Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 131: The Return
A few days after the Youm siblings left, Lusha and several of his tribesmen finally returned, bringing back the cannon previously lent to the Sinking Sand Tribe.
Transporting such a heavy cannon had delayed their journey, which was why they were only returning now.
First, the cannon was stored by the northern city walls, and then Owen and Viscount Jarvis listened to Lusha’s report at the rear camp.
Seeing Owen, Lusha respectfully performed a knight’s salute, his movements growing more practiced.
“My lord, I have returned.”
“I’ve been waiting for you,”
Owen said eagerly.
“Lusha, how did the mission go?”
“We won!”
Lusha replied excitedly.
“By uniting the forces of the Bloodfang, Claw, and Witchwood tribes, we successfully captured the Blackwind Tribe’s village. The Blackwind chief also paid with his life. The tribe members who died during the relocation can finally rest in peace.”
After a pause, he added.
“In addition, the Sinking Sand Tribe and the other three tribes have decided to form an alliance to jointly develop the eastern bank of the Wen River.”
Before the mission, the Sinking Sand Tribe had prepared thoroughly, so such a result was inevitable. Owen wasn’t surprised in the slightest.
“That’s wonderful. All the hard training you did every day has finally paid off. Now you can go home and rebuild your village.”
“And it’s thanks to the lord providing the weapons that we had the opportunity to avenge ourselves,”
Lusha said.
The Sinking Sand Tribe had indeed worked hard, but Lusha did not forget the help they had received from Owen.
“Next, the Sinking Sand Tribe should start preparing to return in groups. Do you need me to provide some soldiers as escorts?”
There was no rush to return. The Sinking Sand Tribe was no longer in the urgent situation that had forced them to relocate previously.
“Before we discuss that, I have one more matter to report, my lord.”
Lusha said suddenly, his expression serious.
“Oh?”
Owen stroked his chin, curious.
“What is it? Did something unusual happen during the mission?”
“Indeed, there was an unusual incident.”
Lusha recounted in full how the Blackwind chief, Zar, had seemingly “come back to life,” including how he had almost been killed by him in return.
“How is that possible!”
Viscount Jarvis looked incredulous.
“At such close range, the lead bullet hit his head. The Blackwind chief should have been dead without a doubt.”
“It’s truly baffling, but the Blackwind chief did ‘resurrect,’ and in front of many people.”
Lusha said firmly.
“It was probably some form of magic we’ve never seen before.”
“Magic like that exists?”
Even hearing this, Viscount Jarvis remained skeptical.
“Wait,”
Owen said.
“Rather than ‘resurrection,’ it’s more like a last-ditch surge of power at the moment of death. Even Lusha couldn’t match the Blackwind chief then—but in the end, he still fell, didn’t he?”
“I see. So he expended all the strength he had accumulated in life in one final burst after death.”
After Owen’s explanation, Lusha immediately understood. He thought to himself, no wonder Zar was so strong then. He shouldn’t have confronted him head-on—buying time would have been the correct strategy.
After some contemplation, Owen asked.
“Rusha, what do the lizardmen think about this? Any speculation from the other tribes?”
“Hmm… perhaps it’s related to the Black Dragon King.”
Lusha slowly recounted a theory proposed at their post-battle meeting, also mentioning how the Blackwind elders collectively committed suicide to follow their chief.
“The Black Dragon King…”
Such a formidable name had appeared—the kind of powerful creature Owen absolutely didn’t want to provoke.
Viscount Jarvis beside him also looked grave. Even the Dawnlight Kingdom could do little against the Black Dragon King; a small border town was even less capable.
“Could it be that the Black Dragon King was behind the Blackwind Tribe’s conquest of your other tribes?”
Owen asked.
“We don’t know.”
Lusha shook his head. He was indeed worried; the Black Dragon King was an irresistible force for the demi-human races of the Mystic Forest.
“Haa—”
Owen sighed.
“Well, let’s just take it one step at a time.”
At this point, there was no turning back; regretting it now would be pointless.
Once back at the castle, Owen planned to consult Winston about methods to deal with a dragon—he figured Winston would be very interested in the matter.
This precaution was just in case; honestly, Owen truly didn’t want to come into conflict with the Black Dragon King.
He had originally hoped to quietly develop a small section of the Mystic Forest using the lizardmen, thinking this would avoid attracting the Black Dragon King’s attention. Yet, in the end, it still became entangled with it.
“Next, let’s discuss how to relocate your tribesmen, Lusha.”
Owen said.
Besides this, they also talked about constructing fish ponds and other related matters.
Owen believed that before long, the lizardmen’s gathering area—the eastern bank of the Wen River—would be bustling with activity.
Once the fish ponds were completed, providing a stable and sufficient food source, inter-tribal wars among the lizardmen should no longer erupt.
After the discussions, Lusha had just stepped out of the tent when he saw a group of tribesmen gathered outside. They looked at him expectantly, likely having rushed over upon hearing that their chieftain had returned.
“Go on, announce the good news to your people,”
Owen gently nudged him from behind.
Taking two steps forward, Lusha scanned the crowd and exclaimed excitedly.
“My people, we are victorious! We have defeated the Blackwind Tribe!”
“Yeah!”
“We won!”
The assembled lizardmen erupted in joyous cheers.
An elder standing at the front of the crowd couldn’t hold back tears, sobbing.
“Chief Luken, under your son’s leadership, we can finally return home.”
“Father, can we go home now?”
Among the lizardmen, a child holding a grey, spherical object looked up at a lizard warrior nearby whose arm bore a wound.
“Yes, that’s right,”
his father nodded.
“Yay!”
The lizard child excitedly raised his hands, accidentally tossing the ball.
It was highly elastic; after hitting the ground, it bounced several times before finally rolling to Owen’s feet.
“Huh? What’s this?”
Owen picked up the ball and squeezed it in his hand. It was extremely elastic and had excellent tensile strength.
At that moment, Owen recalled something Winston had mentioned—a type of industrial material.
“My ball…”
The lizard child watched Owen from a distance, hesitant to approach.
His father cautiously stepped forward, stammering.
“Um, my lord… could it be…”
“Oh.”
Owen smiled and handed the ball back.
“Here, this is yours.”
“Thank you, my lord.”
Taking the ball, the child’s father returned to his child and carefully instructed.
“Hold onto your things from now on. Don’t throw them around, understood?”
The lizard child clutched the ball reluctantly and muttered.
“Okay…”
Viscount Jarvis, observing Owen’s actions, whispered.
“Marquis Eisen, what’s up with the child’s toy?”
“This isn’t just a child’s toy,”
Owen said, eyes fixed on the ball in the lizard child’s hands.
“It’s actually a very important raw material.”