Chapter 77
Chapter 77
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 77
Chapter Title: Assault on Bardcommon
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Youngest Tendal chief, Baldoran Tendal.
He couldn't hide his shock when Havel returned.
It was the Star Sword he'd sent him for, just on the off chance.
But against all odds, he'd actually pulled the real Star Sword.
"...Could you really be the Night's Lion?"
Baldoran asked carefully, showing proper respect.
There was none of the previous condescension, calling him a lowly one.
Havel gave a short laugh at the sight.
"That's up to you to decide."
Just as he said, faith was like that.
No matter what the object of faith did,
it was all in the eye of the beholder.
Baldoran clenched his fists tight.
Maybe the always-bullied youngest Tendal
had grabbed the lifeline from the heavens.
'But it won't be an easy path.'
Havel had declared war before the other tribes.
The Night God's faith was deeply rooted throughout the entire crow clans.
Even so, they wouldn't easily give up their vested interests.
The youngest Tendal was the weakest among the five tribes.
Bardcommon or Ronir would seize the island the moment the Night's Lion chose them.
But for the youngest Tendal, it was just legitimacy without power.
'Bardcommon and Ronir won't sit idly by.'
They'd attack Tendal to claim that legitimacy for themselves.
And the moment they couldn't withstand it...
'Tendal could face extinction.'
The thought flashed clearly through Baldoran's mind.
'And the first target would be...'
The Night's Lion, Havel.
Baldoran's eyes hardened with resolve.
The winds began to blow toward Tendal.
The youngest Tendal had always been the one watching others' moods.
This was a chance to flip it all in one go.
Baldoran had no intention of letting it slip.
"Gather the tribesmen!"
He had to let those who'd always been on the receiving end know.
About this chance for the youngest Tendal to unify the tribes.
While Baldoran was busily on the move,
Havel was releasing his giantification.
Aura-wise, he could maintain it for life.
But he was curious what would happen to the Star Sword he held.
The moment Havel shrank back in the field,
he let out a short "Oh" of admiration as he looked at the Star Sword in his hand.
The sword had shrunk along with him when he released the giantification.
'Definitely not an ordinary sword.'
And this blade even devoured calamities.
'Similar, in a way.'
Just as Havel swallowed calamities, so did this sword.
It was clearly a blade only those bearing calamities could wield.
No wonder the crows couldn't draw it.
As calamity breeds, they harbored calamities within,
but those were tied directly to their life force.
They couldn't pour it all out just to draw a single sword.
'The Night God, huh.'
Havel stroked his chin as he gazed at the sword.
Some weird guy had peeked in place of the Night God,
but he was a bit curious if gods really existed in this hierarchy.
"Strong, I wonder."
"What's that?"
Elashiya asked innocently.
Havel, who'd been staring at her, shrugged it off like it was nothing.
If he told her, she'd probably quietly head down the tower.
This girl was useful for tracking Baria and Memento Mori.
So he had to keep her around until then.
"Balop, Phaiod?"
Havel sheathed the sword at his waist and asked Balop.
Balop, who was scooping up grapes as big as himself with a wooden spoon, pointed in one direction.
"As you said, Havel sir, he's training with the tribesmen."
"Fighting properly?"
"He's my brother, after all. He uses his small size and speed well. The tribesmen say it's good experience."
It seemed the fire had truly been lit.
Havel nodded in satisfaction.
That could be left as is.
Now it was time for him to move.
"Havel sir, where are you going?"
Owen, sensing his intent, asked.
"Yeah, to the other tribes."
Owen's eyes widened round.
"Pardon? Didn't you just fetch the sword? Aren't we waiting for the tribes to move?"
"If we wait, your Baria'll get killed by Memento Mori in the meantime."
Havel had no plans to wait forever.
You didn't wait in situations like this.
Strike first before the chaos settled.
"So I'll be back. Tell the chief."
"What do you plan to do? At least tell us so we can prepare."
Owen pressed, insisting on some countermeasure.
Why was he so worked up?
"Simple. Take down their chiefs, tribe by tribe."
As expected, Owen froze at the response.
Havel was utterly reckless.
"And before that, barge into their territories and proclaim the Night's Lion has arrived."
Then Owen caught on to Havel's intent.
The Night's Lion had declared he'd unify the tribes under Tendal.
Show every tribesman directly that he was making it happen,
and if he toppled their chief too!
It'd be the perfect proof to absorb the tribe.
But there was one problem.
While Havel was away, another tribe could raid Tendal.
Now that he'd revealed he belonged to Tendal,
whoever took Tendal would gain the Night's Lion.
Legitimacy be damned—the winner takes all.
"So Phaiod and the youngest chief Baldoran have to guard well while I'm gone."
"Somehow, I feel my lifespan just got shorter."
"No time for regrets."
You didn't join up if you were worried about your life.
Havel ignored Owen's lament and stepped off.
He then snatched Elashiya, who was slyly trying to slip away, and tucked her under his arm.
He needed an interpreter.
