Chapter 65
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: The Great Chieftain's Dread
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War is terrifying. There are scarcely any in the world who don't feel that way, and Volgrom was no exception.
Yet Volgrom could not afford to feel fear. He was a warrior of the Frost Fang Tribe and their great chieftain.
A warrior could not show fear. A chieftain could not show fear. How could he, with tens of thousands of comrades looking to him alone?
Yes. He could not be afraid. That was what a man was. What a warrior was. What a chieftain was.
What a great chieftain had to be.
That was what he had been taught.
Yes. He should be that way... so why did this fear gnaw at him so?
'Volgrom, you fool. Why are you trembling like this?'
His mind was a storm. He tried to shake it off, but it clung stubbornly. In the end, he stepped out of his tent and wandered the surroundings.
Behind the tents rose a tall hill. Climbing it revealed the vast expanse of the Northern Great Plains. He stared blankly at the view for a long while when footsteps approached. It was the shaman Muroonda.
"Great Chieftain. So here you are."
"Elder."
"What brings you to a place like this? On such a fateful day, you should at least say a few words to the warriors. Is something the matter?"
"What could be the matter? I just came out for some air."
"Air, eh? Looks like your thoughts are tangled. Here, have some cold water."
Muroonda sat beside Volgrom and handed him a waterskin. Volgrom gulped it down greedily, and Muroonda grinned.
"Good water, isn't it?"
"Yes. Quite refreshing. Where'd you get it?"
"Heh heh. Figured as much. It's holy water infused with the sacred energies of the Great Plains."
"What? This?"
Volgrom stared in surprise. Holy water was precious, obtained only after a shaman prayed to the Rock God all day atop a boulder. To share so much of it...
Looking closer, it was indeed holy water. It had that murky black sheen, sharp and unmistakable.
And an eerie chill to boot. For Muroonda to prepare this much meant he'd put in serious effort.
"I put in some work for our chieftain. You've seemed so drained lately."
"Elder... thank you."
He drained the rest in one go. The black tinge seeped into the corners of his eyes, clouding his gaze briefly before it cleared.
"No need for thanks. What wouldn't I do for our great chieftain? Heh heh heh."
"I always feel like I'm just receiving from you, Elder. I wish I could repay you somehow."
"If you really want to repay this old man, just fulfill your duties as great chieftain. That would be more than enough. Heh heh."
"Elder... I'm afraid."
Muroonda looked at Volgrom. His expression was deadly serious.
"Afraid of what? Battle? Defeat?"
"Death."
"......"
"I'm afraid of my family's death. My friends' deaths. The deaths of tribesmen I've shared joys and sorrows with, and even those newly joined to us."
"......"
"Elder, can I really do this?"
"Of course you can. No doubt about it. So don't worry."
"Whew... Hearing that from you eases my mind."
Muroonda grasped Volgrom's hands tightly in both of his. Volgrom felt the wrinkled, rough skin.
"I understand your heart, Great Chieftain. With such a monumental task ahead, it's natural to feel unsettled. Nothing strange about it. All humans feel that way."
"......"
"But this too shall pass, so put aside idle thoughts and focus on the war. Departure is soon, isn't it?"
Volgrom nodded. With the Karak Tur successfully concluded, they'd mobilize within a week.
'The elder's right. I'm just anxious because war looms.'
He descended the hill. There was much to do. Only a week until departure—not nearly enough time.
Inspecting troops and rallying warriors' spirits would fill the days in a flash. He'd have to stay busy.
As he headed to his tent, a warrior came running from afar.
"...Huff! Huff! Gr-Great Chieftain! Y-You're here!"
"Altan. What is it?"
"Urgent news from the southeastern tribes! Th-There's a problem!"
"What?"
"Some tribes have suddenly declared secession or something like that."
"What?"
Volgrom's eyes narrowed. Muroonda's brow furrowed deeply. The shaman stepped forward and seized Altan by the collar.
"Speak clearly. What does that mean?"
"Sh-Shaman."
"Out with it! Why would they declare secession?!"
"Gah! I-I don't know exactly! But I did hear one ridiculous rumor!"
"Rumor?"
"Yes. They say Karak has descended."
Karak. At that word, the entire camp fell silent. Everyone looked baffled.
"Karak... has descended?"
"Yes. That's what they're saying. With hordes of northerners trailing behind, heading this way. Hard to believe, right?"
"Heh, unbelievable."
Volgrom and the others were stunned. But Muroonda smirked.
"Nonsense. The great Rock God said nothing to me. How could he descend without a word?"
Everyone nodded. It made sense.
Only shamans could commune with the great Rock God. If even the shaman hadn't heard his voice, it couldn't be a descent.
It wasn't Karak.
"Hear me, warriors of the Great Plains! A monster impersonating Karak is deceiving our comrades! What must we do?!"
"Punish them with blood!"
"Exactly! Arm yourselves! The great chieftain will lead you to slay the blasphemous beast!"
Cheers erupted. The camp buzzed with activity. Soon, the Frost Fang Tribe's elite warriors mounted up and charged southeast.
Ddol Ddoli paused mid-stride and glanced back. There were many humans behind him. Some on horseback, some walking, but all following him.
-What are you guys? Why follow Ddol Ddoli?
"Of course we follow! Great Karak!"
-You keep saying weird stuff. Ddol Ddoli not Karak or whatever. Ddol Ddoli is Ddol Ddoli.
"No, Great Karak! Your majestic aura radiates from a single glance—how can you deny it to us?!"
They bowed repeatedly. Ddol Ddoli scratched his head. He really wasn't Karak or anything, so why were they sticking to him like this? It made no sense.
