Pat! The man patted Eugeneâs back with his large hand. In his own way, he was showing affection but his hand was so barbarically large that his light pat was enough to shake Eugeneâs entire body.
âSee you later, buddy,â the man said.
âWho says that Iâm your buddy?â
After balancing his body, Eugene looked sharply at him.
His eyes were somewhat sharp, but he didnât look so threatening. Due to glaring ever since he was a baby, only his eyes looked threatening, and he was objectively handsome, very handsome. A frowning handsome kid wasnât enough to intimidate the man.
That was understandable â the man himself looked very intimidating. Black tattoos covered his brown-colored body. There were also several scars on his face. Therefore, no matter how hard Eugene frowned, it was nothing compared to the manâs smiling face.
It wasnât just this man. Dozens of natives behind the man all had threatening appearances and sizes.
Zoran Tribe â they were one of the biggest tribes in Samar. The man beside Eugene was a young heir of the Zoran Tribe. Judging from his looks, it was hard to believe that he was young; however, the man was surprisingly nineteen years old, the same age as Eugene.
âWe are buddies because we shared the drink.â
âI only drank it because you were hell-bent on making me drink it.â
Grumbling, Eugene turned his head away.
He had met the Zoran Tribe a month ago, not long after leaving the elven sanctuary.
When Eugene was done shooting out lightning using the Thunderbolt bow, he and the elves departed right away. These not-so-intelligent natives were taken aback, because thunder struck the ground like rain. Still, they rushed in for the elvesâ great migration, drooling.
Eugene took out a lot of natives, really a lot. In the beginning, he hadnât been planning on killing them, but he found that he could not go easy on them. If he did not make them fear him, then the number of attackers would only increase, and they would keep coming at him.
This was going to be one hell of a journey.
On the first day of their journey, he took out nearly a hundred natives. The timing for their departure had turned out to be rather terrible. There was a slave market nearby, and many tribal warriors participated in it. For them, chasing and hunting a hundred elves was just a fun after-party.
Eugene expected the ambush to continue all night. To prepare, he discussed with Kristina about using the World Treeâs sapling to put up a barrier and keep an eye on things, and maybe calling for backup.
Evatar, the heir of Zoran, came to visit. Eugene noticed that other tribes were blatantly tiptoeing around Evatar, so instead of blindly attacking, Eugene welcomed Evatar for the time being.
-You. You are strong. [ref]It appears that Evatar is not good with the common language, so these lines were translated directly.[/ref]
After introducing himself and his tribe, Evatar grinned and offered his hand.
- I know what flame you are wearing.
- So what? Are you going to take advantage or something?
-Â If I do so, then I will lose many Zoran warriors.
Evatar didnât seem hostile.
- Those elves, are they your slaves?
-Â No, they arenât.
- Then what are you doing?
- Iâm going to take them out of this fucking forest.
- Where are you taking them?
- To the Lionheart territory.
-Â So if I help you, then I help Lionheart.
Evatar didnât even ask for Eugeneâs permission. When Evatar signaled to his warriors, they planted Zoran flags around the camp.
That was it. The Samar natives were more scared of Zoran than of an outsider who threw flashes of lightning, stirred up a storm, and shot out God knew what.
Evatar and the Zoran warriors became their volunteer guards for a month, throughout the journey across the Samar Rainforest. Just traveling with them was enough to make other tribes not attack anymore.
âI will visit Lionheart someday.â
âI told you this several times, but I havenât asked you to do this,â Eugene replied.
âIt doesnât change the fact that Zoran helped you.â
During their trip, Eugene talked with Evatar about many things.
Samar natives did not like the Kiehl Empire. For them, the Kiehl Empire was just an invader that entered the rainforest without permission, ruined the forest as they pleased, and kept trying to make the forest a part of their land.
Most tribes would think that way, but it was different with the Great Tribes. It wasnât an exaggeration to call the Great Tribes, located deep in the big rainforest, small countries. A tribe of that size usually became involved with various parties, and that applied to the Zoran Tribe, too.
âEugene Lionheart. Even if you donât become the Patriarch, Lionheart will not be able to ignore your presence and power,â Evatar said.
When Eugene had first met Evatar, the latter had reminded Eugene of Molon. They looked nothing alike, but they were both muscular giants and didnât speak the common language very well.
