Multiverse , Leveling Up in the World I Created

Chapter 413: 413 MCU 88

The next day, we hid the Talaria camper van in a suitable spot near the mountain where the Jabari tribe lived and began walking up the mountain path.

We did this to avoid even the slightest misunderstanding.

"Honestly... why did the Jabari tribe settle in a place like this..."

Everett, having climbed for a while, was out of breath and grumbling.

The place they had settled was indeed secluded, a high mountain where no one could find them.

Shuri explained her thoughts on the reason.

"I’m not directly involved, so I don’t know the details, but I think it’s because they feared being purged for rejecting the system."

"Wakanda within Wakanda."

"Wakanda within Wakanda... that’s an interesting expression, but we’re not that extreme."

"I don’t know about that."

When I said that, Shuri looked back and forth between Nakia and Ramonda, trying to confirm if she was right, but they said nothing.

It was true that Wakanda had pursued isolationism.

Shuri had no choice but to admit it.

"To think we were like the gorilla-like Jabari tribe..."

Shuri said that incredulously, but it was an unintended mirror therapy, so it was amusing.

We climbed a bit further and began to see a giant entrance shaped like a gorilla.

We had finally arrived at the Jabari village.

"We’re here."

"Your Majesty, someone is coming."

I gestured for everyone to get behind me and gave that warning.

Ooh! Ooh! Ooh!

Then, burly men who appeared to be Jabari warriors slammed their spears into the ground, let out gorilla-like cries, and approached us threateningly.

"We’re not here to fight. We’ve come to see M’Baku!"

I said that to them, but they ignored us, circling us and glaring with threatening eyes for a long time.

They were probably trying to intimidate us.

The funny thing was that it worked.

Everyone except me kept their eyes on the ground.

Seeming to think that was enough, the apparent leader spoke.

"Follow."

We followed them into the Jabari village.

They lived in buildings built on steep, snow-covered mountain terrain, and the scenery, contrary to the image of a warlike tribe, was quite beautiful and harmoniously integrated with nature.

They weren’t exactly welcoming, as they confined us all in a building that wasn’t very spacious.

Nakia sighed and said, "They don’t seem very welcoming."

"Still, it’s better than a prison."

"That’s true."

We were confined until evening, when the Jabari warrior who had brought us here returned and led us to M’Baku.

Leaving us waiting so long meant they too had a lot to discuss.

M’Baku was seated solemnly in a place that clearly looked like a chieftain’s seat, flanked by warriors with spears guarding him.

He was large and muscular, well-fed and trained, with a masculine presence.

M’Baku looked at us silently, and Ramonda stepped forward first.

"My son was killed in combat."

M’Baku asked, "Was it a fair fight?"

Nakia answered, "Yes... but..."

"Then he wasn’t killed. He lost."

"Even so..."

"Quiet! I am the chief here."

When M’Baku continued to interrupt us and show an uncooperative attitude, I spoke up.

"Hey, M’Baku, was it? If Killmonger rules Wakanda, he will start a war with the outside world."

"Ah, I’ve heard about you. The Avengers, great heroes. You’ve saved the world several times, haven’t you? So why are you so interested in Wakanda’s internal affairs?"

"Of course, we have no right to interfere with who becomes Wakanda’s king. But if you start a war with the outside world, that’s different. The whole world will learn about Wakanda’s Vibranium, and they’ll flock here to claim it. In the end, Wakanda will be destroyed. We also have to prevent such things from happening, so it’s hardly someone else’s problem."

"Do you think we can’t stop them? Wakanda’s science and technology are superior to any nation’s."

I sighed and replied.

"You’re truly a frog in a well. Of course, Wakanda’s science and technology are superior to other nations, but since the alien invasion, the whole world’s science and technology have been advancing remarkably. And you seem to think Vibranium is the ultimate metal, but there are metals that can even destroy Vibranium. And Vibranium isn’t only found here. So if Wakanda goes to war with the outside world, it will inevitably be defeated."

M’Baku frowned and raised his voice.

"Are you threatening me?!"

"It’s not a threat, just a statement of fact. But if you stay idle, you won’t even get to see Wakanda’s destruction. The moment Killmonger starts a war, his first target will be you. He won’t tolerate a tribe whose allegiance is unclear."

M’Baku thought for a moment and then spoke.

"So what do you suggest?"

"You have to choose. Either fight against Killmonger, or submit to him and lead the coming war."

Then Nakia said to M’Baku.

"There’s one more thing."

She said that, pulling out the herb she had kept and showing it to M’Baku.

"You eat the herb and challenge Killmonger. Only the chief can stop him."

M’Baku was surprised at the sight of the herb Nakia had brought, but then his expression changed and he stared at it with greedy eyes.

Shuri and Ramonda, watching, swallowed nervously, unsure if this was the right choice, waiting for his decision.

"Phew... follow me."

He suddenly stood up and began leading us somewhere.

I knew where he was going because I had seen the original, but the others, not knowing, followed him with puzzled looks at his sudden action.

M’Baku led us to a small temple-like building, and inside, T’Challa was lying unconscious in the snow, wounded.

Seeing that, Nakia and Ramonda were shocked and rushed to check on him.

"Oh no!"

"This can’t be..."

Nakia asked M’Baku urgently.

"Is he breathing?"

"He’s unconscious, but breathing. A fisherman found him in the river and brought him to me."

At that, Shuri also asked, "Why did you leave him in the snow?"

"If I hadn’t, he would have joined his ancestors by now."

