Chapter 71: Blood Dagger’s Test
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 71: Blood Dagger’s Test
Ragia’s followers usually kept their distance whenever she and I were in the same tent. The one rushing toward us now was probably a member of the Blood Dagger Clan. It wasn’t my tent, so it could have been considered rude, but I spoke to the person outside anyway.
“Come in.”
As expected, Ragia didn’t seem bothered. Having already decided to entrust herself to me, it seemed she was resolved to follow my lead completely. In fact, she wore a strangely pleased expression, as if happy that I hadn’t asked for her opinion. She seemed to delight in my desire to stand above her.
The one who entered at my command was, unexpectedly, Mev.
The moment she came in and saw Ragia sitting so close to me, sparks flew from her eyes, but she said nothing. It seemed she realized we hadn’t done the deed yet. Nevertheless, her face was crumpled in sorrow.
We had agreed not to bring the clan’s women when visiting the second group, so for Mev to have come all this way, there must have been a sign.
I nodded, and Mev slowly began to speak.
“Chieftain.”
“I understand.”
The seeds I had sown with Baek Ahyeon were beginning to sprout. Of course, this place wasn’t the target, which meant I had to move. I turned to Ragia.
“It seems we must part ways for today. Something urgent has come up at the settlement.”
“As you wish.”
Though her eyes held a hint of disappointment, Ragia bowed her head in acceptance of my will. Funnily enough, she shot a sly smile at Mev, likely thinking the tide of victory had turned in her favor. But to me, of course, Mev came first.
I gave Mev’s head a gentle pat and left Ragia’s tent.
As soon as we were far from her settlement, Mev spoke.
“It’s humans. They seem to be heading for the first settlement… I don’t know their exact destination, but I’m almost certain.”
“Where are they now?”
“Probably at the entrance to the forest.”
“How many?”
“About fifty.”
Baek Ahyeon was likely among those fifty. Since it was improbable that her organization would send its own troops, she had most likely joined them as a mercenary. I infused a bit of magic into the Ring of Covenant, and just as I’d expected, Baek Ahyeon’s voice came through.
[My savior….]
[Are you on your way now?]
[Y-yes. That’s right, my savior….]
[Their level…]
[They’re mostly composed of 5th and 4th-class summoners.]
It was certain they were heading for the first settlement, and Baek Ahyeon was definitely with them. After hearing that, I immediately cut off the communication. I returned to our settlement to prepare a reception for them, then set out once more. The party heading to his settlement consisted of just me, Mev, and Hark. The rest of the forces were on standby for battle. Gark was also to follow us while remaining hidden.
This number should be sufficient, but if things went wrong, Hark’s Mirror Image would send a signal to the waiting troops.
There was some distance between the human city and his settlement, so we had time, but I wanted to get there first and wait. I decided to hurry. Everything was perfect, but there was just one problem. It wasn’t an issue that would affect the plan itself, but it was something that left a bad taste in my mouth.
Mev’s crumpled expression showed no signs of smoothing out. Because of that, the loyal Hark, the second of the five siblings, was needlessly glancing our way, trying to read the mood.
“A child…”
“…”
“Are you going to have a child with that Troll?”
An unexpectedly blunt question. Asking something so pointless in this situation was unlike the usual Mev, but it seemed the scene she had just witnessed was seared into her mind. Seeing her react this way just because I had been sitting close to Ragia, I could truly feel how much she cared for me. The reason was a little different, but her reaction, so much like a human’s, was a bit refreshing.
Even though she was the one who had spoken, her eyes were welling up with tears of sorrow. To reassure her, I spoke slowly.
“I have no intention of having children yet.”
She seemed relieved, but her expression was hard to read.
“If I were to have an heir, it would most likely be with you first.”
As if those words were the clincher, Mev’s face began to brighten. Unless a miracle occurred, it wouldn’t be easy for a Fairy to grow large in an instant, but this system of ‘evolution’ certainly helped one grow in the way they desired. If Mev were to grow properly, I found myself thinking it would be good to have an heir, for the sake of the tribe.
After Mev’s expression cleared up, we began to head quickly toward Hakajin’s camp. Once Mev’s mood lifted, Hark also seemed to be in good spirits, running along with a silly grin. He seemed incredibly happy to have become an overseer for Blood Dagger’s test.
In truth, it wasn’t much of an overseer role. Our purpose was simply to watch carefully how they would act. Nevertheless, he muttered to himself.
“This is Blood Dagger’s test!”
“I am the fearsome overseer, Hark.”
He wore a triumphant smile, but he didn’t look like a very fearsome overseer. He looked extremely pleased. It seemed he was more focused on participating in the test itself than on anticipating the results.
Before long, we began to approach his settlement. As expected, he was out to greet us. As if remembering my words that he didn’t need to flee into the cave, Hakajin was waiting for us at the front of the settlement as usual.