âI want to become your friend for that reason. We are same age and strong. It wonât be bad for you to become friends with me. â
It turned out that they were different, after all. Evatar was smarter than Molon.
âI think you actually benefited, didnât you? If I did not protect you and the elves, you would not have arrived here today.â
âThen would I have died midway?â
âHaha! You are not. You are strong. But. You, Signard, Kristina wouldnât have been able to protect a hundred elves without a scar.â
Evatar guffawed and slapped Eugeneâs back.
âIt will be very difficult. It will take longer to get here and you will become very tired.â
Eugene didnât deny it. It was the undeniable truth that Evatar and Zoran warriors made the journey really comfortable. Without them, Eugeneâs group would have had to stop and shut themselves inside the barrier. If they tried to call for backup, the journey would have become longer, as they would have been forced to travel back and forth.
âIâm not asking you for something materialistic,â Evatar said as he smiled. âSomeday, when I visit the Lionheart mansion. I just hope you will greet me as your guest.â
âThat, I can do.â
Eugene also believed that it was good to make an alliance with Evatar. He wasnât sure if he was going to visit Samar in the future, but there was no harm in becoming friends with the heir of a Grand Tribe.
âI can also understand their situation.â
Helmuth supported the Samar nativesâ freedom. The reason why the Kiehl Empire couldnât just send the army to conquer Samar was that several countries, including Helmuth, were holding the Kiehl Empire in check. As such, there were some tribes that directly made exchanges with the demonfolk in Helmuth.
The most powerful tribe of all was the Kochilla tribe. They were the biggest tribe in the Samar Rainforest and also ruled over several nearby tribes. Considering its size, it would have been natural for many rumors about the Kochilla Tribe to exist, but there werenât any. It was partially due to their land being the backwoods of backwoods, and partially due to the fact that the tribe was excessively secluded. They never participated in the slave market when most tribes did, and apart from the tribes they ruled over, they never made exchanges with anyone.
Eugene didnât think Kochilla or a Helmuth-affiliated tribe was behind Barang, but he had to stay on guard since Helmuth was involved.
He didnât say that aloud in front of Evatar. It wasnât a bad thing to make an alliance with the Zoran Tribe, but Eugene didnât trust Evatar yet. He benefited from Evatar and the Zoran Tribe during their journey, but it was too soon to trust them.
âI donât care about visiting, but donât smuggle yourself in. If you are going to come over, go through the proper channels and send me a letter before you do.â
âI do have common sense,â Evatar guffawed.
* * *
Ancilla Caines, the Lionheart Patriarchâs second wife, started her morning early.
She usually woke up before daybreak, but she did not head out of the room straight away. Although her husband, Gilead, and her lovely children werenât in the main house right now, she wanted to maintain her dignity as the second mistress of the prestigious Lionheart house.
She had to always look perfect. She especially could never show others her shabby face after she woke up. That was why Ancilla began to prepare all by herself, without the servantâs help, right after she woke up.
She took a bath, dried and combed her hair, did her makeup, and chose her outfit for the day. Although she had no plans to go outside and no expected guests either, that did not prevent her from doing her best to appear decent.
After hours of preparation, the sun finally rose. If the Patriarch and her children had been in the house, she would have had breakfast with them. However, there were only Ancilla and Gerhard there right now.
She didnât want to appear hostile, and she made sure she was on good terms with him. Still, eating alone with him⌠was rather awkward. Gerhard also felt the same way, so they rarely shared the same table.
Todayâs morning was just like a usual morning â Gerhard in the annex and Ancilla in the main house.
With a servant accompanying her, Ancilla sat in front of the table and smelled the coffee in her cup. A cup of coffee without a single grain of sugar and a plate of fresh salad were in front of her. The âdignityâ Ancilla pursued included looks. The clean diet and steady exercise were part of her efforts to show dignity as the second wife of the Lionheart Patriarch.
She didnât only value appearance, however. While the Patriarch was away, Ancilla managed all affairs in the main house, particularly the social events.
There were a lot of parties during the New Year. There was a party hosted by Marquess Ragos next week. The invitation said the party was to celebrate the new year, but Ancilla knew that the party was actually about showing off Ragosâs power.
