Chapter 30
Chapter 30
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: Rakrak's Four Reasons
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"Are you saying you're going to attack Jadong Fortress right now?"
Hwi suppressed his fury.
"No. I was just asking. I'm saying that rather than going through with that diplomatic trade of yours, wouldn't it just be better for us?"
"Humans aren't as weak as you think."
"I never said they were weak."
"Then did you give any thought to how much damage your warriors would suffer if you attacked Jadong Fortress—or whether you could even capture it?"
"No, that's not it."
Rakrak shrugged.
"Well, I can't go into detail with you, but... if my calculations are right, even if we take some losses attacking Jadong Fortress, we can definitely capture it."
"Are you certain?"
"I know there's more to Jadong Fortress than meets the eye—some 'secrets' I don't know about. That's probably how humans have managed to hold onto it for so long without losing it. I'm worried about how many casualties we'll take breaching those secrets. But capturing it itself shouldn't be a problem."
"Why are you so confident?"
Hwi was curious about Rakrak's conviction.
Rakrak spoke.
"We follow the Blue Insect God. If the god aids us, those high walls and mud soldiers will crumble to dust."
Hwi couldn't find a retort.
Because he knew it was true.
Hwi had heard about the guardian called 'Slatis' as well.
It was a massive mantis monster said to aid the Black Scale Tribe in tough battles before vanishing without a trace.
It was believed to be one of the Blue Insect God's forms, and its statue could even be found in Jadong Fortress's marketplace.
'Even without Slatis, there are plenty of problems. They have cockatoo warriors, of course, and chosen ones. I don't know how much they can use that power, but even one display from a single chosen one could shatter the soldiers' morale. Not many could stand firm before thunder and lightning exploding right in front of them.'
Even setting aside all those variables, the issues were numerous.
'Above all, from what we've confirmed, Rakrak's warriors alone number at least eighty right now. And that's not even all of them...'
For now, they were calling them the 'Black Scale Lizardmen' or 'Black Scale Tribe' in the wasteland, but the lizardmen under Rakrak weren't a single unified group—they were divided into multiple herds.
Over the past nine years, Rakrak had conquered the upper peninsula and gathered every lizardman tribe he found, succeeding through his leadership.
Some remained settled tribes, but most were herding tribes that could mobilize their entire group at Rakrak's call if needed.
'He must have rushed up here to check the Severed-Ear Tribe. Rakrak's probably already summoned them. The wasteland's about to enter the rainy season anyway. Grass sprouts even there for a short while. The buffalo-herding tribes aren't far off. If they just send some warriors, they'll gather even faster.'
Hwi thought about Jadong Fortress.
'Plenty of people, but few who can fight.'
Excluding the private soldiers of the four families loyal to the lord, there weren't even proper soldiers. Those soldiers outnumbered the Black Scale Lizardmen warriors for now, but they lacked the gods' blessings.
'There's an even bigger problem.'
The moment rumors of fighting spread, many would flee.
Most inside the walls were farmers, merchants, miners, and their families who had entrusted their lives to Jadong Fortress's defenses. They made the fortress prosperous, but wealth alone couldn't defend it.
The instant they started leaving—or even showed signs of it—the soldiers' morale would plummet.
'Tales of the Severed-Ear Tribe's ferocity are just starting to spread... but everyone already knows far too much about the Black Scale Lizardmen. Thanks to people like Owen. We should have been on guard much sooner.'
Hwi had to admit it.
This war was lost before it even began.
Unaware—or perhaps aware—of Hwi's thoughts, Rakrak gave his third reason.
"Besides, salt! It's valuable, sure. Expensive, too. Everyone needs it everywhere. But because everyone wants it, people go looking for it everywhere, and someone always finds some. We don't need Jadong Fortress for that."
"...Very well. The lord overlooked that the Black Scale Tribe knows ways and means to trade for salt. Is that all?"
"No, the most important fourth reason remains."
"Very well. Speak."
Rakrak gave his fourth reason.
"I don't trust liars."
"I've never lied."
"You have. You're not Jadong Fortress's errand boy."
"Then who do you think I am?"
Rakrak answered.
"Jadong Fortress's lord, Hwiser."
Hwi neither denied nor affirmed it.
Rakrak explained his reasoning.
"I figured it out because you revealed the name 'Hwi.' You did it to test how much lizardmen know about Jadong Fortress, right?"
Hwi sat silently without responding.
