episode_0056

“Kalia! It’s been a while, my daughter. Was the journey difficult? Are you hurt anywhere?”

“…..Yes. Thanks to your concern.”

A nomadic village filled with large gers (Mongolian tents).

The person who came to greet us, weary from the long journey, was none other than the chief of the village.

“Your introverted personality is the same as ever. Anyway, you’ve worked hard to get here. Go inside.”

“Yes.”

“Your mother is also waiting, so greet her as soon as you see her.”

Was his name Mahdi Risan?

Kalia clearly said that she had lost her parents.

Judging from the different race, it seems like they’re adoptive parents.

It’s quite an unusual combination.

A child born as a persecuted demon race being raised by equally discriminated nomads.

‘He has a gentle impression.’

He looks quite docile for the leader of a large tribe.

No one would believe he was the warrior who defeated the invading forces of the Artiom Empire and the Navr Kingdom.

“And….. You must be Ismael? The friend who’s creating all sorts of strange books and causing chaos in the world.”

“Y, yes, Chieftain.”

However, his soft appearance didn’t mean he lacked charisma. Quite the opposite.

Just meeting his gaze made me feel pressure. My whole body tensed up and shrank.

I guess subduing people with a gaze is like this. Is this the unique force of a conquering monarch?

I think I know how foreign envoys felt when they met Genghis Khan.

No, it’s more like the feeling of a groom meeting his scary father-in-law for the first time.

I have a feeling that if I deal with him carelessly, I’ll regret being born.

“Don’t be too nervous. I didn’t summon you here to interrogate you.”

“S, sorry. I didn’t hear the purpose of being called here from Kalia…”

“She didn’t tell you? Geez.”

The chief, clicking his tongue briefly, shrugged and explained to me.

“Well, it’s not a big reason. I called you to thank you. And there are a few things I want to ask.”

“Thanks, you say.”

“Yes. Thanks to you, our organization has gained so much benefit. Our lifelong wish is right around the corner.”

That’s true.

The world is at war, full of chaos and destruction, entirely thanks to me.

Even though I received help from others in the distribution and supply of ideologies, I was the only one who possessed the core knowledge.

Considering the effort I put into preparing the right things for the situation, I think I can confidently call myself the top contributor.

“You flatter me. I just did my best in what I could do.”

Even so, when I replied with a humble attitude, Mahdi burst into hearty laughter and patted me on the back. He was so big that it hurt a little.

“If it’s something others can’t do, you deserve to be praised. If it wasn’t for you, who else would have achieved a similar feat?”

He pointed his finger far away, in the direction of the mountain range. The location where Artiom and Navr are located.

“This is what my ancestors have dreamed of since they founded Carmen. To overthrow those damn bastards and regain our freedom. To defeat the damn bitch who calls herself a goddess and create our world.”

“…..”

“I thought it wouldn’t be achieved while I was alive… But it finally became a reality. With just a little more, the Mahdi family’s long-cherished wish can be fulfilled. So how can I not be grateful to you?”

Well, the damn goddess bitch isn’t someone to be revered even with empty words.

The nomads are constantly getting beaten up, and she doesn’t even give a prophecy to stop it, so it’s natural that they hate her.

So, even if the method is strange, it must be to praise me for destroying the Goddess Church faith.

“Instead, the number of fanatics has exploded among the nomads.”

“You have to accept some sacrifices. Anyway, if the number of believers decreases, that bitch won’t be able to use her power. The wrong faith, well, we can slowly change it to something else later.”

He’s generous. Does that mean he’s confident in controlling and managing the nomads that much?

I pondered for a moment, but soon the reason came to mind and I understood.

The main players who prevented the large-scale invasion and plunder of the steppes by foreign enemies are these tribes.

They even obtained overwhelming military power based on rocket weaponry.

With achievements, authority, justification, and power all in place, it was entirely possible to unite the divided nomads.

The founding emperor of the Jin Dynasty, Wanyan Aguda, is a prime example.

Once he won a great victory against the Liao Dynasty, wealth and power naturally gathered under him.

Thanks to that, he built a great empire.