It wasnât rare for nobles to do this. Most high-ranking noblesâ parties were about showing off their power. The nobles kept each other in check by showing off in terms of both party fanciness and guestsâ ranks. They also revised their relationships by checking who refused the invitations and who went to whose party.
âMarquess Ragos and Count Berid are having their parties on the same date. They are being very obvious,â Ancilla snorted.
She received the invitations from both of them. As the most prestigious house in the Kiehl â no, the continent, the Lionheart clan could participate in any party. The hosts were the ones who were fretting about Lionheartâs attendance.
âWhich party shall I attendâŚâ Ancilla joyfully wondered, and turned over the report after checking the guest list.
In this report, there was a lot of information aside from the party. It was about the various rumors regarding Lionheartâs collateral descendants, from who got married and gave birth to children toâŚ
âPuhh.â
Ancilla spat out the fragrant coffee in her mouth. The shocked servant approached, but Ancilla couldnât care about the servant and her dignity as the second wife.
ââŚWhatâs up with this report?!â
Ancilla sprang right up from her seat, shuddering. She went through the coffee-stained report multiple times. Feeling dizzy, she collapsed back onto the chair.
âWhat in the world is up with him⌠what has he done?â
The report also included Eugeneâs whereabouts and status. Yesterday, Eugene had come back through the Kiehl Empireâs south gate.
That alone was enough to astound Ancilla. When had he left Kiehl in the first place? She knew that Eugene had left the Black Lion Knightâs castle. She did not know his exact destination, but she had assumed that it was somewhere in the Kiehl Empire.
However, the report said Eugene had arrived at the Empire through the south gate. South. Samar Rainforest. When? Why Samar?
That wasnât it, either. Right up to the south gate, Eugene had been escorted by the Great Zoran Tribe, one of the most powerful tribes in Samar.
âAnd elves?â
She had no idea why Eugene got involved with the Samarâs barbarians in the first place, but now Eugene had also brought a hundred elves and three trees floating above their heads?
âAnd treeees?!â
Ancilla pinched her thigh, wondering if she was dreaming. It hurt, which meant this wasnât a dream. This unbelievable report was all true.
Eugene had been escorted by Samar natives, leading a hundred elves, with three trees floating above their heads. In front of the public, he had passed through the gate, stayed the night in the southern city, and arrived this morning at the warp gate in the capital CeresâŚ
The report was too ridiculous.
Ancilla belatedly came to her senses and first wiped the coffee on her mouth with the handkerchief.
âThe carriageâŚBring the carriageâŚâ
âLady Ancilla.â
The mansionâs butler hurriedly approached Ancilla.
âWe received a message from the warp gate.â
ââŚWhat messageâŚ?â
âThe warp gate in Ceres is requesting to be connectedâŚâ
âFor whom?!â
âMaster Eugene, my ladyâŚâ
Hunching his shoulder, the butler answered. Ancilla moaned as she held on to her head.
ââŚWhat on earth is with that child?â
âPardonâŚ?â
âI havenât received reports about him heading to Samar, so why is he coming from Samar?â
âUmmâŚâ
âWhat is up with the elves? He didnât just bring one or two elves, but a hundred of them? Where on earth did he bring those elves from in the first place? Of course, Samar! Why did he bring A HUNDRED ELVES FROM SAMAR?!â
ââŚ.â
âWhy did he have trees floating above his head! Why is he doing those things in the open! Why would he volunteer to be a clown!â
âThatâŚIâm not sureâŚâ
âLet them do what they want!â
After yelping, Ancilla collapsed on her seat again.
ââŚPrepare the carriage.â
âAre you going to meet him?â
âThen shall I not meet him? Shall I not connect the warp gate and just ask him to walk?â
Regretting his question, the butler lowered his head without answering.
âHow could he do that? ThatâŚthat basâŚthat boy⌠mischievous boy!â
As she caught her breath, Ancilla clenched her fists.
âOh myâŚâ
After pouring out her anger on the butler, Ancilla gently smiled at Eugene who passed the gate.
âMyâŚthis is unexpected. Are they your friends?â
She was burning up inside. Still, she couldnât show it to Eugene.
Seven years had passed since Eugene had become an adopted son of the main house, and Ancilla had never lost her composure in front of Eugene in all this time.