Ch.108108. Tribal Chief Meeting

Hatan Wu-Zel tried hard to suppress his headache.

“…I’ll say it again, he didn’t just die once and enter resurrection. His complete annihilation was confirmed. His very existence can’t be detected anymore.”

Everyone fell silent.

It was the silence that comes when people hear something so absurd that their thought process fails to comprehend the current situation.

Though the question had been repeated several times, someone inevitably couldn’t hold back and spoke up again.

[“…The Unicorn of the Jungle Region has been completely killed?”]

“Yes. Definitely.”

[“They say all the other rulers of the demonic realms have suffered damages equivalent to annihilation.”]

“Yeah.”

[“And all of this was—”]

“Done by one guy and a hunting party under his command. If you ask one more time, I’ll take it as a challenge to a duel.”

When he spoke with a voice barely containing his anger, silence fell over the other tribal chiefs nearby.

Emergency gatherings of all the chiefs weren’t common, but if what was said was true, it wasn’t hard to understand why.

[“This is unprecedented.”]

One of the chiefs spoke in a low voice.

Throughout the history of the Tribal Union, those who succeeded in killing—let alone completely erasing the existence of—the rulers of demonic realms were extremely rare.

Successfully hunting even one ruler would be enough to be recognized as the greatest hunter of the generation.

All the rulers of the four demonic realms?

[“…According to the traditions of the Tribal Union, he should receive a reward befitting his accomplishment.”]

“The title of Great Hunter should definitely be given.”

[“That’s not what I mean, Hatan. You know that too.”]

The chief who spoke continued with a sigh.

[“…Given the nature of our union, someone who has achieved something of this magnitude—something never recorded in history—deserves more than just that.”]

Reward the good, punish the bad. It was the tradition of the tribes.

For someone who accomplished such a great feat, simply giving them an existing title wouldn’t be enough.

Even if they were an outsider.

At these weighty words, everyone fell silent again.

“…”

“…”

Though everyone present remained quiet, they were likely all thinking the same thing.

This was something that no one present could have accomplished.

Not even the Grand Chief who oversees the entire Tribal Union.

So what could possibly be given to someone who achieved such a feat?

[“Is it really that big of a deal?”]

But as always, there are those who want to downplay achievements they don’t personally like.

“Barol.”

Hatan sighed as he looked in that direction.

Barol Ger-Do. The chief of the Blue Boar tribe, the most troublesome of all tribes.

He was also the father of Krun Ger-Do, who had recently been taught a lesson by Riru Garda and Darwood Campbell.

[“Well, anyway. From how this conversation is going, it seems like you all want to throw something extraordinary at this guy. But doesn’t that require unanimous approval from all chiefs?”]

“…Are you saying you’re going to oppose it?”

[“I said it earlier. Is it really that big of a deal?”]

Just hearing these words made it even more obvious.

‘…That guy must have tattled to his father.’

Such an unreasonable opposition clearly stemmed from personal feelings.

That idiot, next time I see him, I’ll fold him in half.

[“What is the Grand Chief doing?”]

Someone asked.

Utad Han-Chai.

The father of Luca Han-Chai, who was currently studying abroad at Elphante Academy in the Empire.

[“In a situation like this, the Grand Chief should have personally honored that man without even needing our vote.”]

A logical statement.

In a case this extraordinary, the Grand Chief should have stepped in directly before the chiefs even gathered.

“Allan hasn’t shown any reaction. He visited the forge, but hasn’t shown his face anywhere. No one has seen him.”

[“…That’s troublesome.”]

But Allan, who had arrived at the Forge of Struggle, wasn’t engaging in any public activities as Hatan said.

Almost as if he were already dead.

[“Let’s call in the person in question and hear what he has to say.”]

[“You want to bring an outsider into the chiefs’ council, Utad?”]

[“Do we have a choice? Not in this situation.”]

That was undoubtedly the most logical solution right now.

[…]

[…]

In the end, the other chiefs had to agree, albeit with reluctant expressions.

●

!!!!!!!!!!!Demon Alert!!!!!!!!!!!

