Chapter 134
Chapter 134
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 134
Chapter Title: You Know It's the Dead of Winter
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The snow that had been pouring down like mad, as if to blanket the entire world, stopped in an instant.
Jaan, who had been in the thick of directing the warriors, could finally catch her breath.
If the snow had kept coming like that, they wouldn't have just lost their tents—they'd have ended up hunkering down in snow caves for the night.
“The sun's about to set!
Hurry up!”
One side was still clearing snow, while the other was already pitching tents.
With warriors and chieftains from various tribes gathered, Jaan was well aware of the subtle tensions and factions forming within.
But that was a problem that couldn't be solved overnight, so she was one of those who believed the best approach was to create a common enemy among the tribes to force unity.
‘At least the snow's stopped. Small mercies.’
With that thought, Jaan headed first to Karta's newly erected ger.
Inside, several warriors and chieftains were already seated.
From young men and women to veterans exuding seasoned auras, it was a diverse group.
“Sit.”
They were all renowned powerhouses among the tribes, yet at Jaan's arrogant command, they sat quietly like obedient sheep.
“You've probably heard the gist from those who followed me.”
“We heard you're treating a kingdom noble as a guest, Temuchin.”
“If it's not too rude, I'd like to ask why you brought that man into Karta as a guest.”
As expected, the young warriors were the first to voice their doubts.
Among those pushing to attack the kingdom and seize their wealth, the youngest were the most hardline.
“The kingdom noble made a final proposal with some conditions.
He said that over time, the trade shortages would resolve naturally, trade with the kingdom would resume, and they'd regain warmth and plenty—so just wait it out.”
“What!”
“That's ridiculous.
Does he think the monsters will politely crawl out for us to catch them if we wait?”
If Sion had been there, he probably would've cackled, ‘Yeah, they'll crawl out. No—scratch that, they'll charge in to kill every last human. When that happens, you won't just want to catch them; you'll have to hunt them just to survive, you shitheads.’
“At first, I thought it was just noble bullshit too.
But then he said he'd personally cover the food shortages so far.
Not the kingdom—himself, in his own name.”
“You expect us to believe that?”
“Quiet down, everyone.
You're being too sharp in front of Temuchin.”
A middle-aged woman reined in the young warriors, who retreated with dissatisfied looks.
In gatherings like this, chieftains held far more authority.
And with Temuchin's expression darkening, extra caution was needed.
“I hear this kingdom noble is some war hero.”
“Yeah.
According to Burler, he's someone who's earned great merit in the kingdom.”
“A man with final say in the kingdom wouldn't spout empty words lightly.”
“What's with this mood?
Are you all seriously buying into some kingdom noble's nonsense?
It's just a stalling tactic!
The kingdom army might be marching here right now to slaughter our kin!”
“Foolish talk, young warriors.
If that were the case, why would the kingdom noble follow Temuchin all the way to our Karta?
It doesn't add up if he meant to deceive us!”
“Maybe the war hero bit is a lie, or he's a fake!
Either way, the kingdom could be tossing us their discard while they...”
Jaan raised her hand to silence the young warriors.
Her face had hardened coldly—she clearly wasn't pleased with them raising their voices in her presence.
As Jaan Temuchin, Karta's strongest, made no effort to hide her displeasure, everyone in the ger hurriedly shut their mouths and gauged her mood.
With the room finally quiet, Jaan spoke in a low,沉 voice.
“One thing I do know: that man is no fake.
If a guy with that kind of presence turned out to be counterfeit, it would be best not to even dream of war with the kingdom.”
“That impressive?”
“He's no pushover, that's for sure.
His words made me think he might actually empty his own coffers to aid the North—not just some delay tactic.”
“...But Temuchin.
Even a war hero—can one man really shoulder that much food?
We have dozens of tribes, hundreds of tribesfolk.”
It was a fair skepticism: not the kingdom, but one individual covering all that grain.
As everyone hesitated to speak amid their doubts, Jaan leaned back deeply in her chair, lost in thought.
“...What is Temuchin's view?”
An elderly chieftain finally ventured, looking cautiously at Jaan.
She let out a thoughtful “Hmph,” then spoke slowly.
“For now, I've invited this Sion Claussen to Karta as a guest to observe him closely.”
“I'm not sure that was necessary.”
“Maybe she thinks if he's just a smooth-talking noble, cracks will show.
So she proposed traveling together for a week. If he can't last that, it gives us more reason not to trust the kingdom.”
“Ah, so inviting him is a test?
To see if he's trustworthy or a con man.”
“...Well, you could say that.”
The older chieftains nodded at Jaan's answer after a blink.
War with the kingdom lacked certainty even in their eyes, and among the northern tribes, divisions between Karta and Aigiore left them short on solid justification.
Here comes a kingdom noble boldly asking them to trust his word once.
Offering a choice: war, or wait a bit longer.
‘Temuchin plans to use this noble: if he's trustworthy, accept on terms that preserve Karta's pride. If not, claim the kingdom's mocking the North and rally Aigiore.’
The chieftains thought it a solid judgment.
It safeguarded northern pride, dodged war with the kingdom, solved trade woes—or ignited fiercer flames alongside Aigiore against the kingdom.
All by leveraging this noble.
