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Chapter 75: The Great Hunt (1)

The most formidable monster of the Great Plains was none other than the Sand Serpent, the ruler of the Rolling Hills. With a colossal stature three times that of a grown adult and stretching for tens of meters in length, it reigned supreme over the hills.

"Yes," Karyl affirmed, prompting deep sighs from the chiefs. "Unlike the other rulers of dungeons, the Sand Serpent has the ability to fly, which means it doesn’t just hide inside its dungeon but roams the rolling hills."

"..."

"It’s been known to venture beyond the rolling hills to launch attacks on the tribes. Isn\'t that right?"

There was no response.

It must be an undeniable fact. I had heard accounts of this during my previous life, from the survivors of the southern subjugation.

After Olivurn ascended to the throne, the empire gained control of the Great Plains during the southern subjugation. However, the dungeons were never completely eradicated. The resistance from the southern barbarians was fierce, and with the Digon tribe of Milliana putting up a strong fight, even the empire found it burdensome to deploy that many excessive troops.

Even after the revelation of the Oracle, the rolling hills still existed, and the Sand Serpent would occasionally flow over the southern regions.

“Catching the Twin-Headed Eagle was for that reason too, huh? To qualify for the Great Hunt...”

That, too, was something I learned from him.

"You\'re quite well informed."

“Don\'t be so narrow-minded. While it’s true that you survive through dungeons, ultimately, you must clear them to advance toward the central region. The rest of the small fry doesn\'t matter, but the Sand Serpent of the Rolling Hills is different."

"But..."

"Isn\'t that what the Great Hunt is all about? To see who can catch it first. That\'s the method I\'m proposing to you."

A heavy silence fell upon the tent at Karyl\'s words.

What’s with this reaction?

Are the rolling hills that difficult of a place?

Mikhail and Aidan exchanged puzzled glances, seeing the darkening expressions of the chiefs.

However, unlike the two, Karyl seemed to know the reason behind their reactions and spoke with a peculiar expression.

"Are there no brave warriors among the southern tribes? If you fear death, I can go alone."

"Don’t speak so recklessly. As an imperial, you know nothing about the dangers of the rolling hills," a shout came from the crowd.

As if anticipating such pushback, Karyl turned towards the voice and said, "I\'ve heard that the reason the southern tribes haven’t touched the dungeons is not because they can\'t but because they choose not to."

"..."

"...Indeed, the Great Hunt is indeed a time-honored tradition among the southerners, but don’t mistake me for someone who believes in your notions of conquering the central region."

"Of course."

"Such an endeavor cannot be accomplished through individual strength alone, and I fail to see why we should follow your suggestion."

"Or maybe you are just afraid," Karyl spoke to the chief of the Tu Tribe. "Are you afraid that by killing the Serpent and collapsing its dungeon, your source of income will be cut? Or is it maybe because..." His lips curled up in a slight smirk.

Mikhail couldn\'t help but think how arrogantly confident Karyl looked, almost like a mischievous child planning a prank.

"Are you unsure you can penetrate the stronghold in the rolling hills?"

"I am Beikan of the Tu Tribe. I\'ve heard enough from you. Had you come empty-handed, I would have crushed your throat without hesitation. However, since you have brought the head of the Twin-Headed Eagle, as you claimed, you have earned your qualification."

"Hmm." Karyl mused, his gaze fixed on Beikan.

"I will participate in the Great Hunt on behalf of my tribe." A towering figure, much taller and more muscular than the rest, pushed through the crowd and stepped forward. The axe at his waist was old, but its sharpness was evident. He spoke, as if ready to throw it at any moment.

The chief is impressive, but this man is even more so. Is everyone here a monster? If he fights the commander, I wonder how it will turn out... Mikhail, standing by Karyl’s side, gulped nervously as he looked up at the imposing figure.

[So it\'s him. No one knows the lengths you have gone to bring him in.] Allen Javius, flew around Beikan, his arms crossed.

Fwooshh—

All of a sudden, Beikan swung his arm through the empty air.

[Oh dear, what a surprise. What’s with this guy?]

What was even more surprising was that Beikan\'s arm movement was exactly where he had been moments before.

“...Was that? Must be my imagination.”

Allen was taken aback as Beikan muttered to himself. [Did he sense my presence? What a ridiculous guy.]

Be careful. The barbarians are skilled in sorcery. It’s somewhat different from magic, but they possess strong spiritual power. He must have sensed it instinctively. After all, they worship the spirits of Abysmal Rock for that very reason.

[Hmph... Spirits. They’ve long since vanished, and yet they\'re still entangled with such things.]

Well. Some Southerners possess exorcism skills superior to some priests. When the oracle was revealed, the Southerners were the backbone of the exorcist troops.

"Hm."

Allen was taken aback even more after noticing that Beikan had pinpointed his location without even turning his head.

"You have a good build. Are you the chief’s son?"

"No, I’m just a tribesman,” Baikan replied. “The Great Hunt is a glorious achievement for the tribes of the Great Plains. We just don\'t want it sullied by outsiders."

