Chapter 142
Chapter 142
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 142
Chapter Title: If You Don't Want to Stand Alone
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A marriage alliance—a blood pact between northern tribes that was almost never broken.
Zan was proposing this to Sion.
And the partner wasn't some tribal chief's daughter or son, or a noble's child or lady from the kingdom.
It was herself, called the strongest in the north, and the kingdom's war hero, Sion Klauzen.
'This is getting too big.'
He hadn't completely ignored the idea of a marriage alliance.
Sion knew a bit about the northern tribes, so he'd considered requesting peace on those terms.
But which noble in the kingdom would ever agree to marry into those barbaric northern tribes?
Every single one would refuse outright, holding firm without fail.
The royal family had never meddled in marriage matters—that was the unwritten rule of the Hispania Kingdom that had held to this day—so even Sion couldn't do anything about it.
And the northern tribes, if they were going to form a marriage alliance anyway, would want a prominent noble house, but there was no one among the prominent houses willing to offer up their child.
'We could always fake it—call someone a noble and rush it through...'
But that wouldn't last even a few months.
Moreover, if the north grew even more chaotic later, such a shallow trick would unravel even faster.
What Sion wanted was a solid alliance with the northern barbarian tribes that wouldn't waver no matter the blizzard. This wasn't a desirable option.
"Zan, Zan Temuchin.
Why you? And why me?"
Even though he knew the reason, Sion asked anyway.
Hoping she'd respond honestly, with as surprised a reaction as possible.
Zan answered in a slightly calmer voice, as if it were the most obvious thing.
"Because it's the best picture the warriors, chiefs, and tribesmen below them could accept right now.
You might not know this, but in the north, the strong always have the right to claim their desired partner first.
It's a kind of respect for strength."
"I know the gist."
"Then that makes this quicker.
You asked me for a little time, and in exchange, you offered what you could provide.
Enough food to get the tribes by, if not make them prosperous.
But think about it—even a war hero and great noble like you wouldn't have blindly sent those supplies north without even negotiating with our tribes first."
At her sharp insight, Sion let out an involuntary "Oh" of admiration.
She still didn't think of herself as a leader, but with her naturally sharp mind, she'd seen right through it.
"In the end, I thought it was necessary for both you and me.
Time to get things done, and a justification for the kingdom and the northern tribes to wait that out."
"Sharp as ever."
"I didn't choose to be their leader because I wanted to, but I'm not entirely incompetent."
She tried to play it cool at Sion's praise, but he didn't miss the slight tremble of her lips.
She seemed extremely pleased, which Sion found strangely fascinating.
"Me—stronger than any northern warrior except my brother Eos.
And you, Sion Klauzen, whose fame is well-known in the kingdom.
If we two form an alliance through marriage, you get the time you want, and I can dream of peace for my tribes as I wish."
"So we both get a step closer to what we want without spilling blood."
"Exactly."
"And at the same time, if either side fails to uphold the promises, we can call it off right before it happens."
As Sion said, a marriage alliance was hard to break once made, but until the very moment it was sealed, either side could shatter it mercilessly if the agreed terms weren't met.
In the north, marriage wasn't just a bond between lovers—it was the tribes' sole 'demilitarized zone' for pursuing peace between tribes and swearing to keep promises.
"...And."
And?
There was another reason?
As Sion looked at Zan, she cleared her throat with a "Ahem!" and continued cautiously.
"H-Honestly, I was a little curious."
"About what?"
"When I first saw you, you were so different from the war hero title that it threw me off.
I expected some incredibly strong warrior, but I couldn't sense any mana or even the aura of power from your body."
"...Ahem."
"But then I saw people who seemed way stronger than you all following you.
Not crushing them with strength like I would—how the hell do you do that?"
"That's what you were curious about?"
"Of course.
Just how amazing are you that they follow you like that?"
As she said this, Zan fidgeted with her fingers.
She had more to say but seemed to struggle opening up.
Sion waited patiently without pressing her.
"...And."
"And what else?"
"Yesterday, that song you sang."
"Song? Oh, you mean..."
It must have been the song he'd sung for Risikida.
But come to think of it, there hadn't been any presence around the tent then?
Risikida opened her mouth with a flustered expression, much like Sion's own thoughts.
"Y-You!
You eavesdropped on the song the master sang just for me!
That's cowardly!"
"Ah, so that song was for you?
Sorry about that.
I overheard it by accident while lingering nearby. I hope you'll be generous."
"The song the master sang just for me, Risikida!
Ugh!
That's too much!"
"..."
Sion sensed something off in Risikida's anger and frustration.
Normally, a guard knight would complain about someone sneaking near the tent without her knowledge, but this woman seemed far from perfectly normal herself.
'...Lilith was right—do I really give off some kind of pheromone?'
Sion grew curious about just how much power this body—or rather, this face—held.
"Anyway, that song lyric from yesterday.
'The windy world, standing alone.' That one."
"...Yeah?"
"I didn't want that.
I felt like if things kept going like this, I'd really end up standing alone.
On the verge of becoming enemies with my only brother, and you—the one who stirred up emotions I can't even name.
Sitting here stupidly wasting time felt like I'd lose everything."
"..."
"So I thought about it all night, reached a conclusion, and in the morning, I gathered the warriors and chiefs and told them.