In truth, Jaan hadn't invited Sion with any such elaborate scheme.
‘...I didn't invite him for those reasons, but they're not wrong.’
But the young warriors clearly weren't satisfied with Jaan's decision.
“Temuchin!
We gathered to topple the kingdom.
Wasting even a moment on some lowly noble is too much.”
“Exactly.
That noble won't last three days in this frozen wasteland anyway.
Better to kill him, lure the kingdom army north, convince Aigiore, and unite our kin against them!”
The chieftains eyed the young warriors with disapproval.
Untested youths who'd never faced kingdom regulars bandying about decisive battle—it was laughable from their perspective.
Worse, if Karta struck first, not the kingdom—Aigiore's reaction was anyone's guess.
“Temuchin!
Please, that sly kingdom lackey...”
Shh!—
As the ringleader warrior opened his mouth again amid the tension, something sliced through the air.
It was so fast, no one registered more than a flash.
Moments later, red blood spurted from the warrior's left shoulder.
“Gah?”
“T-Temuchin?”
The warrior stared at the dagger in his shoulder, face incredulous.
It was the exact same as the one their leader often used.
Naturally, the others looked to Jaan in shock.
In that instant, they recalled what excitement had blinded them to:
The woman before them was a powerhouse who could slaughter them like insects.
“Voicing opinions is your right.
But deciding and acting? That's mine alone—the one you swore fealty to as Temuchin.
Raising your voice before me isn't pleasant.”
“S-Sorry.”
“If you're that dissatisfied with everything, challenge me here.
I'll gladly face you with a smile.”
Not just the young warriors, but the chieftains too shook their heads firmly in refusal.
Bare-handed, she'd once floored dozens of warriors single-handedly.
And that wasn't all—she wielded mana, so tricky even in the North, with effortless control.
Talent, skill, effort: Jaan was untouchable.
“My decision is made.
For the next week, treat that kingdom noble—Sion Claussen—as my guest and watch him.
You too: set aside the ‘kingdomer’ label and judge the man for yourselves.
Trusting him or not might decide if we clash with the kingdom in blood.”
Jaan rose, signaling she was done.
Everyone stood at once, bowing to the North's champion.
“Ah.”
Heading for the entrance, Jaan paused as if remembering something and turned.
She approached one man: the young warrior still with her dagger in his shoulder.
“What are you doing.”
“Huh?”
“Return my property already.”
She pointed at the dagger embedded in his shoulder.
He gawked at her in panic, but her gaze was icy enough to kill.
Gritting his teeth, he yanked it out with a squelch!
“Ng... H-Here, Temuchin.”
“Thanks.”
Blood streamed from his shoulder, but Jaan seemed indifferent.
She even wiped the blood meticulously on his clothes while thanking him.
She glanced around before continuing.
“That kingdom noble is now my guest, Jaan Temuchin's.
I trust no one will dishonor us by harming my guest.
All of Karta.”
“...”
“Don't forget: you made me Karta's spear, sword, and leader.
Ignore my authority, and by Temuchin, North's greatest warrior, I'll cut down the arrogant fool.
Unhappy? Challenge and take my name.
Otherwise, shut it.”
In plain terms: don't creep up.
You chose me—act worthy.
As everyone in the frozen ger nodded warily, Jaan withdrew her fierce glare and turned away.
‘Frustrating.’
Exiting the ger, she sighed.
Even chieftains and warriors couldn't agree.
Some eyed war or peace warily, hoping for a choice.
Others charged headlong: win all or lose all.
Either way, it frustrated Jaan to no end.
‘They're frustrating, but so am I.
A leader unable to decide, leaning on an enemy nation's man.’
War meant dead tribesfolk; waiting, starving ones haunting her mind.
Choosing should be simple, yet right felt elusive.
‘Karta, once baying for kingdom blood, now hinging on one man's show. How he'd mock us.’
Realizing she'd left him in the spare tent without much thought, she hurried back.
He was her guest—excuse for peace or war with the kingdom—but as host, she should tend him.
What if he'd clashed with warriors already? Might that push her to cry for war outright?
Lost in such worries, Jaan reached his spot.
But moments later, she blinked, doubting her eyes.
“No, this is infuriating.
Why drag out what one pull finishes into two, three?
Pull it like this!
Huh?
Secure it!
Set poles outside as braces, jam 'em in tight—done! Why make it harder?!”
“Th-That's...”
“Shut up and pull the damn ropes!
Ugh, fuck.
So frustrating.”
“...?”
Jaan wondered if she was hallucinating.
The kingdom's high noble—a refined-looking guy untouched by hardship.
Him up on a tent like it was second nature was odd enough, but the real kicker: warriors grunting, watching his every move.
“Pull, pull, pull!
Pull, I said!
No, fuck!
Wrinkles here.
Snow'll pile and collapse it next time!
Redo it!”
“We've managed fine like this forever—why...”
If I weren't desperate, would I bother?!
Ugh, you fuckers!
Sion screamed internally.
These barbarian warriors were straight out of novels.
Pro-level in combat.
But everything else? Worse than kids.
Half-ass tents, half-ass sleep, half-ass food—bare minimum for battle.
‘No wonder the kingdom scoffs, calling them raiders, not an army.
How do you even rewire these idiots' brains?
Lord, save these bastards.’
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