Chapter 132
Chapter 132
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 132
Chapter Title: These Sisters Aren't Ordinary
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It was bewildering.
No, it went beyond bewilderment—it was so absurd that words failed her completely.
The rumors had painted them as anything but ordinary, and meeting them in person only confirmed it all the more.
Sion Klausen, the great noble of Hispania, the young war hero.
She had expected him to offer some grand alternative, something they could fully trust since he insisted on complete faith.
'And all he says is "wait"?'
Eos glanced sideways at Zhan, who sat beside her.
Her sister already harbored hostility toward the kingdom—could she really keep her composure after hearing that?
"Are you joking with the northern tribes right now?"
And just as Eos feared, Zhan's voice dripped with fury.
Yet strangely, she still avoided looking at Sion.
Was this woman always the type to avert her eyes during conversations?
No, absolutely not.
Among northern warriors, avoiding eye contact was seen as a sign of insincerity—a grave insult.
'I have no idea what's going on with her...'
But right now, the important thing wasn't uncovering Zhan's odd behavior. It was the words from this man, Sion Klausen, who had so curtly proposed "wait" as their solution.
"Sion Klausen.
What exactly do you mean by that?
Just wait?"
"Exactly that.
Wait a little longer, and the monsters that infiltrated will come pouring out in droves anyway. Hold out until then, and the food shortage will be resolved for starters."
"How can you be so sure?"
"Call it a hunch."
Eos let out a sigh of disbelief at Sion's response, while Zhan glared at him—only to turn her head away the moment he looked back.
Meanwhile, Schumacher, the vice-captain, furrowed his brow at the word "hunch," then recalled the various incidents back in the kingdom involving this man.
There was definitely something special about this noble, Sion Klausen.
The slave market incident, the monster raid on Klauzen territory—he'd handled them differently from others. If that "something" was a hunch, then maybe it made sense.
"..."
Kim Yu-hyun, having been through too much with Sion already, simply stood quietly by, figuring he'd handle it himself.
"Outrageous.
Do you really think the warriors of Kalta, who face starvation or death in battle indifferently, will listen to that?"
"Words alone won't cut it, of course.
That's why I'm thinking of showing some sincerity, at least the bare minimum."
"...Sincerity?"
It wasn't why he'd made the deal in the first place, but turning these two sisters—who could defend the north better than anyone—and their barbarian warriors into outright enemies would be a tremendous loss with nothing to rely on from the kingdom.
To resolve the southern matters without worry, he needed stability in the north, along with a force he could deploy at a moment's notice.
'Above all, one of the barbarian tribes' laws: repay any favor received, without fail.'
Plunderers at heart, yet they stubbornly clung to their laws and craved honor.
For people whose lives were endless battles, their leaders needed more than just strength to command the warriors—another basis for rule.
"Food's the most urgent need, right?
We'll handle that."
"...What?"
"You're saying the kingdom will provide food?"
"Ah.
Not the kingdom—Sion Klausen, me personally."
He still owed about half the payment to the Highness Merchant Guild.
But before leaving Klauzen Margrave Territory, Sion had realized taking it all in food would be problematic.
Storing perishables was trickier than it seemed; spoilage or rat raids could mean watching money rot away.
Worse, constant food inflows might make Nudia think Klauzen was gearing for war, prompting the elves to stir trouble again—it was obvious.
'Better to have plenty than none, but no need to let it rot.
Redirect to where it's needed and get equivalent compensation instead.'
Of course, the northern barbarians outnumbered Klauzen's people.
He couldn't distribute lavishly, but that fit Sion's vision perfectly.
Too much goodwill, and they mistake it for entitlement.
Just enough to stave off hunger, enough to hold out a bit longer and return to their old abundant, full-bellied, warm lives.
"Is that even possible?
Even for a great noble of the kingdom, our northern tribes number in the tens of thousands..."
"We can't divide it abundantly, no.
But it could spark the hope to wait just a little more, don't you think?"
"The kingdom could use that to blind us, gather troops, and crush the north.
Am I wrong?"
Zhan's question cut sharp.
Dangle a lure, buy time, lower guards—then the kingdom's regulars sweep in and slaughter the tribesfolk.
Plausible enough on the surface.
"Zhan Temuchin.
You've got some serious misunderstanding."
To Sion, it was nonsense.
"If we planned to crush your northern tribes, I wouldn't be here as the kingdom's final authority.
I'd have brought the army and wiped you and your followers out by now."
"..."
Zhan stared at Sion's icy tone for a moment, then groaned softly and turned away.
If the kingdom wanted war, they'd have sent troops, not this man.
Sending a great noble to this wretched north held no value in her eyes either—the tribes were that insignificant.
"I've heard your situation.
Three years of peace, fullness, and warmth from trade.
But now the goods are dwindling fast—no way to maintain peace even if you wanted.
Back to plundering, or even building your own nation to create that wealth."
Sion tapped the table thoughtfully, intrigued.
"But the moment you form a nation, the kingdom will treat you entirely differently.
A state wary of tribes is one thing; wary of another state, entirely another."
"Probably."
"..."
"To Temuchin, who says there's no way, and to Bureller, who asks for one: trust me and wait a little longer.
That's the best and only answer I can give you."
