WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ SSS-Class Revival Hunter ◈
Chapter 174: My Son is Too Strong (1)
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1.
-That is our proposal, compatriots! What say you?
The Earth Spirit Tribe's Chairman, Uburka, laughed heartily.
-Isn't it a perfect solution?
-.......
-It's so perfect that everyone seems to have lost their words. Ugor. I understand! It's natural for human vision to be narrow, focused on immediate troubles, unable to conceive simple solutions. Be grateful! We have descended to gift you with a fresh solution!
Too fresh, almost raw, it's likely to cause stomach trouble if consumed.
Both the multi-race coalition and the Mountain Snail Tribe looked as if they were chewing wads of plastic trash. A Ghost Tribe commander in the coalition pointed an incredulous finger.
-Crazy, those ignorant mold freaks are at it again....
-That's alright. We deeply understand your pettiness.
Chairman Uburka solemnly nodded.
-No matter how perfect the solution, it's hard to accept it suddenly. It must feel like a defeat, an involuntary submission. Humans hate to lose, more precisely, they hate the feeling of losing. Poor things.
-No....
-So, we'll overwhelmingly defeat you!
Uburka extended his left arm, and an Earth Spirit Tribe warrior approached to offer a spear.
Closing his eyes, Uburka slowly assumed a stance.
-Hmm.
His eyes snapped open.
The muscles in his left arm rippled.
-Huh!
A beam shot forth.
It was a beam of red light, no other way to describe it.
Enveloped in a bloody aura, the spear was launched, no, shot forth.
Koooung!
A spear throw.
Chairman Uburka's posture was as elegant as an Olympian, but the spear's power was anything but elegant. It was savage and destructive. The spear crashed into the coalition's encampment with a thunderous roar.
Soldiers screamed. A dust storm ensued. No one was injured directly by the spear, but the chaos of soldiers tumbling and trampling over each other ensued.
And it didn't end there.
-Huhup!
Uburka picked up another spear and hurled it toward the Mountain Snail Tribe's Slimepolis. It left a red trail across the plain, and kwaaang! The spear struck the wall dead center and buried itself in the thick stone like a screw.
-.......
The dokkaebi commander who was previously gesticulating stood frozen.
-.......
The Mountain Snail Tribe soldiers were also flabbergasted.
-I am, in the 600-year history of the Earth Spirit Tribe, the strongest chairman ever.
Having silenced both armies in a single stroke, Chairman Uburka bared his fangs.
-No Earth Spirit Tribe warrior in history was stronger than I am. Heaven granted me martial talent. My official record is 260 victories in 261 battles, and I have not knelt even once since coming of age. Warriors born into the same age as me, wail! My very existence will make your lives fucked-up.
-Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!
-As you can see, the warriors of the Earth Spirit Tribe are already pretty thoroughly fucked-up!
Uburka folded his arms.
-On the next full moon, representatives from the coalition and the Mountain Snail Tribe should gather here. Come and hold a meeting. We, the Earth Spirit Tribe, will ensure your safety. You can take this as a threat if you like! If you don't gather, I'll launch spears like earlier.
It was not a proposal, but a threat.
-Where my spear will fly next, no one knows. Not me, not you, not even Kekerkker! It might bury itself in your commander's skull, or, Mountain Snail Tribe, it might lodge in your city gate. Oh, compatriots. Please do not drive me into a reckless state. Even I fear my own strength...
Ugor, he hefted his axe onto his shoulder.
-Until the full moon rises, we will continue accepting duels. Unleash your anger as much as you want. If you wish, launch a military assault, as long as you're prepared for the consequences!
Then, a voice from the Tower spoke in my head.
[Seven races feel fear towards a single warrior.]
[The leader of the race you guide has ascended as a new Hegemon!]
[An amazing achievement!]
[You have earned 900 race points.]
[You currently have 900 race points.]
My son has grown too formidable.
2.
We roamed the camp, gathering information. Some of it was useful and some useless, but the rumors we gathered about the Earth Spirit Tribe could be summed up in one phrase:
[World-class crazies].
They appeared that way to my eyes, too.
According to the soldiers' gossip, the Earth Spirit Tribe lived quietly, tucked away, but would emerge out of nowhere during "world crises."
A hundred years after the slaves' great escape, when the Mountain Snail Tribe Empire embarked on a grand conquest, it was the Earth Spirit Tribe that thwarted them.
‘What kind of legendary tribe is this?’
But they were my children.
“That guy, if pushed, might even take us on....”
