[[Conditions met. acquired.]]

[[First level spell has been absorbed by second level spell .]]

Spirits, re-list .

[[Request is valid. Previous skill has been re-listed.]]

Alright, let’s use this to clean up a little. I still have a ton of magic power left anyway.

The flow from isn't concentrated like the glow from . Small orbs of white light shoot out of my raised palms and drift in the air like snow, then float gently toward any nearby injuries. It takes a considerable amount of magic power to heal broken bones, but soon all the living Orcs are healthy again. After that, I cast to lift Rigdam out of the hole I dug.

“I trust there are no hard feelings?”

The previous winning chief looked around and scratched the back of his bald head. “You do confusing things,” he said. “Come. I give advice.”

Eh? About the village meets? Or about being a chief? He’s not leading me away to ambush me, right? I would crush him. He knows that, right?

I follow Rigdam into his chief's hut. It looks basically the same as the one in my village, just slightly taller. I bet they renovated it because Rigdam himself is tall. I can't think of anything to say, so I just take a seat on some pelts and wait for him to start talking.

“Sorry for earlier. We never have woman chief before. Not expecting it.”

“Ah, no. That much I understand.”

“Hmph,” Rigdam nodded. “At first, I think you is like my sister.”

Eh? That's a somewhat unexpected turn in the conversation.

“You have a sister? Are you close?”

“Yep. Mother raise us together in the house. I wasn't strong yet. It was hard for her.”

“I see…” Heh~? Isn't this guy actually kind of down to earth?

“My sister like to say strong things, but she weak. No fighting instinct. I thought you was pretending to be tough like her.”

“Oh…”

“Then, you kill Faok. I think you is ruthless Orc migrating from different tribe. I think you is claiming Neutral village for demon worshippers or expansionists.”

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“O-oh…”

“Then, you heal injured Orcs. You become gentle saint. I is confused because you do so many different things. But you are strongest chief now. For the sake of my village, I want to know what kind of person you is.”

“Ahh…” Wait, I thought he called me over to give me advice? Isn't he just asking me questions now?

“Well, I'm not really a violent person, but I can't stand liars, and even worse I can't stand being accused of being one. His name was Faok? He touched a taboo. I'm usually very in control.”

“I came here to fight and prove myself to be the strongest chief, but I didn't come to make enemies. I want to be friendly with the other villages, if possible.”

“Ah… That good. If you was this strong and have bad intentions, that would be bad for us.”

“Brother!”

A little girl’s voice came from the entrance to the chief’s hut. I turned and saw an Orc child trotting up to Rigdam.

“I heard you lose chief battle! Is you hurt, brother?! Where the guy who beat you? I hit him for you!”

Wait… This is Rigdam’s sister? She hasn't grown up yet?

“Hey, is this…?”

Rigdam nodded and placed the girl onto his lap. “This my sister. She talk big, but she super weak. Can't even finish hunting ceremony.”

“Brother! Mean!! So, brother, did you find a mate lady?”

“Hmph. This Chief Vyra. She new strongest chief. Not my mate.”

“Eh? You stronger than brother?!”

“Yeah…”

“Wah~! Can you teach me to fight? I want to be strong too!”

“Oh…”

Somehow, I stopped paying attention. These two actually kind of act like siblings. I haven't seen that among Orcs before. Seeing Rigdam playing with his little sister, am I feeling jealous? I have a brother who ran off somewhere before I was born.

“You is staring. Hmph. My sister make you miss your sister or something?”

“Eh? Me? No… I don't have a… sister…”

“Eh?!”

“Chief lady! What wrong? Why you crying?”

Eh? Am I crying? I lift my hand up and find tears streaming down my cheeks.

“Ah, no! I'm fine, really. More importantly, about that chief I killed during the battle, am I supposed to take in the people from his village or what?”

“Hmph…” Rigdam watched me closely for a minute before answering. “If you want, take them. Otherwise, protect them while they pick new chief.”

Unless they’re a bunch of trouble makers, I want them. The projects I have in mind require more manpower than I have available.

“That’s fine then. Also, you brought me over saying you had some advice for me…?”

“Hmph. Nope. Just trying to save face.”

Eh?! Are you kidding?!

“Hmph, but now I think of something.”

“O-oh? What is it?”

“You can still tell others you is fine when you isn't, but don't tell it to yourself. You is not a liar, right?”

***

As expected, I won the battle, which means the Orcs for the meet will be coming to my village. Spending eight days digging a huge cave was definitely the right choice. Because it will take the whole night to walk back and the escorts I brought are already tired, we’ll be staying in Rigdam’s Village for the night. I've just decided to use this time to get to know the other chiefs.

First, because I was curious, I found the Orc who came to announce Ramsule’s death and ask what happened.

“So you're from Ramsule’s village? What happened to him?”

“Eh? You is new strongest chief Vyra… Hm. Ramsule was killed by Magic Beasts.

Oh, so it’s that huh? He underestimated them, perhaps? That must be hard on the village.

“How did it happen?”

“War Monkeys settled near the village. Chief Ramsule lead some hunters to kill them. They didn't come back.”

War Monkeys again?!