Vikings NTR'd by Knife-Ears
The city we'd come to this time had turned into a full-on battle city. It was heartwarming to see all the men brawling for honor, but they were fighting so chaotically that it was impossible to tell who the winners and losers even were.
"Ulfrik Ragnarson!! They call you Drengr in the Bearclaw Tribe, don't they! Prove you're a true Drengr!!"
"You just lost to me! Eh, whatever. Come at me again!!!"
Just as I was slamming these guys who kept charging back after falling into the dirt—giving the ground a deep kiss in the process—
"Hahaha! Ragna! Your son's really something!"
"Hah... It'd be great if we had warriors that brave."
"Hey now, saying that won't make any appear."
The Jarls and my father had finished their talks and come out to watch. When big shots like them showed up, this kind of mess usually sorted itself out naturally.
"Tch, don't mind us—keep fighting..."
"It's a bit disappointing, yeah."
In the end, we had a blast brawling it out, then knocked back a round of drinks to coolly wrap up the event.
But amid the festival grounds, I spotted some strange guests. Unlike everyone else, their clothes looked incredibly luxurious, and their mannerisms screamed Empire.
"Ah, those guys?"
"Father, do you know who they are?"
"They're the fools wandering around, trying to reclaim lost authority and honor."
Our lands once had a king. But that throne was empty now.
"The last king was a pathetic coward who worshipped the Empire."
"So you executed him."
"Yeah, our ancestors hated his guts, so there was no choice."
So this Thing was basically like sending delegations to gauge each tribe's strength.
"If we'd seemed weak, one of those guys' puppet kings would've shown up to claim these lands right away."
"A puppet king... Why leave any of them alive?"
"We wanted to wipe them all out. But they served our kings, after all."
So they spared the families to honor old oaths and glory. Got it.
"Honor sure is complicated."
"Tell me about it."
"Anyway, how'd things go with the other Jarls?"
"Great! Here's the deal—"
Oh? Other tribes are sending their warriors to train with us? Wait, this means...
"There are more guys like me among the Jarls."
"Oh."
Our generation wasn't just MZ-gen warriors anymore. We were on the path to becoming true Viking folk. Time to step up our game even more!
The five-day festival was optional anyway, and with plenty to do back home, we bought some gifts and headed out.
"Son, isn't it funny traveling all this way for just two days?"
"Kinda... But it's got its romantic charm."
The far north, where snow falls eternally. The scenery was killer! Sure, frozen corpses dotted the path here and there, but treating them like natural landmarks added a certain vibe.
Enjoying that cold northern routine, we soon reached the tribe.
"Honey!! You're back!"
"Heh heh, good work. Ulfrik, you too."
"I didn't do much—praise the Huscarls and Father more."
"Such a humble boy."
Resting off the travel fatigue sounded nice, but screams echoed from outside the buildings now and then. Time to check how the assistant instructors had been drilling the recruits.
Before entering the training grounds, I communed with the instructor's spirit for possession. Now armed with a ruthless mindset, I headed to the assistants full of anticipation.
But what the hell!!
"Grrrrrr!!"
"You can't even do this?!"
"You fucking— Gah?!"
Oh no!!! The assistants were already on the verge of snapping from frustration!! They looked like they'd put in massive effort, radiating murderous intent toward the recruits in front of them. At this rate, honor killings were imminent, so I quickly took control.
"Everyone, freeze!!!"
"I-Instructor Ulfrik!!!"
"Fucking finally!! We knew you'd come back!!"
"So much has happened while you were gone..."
These guys had been running recruit drills without me for over a month and a half. They'd clearly realized just how hopeless they were.
"How do you even endure this frustration, Drengr—"
"I wanna kill them for real!"
"Instructor, just one? Please?"
"Easy now, I get it. Go take a breather."
Good thing I intervened before their low blood pressure turned into collapsed necks. Then I took over the recruit drill training again. The venom in their eyes showed the assistants had taught them well. Of course, some deadbeats still screwed up.
"You little shit... Kiyol!!!"
"Everyone, stomp that fucker!!!"
"He messed up again!"
"Argh!"
"Uwaaaaaah!!"
But with this hot camaraderie, even deadbeats could become new men!
