Erin was really exhausted that it was two days later before her consciousness came back.
During the time, I was outside with Avelin maintaining high alert for a possible tracking team looking for Erin.
Because of that state, even the tribesmen were starting to get restless that Avelin was having a hard time to calm them down. I helped her with it and it was a bit effective.
I was already a known face around here. The Chieftain's Punching Bag, they called me.
I don't mind the nickname. I was really her punching bag during my time here, but the sparring session pulled us closer together. I got to know her and her circumstances
She will often seek comfort from me. Being the Chieftain is weighing on her that it's starting to affect her progress in Physique Cultivation.
She's already close to the Augmented Realm. She only needed to condense Brute Energy and create her own Augmented Skill for her to breakthrough.
This is a small tribe, a manual is out of her reach.
And it's always better to create your own than copy someone else's skill.
Avelin has the talent to do it. Like Zerina, she's probably a main character of this world as well. Even if I didn't come here, she will find a way to live on and through that, grow stronger.
Her tribe became her shackles but it's also her motivation. Either they live or they die, it will push her to grow stronger.
For their betterment, she's working her ass off. But the current situation where a stronger enemy might attack them is weighing down on her.
"Erin!"
I called out when I saw her opening her eyes.
She immediately put on an annoyed expression.
"Stop shouting, you idiot. When did you become so loud?"
She raised her body up and looked around.
"Where am I and why are you here?"
She looked at what she's wearing and found herself naked under the blanket made from a wild beast's fur.
"You, did you take advantage of me while I was out cold?!"
With her face beet red, she confronted me.
"As if! You'll kill me if I do. And I'm not the one who stripped you down."
At this time, Avelin entered her tent and came to my rescue.
Erin finally calmed down after she explained what happened but her glare at me only abated slightly.
"I see. I remember. I infiltrated their camp but I was sniffed by a wild beast with the strength of a Saint Realm expert."
Eh? Then how did she come out of there alive?
"Saint Realm…"
Avelin muttered in horror and unconsciously, she gripped the hem of my sleeves.
Erin then retold the story of how she spent those days running away. It turned out she spent two days in an underground cavern she found to wait out the enemies that were tracking her.
They already gave up on chasing after her that's why no enemies came from the two days where we're on high alert.
Though proven to be a waste of time, it doesn't hurt to be that cautious
She made a wise decision to immediately run away when she was detected.
She only caught a glimpse of the terrifying figure for her that's leading that camp. She described it as a strange place. A place with structures she didn't recognize were erected.
Those from the Invading World already have bases all around here. Like I expected they're now encroaching this world slowly.
Maybe something will happen during that war Raiden is partaking currently.
We let Erin rest for a bit before I disturb her again to become the witness and to support what I will say to Avelin.
Now we're back at her tent, Erin is lying somewhere uninterested in what will happen. I can hear her clicking her tongue occasionally.
She's probably irritated that Avelin and I are just staring at each for a few minutes now.
Err... I don't know where to start and seeing her expecting gaze, I became tongue-tied.
"Err… Like I said before. Avelin, come with me to the Heavenly Lightning Tribe."
Avelin looked at Erin and upon seeing her not reacting to what I said, she turned back to me and nodded.
"So, your words really have weight."
"Because I'm someone from the same world as the Lightning Chieftain. He refers to me as a friend."
She was surprised and became speechless. She once again looked at Erin and saw her clicking her tongue.
"That guy is a monster like the Chieftain. Ask him what realm he's in right now."
Eh? Did she feel the change in me?
Avelin turned back with a questioning gaze.
"I now only need a day to reach the 5th Stage Mortal Realm."
"How?!"
Avelin blurted out. I'm with her for almost a week now. Though she noticed my growing strength, she only interpreted it as me getting accustomed to sparring with her.
"Huh?!"
Erin also shouted. This girl. I thought you already expected this.
"I have my means but that doesn't mean I will be as strong as the Chieftain easily."
I humbly declared. No matter what I do, it will be revealed how strong I am to those higher in realm than me. Unless I have the means to mask my realm, lying about my progress is futile.
"Don't joke with me, you monster. Avelin, would you believe me if I told you that it's not even 10 days since he arrived in this world?"
"Eh? Is that true?"
"Y-yes…"
"Then I'll believe you! Take us with you. Take me, if you want me to bear your child, I will happily do it!"
"Hey, wait. That last sentence of you can be put off for now."
It's not that I'm not happy from that but yeah, Yuko first. And what's with their thought processes? Why did they always arrive at bearing a child?
This girl already grew close to me and I couldn't deny that I slowly grew fond of her. Accompanying her each day, we're almost always together.
"Why? My tribesmen are already asking when we will start cohabitating."
"Huh? Why didn't I hear about that?
"This monster. So this is your real aim? To get a woman for yourself. Did you do that because you can't get me to like you?"
"Oi. You know the reason why I'm here."
"I understand. Erin also wants your child."
Don't jump off to conclusions!
Barbarian women are kind of scary.
Anyway, things calmed down after that. I did my best to calm the situation down but yeah, they're both next to me now.
"So what's this about a pledge?"
Erin asked me.
Pledge or oath doesn't exist here or no one tried it before. They all decide it with strength anyway.
"It will only be between us. Erin, we don't need to pledge with each other."
"Why is she special and I'm not? I'm even stronger than the two of you."
Why does it feel like she just doesn't want to lose out?
"That's not the issue here, this girl."
I turned to face Avelin after shutting down Erin.
