Ch.106Chapter 106. Great Chieftain (2)

Chapter 106. The Great Chief (2)

The Great Chief.

When multiple tribes gather together in a situation requiring large-scale warfare, it refers to the strongest chieftain who takes on the role of supreme commander.

They say a Great Chief was elected only once in the past during the war against the Empire, and since their defeat and subsequent scattering, tribes rarely united, making it a half-forgotten concept.

“Seven tribes have gathered under Lord Malak’s name. This is the largest gathering since the war with the Empire.”

Kanto strongly advocated for the necessity of a Great Chief.

Many tribes had indeed gathered. During the week I was sleeping like the dead, other tribes kept joining until somehow seven tribes had assembled.

And it wasn’t just them. Civilized forces who witnessed the manifestation of True Malak and the annihilation of a high-ranking demon also joined the tribal alliance.

I woke up to find the tribal alliance’s population had doubled.

There were several minor conflicts between the newly arrived barbarians and the civilized people, but under Rachel’s command, powerful figures like Lakye, Kanto, and Paya&Muscles controlled the situations well, preventing any major incidents.

– A Great Chief, huh.

My absence had been resolved, but the situation still hadn’t united everyone under the single name of the tribal alliance.

They did need someone to serve as a leader. I believe that while priestesses might vary, it makes sense to unify military authority under a single chieftain.

It doesn’t make sense to have multiple supreme commanders. What would happen if the chieftains gave different orders during a high-ranking demon subjugation? They’d just move chaotically and get annihilated.

– Fine. Let’s proceed with the selection.

After giving permission, I casually asked how the selection process works. It’s not like I know anything about it.

“Haha! It’s simpler than you might think!”

Chieftains who stand as candidates for Great Chief compete one-on-one in the arena until a final victor emerges. Apparently, this is the traditional method of selecting a Great Chief passed down since ancient times.

They’re just picking whoever fights best. It’s like a barbarian version of the World Martial Arts Tournament.

I don’t know about anything else, but it’ll definitely provide entertainment. Events like this are necessary once in a while.

“…Chieftain Lakye. Will you participate too?”

Kanto looked with anxious eyes at Lakye, who was leaning against Totem #1.

“What? Great Chief?”

“…”

“I have no interest in such things. Do as you please.”

Lakye even closed his eyes, showing he truly had no interest.

– We’ll decide the details at today’s meeting.

“Yes!”

Kanto left the altar with his wife, whose belly was as big as a mountain. The way he gently supported her looked quite sweet.

By the way, this Kanto guy. I knew he was competitive, but I didn’t realize he was so power-hungry too.

Besides Lakye and Kanto, the chieftains of other tribes don’t possess superhuman strength. They’re just good warrior types.

It’s painfully obvious that Kanto, who received my personal blessing and became a berserker, will defeat everyone and become Great Chief.

This kid, did he want to be Great Chief that badly? Well, I don’t see it as a bad thing.

I’ve been observing Kanto all this time. Despite getting beaten up by Lakye, he’s good at commanding, good at fighting, and good at handling people—a hexagonal alpha male.

The only thing he lacks is experience, but that can be solved by appointing a veteran warrior as his deputy. I think he’s perfectly suitable for the position of Great Chief.

Above all, as one of the founding contributors, shouldn’t he receive this level of recognition? The amount of points Kanto has earned through auto-hunting is substantial.

He’s like a self-sufficient filial unit.

While preparations were being made for the Great Chief tournament battle for Kanto, something unexpected happened.

“Can civilized people also stand as candidates for Great Chief?”

The leader of the civilized forces who had joined the tribal alliance while I was collapsed after using manifestation attempted to participate in the Great Chief tournament.

– You are also my follower and a member of the tribal alliance. There’s no reason why not.

I was a bit taken aback, but I couldn’t spout nonsense like “only barbarians can become Great Chief.”

Opportunities for advancement should be open to everyone. That’s how you get people to work harder.

“Indeed, you are as fair and just as I’ve heard. Then I, Isaac, will stand as a candidate for Great Chief representing the demon hunters.”

A knight with white hair and beard bowed his head before me. He was a man who embodied the essence of middle-aged charisma.

Kanto, you got caught trying to take the easy way out.

– …

I recalled when I first met this man named Isaac.

‘It’s an honor to meet you, Great One.’

He was bowing respectfully just like now.

