Ch.140King Maker #10

“Run!”

Just thinking about it, facing dozens of them made no sense, but at this moment, “strategic retreat” was a more fitting expression. It wasn’t a desperate escape but rather a ploy to lure the pursuing beasts.

Naturally, the Tiger People chased after us with furious shouts, suddenly turning this into a chase. In a way, it was like a deadly game of cops and robbers.

*Whoosh.*

Looking at the mist rising ahead, I shouted loudly.

“Run toward the mist!”

As fog billowed around the central tree, the Western People threw themselves toward it without hesitation. We needed to get out before the mist fully spread, or we’d fall into sleep. Speed was crucial at this point.

“After them! Kill them before they can hide in the mist and ambush us!”

The one who appeared to be the Tiger People’s leader shouted loudly. Judging by his words and the anxiety in his expression, he seemed to think we were planning to hide in the mist for a surprise attack. I was secretly grateful for this excellent misunderstanding.

From the feet to the thighs, from the thighs to the chest. In the blink of an eye, the mist swallowed a portion of the surrounding area, then silently held its place as if it had always been there.

Fortunately, the Western People and I managed to escape just before the mist fully formed, but our pursuers weren’t so lucky. As soon as they stepped in, the mist permeated their bodies in an instant, forcing their eyes shut.

“Stop!”

It was good that we had managed to put quite a few tigers down, but the leader who had been at the front remained unharmed. I thought I’d glimpsed him quickly moving outside the mist’s range the moment it rose.

Thinking that his instincts were better than I’d expected, I took out my dirk from my pocket and gripped it reversed. Having put almost half of them to sleep, the odds were now favorable enough for a fight. I only regretted that the mist between us made it difficult to see his face clearly.

“You rat bastards! Did you bring a magician too?!”

“What? Don’t you have magicians in your neighborhood? A well-fed pig being such an ignorant country bumpkin… what a complete disaster.”

Seeing signs that he was regaining his composure after the initial shock, I taunted him again. Though I couldn’t see his expression, I could sense the growing calmness in his loud voice.

“How dare you… fearlessly insulting the Tiger People again! I will absolutely not give you a peaceful death!!”

Right after his murderous shout, Tiger People who had been waiting leaped forward with roars of their own, swinging knives and fists. Though this was what I had expected all along, I couldn’t help feeling a bit tense. This was real combat, just like everything else I’d experienced so far.

But how much time had passed since then? It felt like 30 minutes, but I couldn’t be sure. All I knew was that it had been both a fleeting and considerably long time.

“Kuhak!”

As if signaling the end of this chaotic dogfight, the Tiger People’s leader coughed up blood and fell to his knees. Around him, others with deep cuts above their ankles were rolling on the ground in pain. They had been kicked while trying to catch the smaller Western People, only to be met with their blades instead.

Of course, the Western People who had caused this carnage weren’t unscathed either. Bruises were common, and some had broken arms and ribs. Nevertheless, their faces showed more elation than pain.

It was understandable that they would be happy after dealing such a blow to those who had trampled them all this time.

“How could these rat bastards possibly…”

The Tiger man expressed his shock even as he coughed up blood, his eyes wide open. The Western People’s skills had improved remarkably. With their added malice and tenacity, they were truly formidable.

“Even rats have teeth, so there’s no rule saying we can’t fight.”

“You’re not a rat yourself! Stop hiding cowardly behind that mask and reveal your identity!”

Why is he so confident despite losing?

I couldn’t help but tilt my head in confusion.

Sometimes I encountered people I couldn’t understand, and this was exactly one of those times. But trying to forcibly understand the incomprehensible would only give me a headache, so I borrowed a dagger from a nearby Western Person.

“They say this is the medicine for those who won’t listen…”

Feeling slightly apologetic that it was a blade rather than a club, I plunged the tip deep into his thigh.

.

One day, the highest authority claimed to have received a revelation. It was a revelation to unite the will of this continent.

When the nobles first heard this, they wondered if the Emperor had gone mad, but the sharpness in his eyes remained. Though it couldn’t be denied that his mind was somewhat clouded by desire, it wasn’t to the point of descending into madness.

Moreover, it was common sense in this continent that revelations were occasionally delivered through someone’s mouth. This time, the recipient just happened to be at the very top of the Empire.

“Haaah…”

Count Carlton Miller, who had received his master’s secret orders, sighed as he gazed at the plains outside the window. Though he had grown somewhat accustomed to the Tiger People’s lifestyle with their white, large tents forming villages, his heart remained anxious.

For continental unification, alliances were needed first. The Empire chose the neighboring Beast Nation as its alliance target and dispatched Carlton as the practical negotiator. That was fine, but the timing of the Selection Ceremony became a hindrance.

—”We are currently holding the Selection Ceremony for the new king. The matter you’ve brought is too weighty for me to handle as I will soon step down. Let us discuss it after the successor is determined.”

Normally, such a blunt refusal might have caused resentment, but Carlton knew this was also a tradition of the Beast Nation. So he planned to make them the final target after forming alliances and consuming other nations. To fully exploit the power that allowed them to speak so firmly to anyone.

However, he couldn’t help feeling uneasy. Anyone would feel the same if a massive wall suddenly blocked what they thought would be a smooth path, forcing them to change direction. At least, that’s what Carlton thought.

“You seem worried again today.”

I need to produce results quickly.

As Carlton was mulling over his frustrations alone, a voice so familiar it could form calluses on his ears made him turn his head. It belonged to the Great Chief of the Tiger People.

The Great Chief was a man with a large yet agile body and appearance befitting his title. His intimidating presence was no less than that of any king, causing Carlton to naturally tense up whenever he faced him. Both his position as Great Chief and his personal strength made it so.

