Chapter 124
Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 124
Chapter Title: The Stranger and the Great Wolf Tribe (5)
The newly minted young chief.
The crowd cheering for him.
In the midst of it all, Bear stood silently, his eyes fixed on Conall's position.
His gaze was unmistakably locked on Conall, yet his eyes lacked any focus.
"Sir Bear?"
I called out to him, worried.
Fortunately, he turned to look at me right away.
"You called for me?"
Bear could hear me, but the roaring cheers from the crowd made it impossible for me to catch his words clearly.
So I leaned in close, straining to hear his voice as we continued our talk.
"Something wrong?"
"Ah, nothing much. An old memory just surfaced, so I was thinking about my hometown for the first time in ages."
Bear's hometown had to be Hus Island.
He was a Viking, after all.
"Doesn't sound like a fond one."
"Was it that obvious?"
"A bit. Your face soured."
"Just as you say, Master Heros, it wasn't a pleasant memory. But thanks to it popping up out of nowhere, I've finally realized what I need to do."
"What you need to do?"
"Once our business in the North is done, I plan to visit my homeland after all these years and settle an old grudge there."
"You're not leaving for good, right?"
I asked just to be sure.
I didn't want to lose Bear.
Not because he was an exceptional knight, but simply because I hated the idea of parting from someone I trusted.
"Of course not."
"Settling an old grudge... Sounds dangerous."
"Hm..."
Bear fell silent, pondering for a moment.
Then he nodded and replied.
"High chance it will be."
"Then we'll go together."
I answered without hesitation.
He had helped me so much; now it was my turn to help him.
"There's no need for that. This is my affair."
Bear tried to refuse my help.
But this was something I couldn't back down from either.
I didn't want to send him off alone to some dangerous place.
"It's my business too. I can't just sit idle if one of my knights is in trouble. Besides, call it a hunch, but I suspect there are black mages in the west too. Can't send you solo for that reason."
"You mean Eremus's black mages?"
"Yeah. Look at what they're doing. Stirring up trouble all over the Empire at once. High odds they're up to no good in the west either. So let's swing through there on the way to Hus Island. Sound good?"
Bear listened quietly.
Then he finally spoke.
"Thank you."
"So this is the chief's token?"
After the chief's trial ended,
I examined the token Conall had received.
It was a fang about the length of my palm.
Its surface was densely etched with strange patterns that looked like both drawings and letters, giving it an air of mystery.
And he wore it around his neck like a necklace.
"Yes, that's right."
"Cool. Congrats."
"Thank you."
"So, how's it feel to be a barbarian now?"
"Honestly, I'm not sure yet. But my heart feels a bit lighter than before."
"That's what matters."
As Conall and I chatted,
Sismays approached us.
She spoke to Conall.
"You're the first to shatter that rock in the trial. You've started a new legend."
"Is that so."
"Not thrilled? Your tale will live on as long as the Great Wolf Tribe endures."
"I am glad. It's just... I don't feel like I did anything that grand, so I'm more stunned than anything."
"You smashed a boulder with your bare fists. Not your average feat. You did something remarkable."
"Yes."
Conall's flat response.
Sismays chuckled at the sight.
Then she turned to me.
"Heros. Did you know 'Conall' means wolf?"
"First I've heard of it."
I glanced at Conall as I replied.
No surprise on his face.
He must have known the meaning behind his name already.
Of course he would.
"A wolf becomes chief of the Great Wolf Tribe. Quite symbolic."
"You think this is Akovar's doing too?"
I saw through Sismays's implication.
She smiled faintly and answered.
"Yes. At least, that's what I believe."
The conversation paused there.
As the mood grew a touch awkward,
Conall, fiddling with his token, turned to Sismays with a question.
"As chief of the Great Wolf Tribe, is there anything I must do? Or avoid doing?"
"Nothing like that. It's not set in stone. Just follow your heart."
Conall nodded.
Sismays continued.
"But I have one request."
"Speak it."
"Someday, return to the tribe and share your stories."
