Chapter 171 : Chapter 171

Chapter 171 : Who is the King of the Inoe (3)

The barbarians decided to stay in the clearing where Dvalik and I had fought until the coronation.

They claimed other places were too crowded and stuffy.

“Who will fight me in a warrior’s battle!”

“Great warrior, Dukon will be your opponent!”

Two barbarians planted their feet on the ground and proceeded to beat each other to death.

The sight of them smiling even as blood spurted was bizarre.

Not just those two, but several barbarians were imitating the duel—no, the battle—that Dvalik and I had fought.

‘It wasn’t that they hated crowds, but that they needed a space to fight as much as they wanted.’

Dvalik looked on with a satisfied expression at the fighting barbarians.

I asked Dvalik for confirmation once more.

“Not just Lord Dvalik, but all the barbarians will join my cause from now on. Is that correct?”

“That’s right. What do you want? We will take the lead to acquire whatever you desire.”

Dvalik laughed heartily and continued speaking.

“However, I hope that what the King of the Inoe wants isn’t the Empire.”

“Why? Are you afraid of the Empire?”

Since Dvalik specifically wished to exclude the Empire, I was curious about his reasons.

“No, great warriors know no fear. But the Empire is also an old friend of the barbarians. Killing a friend is not something I am keen on.”

“The Empire and the barbarians have a history together, then.”

“Originally, no. But ever since the Dome appeared in Myeolji, the Empire got along well with us. It’s been quite a long relationship. The Empire sent large gifts every year. They didn't even ask for any repayment from us.”

This was the terrifying thing about the Empire. 

While acting as if they were dominating everyone in an arrogant manner, they could always maintain friendly relations with any powerful faction.

It seemed the Empire got along well with the barbarians of the East, just as they did with the North.

“What would you do if I asked you to attack the Empire?”

“I’d attack. You seem stronger than the Empire right now.”

He was reluctant to fight the Empire due to a friendship, but he would attack them if I wanted him to?

I looked into Dvalik's eyes.

Dvalik was also the leader of a faction. It was not a position a mere battle-crazy fool could attain.

‘Indeed, there was a study that estimated that the average intelligence of uncivilized tribes, who are exposed to rugged wilderness, is actually higher than that of settled people.’

A thesis I had read with interest back on Earth came to mind. 

It said that only those who could read the constantly changing situation survived because they were exposed to dangerous environments.

Dvalik also seemed to be that kind of person. 

The fact that he didn’t continue the fight unarmed after his hammer split during our bout might have been because he realized the situation wouldn’t change even if he did.

Rather, because Dvalik stopped his fist, our battle could conclude at its most dramatic moment.

Of course, I told Dvalik that my enemy was not the Empire.

“I will attack Myeolji, not the Empire.”

“Myeolji? That land of the Demons?”

“Yes, that’s right. I will break the balance that connects humans, Inoe, and Myeolji.”

“Can you call it a balance? Myeolji is dormant, but if the Dome breaks, they might try to dominate the world.”

I nodded. 

This was a fact well known even to the barbarians of the East, the farthest from Myeolji.

“That’s right. The Demons of Myeolji might be stronger than us. So I will make the humans also join forces.”

“A king might be able to do that. You’re half-dragon, but the other half is human, isn't it?”

“Haha, that’s right. Humans and Inoe will join forces to conquer Myeolji.”

“We might rewrite the history of Adjak once again.”

“Of course. It will be possible. No, I will definitely make it happen.”

Dvalik hit his large chest with the handle-only remaining hammer and roared.

“When we march to Myeolji, the barbarians will stand in the vanguard!”

Dvalik shouted abruptly, but his voice was so powerful.

So the barbarians who had been fighting also stopped and listened to Dvalik's words.

“We! Stand in the vanguard!”

“Vanguard! Myeolji! Conquer!”

The other barbarians wouldn't know the full story, but they repeated Dvalik's words.

They were trustworthy warriors.

‘Of course, their role won’t be to stand in the vanguard… I’ll tell them later.’

Seeing the excited barbarians, I decided I would inform them of their roles in the expedition later.

Just then, Nofen sent me a message.

– Lord Polarin! The Dwarf envoy is coming to Kipaso soon! Please return to the foot of the World Tree quickly!

“I’ll move right away.”

The barbarians paid no attention at all even as I left the area. 

They were just loudly shouting slogans like 'Myeolji!' and 'Conquer!'

***

A short, stout Dwarf came, holding an Imperial scepter.

The scent of Baden’s Mana strongly emanated from the Dwarf, and seeing his tear-stained face, I could tell he had suffered quite a lot.

“...Greetings. I am Gaztea Chevalier, the Prince who will be the next Emperor of the Underground Empire.”

He greeted me with a reluctant expression. 

It was not a very pleasant attitude.

“Nice to meet you, Lord Gaztea. But for the Dwarf tribe, it is the Prince who has come, not the Emperor?”

Gaztea looked around and then bowed his head deeply. 

Almost all the kings who were supposed to attend the coronation had already arrived.

Gaztea was of high status as the Prince of the Underground Empire, but since all the other factions had sent their kings, he seemed intimidated.

“The Emperor of the Underground Empire is...”

I finished the sentence for Gaztea, who couldn't continue.

“I understand. The Emperor is probably still under too much psychological pressure to come up to the surface.”

“That’s... not it.”

Gaztea said, hanging his head low.