[ ‘Demon-related’ Emergency Event Triggered! ]

[ This is a critical event! ]

[ Failure to act correctly within the time limit will result in death! ]

[ This event is related to ‘Riru’! ]

[ Devise survival countermeasures immediately! ]

“…”

Hmm.

Right.

I was wondering when this would happen.

‘…It would be strange if she wasn’t angry.’

By now, she’s probably dropped somewhere in the middle of the ocean due to Faynol Leiphec’s spatial transfer technique.

What I did to her was garbage behavior by anyone’s standards. If the being dwelling in that body is the “Demon of Wrath,” it would be strange if she didn’t approach a rampage.

She’ll probably find me within a few hours at most, no matter how long it takes.

“…”

But that’s one thing.

For now, I need to focus on what’s right in front of me.

“Darwood Campbell. Please come in.”

As I hear a staff member say this, I check the clock.

Just barely safe.

The main reason I managed to take down the rulers of the demonic realms within 5 minutes was because I was confident that convening this “chiefs’ council” would take quite a while.

‘…Gathering important people is always the hardest part.’

Thinking this, I enter the room to find the holograms of all the chiefs staring at me.

As expected of a technologically advanced community, they can meet like this in emergencies.

After a strange silence, someone finally addressed me.

A large warrior wearing wolf skin. He looks somewhat familiar.

[“…Pleased to meet you, Darwood Campbell. I am Utad Han-Chai, Luca Han-Chai’s father.”]

“Do you know me?”

[“Luca has told me about you and Riru Garda. He said you possess remarkable capabilities.”]

Ah, so that’s who he is.

That guy mentioned giving something to Riru as the right of the next chief successor. It makes sense he would talk to his father about it.

[“Do you know why you’ve been called here?”]

I face Utad, who speaks with a calm tone.

“You called me to discuss the reward you’re going to give me, right? Since the Union tends to especially value hunters.”

[“…You know quite a bit about the Union. Yes, you’re correct.”]

Utad answered with an interested smile.

[“What you’ve accomplished is unprecedented in our Union’s history. As you probably know, such achievements must be rewarded accordingly.”]

[“As I said earlier, I’m against it. I’m willing to give the Great Hunter title, but nothing beyond that.”]

[“Barol. Don’t be so spiteful.”]

[“Ha. I’m just exercising my rightful authority as a chief—”]

I silently watch the holograms of the chiefs exchanging these words.

‘…Well, actually.’

To be honest.

“That’s not the issue right now.”

I will definitely claim that reward.

Because there’s a position in the Tribal Union where I absolutely need to “place” Riru for the future. That’s the opportunity I need.

All my previous talk about rehabilitating Riru was for that purpose.

But right now.

The situation I needed was simply having all the chiefs gathered like this.

Because there’s something I urgently need their permission for.

[…]

[…]

At my words, Barol, Utad, and all the other chiefs turned to look at me with puzzled expressions.

[“…What do you mean that’s not the issue?”]

“It seems you’re all unanimously willing to give me the Great Hunter title. Is that correct?”

[“That’s right. With achievements of this magnitude, it would be absurd not to grant you at least that.”]

Hearing Utad’s response, I remain silent for a moment.

Honestly, my predominant feeling is guilt.

As I’ve mentioned several times, the Tribal Union is an extremely closed group. In a gathering of leaders like this, allowing an outsider like me with no connections is by no means a normal situation.

The fact that he addressed me first suggests he’s looking out for me, making this possible.

He’s not someone who deserves to be “harmed” by what I’m about to do.

I’ll need to apologize to him later.

“…Then there is one thing I believe I have the right to request.”

The Great Hunter is a title that denotes the highest authority in matters concerning “beasts,” someone whose opinion even other chiefs must consider.

I don’t need such an impressive title since I just piggybacked on demons to earn it, but I do need the authority to make the other chiefs listen to me.

“…The Tribal Union and this Forge of Struggle are currently facing an unprecedented crisis.”

Previously, something like this almost happened, but Elnore blew it up significantly and it disappeared.

But now.

Perhaps as a reaction, that threat has multiplied several times and is approaching us.

“So as someone who has received the title of Great Hunter, I propose this.”

And to overcome this situation.

“Hand over the entire Forge of Struggle to me, just for a while.”

This entire “academy.”

Must become my chess piece.