CHAPTER 168: FEEDING THE ENEMY [2]

While he was instinctively thinking about ways to make money, someone approached them.

"So the hero who saved our tribe was here."

The one who sat down beside them with exaggerated praise was the chieftain.

"That’s too much. I didn’t defeat him alone..."

"You can’t deny that you played a decisive role. That’s not to say we aren’t grateful to others as well."

The chieftain smiled and urged them to drink. After the three of them had downed five or six cups of liquor, the chieftain left.

"Senior, I need to go to the bathroom for a moment..."

"Go ahead."

As Aint disappeared, focus returned to Gerhard’s previously hazy pupils.

’They’re doing something interesting.’

Gerhard hadn’t missed the subtle hand gestures exchanged between the chieftain and Aint.

==

"Why did you want to see me separately?"

Aint, who had said he was going to the bathroom, entered the chieftain’s yurt.

"Naturally because I have something to tell you. Ah, would you like a drink?"

"Yes."

The chieftain handed over a cup. When Aint accepted it, he poured liquor into the empty cup.

"Hmm, what would you prefer? Straight to the point? Or shall we talk about something else for a moment?"

"I’d like to hear the main point."

"You’re quite impatient."

"Wouldn’t anyone be impatient in this situation?"

"That’s true."

If so. The chieftain, who had been thinking for a moment, began his introduction.

"Do you know? Although they are now torn into many branches, there is one message that is passed down commonly among all desert tribes."

"A message?"

Tak, the chieftain put down the liquor bottle. The story that came from his mouth didn’t quite match the question and answer.

"Long ago, the desert tribes were torn apart. Though they originated from one, those who had fought for a long time became worse than strangers. There was someone who rewove them and unified them."

He was the one called the first Emperor in the Empire and the first Khan among the desert tribes.

"It was our most glorious time. United under the Khan, the tribe boasted formidable power as a single entity."

No one dared to look down on the desert tribes. Rather, they feared them and were busy trying to gauge their reactions.

"When fighting against demons and magical beasts across the continent, there was someone who represented the tribes under the Khan."

It was Oswell Balance, who became the second Khan after the first Emperor stepped down from the position of Khan.

He was the greatest warrior of the desert tribes, both the strongest and the wisest.

Oswell Balance. A nostalgic name. Though a bit simple, he was quite strong.

Despite being unable to handle aura, his physical abilities themselves were absurd.

He was a warrior appointed as a Royal Knight by the first Emperor.

The chieftain, who had moistened his throat briefly, continued.

"The message is what he left behind."

I can roughly guess what it is.

"What is its content?"

"The wrath of hell is not yet over, and the world shall once again fall into lamentation. However, when the holy light returns, sprouts will emerge on the red sand, and it will lead us to promised glory."

"...What?"

The first Emperor merely said that demons would rise again someday, so be prepared, and the price would be paid by later generations, but they’ve interpreted it rather grandly.

The superficiality of these desert tribe people is something to behold.

Gardner clicked his tongue.

"Honestly, I had thought it was absurd, but today I learned that it was not at all."

"Um..."

"The demons have begun to stir again... and the holy light has descended like this, so how could it be false?"

"What you’re saying is..."

"Yes, we would serve you as Khan. Please lead us to glory."

As the chieftain bowed his head without hesitation, Aint became flustered and stammered.

"...You’d serve me as Khan just because of that one message?"

"Is that strange?"

"Isn’t it?"

At this response, the chieftain burst into laughter.

"Hahahahaha...! I’m joking. Well, would I really say such a thing out of the blue!"

Gulp, gulp, the chieftain emptied a large cup in one go.

"Everyone knows that when desert people leave stories, they make them sound impressive. Because they’re mixed with the right amount of exaggeration and lies, one should filter them accordingly."

"..."

"I know that Aint is the holy light. But I don’t believe that you will unconditionally guide us to glory as per the second Khan’s message."

"Then the part about serving me as Khan..."

"No, that’s sincere."

The chieftain shook his head.

"But it’s not because of the message. It’s because it benefits us."

His eyes narrowed sharply.

"I’m not good at lying, so I’ll speak honestly. Despite fighting alongside the Empire against demons, the desert didn’t receive its rightful dues. It would be more accurate to say they were gradually taken away."

As the Empire’s nobles began to forget their gratitude toward the desert and started viewing them as barbarians, support gradually decreased.

Without support, the desert tribes lost their prosperity and reverted to the pre-unification era.

Come to think of it, these guys just took handouts for a thousand years without doing anything?

Aint deliberately ignored Gardner’s words.

"The Empire, the continent developed, but we regressed."

At this rate, there was no future for the desert.

"That’s why we’re rather pleased with this moment."

"What do you mean?"

"The second Khan unified the desert tribes together with the first Khan. Many lives were lost in the war against demons, but in return, we shone more brilliantly than ever."

And once again, war was approaching.

"I believe this is an opportunity given to us. The last chance for the desert tribes to survive."

War takes away many things, but ironically, someone benefits.

For the desert tribes, it was a lifeline thrown to them to survive.

"We want to fight under you, Aint Armian. We will become your warriors and tear apart the demons. In return, promise us rights, money, and land where we can live."

Then we will become one and.

"We will serve you as Khan."

It wasn’t because they believed in the message.

It wasn’t because they were chasing old glory.

"We will use you."

A purely practical matter.

"So you use us too."

It was all about survival.

==

"..."

Aint couldn’t answer hastily.

He agonized and pondered.

After a long silence, he finally spoke.

"Honestly, I might fail. I’m not confident that I can definitely defeat the demons and become Emperor."

"I know."

"Why me? Is it because I’m a descendant of the first Emperor?"

"Because only you will need us."

It was a purely practical matter. Armian lacked forces.

Due to the first Emperor’s misjudgment, most of Armian’s territory was assigned to the Emperor, which meant most things were handed over to Schwaben.

A princely house in name only.

A former imperial family with nothing to do but dwell on past glory.

Therefore, if aiming for the throne again, strong forces were desperately needed.

The desert tribes were the optimal force to scratch Armian’s itch.

"...Alright."

"An excellent choice!"

Uahahahaha! The chieftain laughed loudly. He filled a huge cup with liquor and offered it to Aint.

"In the desert tribes, when forming a master-servant relationship, we drink together. All at once."

"This is a bit..."

But a liquor cup was already in Aint’s hand.

Clink, as their cups collided and the chieftain’s Adam’s apple bobbed, Aint had no choice but to gulp down the liquor.

"Keuuuuugh! Drinking in such a good situation makes the liquor taste even better."

"...Yes. I-it does."

Aint barely swallowed the retching that was about to come out.

"From now on, I’ll serve you as my lord. First, I’ll convene a tribal council to nominate you as Khan. It will take some time as we need to follow the formal procedures."

"Yes, I trust you. And if possible, this fact..."

"We’ll keep it as secret as possible, preventing it from leaking outside."

After a brief conversation, they returned to the festival site.

They didn’t know.

Koong?

The existence of a tiny golem hiding behind the tent pole.