Chapter 288: Chapter 260

“First, don't rush into things.”

Otto advised Bagram.

“We need to bide our time until the main force of Erzsebet's army arrives.”

“Chwik?”

"We will lure them deep into the Uruk Plains."

"If the Kingdom of Erzebet's forces and the Raging Wolf tribe join forces, wouldn’t that be a big problem? Chwik?"

"We have to factor that in as well."

"…..?"

"Without a doubt."

Otto spoke to Bagram with a tone full of confidence.

"The forces of the Kingdom of Erzsebet and the Raging Wolf Clan will never join forces."

"Is that really true? Chwiik?"

"Of course. I'll make sure of it, so don't worry."

"Got it. Chiik."

"Not a single one of the Kingdom of Erzsebet's forces will return alive."

…but even so, it was only a figurative statement.

Otto is the type who avoids unnecessary killing as much as possible.

The statement that not a single person would return alive meant that they intended to annihilate the Erzsebet Kingdom's army and ultimately force them to surrender.

“Before that.”

Otto changed the subject.

“Let's save your younger sibling first.”

“Chwik?”

Bagram was slightly taken aback when Otto brought up his younger sibling.

For Bagram, his younger brother Turian was his most sore finger and a painful family history.¹

A few years ago.

Bagram had a major falling out with his younger sibling Turian.

Turian was very belligerent and insisted that the Thunderhoof Clan actively conquer other clans.

However, the wise Bagram did not desire war, so he frequently found himself in disagreements with Turian.

Because of his excessively radical younger brother Turian's tendencies, Bagram was constantly troubled.

The problem was that there were also many elders and warriors from other clans who supported Turian.

In the end, Bagram, as the clan chief, expelled several elders and warriors from the clan, including his younger brother Turian.

If he had left them, the radical faction within the clan would have gained power, and there was a risk that it could lead to war.

However, the exiled Turian, the elders, and the warriors did not form their own separate clan.

In fact, it was not uncommon for orcs who were expelled from their clan to join another clan instead of forming a new one.

However, Turian and his group joined not just any clan, but the Raging Wolf Clan.

It was a very shocking event.

The Thunderhoof Clan and the Raging Wolf Clan were bitter rivals, almost enemies since ancient times.

Even though they were exiled, who would have thought they would end up joining the Raging Wolf Clan?

Especially since it included the chief’s younger brother, the elders, and even warriors.

Afterward, the relationship between Bagram and Turian deteriorated to the point where it was impossible for it to get any better, and in recent days they had grown to be enemies.

Turian saw Bagram as a weak Chieftain unfit for the Thunderhoof Clan, who cowardly expelled his own brother.

Bagram considered Turian a traitor to the Clan.

"Chwik? Save my younger sibling? What are you talking about? Chik?"

"He’s probably in danger by now."

“Chwik?”

"Turian’s corruption from the start was because of the demon’s offspring, not his true nature."

“C-Chwik?!"

"Do you remember the elders from the clan who used to associate with Turian? The ones who were expelled along with him."

“Yes. Chwik.”

“They're all children of the devil.”

"…..!"

"The main reason Turian joined the Raging Wolf Clan was because he was deceived by the demon's offspring. While he made his own choices to some extent, the fact remains that Turian’s position in the Raging Wolf Clan is likely very precarious now. The problem, however, doesn’t end there."

“Chwik?”

"Right now, the dominant faction within the Raging Wolf Clan is not made up of pure orcs, but of the demon's offspring. Turian will likely advocate for rooting out the demon's offspring, while those very offspring will accuse Turian of being a spy sent by the Thunderhoof Clan."

Currently, the Raging Wolf Clan was denying to recognize the children of the devil.

Even the Chieftain.

Why?

Because there were so many of the demon's offspring among the leaders of the Raging Wolf Clan.

"Soon, the demon's offspring within the Raging Wolf Clan will try to eliminate Turian."