"We need to take him to my lab immediately. That’s the only way to save him!"

"If you want to kill him, go ahead."

As M’Baku said, his condition was critical, and moving him to the lab would probably kill him on the way.

Even that would be difficult with Killmonger around.

Then Ramonda said to Nakia.

"Nakia, give me the herb."

Nakia took the herb from her pocket again and handed it to Ramonda.

She then put the herb in a mortar and began to crush it.

"I implore the ancestors and the goddess Bast, heal my son T’Challa."

Ramonda carefully poured the herb juice into a cup, prayed to the sky, and gave it to T’Challa.

"Cover him with snow, quickly!"

After he drank it all, they began covering his body with snow, eventually burying his face completely.

I’m not sure about the "meeting the ancestors" part, but my analysis showed the herb contained strong hallucinogens.

They probably buried him like this to prevent him from going berserk if external stimuli occurred.

M’Baku looked disappointed at the sight.

He had reluctantly given up the herb to save T’Challa, but he seemed a bit regretful.

’M’Baku... he’s greedy, but a good guy at heart.’

After a long while, T’Challa gasped and sat up.

Thanks to the herb’s effect, his enhanced body had barely regained consciousness.

"Haah!"

The worried onlookers sighed in relief, and his lover Nakia and mother Ramonda embraced him, tears in their eyes, overjoyed that he was alive.

But he wasn’t fully recovered yet, and the Jabari healers on standby began treating him immediately.

From then on, our accommodations improved somewhat.

M’Baku took care of us, providing a nice, scenic place to rest.

After a good day’s rest, we went back to M’Baku to discuss future plans.

"Killmonger has the army behind him, and he burned all the herbs. The herb you ate yesterday was the last one."

Nakia first explained the current situation.

Everett then spoke about Killmonger.

"I did some research on him. He’s been involved with the CIA in several operations. Whenever he overthrew a foreign government, he always exploited the chaos. He’d quickly take control of the government and military during elections or after a monarch’s death."

T’Challa listened silently, then began to share his thoughts.

"Then he’ll send our weapons to spies around the world. He’ll induce global chaos. Killmonger will probably exploit that chaos."

Then he looked at me and asked.

"Jin, I’d like you to take my mother and sister out of Wakanda and have the Avengers protect them."

Ramonda and Shuri were surprised.

"What?!"

"What about you, brother?"

When Shuri asked, T’Challa replied, "I’ll finish this."

Ramonda stood up, looked T’Challa straight in the eye, and said firmly.

"T’Challa, we’re not leaving."

"It’s my duty to protect you, Mother."

"I don’t need that. If you fail this time, I’ll follow you soon after. Setting aside my worries for Wakanda, I can’t bear to lose another son."

"Mother..."

Shuri also spoke up.

"I feel the same. If you are Wakanda’s king, then we are the royal family. We can’t keep hiding."

Shuri took out the necklace containing the Black Panther suit, which she had been keeping, and put it around T’Challa’s neck.

"The Black Panther is alive, and when he fights for Wakanda’s fate, we’ll stand by his side."

Nakia also spoke, as if steeling her resolve.

"I feel the same."

Then suddenly, Bilbo... I mean, Everett, placed a hand on my shoulder and said with a smile.

"We’ll help too. It’s not the time to be picky about help."

This guy Bilbo, helping is fine, but why drag me into it?

"Ahem... are you done? Is it all over?"

At that moment, M’Baku, who had been watching, yawned and asked.

"M’Baku... thank you."

"I’m repaying a debt. You spared my life in that duel."

"We need an army."

M’Baku sighed and spoke.

"I suppose so... Phew... that Avenger friend over there said it. If Killmonger takes the throne, we have to choose: be attacked, or submit to him. If I help you become king again, how am I different from him?"

"I’m different from the previous kings. At least we could be friends."

M’Baku laughed heartily at that.

"Hahaha, friends... it sounds good, but it won’t work like that. You need to make it certain. We deserve a reward for our sacrifice."

At M’Baku’s demand, T’Challa said firmly.

"I’m sorry, but I can’t give you special privileges. Everyone will meet with their tribes, decide Wakanda’s future together, and work for mutual development. If only one tribe gets special privileges, Wakanda will fall before long."

"Even if Wakanda’s future depends on our tribe right now?"

"Yes. That’s all I can offer."

M’Baku shook his head.

"You cheapskate! After all that, you could have given us something... Phew... I have no choice. I’ll help. Either way, if blood must be shed, I’d rather side with someone I can trust."

When M’Baku said that, T’Challa’s expression brightened, and everyone behind him rejoiced.

M’Baku had already decided to help, but he seemed to have wanted to get something out of T’Challa through this incident, not wanting to help for free.

But it didn’t work out as he’d hoped.

And this was quite different from the original; deciding to help T’Challa immediately was probably due to a change of heart caused by what I had told him.

"You all heard that?! Gather the warriors immediately! This is war!!"

Ooh! Ooh! Ooh!

When M’Baku shouted that to the waiting warriors, they cheered with gorilla-like cries.

It looked quite primitive, but since the Jabari tribe worshipped a gorilla god, I let it slide.

I made a suggestion to T’Challa.

"Open the shield. Then we can use drones to get them to surrender immediately. They were built for alien invasions."

"That won’t work. It would make things easier, but we need to solve this problem with our own strength. That’s the only way the people of Wakanda will accept it."

"I see..."

T’Challa seemed determined to resolve this within Wakanda itself.

I wasn’t sure if I’d be allowed to participate then.