Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 109: Gathering
The Bloodfang Tribe’s operation was going very smoothly, and the Claw Tribe’s side was the same.
At this moment, Lusha had already led his squad along with a temporarily assembled unit of the Claw Tribe on a hurried march, arriving near the village of the Blackwind Tribe.
The sky was just beginning to lighten.
“Chief!”
A member of the Sinking Sand Tribe leapt down from a tree, ran up to Lusha, and knelt on one knee.
“The Blackwind Tribe has already begun to move. They are gathering their forces inside the village.”
“Still, a few Blackwind tribesmen managed to escape and return.”
The one speaking was a young lizardman standing beside Lusha, arms crossed. He was the new chief of the Claw Tribe—Kes.
Compared to the Sinking Sand Tribe, the Claw Tribe’s lizardmen had emerald-green scales, with claws on both hands and feet that were sharper. Other than that, there weren’t many distinguishing features.
Just like the Sinking Sand Tribe, the Claw Tribe’s old chief had fallen in the war against the Blackwind Tribe, and the young, promising Kes became the new leader.
The difference was that he led his surviving tribesmen to surrender to the Blackwind Tribe.
This was something Kes considered deeply shameful. But he had no choice—it was the important mission the old chief had entrusted to him: to secure a way for the tribe to survive.
The old chief himself had refused to surrender, choosing instead to lead a band of lizard warriors in a desperate fight to the death against the Blackwind Tribe, yet had instructed the next chief to think first of survival for the tribe.
It was truly unfair. The hot-blooded Kes would much rather have died on the battlefield in a desperate struggle with the enemy.
Now, finally, there was a chance for revenge—and of course Kes would not let it slip by.
Of course, the Blackwind Tribe’s oppression was also a catalyst. Among their people, resentment toward the self-proclaimed “superior” Blackwind tribesmen had long been festering.
“It doesn’t matter. It’s only natural the Blackwind Tribe would notice our actions. If the enemy reacted slowly, then what would that make us—who were already defeated by them?”
Lusha shrugged, wearing an expression of calm control. He then turned his head to the tribesman and ordered:
“Keep watching them. If there’s any new movement, return and report to me.”
“Yes!”
That lizardman nimbly climbed back up the tree and leapt swiftly through the branches, vanishing into the distance.
“Seems you’ve already made thorough preparations.”
Kes looked at Lusha with some envy and jealousy.
They were both new chiefs, yet the other appeared calm, steady, and remarkably mature.
By contrast, Kes himself had too many flaws. If not for the elders the old chief had assigned to support him, he likely would’ve long been unable to bear the Blackwind Tribe’s oppression and would’ve led his people in a doomed resistance.
“Mm. If I hadn’t made full preparations, wouldn’t that just harm the whole tribe? I must take responsibility for the Sinking Sand Tribe.”
“Chief!”
From a distance came Xilong’s voice. He hurried over with several Bloodfang tribesmen.
“My squad has completed its mission. I’ve brought the Bloodfang Tribe’s unit to join up.”
“Well done, Xilong.”
Lusha said happily.
“Heh, so you’re the initiator of this operation, the new chief of the Sinking Sand Tribe? So young indeed.”
The Bloodfang Tribe’s chief, Togo, looked at Lusha with some approval.
“Yes, my name is Lusha, son of the late chief Luken.”
“I am Togo, chief of the Bloodfang Tribe, of the same generation as your father. What happened to him is truly regrettable.”
“Don’t forget me—I’m Kes, the new chief of the Claw Tribe.”
Kes chimed in as well.
“Oh?”
Togo looked at Kes in surprise.
“I didn’t expect the Claw Tribe would also… truly regrettable.”
The three tribal chiefs met, exchanged a few polite greetings, and updated one another on their situations. Since being defeated by the Black Wind Tribe, the connections between the tribes had been deliberately severed.
Not long after, Kerman also arrived with the Witchwood Tribe’s forces, and at last, the troops of the four tribes had fully gathered.
“It seems the oppression of the Black Wind Tribe has pressed you all so hard you can barely breathe. I never thought we’d see the day when our four tribes would join forces to stand against them.”
A middle-aged female lizardman beside Kerman walked over with a wooden staff in hand as she spoke.
This was Wuna, the chief of the Witchwood Tribe.
Compared to the Sinking Sand Tribe, the Witchwood lizardmen had pale green scales. They were the smallest in stature among the tribes, weaker in strength but generally faster in speed.
Wuna also carried a special status—she was a priestess.
Priests were lizardmen skilled in using magic. They were extremely rare, showing signs of hereditary bloodline, and most often inherited by females.
In the eyes of the lizardmen, magic was both mysterious and powerful. Because of this, the Black Wind Tribe had gathered all the priests of the defeated tribes into their own village.
The Sinking Sand Tribe’s priest had fallen in battle, like Lusha’s father, leaving behind only a playful child too young to inherit, now staying in the Bianshu town.
Beyond priests, the Black Wind Tribe had also taken away lizardmen skilled as craftsmen, forcing them to work for their benefit.
With most of their artisans gone, the defeated tribes found it even harder to resist—another reason rebellion was so difficult.
The only reason Wuna wasn’t taken away was her position as tribe chief.
In fact, just the year before, the Witchwood Tribe had held a succession ceremony for their new chief, who was meant to be Wuna’s son.
But during the tribal war, both her son and husband were killed on the battlefield. Wuna was forced to become chief and lead her people in surrender.
Her daughter, however—marked to inherit the role of priestess—was seized by the Black Wind Tribe after their surrender. Ever since, Wuna could hardly sleep, consumed by worry for her daughter’s fate.
“At last, we’re all here. Time is short, let’s go inside first.”
Lusha said, raising his hand to indicate a simple tent hidden in the trees nearby.
The four chiefs, each with one clansman accompanying them, entered the cramped tent together—eight in total.
In the center stood a broad wooden stump, its cut surface smoothed flat. On it lay several sheets of paper and a pencil—products recently made in the border town.
Gathering around the stump, Lusha placed a large sheet on top to show the others.
“This is a simple map of the Black Wind Tribe’s village and the surrounding area.”
He then pointed to a cross mark on the map and added.
“This is where we are now.”
None of the others had expected the Sinking Sand Tribe to have already mapped out the Black Wind Tribe’s territory, let alone with such unfamiliar tools that were clearly of human making.
Though surprised, the other chiefs silently leaned in to examine the drawing.
The map showed the Black Wind Tribe’s village backed against a rocky mountain ridge, with vast swamps on either side. Only the front had a gate for entry and exit.
Such terrain made the village easy to defend and hard to attack—one only needed to guard a single front. It was both offensive and defensive by nature.
In the past, storming the Black Wind Tribe head-on would have been nearly impossible, even if the Sinking Sand Tribe allied with the other three.
But now, Lusha spoke with confidence: under such conditions, the Black Wind Tribe had effectively cut off their own retreat.