Hakan’s Ambition

“…Please, help unite our scattered Rashka tribes throughout the Great Desert.”

Hakan bowed his head to me and pleaded.

I felt deep interest.

[Why do you harbor such a desire?]

At my question, Hakan raised his head to look at me.

The axe mark diagonally crossing the center of his face is quite striking.

How formidable must he have been in his prime?

“We Rashka are like ever-flowing sand. We’ve enjoyed all kinds of exceptional benefits such as tax exemptions, royal preferential treatment, public respect… other privileges too numerous to mention, abundant as grains of sand.”

Hakan rose to his feet again.

With arms spread wide, he continued speaking to me.

“Like a gust of wind… we can also flow away. If we dislike the harassment from local powers or our settlement, we can simply pack our belongings and leave, just like the many nomads of this great desert. And yet, despite this… I’ve had an enormous curiosity throughout my life.”

What was this large, middle-aged assassin village chief trying to say?

I looked down at Hakan with interest.

“Why must we Rashka live separately from each other? …I wondered what would happen if all the Rashka of the great desert united. But recently, it’s not just simple curiosity anymore.”

Hakan spoke with a deep, resonant voice.

The village chief’s eyes were filled with profound zeal.

“…The year I underwent my coming of age at fifteen. Suddenly, a dimensional war with the otherworld Gaia erupted. It was a horrific war where we fought for reasons unknown, coveting each other’s manpower and resources. The war has continued even now, 25 years later. Even this desolate great desert could not escape the ravages of war.”

Hakan’s lowered eyelids trembled slightly.

He appeared lost in deep memories of the past.

He was surprisingly young at just 40 years old.

“China from the other side of the Gate in the otherworld Gaia is said to be one of the three great powers in that world. They say it’s a superpower with countless people like stars, powerful resources, strong technology, and overwhelming military might. There seem to be many other forces from the other Gaia connected to our great desert… but I’m wary of China, which has been appearing in our territory with increasing frequency.”

A strange hostility settled in Hakan’s downcast eyes.

He was wary of China from Earth in this world.

“This isn’t just about existing conflicts with the Khanates. If their armies come with iron vehicles at the front and lightning crossbows in hand… our tribe, which values self-reliance and independence as precepts, will be greatly troubled. Should we cooperate with the allied forces of the great desert to fight against them? Or should we flee to avoid the war between both sides?”

Hakan, who had his arms spread, put his hands behind his back.

Then he turned his back to me and looked down the hill again.

“After a lifetime of contemplation, my conclusion is this. For survival, for prosperity, I now wish to unite. The grand miracle you achieved in just one day yesterday… I have strong faith that with the power the White Sovereign provides, this will be possible.”

Ultimately, Hakan was concerned about the future of the entire tribe.

New troubles were brewing in the Shahar.

Would they stand against the wind, or be blown down?

[Interesting.]

I honestly expressed my admiration.

This is the first nationalist I’ve met since reincarnating in this other world.

Isn’t this a very rare mindset by medieval standards?

The Sand Tribe Rashka.

I need to understand their origins as well.

Rashka means “flowing sand” in ancient Arubian language.

This implies they’re a tribe that uses the power of flowing sand.

The tribes are scattered throughout the great desert.

One tribe oversees several villages under its precepts.

The Black Scorpion Assassination Corps Samara tribe has 3,284 members across 12 villages.

In their prime, the Rashka had 13 tribes with a population reaching 100,000.

But now they’ve shrunk to 6 tribes with 30,000.

Swept up in various circumstances, they’ve now become a minority.

Specifically, there are far more in 10 tribes, but 4 tribes have fallen into corruption, living in the hell-fire beneath the desert and pledging allegiance to the Heat Devil King who leads demons.

They are treated as traitors and no longer considered kinsmen.

In fact, the situation is not good at all for those who remain.

If it’s impossible to dramatically increase their population by some means…

They would likely be assimilated and disappear among the overwhelmingly numerous surrounding peoples.

Just as minority ethnic groups have done throughout Earth’s history.

“With the achievements the White Sovereign has demonstrated… I believe you are more than capable of accomplishing the great task of uniting all Rashka throughout this vast great desert. Please, lead us with the Black Scorpion tribe Samara at the forefront.”

Hakan, who had been looking at the hill, slowly turned around again.

His eyes looked as if he were welcoming a messiah.

[You harbor quite an enormous aspiration.]

“The White Sovereign will certainly accomplish it.”

The Western Continent of Arubian is diverse in description.

The east resembles Arabia, the south ancient Egypt, the west India, and the north Persia.

An Oriental fantasy world where all Middle Eastern imaginings blend together.

That is this Western Continent of Arubian.

The Rashka live scattered throughout this region.

The harsh climate unique to the great desert has effectively cut off exchanges between them.

Contact has been severed except between closely neighboring tribes.

It’s worse than separated families who can at least confirm each other’s survival.

Even the information about 6 tribes with 30,000 people might be outdated.

Perhaps more tribes have disappeared.

Desert travel essentially requires risking one’s life and soul.

When meeting while crossing the vast desert, they exchange friendly greetings and briefly travel together like blood relatives, but after parting, they essentially become strangers again.

That’s the nature of those living in the desert…

The unification of tribes across this vast Shahar Great Desert, comparable to Earth’s Sahara Desert?

Even I haven’t ventured beyond the Grabadra Sea?

Is such a thing really possible?

[What benefit do I gain from doing this?]

“Pardon?”

I immediately countered Hakan.

[What’s in it for me?]

The Rashka tribe’s situation is pitiful, but I have my own circumstances.

First, my goal is to return to my original Earth.

I also want to regain my human form.

