Chapter 139
Chapter 139
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 139
Chapter Title: If You Don't Want to Stand Alone
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No, Sion's shocking appearance hadn't affected every warrior in Karta.
Far from it.
The tale of that utterly unexpected and peculiar guest had only spread as far as the warriors led by Zalan, who was responsible for him, and the tents around theirs.
Beyond that, the only details about Sion known to others were what his accompanying warriors had shared with fellow warriors close to them.
More than half of Karta's warriors still knew next to nothing about Sion.
But even if it was just a portion, public opinion was public opinion—and those seated above could not ignore it. Those were the chieftains.
"I've heard that Temuchin's guest, this Sion Klausen fellow, put on quite the impressive show."
"Is he really a noble of the kingdom?
It's bizarre enough that he's mingling with the warriors."
"...He's a war hero, isn't he?
If he's truly fought alongside common soldiers before, it wouldn't be so strange for him to be used to such hardships."
Before Jan and the warriors entered, the chieftains had been conversing among themselves.
After three years of tolerable living in the north, things had reverted to their old harsh state, and discontent among the tribesfolk was growing.
When people's dissatisfaction swelled, the first to suffer direct backlash were those in positions of authority like themselves, responsible for leading them.
To redirect that frustration and rage elsewhere, they aimed to turn their spears toward the kingdom.
By driving them out and claiming their lands, they could enjoy even greater spoils than before, or so they claimed.
That part was fine.
The problem was that, unlike before, the tribesfolk—more swayed by the immediate fear of losing what they currently held than by dread of the kingdom—had risen up, demanding an immediate march south, abandoning their previous lukewarm stance.
With a recent generational shift bringing more young warriors eager to rack up achievements, the atmosphere had grown even more heated.
'A situation where we can't advance or retreat.'
That was the chieftains' inner sentiment as they gazed upon the people they had stirred like a breeze, only for them to erupt into a raging blaze.
Trapped in a snare of their own making, unable to act either way, a commotion arose from outside.
It seemed Jan had returned to the tent with the warriors after finishing mobility training.
Moments later, the tent flap parted, and a woman entered, flanked by warriors.
"You've arrived, Temuchin."
"Temuchin."
Every chieftain rose from their seats to greet her.
Jan silently raised a hand in casual acknowledgment of their greetings before stepping to her place and sitting down.
Then, as if utterly indifferent to the stares of the others, she sank deeply into her chair, closed her eyes, and said nothing.
To an outsider unaware of the circumstances, her response seemed arrogantly dismissive toward these seasoned elders.
Yet neither the battle-hardened chieftains nor the hot-blooded young warriors dared utter a word in her presence.
For even in her current calm state, who knew when she might erupt into a raging inferno, her fury spreading to all around?
With the chieftains who had personally experienced Jan's terror maintaining silence, it was once again the relatively young warriors who spoke first today.
"Temuchin.
Have you heard the talk circulating among the warriors?"
"...What talk?"
"The noble from the kingdom who came as your guest this time.
They say he's fitting in surprisingly well with the warriors, despite his appearance."
"Is that so."
"I've heard the stories from the warriors around me too.
They say he's no ordinary man."
Jan shrugged once, as if to say, "Oh, really?"
Her subdued reaction left the ones who had brought it up feeling awkward.
But none of them knew that Jan had been secretly watching Sion from afar.
"Don't get too carried away.
It's just a fleeting spring breeze brought by a curious guest.
That won't change Karta's resolve."
The warriors advocating for war were visibly displeased.
With the north's mightiest warrior, Jan, leading them, Karta's momentum was honed sharp as a spear tip.
Now was the perfect moment—the kingdom still clinging to illusions of peace—ideal for a preemptive strike.
Yet this noble from the kingdom had shown up as a guest and mingled with Karta's warriors like old comrades, subtly shifting the mood.
"Hmm."
The chieftains weren't blind to the strange undercurrents flowing through Karta.
Not everyone remained skeptical about war.
