The Floating Castle

“W-what promise?”

When Mati tried to deny, Pernok spoke firmly.

“You said if I crossed that sea, you’d enter under me. Wasn’t it?”

“…!”

“The weight of a promise made on this horn is never light.”

Mati’s eyes wavered.

“H-how did you come?”

Pernok pointed upward with his finger.

Only then looking at the shadowed sky, Mati widened both eyes.

“What is that!”

“It’s called a floating castle.”

“A castle floats?”

“You said anything was fine as long as I crossed the sea. So I flew.”

“…Huh!”

Pernok threw the horn to Mati.

Mati who caught the horn awkwardly had roughly shaking eyes.

To him with an unbelieving expression, Pernok spoke firmly.

“Gather all Horn Tribe members. We’ll become one family, so we must at least become acquainted.”

“W-wait! I’m not chief yet! The first promise was also about cooperating to ‘persuade’ the chief! Give me time!”

“Seems you’re mistaken, but I didn’t come here to seek permission.”

Pernok’s voice was gentle but the force contained in the tone was heavy.

Mati felt his heart being squeezed.

Though unknowingly gripping his weapon tightly, he couldn’t rashly step forward.

Because the appearance of just smiling Pernok looked massively large like a great mountain.

“I’ll deliver the words, so you just help from the side.”

When Pernok stomped the ground again, new stone pillars shot up like awls.

As ice crystals bloomed like flowers on sharp tips, chilling mana began circling around.

Mati gulped dry saliva.

He couldn’t even imagine what carnage would unfold the moment those flowers fully bloomed.

“Don’t make things difficult. I don’t want to rule harshly from the start people who’ll enter under me.”

It was the moment Pernok’s mana seeped into the flowers.

Thud thud thud!

Something accompanied by rough cries like a giant stamping the ground smashed through the pillars.

“Chief!”

The moment Mati saw the giant Horn Tribe member, he paled.

That person had four full horns.

His 7m-tall body was full of scars and his mane was as stiff as iron.

Holding iron clubs coated in both hands, each time he swung, rock chunks easily crumbled.

Mati’s father and the Horn Tribe’s chief ruling this island.

‘If easily smashing level-6 earth magic, physical abilities alone match level-7 mages.’

Powerful mana was dispersed throughout his body.

A coveted talent who’d grow dramatically if taught methods to strengthen the body with mana like Mana Reinforcement.

“Mooooo!”

Even when Mati shouted something, the chief showed no sign of stopping.

Looking alternately at Mati’s cut horn and Pernok’s appearance, his eyes rolled back as he charged while smashing everything.

‘Definitely many good materials.’

Including hesitating Horn Tribe over there, countless talents who’d rapidly grow in short time just by teaching mana utilization methods.

‘Worth coming.’

Mati will keep his promise.

But he expected Mati couldn’t easily make decisions since his status was still merely heir.

‘Now with this, Horn Tribe is mine.’

So he pressed Mati.

So other Horn Tribe would urgently jump in, occupying advantageous positions in negotiations.

Crackle!

When Pernok wiggled his finger, flowers atop awls bloomed fully.

Ice-handling level-7 mage’s freezing magic from one of the Dark Squad’s Five Stars.

The moment scattered petals touched, they froze targets.

“Mooooo!”

Though the chief’s arms and legs froze white, he charged fiercely without caring about tearing flesh.

‘Regeneration?’

New flesh grew again where flesh fell away.

Uncontrolled mana moved on its own, activating his healing power.

If growing such a person, how splendidly would he rampage on battlefields?

“I like that bravery.”

“Mo!”

The chief who finally arrived before Pernok lifted the massive iron club high.

Monstrous strength added with unintentionally activated mana flew in with storm-like momentum.

“Good.”

Pernok jumped from his spot and climbed onto the club.

When the chief raised veins even in his arms trying to shake him off, Pernok slid like flowing water.

Naturally stepping on the forearm and mounting the shoulder, he kicked the chief’s temple.

Bang!

An explosion burst out and the chief staggered and collapsed.

Looking down at him shaking his head unable to get his bearings, Pernok wiggled his hand.

“Still overflowing with vigor. More education needed.”

“Mooooo!”

The chief heated bright red and wildly swung the iron club.

Each strike had enough power to crush ordinary mages.

However, without form or style and even losing balance, he ended up being swung around instead.

Good weapons and innate physical abilities completely unutilized.

Pernok stepped aside one pace, carelessly watching the iron club embedded in the ground, then dug into the chief’s bosom as is.

Crack!

“…!”

The chief coughed blood and bounced away.

A swirling fist mark remained on his abdomen.

‘The strong become chiefs.’

The law of respecting the strong.

That wouldn’t be different just because they’re Horn Tribe.

When Pernok looked around, other Horn Tribe were already looking alternately between the fallen chief and him with blank gazes.

“Spilling blood, has your head finally cleared?”

The chief spat blood while glaring at Pernok.

But still couldn’t raise his body.

Because bones and muscles were twisted.

“Seems you understand human speech, so I’ll clearly inform you.”

Seeing how it was, Mati seemed not to have told the chief and Horn Tribe about the bet he made with Pernok while taking Tunnel Folk.

Otherwise, they wouldn’t have immediately raised weapons upon seeing a human.

“The next chief made one bet with me as payment for taking Tunnel Folk. The content was entering as subordinates if I crossed this sea and reached the island.”

“…Is that true?”

