Chapter 91
As soon as Hrung-ga entered the village, he saw a massive shadow rushing fiercely toward them.
—Grrrr!
It was none other than a gigantic direwolf. The huge white wolf, as large as a house, charged straight at Hrung-ga.
[Hrung-ga!]
Erich immediately drew his sword, intending to strike before the wolf could get close.
But at that moment, Erich simultaneously recalled Hrung-ga's face and the name of this tribe.
'Wolf.'
Then Hrung-ga welcomed the charging wolf into his arms.
—Huff, huff, huff.
The wolf, larger than a human, enthusiastically licked Hrung-ga's face.
[Lan! Were you keeping the house safe?]
—Yelp!
Despite its enormous size, the creature seemed quite friendly. However, it glanced at Erich and bared its teeth.
—Grrrrr.
Meanwhile, Hrung-ga grabbed the wolf by its scruff, his hand moving with a force that was hard to tell if it was affectionate petting or a rough slap.
[Our wolf tribe grows up with direwolves from childhood.]
[Is that why you're called the wolf tribe?]
[Who knows? Nobody's quite certain whether we became the wolf tribe because we raised direwolves, or if we started raising them because we were the wolf tribe. There's been quite a bit of debate among us.]
[So, it's the old chicken or the egg debate.]
[... Chicken? Egg? Hm, an interesting thought. Which came first?]
[Not knowing is what makes it a problem. Anyway, it's fascinating; I've never seen a direwolf this affable towards people before.]
Erich gazed silently at the direwolf. The beast openly displayed hostility, yet did not attack Erich as long as he was with its master.
Hrung-ga led the direwolf further inward.
While there were no advanced buildings, the village was vast—sizable enough to accommodate a massive number of barbarians.
They finally arrived at a rather large building, its walls completely adorned with expensive pelts. For imperial fur merchants, it would have been a scene to make them cough up blood.
'Well, I suppose leather is cheaper than brick here.'
At the large leather door, Hrung-ga addressed the guards posted there. The direwolves standing with the guards bared their teeth at Erich.
—Grrr.
[I, Hrung-ga, ask for an audience with the chieftain.]
[... You didn't say you would bring in an outsider.]
[He is my invited guest. I have the proper right to do so.]
[Hm.]
The gatekeeper gave Erich a slow, scrutinizing look. Erich quickly sized up the man and judged that he was a higher-level warrior than those at the entrance.
'Perhaps the chieftain's personal guard?'
Indeed, given the scale of this barbarian group, the chieftain would be a figure on par with a grand duke or king.
Having a group akin to a personal guard was not surprising.
The gatekeeper nodded, told them to wait, and disappeared inside for a while before returning.
[You're permitted to enter. Leave your weapons with me.]
[Very well.]
Erich handed over his weapons without a care.
The ornate dragon fang sword with its golden embellishments caught the gatekeeper's eye, his brow momentarily furrowing—perhaps a flash of greed.
The chieftain's house resembled a massive hall, not divided into rooms but a single enormous space.
Inside were the guards serving as personal protectors, whom Hrung-ga whispered about.
[Those are the Wolf's Fangs. Normally, we call them 'Karta' for short.]
[Karta. The chieftain's private soldiers?]
[Private soldiers? I'm not sure what you mean, but they'd leap into a fire if the chieftain ordered it.]
So, they're like private soldiers, Erich thought, nodding slowly.
At the far end of the hall stood a throne made of bones, reminiscent of a royal seat.
A pair of wolf skulls, each as large as a human torso, was mounted on either side, adding to the oppressive atmosphere. Erich wondered just how large those wolves must have been in life.
Then his eyes fell on the chieftain sitting upon the throne—a middle-aged barbarian with long, ash-gray hair tied back, exuding an unusually civilized air for a barbarian.
He gave off the sophisticated aura of a count from somewhere.
He spoke in a sober, dignified voice.
[Hrung-ga, son of Batanga, you have valiantly repelled our enemies.]
[Indeed, chieftain. I come to report on this matter, and also as Hrung-ga, son of Batanga, to make a request of you.]
Erich found Hrung-ga's tone unusually formal and rigid—quite unlike his usual bold, hearty manner.
[I suppose the request concerns that imperial over there. However, the ancestors of the great wolves would find it displeasing that such a person was brought into this place at all.]
[That is only your opinion, chieftain. He aided me in defeating our enemies. He deserves adequate reward.]
[Oh? So Hrung-ga, son of Batanga, did not vanquish the enemies by his own strength alone?]
Though couched in polite language, there was much more beneath the surface.
Erich could sense that this chieftain's speech was highly political.
'... He's trying to diminish Hrung-ga's achievements. Hrung-ga already admitted to receiving help, so he can't deny it. I hadn't expected there to be someone like this among the barbarians.'
Hrung-ga's face twisted in irritation at the words. He stepped forward, barely able to contain himself.
At that, the Karta standing nearby also took a synchronized step forward.
[Chieftain, you insult me now. Even refusing to announce your name to my guest—how far do you mean to humiliate me?]
[Why must I reveal my name to a mere crow? Would that not be an insult to myself and the ancestors of the great wolves?]
The chieftain's faint smile left no doubt as to the mockery it contained.
