9th Grade Civil Servant In Another World Chapter 138 - Sand and Stars (4)

Fael told a straightforward story.

About trying to find something useful in the Great Desert.

About exploring the desert with Namir and Daniel and happening to discover Tan.

About the memories he saw after drinking Tan’s blood. About the special magic created in the Kingdom of Ela, Tan who was raised as the king’s pet from birth, and the terrible customs of human sacrifice.

“……And so I became the dragon’s master.”

When Fael finished his story, silence fell. The tribal chieftains looked skeptical about how much they should believe.

“You’re saying that this dragon called Tan follows descendants of the Golden Clan?”

Teno-Kenan, chieftain of the Teno tribe, stared intently at Tan, then pointed out the essential issue.

“In the end, doesn’t that mean all of us from the five clans could become Tan’s master?”

“That would be right, since we all equally inherited Queen Rasha I’s bloodline. If you’re curious, would you like to test it?”

Fael asked while wiping the blade of his dagger. The adults hesitated a little, but Shan-Lea quickly raised her hand.

“I’ll try first.”

Lea unhesitatingly stabbed her wrist with the dagger and held it out to Tan.

However, Tan, who had been nuzzling Lea and sniffing, yawned and closed his eyes instead of licking the blood.

Khal-Aisha clicked her tongue and waved her staff while chanting a spell. Lea’s wound healed instantly.

“Thank you, Lady Khal-Aisha.”

“This much is nothing. Well then, I’ll try next.”

The experiment results were the same. Aisha, Kenan, and Diyab all failed to capture Tan’s interest.

Rather, when he seemed annoyed and was about to blow them away with his breath, Fael called him and he opened his eyes and rubbed his snout against Fael’s hand.

“Huh.”

“That’s impressive.”

“When it comes to bloodline, his must be the purest.”

The tribal chieftains had to acknowledge that Tan followed only Fael, even if they couldn’t understand the exact principle.

“Well, I’ll concede that. That you’re the true master of that dragon. That your royal blood runs thick. But I don’t see what that has to do with selling land. What exactly are you trying to say? Are you saying that as the eldest son of the Fa tribe, having obtained the dragon traditionally passed down to Ela’s kings, you’ll establish a kingdom again and take the throne?”

Ban-Diyab’s question sounded both sarcastic and genuinely curious. It was probably half and half.

“Do I look like I’m simply after the throne? We’ve already experienced a cruel past stained with greed. I don’t want to repeat such mistakes.”

“Are you missing the point of the question? Why should we establish a nation at all? What do we gain?”

At Aisha’s words, Fael whispered while stroking Tan’s scales.

“Kaaaaaaaa!”

Tan roared.

His flapping wings stirred up wind. The dragon that shot up into the sky in an instant breathed flames.

The moment the trajectory of fire decorated the sky, hellish heat could be felt below.

Fael cast protective barriers over everyone, and fortunately the flame fragments fell in distant places. Rain of fire was falling beneath Tan’s body.

“Are you threatening us now?”

When Fael lowered the barriers and Tan landed, crouching docilely again, Khal-Aisha asked as if unimpressed.

Fael calmly shook his head.

“Threats? I simply wanted to show you my true feelings.

I have two choices. Turning the Great Desert to ash, or buying up all of the Great Desert. I want to choose the latter—that’s what I mean.”

Then he pointed to Daniel, who had been standing quietly beside him.

“This is a deal that benefits everyone. This friend will explain the details.”

Daniel explained smoothly with his carefully practiced pronunciation. He even drew charts on a blackboard.

“We’re planning a large-scale development project. The land purchase is a means to efficiently develop the Great Desert and eliminate human disputes or conflicts between tribes.

In other words, please keep in mind that the land purchase price we’re offering includes compensation for exclusive development rights. If resources are discovered within a tribe’s territory, that tribe—meaning you—will hold 70 percent of the shares, while we hold 30 percent.

The form of the nation requires more discussion. For now, we’re envisioning a federation with autonomous governments for each tribe. Whether monarchical or republican, the first head of state will come from the Fa tribe. However, each tribe’s autonomy will be fully guaranteed.

Also, all projects will be funded by Redan Company.”

Daniel’s words were quite logical, but the tribal chieftains’ resistance didn’t soften.

“Is securing elven territory free from human oppression your goal?”

Teno-Kenan asked.

“Ultimately, yes.”

“I can understand Fa-Elhar having such ideals. But why are you involved? What does a human gain from this?”

“I’m simply helping Elhar according to our contract.”

“And this contract is?”

“I’m sorry. I can’t reveal the details. You surely understand the importance of confidentiality.”

The tribal chieftains didn’t trust him. Or to be precise, they constantly suspected Fael’s motives.

It was natural. Who would readily comply when being pressured to hand over land and resource development rights?

“This plan looks like nothing more than you trying to become king, doesn’t it?”

“It’s hard to readily accept such a dangerous proposal. We’ve lived well up until now. If we rashly attempt drastic changes and something unexpected happens……”

But someone asked back with half ridicule, half sarcasm.

“Lived well? Us?”

It was Shan-Lea, who had been quietly watching the three tribal chieftains debate with Fael, Daniel, and Namir.

“When did we ever live well? During that brief period when we prospered through trade? Excluding that period of just over a hundred years, when exactly?”

Lea looked around at the three tribal chieftains, who were flustered by her bold manner of speaking.

“Actually, we were all waiting for this kind of proposal, weren’t we?”

“Shan-Lea!”

“This isn’t a place for a child who just became chieftain to butt in.”

“Yes, that’s right. I’m young and I’ve only inherited the chieftain position two weeks ago.”

Lea continued calmly.