In fact, those still eager for it were still the majority.
But the number holding slightly reservations about war had undoubtedly grown.
If the kingdom was sincerely seeking dialogue and offering compensation to fill the wait, it might be better than a fight where victory meant death and defeat meant death—such thoughts were quietly spreading.
'That noble from the kingdom is no slouch.
He knows exactly what warriors dislike and shun, and what they like and warm to.'
If he had been one of the northern nobles bordering them, it wouldn't have been so surprising.
They possessed considerable knowledge of the tribes, and harbored no great fear of this land of biting cold winds.
But Sion Klausen was not from the north.
He had journeyed from far warmer, more livable lands—a nearly month-long trek—to arrive here.
Yet he spoke and acted as if everything here was second nature.
"Temuchin."
When a chieftain called to her, Jan turned her head slightly to look at him.
He appeared quite tense as he glanced at the warriors and other chieftains before continuing.
"Don't we need to make a decision soon?"
"A decision."
"You know the nature of our tribes well.
Their edge is at its peak now, razor-sharp, but who knows when it might dull and scatter."
"..."
"War without certainty, or waiting without end?"
Jan's eyes turned cold as she slowly scanned the chieftain who had posed the question, and everyone else gathered there.
Those present roughly grasped that it was a silent query: Would they follow whatever decision she made?
They merely hoped their leader would voice what they wanted to hear.
'Here we go again.'
Jan felt her chest tighten in turn.
This situation again.
She had only sat in this seat for the tribes' sake, yet an immense pressure bore down on her.
As her brother Eos had said, she wasn't suited for a leader's role.
She could be a fierce blade or spear soaring toward enemies, like an exceptional warrior or commander, but leading multitudes as a "leader" didn't suit her temperament.
'I accepted their push to make me leader thinking I just needed to fight at the forefront against the tribe's enemies for them.'
She was used to cleaving foes or slaying monsters, but this was utterly unfamiliar.
Debating war or peace in a situation where enemies and allies were unclear was far too difficult for her.
"The warriors, and even the tribesfolk, are growing restless.
If some start deserting after we declare war on the kingdom in this state..."
"The numbers would snowball.
That's what everyone here is worried about, isn't it?"
"So we must act quickly.
From what we saw today, the warriors' condition has reached its zenith.
You saw it, Temuchin, and every warrior here confirmed it."
"With snow falling and the weather turning cold, it's the perfect timing.
Once the thaw begins and the lands near the kingdom's territories soften, even if we want to fight, it'll be risky for the horses."
As various arguments flew back and forth, the tent interior quickly grew noisy again.
The main speakers were the warriors, while the chieftains listened intently, pondering which path was best for the present.
The north's overall fate mattered, but their top priority was their own tribe's future.
If fighting was the only way to survive, they'd charge without hesitation—but they had no desire to shove warriors and tribesfolk into a battlefield where death was obvious, when other paths existed.
A tribe's downfall was their own.
"Temuchin."
"Temuchin, what are your thoughts?"
"We want to hear Temuchin-nim's opinion."
With no consensus reached, they turned to Jan once more.
Overwhelmed by the mounting confusion, Jan blankly stared at the warriors and chieftains—her gaze so fearsome that everyone in the tent simultaneously fell silent.
"..."
Jan gazed at them, pondering what to say.
Should she go with the initial proposal and call for battle?
What about Aigiore, and Eos?
If they couldn't join forces, leaving them as a dangerous foe at their backs—no different from the kingdom—was impossible while advancing.
Then should they strike them first?
Who would suffer the losses there?
Or accept Sion Klausen's proposal, endure a bit longer, and wait?
But what if everything was a kingdom ploy, as the warriors feared?
If kingdom forces attacked as the tribes grew weary and dull, holding out would be impossible.
Frustration mounted.
This situation, these people pinning hopes on her, and her own inability to meet those expectations fully—it was all suffocating.
I'm truly not suited for this seat.
