Four days passed by after that night. We were welcomed by the whole tribe with Avelin as the lead.
It's a small tribe of 30 barbarians. Well, their numbers were larger than this before those Dark Beastmasters started harassing them.
Yes. Harassing. It came from the mouth of that beastmaster Erin caught.
They're only harassing the tribe to kill their boredom.
At first, he was adamant about not saying anything but Erin got her way. To see himself slowly lose a chunk of meat every wrong answer he uttered, he succumbed to telling the truth in the end.
He's just one of the lowest grunt among the Invading Forces. Like the Dark Soldier grunts that we encountered inside the Westcolt's manor.
Because of the lack of activity, he and a few others gathered those wild beasts they tamed to harass the Whiteshade tribe.
Erin couldn't believe him at first but then he showed her his identification. It's a badge corresponding to his rank. A 1-star Beastmaster. He said that he's under a 3-star Beastmaster and that superior of his can tame a wild beast at the level of Saint Realm. But that's not all, his superior is also just an underling of a 4-star Beastmaster which is as strong as King Realm and he can tame a wild beast at the same level. That's a threshold of being a large tribe Chieftain.
When Avelin heard that, she got more fearful for her tribe.
They were close to being defeated by them and now she discovered they're just killing off boredom.
Erin killed that guy after we squeezed out most of the information he can give.
He also revealed that their taming magic only works on beasts. A barbarian will just go insane if it was used on him.
She's still not entirely convinced so she decided that she will scout the place that beastmaster revealed to confirm.
Now it's already four days since she left to scout.
That night I leveled up my Basic Sword Mastery to 3. I still don't feel a lot of change from it, apart from my footwork while using a sword became a bit precise. I wouldn't trip or twist my ankles from dodging, deflecting or rushing in with a sword in hand.
And just like I thought, helping Avelin gave me a lot of experience for my system. Now, it sat at 87%. A little more and my system will level up.
"Daisuke. Can she be possibly caught by them?"
Avelin worriedly asked.
I'm at her tent right now. This woman has been restless since that day. She asked me to accompany her when I'm free to not worry her tribesmen.
"Relax. She has her Augmented Skill."
I assured her. But really I'm also starting to get worried.
That woman was too headstrong, what if she infiltrated their camp and got caught in the process?
Ah. Let's not be pessimistic.
"You're right. Instead of worrying. What should I do?"
"Sleep? Stop worrying your tribesmen. I am here as assurance but they're not blind. You should take a rest."
How did she manage to become a Chieftain if she's like this?
Ah. Right. It's the strongest who gets the right to become the Chieftain.
During my four days here, I also don't slack off. I managed to breakthrough to 4th Stage Mortal Realm but reaching 5th Stage still needs at least three more days even if I spend all the time nourishing myself with Brute Energy.
When I revealed that I'm just a 3rd Stage Mortal Realm, this woman couldn't believe it. She interpreted my Air Bullet and Flash Step as some kind of Augmented Skill. But when I asked her for a spar, she found out that she's stronger than me.
After that, I spent the time living here, knowing everyone from her tribe while waiting for Erin or a possible retaliation of a new group of beastmasters.
I will also spar with Avelin, it raised my Basic Sword Mastery to level 5. Now I can finally hold myself against her greataxe and not get blown away all the time through dodging and rolling away.
"I can't sleep. You two will leave soon. What will happen to us if a stronger team appeared? We'll die without any strength to fight."
She held her greataxe tightly with her trembling hand. She's the strongest but even with that, she's helpless against an Augmented Realm.
"Why don't you join a larger tribe?"
Upon hearing my question, she looked down.
"If we do, we'll be separated. And being a subordinate of the Heavenly Lightning Tribe is better. We gained protection from other tribes."
I see. Because of the umbrella that is the Heavenly Lightning Tribe, they are protected from other tribes that might be hostile to them.
"Then why don't you move your tribe further in?"
"That's not possible. We'll earn animosity from the surrounding tribes if we move in next to them. Even the name of a large tribe will prove to be insufficient from their wrath."
If they move in, they will become a competition for the resources in that area.
This is proving to be a headache. I can't help them even if I want to.
These barbarians are living an honest life of hunting wild beasts here but since they're at this place where those from Invading World can reach easily, their lives are now threatened.
"Come with me Avelin."
I blurted out in the end.
If possible, I want to acquire that Orb. I can't ask to see it again or she might get suspicious but if she can offer it to me…
"Huh?"
Confused by my words, she turned to look at me.