“Even though I know there’s no need to rush… I can’t help it.”

“Well, don’t worry too much. Victory will ultimately belong to us Tiger People.”

The Tiger People had produced the most kings throughout the Beast Nation’s long history. The Great Chief’s words were deeply imbued with faith and pride in that history.

Additionally, the Tiger People were among the most aggressive of the various tribes. That’s why they agreed to join hands in the ambition to sweep across the continent. In other words, they didn’t join hands merely out of greed for wealth.

Knowing this, Carlton had rushed to Tiger territory after meeting the king and struck a deal. It was a successful transaction using luxury goods to curry favor and funds and supplies to strengthen their military as bait.

Yes, that’s right.

Carlton calmed himself as he observed the Great Chief’s confident demeanor.

“Indeed. Talking with you like this really seems to settle my mind—”

Just as Carlton was about to form a faint smile, commotion erupted all around. Though not as loud as a massive explosion or earth-shaking hoofbeats, it was as chaotic as a bustling marketplace.

Carlton and the Great Chief, curious about what was happening, stepped outside. It was natural for people to wonder about the cause of such a disturbance and want to find out.

“What is causing such a commotion?!”

“Ah, Great Chief! Perfect timing! Over there…”

When the Great Chief approached the gathered crowd and shouted, one man pointed to a distant place, trailing off. Both the Great Chief and Carlton following behind naturally looked in the direction the finger was pointing.

Several wagons. And on them, Tiger warrior captives with their arms bound, displayed in miserable condition for all to see. The Great Chief recognized them as those who had followed his son Eric and widened his eyes in shock. He never imagined he would see these elite warriors in such a state.

Moreover, the Great Chief’s son was among them. Not proudly leading from the front, but mixed in with the other defeated soldiers, looking more haggard than anyone else.

“Eric…!”

“This can’t be. Wasn’t that man the Great Chief’s son…?”

As Carlton was looking at the shocking scene resembling a prisoner convoy, he suddenly fell silent. It was hard enough to believe those strong Tiger warriors had been defeated, but something strange and unfamiliar caught his attention.

It was a statue of a fierce-faced guardian king wearing clothes he had never seen before. Jion had effectively used the lightning-emitting magic carved into the statue when fighting Eric’s group, and it proved quite useful for intimidation as well. Jion could confirm this through the Tiger warriors’ reactions.

The Tiger People were instinctively making way for a masked pair at the front, out of fear. It was the result of the shocking situation and the different aura they sensed from the Western People following behind.

*Screech.*

Jion pulled the reins to stop the horses, then gestured to Skevin sitting beside him. It meant for him to apply pressure alone as the Western People’s representative. Understanding this, Skevin silently got down from the wagon and walked toward the Great Chief who was standing in a daze.

“It’s truly… a pleasure to meet you.”

*Grind!* Standing before the leader of those who had oppressed the Western People the most, Skevin couldn’t contain his anger and ground his teeth. Combined with his forced smile, it created quite a menacing impression.

Is this really his doing? The Great Chief looked down at the small Skevin with wide eyes and said:

“You rat. Was this your doing?”

“Yes. Since you’ve been treating us Western People like insects and stepping on us, I’ve paid you back in full. Perhaps it was with the blessing of the Guardian King God.”

“Guardian King God…?”

The Great Chief’s brow naturally furrowed at the mention of a god he had never heard of. Among the gods worshipped and known by ear in the Beast Nation, none had such a name.

He could only tell that the grotesque statue before him represented this Guardian King God.

“That’s right. Anyway, that’s not the important point.”

While Skevin was glaring at the Great Chief with killing intent, Jion and Eve quietly got down from the wagon and circled widely behind the tents. They were planning to block Carlton’s escape route, as he was standing right next to the Great Chief.

Yes, there must be something more important.

The Great Chief shot a sharp glance at Eric, then lowered his gaze to where Skevin stood.

“Fine. Whatever the reason, you’ve won… so you want payment for that. You rats have become quite bold.”

“You must continue your lineage, mustn’t you? Thinking of my kin who fell under your arrogant claws, it wouldn’t be strange if I tore you apart right now. So be grateful I brought him back alive like this.”

“Hmph. A successor who lost to a rat is unnecessary. However…”

Defeat means death, so we’re in no position to argue.

The Great Chief felt sorry for the man standing beside him with a pale face, but he nodded in acceptance of the inevitable. Deliberately entering enemy territory suggested confidence, and testing that confidence could put the entire tribe in jeopardy. Sensing this possibility, the Great Chief exhaled a long sigh of lament.

“Very well. Do you want our support?”

“When I ascend to the throne, smooth relations would be better than friction.”

“…To think I’d live to see a rat boldly mention the throne. How absurd.”

“This rat has eaten the tiger, so the throne will soon be in my grasp.”

“What makes this more chilling is that it’s not mere delusion.”

It had been a while since Eric had already surrendered.

When Skevin mentioned this, the Great Chief decided to accept it. With the candidate defeated, they couldn’t continue the Selection Ceremony anyway.

“Fine. The Tiger People will support you rats… the Western People. I swear on my name as Great Chief.”

“As the Western People’s representative, I accept your oath. With this, the Tiger People have become collaborators and subjects of the Western People.”

“This oath only applies if you win in the end. Don’t forget that.”

Skevin looked at the Great Chief, who refused to completely surrender his pride, and smiled fiercely. Then, looking at Carlton who was slowly backing away, he said:

“But since you haven’t been defeated yet, I have the right to deal with you. So I command you.”

Hand over that man backing away. Upon hearing those words, Carlton’s face turned deathly pale.