Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Luring the Lizardmen
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"The speed at which you're luring them out is too slow, Owen."
"I'm sorry."
Owen bowed subserviently to Shunen.
The Froglin warriors were on the move, carrying goods on their backs for their fifth meeting with Rakrak.
"These Lizardmen with black hides and water buffalo skulls flipped over their heads seem to have particularly strong wariness."
"Unlike you lot who gobbled everything up without a second thought?"
"...Yes. Haha."
Owen forced a laugh as he replied.
"But you've seen how they go crazy for a bow like a newborn babe the moment one is shown. I think the time has come."
Shunen nodded curtly, though somewhat gruffly.
"Fine. If we can turn them all into slaves, sacrificing one bow isn't a big deal. Besides, that one bow will come back into our hands anyway."
"Of course."
Owen believed he had put in a lot of effort over these five meetings.
The young Lizardman called Rakrak was undoubtedly a strong warrior.
'But whether he's a wise chieftain is another matter. Being a great fighter doesn't make one a good leader. I've already experienced that firsthand.'
Obsession with good weapons—new weapons like bows—was a fine virtue in a warrior, but not in a chieftain.
'This guy Rakrak won't be able to handle even Froglins, let alone the Two-Headed Abomination.'
Shunen spoke up.
"One bow will do, right?"
"Yes, probably... but he might demand a negotiation, so he asked to borrow two more just in case..."
Shunen scowled.
"After just four meetings, have you seen his archery skills become exceptional?"
"...He seems like a natural-born warrior."
"Well, he's still far from matching me. Last time, when I suggested a bet with archery, we nearly had a disaster. I think he's been imitating our bows to make and practice with his own..."
So, three bows might be risky, was his point.
Owen shook his head.
"But if I can just lure them out, what does it matter how many we give? All their weapons will end up back in our hands intact."
"True. Your role is crucial. He doesn't fully trust us yet. But he seems warmer toward you, a fellow Lizardman."
"Yes, that's right. They must find Froglins unfamiliar since it's their first time seeing us."
"That means he's inexperienced. ...Hmm."
Owen was about to end the conversation when he noticed Shunen had more to say.
He had to pry.
"Is something wrong?"
"You should hurry. Ideally, extract a lot of information from them this time, and if possible, invite that chieftain and his warriors to our village without raising suspicion."
"Why is that?"
Shunen hesitated, as if debating whether to speak.
Owen waited in the most obsequious posture he could manage.
'This is information circulating only among the Froglins. I have to hear it.'
Owen realized Oboi, who might block him, wasn't nearby.
Oboi was up front, chattering about how nice it would be if the Lizardmen brought water buffalo again today.
"Alright, you're trustworthy enough to hear this. My father, Chieftain Aulroy, wants to hasten the mountain sacrifice ritual."
"Pardon?"
Owen was startled.
There was supposed to be quite some time left until the mountain sacrifice.
They had just held an urgent one recently.
It was to receive a revelation from the Two-Headed Abomination about Rakrak's group, but the gains hadn't been worth the value of the sacrifice.
"Father's illness—and the elders'—is worsening."
"Illness? You mean the itching sickness?"
"...Yes."
"Isn't it just itching?"
Uncharacteristically, Shunen spoke slowly and gravely.
"A priest died from the itching sickness yesterday too. We haven't told your Lizardmen, but once afflicted, a sticky white mucus starts covering the skin, causing intense itching. No matter how much you scrub, it doesn't go away. The mucus spreads, and once it covers enough, breathing becomes difficult. Then you die."
Owen listened with a blank expression.
He couldn't rejoice or show surprise.
'Shunen's testing me. I've never heard the itching sickness is fatal. That's why some Froglins have been out of sight. It all makes sense now. There must be dead Froglins already.'
Owen feigned sympathy.
"My goodness, if it's that serious, I would have pushed the gatherers harder."
"Hmph, what do those fools know?"
"And we should keep this quiet. Some hot-blooded Lizardmen might start looking down on Froglins."
"Obviously. But we can't hide it forever..."
Owen's mind raced.
"Even if word spreads, there's a way to calm the Lizardmen. Say the sickness can spread to Lizardmen too."
"Good idea. But what if it really doesn't?"
"There are plants that make white foam when crushed, or ones that cause itching. We can fake it with some acting."
"Ha, Owen, you're truly..."
Shunen trailed off, unable to find the right word of praise, mumbling to himself.
He soon came up with one.
"A swindler."
"...Thank you."
Shunen nodded and continued.
"Anyway, Father's itching sickness is getting worse. He's strong and enduring it longer than anyone, but it's starting to wear him down. He hopes to offer sacrifices to the Two-Headed Abomination and cure the illness."
"Then...?"