"H-Havel sir, I-I'm not the Night's Lion, though?"
"Yeah, you're the Night's Lion's interpreter."
Elashiya made a tearful face but said no more.
She knew arguing with Havel was pointless.
"I'll be back."
With that, Havel bolted into the forest.
Elashiya, now resigned, naturally ended up on his back.
"So, where to first?"
She didn't know which tribe Havel was targeting first.
Since it'd come out of nowhere.
When she asked, Havel answered.
"First, Bardcommon. Starting with those bastards."
"Pardon? One of the biggest tribes?"
"Gotta hit the biggest first so the small fry fall in line."
"But won't that break the balance and make Ronir go wild?"
Elashiya was sharp, like a proper mage.
She knew this trick would only work once.
No matter the god's lion, every tribe cherished their own.
If Havel crushed the top Bardcommon with the Night's Lion's power,
the others would thrash to avoid the same fate.
Blood would inevitably spill in the process.
She had that in mind.
"Don't worry. Knock 'em all out before the rumors spread."
Elashiya fell silent.
Because Havel would actually do it.
How far had Havel run?
Bardcommon territory came into view.
A normal tribesman would've taken days,
but Havel arrived in under an hour.
Elashiya would've freaked if she'd felt the distance.
"There it is!"
But used to being carried by Havel, she was clueless.
She'd adapted to him in her own way.
"Gonna giantify."
"Ah, got it!"
Elashiya hopped off his back.
She then floated lightly in the air.
As she rose, Havel's body began expanding rapidly.
Elashiya wore an amazed expression, even seeing it again.
His clothes giantified perfectly too, after all.
It showed how advanced his manifestation was.
Boom!
Havel, now tribesman-sized, stood tall amid the trees.
Elashiya settled on his shoulder, and he strode forward.
Havel emerged from the forest into the tribal grounds.
"Caw?"
Tribesmen began turning one by one.
In the distance loomed Bardcommon's stone raven emblem.
He'd come to the right place.
"Elashiya, block your ears moderately."
Elashiya quickly covered her ears and cast a sound-dampening spell.
Seeing that, Havel drew a deep breath.
Then, infusing power, he bellowed toward them.
"Tribesmen of Bardcommon!"
His massive voice echoed thunderously across Bardcommon territory.
Doors flew open one after another from the roar.
Those facing it directly foamed at the mouth and collapsed,
while those inside were somewhat spared.
"Behold the emissary of the Night God!"
Havel shouted, drawing the Star Sword from his waist.
Tribesmen's eyes locked onto it in unison.
Perfectly timed, Havel poured calamity into the blade.
Galaxies blazed vividly from the Star Sword.
"I-It’s real."
"The rumored Night God's emissary!"
The rumors had spread; they recognized him.
As the saying goes, walls have ears.
True to crows, their intel was lightning-fast.
"I challenge your chief to a duel for your tribe!"
Tribesmen's faces twisted in varied reactions.
Those not devout scowled in outrage.
The faithful treated it as a natural rite,
clasping hands in prayer.
As the top Bardcommon tribe, it was the largest around.
Vast in scale, with diverse tribesmen.
Seeing their divided tendencies, Havel smirked.
Even if the chief fell, Bardcommon wouldn't submit instantly.
But it'd plant the seeds of civil war within.
Nothing shook a tribe like divided opinions.
Havel advanced, sword extended.
Chaos erupted among the flustered tribesmen.
He'd moved before any decision from above.
They didn't know what to do.
And among them,
one bolted somewhere the moment he spotted Havel.
Havel's sharp eyes caught him.
"Elashiya, track that guy with light magic."
Elashiya cast a pursuit spell on command.
A faint light for tribesmen, but glaring where Havel headed.
Havel followed it naturally.
Sensations stirred wherever he passed.
Some even knelt in prayer.
'No wonder Baldoran fears Bardcommon.'
Havel recalled a primitive kingdom viewing Bardcommon.
From markets to homes to farms.
This was beyond tribal scale.
A kingdom, really.
With such a gap, Baldoran's fear was natural.
Then a particularly grand building caught his eye.
Definitely the chief's place.
That instant,
someone leaped from the wall.
As Havel watched impassively,
a crow tribesman soon landed before him.
Vaster wings than others.
Muscular build.
A fine black sword at his waist, gold band around his neck.
"Night's Lion, I am Khan, elite warrior of the mighty Bardcommon, first tribe to conquer the world."
Havel looked bored at the introduction.
He'd called for the chief, and this popped out.
"The chief sent me to stop your rampage."
He drew his sword as he spoke.
"So right now..."
Havel raised his hand, no more listening.
Khan didn't even register it.
Only belatedly realizing Havel gripped his blade.
"What the..."
Before he finished,
Screeeeech!
The blade bent slowly along Havel's hand.
Bardcommon's prized high-grade steel sword.
Khan's face went slack.
But Havel shook it off like folding paper and said,
"If you don't wanna get folded too, bring the chief."
Khan looked even more foldable than the steel.