Summer Arrives
We'd succeeded in scouting Bellos. But with our comrades badly hurt, we fell back to our secure base camp in the Coastal Cave.
"Hakon, how are the comrades doing?"
"It's quite amazing."
"Don't beat around the bush—how are they, exactly?"
"Ah, sorry. To put it simply, even without going berserk, they're showing incredible natural recovery."
Our ancestors in this world sure worry too much. Still, not losing a single comrade was a massive stroke of luck.
After leaving the Fire Scale Tribe warriors in Hakon's care, we checked the longship's cargo before setting sail.
"Whoa, it's packed to the brim with eggs, Dreng!"
"Sergeant Ulfrik, looks like all that running around paid off big time."
"Keh… Stuffed full of prime loot."
Even the comrades' longship was bulging, so if they could move, we could shove off immediately. Not long after sizing up the imperial forces' movements from base camp,
"Let's go home!!!"
"""Yaaaaah!!!"""
Shwaaaaa!!!
Judging the time right, we cleaved through the North Sea and pressed on. We ran into imperial ships here and there, but our kiheup-fueled rowing and the ship's superior design left them in the dust.
Continuing to slice through the waves, it was time to part ways with the comrades.
"Lord Ulfrik!! Thank you for everything!!"
"I want to fight alongside you in the next war too!!"
"May your path of honor and glory be blessed!!"
"Yeah!! See you next time!!"
""""Ha!!""""
We and the comrades bellowed spirited cheers as we turned the rudders. Watching them fade into the distance, I was already pumped for next time!
"Lord Ulfrik, they were fine warriors."
"It'd be great to link up again."
"I think so too."
Now it was just us—no need to hold back on speed!! Full throttle back to the tribe!!
Not long after crossing the frigid North Sea,
Our sacred homeland came into view—we were back at the Bear Claw Tribe. But we were the last to arrive, it seemed.
Waaaaah!!!
The entire tribe swarmed the harbor in welcome, and the squad leaders I'd appointed last time rushed over.
"Sergeant Ulfrik!! You're back!"
"Great job out there!"
"You guys too. How about the squad members?"
"""All safely returned!"""
Kuh… They're handling things fine without me! I might just tear up. Apparently, they'd pushed too hard without a break, so all the berserkers were laid up in the infirmary.
"No brakes means they overdid it, huh."
"We'll hold back next time!!"
"Sorry, Sergeant Ulfrik!!"
"Hey, no apologies on a day like this."
As we unpacked our spoils, Father approached from afar.
"Whoa… Stuffed to bursting again? You did great, son."
"Piece of cake."
"Hahaha! That's my boy. Need help sorting?"
"Still hate work, I see."
"Ahem! You little…!!"
With Mother off to the Frost Giant Tribe, Father was handling all the internal affairs—which meant he itched to slack off. While sorting the warehouse together (since he didn't want to work alone), he filled me in on recent events.
"Everyone's settling into the new territory well."
"Especially those halflings who volunteered—quite the sight."
"What changed to make you say that?"
"You gotta see it for yourself."
True to his word, I went to check on the halflings. But holy—!!
Chwajajajak!! Drurrrr!!!
"Huuuuh!!"
"Kiyooooot!!"
"Haaaaah!!"
They'd bulked up from marine corruption, yet they handled the tools with even more skill, more flair—crafting marine symbols!
"They finish labor crazy fast and crave training and workouts."
"Ahh… It's a beautiful sight, Father."
They idolized marines so much, no wonder they were this gung-ho! And they were spoiling their sole sister like royalty.
"G-Guys? I'm fine now…"
"No, Lady Liri."
"Please rest easy."
"We'll handle everything!"
Liri was treated like a queen by her marine-corrupted brothers.
"Heard from the halflings—without Liri during slavery, they'd have ended it all."
"She's their lifesaver, so it makes sense."
But hadn't Liri wanted her brothers freed first? They didn't seem to crave freedom now. Whatever the future held, Liri basked in utmost respect from her ripped marine brothers.
With the warehouse sorted, the tribal council convened.
Me and the squad leaders entered, and Father and the elders beamed at our confident strides.
"Just days ago, we fretted over the tribe's future…"
"Now I could die without regrets."
"Hehey~ Elders! Got grandkids to see first, right?"
"Sergeant Ulfrik's right!"
"Live long!!"
"""Hahaha!!"""
The warm council hall buzzed with intel.
"Let's start with the Northeast Empire from Egill, Corporal?"
"Yes, Sergeant! Spring hit the warmer zones, but no one's sowing seeds."
"They're scrapping farming this year."
"Tch… Empire North is ruthless."
"But it'll turn to wasteland."
North might replant later, but this decision would starve masses. Still, with Vikings smashing it anyway, it was smart.
"Good work on recon, Corporal Egill."
"Thank you!"
"Corporal Aslak, Corporal Vidak—central North?"
"All city gates locked tight."
"Even villagers hauled everything and evacuated."
"…Textbook stuff."
"Sacrificed the future."
Scorched earth tactics. Denying invaders supplies—we'd be blocked from strategic moves. Nobles clustered central, so no surprise. Our delayed war created a hilarious twist.
"Kukuku, looks like Great Shaman planned this."
"North's self-destructing."
"The longer we drag, the worse it gets."
North traded future for defenses. We might cripple them without invading. Helga Grandma's foresight is unreal, I thought—just as my turn came.
I briefed on Bellos.
"Play it right, and one imperial vassal might break free this war."
"Heh heh, making history?"
"Can't wait!!"
With intel pooled, we set war direction.
"Others'll hit loot-rich Northeast."
"Father, join 'em?"
"Nah, up to you."
"Handing me command?"
"You've proven plenty—it's yours."
Father's too cool! Our tribe's goal: one!!
Thud!!!
"We're hitting here!!"
"Erben Duke's estate?!"
"Y-Yes, Dreng!"
Top nobles messed up—head must pay! No tail-cutting BS with us!!
"But son, odds of nabbing North's overlord are slim."
"I know. Still, they pay for trespassing sacred soil."
How strong was the ducal house? Time to test.
Council ended; outside, petals drifted down.
War prep flew by—summer was here. Time for the Viking Thing; Father, me, and huscarls headed to Valegard.
"Need more training, better weapons—such a shame."
"War delay slowed other tribes' deployments too."
"But post-war, we can do both."
If we're this backed up, others must be worse. Blood revenge would be worth it.
"Bandits seem scarcer, no?"
"Seems so, Yarl."
"Peaceful days."
"Our doing?"
"Haha! Volunteered all the bandits—warrior boom. Too many now."
Our tribe was diamond-shaped now. Gung-ho, but labor shortage.
"That's why the chest?"
"Valegard's massive slave market—need thralls. Say, 50-100."
"That many?!"
"Can't rely on raids forever; self-sufficiency demands it, son."
Whoa… Feel our growth now. Slaves sparked an idea.
"Father, skilled slaves like halflings?"
"Blacksmiths short, yeah. But pricey."
One artisan is equal to 20 serfs. Sigh. Tech rules all worlds.
Chatting idly, peacefully onward—Valegard, the Yarl's Thing city, loomed.