CH.
77 — SPIRIT MANA ROAD

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The chieftain of the Laoman tribe was quick-tempered.
So, he waited for the day of the conference to laugh at Aran, who had sent a lot of nonsense while saying he had the incarnation of Sionil in his hand.

On the continent, as the fame of the 2nd Consort of the Atien Empire increased, several water-talented people emerged.
Of course, most of them had been scammers, but who would’ve known at that time? They could’ve brought in a truly skilled person.

Native tribesmen said that Aran was somewhat radical but serious and reliable, but well.

Laoman, who had always opened his eyes to find fault with his opponent, knew.
Aran’s true goal was to instigate people to cover up his self-righteousness and put a burden on them under the guise of trust.

Therefore, for the same reason, Laoman suddenly thought of Aran when he found a warrior under his own command brought traces of ties with one of the main factions within the hostile pro-Kran Kingdom faction.

Because of that, the moment Aran tried to realize his dream, Laoman’s feet, which would be Aran’s biggest obstacle, were tied up.

If he just covered it up, that in itself was giving the conspirators his weakness, and even if he ran to the conference to report that he had been framed, it would not be of any help.

It was obvious that his voice would be lost before Aran, and Aran would wield Laoman’s tribe as much as he wanted.

Still, he checked it over and over again, because the pro-Kran faction, or the Kran Kingdom itself might have planned and engaged in the internal division of his own tribe, but he hadn’t found any abnormalities.

There was someone out there, out of his tribe, who dared to do such a foolish thing!

Laoman’s reasoning, which had been boiling in his head because of his anger, was completely blown away.
A spy from the Aran tribe who had been monitoring him was caught.

Aran usually used Shamir, that crazy dog, for things that had to be dealt with quietly, but this time, he had sent other men.
Laoman was not sure whether to think he was lucky, or mad that Aran didn’t feel his tribe was worth that much handling.

Even after being caught, the warrior didn’t tell him anything.
But just because the spy didn’t talk didn’t mean he couldn’t find anything.

As they had been members of the same tribe for a long time, Laoman was able to read as much as possible about their origins and records of spying.

Laoman immediately bought mercenaries.
Thanks to the growing power of the Laoman tribe, decent mercenaries were available in sufficient numbers.

Laoman thought.
In a situation where one could neither subtract nor beat, his position would only get worse over time.

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In that case, it was best to hit when his opponent had not yet firmly established his prestige, when he (Laoman) was still at his best!

Laoman immediately took his tribe’s warriors and mercenaries to the Aran tribe.

Mercenaries were added to the warriors of the Laoman tribe.
Even so, there was no plan to jump in immediately because it was not enough to fight in a place where many tribal chieftains and warriors of native tribes were gathered.

Above all, there was something unique, so it was necessary to check.

For some reason, the warriors of the Aran tribe were scrambling to search the vicinity of the basin.
It was the appearance of looking for someone.

He thought they might have been discovered, but if they had, they would have dragged all the warriors out and attacked right away.

They wouldn’t have dug through the crevices of the barren stony mountains scattered across the desert, where one or two could barely hide, or the floors of abandoned ruins.

So Laoman sat at a distance and waited for the time when everyone dispersed after the conference.
When the chieftains of each tribe and the warriors leave Aran’s basin and head to their own base.

At that time!

He’d raid the basin where only the Aran tribe remained, cut off Aran’s head, and take everything away!

Laoman was confident that he’d be able to hold the other tribes in his hand without Aran.
However, the follow-up to the conference was much longer than expected.
Laoman was heartbroken because it was proof that the conference was held very successfully.

Using mercenaries meant money, and it meant more money as the contract extended.
He was worried that the contract period could be a problem.
After the set date had passed, the mercenaries might go back without a fight after receiving only the advance payment.

When Laoman called the mercenary commander to discuss, it was fortunate that he promised to take responsibility for the fight until the end by paying a little extra money.

However, that did not mean the situation could be like this forever.
Food and water ran out, and there was a problem with morale.

He even tried to sneak into Aran’s basin, but since Aran was so vigilant, there was a high chance of being detected.

Then their hiding place would be known, causing danger to themselves.

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Probably, there was only one person in the desert who could go into a place with that level of security and get out without being noticed by anyone!

However, that person had proudly invaded and revealed the conspiracy of the chieftain of Aran tribe, and if anyone sympathized with him, they would be defined as an enemy, and everything on their side would be classified as traitor and killed!

The bonds of the desert tribes were strong, but when they turned, they became as cruel as a sword.

It was a dry land where everyone had to share what was limited.
If one didn’t have that much heart, one would not give what they had, and if the other party couldn’t return that much, one didn’t have to give theirs out.

When Laoman, who was already in a hurry, couldn’t stand it any longer and tried to run to Aran’s basin.

The one and only madman he had just thought of appeared!

“Shamir!”

The blades were unsheathed with Laoman’s shout, but Shamir didn’t even raise his eyebrows and waved his hands in a cheerful greeting.