Today's drill training wrapped up smoothly. Maybe because I kept it fast-paced without unnecessary rage? The veteran Vikings and assistants started showing me infinite respect.
"Just looking at them boils my blood, but how do you hold it together, Ulfrik?"
"Must be the mental fortitude befitting a Drengr..."
"I've still got a long way to go."
Another peaceful day at the Bearclaw Tribe training grounds.
While I was grinding the veterans and recruits hard as usual, a problem arose from building extra longships for our growing warriors.
"Not enough docking space?"
"Figure another three ships can fit here."
"Can't be helped. Everyone, assemble!!!"
""""Argh!""""
Army, air force, navy, marines—shoveling's a must-know basics anywhere. I split them into teams using our experience.
"Team 1 at the riverbank scoops dirt and tosses it back. Team 2 hauls it further. Team 3 piles it here."
""""Argh!""""
"Reserves, warm up for rotations. Begin!!!"
Division of labor makes simple work hyper-efficient. Dirt vanished faster than planned, expanding the harbor for longships.
But the tribesfolk worried about me.
"Uh... Instructor Ulfrik, you don't need a break?"
"Other teams are rotating with reserves..."
"Don't worry about me."
Soldiers hate officers who just boss them around while scrolling phones. But lead by example like me, and they follow naturally. Add competence, and efficiency skyrockets. Sure, they might gripe about no breaks from a hardworking boss, but reserves fix that!
"Mmm! My son's a natural at man-management."
"Pfft, man-management? Just got extra energy."
"But the warriors follow you. That's the core of it."
Father still overrates me. Thinking "good is good," we finished shoveling quick. He rewarded the results with a feast.
"Son, anything you want?"
"Yeah."
"Spit it out."
"Time for new training."
Recruits keep drilling basics, but veterans need more than tactic reviews, spars, and weapon practice. I asked Father for gear and setups; he was speechless.
The Bearclaw Tribe kept swelling with nearby clans joining thanks to my rep. Our grounds expanded, but now a bizarre sight unfolded in the massive clearing.
Free shamans living nearby had answered Jarl Ragna's call.
"Why turn this into a mud pit?"
"And install spiky iron whips irregularly from here to there."
"Got materials for all that?"
"Plenty from Ulfrik's raids, they say."
"Heard he went on extra raids just in case."
What the hell was this mystery training ground for? Even shaman "intellectuals" had no clue. Meanwhile, I hit a small raid to restock and relieve the assistants' stress.
"Stronger than before—my body's burning!"
"Raiding the Empire is this fun?!"
"Empire land's not even in sight—calm down."
Stress buildup and itchy bodies had them grinning nonstop. But at the target village...
"Why's it empty?"
"No loot-worthy stuff."
"Not even a single rat..."
The village was deserted. Stunned, I hypothesized.
"Did we loot this area too hard last time and scare everyone off?"
"Nah, Instructor Ulfrik."
"Tracks say they were here 3-5 days ago."
Where'd the people and goods go? Simple answer.
"Here!! Found a weird arrow!"
"Just an arrow—why the fuss?"
"Kanpeu made this!"
"What?!"
Competitors had beaten us to it—elves NTR'd our loot. The shocked Vikings flew into rage.
"They dared Geunbbae our stuff first?!"
"Instructor Ulfrik!! Time for bloody revenge!!"
"Show those Kanpeu—"
"""Death to the Kanpeu!!!"""
We couldn't stand it—tracked the trail immediately. Clop clop clop!!!
"Where'd they go!!!"
"Tracks head to the coast!!"
"Empire folk taken as slaves—we can catch 'em if we hurry!"
How far did we run? Nonstop, we spotted an elf ship docked.
"Oh."
"Oh."
"Oh."
"Oh."
Piles of goods on the shore tanked our rage meters. We exchanged grins.
Then my signature tactic kicked off.
"Launch 'em!!!"
""""Argh!!!""""
Flying Vikings soared. Elf sentries naturally missed them. Their fate was sealed.
BOOM!!!
BOOM!!
"Uwaaaah!"
"W-what's happening!!"
"SIuuuuuu!!!"
"We're here!!!"
"Come at us, Kanpeu!!!"
And so began the skirmish over Empire spoils.