Just a warrior fighting for the tribesfolk, a disgrace to the legendary hero Temuchin's name!
Bam!—
Her chest tight with frustration, Jan unwittingly slammed the table to vent.
She thought she'd hit it with moderate force, but the table apparently disagreed.
Crack, thud!—
"Urk."
"Eek?"
The new table—previously mangled by Jan during her encounter with Sion and thus replaced—had met its sudden end.
Split clean in two, it collapsed to the floor. Chieftains and warriors alike swallowed dryly in unison and bowed their heads.
"Our apologies, Temuchin."
"We respect your will."
"You are Karta's true strongest, so we shall not question but obey your will."
Ah, no.
That's not it.
She wanted to say that, but with the atmosphere so tense, Jan could only sigh helplessly.
The problem was that her sigh made everyone stiffen further, on even higher alert.
Jan pondered briefly, then abruptly stood.
"T-Temuchin?"
"You've all worked hard today.
Gather here again tomorrow morning.
We'll end the official proceedings for today."
With those words, Jan strode out of the tent as if urgent business called.
—
Splash!—
"Gaaah!"
She had endured snow clearance, tents, even all-nighters—but this was truly hard to bear.
Even in the daytime sun, the temperature was low, and the wind bit cold.
Pouring frigid water over herself in such conditions made her leap about.
The warriors saw no need to wash, wandering with their unwelcome odors, but Sion was, strictly speaking, neither a northerner nor a kingdom noble—a modern man.
Covered in dust and reeking, he couldn't endure without dousing himself.
This small space was courtesy of Zalan's consideration.
For those traveling light to spare their horses, a personal shower was unthinkable.
He quickly wiped down with his cleanest cloth, changed into spare clothes he'd prepared, and hurried back to his tent.
If he froze white after bathing, the warriors' mockery might echo from all sides.
"O-oh! Y-you're baaack—kyaaah!"
Risikida had already received Sion's order: "I'm going to wash up, so light a fire and wait!"
But seeing him burst in half-dressed, buttons undone, ignited her girlish instincts explosively.
Sion even checked his lower half, wondering, "Did I forget underwear?"
Fortunately, he wasn't that foolish—he'd definitely worn it.
"H-h-here, s-sit here!"
"...Calm down.
It's not like you've never seen my body before."
"I-it is the first time!"
"You saw it when we did it, didn't you?"
"I-I don't know!
Anyway, first time!"
"...Fine.
If you say so."
Pushing further would just loop like a Möbius strip.
Sion stared into the flames of the portable stove, lost in thought.
Two more days, excluding today.
He had to reach a conclusion within that time.
Jan still went silently about her duties, and the standoff between Karta and Aigiore continued.
Uncertain how things would unfold, Sion had sent letters via knights to the kingdom before heading to Karta, summarizing the situation.
One to the royal palace, the other to the bustling Highness Merchant Guild for transaction payments.
'If there's more than the transaction amount, I said I'd cover it later, so I hope Helen moves as fast as possible.'
From the capital to the north took two weeks by horse; three with wagons.
Factoring in the messenger's arrival and the guild's prep time for heading north stretched it further.
Meaning at least a month before the food Sion mentioned could arrive.
'Somehow, I need to fill that month-plus gap with other means, but I can't see how.'
He could scrape by a week, but the rest was the issue.
The northern tribes needed something convincing, but he had nothing at hand.
As Sion, worried Jan might suddenly shout "War, you lot!" and turn toward the kingdom, pondered alternatives—
"Sion.
Are you inside?"
It was Zalan, in charge of the tents around here.
Sion replied, and moments later, someone entered.
Assuming it was Zalan, he rose without bothering to button up fully—only to let out an "Huh?" in dismay.
"Sion Klausen.
I need a word with you..."
Entering was none other than Jan Temuchin, the north's strongest, called "Khan."
Their eyes met squarely. She noted his half-undressed state but said nothing.
An awkward silence stretched—
"..."
Without a word, she turned and exited.