Chapter 347
TL: Zimmings
“Are there people you can trust?”
When I asked, Jin replied.
“People I can trust?”
I laughed meanly.
***
With his eyes closed, Archduke Locard pressed his throbbing temple.
Five minutes after the kakan (tribe leaders) meeting began, there were many shouts.
Meetings continued day after day with the agenda of destroying the temple, but every time it failed to exceed 10 minutes and became a mess.
“We cannot agree with the destruction of the temple!”
“Why is the Armatal(leader) election delayed? The destruction of the temple is a foreign country’s business. We can’t do it!”
“The temple is not unique to its own country. You’re going to prioritize power struggle over the world’s fate?”
“Armatal, it’s up to you to plan for the future.”.
The meeting was a mess as always.
His only son Lionel, who was dispatched as an envoy with him, whispered.
“I don’t think there will be a decision today dad.”
“Is there no news from the empire?”
“Yes… I guess it’s to the point where they can’t even communicate.”
There was not much time left, but the Athar Tribe did not give any answers.
Rather, if they conclude that the temple cannot be destroyed, they would have to destroy it by force, but since the conclusion itself is not reached, they couldn’t think about it.
In his last communication with his mother, she said,
[We left the capital, and most of the nobles already fled. Son, you must hurry.]
When Archduke Locard clenched his fist, Lionel called his father in a worried tone.
“Father?”
“I’m worried about your grandmother and mother. Both of them are stubborn, will they really leave the mansion and escape safely?”
“…….”
Locard’s expression darkened.
Today’s meeting was also canceled without a conclusion.
A leader of a tribe became very angry and punch another leader.
It became q dog fight after guards from each tribe jumped into the fight.
The escorts and heirs of each tribe rushed and took them out, and the leaders shouted at each other until the end.
“I will not deal with the dull white mountain (a tribe name)!”
“Our tribe, as soon as we return, we will subdue the red spider (a tribe name)!”
It was the same for other leaders. One envoy of the empire who watched it shook his head as if he was tired of it.
“Who’s a savage-”
“Lord.”
The envoy flinched when someone said in a low voice.
The athar tribe leader was still in the room.
The old man glanced at the people from the empire. His hair was all white, but his physique was excellent, and the aura of a person who reigned at the top of the 12 tribes for more than half a hundred years was strong.
He gave off such a pressure that they get goosebumps just by receiving his attention.
The leader, who got up from his seat, said while holding his back.
“Remember, strangers. This is Athar. It’s a land of beasts, where it’s easier to bite the nape than to talk.”
Archduke Locard bowed his head on behalf of the envoy.
After the leader left, the envoys talked about him.
“Sahad, the leader of the Athar Tribe, is a barbarian, so he is not a man to be ignored.”
“But isn’t he just an old man with missing teeth?”
“Even if his teeth are missing, he is a beast. He had been dealing with other countries for nearly 50 years. Do you think it’s possible with his body?”
“Then…”
“It’s because his leadership was better than any other generals.”
The envoys and Lionel sighed.
“If only the position of the current leader of could be strengthened, it would be possible to destroy the temple.”
“But there’s no time. Now that Athar has come to this point, it is inevitable that the current leader will be pushed out.”
“Is there really nothing we can do other than wish us good luck?”
The expression of the envoys darkened.
But that night, the luck really came.
***
At midnight, Archduke Locard hurried down the stairs.
“Is it true that the red spider tribe was attacked by the white mountain tribe?”
Lionel answered with great excitement.
“Yes! It’s not a battle between warriors, but the tribesmen faced each other quite fiercely. The red spider tribesmen seemed to have suffered quite a lot, so they were angry.”
“If all goes well, there will be a proper war between the tribes.”
Then Athar will be destroyed.
Thr tribes did not have to follow the decision of the meeting, and the temple, which is under the Nahshalk Tribe, could be destroyed at will.
The envoys cheered.
“What a great luck, archduke!”
Lionel also hugged his father as he was overjoyed and cried out.
Archduke Locard narrowed his brow and looked outside.
‘A battle ahead of the election?’
No matter how harsh the nature of the white mountain people is, it does not make sense.
‘How could that happen?’
As if someone had directed it, things were flowing in the direction the empire wanted.
At that time, their leader, Sahad was rolling a walnut in his hand listening to his son-in-law.
“The red spider and the white mountain…”
“Isn’t that a good thing? The people will forget about the leader selection, now what are we most afraid of?”
“We are only strong when we are one. Yesterday’s comrade will be a fearful enemy since they knew us well.”
“…….”
“Enough. We must find a way to survive! If this country collapses, any tribe will try to hold our hand first.”