As their contest of wills continued, other barbarians began to appear behind the lines of Karta.
Erich could tell at a glance from their braided hair and coloring that these were elders.
'... Over twenty elders. This is truly a massive tribe.'
They all directed disapproving looks at Hrung-ga and Erich, lending further support to the chieftain's next words.
[However, out of consideration for the Wolf Guardian's honor, I will oblige. I am Grossnak, son of Hrosga.]
[Erich, son of Heidrich.]
[I hear you are familiar with our language and customs. I see it is so. And yet, knowing our ways, why did one invited guest lead over a thousand warriors here?]
[I had no intention of threatening this place. On the contrary, I came to offer a favorable proposal.]
Grossnak leaned back in his seat, interlaced his fingers, and responded slowly.
[A favorable proposal would be for you to leave this place at once. The ancestors of the great wolves will never accept the crows' proposals.]
[I wonder about that. When Ungrim from the east tramples this land, you may regret not hearing out my offer.]
At Erich's bold retort, the elders murmured in shock.
—How insolent.
—How dare he say such a thing.
Yet Grossnak, unperturbed, continued.
[Recall where you stand. This is the land of the wolf. To enter here alone and unarmed, and dare to insult me?]
[... Is that so?]
Suddenly, the air around Erich turned icy. His eyes glowed a crimson hue, and the threads of murderous intent woven by the elders became vividly visible to him.
—Pit.
In a single moment, Erich severed the threads of killing intent aimed at him. The chieftain and some elders recoiled in alarm.
—Clack!
As Erich withdrew his murderous aura and calm resumed, he broke the silence.
[Whether or not I'm armed is irrelevant. What matters is that I have no intention of harming you.]
[... Are you threatening us?]
[I only showed what I could do because you do not seem to consider me a negotiating partner. Wouldn't it be reassuring to have such strength on your side against Ungrim?]
[Nonsense. Only fools die young by bedding down with beasts. Do you think to fool me with your forked tongue?]
[Strange words from a man who shares his life with direwolves.]
Grossnak's brow twitched. Clearly, he found Erich's eloquence more troublesome than expected in barbarian society.
At that, Hrung-ga, who had been watching, broke into a grin and interjected.
[I know what troubles you, chieftain. But let me give you what you want.]
[... What I want? Speak, Wolf Guardian. What can you offer me?]
[My life. Isn't that what you've always wanted?]
Grossnak laughed dryly at Hrung-ga's audacious proposal, flashing a large canine. Hrung-ga then turned to the elders and declared loudly.
[I, Hrung-ga the Wolf Guardian, swear here and now: should Erich, son of Heidrich, and his people bring harm to the wolf tribe, I will offer my heart to the ancestors of the great wolves.]
[... Hmm.]
Grossnak rested his chin on his hand, savoring the proposal. The elders seemed shocked at Hrung-ga's vow.
—... He's lost his mind.
—He risks his life for a crow?
For a moment, satisfaction flickered across Grossnak's face.
[Very well, Hrung-ga, son of Batanga. I accept your Wolf's Oath. Erich, son of Heidrich, you and your people may stay here.]
Erich sensed that Grossnak was quite pleased with the outcome. Perhaps, indeed, this was what he had been after from the start.
'... Maybe he intended to maneuver Hrung-ga into offering this all along.'
His way of steering the opponent into self-destruction through political traps was crude, yet oddly similar to the imperial nobles.
It was a sort of human character Erich had never expected to see in barbarian society, and he found it fascinating.
But idle curiosity aside, he knew what he needed to do.
[I would like to make a proposal.]
[And what would that be?]
[An alliance between the Watch and the wolf tribe. Our warriors stand before the great collective enemy, Ungrim.]
[That is not a decision I can make immediately. It must be discussed with the elders, and more importantly, trust has yet to be earned.]
[How might we earn your trust?]
[Only the ancestors of the great wolves can answer that. When I receive their word, I will send one of mine to inform you.]
Erich nodded slowly, wearing a faint smile.
'So he's saying he'll consider the offer. How sly.'
Still, this was already half a success. The moment they had begun sitting at the negotiation table, it meant the tribe had at least some willingness for an alliance.
Erich felt things were proceeding rather well. Now that he could station his troops here, and had taken the first step toward an alliance, it was a valuable gain.
Hrung-ga and Erich bid the chieftain farewell and left his residence.
*
Once the two men were outside, the chieftain let out a deep sigh of relief. Immediately, the elders crowded around him.
[... Such insolence! We should have cut their throats and fed them to the wolves at once, chieftain.]
[How dare they enter here and display such killing intent! Their arrogance has no bounds.]
Grossnak shot a cold look at the angry elders, quickly quelling their fury.
[Why such agitation? That one is bound to be useful to us.]
[But...!!]
[I've heard that Ungrim, that heretic, prepares for a major invasion of our lands. Then, will you go forth alone and stop them?]
The elders exchanged uneasy glances. Ungrim's horde—just imagining it was horrifying.
Grossnak reclined again in his seat and closed his eyes. At that moment, pleasing visions surged in his mind.
[All will proceed as the ancestors of the great wolves have arranged.]
-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
The Great Wolf tribe's chieftain is more snake than wolf...
【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】