Karyl smirked up at Beikan. Just a tribesman, huh? In my previous life, when the tribes of the Great Plains were absorbed by Digon, you were significant enough to become Milliana\'s right hand.

“Is that so?”

Karyl pointed at the Twin-Headed Eagle\'s head on the ground.

"Do you have any proof of qualification?"

"You...! How rude...!" One of the tribesmen was about to say something but quickly covered his mouth, having realized his mistake.

Beikan unfastened a bracelet from his wrist and dropped it in front of Karyl.

"It’s made from an ogre\'s tooth."

"Hmm." Karyl examined the bracelet and said, "In the central region, there are heroes who tear ogres apart with their bare hands. Are you one of them?"

"Fighting with bare hands when you have good weapons is foolish. When hunting, one must use all their strength."

Karyl handed back the bracelet, responding to Beikan’s answer. "That makes sense."

Then surveying the area he continued. "It seems this man is the only warrior brave enough to participate in the Great Hunt. What about the other tribes?"

[Huh? What are you doing? You came all this way just to get this big guy, didn’t you?] Allen looked at Karyl, puzzled by his expression.

I’m just curious. I may know the future, but I don\'t know everything. There might be talents I\'m unaware of.

[Why look for talents, all of a sudden? That too, here.]

Of course... There are likely far more in the central regions. But my footing there is still low. The Empire, the Principality, the Three Kingdoms, and even Azor have their power structures firmly in place. Karyl thought with a bitter smile on his face.

[Isn’t it the same in the south? Even if they are tribes, they still have chiefs, don’t they?]

It\'s a bit different. If the conditions are right, they must follow tradition, that\'s their duty. Even when I, an outsider, proposed the Great Hunt, they accepted, didn’t they?

[Hmm...]

Compared to the empires, that bite and tear at each other just to change one monarch, there’s a better chance to overturn the hierarchy here, as long as you have the skill, even if you start from the bottom.

[Hmmph, to me, it just seems like the pride of an immigrant.]

Well, you could see it that way.

As Karyl engaged in a lengthy conversation with Allen, he waited for a response from the tribesmen who had been staring at him for an unexpectedly long time.

"We will follow the decision of the Tu Tribe."

"As will we."

"Hmph, they’re still a boring bunch, I see,” Karyl murmured under his breath, almost inaudible, as he looked at the remaining two chiefs.

But, Aidan, the assassin, could faintly catch his voice. It’s odd. It’s as if he already anticipated their reaction.

"Good. Then the rest will be decided between this friend and me here. When would be a good day for the hunt?"

"Anytime."

"I like that you have confidence. I’ll let you know when we\'re ready."

Karyl beckoned the two. As they stepped out of the tent, the tribespeople watched the three people leave, seemingly at a loss for words amidst the unexpected flurry of activity.

***

“Beikan, why did you accept the Great Hunt? Because of those Imperials, we’re now getting involved in such matters...”

“They brought the head of a Twin-Headed Eagle, proving themselves as worthy challengers. It\'s only right for us to respond.”

“But there\'s no proof they actually conquered a dungeon!”

“Then, would you like to fight them?”

“...”

Beikan’s words left everyone in the tent speechless.

“It may actually be a good thing. I’ve always thought that the rolling hills should be conquered eventually. Though the plans for Central expansion came from the mouth of a foolish child, it’s not much different from the preparations we’ve already been making. It\'s only a matter of timing.”

“Hah...” The chief sighed deeply at his words.

“We can\'t keep relying solely on hunting demons forever. Perhaps we can use that child to our advantage.”

“Are you confident?” Tunan, the chief, asked.

Instead of answering, Beikan simply nodded.

Outside the tent, hidden underneath a fabric so thick that no sound could be heard, Karyl, with his arms crossed, leaned against a pillar and chuckled softly.

Yes, just as I expected. The southern barbarians have always had their eyes on the Central region. It\'s just that the empire acted much quicker than they anticipated, and their previous plan failed because the Principality and the Three Kingdoms were conquered too quickly in my previous life. Karyl grinned bitterly.

Their failure was precisely because of Karyl himself. In his previous life, with Karyl backing up the Empire, it had not only overthrown the Principality and the Three Kingdoms but had also expanded into the South.

Knowing the flow of events, Karyl was confident that even a seemingly futile proposal would succeed.

And now, in this life, I find myself on the side of the South... Karyl grinned bitterly again.

[And now I am being dragged into all sorts of troublesome tasks.]

Karyl lifted his head and looked at Allen. What good is being dead if you cannot be of use somewhere?

[This brat...]

Half-immersed in the tent, Allen looked at Karyl with a flabbergasted expression. It was quite the predicament for him, he, who was once a great sorcerer, was now reduced to eavesdropping and relaying the conversations of the barbarians within the tent.

Karyl turned his head, reflecting on the past. It has been a while, indeed...

[You speak as if you miss it, a place that remained unconquered even in your previous life.]

Ah... Well, I do miss it. There’s someone there, who’s very dear to me.

[Hmm?]

Karyl smiled mysteriously, his expression filled with nostalgia.