“Ah, and thanks to you, Ismael, the internal reorganization of the organization has also been smoothly resolved.”

“What do you mean by that?”

Internal reorganization? Did they do a purge? I haven’t heard any news like that.

“You know that our organization is divided into several factions, right? Kalia should have told you.”

“I heard that because they only gather stubborn bastards who hate the system, it’s difficult to unify opinions.”

“That’s right. Those guys have now properly pledged their cooperation and loyalty to me.”

Mahdi patted me on the back with his palm again.

Then he took out alcohol from his waist and drank it.

“You know the plan you made and sent to me. The one that suggests how our organization should move in the future.”

“Yes. It was just a rough idea, though.”

“It worked well.”

I didn’t include explanations on how to do it specifically.

It was closer to presenting a broad policy on how things should be done. But that was effective?

“You have a confused expression, but it’s a simple story. You, who belong to my faction, have made solid contributions, and I have shown my strength, so everyone is obeying that status.”

“Ah.”

With those words, I was able to grasp the situation.

My achievements in screwing up the current world are also the achievements of my superior, Kalia, and Kalia’s superior, Mahdi.

Because I belong to their faction and pledge allegiance to them. Their voice and influence would have also risen based on me.

Moreover, Mahdi recently independently defeated an invading army of tens of thousands. He proved that he has overwhelming power compared to other factions.

Even if you add up all the members of the organization, it’s only around a few thousand, but this guy alone commands tens of thousands of nomads.

‘If you have power and justification, obedience will follow naturally.’

It’s the same principle as uniting other tribes.

Even with the long-term plan that I created, the unification of the organization is, in a way, a natural result.

“However, because of that, there’s something I want to ask you.”

“Tell me. I’ll do my best to help as much as I can.”

“It seems like we need to concretize the strategy soon. Could you prepare specific goals and plans for what our organization should achieve in the future?”

Um, so you’re telling me to freely decide the future of the organization?

* * * * *

After pondering for a moment, I slowly opened my mouth.

“…..It won’t be easy.”

“I guess so.”

“Yes. In the current situation, it’s difficult to decide what to prioritize.”

It’s an era where everything is reaching its extreme.

War costs, the fatigue of the people, the consumption rate of soldiers.

The first total war in the world, combined with 17th-century technology, was madly consuming the capabilities of the participating countries.

The technology is still the same, but I’ve only developed doctrines and ideologies, so that’s bound to happen.

‘It’s a chicken game. It wouldn’t be strange if anyone becomes the first player.’

To use an analogy, it’s like a time bomb with several timers that don’t show the time.

I can’t accurately predict what will reach its limit first and cause problems.

I can respond by looking at the situation, but it’s hard to prepare in advance.

“However, I think I can come up with a few scenarios. I’ll prepare slowly.”

“I’ll be looking forward to it.”

Still, I have some ideas about what might cause problems first.

If I create plans for each one, I’ll probably get one right.

Even if it doesn’t fit, I can modify it based on what I’ve created.

“I think you’ll also be very active, Chieftain. I’m thinking of using the power of the nomads.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Originally, I was thinking of maximizing the power of the organization… But after coming here, my mind changed.”

The nomads are stronger than I thought.

They’re too strong.

When I only heard about them, I thought they were a group that was lagging behind the times and declining. It’s completely the opposite.

They’re guys riding monsters as big as cars and shooting rockets. And there are tens of thousands of them moving around in groups.

I made them that way, but no one can beat them.

At best, armies using line infantry and bronze cannons can’t do it.

“If you do well, you might be able to rebuild the nomadic empire.”

“That’s something to look forward to. Really.”

If they unite well, it seemed like world domination was really possible.

Whether the occupied territories will last long is uncertain, though.

“Let me know when the results come out. It’s not urgent, so you don’t have to rush too much.”

“I understand.”

“It’s getting cold, so let’s go inside. The banquet that was prepared for us will get cold.”

Mahdi, entrusting the monster he rode on to a servant, asked me playfully before entering the tent.

“By the way, Ismael. Have you slept with Kalia? How many children are you planning to have?”

“…..”

Chief, isn’t the progress too fast?