Chapter 129

Northguard.

It’s a term for the warriors who protect the northern regions from the frozen tundras of Isgangar.

Of course, not everyone is a combatant. Northguard warriors are but a few while the rest are ordinary people.

Most of the northerners live in tribal groups across various areas of Isgangar, with Lake Fortress, where we have arrived, being the largest of these groups.

Inside Lake Fortress, it was a small world of resilient lives honed amidst the harsh northern winds.

The canyon walls were a mix of ice and rock, and the gigantic ice walls blocked the wind to bring tranquility to the village.

At the arrival of outsiders, the villagers came out of their homes driven by curiosity.

Each member of the tribe wore thick outer garments made from the hides of animals and adorned themselves with necklaces made from animal tusks.

The tents standing on the snowy fields were made from animal hides and sturdy wooden poles, clearly padded thickly to prevent the seepage of ice.

Smoke rose from various spots around the village.

People gathered around bonfires, warming their chilled bodies.

It was a cold but resilient way of life. The scenery of Lake Fortress was a testament to their survival and unyielding spirit.

I wiped my nose and gave a slight wave to a little girl watching me from afar. The girl, not knowing better, tried to wave back before her mother quickly stopped her.

In principle, northerners are self-sufficient. Unless desperate mutants from cramped spaces bring goods from the outside…

There’s practically no interaction with outsiders, hence their somewhat closed-off attitude.

Yet, here the northerners were gathering along the road, entranced by the sight of Asies. Indeed, beauty remains the ultimate talent show.

Just by standing still, she diminished the distance between us.

“Come in. The chief awaits.”

Jorn guided us to the largest tent at the center of Lake Fortress. Inside, an elder woman sat on a pile of animal hides.

“Show respect. This is Chief Darika.”

Chief Darika.

A shaman.

Bone necklaces, a bone-ringed staff, bone earrings, and even a bone hat—she had enough bones to last her even if she lost all her teeth.

But what immediately caught my attention was the bright blue gem hanging in the center of her bone necklace.

Lazurite.

Our reason for coming here.

Even without any processing, it emitted a refreshing blue hue.

‘That valuable item is just hanging around her neck.’

‘As enticing as it may be, perhaps it’s not that simple to just take it.’

“Chief, these are outsiders. They’ve cut our bridge.”

“Cut the bridge??”

Darika exclaimed in disbelief.

She has one peculiar quirk.

“My legs are just fine!?”

She has dementia.

“No, I meant the bridge leading to the other side.”

“The other side?”

“Yes, Chief.”

“Who’s the chief?”

“Darika is.”

Darika widened her eyes and pointed at herself.

“Me?”

“Yes.”

“Chief?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

An endless conversation ensued. I would have given up by now, but Jorn skillfully navigated the situation.

“Darika, a visitor has come.”

“Visitor?”

“Yes.”

Only then did she notice our presence. Darika sprang up with a “puff!” and circled around, staring at us with an intensity that could make one uncomfortable.

“A visitor, huh!”

Jorn signaled me.

I paid respect to Darika.

“Greetings, Chief. I am Karami, a slave merchant.”

“Slave merchant? What is that?”

“One who liberates slaves. It means I’m the world’s most benevolent person.”

“Ooh, that sounds right!”

Jorn glared fiercely and shouted.

“You! Would you dare lie to the chief?”

“Oh, don’t scare people like that. Isn’t that right, Darika?”

“Indeed! Why yell? You scared me!”

“…I apologize.”

Jorn bowed his head under Darika’s scolding, and then eyed me with suspicion.

Honestly, you should think it’s your fault for not realizing Darika’s character despite being right beside her all this time…

“And who’s the woman beside you?”

“This is my slave, Ms. Asies.”

“Huh?”

The people inside the tent murmured and exchanged skeptical glances as they looked at Asies. Their gaze suggested: “Could someone like that really be a slave?”

I understand their thoughts. Asies is unrealistically beautiful, and her appearance would shine even if she wore rags.

“Slave…you say?”

“That’s correct.”

While Jorn still seemed to doubt, he reluctantly let it slide since Asies herself did not deny it.

“What business does a slave merchant have here? Planning to enslave us?”

“Certainly not. I never make people into slaves by force. I always choose legitimate methods.”

“What exactly is your purpose here then?”

I gazed at the Lazurite hanging from Darika’s necklace and spoke.

“I wish to have the blue gem the Chief possesses.”

“What?”

The room erupted in commotion.

Darika covered the Lazurite with both hands, gasping as she took a step back.

“No! It was given to me by my maternal grandmother! Nobody can take it!”

“This gem is a symbol passed down in our tribe, and you are trying to take the tribe’s symbol?”

“Yes. I wish to create an ornament befitting our princess.”

“Just for decoration…?”

Jorn frowned deeply, his hand moving toward his sidearm. He was ready to draw his tomahawk at any moment.

“We have no intention of giving such gems to barbarians like you. You better leave this village right now. Unless you want your skins to adorn our walls.”

Predictable response, as expected.

The reaction was within the scope of our assumptions.

Already, outsiders make them uneasy. Asking for the chief’s symbol and her grandmother’s heirloom upon arrival didn’t help.