Viper cast a one-eyed glance toward the Earth Spirit Tribe's camp.
Continuous duels were still happening on the plains. Chairman Uburka hadn't stepped in personally. He just casually watched the duels, arms folded, but his presence was immense. Aura continually surged around him.
"Hey, hey. It's not just a duel. If we're careless, we might be utterly defeated.”
I pointed out the fact.
“Didn't you hear him talk? He’s said to be the strongest in the history of the Earth Spirit Tribe. His martial talent is unprecedented, probably even higher potential than ours.”
“Hey, hey. But we're like their guardians! It'd be embarrassing to get beaten by our own kids!”
“That’s fine, isn’t it? We didn’t become their guardians because we were stronger....”
“You’re calm because they’re your kids!”
Uburka.
Maybe, just maybe, I might end up needing help from this child. Thinking this, I said,
“Anyway, there must be a reason why this stage was chosen at this time. We have to figure out the clear conditions on our own since no quest has appeared.... Likely, one of the six races, excluding the Mountain Snail Tribe, is in danger of decline.”
“Huh.”
Black Dragon Master nodded.
“That's right. My thoughts are similar. One race, or perhaps multiple races, are in danger of collapsing. Like the last stage was about [whether six races collapse or the Mountain Snail Tribe does].”
“Indeed. Each stage seems to risk the downfall of at least one race....”
“Yep. And the hunter governing that race will also fall alongside.”
The Paladin stroked her chin.
“That makes sense. So, which race is closest to collapse now?”
“Certainly not the Mountain Snail Tribe.”
Countess folded her fan.
“The snails already fell in the 32nd-floor stage.”
“The Earth Spirit Tribe is out too. Given their current momentum....”
“No, it's not that, Paladin.”
"Uh?"
The Paladin tilted her head.
“What do you mean?”
“On the contrary, I suspect it's the Earth Spirit Tribe that’s in danger of collapsing."
We all blinked in surprise.
“The Earth Spirit Tribe? Those muscle pigs?”
“Unlikely.”
“Hear me out.”
Countess tapped her fan handle against her palm.
“They'll likely achieve the 'peace negotiation' they desire. Their military strength is formidable, and both the coalition and the Mountain Snail Tribe are too preoccupied with each other to attack them. But? What about after the negotiation?”
Countess’s eyes narrowed.
“Until now, all races would have united against the Mountain Snail Tribe as a common enemy. Unity forms when there's a shared adversary. However, after a forced peace negotiation, the common enemy will inevitably change. Think about it. Who would that be?”
I spoke up.
“...The target shifts from the Mountain Snail Tribe to the Earth Spirit Tribe.”
Frowning, I continued.
“The Earth Spirit Tribe is too powerful. The leaders of each race can't help but feel threatened. They will either disband the alliance and acknowledge the Earth Spirit Tribe's hegemony, or maintain the alliance and engage in a power struggle with them.”
“Oh, that makes sense.”
Countess smiled slightly.
“That's what I think as well. Unless they are incredibly foolish, it's unlikely the alliance will dissolve voluntarily. Probably, they'll conspire in the manner of [The current King of the Earth Spirit Tribe is too strong; let's just wait until he dies].”
“Hmm.”
“Hmm....”
My fellow hunters pondered.
“Right now, the Earth Spirit Tribe is indeed strong. But there's no guarantee they will remain so for the next generation, or the one after that, and so on. Didn’t that muscle pig declare? No one in their history has been stronger than him. Maintaining hegemony is much harder than achieving it.”
Indeed.
I was aware of the fact that [at least one race would fall]. I had read the strategy guide before regressing. Countess had pointed out that the Earth Spirit Tribe might be in danger based on my hint.
‘Yes, this is teamwork.’
We complement each other's thoughts.
Feeling happy inside, I asked candidly.
“What should we do, Master of the Merchant Guild?”
“Simple, King of Death. We must cast a spell to maintain hegemony.”
Countess flashed a feline smile.
“It is obvious that the Earth Spirit Tribe cannot exercise sophisticated political skill. They may be headstrong, but they have a definite direction. Force given direction is no longer violence, but power. Wouldn't someone want to take that power into their own hands?”
“What do you mean?”
“Hehe. Remember how we guild leaders treated you?”
Countess tapped my shoulder with the edge of her fan.
“You were an unprecedented super rookie. We could have feared you, been wary, and excluded you. But what happened?”
I pondered.
“You made use of me. More precisely, you bought the value of my reputation. In exchange for cooperating, I demanded equal treatment from all of you.”