‘Former commander of the Black Blood Knights and head of House Wesker… I apologize.’

The man stopped mid-sentence and smiled slightly.

‘What meaning would such titles have to a god? I am Isaac, leader of a small organization called the Demon Hunters.’

Demon Hunters. An organization formed by gathering deserters who lived in hiding after the Empire collapsed.

I learned then for the first time that they were quite famous among civilized people. They fought demons while moving between various regions, like a small resistance force.

What was surprising was Isaac’s claim of having killed three mid-rank demons.

‘It’s nothing remarkable. It was only possible because my comrade, a battle mage, could block coordinate transmission.’

Even with magical assistance, killing mid-ranks? As an ordinary knight, not even a paladin?

Considering that knights in this world don’t possess special powers, it was truly unbelievable.

Perhaps it seemed even more shocking to me because I had fought a mid-rank directly with my totem golem body. I got beaten to a pulp.

I couldn’t help but ask, ‘How the hell did you win, you madman?’

Anyway, Isaac left a deep impression on me from that time.

Now that such a person was participating in the Great Chief tournament, I felt uneasy. Although Kanto had grown much stronger, he probably wasn’t at the level of killing mid-ranks.

Kanto, you bastard, aren’t you going to lose? That would be a complete disaster.

***

“I want to compete against the crab woman.”

Kanto came to see me again after the Great Chief tournament schedule was announced.

For some reason, he looked excited. He must have heard of Isaac’s reputation.

That’s unexpected. I thought he’d be anxious about losing the Great Chief position. Perhaps his warrior’s fighting spirit outweighed his desire for power.

Right, this is Kanto who boldly challenged Lakye, a demigod. He wouldn’t cower so easily.

To grant Kanto’s request, I moved the crab woman, Asha, to the arena.

Even though Asha’s abilities had deteriorated after becoming a zombie, she still possessed strength comparable to a mid-rank. She would be a good opponent for Kanto who wanted to defeat Isaac.

I ordered Asha to “fight autonomously using your judgment, but don’t kill him.” Her ingrained habits would be better than me controlling her.

She nodded slightly and slowly rose to stand before Kanto. Her expression seemed somewhat sad. It makes me uncomfortable every time I see it.

The sight of Kanto, a muscular giant standing 2 meters tall, facing Asha, the crustacean monster a head taller than him, as they prepared for battle was quite impressive.

“Hyah!”

Kanto charged first. The double-bladed axe that had cracked the skulls of countless low-rank demons and demon worshippers rushed toward Asha.

Good momentum.

Asha stood still, moving her eyes around, and then…

“Huh?!”

She caught the blade of the swinging double-axe! Kanto backed away with a surprised cry, apparently experiencing this for the first time.

Asha attacked with her free hand, and although Kanto barely dodged, he absolutely refused to let go of his axe.

“Ugh!”

Despite Kanto’s determined resistance, the difference in weight class and reach was too great, and he was one-sidedly toyed with. Asha’s armored fists enthusiastically pounded Kanto’s body.

“Oof! Kuhek! Kwaak!”

Perhaps due to the size difference, he looked like a child being spanked by his mother for not doing homework.

“You wench!”

Having somehow retrieved his axe, Kanto charged again, snorting angrily. He’s still fine after taking all those hits? His stacks must be well accumulated.

“Argh!”

This guy’s getting beaten up again. Is this the image of a man who’s about to become a father?

Watching Kanto’s axe techniques helplessly defeated by Asha’s martial arts, I wonder a bit. Kanto is far from weak, so why is this happening?

“Uwaaaaah~!”

Ah, now I see.

This friend Kanto is moving with the instincts of hunting demons, not fighting people.

Low and mid-rank demons are more often beast-like than humanoid. Most walk on four legs.

Since receiving the “Berserker’s Soul” blessing, he’s fought more demons than humans, so perhaps he can’t utilize his strength effectively against humanoid monsters with equal or greater power.

“Intoxicated by his newly acquired power, it seems he’s lost his touch for fighting humans. How pathetic.”

Lakye, who was watching beside me, shook his head as if thinking something similar to me.

At this rate, all I can envision is him losing to Isaac and having his Great Chief position NTR’d.

He’ll probably just complain “I wanted it first…” while nagging his wife and drowning himself in alcohol.

How can I help this friend?

Having him fight Lakye would be too much of a mismatch…