"That's enough?"
"Yes. That's plenty."
Sismays replied firmly.
Sismays bid us farewell not long after the trial concluded.
It was sudden.
"Why the rush?"
"You minimize regrets by acting when resolve is firm. I've finished what I needed here, so now I'll seek a new home."
She answered my question.
Behind her, tribe members waited with their scant belongings.
Hardly any real luggage.
Just the reusable tents they'd salvaged.
Most were empty-handed.
"Any destination in mind?"
"Not really. Heading south for now. Akovar might guide us to our new home along the way."
I nearly suggested staying in Forefront under my name.
But I held back, realizing my mistake.
'The Dustin count's name carries a terrible reputation among barbarians. Can't suggest they go there.'
The current Dustin Count and his forebears weren't called Northern Guardians for nothing.
That fame was built on barbarian blood.
Naturally, Sismays and her tribesfolk thought ill of the count.
'Hm... What can I do to help?'
After a moment's thought, a good idea struck me.
"Cedric. Hand me the Dustin Count's letter of introduction."
"Yes!"
Cedric opened the pouch at his waist, puzzled but compliant.
He pulled out a rolled parchment.
I took it and offered it to Sismays.
She hesitated briefly before accepting it.
"This is...?"
"Trouble with someone reasonable? Mention my name first. Say you're with Mage Heros. Then show them this letter. Should resolve most issues easily."
"Protection under the Dustin Count's name... Never thought I'd see the day."
Sismays gazed at the letter with mixed feelings.
But she didn't return it.
Wise choice.
To protect her people, pragmatism trumped personal grudges.
I watched her a moment longer, then spoke again.
I still had more to say.
"There's a village called Stott about a month's journey from here. Its lord, Sir Timothy, is a good man who shelters displaced barbarians. Make that your goal for now."
"Stott... Got it."
Sismays repeated the name, committing it to memory.
At last, parting time arrived.
"I wish you success in achieving your goals in the North."
With those words, Sismays turned away.
The others followed.
Each one met my eyes with a nod or glance of farewell, which I returned in kind.
The moment the last tribesman turned,
Fergal muttered.
"This winter will be especially brutal for them."
The young men were nearly all dead.
So the group was mostly elders, women, and children.
The Great Wolf Tribe faced grave hardships ahead.
But it couldn't be helped.
I'd already done all I could for them.
The rest was on them.
Several hours after parting from the Great Wolf Tribe,
we were still wrestling with the Savage Mountains.
Conditions were better than yesterday, at least.
We were descending.
But as we neared the end of the climb down, a new problem arose.
"Looks like black mages are waiting below."
Down there,
at our descent point, mages lay in wait.
A few among them practiced necromancy.
High chance they were Eremus affiliates.
"They've definitely been expecting us."
Conall said gravely, agreeing with me.
"Same thought here. Probably been prepping since they learned we were at Dustin Castle."
As I replied,
Bear asked me.
"Master Heros, how many black mages?"
"Thirteen mages. And monsters too. Seven with detectable mana, meaning even more without. Probably a horde of freaks as well."
"Over a hundred, then?"
"Likely. They've come prepared to take us down."
Just as I saw Eremus as a thorn in my side, they surely despised me.
So they'd seize the chance to eliminate me for good.
"What’s the plan? We spotted them before descending, so we could slip past quietly and avoid the fight."
Conall suggested.
My mana detection was top-notch.
I could pinpoint positions swiftly.
Detouring around them would be simple.
But... was it necessary?
"Let's scout their numbers first. If we're sure we can win, we fight. Passing up a chance to weaken Eremus would be a shame. Plus, leaving enemies at our backs feels off, doesn't it?"
Conall nodded.
One thing I didn't tell him:
necromancy.
'Mage undead. Time to make one?'
Among those waiting black mages,
I wondered what kind of familiar the strongest one would make as an undead.
'Whoa, that sounded too black mage-y. Gotta watch it.'
I steeled myself with the thought.
I had no desire to sink to Eremus's level.