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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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“These are the horns of our tribesmen as promised. Mostly the ones we recovered, the number isn’t large, but… they will be of help.”
Although he said the number wasn’t large, it exceeded twenty.
They were not only from those killed by the orcs, but also the ones obtained during the escape process.
“Do these horns not have any meaning?”
“How could they not? For others, they are useful tools, but we believe the souls of our tribesmen reside within them. That’s why we usually perform our own unique funeral rites.”
There was a reason they didn’t easily hand over the corpses of their tribesmen.
“With that said, if you exhaust all the mana inside, can you return the used horns? Horns without mana aren’t of much help. Unlike gems, they don’t regenerate either.”
That much wasn’t difficult, so I nodded my head.
“Thank you. Due to the crisis of the tribe, our tribesmen will understand, but my heart felt uneasy. I’m glad it’s at least better now.”
“Asking to return these, does that mean you’re thinking of settling around here?”
“It seems that will be the case. It’s too dangerous to move further with so many young children in our current state. The biggest force has disappeared, and our relationship with you, who can be considered the next in line, isn’t bad either, so settling in this area doesn’t seem like a poor choice.”
Of course, if I refused, there was nothing they could do about it, he said.
It seemed like a statement acknowledging that we had the upper hand.
‘Fortunately, it seems they have no intention of backstabbing us.’
At least the appearance they had shown so far didn’t seem bad.
‘Except for bringing troublesome matters to us.’
However, there was one obstacle to them settling here.
“Beyond this place, there is human territory.”
“…You mean there is human territory nearby?”
At my words, Rithild’s expression hardened.
“We don’t want to clash with humans…”
Although the hornorcs weren’t well-known to humans, it seemed humans were well-known to the hornorcs.
‘Since they can be considered the best as a single race.’
Although there was the alliance of other races, that was literally various races gathering together to form a single nation.
Even though humans were divided into the Holy Empire and the kingdoms, when considering a single race alone, there was no force that surpassed humans.
The power of the alliance of other races was indeed mighty.
However, even that was only on par with the Holy Empire, the strongest human force, and if the power of the Six Kingdoms Alliance was added, no matter how strong the alliance of other races was, they couldn’t withstand it.
Of course, the Six Kingdoms Alliance had a bad relationship with the Holy Empire, so they didn’t join forces and were only fortunate if they didn’t interfere with each other.
‘Unless there are monsters like dragons, but they have gone into hiding.’
In fact, it could be said that humans possessed the widest territory on the continent.
Therefore, it wasn’t particularly strange for the hornorcs to know about humans even if they only lived within the Great Forest.
“To think a warlock like you had made a nest near human territory. Seeing that you made a dungeon underground, I thought it was a place made to avoid humans…”
“This was originally human land. It collapsed due to the recent monster wave, and thanks to that, I acquired it.”
“…I did think the structures on the surface were strange, so that was it.”
Rithild thought for a moment and soon opened his mouth.
“If you allow it, I’d like to make a nest in the place where the large orc tribe used to be. A place too close would be burdensome. If you just allow it, we will help you with all our strength whenever you need it.”
“And we help you when you’re in danger?”
“You mean forming an alliance.”
“That’s right. You don’t need a wide territory anyway, right? The fact that you settled in a place like this… it means you’re thinking of returning to human land someday, right?”
“Even so, I’ll maintain the dungeon.”
“That doesn’t matter. No, rather, I’m grateful. It means we have an ally remaining in this rough place.”
Rithild smiled with satisfaction.
“As you saw, we can be of quite some help.”
I nodded at his words.
Objectively, that was true.
I had no intention of ignoring them who could exert power equivalent to a magic brigade.
“If I keep you by my side, you will be useful.”
‘It wouldn’t be bad as long as they don’t betray us.’
The hornorcs will eventually belong to the alliance of other races.
It wouldn’t be bad to establish a good relationship with them.
Even if the Dolgaebaram Tribe didn’t join the alliance of other races, it was the same.