“That's right. It was a win-win. The Earth Spirit Tribe certainly has tremendous power. If the other races see that power as [beneficial to them], the Earth Spirit Tribe won’t face downfall.”
"......."
“Do you get a sense of what to do?”
“Yes."
I nodded my head.
“I certainly do.”
I had taught the Earth Spirit Tribe how to endure the world.
Now, it was time to teach them how to bestow upon the world.
3.
[You have purchased 'Appearance in Dreams'.]
[100 race points will be used!]
[You currently have 800 race points.]
That night.
I immediately used the item and entered the dream of the Earth Spirit Tribe's Chairman, Uburka.
I needed to warn him that the Earth Spirit Tribe might be in danger if the peace negotiation went ahead. They might be acknowledged as hegemonic for now, but they would face a crisis afterward.
-Ugor.
In his dream, Chairman Uburka sat cross-legged in the middle of a mud pond. His posture was as flawless as that of a monk who had eaten temple fare for years.
‘Is he meditating in a dream?’
Treading on Duckweed to Cross Water. No, should this be called Sitting on Duckweed Above Water? Without sinking below the mud pond's surface, Uburka manipulated his aura with exquisite control.
‘A martial talent that would make my master drool...’
As I approached, Chairman Uburka spoke.
-Who is there?
Uburka's eyes were closed. He sensed my presence purely through sensation and aura. Truly the demeanor of a peak expert.
-My muscles are twitching. I sense no malice from you, but something significant.
“Detecting hostility with muscles...?”
-Ugor. It is said, mind and body are one. When a person is angry, the facial muscles twitch first. Emotions pass through muscles and are conveyed by them. Why shouldn't I sense hostility through them?
"......."
What is this guy?
Not only talented in martial arts but also a master at bullshitting?
“Uburka. Uburka. Engrave my words upon your heart. I am Kekerkker, the one your people revere as their Bad Friend.”
-Ho?
For the first time, Uburka opened his eyes.
His bright red pupils pierced through me.
-You claim to be Kerkerkker?
“That’s right. Earth Spirit Tribe Chairman. I am the one who helped your people escape from the jungle and aided you in leaving Slimepolis.”
-Interesting!
The Chairman laughed, Ugor, Ugor.
-According to the tales passed down, the ancient apostle, Gorke, met Kerkerkker in dreams. He got beaten every time. Are you, claiming to be Kerkerkker, here to thrash me?
“No... Uh, kid. You don’t seem the type to get beaten. Honestly, I'm not even sure if I could win in a fight....”
Chairman Uburka furrowed his brow.
-What is this? Why are you backing down? If a duel is not your purpose, why did you come to me?
“I came to warn you that your tribe might be in danger.”
Then I shared Countess's theory. It was plausible, and I agreed with it, so the story flowed smoothly.
-.......
Initially amused by my presence, Chairman Uburka’s expression grew serious as the story progressed.
-So, we might collapse because we are too strong?
“Not collapse, but there is a possibility of decline. No matter how strong you are, you can't handle five or six races alone.”
-Um. Indeed...
“That's why my advice is this. Uburka, don’t forcefully demand peace negotiations. You must give the other races a reason and benefit. I think...”
-Wait.
Chairman Uburka raised his left hand.
-Stop right there.
"Eh?"
-Your lack of malice is clear. My biceps and chest muscles are quiet. If there was even a bit of falsehood in your words, my muscles would have twitched.
What kind of horror is this?
Ego muscles surpassing Ego Sword?
-But, that doesn’t mean I will take your advice. We, I, don’t listen to those weaker than me.
“What?”
-Only those stronger than others can interfere in their affairs.
Chairman Uburka unfolded his legs and stood up gracefully, causing hardly a ripple in the mud pond with his perfect aura control.
-Attack me!
He beckoned with his left index finger.
-If you defeat me, I'll listen to your advice!
Uh.
Stunned by his absurd proposition, I didn’t immediately react, so he stepped onto the water's surface.
-Come at me, or I’ll come to you!
“Wait a second. I'm your guardian, your eternal friend, almost like a father, and you really want to fight me?”
-If you are truly Kekerkker, then you are the man who thrashed Gorke, who was practically your child. A father inevitably receives back what he did to his child. Kekerkker has no grounds to complain even if I beat you!
Insane.
But he’s not wrong?
-Prepare yourself, you bastard who might be my father!
Spouting a spectacularly unfilial line, the muscle pig of the ages swung his fist at me.
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