"Unlike last time, it requires a large-scale mountain sacrifice. We'll need quite a lot this time."
Owen pressed.
"...How many exactly?"
"Who knows? Maybe until it works. The hut in the island's center is filling up with young ones, but he said it's a shame to use them all as sacrifices."
Shunen didn't seem to care much about the lives of Lizardmen who would be discarded anyway.
But a chill ran down Owen's spine.
'Until it works? That damned Two-Headed Abomination is incompetent. It's just a massive brute that rampages and threatens, a man-eating monster. You're its slaves just like we're yours. If it could cure diseases, it wouldn't let them happen in the first place!'
But Owen didn't voice those thoughts.
"We'll need... a lot of sacrifices."
"Yes."
"This time, I'll extract their info and invite them to the village."
"I'm counting on you."
The Lizardman and Froglin warriors had grown familiar with each other over time, so the fifth meeting's atmosphere wasn't bad.
Those carrying new barter goods exchanged stories and began haggling.
But the swindler Owen knew there was little useful information to glean from these Lizardmen.
'I don't know how Chieftain Rakrak is keeping them in line, but they don't say anything beyond trade goods.'
Owen looked at Rakrak.
'But this one's different.'
The exchange with Rakrak had gone far better than Owen expected, honestly.
As if he'd been holding back until now, he handed over an abundant haul of herbs and begged for just one bow.
'Didn't even need three bows.'
What Owen did in response was suggest they talk separately from the barter site, as Rakrak didn't want to look pathetic in front of Shunen.
Shunen agreed, Oboi opposed, but once Rakrak's attitude was clear, even Oboi relented.
Thus, Rakrak and Owen were left alone.
Rakrak spoke first.
"Not enough with these herbs?"
"Hm, just a bit short, it seems. With this bow, you could make similar ones right away."
"We don't know the materials."
"You have artisans too, so you could imitate it."
"...Hm, fine."
Rakrak, his eyes gleaming at the bow, suddenly looked at Owen.
"What else do you want?"
Owen didn't immediately register the shift in Rakrak's demeanor.
He just thought it was time for his prepared lines.
"Trust, Rakrak."
"Trust?"
"Yes."
Owen began his deception.
"We tawny-skinned Lizardmen performed a rite of brotherhood before merging tribes with the Froglins. Before that, we shared good goods while rubbing shoulders, and prior to that, we spent time learning about each other. But what about our tribes now? We're sharing goods... but we know nothing about one another."
"True."
"That's because you haven't given us your trust. That's why even one bow costs so many herbs."
Rakrak stood at a slight angle, arms crossed.
"Fair point. What do I need to do to give trust?"
"Tell us about yourselves. Where do you come from, how many are you, and what are your goals?"
"Mm, if we give this 'trust,' you'll give yours too?"
"Of course."
Rakrak pondered briefly.
Then he spotted something behind Owen and gave a small smile.
Wondering what it was, Owen turned and saw a single 'blue butterfly' fluttering by.
'The weather's not warm enough yet, and butterflies? Were there even any like that around here? Weird.'
But after seeing the blue butterfly, Rakrak became more cooperative with Owen.
He answered Owen's questions.
The group numbered around 350—far fewer than expected—and they lived in the area. Most shockingly, they had twenty live water buffalo.
'Shunen would go mad wanting them if he knew.'
The number of warriors was thirty—a lot relative to the tribe size. There might be exaggeration or quality issues.
'Maybe including elders or young ones. Even so, it's no match for Froglins with eighty warriors. A few padded numbers don't matter. They don't even know how to shoot bows.'
Owen felt relieved and leaked false info about the Froglins.
To avoid scaring Rakrak too much, he downplayed numbers, said bows were hard to make so they didn't have many, making trade tricky, and that skilled archers were few.
"Froglins are a docile race. Not as tough as you or me."
"Is that so?"
Owen nodded at Rakrak's doubt.
"Actually, once we exchange this trust, Shunen wanted to invite you to our village. He's always wanted to host you properly, but you've kept your heart closed."
"Oh ho."
"What do you think? Any thoughts?"
"Can I bring warriors?"
"Of course. Bring them all if you like."
No—better if they all came, from the Froglins' perspective.
Rakrak's village and the Froglins' were quite far apart.
If warriors stayed behind, they'd miss quite a few Lizardmen.
'Best to lure all these black-hided Lizardmen here at once and deal with them.'
Rakrak said,
"Then we'll discuss details with Shunen... As thanks for the invitation, I'd like to give a little more. Alright?"
"Give more?"
"'Trust'."
With that, Rakrak sat on a small rock and picked up a dry twig.
He began 'writing' something on the ground.
"Come take a look."
Owen approached, puzzled.