The hornorcs had the strength to become a mainstream race in the alliance of other races, and therefore, the Dolgaebaram Tribe had the qualification to belong to the alliance of other races and receive their protection whenever they wanted.
‘Of course, it would be a different story if they were hostile to us first.’
The attitude they were showing now didn’t seem to be false at all.
Moreover, Rithild went a step further.
“However, in that case, we will have to entrust our young children to you for the time being…”
Since the location they wanted to settle in was where the large orc tribe used to be, there would inevitably be a period of chaos until they properly established themselves.
Therefore, it seemed they wanted to entrust their young children to us until they properly settled.
I felt puzzled by that excessive trust.
“I know that.”
“But what are you trusting to give this much trust?”
“The attitude you have shown so far.”
Rithild smiled slightly and said,
“Warlocks tend to reveal themselves as they are when their level is low.”
His somewhat rough human language continued.
“Your level is definitely not high. It can be seen just by looking at the summoned undead. Of course, that doesn’t mean you are ordinary.”
Rithild’s eyes sparkled.
“This land, this is definitely not magic that can be achieved at your level. And those specters. They are the same. Your current level is low, but you have the skill to easily surpass what can be done at that level.”
Therefore, although my level was low, I was definitely not ordinary, Rithild said.
“The same goes for your incantations. To be honest, I suspect that you… might be a descendant of dragons.”
“…Descendant of dragons?”
“That staff. Isn’t it made from the body of a dragon?”
However, Rithild continued as if it was nothing.
“In other words, it can be said to be a sacred object equal to, no, even greater than the treasure our tribe possessed. Moreover, you don’t use mana. You directly use magic.”
“…How can you be sure of that?”
“Even though I may look like this, I am the chief of the Dolgaebaram Tribe. Not just anyone becomes the chief even if the elders are gone. My senses were praised as the highest level in the history of the Dolgaebaram. Just as your future is promising, the same goes for me.”
This was unexpected.
I thought he wouldn’t know unless it was considerable…
“A warlock who uses a treasure made from the body of a dragon and directly uses magic… Moreover, you don’t use incantations or hand seals either. It’s like a ‘dragon language’.”
“Incantations are rare, but they exist, you know?”
“That’s true. However, considering the previous things… Honestly, it’s hard for such coincidences to overlap to this extent. Moreover… it seems your magic is infinite.”
Given the situation, it was inevitable that the sight of me endlessly supplying magic would be discovered.
“Even… pure magic. Pure magic without the unique smell of demons mixed in…”
Descendant of dragons?
Of course, it was a ridiculous misunderstanding.
“Nonsense.”
I had no intention of receiving such useless misunderstandings.
“That may be. However, even so, it doesn’t matter. Even if it was all my misunderstanding, the fact that you are unlike a warlock is true.”
The other things were nonsense, but it was indeed true that the lower the level, the less self-control warlocks have.
He kindly said they reveal themselves, but that was just a lack of self-control.
“Even if there is future value, the current level is low. That’s a fact. Moreover, even though you directly handle magic, you were rational. Honestly, when we first realized that we had brought danger to you, it would be normal for warlocks to attack recklessly without considering the consequences. However, you weren’t like that.”
“Even now, it’s the same. You have almost fully recovered your strength. With that absurd recovery speed, you could kill us all right now and pluck out our horns if you wanted to. However, you’re not doing that.”
Therefore, I awas trustworthy.
He wanted to make a new nest where there was a trustworthy ally, Rithild said.
“Our forces have shrunk too much. It’s difficult to be self-sufficient without external help.”
I understood.
Moreover, they would be getting closer to human territory and have almost nowhere else to go.
On the other hand, returning to the Great Forest… they would be afraid of the existence of red ogres.
“Moreover, you are a warlock with a high possibility of growing greatly. Gaining time for our tribe to rebuild and having an ally who is certain to become powerful in the future and can be trusted is a very attractive prospect.”