'Even more annoying now. Easier if they just attacked.'
Truth be told, these were the ones who'd attacked him earlier. He'd ignored them since he couldn't strike back and just kept going.
But now they stopped attacking and trailed after him like puppies?
Utterly baffling. Why?
"Great Karak, if it's not too rude, where are you headed?"
-Ddol Ddoli going to catch bad guys.
"Bad guys... you say?"
-Yes. Bad guys that way.
"What? No way. If there are bad guys, they're south, not north!"
Ddol Ddoli tilted his head at the sudden claim.
-What you talking about? Bad guys north.
"What? No..."
-No bad guys south. Ddol Ddoli senses sharp. Knows.
The tribesmen following Ddol Ddoli stirred uneasily. They had no choice. The great shaman Muroonda had proclaimed the Rock God's revelation: the Empire was evil and must be crushed—south.
But now north?
-If you bother Ddol Ddoli, go away. Breaking focus. Need smell bad guys good to catch.
"Gasp! We won't bother! Just let us follow behind!"
Ddol Ddoli nodded and walked on. The humans no longer interfered. Though their presence prickling at his back was irritating.
How many days passed like that?
-Bad magic getting closer.
"Huh?"
-Someone coming.
Ddol Ddoli looked up. Ahead, shapes swarmed. Dust clouds rose as mounted humans charged.
"Found it! That thing... gasp!"
-What? Humans.
"R-Real... Karak."
The elite warriors who'd arrived faltered. Ddol Ddoli looked exactly like Karak.
A body of rock. Towering bulk. The earth thundering under each step.
Undeniable.
The great Rock God, Karak.
He had truly descended upon the Great Plains.
The great chieftain Volgrom, leading the warriors, stepped forward.
"Wh-Who are you?"
-Ddol Ddoli.
"Dd-Ddol Ddoli? D-Do you mean... you're not Karak?"
-Ddol Ddoli is Ddol Ddoli. Not Karak or whatever.
"No, what are you saying?!"
The ones who'd followed Ddol Ddoli jumped up in protest.
"Great Chieftain! Don't you recognize him?! It's the great Rock God, Karak! Can't you feel this mighty form and power?!"
"Yes! He is truly Karak!"
Chaos erupted instantly. Some defended Ddol Ddoli, others doubted.
In the midst of the turmoil, like oil on flames, Muroonda—who'd come along—narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing Ddol Ddoli.
'What a coincidence. Looks exactly like Karak.'
No lie. Even he was shocked.
But not Karak. Obviously. Rock Gods or Karaks didn't exist in this world.
No such deities anywhere.
None. Karak was just a primitive superstition of the barbaric northerners.
But to them, he was real.
So what was this?
'Stone Golem? But not that big. What? Dragon guardian? Earth spirit? Where'd this come from?'
No time for deep speculation. The situation was dire.
Warriors wavered. They glanced between Ddol Ddoli and him.
Their faith was crumbling.
'This is bad.'
Muroonda sensed it.
This was a dire crisis.
One misstep, and ten years of effort would vanish.
"All of you, look at me! Warriors of the Great Plains!"
Muroonda stepped forward.
"Does that monster truly look like Karak to you?"
"......"
"Was our great god reduced to such a pathetic rock lump?"
"......"
"Wrong! That's not Karak. He still lies in the Great Plains' earth, cheering us to topple the Empire!"
Muroonda gauged reactions. Good—they were warming up. More eyed the giant with suspicion.
'It's working.'
"Warriors! It's just a monster! Probably some artificial life from magic! An abomination that shouldn't exist—attack it now befo—"
-Old human's mouth... smells of bad magic.
Muroonda felt it instantly. The gem-eyes of the rock monster blazed fiercely.
-Master. Ddol Ddoli found bad guy at last.
[Ddol Ddoli uses the skill 'Charge'!]
Ddol Ddoli bent and extended his legs. His massive frame lunged with unbelievable speed, swinging a fist. As Muroonda flinched at the explosive velocity, his frail old body sprayed blood and soared into the sky.
"Shaman!"
-Step aside. No more mercy for humans. Attack, and you're enemies.
Shaking off countless humans, Ddol Ddoli charged at Muroonda. Wild mana erupted from his body.
Meanwhile, Ian closely monitored Ddol Ddoli's alerts.
To offer timely advice.
And make a request.
As he halfheartedly worked while checking notifications, a sudden ping.
[Ddol Ddoli has encountered Frost Fang Tribe elite warriors!]
[Ddol Ddoli has encountered Frost Fang Tribe Great Shaman Muroonda!]
[Ddol Ddoli attacks Frost Fang Tribe Great Shaman Muroonda!]
[Ddol Ddoli has entered combat!]
'Frost Fang Tribe? Aren't they the ruling tribe?'
No mistake. The tribe that unified the northern barbarians was the Frost Fang.
Their great chieftain was Volgrom.
He couldn't forget that.
A named character among named characters.
Great Chieftain of the North. Lord of the northerners. The man who would later turn the Empire's north into a wasteland.
From the Frost Fang Tribe.
Was Ddol Ddoli fighting them?
'No coincidence. They must've tracked him down.'
Probably.
They revered the plains as sacred.
Detested outsiders.
A monster appearing? They'd muster forces to purge him.
Whether Ddol Ddoli would fall was another matter.
'Good timing actually. If our Ddol Ddoli subjugates the Frost Fang Tribe too, maybe no war at all.'
Ian thought so and focused on the alerts.
Planning to chime in at the perfect moment with his request.
Timing was key.
The most exquisite timing.