3 bar menu

Chapter 76: The Barbar Chieftains and the Kiritai Tribe

As soon as I returned to the Blument tribe’s main village, I immediately began organizing gunpowder production.

I put Aunt Kate in charge of refining saltpeter using the old-earth method, along with the other Blument women.

Aunt Kate is used to cooking in large pots for big groups, so she’s well-suited for boiling soil in large batches, which is part of the refining process.

She’s also Uncle Athos’s wife, which makes her my aunt.

A bit of a chatterbox… but she’s trustworthy, so she’s the ideal person to lead the saltpeter production team.

Still, just to be safe, I told Aunt Kate and the other women that 「saltpeter is an ingredient used in medicine.」

You never know when someone might slip up and say something.

As for making the gunpowder itself, I asked the elven chieftain Elanieff to handle it.

Elanieff is Jessica’s uncle, my uncle-in-law, in other words.

Since the elves speak a different language, it’s easier to keep secrets from spreading.

Also, as they’re used to mixing herbs for medicines, their skills are perfect for gunpowder mixing.

Elanieff agreed to my request without hesitation.

But we were short on manpower.

So I joined the elves and threw myself into the gunpowder-making effort.

***

Half a month passed since we had parted ways with the Kiritai tribe at the port town of Orb.

At last, we had prepared enough gunpowder.

Now, we would hunt Murder Buffalo using the gunpowder.

Would it work?

Honestly, I felt more excited than anxious.

We regrouped with the Kiritai tribe in Orb and rode out toward the plains, the Murder Buffalo’s territory.

Balta pulled his horse up beside mine.

「Gaia. Quite the crowd this time.」

「Yeah. It was Uncle Athos’s idea.」

This time, I had invited the chieftains of the various Barbar tribes to witness the fight against the Murder Buffalo.

This was Uncle Athos’s suggestion: to introduce the Kiritai tribe to the Barbar chieftains, who had never met them, and also to unveil gunpowder as a new weapon.

Of course, showing off gunpowder’s power would also help solidify my position, and that of the Blument tribe, in Barbar politics.

Balta let out a slow breath.

「Good thing the chieftains are friendly.」

I widened my eyes at Balta.

「That’s surprisingly reasonable of you to say.」

「What do you take me for, Gaia!?」

「A self-centered guy without a shred of tact.」

「That’s so cruel!」

Balta and I went back and forth in the Kiritai language, bantering loudly.

The surrounding Kiritai riders burst into laughter at our exchange.

The atmosphere was cheerful and warm.

Thanks to Balta’s optimistic and easygoing nature, the Kiritai tribe maintained a bright mood even in unfamiliar lands.

(This is something I should learn from.)

I silently made a mental note to take a page from Balta’s book.

***

Now then, as for the Barbar chieftains, most of them didn’t own horses.

Only Rosso of the Lizardmen and Elanieff of the Elves had their own mounts.

So, we asked the Kiritai tribe to pair up with them.

Each Barbar chieftain rode pillion behind a Kiritai child.

「Hey, Balta. Why’d you put the Barbar chieftains behind kids?」

「What kind of question is that? Obviously, kids weigh less. Since there are two riders, it’s easier on the horse that way.」

Balta’s reasoning was solid, but some of the Barbar chieftains weren’t happy about it.

「Why am I stuck behind some brat?」

「Hey, Gaia! Can’t you stick me behind a pretty lady instead?」

I gave a wry smile and answered in Barbar tongue.

「There aren’t any single women here. All the Kiritai women are married.」

「Aw, man… That’s disappointing.」

「You jerk! I’m telling your wife! I’ll say, ‘He was eyeing other women!’「

「Eeep! Gaia! Don’t tell my wife! Please!」

The other chieftains roared with laughter at our exchange.

Barbar men value their families, many are devoted husbands or are firmly under their wives’ thumbs.

「At least put me behind Athos! Hey! Athos! Let me ride with you!」

「My horsemanship won’t get us out alive. If you don’t want to die, ride with a Kiritai kid.」

Uncle Athos waved him off with a 「Shoo, shoo!」

I went around explaining the situation to the grumbling chieftains.

「The Kiritai kids can control horses better than we can. They’re much more skilled than me or Jessica. Plus, they’re lighter, which means better speed for escape.」

「Yeah, I get it, but still…」

「We’re heading into the open plains. No cover like in a forest. If we have to run from Murder Buffalo, it’ll be all about speed.」

「Fine, I get it… but is this kid really up to it?」

I relayed the question to Balta.

He thumped his chest confidently.

「Kiritai horsemanship is the best on the continent! That child was raised on horseback, nursed on horseback, slept on horseback, and ate meals on horseback. Small or not, they’re a full-fledged rider! They won’t fall behind in battle!」

Hearing Balta’s words, the Kiritai children puffed out their chests with pride.

When I translated Balta’s words, the Barbar chieftains responded with a collective, 「Ooooh!」

The Barbar admire brave and capable people.

Balta’s spirited declaration had them all fired up.

「Raised on horseback? That’s crazy!」

「Yeah. Their lifestyle is nothing like ours!」

「So they’ve got the best horsemanship on the continent, huh?」

「Impressive!」

「Alright! We’re counting on you!」

With me translating between them, the Barbar chieftains and Balta shared a good-natured exchange.

Just as Uncle Athos had planned.

(As expected of Uncle Athos. Rather than introducing people formally, it’s easier to break the ice on the battlefield.)

We crossed the hill and entered the plains.

Now, we were officially in monster territory.