Chapter 108
Chapter 108 – Survivors (8)
“Did you come back already?”
“It’s suspicious that you’ve returned in just a few days, but for now, he says he completed all the orders you gave him.”
Barun’s spy he sent again. As Luke gradually occupied all the territories governed by Garhan, he chuckled at the news of the return of the spy.
The speed was dubious, even to Luke and his other subordinates. However, the spy, whose family was taken hostage, likely didn’t come back with half-hearted results.
It was more believable that he had really succeeded and rushed back without considering anything else.
“If you’re really worried, I can assist you again this time.”
“The Crystal of Truth. A very useful item.”
Observing the scene, the wizard chuckled while handing something over. This object, which he had already used several times, was known as the Crystal of Truth—a magical artifact.
It was a device to detect whether someone was lying or not.
Luke had found this item very useful up to now.
If the spy had lied under Barun’s orders, he would immediately sense it and plan to brutally punish his hostage family.
“They’ve really built a castle. Taller and thicker than a giant tree. There seemed to be around thousands of them, just one large tribe. The soldiers looked well-trained and well-armed, and their chieftain…”
“…”
However, the Crystal of Truth did not react until the spy recounted everything he had seen in detail. That meant everything the spy said was true.
Luke’s expression remained unchanged, while the people around him widened their eyes in surprise.
“You just need to go back and report everything you saw and heard.”
“R-really?”
“Luke won’t punish you for telling the truth.”
That was a given. Barun, who had recruited the spy, hadn’t ordered him to lie in the first place.
Just conveying the facts was enough.
What the Arin tribe was experiencing and cultivating was an unbelievable, surreal reality. The spy would simply relay that as it was.
“I can hardly believe this is all true, Chieftain. I think I understand why Garhan didn’t make a move against them. They’re too strong for conquest, despite being in a remote frontier.”
“But they’re only in the thousands. Their soldier numbers won’t exceed a thousand. We can manage.”
As Barun intended, they were thrown into chaos upon learning the truth. There were differing opinions among the commanders on how to deal with an Arin tribe that breached the imagination.
“If we want to talk, we can. But what I desire is unification of this grassland.”
Luke kept his mouth shut, observing his subordinates. He knew precisely what he wanted, and he was willing to act on it.
“Ghir. You need to step up. Once we combine all the information, it’s clear there’s an abundance of resources there, making it worth conquering. I will grant you full authority over this region alongside the expedition force, so conquer them.”
He entrusted this task to his most trusted and capable companion, who was constantly achieving feats.
It was an order to seize the Arin tribe.
The warriors receiving his command began to stir with excitement. A new conquest meant obtaining fresh spoils.
Naturally, the Arin tribe, who were watching, became aware of their movements.
“There may be some damage in suppressing Garhan’s forces, but after we’ve taken a sufficient rest, they’ll attack before the joy and fervor of victory cool down.”
War was imminent. Barun, understanding their intentions, awaited them inside the makeshift fortress. He had somewhat intended to send the spy back with orders to simply speak the truth.
Since he expected the enemy to attack first, Barun and the Arin tribe planned to defend against the attack while preparing to counterattack.
“We built this fortress in just a few days and created tunnels to strike the enemy’s rear. Honestly, if we bring those from the North, it shouldn’t be difficult to win.”
“We must not forget our duty. Our true enemies lie elsewhere.”
They didn’t even consider this their full strength. As one of the warriors mentioned those in the North, Barun frowned and shook his head.
Half or more of the troops had left the village and gone North to guard against the Bugs alongside the defense turrets.
While Barun was turning refugees into soldiers, he hadn’t touched those in the North.
It was a strong belief that they could win even so.
“If we win this battle, we could capture the area that Garhan had ruled. Then more people will gather.”
The desire for territorial expansion wasn’t held solely by Chieftain Luke in the central region. Barun also wished to create a larger tribe with a greater population.
However, their intentions differed. Luke aimed to create a grand empire beginning from this grassland, while Barun’s actions were merely in accordance with the divine will.
It didn’t seem impossible. They had made it this far from just a handful of tribes. Now, with greater numbers and strength, they had more options.
“Chieftain. Now is the time for you to rise to the position of Great Chieftain.”
“Indeed. There’s absolutely no reason for you to lag behind the other Great Chieftains.”
The warriors under him urged him to ascend to the title of Great Chieftain before the war. They aimed to show that there was nothing to fear and to strengthen solidarity.
Knowing its effect, Barun hesitated for a moment. It was something he had never even imagined until recently.
“If it’s necessary, I suppose I must.”