When the chief asked in human language, Mati turned ashen.

“Did you even tell the way?”

“N-no!”

“Then it must be because of that.”

The chief whose excitement faded looked at the sky.

The massive castle floating above the island.

Crossing Wailing Strait impossible for human ships must be because of that castle.

“Human technology has already reached this far…”

“That castle is my unique paradise. But have you seen humans before?”

“…I was the one who first received weapons from Tunnel Folk.”

Pernok nodded and looked around.

Tunnel Folk whose gazes met flinched.

“I well understand the meaning of promising with humans.”

“At least I know you don’t intend to kill us.”

“If breaking promises, I don’t know what I’ll do to seize this island.”

“You came not just for the island but to gather our race.”

Pernok smirked.

“Finished pondering with that big head?”

“Grrr, follow inside.”

Finally coughing blood while raising his body, the chief roared loudly.

“Mooooooo!”

All Horn Tribe lowered weapons and opened the way.

The chief’s staggering walk also soon stabilized.

Mana repaired injured areas, even aligning twisted bones together.

A racial characteristic that brought admiration the more he watched.

“You stay outside.”

“Chief…”

The chief glared at Mati.

Mati deeply bowed his head and withdrew.

And the chief entered the cave with Pernok.

* * *

“If Mati were chief, he would’ve immediately submitted to you.”

“Probably so.”

“But I still have no intention of stepping down from this position. Must fight until protecting this island from Scale Tribe.”

Pernok asked while feeling the energy surrounding the island.

“Why obsess over this island when you can’t even utilize resources without Tunnel Folk?”

“Because our ancestors are buried here. Protecting our homeland means inheriting their spirits together.”

“Not bad. But whatever powerless ones say only sounds hollow. Is Horn Tribe a group of fools overflowing only with passion and ideals?”

“Don’t insult us.”

“I’m giving opportunities to idiots who think they can do anything just by equipping weapons while lacking power to kill all Scale Tribe.”

When the chief frowned, Pernok snorted.

“I have no intention of waiting until Mati becomes chief. But if you’ll join me right now, I’ll definitely protect this island.”

“What do you want in return?”

“War.”

“You think I’ll help in human wars?”

“Can deploy straight to combat after fixing just a few things.”

“Can’t force dishonorable fights on us Horn Tribe.”

“Merely defending gains nothing. Must step forward first if wanting to gain something.”

The chief’s brow wriggled.

“I think I just showed I can sufficiently encompass you.”

“Use this island’s resources.”

“I thought about that, but after clashing with you, my thinking changed. I’m taking you all included. No other options.”

“Confident in handling even Scale Tribe?”

“I came to gather those Scale Tribe too.”

“What?”

“Would I not have at least one errand runner to transport these massive resources? I’m thinking of connecting this island and the mainland utilizing Scale Tribe’s excellent mobility.”

“Going to persuade Scale Tribe?”

“Seems you don’t know Scale Tribe traditions well, but their logic is also simple. Eventually, the strong are leaders.”

“No way…”

How did Lord of Despair rule Scale Tribe?

The answer is simple.

“Must confirm to them I’m a better chief than their leader.”

“None can match Scale Tribe in water.”

“Haha, naturally cornered when fighting with such complacent thinking.”

Pernok carelessly asked.

“The opportunity is only now. Join, or you all get bitten to death by Scale Tribe.”

Scale Tribe launch offensives every single day.

No matter how they fight making weapons, small numbers of Horn Tribe have limits.

And a foreigner who suddenly visited.

The chief swallowed hard pondering.

‘A castle flying in the sky and an expert who lightly subdued me. One who even gained Tunnel Folk’ cooperation that Mati met. Ancestors, is this Horn Tribe’s destiny?’

No holes to escape anywhere.

Massacred by Scale Tribe?

Or survive with Pernok?

After long consideration, the chief gave his answer.

“If this island becomes safe, Horn Tribe will follow you according to the next chief’s promise.”

Pernok smiled and stood.

“Then shall we immediately start cleaning Scale Tribe?”

* * *

The chief organized and explained Pernok and Horn Tribe’s relationship.

Horn Tribe had somber expressions, but Pernok didn’t care.

Soon surprise and joy would mix on their faces.

“About there would be good.”

When Pernok pointed east, the castle descended there.

Seawater surged as another castle was erected beside the island.

The chief startled greatly.

“Not there! That’s the area where Scale Tribe gather!”

“I know. About five hundred are there.”

“Then why…?”

“Know how to hunt fish?”

To the puzzled chief, Pernok lifted the artifact greatsword ostentatiously.

“Beat the water surface.”

As soon as he gave the signal, hazy flashes erupted from the castle.

Boom boom boom!

Modified Mana Flash Cannons enhanced with alchemy fired hundreds of shells into the sea.

Though output was adjusted for suppression purposes, sounds of the water surface shattering still echoed loudly.

Horn Tribe withdrew in shock, and the chief and Mati widened their eyes.

Scale Tribe with red and blue scales extending to their waists floated up unconscious, revealing white bellies.

“…”

For Horn Tribe to fight that number of Scale Tribe would easily consume half a day.

And they’d have to accept considerable Horn Tribe sacrifices.

But Pernok very leisurely suppressed hundreds of Scale Tribe with one hand gesture like out for a stroll.

To the two blankly watching heat warmly rising from pure white bellies, Pernok spoke.

“What are you waiting for? Collect them before they cool.”