“But I know this well. Ever since the Kingdom of Ela fell, our lives have always been barren and painful. Wars broke out countless times to claim even slightly better land, an oasis. War further depleted the tribes’ strength, and countless compatriots fled to the human world.

But we—our chieftain families—couldn’t flee! We couldn’t choose the path of abandoning what little power we had and being oppressed by humans, we couldn’t abandon the tribespeople who stayed in the Great Desert, and we couldn’t let our dignity fall to the ground. We were trapped in the bonds of fate.

We had opportunities, but we threw them away 150 years ago in the last tribal war. If the Great Desert had been unified then, things might have been different. The continent was in chaos, and humans wouldn’t have been able to interfere with us. But the war started by the Teno tribe ended with neither victor nor vanquished.

After that, everyone gave up. Living as if time passing changed nothing, as if we’d always be safe in our well.

Listen, we need a turning point. And Lord Fa-Elhar has appeared. From my perspective, this is our last chance. If humans develop any further, there’s no hope for us.

What if this is a scam? We have nothing left to lose. And Lord Fa-Elhar has the power to forcibly implement his plan. With that red dragon, he could blow away half a dozen villages and more.

Wouldn’t it be wise to seize the opportunity while Lord Fa-Elhar is still showing goodwill?”

Lea finished her passionate speech and caught her breath.

Her words sounded somewhat crude and irrational at first glance, but they contained powerful force.

The power that truth gives.

The tribal chieftains wanted to flee.

They longed for human life but rationalized that their life was fine too, that it would always be peaceful, because of fear, because of pride, because of inferiority.

The three tribal chieftains, struck right at the heart, couldn’t respond for a moment. After catching her breath a little, Lea added.

“Our Shan tribe will accept the Fa tribe’s proposal.”

***

After the meeting ended and everyone scattered to their own tents, Namir, left alone, was deep in thought.

The scene of Lea passionately pouring out her words repeatedly appeared and disappeared in his mind.

“She’s just like me.”

He slowly muttered after a long while.

Just now, watching her shout, he’d had a flash of realization. It was almost instinctive realization.

Lea was a similar type of person to him.

There are people in the world who run purely and stubbornly toward something, regardless of everything else.

In Namir’s case, it was passion for history and his people.

Lea’s was… what?

In any case, he knew one thing. She had a similar soul to Namir’s.

And she was much smarter than him.

Namir thought.

Someone like that wouldn’t poison her sister for power.

Even if she did, it would be purely for her beliefs, not out of desire.

He felt the same sense of awe and comfort from Lea that he felt when looking at Fael.

But it was slightly different.

Fael was someone he could rely on. Not only was he much older, but he knew well how to utilize his natural abilities.

On the other hand, Lea was his peer, still an unpolished soul.

“I want to help her……”

The moment he voiced his sincere wish, his heart began to race.

***

For three whole days after that.

Daniel continued refining his logic to persuade the tribal chieftains.

Actually, logic and everything else would be useless if they couldn’t agree on one ideal or more.

“We must change. Instead of being swept away by the wave of change, we can ride the wave and go further. Let’s create a nation that can avoid the greedy hands of humans that will reach us someday, and where our departed compatriots can return.”

It was distinctly emotional appeal, yet cold words.

And the tribal chieftains eventually accepted the proposal.

Whether they sympathized with the absurd dream or not, they had no choice but to accept it realistically.

First, the land price Fael offered and the shares they would receive if resources were discovered were extremely attractive.

Sadly, contrary to the stereotype that elves are a race specialized in commerce, the Great Desert’s economic scale had shrunk tremendously. To the point where Fael and the Fa tribe’s wealth could almost pay the land purchase price.

Second, as Shan-Lea pointed out, Fael had the power to subjugate them without bothering to pay money. Whether by hiring human mercenaries or using the red dragon.

He simply chose the path of settling with money because he found the blood that would flow endlessly and his compatriots’ resentment distasteful.

Third, Fael firmly promised that even if a nation was established, the tribes’ territories and the tribal chieftains’ positions would remain recognized. He promised local autonomy.

Finally, the tribal chieftains who took the contract Daniel offered agreed to persuade their tribespeople and conclude the contract.

A modest party celebrating Elrahatan’s revival was held, and Daniel could finally feel at ease.

There was still much work ahead, but at least they’d overcome one major hurdle.

While the adults shared drinks, Namir called out Lea, who was sipping milk.

“Um, Lady Lea.”

In the quiet ruins. Namir took a deep breath and spoke.

“Yes, Lord Namir.”

“I’ve made my decision.”

“Please tell me.”

Namir carefully spoke, making sure his voice wouldn’t tremble.

“I think we can become comrades who support each other. I’ll become chieftain. I can do it if you help me. Let’s get married.”

His face was bright red. Just like the first day.

Lea smiled brightly and approached Namir, taking his hand. She could feel his whole body trembling.

“Great! When should we get married? What about children?”

“A-After we both, both have our coming-of-age ceremonies!”

Namir shouted while fidgeting with his hands.

***

‘That’s how it was?’

I recalled the Great Desert events while reading Erika’s letter.

About two months ago, when I’d just returned from Cortana. Daniel had flown over personally on Tan to tell me this story.

After that, I fought Lieutenant General Kaiser, got dragged away and imprisoned by Kruger, Richard left, and this matter almost got completely pushed to the back burner.

‘Still, they’re doing well.’

According to Erika, workers attracted by high wages and stimulating advertisements were increasing.

The Great Desert affairs were endlessly fascinating to watch, like Arabian Nights.

‘A pure fool and a pure genius couple. I hope things work out well for them.’

It’s nice to escape reality like this occasionally.

But now it’s time to work. I put down the letter and stretched.

It was the end of summer. Here near Bektim, the largest city in East Etrastan.

I was about to face battle.