“Welcome, honorable warrior Blood Dagger. I will show you inside.”
“Alright. Lead the way.”
He didn’t seem very pleased, but he couldn’t treat a guest—especially a clan with its own banner—poorly, so he seemed to be trying his best to accommodate me.
In fact, from his perspective, it was only natural to be displeased with my presence. From what I had observed and assessed of him, the most important thing was safety. Whether it was his own safety or that of his tribe, I wasn’t sure, but he knew very well that he was weak.
That’s why he never overreached. He hunted what he could and boldly gave up on what he couldn’t. It was a precarious existence, but that was the reason this settlement had managed to survive. For someone who pursued stability like him, there was no way he would welcome me. To him, I was the troublemaker who muddied the waters.
After being disappointed in him during our first meeting, I hadn’t extended an offer to recruit him, so he probably thought of me even more so in that way.
It was the complete opposite of Ragia. Ragia wanted me to stay in her settlement, while Hakajin wanted me to leave his as soon as possible.
“So… what brings you here today…?”
As expected, he got right down to business. I couldn’t possibly say, “I’ve come to test how you all will act,” so I made up a rough excuse.
“Does there need to be a reason? I just came to get a drink.”
He must have been thinking we were laying it on thick. He wasn’t as sharp as Ragia, but he was smarter than I’d given him credit for, so he probably had a rough idea of why I’d come. Nevertheless, the atmosphere was anything but welcoming.
Time passed as we discussed various things. Thinking it was about time for them to arrive, I slowly channeled magic into the Ring of Covenant, and Baek Ahyeon’s voice started to come through.
[M-my… savior. I think we’re almost there.]
[Where are you?]
[We can see it faintly in the distance.]
At this point, there was no way a guy like Hakajin wouldn’t notice. Shouts began to pour in from outside.
“Hakajin! Hakajin! Humans! It’s humans!”
With the sound of drums signaling danger, the outside instantly became chaotic. Amidst the chaos, I slowly raised my cup and drained it in one gulp.
[We’re running, my savior… The summoners are running.]
“It’s humans! Hakajin!”
Eventually, a rude goblin threw open the flap of the tent we were in and shouted at Hakajin. He wore the expression of someone who didn’t know what to do. At a glance, his eyes seemed to be pleading for us to help him fight, but it also seemed he was thinking something else entirely.
“Wh-what should I do?”
If a force of this size had arrived, he would have probably fled in an instant. Assuming I wasn’t here, of course. It was obvious he was watching me, trying to gauge my reaction.
“Blood Dagger… what will you…”
He was demanding an answer. In response, I began to shout something very unlike me.
“We fight to the death! For honor!”
These were words any ordinary Green Skin would have to accept. But with his way of thinking, he was probably convinced I was a madman. Making the act even more convincing was, unexpectedly, Hark. With a flushed face, he began to shout loudly.
“Victory! For victory alone! For Blood Dagger!”
Seeing that, Hakajin seemed to believe my words were genuine, not an act. Mev also let out a small, imperceptible sigh and began to shout in a high-pitched voice.
“For Blood Dagger!”
I got the feeling Hakajin was becoming even more flustered. Outside, the frightened goblins and hobgoblins continued to scream.
“What should we do, Hakajin!”
“Strong humans are coming!”
In the end, Hakajin bit his lip hard and turned his head away from us. He paid us no mind, rushing outside and starting to pull all his tribe members back.
“Retreat! Everyone into the cave!” With Hakajin’s shout, his tribe members began to recede like an ebbing tide, even before the humans arrived. It seemed they were heading for the same cave as last time. After watching them make their swift escape, I also pulled Mev and Hark with me and hid.
“He’s a dud! He ran away and left us behind.”
Hark was fuming with indignation. I raised a finger to him. Understanding my signal to be quiet, he instantly shut his mouth. I also knew the guy was a dud. The thought, If only he had at least pretended to help me… crossed my mind, but I quickly shook my head and sent a message to Baek Ahyeon.
[M-my… savior… there’s no one…]
[Follow the path.]
[Yes. Yes.]
The humans weren’t idiots either, so they were probably following the trail to the cave where Hakajin’s group was. To be honest, it wouldn’t matter if I ran away, but I had no desire to let his settlement suffer near-annihilation under the pretext of a test, so I slowly started toward his cave.
[Follow from the very back. I don’t want you to be in danger.]
[Y-yes! Thank you.]
Watching from a distance as the humans ran relentlessly, as if they had judged their prey to be weaker than them, we also quickened our pace. They ran for a good while. Just as I thought the humans must have entered the cave where Hakajin’s group was hiding…
Baek Ahyeon’s urgent voice came through.
[M-my savior!]
At the same time, screams began to ring out.
“Aaaaaargh!”
“Aaaaaaack!”
Those voices were unmistakably not those of Green Skins. They were the voices of humans.