Well, it’s nice to see you.
Shamir had not even thought of saying hello.

It had been purely coincidental that Shamir found them quite far from the basin where the Aran tribe resided, after he noticed Spot, who was tied to one of the carriages that had run recklessly because of the consort’s plan.

He couldn’t just pass the mountain because warriors of unusual scale filled the mountain. 

[T/N: It is the mountain that forms the basin]

Shamir, who erased the trajectory and approached the gathered people, was very glad to find Laoman.
No matter how he looked at it, it was surprising that their numbers exceeded the number of warriors that only Laoman could mobilize.

Shamir gave a warning to Spot, who was whining because it would not let anyone pick it up beside the consort, not to get out of the vicinity, and then released it.
Then he alternated looking between the basin and the stone mountain.

Shamir, who had sneaked into the basin and heard the news of the consort’s wedding, thought that the best time for the Laoman tribe to launch a raid was after the wedding ceremony was over and the chieftains and warriors of each tribe left.

There was only a little time left, but the chieftain of the Laoman tribe seemed unable to wait.

Even if the chieftain of the Laoman tribe moved now, Shamir thought he should be able to take the consort and run away, but if he did, Aran would definitely give chase.

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If they were unlucky, Aran might even split up his warriors and use them against them while dealing with Laoman.
So, rather than making useless variables, Shamir appeared in front of Laoman instead of the plan he was trying to use secretly.

Of course, Laoman did not believe Shamir, but he did not deny the fact that it made sense to some extent, as he saw with his own eyes that warriors from the Aran’s basin came out periodically to search the area and find people.

Above all, if Aran knew where they were, he would have gone hunting to show his strength and set an example as a commemoration of becoming the grand chieftain, instead of using the trick of inducement.
Even though Shamir was Aran’s closest confidant, the chieftains also knew the fact that Aran also considered Shamir a headache.

In the end, it was no different than saying that Shamir had been kicked out after taking Laoman’s side, so Laoman thought it would be good to convince Shamir, who would be very useful if he was his.
After deciding to take care of things according to Shamir’s information, Laoman finally asked jokingly.

“By the way, what of that incarnation of Sionil? Is this one a useful figurehead? Enough for that Aran to even arrange a wedding ceremony and emphasize it is the real deal?”

“Aaah.”

When Aran sent his tribe’s warriors to the western part of the Empire, the other native tribes were not allowed to move, so it was only when they ran into each other outside the basin while fleeing that it was revealed who was the incarnation of Sionil.

Laoman knew that Aran could fool people as much as he wanted, but he didn’t expect he’d do something worse than that.

“Well, you should see for yourself.
You’ll know if you see her.”

Shamir answered as he thought of the consort, whom he wanted to see quickly.

Not long now.
So… please don’t make trouble until I arrive, our consort.

He was sure that she would not be waiting for someone else’s promise, but…in the desert, inside the basin where the Aran tribe stayed, what could she do as a complete outsider?

He was worried, but he was rather relieved.
It didn’t take long to realize that his idea was wrong.

Shamir, who had taken off a layer of outerwear he was wearing and covered over Elisha’s head, shook his head excitedly when he saw the two other people looking up at him while holding the consort like a lifeline.

“I can’t believe you seduced such children and made them do bad things.
Our consort is so evil.”

“W-we…”

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Dahil, who was not a child, and was about to say that the goddess even saved their lives, shut her mouth as soon as she met Shamir’s golden eyes.
Contrary to his tone of voice, his wrinkled, indifferent eyes were so heavy, as if scolding them for being the goddess’s shackles.

“If it weren’t for them, I would have taken a more risky approach.”

“More than this?”

Shamir asked, as if wondering what more could be done.
Shamir, who had wiped the smile from his face as if he was tired, looked at the surroundings.

What a mess.
He could not find the former appearance of the basin where he had lived before.

The consort, who couldn’t even use her power properly, and that young girl, had made this together.
In the place where not only the Aran tribe, but all the native tribes were gathered.

However, Elisha was only telling the truth.
If it wasn’t for those two, there was a high possibility that in the end, she would’ve used her mana.

The impact would be dangerous to herself, but it would be even more dangerous to others.

Anyway, there was no time for this.
Elisha pushed away those who were clinging to the left and right of her and got up.
They both quickly straightened their posture and stood close to her. How long has it been since they met? Now they are following her like ducklings following their mother duck?

It was interesting yet absurd.
Of course, there might be someone else who felt that emotion the most here.

“Aran! Aran!”

The presence of the Chieftain Laoman, who suddenly popped out from among the invaders, completely froze the native tribes.

“What’s wrong with Chieftain Laoman?”

He could hear them gossiping, but Laoman didn’t give them a single glance.
Laoman’s eyes were fixed on the other side.

“There you are, you traitor!”

Laoman shouted as the sound of metal screeching rang.
He ran without hesitation, lifting the crescent-shaped sword in his hand.

Of course he was heading towards the place where Elisha and her party, who had been fighting Aran, were standing.