[ Chapter 149 ]


    “There might be friction with the natives, but at least the humans participating out of greed will have to consider political issues. Although, who knows what will happen over time.”


    At Relhard’s words, Makelin nodded.


    “If our numbers grow in the future, humans’ reactions will change too. But initially, there should be no major issues.”


    This problem applied not only to the orcs but also to the dwarves and elves. They too could safely advance into the Gloten Mountains with the support of the Antares Duchy.


    “The elves’ territory will be from here to here, then.”


    Repenhardt circled a forested area in the middle of the mountain range connected to the duchy. It was adjacent to the orcs’ territory but maintained a reasonable distance.


    While the orcs lived by gathering and hunting over a wide range, the elves, who primarily focused on farming and cultivation within the forest, did not need such extensive territory. This amount of forest was sufficient for over a thousand elves to build and sustain a vige.


    “If the number of elves increasester, they will need other forests, but for now, this should be enough.”


    Relhard shook his head.


    “It’s not just enough; it’s excessivelyrge. The only issue is whether our entire n needs to move here…”


    The Blue Bear Tribe, intending to relocate entirely, was in a different situation from the Dahnhaim n. Once called the Land of Lamentation, their homnd had transformed into the Land of Grace, a lush green territory, thanks to the power of the revived World Tree, Elvenheim, by Repenhardt.


    Relhard twisted his fingers awkwardly.


    “Leaving the World Tree’s side is still…”


    Of course, Repenhardt did not wish for the Dahnhaim n to leave the revived World Tree either.


    “There are still many elves living as ves across the continent. This forest is for them. And besides the Dahnhaim n, there are quite a few elves still living in the wilderness, aren’t there? What I want is for a part of the Dahnhaim n to stay in this forest and prepare to wee them.”


    “That is certainly necessary. Understood. I will select some of the young members of the n and send them here.”


    Relhard nodded in agreement, but then spoke in a slightly regretful tone.


    “But in that case, it would have been better to nt the World Tree here.”


    Currently, the World Tree had not fully matured, so its influence on the elves was still weak. The homnd of the Dahnhaim tribe was in the most remote of remote ces, and as soon as they left the desert, the power of the World Tree barely reached them. This is why Relhard and the elf warriors currently carried branches of Elvenheim with them, wasn’t it?


    Then Repenhardt calmly spoke.


    “Oh, we will nt it here too.”


    Relhard, astonished, asked back.


    “…The World Tree is not some bonsai. Can it really be nted just anywhere?”


    “It can be nted anywhere. The problem is that it can’t just be anything.”


    Repenhardt chuckled. In fact, he had already thought of nting the World Tree in the forests of those elves. Of course, simply breaking off branches of the World Tree and nting them in the ground wouldn’t turn them into Elvenheim. Like the Nihillen Pce, which held the pure essence of the World Tree, it had to retain the pure essence to be a seed for a new giant tree.


    ‘And I know the location of all those seeds.’


    In his previous life, Repenhardt had nted as many as seven World Trees across the continent and linked them together to create a massive web of power covering the entire continent. Though it was a shortcut due to theck of time to grow them into the enormous and powerful World Trees like the original Elvenheim, the effect was nearly the same. In this life as well, Repenhardt nned to stick to that method. It was the most efficient way to awaken the elves in a short period.


    ‘Of course, over time, each World Tree will excessively absorb the essence of the earth, so I’ll have to cut down all but one, but that’s a matter for hundreds of yearster.’


    After concluding the discussion with Relhard, Repenhardt turned to Makelin.


    “This should work for the dwarves, right?”


    “It’s sufficient.”


    Unlike the orcs or elves, the dwarves’ territory was spread out in dots across the entire region. With their focus more on the underground than the surface, surface territory didn’t mean much to them. Viges and farnds near the mines were enough. As a result, their territory significantly ovepped with that of the Blue Bear Tribe, but since one was on the surface and the other underground, it wasn’t much of an issue.


    “If the poption increases, self-sufficiency will be difficult, but for now, it’s fine.”


    “Anyway, in the beginning, the main ie for the dwarves will rely on the sale of minerals and weapons.”


    At Repenhardt’s words, Makelin nodded with a hint of regret.


    “In that sense, the geographical location of this territory is somewhat regrettable. It is too difficult to travel to Grand Forge. It would have been better to receive a territory adjacent to the Setd Mountains.”


    Relhard showed the same expression. Currently, to travel from Grand Forge and the Land of Grace of the Dahnhaim Tribe to Antares County, a very long journey was required. Both sides had to use the space portal of the Daiman dungeon to pass the outskirts of the Setd Mountains, receive help from the Taoban Trading Company to cross the Duchy of Chatan, and traverse the Crovence Kingdom from east to west. Not only was the distance far, but there were also too many procedures needed to pass through human territories.


    However, Repenhardt only smiled faintly.


    “That is precisely why I deliberately chose this territory. Because of the Dungeon Chloe in the Gloten Mountains.”


    “Is there also a space portal connected to the Daiman terminal there?”


    Repenhardt nodded at Makelin’s surprised question. He hadn’t specifically requested this Viscounty of Gelpain from Yubel for no reason. There were many better-conditioned territories in the Gloten Mountains.


    It was precisely because of that Dungeon Chloe, with its still active space portal in the present era, that he insisted on thisnd.


    “In that case, travel would actually be much more convenient. You cane directly to this territory through the Daiman portal.”


