Wolves of Hader

Chapter 78

This was completely unexpected.

Since the ancient war, there has never been a precedent of the Tak tribe invading human lands.

Just a hundred years ago, the east was a wasteland, and Urke's territory was very small.

Mouk was said to be nothing more than a fishing village. Back then, the Tak tribe did show up a few times.

That's how distant humans and the Tak tribe were from clashing. Unless one passed through the east, one would have to cross the ocean, making encounters even less likely.

Why now, at this timing?

It isn't as if all of the Tak tribe are coming north. They said it was the great tribe that unified the central region.

"Why is the great tribe of the central region heading north?"

"It's a food problem. In the warm south there's plenty of fruit and animals, so food isn't as pressing an issue, but up in the northern part of this continent's center, there's nothing to eat even in summer."

"Now that you mention it, there aren't any animals."

"They've all vanished. The Tak tribe primarily hunts, and the only crop they grow is corn. So, come winter, everyone starves."

"This tribe as well?"

"Don't even get me started. The Tak tribe utterly hates the smell of fish, but for survival, even they catch and eat fish."

I looked at the warriors.

They probably didn't know what the Dran tribe and I were saying, but it seemed they understood the gist as we discussed the situation.

"How large is the great tribe in the center?"

"It's been the strongest tribe in the central region for ages. They absorbed other tribes, so by now, their numbers exceed a million. The original tribe members only number three thousand, but those three thousand rule over the rest."

"And how many are there in the Tak tribe?"

"Thirty years ago, there were more than a thousand tribes. Now, after being unified by the central tribe, the rest were driven out to borderlands like these."

"What about the warm southern tribes?"

"Down there, tribal wars are still raging. Our Dran tribe village was far to the south, but I have no idea what the situation is now. Most likely, all of them are captives making axes, just like me."

The old Dran tribe member let out a deep sigh.

It seemed the Dran tribe lost to the Tak in war. Well, the Tak tribe did outnumber them overwhelmingly.

"If food is the reason, wouldn't moving south be better?"

"There's the Tak's mainline tribe in the south. And besides them, there are plenty of other powerful tribes. Even if the central tribe unified their region, compared to the southern tribes, they're nothing more than kings of the periphery."

"I see."

"Compared to the sea of jungles in the south, this center and here are useless lands. So there's no reason for the southern tribes to come up to the center. Besides, crossing the gorge of the gods would be difficult as well."

The gorge of the gods.

It was known as Rac's Grand Canyon.

A massive eroded valley stretching from the eastern mountain range tributaries all the way to the sea.

Its scale was so enormous that the Tak tribe came to call it the gorge of the gods.

Thanks to that gorge, I considered establishing a stronghold in the central peninsula.

If I could just drive out the Tak from the center, the gorge would make things secure.

The southern Tak tribe can't easily cross the gorge.

"What kind of tribe are these people?"

"They are a truly excellent tribe. A tribe of tragedy as well. That's the reason I live among them."

"What's the reason?"

The Dran tribe looked toward the chief.

The Dran tribe called him their chieftain.

"They are the Vargar tribe. You probably don't know, but the name Vargar comes from the great hero Vargar of the ancient war."

"You mean descendants of a hero?"

"The one and only direct descendant. There are many branches among Vargar's descendants, but only the direct line inherits the legacy of the hero Vargar."

"Is there something different about the Vargar bloodline?"

"There's no difference among the other branches, only the direct line is different. They inherit the power of the hero Vargar. Vargar was a warrior of the storm. Like other heroes, he possessed a unique power bestowed by the gods."

I looked again at the chief warrior.

I sensed an unusual power, different from magic, and it turned out to be the power of the ancient hero Vargar.

Apparently, it was a power passed down through the direct bloodline.

It was said he wasn't ordinary, and indeed, there was something special about the hero's blood.

It wasn't just about strength, but attitude and character.

Maybe it was because I heard he was a hero's descendant.

I felt an inexplicable and mysterious connection.

I had a strong premonition that I would join forces with them, which made me think we would combine our strength.

The chieftain, who had been watching us, asked something to the Dran tribe.

The Dran tribe nodded and spoke to me.

"The great tribe of the center will destroy the human lands. We will help, so let's trade. That's the message."

"But your tribe will be in danger too."

The Dran tribe interpreted, and the chieftain shook his head.

"We are prepared. Our warriors will only target the tribe chief and ruling warriors. Then the central tribe will collapse. Most of them used to be tribes close to us anyway. However—"

The Dran tribe interpreted again.

"If we don't stop them, human villages will burn."

"So if there's no deal, your tribe won't move."

The Dran tribe spoke again.

"As the chieftain warned, starting this summer, the great tribe of the center will raid human villages to get food. If the humans launch a massive reprisal, the peace we have had for years will be shattered."

The Dran tribe elder's words rang true.

If a race war broke out, both sides would fight until one was exterminated.

We would only suffer immense losses.

"Alright. What do they want?"

The conversation continued.

"When the central tribe marches into human lands, we will attack them. In return, we hope for food."

"Just this once?"

The Dran tribe interpreted again.

"If you wish, we can trade each year. If you provide food, we can give you gold."

"Gold?"

The Dran tribe said with a smile.

"We have plenty of useless gold. When a few tribes trade, most of it is bartered. Food comes first. What use is gold in such a society?"

Indeed, if money isn't worth its value, it isn't money. It's just heavy if you wear it as jewelry.

"How much gold do you have?"

"There are several boxes just of ancient gold coins. There are even some gold mines that were sealed off after mining back in the day."

I looked at the chieftain and pondered for a moment.

