10
Chapter 10
Concepts that aren't too cringey, like 'Melee-type Spy' or 'I Trusted the Monkey Uncle'.
It seems a friend has arrived to cure my boredom—
"...Lord Mallak, has something urgent come up? It doesn't seem like you're listening to me."
Yikes, you startled me.
Paya is reading my expression. She had been talking enthusiastically on her own, but stopped when I didn't react.
- Of course I'm listening. Continue telling me about my uniqueness.
"I already finished that part..."
Finished? Really? I thought she'd be on about that all day, but I guess not.
- I see. I'll stop gathering information for now.
I'll just play it off shamelessly this time.
I shouldn't use the 'I'm not fully recovered due to the forced descent, blah blah' template too often.
The moment I say 'My memories haven't returned yet hehe, so my concentration is weak T_T, I think I forgot everything you said lol!', faith in me will hit rock bottom.
She'll definitely think, 'Is our Loa a forgetful dementia patient?!'
"Um, actually, there is something I need to ask you, Lord Mallak."
Paya, who was looking at me with a slight pout, returned to a blank expression. She's still young, so she can't hide her emotions well.
...Was Paya in her mid-to-late teens? I feel a bit guilty for being harsh to a child.
- Speak.
"When should we begin the tribal unification?"
- Tribal unification, huh.
Tribal unification. I've heard the same thing from Kanto once.
The idea is to unite various Barbarian tribes from the mountains, seas, and plains to create a massive force.
"If you just give the order, all the tribes will gather under your name, Lord Mallak."
This is a serious matter. Tribal unification is a double-edged sword.
While expanding my influence might help me earn points faster, I could easily end up on the demons' radar.
I'd heard about the fall of George's Raid Party indirectly through the community. If I cause too much of a stir while gathering Barbarians, I might suffer the same fate.
It's certain that this dragon-shaped totem replacing my body would be destroyed, and the Blue Moss Tribe serving me would be devastated.
Of course, even if the totem breaks, there's no guarantee I'll die. Paya mentioned earlier that a Loa is fundamentally an immortal being and cannot be killed.
She said the totem is simply a medium connecting the Loa to the earthly realm, not the Loa's actual body.
I don't believe Paya's words blindly, but it would be pathetic for a divine being to die just because a piece of wood broke. For now, I'll believe I'm an Immortal.
- Hmm.
Slow and steady strength or risky rapid growth... normally, I would have chosen the stable path.
The problem is, if I play it safe, I can only earn points through Kanto and the warriors.
The Infected living around the mountains aren't like monsters in a game that respawn. Strictly speaking, they're closer to zombified animals.
Their numbers are naturally limited, and since we've been hunting them for a week, they're starting to run dry.
To earn more points, I need to go to the village and hunt low-tier demons. But can Kanto and the warriors possibly keep up with that?
Kanto, my strongest asset, is not a Holy Knight.
Since there's no concept of *levels* or *skills*, it was impossible to grow rapidly by gaining experience and learning techniques while hunting the Infected or demons.
Whether it was a racial trait or just human nature, his physical abilities were far superior to an average human, but that was all.
He couldn't take on sixty worshippers and a low-tier demon all by himself like George did at level 5. I actually asked him about it once.
"Low-tier demons? I'm not sure if it was a low-tier one, but I once fought a demon that looked like a giant earthworm. I lost three of the tribe's best warriors for it, and I was severely injured myself."
A blood-soaked Kanto and the lives of three warriors for a single low-tier demon. Continuous hunting is simply impossible.
Essentially, it means he's just a step below George.
This is driving me crazy.
Unifying the tribes would draw too much attention, but relying only on the Blue Moss Tribe means I can't grow strong enough.
A situation of two extreme choices.
I decided to find a compromise.
- Can the Blue Moss Tribe communicate with all the other tribes?
"Yes. All tribes are connected under the protection of the Loas."
- How will you announce the tribal unification?
"We communicate with all tribes using carrier pigeons once a year. We'll use them to announce the unification as well."
- Carrier pigeons, huh.
I've seen movies where letters are attached to a pigeon's leg and sent flying into the sky.
I believe that's what they call pigeons used for communication.
"They aren't ordinary pigeons; we use spiritual animals raised on various medicinal herbs as carrier pigeons. Would you like to see one?"
- I will.
A moment later, Paya brought over a huge pigeon. It was nearly the size of an eagle.
"His name is Tuntun-i."