“Th-That! Chwiik!“

‘Your younger brother, we should save him, right?”

Otto asked Bagram.

“Ch-Chwiik."

Bagram couldn't readily answer.

No matter how much Turian is disliked, a younger sibling is still a younger sibling.

However, joining the Raging Wolf Clan after being expelled was an act that could not be forgiven. Even if Bagram wanted to forgive, he was hesitant because of the disapproval from the clan members.

“What are you hesitating for? This is the perfect time to make a good excuse.”

“Chwik?”

"In reality, Turian was deceived by the children of the demon. He later realized his mistake and had been sending information about the Raging Wolf Clan. If you just cover it up this way, everyone will believe it."

“Ch-Chwik!”

Bagram's eyes widened in surprise at Otto's words.

Come to think of it, that was the case.

Given the current turmoil caused by the children of the demon, it seemed like a good opportunity to provide Turian with a suitable excuse.

"Turian is a pretty decent Orc. Let's save him. He's your younger brother, after all."

"Got it. Chwik."

Bagram decided to follow Otto's advice and chose to save his younger brother, Turian, first.

‘This works out better. Chwik.'

In fact, Bagram was secretly worried about encountering his younger brother Turian on the battlefield.

However, if things turned out this way, not only could he avoid the tragedy of having to fight his brother to the death, but it also seemed possible to restore their relationship.

For Bagram, there was no reason not to save Turian.

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As Otto had predicted, Turian was in crisis.

"…Damn wolves. Chwik. It seems they're going to discard me like a used rag after all. Chwik.”

Excluded from the clan strategy meeting, Turian realized just how drastically his position had deteriorated.

Recently, among the leaders of the Raging Wolf Clan, Turian's opinions were consistently disregarded.

In fact, it even seemed that they were casting suspicious glances and suspecting him of being a spy sent by the Thunderhoof Clan.

“After all I've been through to reach this point. Chwik”

Turian gritted his teeth as he recalled the past few years.

He was from the Thunderhoof Clan and the brother of Chieftain Bagram.

As a result, it was extremely difficult for him to establish his own position within the Raging Wolf Clan.

So, he worked tirelessly to be recognized as a member of the Raging Wolf Clan, and it seemed like he might even secure a seat as an elder at this rate.

But all the hard work of the past few years were starting to go to waste.

With the situation in the Uruk Plains becoming increasingly unstable and the Thunderhoof Clan expanding its power at an alarming rate, he found himself in a difficult position.

In the midst of all this, suggesting the identification of the "demon's children" within the clan only backfired and proved to be even more damaging.

From Turian’s perspective, proposing to identify the "demon's children" was meant as a precautionary measure. However, the clan’s elders reacted angrily, accusing him of being a spy from the Thunderhoof Clan.

It was something that made no sense from a rational standpoint, and Turian felt nothing but unjustly wronged.

However, the chieftain and the elders only considered the notion of the "demon's children" to be false propaganda created by the Thunderhoof Clan.

“Chwik. It seems something is seriously amiss.”

Turian's right-hand man and a warrior from the Thunderhoof Clan, Baruga, came to see him and said.

“No matter what, it seems the Raging Wolf Clan is going to abandon us. Chwik.”

“What do you mean by that? Chwik?”

“Chwik. There’s talk that they plan to completely exclude us Thunderhoof Clan warriors from the war. Chwik.”

“Damn it! Chwik!”

“The movements of the Chieftain’s personal guard are also unusual. Furthermore…”

"…..?"

“The elders who came with us seem suspicious. Chwik.”

Baruga whispered in Turian’s ear.

“I took a chance and mixed a bit of my blood into the beer the elders drink, and I saw their bodies slightly turning blue. Chwik.”

“Chwik! Is that really true? Chwik!”

“I swear it’s true. Chwik.”

“W-Well then. Chwik.”

Turian turned to Baruga, looking as if he'd been hit over the head with a hammer.