I'm just a Mortal Realm from a large tribe, of course, she will think I have a low position. I never mentioned how I'm from the same world as the Lightning Chieftain.
"I'll bring your tribe with me. But I have a condition."
The condition is to pledge with me. I don't know if it will work in this world but it's worth a try.
When I checked the Pledge Bonus tab again, I noticed that I could open Zerina's status through it. Right now, she's already a Great Knight.
That pledge became my connection to her. What Yuko said about Zerina being connected to me is gradually becoming true.
And now, if Avelin pledged with me and the same thing happened. That will mean, the Orbs in their possession may mean something like it was waiting for me. Not just the Orb but also the person herself.
I can't draw a conclusion yet but it's enough to create a theory. Those orbs have some secret in them.
"Wait here, Daisuke. It's not that I'm doubting you but do you have the power to do that? I'm even stronger than you."
She showed me the right reaction. They always value strength here in this world. There's no way she can easily believe someone weaker than her.
"You'll know when Erin comes back."
"Why can't you tell me now?"
"Will you believe the words of someone weaker than you?"
"If it's you, I guess I can. You're growing stronger even faster than me."
Eh? What's with this woman? No. Even if she says that she still won't believe what I will say.
"No, you will still have apprehension. I'm just a grunt sent here, right?"
"If you say so. I don't know why but you seem to be different from us."
From her seat, she drew her face closer and stared at me, scrutinizing my appearance.
"How different?"
Ah. Right. Even if we all look like a human, there must be a difference and yeah, the first eye-catching difference between us is our skin color. I'm on the whiter side.
Well, there are also whiter barbarians but they're mostly found in the north where the climate is colder.
"Your eyes. It's not filled with the savagery that barbarians have."
Ah. It's that, eh? My eyes are mostly calm because of my ability, adapting easily to situations won't let me easily panic. Even when on the battlefield.
Raiden couldn't hide his bloodlust that's why Erin talked about him more barbaric than barbarians themselves.
"I never thought you'll have a good eye."
"Because I've been looking at you since that night."
Eh? What's with this development? In any case, this woman, her eyes are too pure.
She's so close to me that I can smell her breath she exhales.
"Why?"
"I don't know it myself but I am being drawn to your presence."
Her eyes. Yes, it's really pure. There's no hint of anything else but that curiosity towards me.
"Eh? But I didn't do anything?"
"You're right. This is strange. When you told me just now to come with you, a part of me became overjoyed."
Now I can't avert my gaze from her. This really feels like the time with Zerina. It's a different situation but the atmosphere is the same.
"Don't tell me… have you come to like me?"
"Like? What's that? Do you mean me wanting to mate with you?"
"Uh. Something like that."
"I don't know. I never thought of that."
Ah. Then it isn't that. She's really just curious.
"Do you never think of having a child?"
"I did but I want to have it with someone stronger than me."
Like Erin, she also wanted to sire a child from someone stronger. Well. That's just probably how it is here. I don't even know if they have the concept of love and marriage. But maybe there is, otherwise they would all be stronger now if it's always the strong mating with the strong. This girl and Erin are just too innocent or they never fell in love with someone before.
All their life was just filled with fighting, killing and surviving.
"Right. There's no way you will like me without reason."
Avelin showed a confused look at what I said.
It was at this moment when someone entered her tent. A barbarian came in to report.
"Sorry to intrude Chieftain, but the Augmented Realm expert came back."
"Erin?!"
We both stood up and rushed out of the tent.
"Oi. Daisuke. What's with that worried look?"
Erin smirked upon seeing me. She had bruises all over and her knees were already about to give up.
Avelin rushed towards her before me catching Erin in her arms.
I then followed after her, Erin was exhausted. It looked like she didn't get enough rest during the four days she was away.
"What happened to you?"
I asked her before her consciousness gave out.
"It's true. What the guy said."
Upon uttering those words, she fainted.
I already know that it's true but this girl risked her life to verify it. Well, they wouldn't be convinced without evidence.
"Call back the hunting team and stay on high alert!"
Avelin passed Erin to me before she ordered her tribesmen.
Even if she's pure, her swift decision is admirable. Erin was probably chased by the enemy, there's a chance that they will track her here.
And this time, it won't be just a small fry below Augmented Realm in strength.
I can take Erin away now but I don't want to give up on that orb. I'll convince Avelin again when Erin wakes up.
I also have to go back to see the ongoing war and re-evaluate the situation in this world. There's a possibility that the camp Erin found isn't the only one.