<h4>Chapter 161</h4>


    Urich continued to learn thenguage of Phergamo. There were other warriors learning thenguage, but they were far behind Urich.


    After a month, he reached a level where, though not fluent, he could at leastmunicate minimally. He had been practically glued to Chikaka all day long.


    Urich''s determination tomunicate with the Phergamo was remarkable. Chikaka admired Urich''s zeal as well.


    "Are you really nning to meet our tribe?"


    Chikaka asked during his archery training.


    The Phergamon warriors had their freedom returned to them. Many were worried, but Urich trusted Chikaka''s abilities. Actually, since that day, the Phergamon warriors had been as quiet as the dead.


    "I want to talk to your tribe leader and, um, borrow your mountain goat warriors."


    Urich''s speech was slow but clear. He enunciated each word, choosing them carefully to deliver precise meaning.


    "You could die. Here, everyone follows my orders, but when we return to the tribe, there are many with more power than me."


    Chikaka opposed Urich''s idea. He knew his tribe well. Phergamo was more exclusionary than any other tribe. As small as their sizes were, they lived in their own world.


    "I haven''t lived by only choosing what won''t kill me. At this point, saying I could die is trivial."


    Urich chuckled.


    "Well, if you''re prepared, we can leave as early as tomorrow. It''s a long journey. If we match your walking speed, it will take a while."


    Chikaka also spoke slowly enough for Urich to understand.


    Urich divided the Stone Axe warriors in half. Half stayed in the vige, and the rest headed to the Phergamo tribe.


    Urich and about fifty warriors set off with the Phergamon warriors. The surviving fourteen Phergamon warriors wore masks and rode their mountain goats. Despite their small size, they appeared fierce and brave.


    <i>''They''ve thought a lot in order to fight against enemies with their small stature.''</i>


    Urich and his warriors quickly followed the Phergamon warriors. Urich urged his warriors on, and they marched hard, even cutting down on sleep.


    "Aren''t we rushing too much? You should conserve your strength."


    Chikaka asked, lifting his mask. Urich suddenly looked west and frowned.


    "Well, I don''t have too much time."


    "What do you mean by that?"


    "We don’t know how soon the enemies are going toe from beyond the ''Sky Mountains''."


    Chikaka was puzzled. The Phergamo Tribe waspletely outside of the mountains'' influence. They didn''t even know of their existence.


    "Hmm."


    Chikaka listened to the description of the Sky Mountains from Urich. A series of huge mountains to the east. A massive wall that humans had never crossed. That wall was about to fall and a developed army wasing westward.


    "I''ve already experienced them once. They are phenomenal warriors. Individually, they might be weaker than us, but together, they are much stronger."


    Urich admired the imperial army as much as he feared them. He had never seen an army as beautiful as the imperial army. They moved as one entity, trained solely for war. The well-trained soldiers executed strategies based on drums, trumpets, and gs. Watching the army move from afar filled him with a natural awe.


    "It doesn''t seem like our tribe''s concern?"


    Chikaka felt no real threat from Urich''s words. The unseen Sky Mountains, and the armying from there, didn’t mean much to him.


    "If they cross the mountains and settle in on our side, they''ll get here in no time."


    "It’s going to be hard to convince the people of my tribe with those words, Urich."


    Urich and Chikaka walked for another fortnight. Despite the forced march, it took that much time. The warriors'' faces dripped with fatigue.


    Chikaka pulled hard on the reins of his mountain goat. He pointed to a canyon between rocky cliffs.


    "After we pass here, we’ll enter our territory. It''s been a while since outsiders came, so everyone will be on guard. If you respond aggressively, you might end up with an arrow in your face. So, no matter what happens, leave everything to me."


    Chikaka advised Urich. Urich ryed the message to the other warriors.


    The bottom of the canyon was chilling. Moss spotted the rocks at the bottom. A damp chill flowed between the split cliffs.


    "They’ve decorated the ce with skulls."


    Further on, poles with skulls hung on both sides of the canyon. There wereplete skeletons and some with just heads. Judging by the size, they weren''t from Phergamo tribespeople but outsiders.


    "It''s a warning."


    Chikaka grinned, showing his teeth.


    After a long walk, the group finally reached the end of the canyon. Urich and the warriors widened their eyes.


    "A forest..."


    A dense forest appeared beyond the canyon. Despite the dry season, the greenery was as alive as ever. Water streaming from the cracks of the canyon flowed toward the forest.


    "Goddammit! These guys had this great of and this whole time!"


    The warriors cursed, heavily mixed with admiration.


    "No wonder they''re so wary of outsiders."


    Urich too gaped at the forest. It was so vast it couldn''t be seen in one nce.


    <i>''If our talks don''t go well, it''ll be hard toe out alive.''</i>


    Chikaka raised his hand, sending four Phergamon warriors ahead to the vige.


    Urich asked various questions as he moved with Chikaka. Chikaka also dismounted from his mountain goat and walked.


    "As you can see, the reason why we insist on going out on human hunts is quite simple."


    "It''s to instill fear so nobody would even think ofing here."


