Chapter 129
Chapter 129
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 129
Chapter Title: Sisters, Not Ordinary
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Sion's group was led by Bayara, who followed Eos and Buriler—the elite guard—toward Aigior's main camp.
There was some awkward tension between them, of course, but at least between Sion and Eos, there was no particular hostility.
"Impressive.
To think you drove off the enemy like that."
"Let's just call it luck."
"Luck is the will of the heavens.
Up north, we don't look down on someone just for being lucky."
"Good to know."
At a glance, it looked like old friends catching up after a long time apart.
Their guards—the elite under Buriler and Sion's escorts—followed behind with slightly troubled expressions as the two kept up the nonstop chatter.
But amid all that lively talk, neither Sion nor Eos touched on the negotiations at hand. Not even a hint about the issues between the kingdom and the northern tribes.
The subtle power play of caution, each wary of giving the other any leverage, had already begun.
And so, Sion and Eos's group finally arrived at Aigior's ger.
It had once been a rough, intimidating place due to ongoing clashes with Karta, but they'd quickly freshened up the atmosphere upon hearing a special envoy from the kingdom was coming.
"You don't plan to drag this out forever, do you, Sion Claussen?"
"Obviously not, Buriler.
My hope is to return to the kingdom with a positive answer as soon as possible.
There are just so many people waiting."
"So that's why you brought the vice-commander of the royal knights."
"Actually, he was assigned by the one who's been waiting for me."
Sion was subtly emphasizing, "I'm a very important figure in the kingdom!"
It might seem childish, but these little jabs could unsettle the other side or give him an edge in negotiations.
"If the woman in front of me were Karta's leader, Zhan Temuchin, I wouldn't dream of saying something like that."
She'd probably seize the chance, take him hostage, and negotiate something entirely different with the kingdom.
It'd be nice if that were a joke, but with the Khan, you couldn't rule it out.
She was the hot-blooded big sis who'd do anything for her tribespeople.
But Aigior—and Eos Buriler—were different.
They sought peace with the kingdom and, though their land was harsh, hoped to avoid a brutal future soaked in the blood of wives and children.
"Have a seat."
At Eos's invitation, Sion sat without hesitation.
One side of the massive ger was filled with Aigior's people, centered around Eos.
The opposite side was packed with Hispania's contingent, with Sion at the center.
Normally, only essential personnel would stay while the rest headed to lodgings to rest, but this place was as good as enemy territory for Hispania's people. And for Aigior, it was easier to keep an eye on the potentially hostile group all in one spot.
"But that guy's already got heart-eyes shooting out like he's under a charm spell."
Sion noticed Kim Yu-hyun frozen stiff, like he'd been hit by some enchantment.
And it wasn't surprising. Eos looked eerily like the Western woman Kim Yu-hyun had secretly fancied back in his martial arts world days.
Worse yet, she showed up when he clashed with the Khan later on.
The Khan's sister, Daughter of Winter.
Of course they'd look alike.
Kim Yu-hyun could never bring himself to kill the Khan, ending up with just some injuries and everything fizzling out.
'It's all the author's scheme.
A dirty trick to take out both Daughter of Winter and the Khan at once!'
The injured Khan couldn't fight properly, and Daughter of Winter couldn't finish off her sister.
In the end, both met their ends, and the northern barbarian tribes splintered once more, never regaining their former might.
"I heard you sent back the previous envoy from the royal court."
"Is that so."
"You sent them packing without even hearing them out."
"Isn't it obvious?
The north stays quiet like always, the kingdom clings to its rich lands—no change.
Your envoy had no solution for that."
"But there's a world of difference between listening and then sending them back, versus not even bothering.
That's why you're welcoming me and my people so warmly, isn't it, Buriler?"
In other words: You're scared of something, that's why you rushed out to greet us.
Eos Buriler of Aigior let out a "Kek!" of laughter and elegantly crossed her legs.
It could've come off as rude at the negotiation table.
Schumacher the vice-commander and Risikida's faces hardened coldly, but Sion seemed unfazed by her demeanor, keeping a smile on his lips.
"You've got the wrong idea.
I didn't welcome you.
If anything, I saved you from Temuchin, who's probably itching to slit kingdom throats somewhere."
"Saved us."
"Didn't you notice?
On our way to Aigior's ger, those cavalry watching us.
Who do you think they belonged to?
Who do you think they ran off to report to?
If I hadn't arrived first, do you really think you'd be sitting here comfortably in this warm ger, chatting with me?"
She said it with such a kind smile.
I'd rescued you from another faction hostile to the kingdom.
And a warning: I could toss you out to them anytime.
"How rude."
Vice-commander Schumacher finally spoke up, voicing his displeasure.
"Buriler.
The man seated here has full authority delegated by His Majesty the King of Hispania.
Even in your ger, you can't intimidate him."
"When did we intimidate anyone?
And if we did, would you lot just go, 'Oh no, scary! Guess we better obey!'?"
"..."
"From where I'm standing, you brought enough force to fight Aigior."
Only then did Vice-commander Schumacher understand why the woman called Buriler was acting so sharp.
They'd brought too many people—enough to provoke others who might oppose the kingdom.
'...But this isn't just anyone. He's the heir to Margrave Claussen of the borderlands.
A war hero, no less. We can't treat Young Lord Sion lightly.'
These escorts had been assigned by Hispania's ruler, Edgar IV, from the start.
Would he have placed them with Sion Claussen without anticipating something like this?
The king's image was vivid: Stand by Sion no matter what he says, does, or decides—be his sturdy shield and sharpened spear.
"Buriler."
Still smiling faintly, Sion spoke.
Eos looked at him as if to say, go on.
"Don't pin your tribe's shortcomings on me, my people, or the kingdom."
"...What?"
