Chapter 141


    The evening feast was grand. The women of the Red Sand Tribe ughtered an entire goat, grilling every part of it. The women who brought the food filledrge bowls with warm liquor made of goat milk.


    <em>Things are going well.''</em>


    Urich and the warriors of the Stone Axe Tribe were put at ease by the warm reception.


    <em>''The Red Sand Tribe is being friendly.''</em>


    Urich drank the goat milk liquor, surveying his surroundings. Just as thest dish was served, Chief Belrua made her appearance.


    "I hope the meal is to your liking."


    Belrua modestly spoke. There was no doubt everyone enjoyed the meal. Such a feast would be considered a grand wee in any tribe.


    Brief greetings made their way around the room, and the cksmiths brought in Urich''s armor and weapons. Urich collected his gear and gazed at Belrua.


    "How exactly are things at the Stone Axe Tribe?"


    Belrua asked while holding her cup.


    "Not good. Our women and boys have been taken from us."


    Urich bluntly stated, observing Belrua''s reaction. She whispered something to her confidants.


    "So, your request for alliance basically means you want us to fight against the Blue Mist Tribe for you, right?"


    "We still have some warriors left in our tribe. With Red Sand just adding numbers, it will be enough."


    "And your trade conditions... I need to hear if they are worth the blood of our warriors."


    Belrua squinted her eyes.


    "I don''t know how to make this sword and armor. I am a warrior, not a cksmith."


    "But you know where these armaments are made."


    "Yes, and that''s what I offer in the trade. I am going to do my best to help the Red Sand Tribe acquire the technology you desire."


    Kirungka and the Stone Axe warriors watched Urich anxiously.


    "Who, or which tribe, handles such armaments?"


    Belruas patience was running out. If Urich beat around the bush any longer, she was certainly going to lose her temper.


    Urich raised his hand, pointing east while seated in the tent.


    "Beyond the mountains."


    Urich spoke briefly, causing a stir.


    "I would like to dismiss this as a joke for mere entertainment... but you don''t seem like a man who would joke around with his life and the fate of his tribe on the line. Are you being serious, Urich?"


    Belrua leaned forward, gripping her knee. She red at Urich fiercely.


    "You already know, don''t you? It''s impossible for another tribe to forge what the Red Sand cannot. That means there is only one answer: these are objects from a whole different world."


    Urich lifted his sword, its de glowing red in the firelight.


    "Are you saying there is another world beyond the mountains?"


    "I have crossed the mountains and seen it with my own eyes. There, people with more advanced technology live."


    "That can''t be..."


    "And soon, those people wille to conquer ournd. They will bring warriors d in armaments made with superior technology. We must put an end to all our tribal disputes before that. If we don''t unite, they are going to tear us apart and make us their ves."


    Not only the Red Sand Tribe but even Urich''s Stone Axepanions were taken aback.


    "U-Urich?"


    Kirungka stammered. Urich had never spoken of such things. Even if he had, he might have been expelled for spreading fear.


    "The Blue Mist Tribe already has contact with those beyond the mountains, and their tactics are from the world beyond. Otherwise, our tribe wouldn''t have fallen like this. Consider this a warning; if you don''t join us, the Red Sand Tribe will be next in line."


    Urich''s words wereden with new information. Those present in the room were overwhelmed with the shattering new information. When he finished, silence fell.


    " You are either a sick liar or a great adventurer, keke!"


    Belruaughed behind her cup, while her confidants faces stiffened. The words that wereing out of Urichs mouth were words that could turn the world upside down.


    "Crossing the mountains is taboo, especially for tribes close to them like you guys, is it not?"


    "Thats why Ive been ostracized within my tribe ever since I came back. Even the chieftain didn''t believe me."


    Urich shrugged, and Belrua thought deeply while sipping her drink.


    <em>''If what Urich says is true, then every single one of his words must be taken seriously. If enemies areing from beyond the mountains and the Blue Mist Tribe is already expanding its reach through their contact with someone from that world... The idea of humans living beyond the mountains is suspicious, but theres nothing else that can exin this superior metallurgy.''</em>


    The evidence backing Urich was right in front of their eyes. The Red Sand Tribe, ustomed to metalworking for generations, couldn''t just ignore it. They were cksmiths, absorbing the heat of the forge and hammering iron. Dismissing the imperial steel armament was akin to denying their identity.


    <em>That man, Urich, saw an entirely new world. Thats for sure.''</em>


    Belrua opened her eyes which were closed in thought. Urich was reflected in her brown eyes.