He did look sturdy. Far too sturdy.
Squawk-!
Even the cry sounds like a bird of prey.
"Those eerie eyes... he's even been trained to quietly deal with the things you call Devil's Sight. Devil's Sight are not born of nature, but creatures crafted by demons through filthy Dark Arts. They're imperfect beings, slow and sluggish. They're no match for Tuntun-i."
Good. Tuntun-i passes the test.
I thought they'd send someone on foot to the other tribes; I'm glad they aren't quite that primitive.
- Which tribes have you been in contact with up until last year?
This world is currently in the middle of a demonic apocalypse, so the number of tribes has likely dwindled.
"We've exchanged letters with thirteen tribes."
Why is the number thirteen? How ominous.
Well, it doesn't really matter.
- Which tribe possesses the strongest warrior?
This is my compromise. Instead of unifying every single tribe across the world, I'll just recruit those who are actually useful and develop them.
If I bring in too many and get spotted by a powerful demon, it'll be the end of me.
I don't know how much of a difference there is between the strongest warrior and Kanto, but two Kantos should make dealing with low-tier demons a breeze.
"The Brown Rock Tribe. Their new chief is the strongest... and she's not a normal human."
- Not a normal human?
Paya spoke cautiously, her voice dropping an octave. I don't know why she's being so secretive; it's just the two of us.
"Rumor has it she's a hybrid of a Loa and a human."
Wait, is that even possible? Were there Loas who descended in their original form instead of through a totem like me?
Since she mentioned it's a rumor, it seems Paya herself isn't entirely sure.
- I'd like to hear more.
"I've never seen her myself, I've only heard the rumors. They say the Brown Rock chief's mother became pregnant without a husband, claiming she conceived with a Loa in a dream."
It's not like a virgin birth or anything... maybe she just had a secret boyfriend and lied to keep it hidden.
"I heard that because of that, she wiped out a wolf pack at age seven and took down a bear by nine."
Might as well say she can teleport. What is this, some kind of divine bloodline?
"Also, she's young and powerful, but incredibly arrogant. She's cold even to her own people and hates children."
Paya spoke with a beaming smile, like a child gossiping about a classmate she dislikes. Looking at her now, she's just a normal girl who loves a good rumor.
"My brother said she's a terrifying person."
Paya suddenly gasped and slapped a hand over her mouth.
"I-I didn't mean brother, I meant the chief. The chief said so. Kanto, the chief of the Blue Moss Tribe, has actually met her."
- I see.
She's at an age where calling him 'brother' is embarrassing.
"...He said the part about her strength is definitely true. He fought her and felt that he stood no chance of winning."
Good. Either way, that means she's stronger than Kanto. As long as she's stronger than Kanto, she doesn't even need to be on George's level.
Let's call her 'Above-Kanto-Below-George'.
...I feel a bit bad saying this without actually seeing Kanto fight, but I'm just making a cold assessment.
- How large is the Brown Rock Tribe?
If I only ask the chief to come, she probably won't. That would be asking her to abandon her people.
I have to bring the whole tribe.
"They're smaller than our tribe. According to the letters from last year, there are about forty of them."
Forty. It's not a small number, but if we act discreetly, it should be fine.
Somehow, I've decided this without the chief, Kanto.
It's true that Kanto is basically a guy reading a script written by his mid-teen sister, but he's also a dependable pillar for this tribe.
It wouldn't be a bad idea to give him a heads-up before sending the message.
- When Kanto arrives, tell him about this conversation and then send a carrier pigeon to the Brown Rock Tribe.
"Understood."
Paya, having regained her composure, left the altar.
One matter settled.
I can now see a guideline for how to proceed.
If I keep acting like this, I'll eventually meet other Holy Knights.
I might even run into that guy who was talking so excitedly on the community forum.
What should I do then?
A famous line from a movie suddenly comes to mind.
Something like... I'm on the side of justice, but it seems justice isn't on my side.
Since we have a common enemy in the demons, I believe I should cooperate with the Holy Knights, but I don't know how they'll perceive me and the Barbarians.
- ...
I'm getting unnecessarily anxious.
What was the title of the movie with that famous line?
Maybe I should write a post about it...?
[Ultra Sanz Crazy for Massacre Mode on a Moonlit Night: Found the movie.
It has that famous line: I'm on the side of justice, but it seems justice isn't on my side.]
The reply came incredibly fast.
[Not a Netkama: Pervert Mask]
Man, that movie was insane.