in the ground as if to define a territory. To cross it would mean an immediate, all-out war. Ratga's choice was to go around it, but neither she nor anyone else thought it was the wrong decision.
‘Kim Yoora.’
Because they had seen with their own eyes that the Giant Wolves were watching them.
Nicole had fought against her friend Yoora every day on the children's battlefield.
Of course, the result was always the same: a crushing defeat. Kim Yoora was that strong and that smart. Unlike Nicole, who was still lacking, it was said that Yoora's martial prowess was already at a level where she could clash with the clan's executives. Nothing more needed to be said.
This was true for all members of the Blood Dagger Clan, but Kim Yoora and her wolf riders were an even more effective force when they moved as a group. This was especially true when they had tattoo buffs.
The only small comfort was that Yoora was the only one who could receive a permanent tattoo. Recalling her time with Kim Yoora, Nicole slowly opened her mouth.
"She'll make a move."
"What?"
"I said, I think Yoora will make a move soon."
"Hmm..."
"It's just like Yoora to want to gain some advantage around this time. If Lee Wanyong talks her out of it, she might not show up, but the Yoora I know will definitely try something. The Giant Wolves we keep seeing are proof of that."
"True... My sister has a similar personality to Kim Yoora. They might try to reduce our number of priests."
"That's right. They'll do something, one way or another."
Because they were the closest of friends, they could predict how the other would move. It wasn't a simple guess; it was a certainty.
"I'll have to reinforce the areas with large numbers of hunting parties and priests."
"Understood. Then I will go on the hunt."
"Okay. Nicole."
Naturally, there was no support from the main Blood Dagger Clan. From supplies onward, they had to handle everything themselves, so it was only natural to form separate hunting and gathering teams. Ratga's camp was at the point of openly managing several hunting grounds; Blood Dagger's son was well aware of the importance of logistics.
"Be careful."
"I'll be back as soon as I can."
Hunts were conducted at set times, but the ones Nicole personally joined were the largest in scale. The reason was obvious: it was efficient. Ratga, who valued efficiency above all else, didn't want to waste even a second.
He was managing the clan members efficiently, ensuring rest time for the hunters and gatherers, the construction crews, the scouts, and the defense forces.
Of course, her unique ability was helpful even in this situation. Those affected by her power received small but numerous benefits. Their movements became a little more agile, their attack power increased slightly, and their senses grew sharper. While helpful in combat, these effects also influenced hunting. The reason she was placed on the hunting team was likely due to this.
Nicole quickened her pace. She couldn't keep the adult Green Skins waiting.
"We've been waiting, Nicole."
"S-sorry."
"It doesn't matter. Let's hunt quickly and return."
"Understood."
The party consisted of Minotaurs under Orbo of the Shield and swordsmen from the 5th squad of elite Orcs. The one in charge was Zoroark, the captain of the 5th squad. Since it was a daily routine, their movements were familiar. They left the base with the adult Green Skins and moved to a pre-designated hunting ground. They even prepared an escape route in case of a surprise attack. As usual, the hunt was proceeding very smoothly.
"Push the magical beasts that way."
"Uwoooooooh!"
"Don't damage the hides and bones. They might be useful for something."
"Got it!"
This was food for the tribe members. Everyone was hunting with great enthusiasm when it happened.
The captain of the 5th elite Orc squad, Zoroark, slowly opened his mouth.
"Prepare for battle. Audacious brats."
"Huh?"
Nicole, who had been aware of the situation, couldn't help but perk her ears at the familiar sound.
"Wolves."
From a distance, the howling of wolves began to echo.
"I'll contact the main force in case of a clash. Krrrrk. Everyone, prepare for battle. We'll prepare for potential archers. Krrrrk."
"Hmm."
If the sound was coming from that far away, they would probably arrive any second now. Having run with them every day, Nicole knew this for a fact.
"Awooooooooooo!"
Just as the familiar howls of the wolves rang out and the attackers revealed themselves...
The crimson tattoos covering her entire body were glowing. She was a human wearing the distinctive attire of a Green Skin, but not a single member of the Blood Dagger Clan would have thought of her as human. In her hand was a red weapon, and her unwavering eyes resembled Blood Dagger's.
"Yoora."
It was Kim Yoora of the Warcry.
There was no need for words. The Minotaurs raised their shields against the wolf riders who immediately tried to close the distance, and the shamans began to chant their spells.
Zoroark of the 5th elite Orc squad drew three swords and muttered.
"Prepare for battle."
At that moment, just as the two forces were about to collide, something utterly baffling occurred. She felt her body, along with all the other troops, being moved somewhere else.
Of course, for the ground beneath one's feet and the view before one's eyes to suddenly change was an incredibly unnatural experience. It wasn't Choi Eunju's spatial magic, nor was it Yoora's unique ability. However, she had experienced this absurd ability somewhere before.
‘Laveua!’
It was the unique ability to swap the positions of people. Laveua had actually used it on the Goff Clan's ogres during her running-away-from-home incident.
‘In that case...’
The spot where Kim Yoora had just been standing must have been where a mage was casting a spell.
"Counter the magic and shamanism. Krrrrk."
At Zoroark's command, the Minotaur shieldbearers raised their shields as if it were no big deal. Their analysis was that since the casting time was short, the spell's power would be negligible. However, that prediction was spectacularly wrong.
Because...
No magic fell at all.
Why was Laveua here? Why was there no attack? Why did she even activate her unique ability? Nicole had no idea. As she cautiously raised her head out of curiosity, what came into view were Kim Yoora and her friends, who had completely swapped places with them, and the wolves, each holding one of the freshly hunted magical beasts in its mouth.
"Huh?!"
"S-sorry, Nicole."
It was before they could even react. The wolves, each with a beast in its mouth, vanished from sight like a flash of lightning.
"Kim Yoora is stealing the hunted beasts!"
"Krrrrrrk!"
"She's taking all of them!"
"After them!"
"Warcry Kim Yoora is seizing the provisions!"
"Catch her! Krrrrk."
"Sorry!"
"That brat... is..."
"....................."
"........................"
Even the elite Orc swordsmen had expressions of defeat as they stared at the spot where the wolves had disappeared.
Nicole had vaguely heard a story about Blood Dagger pulling off a similar feat before.
She remembered it was when he was still young. At the time, she had laughed at the humans and chattered excitedly, but now that she was the protagonist of that story, she couldn't suppress the wave of emptiness that washed over her.
It wasn't a huge deal, but several hours of effort had just vanished into thin air.
"..............."
"................"
As no one spoke, lost in a state of emptiness and bewilderment...
Someone finally muttered quietly.
"Sh-she truly inherited Blood Dagger's blood."
It was hard to tell if that was meant as a compliment.