Even if I was not a descendant of dragons, just the revealed conditions alone were enough, Rithild said.
That was why he revealed his weakness first and showed strong trust.
It was a lot of concession, and even though they might be treated almost the same as a subordinate rather than an ally, Rithild seemed to have judged that it was all worth enduring.
“Won’t you accept us as your ally?”
I slowly nodded my head at his words.
It was an alliance in name only, but almost the same as a subordinate.
No, I could have just not called them an ally, but I decided to accept it.
Just as they had chosen based on my present and future, I had chosen based on their future.
It might be a bit troublesome, but it was sufficiently worth enduring.
‘Moreover, it’s fine to use them as a breakwater.’
I had no intention of expanding my territory any further anyway.
However, the hornorcs would be different.
If they expanded their territory, our range of activity would also expand together.
It would mean less troublesome matters.
He was greatly pleased by my permission.
“Thank you! We will never forget this favor!”
As if he never thought I would accept so easily, Rithild had a truly joyful expression.
“We’ll attack their main base tomorrow. Rest for today.”
“Thank you for your kindness!”
The sound of Rithild shouting with joy that he could finally rebuild the tribe could be heard.
‘…The position of being a chief must have been quite heavy.’
Especially since they lost their treasure, it must have been mentally challenging.
As we officially became allies, Athena and Kayla’s vigor diminished a little.
“Phew… I was a bit worried, but I’m glad.”
“They are wiser than I thought. To recognize Master’s value…”
Rithild’s words seemed to have reduced Kayla’s suspicion a little.
Still, it seemed she didn’t fully trust them yet.
Even in the midst of this, she showed a subtle appearance of trying to protect me.
“But are you really not a descendant of dragons or something? Judging by your actions, you’re definitely not an ordinary warlock…”
“No. You know. I obtained this too.”
“That’s true, but…”
Athena looked at me with slightly suspicious eyes.
‘It’ll be a bit troublesome because of these groundless speculations.’
It seemed the hornorcs were guys who brought both troublesome and good things at the same time.
“Then does this really become mine now?”
“You’re not going to use it? I think you could at least run away with this when it’s dangerous.”
It was true that I could also receive the effect of making the body lighter.
However, I shook my head.
“I’ll make sure there’s no need for that.”
That’s for sure.
“…Yeah, I got it. Thank you.”
There was no one else to use it anyway except Athena.
It wasn’t a suitable weapon for Kayla to use.
Unless she wanted to become an assassin herself, but Kayla seemed to prefer being a knight rather than that side.
I had never seen her act as an assassin, but since she herself saw her aptitude as a knight, I had no intention of stopping her.
In the first place, she needed to become stronger for revenge.
If being an assassin was more necessary for revenge, she would have turned in that direction on her own.
The fact that she didn’t, meant she judged that being a knight made herself stronger.
‘Or she might have thought that side could be more helpful to me.’
Whichever it was, it was her choice.
She was already doing well enough, so unnecessary interference was poison.
“Ah, right.”
Athena looked at me and said,
“Come to think of it, there might still be humans left alive.”
“…Humans?”
I showed a slightly surprised expression.
“Yeah. Humans. I saw them when we were luring the orcs.”
“That’s right. I also confirmed it.”
‘Humans are still alive until now?’
“Judging by their appearance, they didn’t seem to be from outside. They were eventually killed, and since it was a busy situation, we couldn’t investigate in detail, but…”
Listening to the story, it was indeed not a situation where they could find out such things.
They had to clear a path while being chased, so I fully understood.
“Humans…”
‘Is there a need to look for them?’
Honestly, we weren’t lacking internal personnel.
We even gained an alliance, so we didn’t really need additional influx…
“It’s amazing, but it could be just one person who survived by chance. We don’t really need more personnel either.”
Athena and Kayla agreed with my words.
“That’s true. Hmm… Then should we just ignore it?”
“Let’s do that. Well, if someone happens to be rescued, there’s no problem accepting them.”
There was nothing bad about the number of people increasing.
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