    "Call the shamans for a meeting. Urich, follow me."


    Her words were heavy. Acknowledging the world beyond the mountains was almost like breaking theirws. Until the shamans concluded, they couldn''t rashly ept the idea of another world.


    Belrua gestured for Urich to follow, and Urich left the tent with her for a private discussion.


    "The moon is beautiful tonight."


    Belrua muttered, sitting in front of the tribal fire where people from the Red Sand Tribe were already gathered. At her gesture, the tribe members dispersed from the fire without wasting a moment.


    Urich also sat down, facing Belrua alone.


    "You believe my words, don''t you?"


    Urich said with a slight smirk, constantly observing Belrua''s reactions. She was a young and curious chieftain. Her first and foremost priority was her desire for better metalworking.


    "Almost, for the most part," Belrua replied briefly.


    "The people beyond the mountains call themselves ''civilized.'' They have discovered us and are preparing to cross the mountains. They need to repair their equipment during the expedition, so their army includes cksmiths. By the way, I''m fluent in thenguage of the civilized. Even if you capture their cksmith without me, learning the technology will be difficult."


    "If these are lies you made up in your feeble attempt to save your tribe, you will pay the price, Urich," Belrua spoke sharply.


    "On my name and my tribe, I swear Im telling the truth."


    Urich''s voice was low and heavy. Belrua was a chief skilled in trade and she had the eyes for reading people. A poor liar would easily be exposed by her.


    <em>Brush.</em>


    Belrua took out something from her inner pocket. It was a well-forged dagger.


    "Take a look at this, Urich. This is my greatest creation. The weapon that made me a chieftain."


    Urich took the dagger. It was smooth, with a faint glow on its surface. The quality of its material matched that of imperial steelit might have even surpassed it.


    " If you have the technology to make something like this, why do you need an alliance?"


    Urich evaluated the dagger and quickly recognized its value. It was far superior to typical tribal weapons.


    "This is meteorite iron. Its iron from the heavens."


    Belrua spoke with a distant look. What had happened was a fateful event for her.


    One night, when Belrua was gazing at the stars, she discovered aet falling toward Earth. She ran for days to get her hands on theet. It was iron beautiful enough to blind ones eyes. Belrua spent countless hours smelting the meteorite iron without even noticing her hands being ruined and forged the alien iron into a single dagger.


    There was a reason why they all epted a female chief.


    Urich nodded after hearing Belruas story.


    Belrua was a chief who had gained the throne of her tribe fair and square. She was a cksmith who had forged a dagger out of iron that fell out of the heavensa woman who had both the hard work and luck to be chief. Even the conservative shamans epted the will of the heavens and made her chief.


    The dagger forged with meteorite iron doesnt rust, even without grease. Its strength is unparalleled. But to find out that there are people beyond the mountains who forge iron that isparable to one from the heavens


    Belruas eyes were overtaken with exhration, and Urich knew exactly what she was feeling. Adoration and inferiority were the two strongest feelings one felt when facing civilization for the very first time.


    If you save my tribe, I will treat the Red Sand as my brothers for the rest of my life, Urich said to Belrua as he returned her meteorite dagger.


    Belrua got up and put the dagger away. She tapped Urichs chest with her fist, which was unnaturally solid for a woman.


    "The day I saw the meteor fall, I knew my destiny. I saw the path I must take. Within my power, I will help you and your tribe. So do not betray me, Urich."


    Belrua spoke, then returned to the tent. The shamans of the Red Sand Tribe were already gathered.


    The shamans, already informed of the current situation, were in heated discussion. The existence of the world beyond the mountains was debated.


    <em>''Arguing whether something that already exists really exists or not, how ridiculous. But for them, it''s the most important and serious matter in this world.''</em>


    Urich watched the Red Sand shamans as he drank. They red at the man who broke the taboo.


    The Red Sand was a tribe where the chieftain held strong power. The tribe was rtively worldly due to frequent trade and preferred creating things themselves rather than asking the heavens or spirits. The shamans'' influence was weakerpared to other tribes.


    "I have decided. I won''t let our neighbor, the Stone Axe Tribe, fall like this. The constant expansion of the Blue Mist Tribe is a matter that bothers us too. Discussing the world beyond the mountains can wait until they have been taken care of."


    Belrua dered, interrupting the shamans'' discussion.


    "Chief!" A shaman shouted in protest.


    "I said I have already decided."


    Belrua growled lowly, her teeth clenched. The shaman frowned and nodded.