"..."
"Hispania doesn't want war.
But if you come at us, we won't dodge.
We've overlooked things knowing it was your only path to survival.
But if we show you a way out and you stubbornly refuse, the kingdom can't smile and indulge you anymore.
Build your northern tribal kingdom, or watch the kingdom's army burn every tent across the north.
Your choice."
Eos and Zhan fell silent.
They both knew, unspoken: a full-scale kingdom army would crush them.
Guerrilla tactics, feigned retreats—they needed homes, a homeland.
No hiding spots in these vast plains.
The kingdom's horde would push them to the blade mountains, where they'd freeze to death.
'Push hard, but leave an out.
Corner them completely, and they rebel or break; leave a hole, and they crawl in—or deserters emerge if they resist.'
Sion waited for Eos and Zhan's reply.
But they only looked troubled, hesitant to commit.
With tribal unrest at a peak, "wait more" was the last thing leaders wanted to hear.
'But true leaders care for their people.
Show me that.
To stabilize the north, your sisters' abilities matter far more.'
The deliberation dragged, so Sion opted for shock therapy.
The mood favored him; he could afford to lean in.
"You seem too conflicted even after all this, so let me rephrase."
With that, Sion turned, drew Kim Yu-hyun's sword from its sheath where he stood.
Before the women could react, he slammed it onto the table with a cold gleam and a sharp clang.
*Clang!*
"We both know mulling it over just wastes time.
Let me help.
If you're still unsure, just take this sword, cut my throat, and go to war with the kingdom.
Quickest and cleanest way."
"S-Sion Young Lord!"
Schumacher paled, but Sion raised a hand to silence him.
They had no intent to kill him now—that much was clear.
If they did, it'd be done already, not here at the end.
'Hesitating at the jump? Best to push.'
Persuasion failing? One shove, done—clean as it gets.
"I'm short on time too.
Rather than drag this out for months waiting, let's end it here."
"Sion Klausen.
Calm down first..."
"Be honest.
If you say that, I'd want to believe you.
I never want to see my tribesfolk dying as their leader."
Oh, finally—from Zhan Temuchin's lips.
The Khan herself giving a positive nod!
Yu-hyun, you seeing this?
The woman who ignored your bullshit is listening to me!
Whip and carrot worked perfectly.
"But even if I trust you, the tribesfolk in Kalta won't trust the kingdom.
If you can't convince them, I'm out of options."
"Isn't convincing them your job, Temuchin?"
"That's why I'm asking.
For your help."
...If you're asking for help, fuck.
At least look at me while we talk.
Sion could only see Zhan's profile—her ear, really—since she'd turned away.
"Help how?"
"Show your sincerity so I can convince the Kalta tribes.
Not hard.
Just act like a great kingdom noble who understands our northern tribes.
Create that atmosphere.
It'll make persuading the chieftains easier."
"I said I hate stalling."
"One week.
Tomorrow's when the tribes strike camp and move anyway."
"Precisely."
Prodded, Zhan sighed and finally turned to face Sion.
She was attractive, much like Eos.
The scar on her cheek was a bit rough, though.
"...Become our 'utterly ordinary guest' visiting the north and mingle.
Minimal escorts.
One week like that, and warriors might consider trusting the kingdom once."
"Absurd."
Schumacher rejected it outright, eyes blazing at Zhan.
"Sion Klausen Young Lord is His Majesty's proxy, delegated final authority.
Treat him as an 'ordinary guest'? And request escort during camp strike and migration?
That's tantamount to military action!"
"That's why I'm asking for escort.
You might suspect we're tricking your delegation, sneaking warriors around.
If the final authority inspects the main force inside, no suspicions."
"But..."
"I ask little.
Just the vibe.
That the kingdom isn't mishandling our north.
That alone, and warriors might set aside baseless hostility and hear peace out."
Frankly, not the most appealing gig.
Sion crossed his arms, feigning thought.
One week? Time-wise, manageable.
Contacting Highness Guild for food transport would take days anyway—needed to buy some.
'And if Kalta still wants war after a week, hey, saved some coin.'
If they push war, no food aid.
Kingdom army sweeps the north clean.
Prevent monsters stripping the north bare later; these open plains were perfect for spotting and smashing invaders.
'Losing proven named ones just gifts the celestials.'
Escort duty? Doable.
Escorts for contingencies remained.
'Leave out Lily, no one to check Trisha; bring Trisha, she'll just hinder.
Kim Yu-hyun...'
Sion glanced at Yu-hyun eyeing Eos and shook his head.
Yeah, with your beloved here, who'd want to leave?
"Vice-Captain Schumacher."
"Yes, Sion Klausen Young Lord."
"Fetch Sir Risikida Amshel."
"...You're accepting their request...?"
"Have to.
If it sustains peace between the kingdom and their northern tribes."
Of course, Sion didn't forget the follow-up.
"But remember.
If I give this chance and get no positive response, things get fun.
Nothing worse than betrayed expectations."
"...If you make the effort, I'll do the same."
Zhan's reply earned a satisfied nod from Sion.
"...?"
Meanwhile, Eos had been tilting her head since earlier.
She hadn't noticed at first, but Zhan's ears were flushed red.
'...Has that bitch lost her mind?'
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