Chapter 503: In the Meantime
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 503: In the Meantime
[The coming-of-age ceremony of the allied tribes, founded around Blood Dagger, Goff, and Black Spear, is quite fascinating. For the Green Skins of the allied tribes coming of age, the ceremony is held not within the clan, but outside of it. Unlike the ceremonies of other tribes, which test personal valor, this allied tribe tests cooperation. It is not a test of who is stronger, but of how well they can work together. They join forces to hunt magical beasts or other creatures they could not handle alone, and the larger the beast they manage to take down, the more they are acknowledged by their fellow tribe members.
The young warriors from each tribe, gathered to undergo this test as a group, learn the mindset required to live in the allied tribes, as well as how to cherish, protect, and help their brothers. This trial, created after the battle with one of the East's most colossal magical beasts, remains a long-standing tradition for each clan, and in this coming-of-age ceremony, the Warcry Queen Kim Yoora... (abridged)... - Excerpt from a very old book, The Footsteps of the Great Chieftains.]
Yoora didn't leave right away.
"Let's eat, Yoora!"
"Okay!"
But it was clear she was in much better shape than before. She still occasionally stared blankly at the tent or became lost in thought, but she also practiced her sword quietly in the spacious tent and kept herself neat and tidy.
I had no idea what she was thinking, though. The atmosphere wasn't right for asking, and even to my unperceptive eyes, her expression looked complicated.
I spent most of each day with Yoora in the tent. I don't recall having any contact with the outside world, except for when Laveua would occasionally visit to chat with us.
A considerable amount of time passed like this. The coming-of-age ceremony, which had once seemed so distant, was now just around the corner. The festival that had been held every day would end today. Although the trial was a hunt for magical beasts alongside the Goff and Black Spear Clans, many young warriors were thrilled at the chance to hunt a large-scale magical beast, something they had never attempted before.
Passing the trial granted many privileges. They could become independent, or go on hunts without adult supervision. They could freely visit the Adventurer's Guild, and of course, they could find a mate.
"Yoora."
"I know, Nicole."
"Okay!"
"Let's go."
When the flap of the tent, which had seemed like it would never open, was finally pulled back, a cacophony of noise and the morning sunlight flooded in.
"Wooooooaaaaaaah!"
"It's the coming-of-age ceremony for the children of the Blood Dagger Clan!"
"Hurry with the preparations!"
"It is a glorious and joyous day!"
The preparations were probably all finished. As I looked around, various scenes came into view. There were mother goblins shedding tears and fathers patting their children on the back.
"Aruk is a proud warrior now!"
"This is embarrassing! Mom, don't cry!"
"A mother's tears are nothing to be ashamed of! Sob. Sob."
"..."
The situation was likely the same in the Goff and Black Spear Clans.
"Nicole!"
"Ah! Mom!"
"You have to do your best!"
"I will!"
"Your father will be watching over you!"
"Of course! I know!"
"Do your best, Nicole!"
I nodded at the voice calling from the distance. The reason they didn't call out to me directly was probably because they saw me with Yoora. Seeing Ratga shouting along with them made my face flush for no reason.
Yoora and a few others—the humans and Green Skins brought from Hadum and Somorah—had no parents. While some were saying their goodbyes, I noticed a few, like Yoora, who were moving alone.
"You can go see your mother, Nicole."
"It's okay, Yoora. I can greet her after we get back."
"I'm the one who's fine."
"No... I'm really okay! I talked with Mom yesterday! Hehe."
I couldn't just leave Yoora by herself. She seemed much better, but the memory of how she had been before was still fresh in my mind.
"You're too much, Nicole..."
"Hehe."
The area was incredibly boisterous. I gently tugged on Yoora's hand. Soon, the children participating in the ceremony began to gather. The ceremony was to begin in the center of the Brother's Land, where the Eastern magical beast was visible.
I could see the excitement on everyone's faces.
It was only natural that my own heart was pounding. I had no idea how much I had longed to become an adult. Now that the day I thought would never come was right before me, it was no surprise my body was reacting this way.
The adult Green Skins of the tribe, lined up in a row, were clearing a path for us between the bones of giant magical beasts. They placed their hands over their chests in a gesture of respect, and the children mirrored the action. It was a greeting we had always performed, but today, its meaning was different.
With the path wide open, what we had to do was obvious.
"Let's go."
"Okay!"
Thump!
Thump!
Thump!
An Orc from the Goff Clan began to beat a large drum, and a Troll from the Black Spear Clan blew a horn. The Minotaurs stomped their feet, and the Orcs let out their own unique war cries, sending them soaring into the sky. The children who were now becoming adults raised the clan flags they had received earlier.
At the same time, a thunderous roar erupted.
It was the first time the settlement I walked through every day had ever seemed so small. Glancing to my side, I saw Yoora slowly looking around the encampment.
It looked like tears were welling in her eyes, but seeing my friend bite her lip as if determined not to cry made my own heart feel strangely heavy. It was a natural reaction. We hadn't done anything particularly grand, but walking this path made me feel inexplicably emotional.
"Yoora."
"Yeah."
The children's training grounds where we had always played, the tent where we had lived for so long—it all felt new. Amidst the cheering adults, I could hear the young Green Skins, whose own ceremonies were still a long way off, raising their tiny arms and shouting.