    * * *


    The Blue Mist Tribe was basking in their recent series of victories. Now, they were the most powerful among the tribes at the foothills of the Sky Mountains. The entire tribe was exhrated and was enjoying an unprecedented revival.


    Located by ake that didn''t dry out even in droughts, the Blue Mist Tribe was once peaceful, rarely resorting to plunder. However, with the aggressive warrior Samikan bing the chief, they began conquering neighboring tribes. The warriors, discovering the thrill of looting and conquest, became increasingly ferocious.


    "Samikan, I am always grateful to you."


    A slightly awkward ent was evident in the speech.


    "No, I should be the one thanking you, Arten."


    Samikan responded. There was clear warmth in the tone of his voice.


    Samikan was chatting amiably with a man. The man, who went by the name Arten, was missing one of his legs.


    "I will make you the king of the west."


    Arten boasted as he drank, getting used to the taste of the alcohol he initially disliked.


    "King, huh? That always sounds strange. Just call me a great chief."


    Samikan patted Arten''s shoulder.


    "Is the Red Sand Tribe next?"


    Arten pointed to a leather-made map, something that was never used by a tribe.


    "There are a few tribes we have to deal with first. The Red Sand Tribe won''t be easy."


    "They won''t stand a chance against you and my army."


    Arten smirked. He and Samikan had tasted victory multiple times.


    <em>''Meeting Arten was a stroke of luck in my life,''</em> Samikan thought, raising his ss. Its been two years since he and Arten first met each other.


    "Its only been two years, but it feels like decades. I found you at the foot of the mountains, nearly dead. I didn''t think you''d survive, but you did. It''s impressive, really. Cutting off your own leg to save yourself, what a tough guy you are."


    "That was my only option."


    Arten looked at his right leg which didnt extend past his knee. He had amputated it himself due to frostbite. It was a terrible ordeal, but he managed to survive.


    <em>''I can''t go home with this leg.''</em>


    Crossing the mountains wasn''t an ordinary task. Even those fully able-bodied and supported by the empire found it difficult. Noah Arten, having cut off his leg, knew he could never return to the civilized world.


    <em>''I have to bury my bones here, whether I like it or not.''</em>


    Arten grew to regard Samikan, who saved his life, as a brother.


    <em>''I, Noah Arten, am a knight. Serving my benefactor is also a knights duty.''</em>


    Noah Arten also once headed the Arten family''s expedition team. He didn''t cross the mountains by chance. He regrly exchanged information with his older brother, Fordgal Arten. After Fordgal''s contact ceased three years ago, Noah climbed the mountains along Fordgal''s route to find his body. Though he didn''t find the body, he seeded in crossing the mountains.


    <em>''But the sacrifice was too great.''</em>


    Every single one of his expedition team members had died along the way, and he himself had barely survived, saved by the barbarian Samikan.


    All that was left for Noah was to help Samikan, to whom he owed his life. He used all his knowledge to help Samikan be the chief and taught the barbarians the empire''s strategies and tactics, which was more than enough to help the Blue Mist Tribe overpower other tribes.


    "Bring more alcohol!"


    An exuberant Samikan shouted. A captive ve woman brought more alcohol and food into the tent.


    <em>Cling.</em>


    A ne around the woman''s neck jingled.


    "Oh? That is a pleasant sound."


    Samikan grabbed the woman''s wrist and shoved his hand down her shirt.


    <em>Click.</em>


    Samikan roughly snatched the ne off her neck. She whimpered briefly, touching her reddened neck.


    "Oh, this is beautiful."


    The craftsmanship of the ne was extraordinary. Suddenly, Noah grabbed the ne from Samikan.


    "...This is."


    Noah''s eyes widened. He shivered slightly.


    <em>''This is made by a civilized person. No barbarian could have made this!''</em>


    Noah looked at the woman.


    "You! Which tribe are you from?"


    "S-stone Axe..."


    The woman answered fearfully. The jewelry distributed by Urich asionally made their way around the Stone Axe Tribe.


    Samikan looked puzzled at Noah.


    "Noah, what''s the matter?"


    "Oh, no, it''s just that the craftsmanship is so beautiful like you pointed out."


    Noah answered as he returned the ne, trying to stay calm. The leg he had amputated two years ago was starting to tingle.


    <em>''There is another person who crossed the mountains.''</em>


    The sight of the ne sobered him up. He had resigned himself to dying among the barbarians, but now he saw a glimmer of hope.


    <em>''Is this your guidance, Lou?''</em>


    Noah silently called upon a name he hadn''t uttered in a long time.