    The warriors of Phergamo didn''t simply enjoy human hunting for its own sake. Whether it was plundering or human hunting, from the perspective of civilized people, these acts were barbaric and evil all the same. However, there were rational reasons and logic behind their actions. Barbarians were not the foolish race that civilized people think they are. They, too, were humans who think and judge rationally, just like civilized people themselves do.


    "Right. If they know there''s goodnd, there will be those who will invade it, even if it means risking their tribe''s fate. It''s all about showing our strength in advance and being proactive."


    The fearsome human-hunting tribe living in the south. Although small in stature, the Phergamons had a way of inting their notoriety. Indeed, tribes close to Phergamo were busy defending themselves, fearing the human hunters.


    "Is all of that your tribe''s vige?"


    Urich''s eyes widened. The fertilend supported a huge poption.


    <i>''This isn''t a vige; it''s a city.''</i>


    Smoke rose here and there in the forest. Instead of tents, there were houses made of wood and mud scattered around. Wherever he went, he saw crowds of small people.


    "They''re all staring at us."


    Urich and the warriors received all of the attention. The Phergamo people gathered around, poking at Urich and the warriors with branches and tossing words.


    "Just blindly ept whatever happens. Don’t act even slightly threateningly."


    Urich once again advised his warriors.


    The people of Phergamo were small, meaning they ate less. The samend supported a muchrger poption, especially theirnd having forests and rivers flowing through them.


    <i>''Just how many are there?''</i>


    Urich couldn''t gauge the size of the vige blended with the forest. At least thousands lived there, maybe even tens of thousands.


    "ording to the legends, there was a great earthquake long ago, one that was strong enough to split thend, and from the crevices of the split rock cliffs, water sprang forth to be a river."


    The people of Phergamo were grateful for theirnd. They were aware of the harsh conditions outside and were content with thend they had.


    "Chikaka, the chief has called for you and the outsider. It would be best to exin the situation well. There''s considerable anger over you bringing an outsider into our vige."


    A warrior, seemingly of the same rank as Chikaka, said to Chikaka. Chikaka nodded and gestured for Urich to follow.


    Urich instructed the warriors to wait. They grumbled after bing a spectacle for the vige people.


    Urich and Chikaka went deeper into the forest.


    "Judging by what I’ve seen so far, bringing me here was a huge decision, Chikaka."


    The Phergamo Tribe was even more closed-off than Urich thought. Not only was Urich''s life in danger, but Chikaka also risked his position and life by bringing Urich into his tribe.


    "The opportunity to connect with the outside is rare. We can''t live in our own small little world forever. Our tribe is strong. We deserve to venture into the outside world."


    Chikaka answered as he removed his mask.


    Urich sensed multiple presences all around him. Masked Phergamon warriors were aiming bows from the trees. Urich, trusting Chikaka, simply looked at them without reacting.


    Not only were there warriors in the trees, but dozens of warriors were also standing in a clearing in the forest, each of them armed.


    "Chikaka, first of all, seeing you return safely brings me joy."


    A man wearing a mountain goat horn mask stepped forward and spoke. He was the chief. A long white beard grew under the mask.


    "I’ve lost many warriors. I''m ready to ept any punishment, chief."


    Chikaka spoke with respect. The Phergamo Tribe had a strict hierarchical society.


    "That was always a possibility. We understand the risks of venturing outside."


    The chief sat down at the base of a tree, resting his chin on his staff. He was of an age to have retired as a warrior, yet he still served as the chief.


    "This man is Urich."


    "I''ve heard the gist of it from the warrior you sent. You survived thanks to the generous kindness bestowed by the enemy."


    "...They treated me as a guest. And this man is a warrior from the far east across the wastnd, different from the tribes we guard against."


    "That doesn’t change the fact that he is an outsider."


    The chief was displeased by Urich''s visit. The sentiment was clearly evident from their brief conversation.


    <i>''They’re even more conservative than I thought.''</i>


    Urich''s goal was to borrow the mountain goat warriors. For the alliancecking cavalry, goat warriors were a necessary military asset.


    "How many warriors do you have here?" Urich suddenly interjected.


    "Do you speak ournguage?"


    The chief''s eyes widened.


    "I studied it really hard. Speak a bit slowly, please. I''m still not very good at either listening or speaking."


    The chief''s guard seemingly softened. It was the first time someone had learned the Phergamonnguage tomunicate with them. It hadn''t been long since Chikaka left. It meant Urich had learned the Phergamonnguage in a short time.


    "This man has been learning ournguage day and night so he could talk to us."


    Chikaka embellished Urich''s efforts. The sincerity oozed from the effort of learning thenguage. No one spits on earnest effort.


    "Then he''s at least worth talking to. Let him recover from the journey... and invite him to the feast."


    The chief said as he turned around.


    Chikaka''s expression brightened. He turned to Urich and nodded.


    Urich''s hands were drenched with sweat. Hot sweat beaded on his muscles.


    <i>''I almost drew my weapons.''</i>


    Fierce murderous intents were pouring in from all directions. Several times, he was tempted to draw his sword and axe to respond. Such was the instinct of a warrior, and being intentionally defenseless in front of other warriors targeting his life was extremely ufortable.


    "Urich, you''ve finally climbed the first step. I have done everything I can."


    Urich nodded slightly and thanked Chikaka.