“Are you saying that… the elders who were expelled from the clan with us… Chwik… were the ‘demon’s children'?”

“Chwik. Based on the circumstances, it’s highly probable. Perhaps we were deceived by the ‘demon’s children' and betrayed the clan. Chwik.”

“Ch-Chwik.”

Turian wore a look of confusion and disbelief.

“It seems I'll need to confirm this with my own eyes. Chwik."

“I'll arrange a suitable location. Chwik.”

“From now on, no one should be trusted. Chwik.”

“Chwik. Understood.”

A few days later.

“C-Chwik. Unbelievable.

I can't believe it. Chwik."

Turian had completely lost his composure upon confirming that many of the elders and warriors who had left the Thunderhoof Clan with him were indeed the "demon’s children."

To think that the people whom he thought were his allies were actually the children of demons…..

“Chwik! I didn't realize it! Chwik! I fell for their tricks and betrayed my tribe! Chwik! I drove a stake through my brother's heart! Chwik!”

Turian deeply regretted the actions he had taken over the past few years.

Turian was an ambitious orc, but he was by no means a ruthless opportunist devoid of compassion.

He had merely advocated for active conquest to ensure the clan's prosperity, and was not an evil orc.

“What shall we do about this! Chwik! What to do! Chwik!

“First. Chwik.”

Baruga advised Turian.

“Now that it's been revealed that many of the elders and warriors are the ‘demon’s children,' you can no longer stay here. Chwik. The Raging Wolf Clan itself could be crawling with the ‘demon’s children.' Chwik.”

“Chwik. You're right. We need to get out of here first.”

Turian made up his mind to escape and, along with a few warriors, began looking for the right opportunity.

In the midst of this,

‘If I return like this, my brother will never forgive me. Chwik. To be forgiven, I need to accomplish something. Chwik.'

Unable to face his brother Bagram, Turian pondered how he could earn forgiveness, and then a brilliant idea came to him.

‘If I steal the chieftain’s horn and offer it to my brother… maybe I can be forgiven.'

The chieftain of the Raging Wolf Clan possessed a mystical horn, an heirloom passed down through generations of chieftains in the clan.

‘Let’s do it. After all, it’s a gamble. If I’m lucky, I might even assassinate the chieftain.'

Turian resolved to risk his life by assassinating the chieftain of the Raging Wolf Clan and stealing the horn before making his escape.

He believed that this was the only way to atone for his betrayal of the clan and seek forgiveness.

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The next night.

Turian requested a private audience with the chieftain of the Raging Wolf Clan, claiming he had urgent matters to discuss.

Fortunately, the Chieftain of the Raging Wolf Clan accepted Turian’s request, and the meeting took place.

“You're doing well.”

Meanwhile, Otto watched the scene from above.

A dark night skyscape.

The black-scaled Khamak flew undetected at night.

Moreover, since they were flying far away from the Raging Wolf Clan's camp, there was no need to worry about being spotted

By flying high and using his clairvoyance, he could scout from a distance without being detected by the enemy.

‘There is less than a 1 percent chance of a successful assassination, and a 100 percent chance of stealing the horn and escaping.'

Otto accurately predicted Turian’s future.

Turian's failure to assassinate the Chieftain of the Raging Wolf Clan and his subsequent theft and escape with the horn were critical events in Bagram's scenario.

In other words, Otto's advice to Bagram to rescue Turian was not given in vain.

** ** **

TL/N:

1. In South Korea, the association of fingers with family, particularly in the phrase (most sore finger), is rooted in cultural metaphors and idioms. This phrase is used to describe someone who causes the most concern or pain within a family, much like how an injured finger can be particularly bothersome.

Fingers are sensitive and crucial parts of the body, much like family members are essential and deeply connected to one’s life. An injury to a finger can affect daily activities significantly, symbolizing how issues with a family member can impact the entire family.

The “sore finger” metaphor effectively conveys the idea of a family member who is a source of worry or pain.