Chapter 55: Chapter 55: The Forgotten Tribe
Chapter 55: The Forgotten Tribe
The camp fell silent.
Only the faint crackle of the newly lit campfire disturbed the stillness.
Every knight stood with a hand resting on the hilt of their weapon, their eyes fixed upon the dark forest beyond the clearing.
The footsteps grew louder.
Steady.
Unhurried.
Whoever—or whatever—was approaching made no effort to conceal its presence.
Inside the carriage, Andras slowly opened his eyes.
His violet gaze shifted toward the forest.
Monsters?
He dismissed the thought almost immediately.
The footsteps lacked the heavy rhythm of magical beasts.
Bandits?
That seemed more likely.
If so...
This journey would become painfully predictable.
After all, how many novels had he read on Earth where noble convoys were ambushed by bandits on the road to the capital?
Far too many.
It had become almost mandatory.
He stepped down from the carriage, his expression as calm as ever.
Nearby, Evelyne also emerged, her silver eyes fixed on the tree line.
The Darkmoor knights instinctively formed a protective formation around the two of them.
Captain Rowan slowly drew his sword.
"No one lowers their guard."
"Shields forward."
At once, several heavily armored knights stepped ahead, raising their shields as the rest tightened the defensive formation.
The footsteps drew closer.
Then...
Seven figures emerged from between the towering pines.
For a brief moment...
No one spoke.
They weren’t bandits.
Nor were they monsters.
They were...
People.
---
The seven newcomers possessed bronzed skin weathered by years beneath the open sky.
Their physiques were lean yet powerfully built, every muscle honed through a lifetime of hunting and survival rather than formal training.
Most stood barefoot upon the forest floor, moving with surprising silence despite the fallen branches beneath their feet.
Each wore garments fashioned from beast hides stitched together with sinew and decorated with vibrant feathers.
Necklaces of polished fangs, carved bones, and colorful stones rested against their chests.
Dark tattoos covered their exposed arms and shoulders, depicting wolves, serpents, soaring birds, and symbols Andras had never seen before.
Several carried long hunting spears crafted from dark wood tipped with black stone.
Others held crude axes or bows fashioned entirely by hand.
Their long black hair was braided with feathers and strips of leather.
Every one of them regarded the Darkmoor convoy with undisguised caution.
Likewise...
The knights studied the strangers with equal vigilance.
Even Evelyne’s composed expression shifted ever so slightly.
"...Forest tribes."
A faint smile spread across Andras’s face.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
He had genuinely expected either monsters or bandits.
Instead...
He had encountered something entirely unexpected.
His curiosity immediately replaced his disappointment.
Back on Earth, as Alex, he had read hundreds of fantasy novels.
Most authors followed the same formula.
A noble carriage entered a forest.
Bandits attacked.
The protagonist slaughtered them.
The journey continued.
Predictable.
Repetitive.
Boring.
This...
This was far more interesting.
More importantly...
He couldn’t remember a single mention of forest tribes anywhere in Rise of the Sword Hero.
Not once.
Had the original story simply never encountered them?
Or...
Had history overlooked them entirely?
His interest deepened.
---
Without taking his eyes off the strangers, Andras spoke quietly.
"Mother."
Evelyne glanced toward him.
"They’re forest tribes, aren’t they?"
"I didn’t know tribes still lived within the Empire’s forests."
Evelyne nodded slowly.
"They are."
"But this is my first time seeing them as well."
"I’ve only ever read about them in historical records."
"They’re said to have lived in these forests long before the Empire existed."
Her gaze lingered upon the seven warriors.
"I never expected any still remained."
Andras’s smile widened ever so slightly.
History...
Unexpected discoveries...
This journey had suddenly become much more entertaining.
Before anyone could stop him—
He walked forward.
Then accelerated.
Within moments, he had crossed half the distance separating the two groups.
"Youth Master!"
Several knights immediately reacted.
"Please stop!"
"It could be dangerous!"
"Allow us to investigate first!"
Captain Rowan instinctively stepped after him.
"Young Master!"
Andras paid them no attention.
The seven tribesmen tensed at once.
Their weapons rose instinctively.
Several shifted into low stances, prepared to defend themselves if necessary.
Yet Andras simply stopped a few meters away.
Then...
He smiled.
Raised one hand.
And waved.
"Hello."
Silence.
The seven tribesmen stared at him.
The Darkmoor knights stared at him.
Even Evelyne blinked in mild surprise.
The atmosphere became strangely awkward.
Finally...
One of the tribesmen stepped forward.
He appeared to be the oldest among them.
A broad-shouldered man with braided hair reaching the middle of his back.
A necklace of wolf fangs hung around his neck, while a massive stone axe rested across one shoulder.
His sharp amber eyes never left Andras.
After several long moments, he spoke in a deep, cautious voice.
"...Who are you, outsider?"
Andras answered without hesitation.
"Me?"
He pointed at himself.
"I’m God."
The clearing fell completely silent.
Even the wind seemed to stop.
The seven tribesmen slowly turned to look at one another.
The Darkmoor knights exchanged equally bewildered glances.
Captain Rowan’s expression became indescribably strange.
Young Master...
What exactly are you doing...?
