Chapter 43
Chapter 43
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: Shadows of Invasion
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Lionar lost his smile and hurriedly picked up the box.
He opened it, checked the contents, and let out a sigh of relief.
Hwi-kyung watched and thought to himself.
'Good thing. Looks like it didn't break.'
As far as Hwi-kyung could tell, he had plenty of money to cover the jewels if they broke, but it would be a waste to flash anger and lose that much cash over one incident.
Lionar brushed the sand off the box and handed it to another elf merchant.
Lionar spoke in a tone noticeably cooler than before.
"How much do you want?"
"Well..."
Hwi-kyung trailed off as he picked at his hand webbing with his fingernail.
Lionar waited anxiously for Hwi-kyung's next words.
Hwi-kyung glanced down at his well-groomed hand before turning back to Lionar.
"But is it really worth going that far? Handing over bribes like this won't leave you with much profit. Besides, I'm the strongest power in this region. I could flip on our deal anytime. You know there are no other elves around here. Gems like that? Easy to pocket and forget."
Lionar regained his smile around the eyes.
"It's... to build a good relationship with you. We'd gladly take that loss for it."
"Is that so?"
Hwi-kyung didn't pry further.
'Wants a good relationship with me? For ongoing trade? But elves rarely came to Autocity even before. Things must have changed.'
Information didn't flow between the North Coast and Autocity, so hard facts were scarce.
Hwi-kyung decided to hold off on digging deeper.
"Anyway, I'm not interested in shiny rocks. I know they fetch a good price, but lining up buyers is a hassle. You get what I mean?"
"Mm... Understood."
"Stick to the code until then. Don't push your luck."
"Of course."
Hwi-kyung felt pleased seeing Lionar's humbled demeanor, then remembered something.
"Oh, right."
"Yes?"
"If you want to buy a little favor from me, how about this?"
Hwi-kyung pulled an item from his bag.
Lionar took it with clear suspicion.
"What's this?"
"A wooden carving depicting the guardian of the Blue Insect God."
"...Blue Insect God? ...Guardian?"
"The god I believe in. He watches over and protects us."
Lionar nodded as if finally understanding.
"Ah, sorry, but I have my own faith."
"Really?"
"The Dancing Shadow God."
"Dancing Shadow God? Hm. What if you believed in both? Double the blessings, right?"
Lionar looked troubled at Hwi-kyung's words.
"I doubt it..."
"Then buy it anyway, even if you don't believe. Sell it to someone else."
"That's tricky. From what I know, the gods are quite jealous."
"Are they? My god seems generous. He'd probably be fine with it as long as it's sold."
Of course, that was purely Hwi-kyung's interpretation. Seong-un had never thought of himself as generous.
After some back-and-forth, Hwi-kyung dumped all the carvings from his bag like he was doing a favor, offering them at near-giveaway prices.
Lionar didn't buy them for their value or the deal—he just figured further talk with Hwi-kyung was a waste of time, so he had no choice but to take them.
Seong-un immediately blocked reception from Eldar.
It wasn't just because he felt annoyed—there were strategic reasons too.
Through his talk with Eldar, Seong-un had gleaned more information than expected.
'Just like I don't know him, he doesn't know me either.'
The reason Seong-un didn't know him was that scouting via the usual 'Subdomain: Insects' had failed.
There were other ways. Physically entering the opponent's domain.
But that exposed your own territory being vacant, and in enemy lands, gods couldn't use 'Fast Travel'—instant relocation to believers. Gods could generally float and fly quickly, but it paled compared to true Fast Travel.
'And the same risks apply to him. Yet Eldar hasn't even tried subdomain scouting.'
That meant Eldar was in the same boat as Seong-un.
Either subdomain scouting was now impossible, or subdomains offered no scouting value.
Seong-un guessed the latter from the name 'Dancing Shadow God'.
'Probably that. His subdomain draw luck was worse than mine. But that confidence means he has another ace. Maybe a solid subdomain beyond his initial major one from early play.'
Eldar had no choice but to use the third scouting method.
Send his believers down for recon. That's where Lionar and the elf merchants came in.
The North Coast spanned a vast area with possibly several tribes, so Seong-un figured he could ignore it for now—but then this provocateur showed up.
Seong-un judged that since he'd responded appropriately by blocking reception, Eldar would make the first move soon.