"From the start, your instability forced the kingdom to send this many escorts as a natural countermeasure, didn't it?
Did we pressure the northern tribes first?
Did we attack?
From what I hear, you're the ones who created the hostile atmosphere.
Am I wrong?"
"..."
Blaming others works best when timed right.
It doesn't always land, but in a situation with clear cause and effect like this, a light blame-shift could flip the mood and crush their momentum entirely.
"The kingdom gave you a chance, and you welcomed it.
Three years of long-yet-short peace prove it. Now you're whining about our escorts? That's just childish tantrum territory."
The northern warriors behind Eos glared at the biting criticism.
Calling it "child's play" in front of these prideful folks? A natural reaction.
But Sion just deepened his smile.
He went further, crossing his legs like Eos—and somehow looking even more elegant and refined than her.
'I didn't practice crossing my legs for nothing.
This is a skill too.'
Every action needs to exude dominance to back up your words.
Sion gazed at Eos as if to say, if you've got something to say, bring it.
Meanwhile, Eos struggled to contain her boiling frustration.
She'd expected a counterattack since she'd provoked first.
But she hadn't anticipated such a sharp rebuke in what was practically enemy territory.
Takes real guts to pull that off.
'Is that the composure and presence coming from some twenty-year-old punk?'
She'd wondered if the "war hero" talk was just kingdom nobles inflating things, hogging credit.
But meeting him now, Eos could tell at a glance—it was all true.
That wasn't cockiness from trusting his backups.
It was the ease and confidence of a fully prepared adversary who could parry anything thrown at him.
"...There were circumstances.
Trade with the kingdom, steady for three years, shook to its core. Unsteady public sentiment tipped toward war—that's the cause."
"That's not why I'm here.
It's done. The kingdom wants war or peace.
Pick one.
I hope your sturdy northern tribes make the wise choice for your descendants."
"Karta—and those itching to defy the kingdom—think the smart move is war, seizing fertile land for a new nation.
You know that?"
Sion shrugged at Eos's words.
He tilted his head cockily, a mocking smirk on his lips.
The kind of smile that made you want to punch him.
"So, war it is?"
"Aigior doesn't want that."
"Then what is this?
Round and round to square one.
You don't want war, but others do.
We bring minimal protection against the threats, and you pick a fight over it—then say that's not it either."
"..."
"Buriler.
This isn't casual chit-chat.
Make your position clear.
You sent back the royal envoy and dragged me, Sion Claussen, all the way to this remote north!"
BAM!
Sion slammed the table.
It'd be enough to earn outrage for rudeness alone, but the northern warriors held back.
Because Buriler Eos was silently staring him down.
"As Buriler of Aigior, convey your will to me, Sion Claussen.
Clearly and firmly, as a great power of these vast northern lands."
He couldn't split the table like Zhan Temuchin might have earlier, but the pressure was no less.
Eos fell silent for a moment, then met his gaze and spoke carefully.
"I—and everyone here in Aigior—want peace with the kingdom.
That's clear."
"Where's the other half?"
"...My sister."
She winced like she'd slipped up, squeezed her eyes shut then open, and sighed.
Blood sisters, raised together—she knew better than anyone.
No matter how much she persuaded her little-sister self, Big Sis wouldn't listen.
To convince Zhan Temuchin, someone else had to step in—not her.
"I couldn't convince her.
If things go on, Karta will launch a massive assault on kingdom lands alone, without even Aigior's alliance."
"So you'll choose war?"
"They believe claiming part of the kingdom's territory for a new nation will make everyone happy."
"And you, Buriler of Aigior, Eos?"
At Sion's question, she gave a bitter smile and answered honestly.
"Of course I want that too.
A nation for us northern tribes.
I'd love to join in.
Don't I want to see my parents, siblings, living well-fed and content?"
"Then why oppose them?"
"That's not our nature."
Her eyes gleamed coldly.
"We're the north wind of midwinter, the blade gale.
We can't settle in one place.
That's our birthright, our essence—we can't deny it.
Stubbornly clinging to another path would just sweep us away without a trace."
Sion wanted to applaud Eos's words.
How could she understand her tribespeople so perfectly?
In contrast, Zhan fixated on immediate fixes, blind to the long view.
She just believed her immense strength could conquer all.
'The scariest thing is when the strong hold misguided beliefs.'
As Sion opened his mouth to speak, someone tumbled into the ger.
They dropped to their knees before Eos with a thud!
"B-Buriler!
I know this is an important meeting!
B-Big trouble!"
"What now.
Rude, with honored guests here."
"T-Temuchin!
K-Karta's warriors have reached right outside our ger!"
The words froze everyone in the tent.
Hispania eyed them suspiciously—was this a trap?—a fair doubt.
Aigior panicked: They've gone and done it!
"...That crazy bitch!"
Above all, with the most crucial meeting ruined, Eos unleashed the rage she'd been holding back.
Eyes flashing, she bolted out of the ger without a word.
'No way it's sister showdown already?'
This was bad.
They couldn't both die yet.
Sion jumped up and chased after Eos out of the ger.
Right away, he spotted another woman leading a band of cavalry in the distance.
If Eos Buriler, Daughter of Winter, had been Kim Yu-hyun's reliable ally.
That woman astride her mount, drawing a sword as long as Lia without a hint of jest, was the ultimate nightmare even Kim Yu-hyun acknowledged: the north's terror, dubbed "Khan."
"Where are Hispania's dogs?!"
...I'm not a dog, sis.
Sion muttered as he was about to boldly shout that he was here.
"You goddamn nemesis bitch!"
From somewhere, a gust like a sandstorm blew, and a gray-haired woman charged out on horseback.
―――――――Author's Note―――――――
The reason she charged out? To catch all you readers who haven't hit the recommend button!