That our guest was actually the one I'd marry for the alliance, and I'd invited him to show him our tribe."
Wow, this woman jumps straight into action without a backup plan.
Wouldn't it normally be proper to discuss it with him first?
"Rude!
A marriage alliance without even telling the master?
No, are you trying to steal the master from me!
Do you think the others will just sit by?"
Risikida reacted immediately, as expected.
Growling nonstop, she looked like a dog baring its teeth at a wild animal trying to flirt with her owner.
Zan, however, seemed puzzled as to what the problem was.
"Strange.
This is what your master wants, so why are you, his subordinate, opposing it?
I've decided the path most beneficial to Sion Klauzen."
"T-That's true, but!"
"Please try to understand.
Like you, I want to stay by that man's side and hear him sing.
That's all.
I don't want to agonize alone or stand alone anymore.
I'm tired."
As Zan spoke with a bitter smile, Risikida's expression grew peculiar.
"Poor soul, hiding nothing—will there be someone to hold me?
That one line from the song kept aching in my chest.
Yes, I've come this far with just a sword, a horse, and this body.
Yet no one understands me or says the right words.
I don't want to endure alone in this place filled only with cold winds anymore.
I just want to lean on someone and rest."
"...You're tired.
You."
"Tired, huh.
Maybe that's it."
Risikida looked at Zan with a much softer demeanor than before.
Like a dog meeting an injured, weary wolf of its kind—wagging its tail cautiously and licking the wolf.
"Is that me?
The one you can lean on and rest against for a while."
"At least that's how I see it."
"Why?
Why me?"
"Because no one else in the north shows that side."
"That side?"
"To others, I was Temuchin.
But to you, I was Zan."
That made sense.
In the north, where strength came first in everything, Zan Temuchin was a woman no warrior could even dare face.
'Haa.'
If he had no one by his side, Zan's reaction would be like a godsend to Sion.
She was a mid-novel villain who rivaled Kim Yoo-hyun, now offering to join him willingly—it was something to celebrate.
But the problem was that there were already too many women around Sion.
It wasn't just about figuring out nighttime arrangements or some happy dilemma.
'Risikida and Lucia are fine.
Both are characters far from evil.
Even Ria would behave if I trained her a bit.
The issues are Trisha and Lilith.'
One was the demon who screamed she'd tear him to shreds if she couldn't have him.
The other was the black flame dragon in super-evolved form, spewing fury even as her limbs flew and her neck was severed, crying 'You all must suffer too!'
This wasn't about who was stronger or weaker.
It was about their inherent natures.
Lilith, Trisha, and this woman called Khan—Zan.
They were all women who achieved their goals ruthlessly, taking lives without hesitation.
In the novel, their desires never clashed, so no conflicts arose.
Now, they were drawn together by one man: Sion.
And all three wanted the same single thing at once.
'Can they really get along peacefully?'
That was the worry.
Could those three coexist?
Lilith and Trisha were barely holding back because Lilith ignored her, but they still growled constantly.
Once the celestial fully escaped the sanctuary and her holy mark unleashed its power, even Lilith would have to stay alert.
The same for Khan, Zan Temuchin.
In the novel, she'd pushed her injured body to the brink and died with her brother, but now that probability was near zero.
Meaning she could grow far stronger than now.
Even if not quite Kim Yoo-hyun level, all three were 'quasi' Kim Yoo-hyun material.
Imagine those women seriously fighting.
'...Fuck, maybe it'd be better to wrestle the celestials.'
Should he reject Zan's proposal and push her away?
That was a problem too.
If she'd come this far, her resolve was firm.
Rejecting her could backfire.
Moreover, seeing the sister feared even by the northern barbarians—the one whose glare could incinerate foes—showing such vulnerability stirred a fire in his chest.
Hadn't he already resolved to persuade her and make her his?
'Though I didn't plan to go as far as marriage.'
Rubbing his temples, Sion opened his mouth, suggesting more time to think.
"It's all good, but marriage from the start feels off.
This is..."
"We don't know each other well yet, so isn't this a good way to get to know one another?"
"...Who said that?"
"That's how warriors do it.
All the tribe's women too.
If they like each other, they promise a future and learn to fit together.
Isn't that what marriage means?"
"No, that's... Haa."
As Sion sighed, Zan fixed her still-shaking eyes on him and continued.
"I grew curious about you, developed feelings, and wanted to spend time together.
If that's not enough, I can try harder.
For you, being Temuchin's partner would be more effective with all the northern tribes than being some kingdom great noble."
"That... yeah."
"Right.
So that's settled."
Zan smiled faintly as she replied.
Seeing the woman he'd thought was always cold, rational, and strong show this side made Sion flinch involuntarily.
'...At this point, maybe I can trust her.'
Risikida beside him showed almost no hostility, unlike with Trisha.
Perhaps she sensed the same loneliness toward people that Sion did.
"Oh, and.
To be honest, it's a bit awkward to back out now."
"...?"
Awkward to back out?
As Sion silently stared at her in question, Zan scratched her cheek, a bit embarrassed, and continued.
"After I decided, a few warriors kept rebelling and cursing you."
"...And?"
"Isn't it obvious?
Cursing my future partner is the same as cursing me.
So in Temuchin's name, I personally snapped their necks."
...Cough.
"I was going to bend them in half from the outside first, but unfortunately, that was a bit tough."
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