But he soon nodded. He concluded that rising to a higher position was beneficial for everyone and for the future.
“I’ll prepare the ritual. If the Guardian Deity agrees, I will gladly become the Great Chieftain.”
Barun decided to hold a ritual to pray for victory before the war. He intended to unite various people, including the migrants, and from there seek the acknowledgment of the heavens to become the Great Chieftain.
“I have no reason to oppose this.”
Beyond the screen, he watched as countless people recognized Barun, and he imprinted the legitimacy of it to everyone observing while bestowing his blessing upon him.
A divine artifact descended from the sky along with light. It was only natural for non-believers to find it strange.
*
[File Transmission]
I sent Barun a necklace engraved with splendid inscriptions using the file transmitter. It was an action I decided on, as I felt he needed some symbolic item.
“—!”
In the wide clearing before the wall, surrounded by countless people watching, Barun raised it high and shouted to the crowd.
Since they trust me and follow, anyone I guarantee will hold authority. Having worked hard and achieved success, Barun more than qualified to be the Great Chieftain.
Seeing the multitude of people gathering and rejoicing, I didn’t even mind sacrificing a few hundred points.
‘So, it seems we are destined to fight after all.’
At the same time, I glanced at the additional monitors set up on either side. They displayed the direction from which Luke’s soldiers would approach in the west and where the Bugs had made their massive nests in the north.
On the monitor showing the west, the enemies had been detected advancing— a massive army on the move.
The number was so great that the formations couldn’t even be captured in a single frame.
Even if we negotiate, bringing in an army like this wouldn’t be a true negotiation. Fortunately, our scouting soldiers spotted them and hurried to inform Barun.
“—, —.”
Barun commanded his residents, seeming to have been waiting for this moment. It was as if he’d told them beforehand, and their actions showed no hesitation.
The still-homeless refugees were prepping to flee into the wall at any moment, while the soldiers gathered their weapons.
Barun further split the already fragmented soldiers into two. The main force remained on standby at the pre-established forward base, while only a reserve contingent, apparently trusting the defense turrets, was located in the protected village.
‘Why? Why didn’t they concentrate all their efforts on the forward base?’
Throughout this process, I questioned their tactics. While I understood the intent to avoid a direct confrontation due to overwhelming numbers, I couldn’t comprehend why they weren’t fully committing to the forward base while leaving openings.
It seemed as though they were coaxing the enemies to bypass the forward base and strike at the village.
[Riena is worrying about the special operation entrusted to her by Barun. If the enemy doesn’t circumvent the forward base, those left behind will be in danger without her being able to intervene.]
I figured out the reason by reading Riena’s concern.
If there were obstacles, it seemed that bypassing was easily considered by them, and Barun was inadvertently planning for that.
‘Then I should help when the time comes.’
If the battle didn’t last for several hours, the only things I could contribute would be five strikes with a hammer and one with a chainsaw.
I needed to save them for the optimal moment.
“—, —!”
As the enemies approached, the residents prepared their utmost strategies.
Dwarves, especially those with military backgrounds, were seen studying and training in infantry tactics to refine their skills in combat without mounted fighting.
Potions created using the hunting mode of Dark Blood and the crafting techniques from Creature Hunting were adequately stocked up.
I glanced at the shopping bag beside me. The glass bottles filled inside contained the potions I’d brought back for Lee So-Yeon as offerings.
Despite offering tribute to me, they still had enough supplies stockpiled.
The artisans who learned crafting techniques using the by-products of the Bugs pouring out from the north set up large workshops, producing large quantities of special equipment, so most of the soldiers were now equipped with sufficient gear.
‘What will happen?’
Honestly, I felt a bit nervous. It seemed quite feasible when looking at our side, but I could also see the enemies.
Their numbers were fundamentally greater than ours. Although the organization of humans is probably less than that of the Bugs, who push forward regardless of their allies’ lives, the enemies’ morale didn’t seem too bad.
Moreover, the problem was more than just that.
“—!”
I attempted to strike the heads of the approaching foes with my hammer. It would surely be a decisive first strike.
However, the moment I swung down the hammer, a bluish force appeared and stopped my hammer in the air.
Though it barely deflected my hammer, wheezing as if exhausted, [Shaman Pioro] did indeed block it.
‘So, they aren’t just nobodies.’
Having seen a rather capable warrior withstand or endure my hammer, I sighed as I switched to the chainsaw, which was far more powerful, and began to shred them.
“—!!! –!”
“—, –!!”
It seemed I couldn’t afford to let my guard down at all.
I began my own preparations for war, making sure to have coffee and meals ready, while watching the panicking crowd.