“The Emperor is currently making the equipment to be worn by the expedition team, by the Dragon Lord’s command... no, request.”

Ah...

Gasps rose from various places. 

It was more because they could imagine what kind of command Baden had given when he visited the Underground Empire than the joy of obtaining equipment.

In particular, the Beastkin who had witnessed Baden when I became the King of the Beastkin looked at Gaztea with sympathetic expressions.

“Ahem, you must be going through a lot of trouble.”

“No. We enjoy smelting iron and making equipment anyway... However, I didn’t come here simply as the Prince either!”

Gaztea suddenly lifted his head and presented the imperial scepter he was holding with a snap.

“This is the imperial scepter of the Emperor of the Underground Empire! I am the legitimate Imperial envoy sent here by the Emperor’s command!”

He seemed to be trying to speak with dignity, but perhaps because the Dwarf’s limbs were so short, he only looked cute.

I wasn't the only one who thought this, as smiles were hanging on the lips of several people, including Bea.

“Why, why are you laughing? Are you all speciesists?”

Gaztea’s face flushed red and then blue. 

It seemed he had some grievances as a Dwarf.

I quickly added a remark to calm Gaztea's excitement.

“That’s impossible. Take a look around everyone here. Their appearances and races are all different. We, the Inoe who have been unable to join forces all this time, have gathered at the foot of the World Tree to unite as one, to begin with.”

“Is that so? Then why... why are they all still laughing!”

When Gaztea shook the imperial scepter held in his short arms, the corners of the lips of those trying to suppress their laughter twitched.

“This is why I didn’t want to come up to the surface...”

I glared at Bea, whose mouth was twitching especially hard. Bea looked sheepish and hardened her expression.

The others gathered here also lowered the corners of their mouths, noticing my warning glance.

“No, I welcome you to the surface. So, what was the message you intended to deliver here, holding the imperial scepter of the Emperor of the Underground Empire, Lord Gaztea?”

“The Prince Gaztea of the Underground Empire is sent as the envoy of the alliance to deliver my words. We Dwarves also agree to nominate Polarin as the King of the Inoe. In conquering Myeolji, the Dwarves will also dispatch warriors and provide the materiel of the Underground Empire.”

Gaztea changed his tone and voice, reciting the Emperor’s message he was meant to deliver. 

It seemed he was doing an impression of the Emperor.

“This is a small gift to commemorate the alliance we have forged.”

Gaztea put down the backpack he was carrying.

As he poked the backpack with his short legs, a tremendous amount of equipment poured out.

“Heeok!”

“Wha, what are all those things? Are they sacred Dwarf artifacts?”

To call it a small gift, the quantity of equipment was enormous, and the quality looked excellent.

It was not an amount that would be enough for only one to be received by each faction’s king.

The kings glanced back and forth between me and the equipment, drooling.

But I looked at Gaztea instead of the equipment.

“I thank the Emperor of the Underground Empire for his help. As the King of the Inoe, I will work with the Underground Empire going forward.”

I firmly shook hands with Gaztea.

Gaztea, who had seemed offended, seemed to have relaxed a little at the sight of everyone being astonished by the equipment he brought.

“I look forward to working with you in the future. And as for that equipment... Polarin Adjak, the King of the Inoe, you can use your best judgment to distribute it.”

“Thank you for your immense consideration.”

I nodded my head.

Whether that was the decision of the Emperor of the Underground Empire or Baden's command, it was helpful to me.

After they realized that I had the authority to distribute that much equipment, the gaze of the Inoe legion gathered here became even more intense.

“I will begin the equipment issuance immediately. We are all an equal Inoe legion. Please raise your hand and speak up if there is anyone who desires each piece of equipment as I present it. It would be best if those who genuinely need it take it, so the probability of being awarded the item will increase if you include your reasons.”

Then Urseca asked me.

“Lord. Polarin. Can. the. Lizardfolk. under. me. bid. for. the. necessary. items. even. if. I. am. not. a. King.”

“Of course. It is possible. It doesn't matter as long as the equipment can go to those who need it most.”

I first picked up an axe that caught my eye.

‘This was here.’

It was one of the graduation weapons for axes, Redin.

The entirely red Redin was an axe that accumulated stacks with every swing, capable of exploding 200% damage on the fifth swing.

“Is there anyone who wishes to have this axe?”

Then, many people raised their hands high and got excited.

Prince Raldetun, the Fairy King's son, was mixed among them.

“My Lord! Give it to me! Didn’t you promise to give me a good axe after breaking my axe the other day! My Wapuhu!”

“You… broke Wapuhu?”

Those who didn't know what Wapuhu was would have just thought Raldetun was a noisy fairy, but Gaztea, who knew its identity, looked at me in shock.

I deliberately avoided Raldetun’s gaze and ordered the kings.

“There is a lot of equipment, so to ensure a smooth process, only the kings will be allowed to make an offer. Is there anyone who wishes to have it?”

Fairy King Frude sighed heavily while looking at Raldetun, then raised his hand.

Other kings also began to raise their hands one after another.

‘I hope Lord Frude receives the bid…’

I hid my true thoughts and said to the kings.

“I will listen to the reason why each of you needs the equipment, and then I will make a decision.”

Piles of equipment that anyone would drool over were stacked high.

The corners of Gaztea’s mouth twitched as he watched the numerous kings who had raised their hands.