…Though that might change later, that’s how I feel now.

So I observed the situation coldly.

Ultimately, I must prioritize myself completely.

“Th-that…”

Hakan immediately showed signs of deep thought.

It seems he hadn’t expected me to respond this way.

In truth, even reforming the village was purely whimsical.

It was partly to test my newly acquired powers.

It wasn’t particularly for him or the villagers.

…However, that doesn’t mean a deal is impossible.

If there’s something beneficial for me from them as well.

I should thoroughly take whatever I can get.

If they’re hiding anything good, I’ll take it.

“We… offer the true loyalty of 492 desert assassins from 98 households in Akran. We will be hands and feet to handle whatever the Sovereign wishes to do…”

[Such common, empty loyalty pledges are far from enough.]

“H-how could that be…!”

I slightly enjoyed his increasingly troubled expression and said:

[Then I’ll propose conditions.]

“What conditions do you have?”

[Pledge your life to me.]

“…Pardon?”

Hakan was momentarily stunned by my words.

“What… do you mean?”

[Completely stake your life on me. Along with your assassins’ creed. Isn’t that the belief of you who always live with your lives at stake, crossing between life and death?]

“……”

Hakan fell into profound silence.

He appeared to be in deep contemplation.

[The lives of 492 people from 98 households in the village, along with all other assets, knowledge, and information become mine from this moment. Because you are requesting submission to me. I will also hold the power of life and death over you. I see this as the baseline.]

The Rashka tribe is the strongest combat group in Shahar.

If they become my thorough agents, it would be an enormous benefit.

They could operate in places where I cannot openly appear.

Since they excel at such covert operations, I judged them perfect for this.

Finally, I firmly drove in the last nail.

[Specifically, your only daughter Nadia will become completely mine.]

This time Hakan made no reaction.

Instead, he looked up at me with eyes filled with various emotions.

“…Why is that?”

[Because I like her.]

I was quite fond of Nadia.

My reasons for wanting to claim Nadia were complex.

True to the assassin archetype, she was quite perceptive and intelligent.

She had an explosive figure and exceptionally outstanding beauty.

She even possessed a strange charm that naturally drew men and women around her.

As a Great Warrior of Samara village, she is equivalent to B-rank by this Earth’s hunter ranking standards.

Considering that the average adult assassin is D-rank, on par with the Central Continent’s wood elves, dark elves, and orcs, Warrior Captains are C-rank, Great Warriors are B-rank, Great Warrior Captains who are Village Chiefs are A-rank, and the Assassination King who leads all assassins and the Seven Shadows who are the executives of the assassination order are S-rank, her basic combat ability is already sufficient.

Overall, she seemed to be a very high-level assassin.

Currently, I am a monster, and she is human.

My feelings for her now are complicated.

If I were still human, I would be drawn to her, but…

As a monster now, I view her from a slightly different perspective.

I wanted to develop her and utilize her in areas where I couldn’t operate.

When the time came to leave the village, I wanted to make her my attendant.

I wanted to travel this world with her.

As a final mirror reflecting my longing for humanity.

[Do you agree to these conditions? Then I will help achieve the great unification of Rashka throughout the great desert.]

Hakan tightly bit his lips.

His knees immediately descended.

Thud.

A very clear, loud sound echoing on the ground.

I’ve received the village chief’s dogeza three times since yesterday.

“I completely agree to everything.”

Though the person in question isn’t present here.

His attitude shows he’s determined to fulfill the conditions I’ve set.

[Excellent.]

I smiled, closing my circular teeth that lacked expression muscles.

I really liked him, sturdy and strong as a bull.

[From now on, you must serve as the White Sovereign’s thorough agents. Can you handle it?]

“We have already made our loyalty pledge to the White Sovereign. To that, you’ve merely added the condition of staking our lives, haven’t you? For us assassins whose profession involves throwing away our lives, this is no problem. Rather, it’s as easy as flipping one’s palm.”

Hakan, with his prominent axe scar on his face, wore a strangely aggressive smile.

Beings who have operated behind the scenes of Western Continent history, staying in the shadows, never receiving the sun’s halo.

His will to establish a kingdom of assassins was intense.

[The deal is established. I accept your condition.]

“Thank you!”

Hakan cried out in admiration as he rose from his seat with both arms.

He wore a hearty smile.

“…Hehe, I was worried you might impose impossible conditions. Instead, I feel like I’ve gained a lot. A mere life is nothing.”

[Perhaps I should have set harsher conditions?]

“Ah! Absolutely not! Isn’t it petty for men to renege on deals? Khahah!”

[Cunning fellow.]

I exchanged banter appropriately with Hakan.

“Ah, and… this is another dream I’ve continued to have. No, a kind of fantasy…”

Hakan slightly adjusted his turban and spoke in a subtle voice.

“Would it perhaps be possible to… combine the worms with our assassins for combat use?”

A suddenly incoming preposterous quest.

What exactly does he want to do?

I was surprised by this unimaginable idea.

[Why did you come up with such an idea?]

“I thought if assassins could ride the worms, it would create an incredibly awesome harmony.”

[In exchange, I take full authority.]

“What more need be said! Khahahahah!”

Hakan stroked his beard with hearty laughter.

Now, convincing the proud and noble worms remained.

That became a new task given to me.

I looked down at Hakan as if summarizing and said:

[Ah, and regarding the human who visited this morning…]

I laid out Abdul’s plot that I had heard at the village entrance in the morning.

Hakan’s expression changed dramatically as he listened, from surprise to shock, and eventually to anger and delight.

I enjoyed watching this while carefully preparing my plan.

The best way to enjoy a plot is to be prepared for it in advance.