The silence lingered.
The seven tribesmen exchanged uncertain glances before looking back at Andras.
The broad-shouldered warrior frowned.
"Our God does not look like you."
A faint chuckle escaped Andras.
"I never said I was your god."
He shrugged casually.
"I said my name is God."
The tribesmen blinked.
"...Your name is God?"
"Correct."
"And your parents named you... God?"
"They did."
The seven warriors immediately began whispering among themselves.
"What kind of name is that?"
"I’ve never heard of such a name."
"Perhaps outsiders have strange customs."
"I still don’t believe him."
Behind Andras, several Darkmoor knights lowered their heads, desperately suppressing their laughter.
Even Evelyne raised a hand to hide the amused smile threatening to appear on her face.
Only Selene—had she been present—would have immediately recognized that Andras was entertaining himself.
He wasn’t lying.
Nor was he telling the truth.
He was simply playing with them.
Andras watched their discussion with quiet amusement before speaking inwardly.
System.
Show me their status.
A familiar metallic notification echoed through his mind.
[Ding!]
---
Name: Korga
Race: Human
Age: 41
Class: Warrior
Talent: Stonehide Physique (C-Rank)
Realm: Low Third Star Warrior
---
Name: Vaku
Race: Human
Age: 27
Class: Warrior
Talent: Keen Hunter (D-Rank)
Realm: Peak Second Star Warrior
---
Name: Raka
Race: Human
Age: 24
Class: Warrior
Talent: Swift Feet (E-Rank)
Realm: Mid Second Star Warrior
---
Name: Moro
Race: Human
Age: 30
Class: Warrior
Talent: Iron Muscles (E-Rank)
Realm: Peak Second Star Warrior
---
Name: Tegu
Race: Human
Age: 22
Class: Warrior
Talent: Night Vision (E-Rank)
Realm: Low Second Star Warrior
---
Name: Haku
Race: Human
Age: 19
Class: Warrior
Talent: Beast Instinct (D-Rank)
Realm: Mid Second Star Warrior
---
Name: Soro
Race: Human
Age: 20
Class: Warrior
Talent: Sharp Hearing (E-Rank)
Realm: Peak Second Star Warrior
---
Andras quietly examined each status window before dismissing them.
So...
One Third Star Warrior.
Six Second Star Warriors.
Nothing particularly remarkable.
Only one possessed a C-Rank Talent.
The rest were ordinary.
Still...
The fact that an isolated tribe had managed to cultivate this far without the Empire’s resources was mildly impressive.
The tribal warriors finally ended their discussion.
Korga stepped forward once more.
"You outsiders should leave."
"This forest belongs to our people."
"We seek no conflict."
"And neither should you."
Andras tilted his head.
"What if I refuse?"
Korga tightened his grip on his axe.
"Then..."
"We’ll make you leave."
For a heartbeat...
Neither side spoke.
Then Andras laughed.
A quiet laugh.
One that left the Darkmoor knights thoroughly confused.
"Interesting."
He looked at each tribesman in turn before giving a small nod.
"You people are much more entertaining than bandits."
The tribesmen frowned.
"...Bandits?"
"Never mind."
Andras waved the subject away.
He had already satisfied most of his curiosity.
Forest tribes.
Ancient customs.
Independent cultivation.
Interesting.
But not enough to hold his attention for much longer.
His smile slowly disappeared.
The warmth faded from his violet eyes, replaced by the same cold indifference they usually held.
The change was subtle.
Yet those watching felt it immediately.
Even Evelyne’s expression grew slightly more serious.
She knew that look.
Andras had lost interest.
He sighed softly.
"I suppose..."
"...this is where we part ways."
The tribesmen relaxed ever so slightly.
Perhaps...
This strange noble truly intended to leave.
Then Andras smiled again.
A calm...
Almost gentle smile.
"Perhaps we’ll meet again."
He paused.
"...In hell."
Korga frowned.
"What?"
Before the word had fully left his mouth—
Andras moved.
There was no warning.
No surge of mana.
No dramatic declaration.
One moment he stood several meters away.
The next—
He was already beside Soro.
The young tribesman never even saw the sword leave its scabbard.
A silver arc flashed beneath the fading sunlight.
It was impossibly clean.
Almost beautiful.
For an instant...
Everything became still.
Then—
A thin crimson line appeared across Soro’s neck.
His eyes widened.
His spear slipped from nerveless fingers.
A heartbeat later...
His head slid from his shoulders.
It struck the ground with a dull thud.
His body remained standing for the briefest moment before collapsing beside it.
Silence.
Absolute silence.
The forest itself seemed to stop breathing.
The remaining six tribesmen froze where they stood, their faces filled with disbelief.
None of them had understood what had happened.
None of them had even seen the strike.
Behind Andras...
The Darkmoor knights stared in stunned silence.
Even Evelyne’s eyes narrowed slightly.
Andras calmly flicked the blood from his blade before returning it to its scabbard.
His expression remained perfectly indifferent.
As though he hadn’t just taken a life.
As though he had merely brushed dust from his sleeve.
His violet eyes settled upon the six remaining tribesmen.
"Now..."
A faint smile curved his lips.
"Shall we continue?"
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