I'd have to maintain relations with this tribe going forward, but what's the best way to do that?

Even if I became close to them, I'd still have to pass through the central great tribe to reach the central peninsula.

It's clear these tribes are hostile to the central tribe.

Even if I got close, I wouldn't gain much apart from acquiring some gold coins.

And I'm not sure how much help they would be if the central great tribe pushed forward.

There was only one answer in the end.

This tribe must unify the center.

I don't know how long it will take, but that's the only way things will be easier for us.

No matter how I looked at it, the chieftain was extraordinary.

There's something mysterious about him. I happened to meet a young warrior and could see a great hero in him.

///—///—///

We all climbed the hill overlooking the Vargar tribal village.

We heard that the villagers would be startled if we went to the village, so we chose to watch from here.

The village was smaller than I expected.

There were only about a hundred shabby huts, with few people coming and going.

"There are no warriors in sight."

"Most went out to find food. The women are tending to crops on the other side."

"How many are there in total?"

"About 800. Around 300 warriors, the rest are the old and weak."

"There don't seem to be enough houses."

"The Tak tribe lives communally. Multiple generations live in one house. The warriors also live together in one house."

I looked at the chieftain standing next to me.

He looked impressive gazing at the distant mountains.

I'd heard that the Tak tribe were less intelligent than humans, but looking at the chieftain, that doesn't seem true.

He resembled a great leader.

Among people too, you can feel who is of great caliber, but this chieftain is more than that.

He has the dignity of a king.

"Do you know we fought the Tak tribe last year?"

The Dran tribe was startled.

"That was you?"

"I don't think it was this tribe."

"Right. That was the central tribe. I heard that before they attacked human lands, their advance party went north and fought human warriors. Our chieftain witnessed it and said he was truly impressed."

It was a relief, really.

If the Tak tribe our special forces had fought were these people, it would've been impossible to have good relations.

I looked at the Tak warriors.

The chieftain was still gazing at the mountains, but the warriors stared intently at me and my party.

"They know who we are."

"They know?"

"Back then, we had eight warriors wielding greatswords. Even now, our party has greatswords, and there are exactly eight of us."

The Dran tribe asked the chieftain.

The chieftain smiled and nodded.

"So that's it. They had respected you as warriors. I was puzzled as to why the other warriors weren't reacting much after seeing you."

"Is respecting warriors something special?"

"It is. The Tak tribe is fiercely competitive, and their hierarchy of strength is strict. If a warrior disgraces himself, no one will follow. On the other hand, if one upholds the honor of a warrior, even in defeat, they show respect."

The Dran tribe laughed and continued.

"That's why they treat you as strong warriors. Thirty-five human warriors surrounded by five hundred Tak warriors, yet sixty-four Tak warriors died and a hundred thirty were wounded. Even our warriors couldn't have done that."

"We thought these were the same Tak tribe we fought."

The Dran tribal elder nodded.

"That must be why the chieftain warned you. In people's eyes, they're all the same Tak tribe. If the human forces march down, what will happen to this tribe?"

"It was to protect the tribe."

"Indeed. Because of the central tribe, this tribe couldn't fight the humans."

Of course.

The Tak tribe didn't warn us out of concern for human casualties.

It was because unrelated tribes would be the ones to suffer retribution.

I looked at the chief and spoke.

"We have a purpose for coming here."

"What is it?"

"But before that, let me ask something. Earlier, the chieftain said they would only target the central tribal chief and ruling warriors. If so, the central tribe would collapse. Is that true?"

"It could happen. The name of the ruling tribe is Targal. Most of the central tribe became the ruled after losing to Targal in tribal war. Most of them used to follow this Vargar tribe."

"Do they still follow?"

"The Vargar tribe was the spiritual backbone of all Tak for ages. Before the unification, they were the leading tribe of the center."

"That explains why the tribe wasn't wiped out."

"Exactly. Perhaps if more generations had passed it would be different, but killing a Vargar descendant would provoke great outrage. That's why the Targal chieftain only exiled us."

I got the picture.

Only one condition needed to be met.

"I have some doubts about the entire alliance collapsing just because the Targal chieftain and warriors die."

"The Tak tribe venerates strength and heroes. Tribal chiefs often settle tribal wars by fighting each other."

"They follow whoever wins."

"Yes. But the Targal chief won't fight our chief one-on-one. He knows he'd lose."

The Dran tribe let out a dry laugh.

"And they have no respect for warriors. The chief's father was a great warrior, but the current Targal chief had him assassinated."

"That happened?"

"Yes, back in the center. As soon as the previous chief died, the Targal tribe started a war. In that war, ninety percent of the Vargar tribe perished."

The chieftain looked quietly at me.

He seemed to understand what the Dran tribe was saying. At the word "Targal", his eyes blazed unlike before.

I had learned everything I wanted to.

I'd figured out the possibilities and estimates. It was the best outcome with the future guaranteed.

So I got to the point.

"Let me tell you why we're here. In the west of the center, there is a peninsula stretching out to the sea. We want to build a port there and, in the future, to use the sea often."

"Can that be done? Even the central tribal alliance numbers are immense."

"Please interpret for the chief."

The Dran tribe explained to the chieftain why we had come here. The chieftain listened with no particular expression.

I spoke to the chief.

"From now on, our house wishes to trade and cooperate regularly with the Vargar tribe. So, as in the deal first proposed, the Vargar tribe must help us."

The Dran tribe continued translating.

The chieftain nodded.

"What do you intend to do?"

I looked at the chieftain again.

"We will strike the great tribe of the center."

"What?"

The Dran tribe was startled.

The chieftain wore a faint smile.

As if he understood what I meant.