"The current lord of Jadong Fortress hides not just his appearance but even his name, going only by 'the lord.' But that's outside the fortress. Inside, there are the four families loyal to and serving the lord. They're his hands and feet, yet even among them, only a few know his name. 'Hwi' is a name shared by those carrying the lord's bloodline. I hear the lord has four sons and three daughters. But you're not a child, and your hand wrinkles show you're not young for a human. So I know the name. Hwiser."
"...Impressive."
The man, who had been sitting politely facing Rakrak, removed his leather hood and adjusted his posture.
The game of pretense was over. Now, as the one bearing responsibility for his people, he had to face Rakrak as an equal.
"...That's right. I am Jadong Fortress's lord, Hwiser."
With the hood removed, Hwiser's face was revealed.
A rugged middle-aged man's face appeared above a thick beard, marked by fierce wrinkles around the eyes.
It was somewhat gaunt, with a large scar slashed across the bridge of his nose.
Rakrak read the face.
'Wrinkles. I noticed from the back of his hand. Humans wrinkle as they age. He's of age, but his back isn't bent, and his eyes are sharp. Hiding his identity was riskier than lying, even if he lied about it. He's not fearless out of stupidity. Scar. He's known for scheming from behind Jadong Fortress, but in truth, this one's the type who can't rest until he handles everything himself. Many of Jadong Fortress's problems must have been solved by his own hand. He seeks out danger, yet he's survived a long time. That's proof of strength. ...I don't buy the stories that humans are weak. They must be tales humans spread themselves.'
Hwiser spoke.
"How did you know? There are no lizardmen among my close aides."
"Is that so? Then you must have a human informant."
"Hm. You're confident."
"What do you think?"
Hwiser didn't answer.
'This lizardman leaves me a puzzle. Like he's daring me to solve it.'
Rakrak said.
"I have a question too. We're aiming for neutrality, but aren't you afraid to come here alone?"
"I am."
"Yet?"
"Just as you believe you can take Jadong Fortress by force, whether my identity is exposed or not, I know you'll let me go unharmed."
"What if it hadn't been exposed?"
"I know the Black Scale Tribe is kind to guests."
"...Hm."
Rakrak wondered if he should correct that cultural trait, but saw no reason to, and doubted it would work anyway.
"Now that your identity's out, do I have to move according to your expectations, Lord Hwiser? What do you think I'll do?"
"You'll just let me go."
"Why?"
"It's not that important, but you want to express condolences for sending off that Star Reader. So you hope I'll leave once this talk ends."
"That's true. But there are other ways to make you disappear."
Rakrak leaned forward threateningly as he spoke.
"I said attacking Jadong Fortress would benefit the Black Scale Lizardmen, and I think your death would throw those four families in the fortress into chaos. Battles without commanders are easy to win. What if you're wrong?"
"No, I'm not wrong."
Hwiser didn't even blink.
"Because if you kill me, you won't know who my next successor will be."
Rakrak straightened up, his tail tip curling slightly as if intrigued by the response.
"Interesting. But why would the next successor of some isolated fortress's lord matter to us Black Scale Lizardmen? It seems irrelevant."
"It might look that way. ...Rakrak, do you know about 'baduk'?"
"...Baduk?"
"A game popular in Jadong Fortress. Played on the dirt floor or a board."
"Not really."
Hwiser explained baduk.
"Lines are drawn crossing each other on the ground, and you gather white and black stones, taking turns placing them on the intersections. If four of your stones completely surround one enemy stone, it's dead. You remove it. You continue until no more moves are left, and whoever has more captured stones and empty territory wins."
"Hard to grasp from the explanation alone."
"Sorry, but that's not important."
"Then why explain it?"
"Because I'm a stone."
Rakrak's pupils contracted slightly as if realizing something, his eyes gleaming as if gazing beyond the visible world into the distance.
Hwiser added.
"I already know the game board has begun. ...Two gods flanking the wasteland, playing a game with two tribes. One god brought the froglin, the other the lizardmen. And atop that board, the froglin and lizardmen have started another game board. That board is called Jadong Fortress."
Rakrak affirmed with silence.
"...Very well. Just as you know about me, I know what you're plotting. Soon, I'll have to choose a successor, and you've approached my children. Before I knew it, they were talking about fangs full of rage, or someone pale speaking of blue butterflies. My children have started believing in gods..."
Rakrak smiled.
"Can't be helped, can it? It's better for us than attacking Jadong Fortress."