"For Blood Dagger!"
"We'll be adults in just six years!"
"For Blood Dagger!"
They were adorable. They were surely watching us, nurturing their own dreams.
Visible in the distance was the skull of the Eastern magical beast in the center of the grounds. The bones of the beast, carved up by the chieftains of each clan—Blood Dagger, Goff, and Black Spear—were still a symbol of this Brother's Land. No magical beast larger than that one had ever been caught.
'I hope we can catch something huge.'
It was hard to find a magical beast as large as the one from the East nearby, but we were allowed to venture into other regions, so if we were lucky, we might be able to catch one of a similar size. As I imagined returning triumphantly with Yoora, a smile spread across my face without me realizing it.
"Do you think we can catch something like that?"
"We can do it, Nicole."
"I hope the beast we catch can be displayed in a place like that, too. If we catch the biggest one and it gets hung up in the settlement, let's come see it every day. Hehe."
"Okay."
As we neared the center, the children of the Goff and Black Spear Clans came into view. They were the ones we would be hunting with.
Seated in the center were Blood Dagger, Goff, and Black Spear. Seeing the three Green Skins sitting there made my heart pound once more. The children from each tribe slowly began to mingle, and as the grounds naturally fell silent, Blood Dagger slowly began to speak.
"What you are doing is not something monumental. But it is an honorable and glorious thing."
"..."
"For me, too, the tribe's coming-of-age ceremony is deeply moving. Every day, though not for long, I have always watched over you."
"..."
"There were children whose births I witnessed, and those to whom I gave names. There were those I met unexpectedly. Some came from other tribes, and some have spent a great deal of time with me."
"..."
"Each and every one of you was a precious child to me. Though I never expressed it in words, it would be right to say you are like sons and daughters to me. I have watched you grow. From the children who lost their parents in glorious battle to those who received great love, I may not have watched every single one of you without exception, but watching you play after my work was done was a small joy for me."
"Ah..."
"Kim Yoora, Nicole, Azakai, Orua, Lee Hyein, Jang Siyoung, Garurash, Anaksu, Naraika, Raiga, Jeong Deoksu, Apachai..."
The children's faces filled with surprise, as if they hadn't expected him to call out each of their names one by one. As there were many children in the tribe, Blood Dagger's mouth did not close even after a considerable amount of time had passed.
"All of you are precious to me. It was a pleasure to watch the events in the East. It was also a pleasure to watch you all run around in that small training ground. Eating together was, of course, a pleasure as well. The cheers that greeted me when I returned from outside were also a pleasure. To think that those who could not even pronounce my name properly are now on the verge of becoming proper warriors."
"..."
"I am probably not the only one who thinks this way. To all the Green Skins here, you are a gift."
"..."
"You have all worked so hard."
A massive roar filled the square. It seemed the Goff and Black Spear Clans had finished their speeches around the same time. A new strength entered the children's eyes. Blood Dagger was undoubtedly smiling. I didn't need to look to know he wore a complex expression.
The young warriors were receiving an overwhelming amount of love.
And I, Nicole, was surely not the only one who realized it.
It was then.
Thud!
With a loud noise, Kim Yoora slammed the flag she was holding into the ground. Naturally, everyone's gaze focused on her. When I turned my head, I saw Yoora's face, desperately holding back tears.
Her expression was complex. It looked like she was longing for something, and also like she was sorry. It looked a little angry, and also like she was gazing with eyes full of affection. But she was resolute. Her unwavering eyes were still fixed on Blood Dagger. The Warcry Queen, standing at the very front of the children and right beside me, took a deep breath.
"For everything!"
"Thank you so much!"
Her voice filled the square. Imbued with magic, it seemed to pierce the air as it rang out powerfully.
"Yoora..."
I muttered without realizing it. I couldn't be sure, but I felt something was strange. It was a simple greeting, but it was somehow different from usual.
"For everything!"
"Thank you so, hic, so much!"
The startled Green Skins also stared for a moment at the small human—no, the Green Skin—standing at the front.
But it was only for a moment. Before long, everyone erupted in a great cheer. Kim Yoora's voice was instantly swallowed by the massive roar, but...
Even so,
She continued,
The small human continued to shout at the top of her lungs.
Her voice had already begun to blend in; it was possible it no longer reached anyone.
She must have known.
"For... everything! Hic... Thank you!"
"For... Bloo... Dagger...!!"
"For everything... thank... hic..."
"For... the young... warr... iors...!!!"
"Thank... you! Hic..."
"The warrior's... trial... begins!!"
"Hic... ahhh... hic..."
Standing right beside her, I watched as Yoora continued to shout. Her voice, which should have been drowned out by the cheers, seemed to pierce my ears.
"Travel safely, my sons and daughters."
"For everything! Thank you so much!"
*
The one who had been a small human wiped away her flowing tears with one hand.
Raising the flag of the red dagger that had taken her in and raised her, she slowly departed the Brother's Land with the wave of green.
Her eyes were unwavering and resolute.
The direction she faced was also steady.
It was still a little early, but...
It was the moment the name of the Warcry Queen began to echo across the entire continent.