"So. I will pledge to give this necklace to you and you will pledge to bring us into the Heavenly Lightning Tribe?"
Avelin raised the necklace. She only treats that as a good luck charm.
"Yes. But Avelin, I don't want to lie to you. That necklace, it's somewhat special."
I want her to trust me so I shouldn't lie. Well, my growing fondness of her played a big part. This girl will grow to something special, like Zerina.
"What do you mean?"
"Can you give it to me for a minute?"
She didn't think twice. She took it off and handed the orb necklace to me.
This girl… She already trusts me this much.
And like I thought, at the moment I touched the orb my Adaptability already kicked in and understood the use of this orb.
It uses Brute Energy to boost one's prowess temporarily. Just like how it energized Avelin back then. That yellowish aura is called Aura of Enhancement.
The same as how I used the Orb of Concealment, I gathered Brute Energy to activate the orb and as expected, a system message rang out inside my mind and a yellowish aura enveloped not only me but the three of us.
[Used Orb of Enhancement(?)]
[Enhancement Aura buff activated]
[Time Remaining: 9 minutes 59 seconds]
[Cooldown Timer: 19 minutes 59 seconds]
[Gained 10 Strength, 10 Endurance from the Aura.]
I see. It's a small enhancement but still, this confirmed that it's almost the same as the Orb of Concealment just that this one is enhancing our stats. And for me, 10 stats is not small. At least right now it isn't.
It also relies on Brute Energy but when it activated that night, it only made Avelin energized. Compared to me who can control the inherent energy of this world, I can use it to maximum power while others can only activate a part of it.
But these orbs…
They're support items, aren't they?
This fate of being a support. It follows me. Even the somewhat cheat-like items I'm collecting are for supporting.
"Eh? What's this? I feel a little stronger."
"The necklace…"
Erin felt the change in her strength while Avelin stared at her necklace. She's not aware of how special it is.
"See? This necklace is special."
"But how did you know?"
"Because I got something like this from another world."
I took out the Orb of Concealment and showed it to them.
"It really is almost the same…"
"Right. So Avelin, I want this Orb in exchange, I will take you all back to Heavenly Lightning Tribe."
"If you wear it on your neck then okay… I don't know how to use that. Seeing you wearing it feels like I'm with you."
Her blush couldn't be ignored now. And the way she looks at me…
Err... This girl. Her affection points are already maxed out. But she doesn't have any idea that she already likes me. The concept is foreign for her.
She interpreted it as her wanting to bear my child. In essence, that's the same but without confirming it, if I leave this world, another guy might take his chances on her.
And I don't want that to happen.
Haa. I'm sorry Yuko. I picked up another. I'm already fond of this innocent barbarian.
About Erin. I still don't know, we'll see about that, she's a bit crude but she's straightforward about what she wanted.
Looks like I'm only fated with Avelin but Erin now came as a plus.
What is fate anyway?
I'm a Support, damn it! Why does it look like I'm building a Harem Army?
Ah. I couldn't resist the urge to curse.
Eventually, the pledge words we will use were decided. I tried hard not to make a loophole like before.
Upon uttering both of our Pledges, a system message rang out once again.
[Ding! Made a pledge towards Avelin of Whiteshade Tribe. Failure to comply will incur punishment from 'The World' which will range from shaving Experience points up to taking away the bestowed System depending on the circumstances.]
[Ongoing Pledge: 1]
[Completed Pledge: 1]
[Notice: System is disconnected to 'The World', changed to 'World's Will' of the World of Barbarian. The punishment will change from shaving Experience points to a Heavenly Lightning that will shave away Physique Cultivation progress.]
World's Will…
That's probably the real nature of 'The World', and since I'm not in the World of System, the system redirected it to the same existence as 'The World'.
At the same time, a loud rumbling of thunder was heard on top of us.
It startled not only us but also all of the tribesmen.
"I feel like if I violated what I just pledged, a bolt of lightning will strike me."
Avelin muttered as she shivered from that thought.
Right. She doesn't have a system so she's not clear on what the pledge entails.
"Don't worry, by giving me the necklace, you will immediately complete your pledge."
"Really? Then here, take it and wear it Daisuke."
She handed me the necklace like I told her.
She wanted more assurance but I made sure to choose the right words so when she handed me the necklace just now, her pledge was completed.
"Yes. Now, it's my pledge that was yet to be completed. We should prepare to depart now. Tomorrow we'll go back to the Heavenly Lightning Tribe."
"You're right, I felt something was lifted from me. I'll go and instruct them to prepare."
Overjoyed by the realization, she darted out of the tent. We set the departure for tomorrow so she wanted to inform her tribesmen.
"You. Make a pledge with me as well."
Erin declared when Avelin left the tent.
"What do you want to pledge?"
"That you'll let me bear your child in the future. When your strength surpassed the Chieftain."
This girl, why is she hung up on that?
"Oi. Stop joking. You don't need a pledge for that and I don't know if I can surpass him. Shouldn't you just go with your original plan?"
"He's a bit scary, you're different from him."
"Let's talk about this again in 2 years okay."
"2 years? Alright."
Oh. She accepted it easily. Then this is good. She won't bug me for a pledge and to bear my child again.
Haa. It's exhausting to deal with barbarian women. From the innocent Avelin to this straightforward Erin.
I will reach the 5th stage tomorrow, the next step will be to condense Brute Energy and create an Augmented Skill.
Let's see if I can pass it easily this time. Since it only requires taking in condensed Brute Energy the only problem is the Augmented Skill.
I'll do it along the way or when we arrive back at the tribe.