Seong-un prepared for war.
Unknowing the foe, he decided not to underestimate Eldar despite appearances.
'First, the One-Eared Tribe and Hegemonia exiting the North Coast likely had a big impact. That confidence has backing.'
Omens of war brewed during the rainy season.
It started with provocations.
Hwi-kyung, lord of Autocity, had bullied Lionar, so they sent a special envoy demanding an apology.
The envoy came from someone introducing himself as 'Great Tribal Chief Hasadian' of the Green-Eye Tribe, an elf chieftain.
Hwi-kyung disliked their fabrication. He sent back a retort laced with even bigger lies, plus some elf insults for good measure, urging proper delivery.
Hasadian's next envoy requested a meeting in refined terms, but Hwi-kyung saw no reason. He added fresh elf curses—some from Sairani's tips—to the reply.
Hasadian sent no third envoy.
He must have wanted to shout it in Hwi-kyung's ear himself; right after the rains ended, he led warriors down to the wasteland.
It was the brief period post-rain when the wasteland grass grew lush.
Seong-un's bugs allowed scouting before the elves entered his territory.
Seong-un was confident of victory before the war even began.
'Just as I don't know him, he surely doesn't know me.'
The Dancing Shadow God, Eldar, looked down on his believing elves.
'This number should be enough to take that little city.'
300 warriors alone.
Later in advanced civilization, 300 might seem trivial, but at this stage, it was substantial. All trained warriors, no less.
Eldar had successfully scouted Autocity by sending merchants and envoys via Great Tribal Chief Hasadian.
300 warriors seemed plenty for conquest.
The wildcard was a large lizardman nomadic tribe nearby, but luckily, rains had driven them off.
Of course, Eldar knew well the dangers of marching settled warriors long distances at this civ level. Logistics issues, and leaving the tribe undefended.
'But Autocity is an ancient ruin and a mystery. A major settlement too. No choice for southward expansion.'
Hasadian, chieftain of Eldar's believing tribe, shared the optimism.
He'd panicked at his god's prophecy to attack Autocity, but relaxed upon learning its forces were underwhelming.
Autocity had mysterious ancient mud soldiers. But beyond them, just barbaric humans.
'Walls are decently high, but mud-made, so Lionar said agile tree-climbing warriors could scale easily. Guards inside? Barely 150. Crude bows too.'
Hasadian eyed his prized longbow.
It reliably hit targets over 80 paces.
'First, thin their archers—who barely hit 50 paces—with our shots. Agile ones cling and climb walls, force the gate open. Done. Finally kneel that damned Autocity lord.'
But Hasadian never saw it.
Before nearing Autocity, they spotted a human soldier band.
It was a narrow canyon en route to Autocity.
Hasadian panicked and ordered identification; runners dashed between units.
"Autocity soldiers, they say."
"What? Why are Autocity soldiers outside the walls?"
"They knew we were coming."
"Then why outside? If they knew, hole up inside!"
"I'll ask again."
But the runner never returned.
No intent to talk.
Hasadian panicked but noted their numbers were fewer—only about 70, not even all their forces.
'Fighting in a narrow pass evens numbers, they think? Idiot. Autocity's lord knows nothing of battle.'
Hasadian would defend from inside walls.
If forced outside...
'Right. Only if allies are out there?'
His nape prickled at the thought—just then, a runner arrived from behind.
"Great Chief!"
"What?"
"Disaster! Large force blocking our retreat from the rear!"
"What? Humans?"
"Lizardmen!"
"What?"
Hasadian turned.
Black-scaled lizardmen blocked the path they'd come.
"Why lizardmen... with humans?"
Eldar had seen this window recently.
When his elf merchants first entered Autocity.
He hadn't expected it so soon again.
Panicked, Eldar whispered to Seong-un.
Reception was open, thankfully.
"Those lizardmen... your allies? With that lizardman race?"
"Idiot. Check the local player list before whispering me."
Eldar checked the local player list.
No other players nearby. That meant one thing.
Eldar couldn't deduce it easily and panicked.
"W-wait. Aren't you... the human god? I thought so for sure..."
"I am the human god."
Seong-un didn't deny it.
"Also the lizardman god."
Eldar's roleplay shattered.
"What? How are you already doing two-race play?"