Sahad, who looked at his sullen son-in-law, continued.
“Bring Jin back right now.”
“Huh?”
“The white mountain’s kakan is foolish, but he had a great instinct. The red spider’s kakan is wise but timid. They wouldn’t fight each other. Who would have created this mess?”
“No way, Jin…? But even so, it’s something to be commended, father.”
“Praise? You still don’t know your son.”
“Pardon?”
“Does it seem that the child came up with this method belatedly and separated the tribe only now?”
“…….”
“He created this! Even if he seems to be more skillful that we thought, he is the one who loves this country the most. He’ll know that being destroyed is a loss to us in the long run!”
“Then…….”
“That guy has someone next to him who’s like a snake. It doesn’t matter if this country is torn apart.”
The son-in-law’s expression hardened. As Sahad waved his hand, Huihui, the son-in-law quickly ran out and said, “Bring Jin!”
***
“Akira (the leader’s son-in-law) is looking for you.”
At Vipasha’s words, Jin raised his eyebrows with an expression as if he knew the time had come.
He looked at me.
“So? What are you going to do now? Grandfather is a wise man. There’s no way he doesn’t know what we’re up to.”
“What do you mean?”
Jin sighed. Then he changed his expression in an instant.
It seemed that Jin’s cold expression, which was usually hidden under his playful expression, was finally revealed.
“The destruction of the temple wasn’t the only goal, right? The Athar Tribe will be the most annoying enemy when Dubblede becomes independent. Weren’t you trying to break us up in advance and deal with it?”
Vipasha opened her eyes wide and looked at me.
I drank tea and looked at Jin with an indifferent look.
“Then why did you follow my plans?”
“……”
Jin said while grabbing his hair.
“I followed you because the priority is to prevent the collapse of the world. Destroying the temple is the fastest way.”
“Yes.”
“But if this causes problems for Athar, we will become enemies. You know that?”
I got up from my seat, looked at Jin and smiled.
“Aren’t you going? They’re calling you.”
“…….”
“If you’re not going, them don’t.”
“I’m going.”
Jin left the room as if he couldn’t help it, and I followed him.
When he reached the leader’s room and knocked, a man who seemed to be Jin’s father came out.
“What’s wrong with you… Lady Dubblede?”
“Nice to meet you, Akira. I’m Leblaine Dubblede.”
“Were you the snake that was attached to Jin?”
People call me snake many times, so I wasn’t surprised.
When I smiled brightly, the Akira sighed and opened the door.
When I went inside, I saw an old man sitting on the sofa. The old man had a great physique and dignity flowed from him.
“It’s the face I expected. I’ve heard that they caught the lady at the border.”
“It’s an honor to meet you, Armatal.”
The leader of the tribes, who looked at me, slowly opened his mouth.
“You’re an immature girl. You know some things but do not know the others.”
“Tell me what I don’t know.”
“You think you got everything you wanted with my grandson, but you’re wrong.”
“…….”
“Lady. As the Athar Tribe leader, I was going to cooperate in the destruction of the temple, but as a ‘Nashalk Tribe leader’, I will never destroy the temple.”
“Why?”
“First, the temple is a symbol of the union, so if we destroy it now, it will be a declaration of our breakup, and secondly, the temple is needed in Nashalk for battle after the collapse, and thirdly…”
The old man who put walnuts on the side table looked at me.
“I’m annoyed. How dare you touch us by bringing my grandson in?”
As the old man grabbed the sword handle, Jin hurriedly exclaimed, “Grandpa!”
I said in a gentle tone.
“You’re correct, but not completely.”
“……what?”
Then, this time Jin and his father frowned with bewildered expressions.
“Lady!”
“Leblaine.”
I said.
“The tribe will not breakup.”
“You’re not going to break things up by making things happen?”
“Yes. Red spider and white mountain have never had a battle.”
“…What?”
“It’s true. There has never been a battle. The fight with the red spider…….”
For a moment, a black tiger was laid under my feet. Those wearing masked with horns appeared in the fog.
What was unusual was that they had Athar’s outfit.
“They’re my ghost soldiers.”
“……!!”
I said holding the shoulder of a ghost standing in front of me.
“I called out the ghosts of people from white mountain that died in the great drought this year. I’m sure the other tribe think it’s the white mountain.”
“…How?”
“Because I had to show the needs of all tribes. The reason why those different tribes have been maintained so far.”
“…….”
“Everyone should now know it’s because you are at the center of it.”
The three men looked at me frantically.
The old man who was looking at me with a firm face soon burst into laughter.
“You really are the treasure of the empire! What a waste. If I had such a granddaughter-in-law, Nashalk would have embraced the world!”
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