    “Of course, there’s the issue of activating the portal by entering Dungeon Chloe and thoroughly clearing it…”


    Repenhardt looked around the room with a faint smile.


    “For the warriors of each tribe gathered here, it’s not a difficult task. I will exin the strategy in advance.”


    The level of Dungeon Chloe was lower than that of the Elucion ruins. Considering it was a ce explored by Golden Knight Eusus and the Tenes Knights, it was not a level that the aura users present needed to worry about.


    Malroid responded heartily, pounding his chest.


    “Leave it to us, savior! We will clean it up neatly for you!”


    Thus, Repenhardt consulted with the chieftains of different races and established a few simplews for the territory. Thews were quickly set since they had already used simr ones during the Antares Empire era. In the early stages, there was no need forplexws. The minimum rules and etiquette to be observed among the different races were sufficient.


    Everyone put their heads together and began to discuss future ns. During this, Relhard’s deputy, an elf youth called Dame, tilted his head as he looked at the corner of the map.


    “But benefactor, I see there’s some emptynd here on the map. What is this?”


    There was a considerable area left nk on the map between the territories of the elves and the orcs. It was clear that it had been intentionally left empty, not out of a desire for thend but simply out of curiosity.


    Repenhardt then smiled meaningfully.


    “That ce is for those we have yet to meet but will soon encounter.”


    “…?”


    Everyone looked puzzled, unable to grasp his meaning. Only Makelin nodded as if he had an inkling of what was going on.


    * * *


    A month had passed since the Crovence session war ended.


    In the backyard of Gelphain Castle, now renamed Antares White Castle, two men were crossing swords.


    “Taah!”


    “Kelta!”


    A human youth with a sleek yet agile body and an orc warrior with thick, muscr green skin were sparring. Under the scorching early summer sun, both were dripping with sweat but had excited expressions on their faces as they exchanged blows.


    “Waist!”


    Russ shouted, indicating the attack point as he swung a horizontal sh. Blocking the attack with his rough saber, Tassid threw his sword and shouted.


    “Go! Dakar! Head!”


    The saber flew through the air aiming for Russ’s head. Russ defended against the attack by swinging his sword, then quickly closed in on Tassid. However, Tassid had already widened the distance and moved out of his range. From afar, Tassid shouted.


    “Russ! My fierce friend is aiming for your shoulder!”


    Russ clicked his tongue and focused his mind behind him. The saber that had been deflected was once again aiming at him. He twisted his body to flick the sword away, and the saber returned to Tassid’s hand. Russ looked displeased.


    “Damn! Even knowing it, it’s still tricky.”


    Russ was deliberately sealing his aura while facing Tassid. He was doing this to address the issues he had felt within himself.


    Russ had faced countless Aura Users over time. His skill in handling Aura had vastly improvedpared to before. This, however, brought about a new problem. His basic swordsmanship skills had significantlygged behind his mastery of Aura.


    Since the awakening of his Aura, all his physical abilities had surged to exceptional levels. No matter how much of a master swordsman someone imed to be, they could not match Russ at his current state. Yet, in terms of pure swordsmanship, Russ had barely progressed from the days when he only knew how to execute a single effective cut. His unique “unpredictable swordsmanship” merely meant that his wild swings sometimes worked, not that it had developed into a refined technique.


    “Indeed, everything must be developed evenly without any deficiency…”


    Reciting an ancient martial saying, Russ took a deep breath. It was a teaching everyone knew but rarely practiced. However, Russ instinctively felt that following this path was the quickest way to bing stronger.


    “Whooo.”


    Having calmed his breath, Russ charged at Tassid once more.


    “Graaargh!”


    Tassid also let out a warrior’s roar as he charged to meet Russ. Despite the scorching sun overhead, these two young men didn’t seem to feel the heat, sweating profusely but joyfully exchanging blows.


    After who knows how long of swinging their swords, Russ gestured for a break and approached Tassid. Wiping his sweat with a wet cloth, Tassid threw another cloth to Russ.


    As Russ wiped his forehead, he asked, “Hey, Tassid, about that Spirits Weapon.”


    “It’s called ‘Kindra Kata’ in Orcish.”


    “Well, whatever it’s called.”


    The two spoke to each other in a very familiar tone, having naturally be friends over time.


    Tassid, with his straightforward and hearty nature typical of an Orc, also deeply understood humans thanks to growing up among them. Receiving a magical ne from Repenhardt allowed him to speak themonnguage fluently, making Russ feel like he had a human friend instead of an Orc. (In truth, Russ didn’t have any human friends. Tassid was the first friend he had made.)


    Russ pointed to Tassid’s beloved sword, Dakar, and asked curiously, “That technique is impressive, but when you throw your sword, aren’t you left unarmed? Wouldn’t it be wise to carry at least one more sword for such situations?”


    Tassidughed heartily and replied, “To a warrior, a weapon is a lifelong friend. How could I betray my swornpanion by wielding another weapon?”


    “But isn’t there that Orc, Jalkato, who uses dual swords?”


    “That guy just happens to have two swornpanions. I’m not nning to add another one at this point.”


    “That’s a bitplicated.”


    Puzzled, Russ clicked his tongue. However, considering the nature of Spirits Weapons as exined by Repenhardt, it seemed to make sense. Such a strict, almost unreasonable, attachment to a weapon was likely necessary for it to be imbued with residual thoughts.


    ‘Indeed, if Tassid were to wield another sword, he might even lose the power of the Spirits Weapon.’