I’d prefer to establish goodwill and subtly inquire, but this blasted soul synchronization keeps getting in the way of my plans.

The soul of the slave merchant is recklessly barreling ahead.

But who am I?

A possessor, am I not?

Even in such unexpected situations, there’s a contingency. I was prepared to offer them something they couldn’t refuse for the Lazurite…

“Chief! Look at this! There’s someone hiding in our supplies!”

Until interrupted by a commotion.

“Hmph, I’m a dwarf, too! Let me go!”

“Silence! What makes you think you’re a dwarf?”

“I’m a half-dwarf!”

The soldier dragged in Perka.

“What is Perka doing here?”

“I was hiding… in the luggage… ”

“Excuse me, but… Asies, what is that about? And why didn’t you tell me?”

Now I remember a scream I heard when we fell. I thought it was a hallucination, but it was Perka.

Because of this, the northerners’ suspicion towards us reached its peak.

“Hiding someone? You’re scheming.”

“There seems to be some misunderstanding. She’s a dwarf, correct, and she followed us without our knowledge.”

“I’ve had enough of your cunning tricks. Surrender on your knees. Otherwise, the hostage will die.”

“Kyaaa?!”

The soldier restraining Perka pressed a dagger to her throat.

“Will you… kill her?”

Asies tilted her head in question. She could easily neutralize the soldier before the blade so much as touched Perka’s neck.

But fighting here would lead to irreversible problems.

Plundering the Lazurite by force could serve as a plan, albeit a less-than-ideal one. While acquiring the Lazurite is essential, skipping the process will leave a void.

Asies’ interaction with Northguard would be missing. We’d find shelter from the cold, but the path to complete liberation would remain distant.

It’s best to step back here.

“Oh, I had no idea it was such a cherished object. I understand. We didn’t come here to fight, so we shall withdraw. May we retrieve our luggage and companion?”

“Will you let those who came to steal jewels go?”

“Wouldn’t we risk injuring valuable tribe members in a battle in the heart of the village? And it’s uncertain if you have a detention center capable of subduing my slave.”

“That’s…”

“I am offering you the most peaceful resolution possible.”

Yorn shut his mouth, having hit the nail on the head. He gave a signal to one of his subordinates who then went outside, returning with our luggage and the frozen Hargran.

“We’ll hold the hostage until you’ve distanced yourselves from the village.”

***

We were escorted out of the canyon by Northguard’s sentries.

Perka followed from a distance, still under the threat of death.

Once the guards decided we were far enough, they released Perka, who hastily ran toward us.

Our eyes met, and she instinctively bowed her head in apology.

“I’m… I’m sorry…”

“Why did you follow us?”

“It looked really fun…”

“Without permission, it seems. Thorvar must be worried.”

“My father worrying about me? Never. That man only thinks about hammering.”

Perka chuckled, heedlessly.

I should have known better than to grant her freedom.

“But what do we do now? We’ve been chased out by the northerners, so getting the jewel seems impossible, right?”

“That’s true, thanks to someone…”

“Ha ha… But Lazurite isn’t only here. If we search well, there might be another one in the world, right?”

Of course, there are more available, and you can even buy them.

However, it is necessary not to miss any interaction between Northguard and Asies. It has to be Darika’s Lazurite, no matter what.

“Let’s establish ourselves near Lake Fortress.”

“Here? Wouldn’t the northerners be upset?”

“They told us to leave the canyon, but they didn’t say we couldn’t stay near here, did they?”

There’s no need for complete defeat.

“But what about Mr. Hargran? What will you do? Is he still alive?”

“Of course, he’s alive. We’ll thaw him later. Waking him now would only create chaos. He will thaw naturally in time; let’s leave him alone until then. Now, let’s get to work. It will get colder at night.”

The dwarves lit a fire and started hammering away skillfully, pitching a tent in no time. By the time the sun set, a decent campsite was set up near the canyon.

After entering the tent to warm ourselves by the fire, Perka questioned me.

“Hey, Miss Karami, do you still truly intend to negotiate with them? I’m not one to judge, but it’s not going to be easy.”

“Indeed.”

I looked toward the watchtower on the plateau.

They must have spotted us setting up camp and lighting a fire. The problem is that thanks to Perka’s antics and Karami’s unintentional honesty, their suspicion has risen sharply.

My initial plan was to hunt down some wild animals and offer their high-quality meat and hides as gifts to build goodwill.

But with this escalation, it would take more than that to improve relations.

The story needs to get back on track.

A situation calls for a pinch of MSG.

‘That’s why I have an item, specifically for moments like this.’

I held out my hand toward Perka and Asies.

“Alright, both of you. Take a look. As you can see, there is nothing in my hands.”

“…?”

“Now, what happens when I clench and open my fist?”

An empty hand revealed a single die.

“Ta-da~ and the die appears!”

“Ooh! Is it magic?”

“Call it sleight of hand.”

“Magic! Karami, I didn’t know you could do that! But why a die all of a sudden?”

“This isn’t just any die; it’s very special.”

A die with a pink base.

A d20, to be precise.

Each side glowed with luminous golden and blue numerals.

“This is a die capable of defying fate.”

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