The 31st Piece Turns the Tables

Chapter 160

Seol’s party was horrified upon hearing that the trolls were looking for a human summoner. It was all because they could instinctually tell who they were looking for.

‘Why are they looking for me?’

Mael looked at Seol before interpreting the message to the rest of them.

“The trolls are looking for a summoner who commands a troll. It seems like… they are searching for Snowman.”

Chameli, shocked, spoke next.

“Uh… Sh-Shouldn’t we tell them he’s not here? Wouldn’t that be better? What if they try to hurt him…”

Before they could continue their discussion, the troll sent another message.

"Keep in mind, all of you will eventually have to face Ungola. He has mystical powers that allow him to see through everything, no matter how hard you try to hide it. If we later find out that you hid something, we will tear off the limbs of five of you as an example.”

Before even interpreting the message, Mael began counting with his fingers.

“One, two, three…”

“Why are you counting? What did he say?”

“Ah, so…”

- I can’t believe he’s counting them off LMFAOOOO

- Is he trying to see how long it would take before they pick him? HAHAHA

- Mael realized the cruelty of society early on 👍

Seol waved his hands, stopping Mael from relaying the message.

Interpreting their words would only cause more chaos, regardless of how they would react to it.

[[It is evident that the Black Thunder Tribe’s scouts are looking for you. What do you do?]

1. Hide without saying a word.

2. Tell your party the truth and go along with their decision.

3. Reveal the truth when you meet Ungola.

4. Reveal your identity to the trolls.

……]

Seol thought for a moment before opening the carriage doors.

“Are you perhaps looking for me?”

“Hm? Human, you know how to speak our tongue?”

“Somewhat. More importantly, I doubt I’d be the only person who fits that criteria… do they have any other characteristics?”

“The events at Yognatun. Do you know about the Sulfur Skull Tribe?”

“Yes, I do,” smirked Seol.

“Were you there?”

“I was.”

“Are you related to its downfall?”

“I am.”

Fwip!

Fwip! Fwip!

The Black Thunder Tribe pointed all of their spears at the carriage that Seol was riding.

“Wh-what do we do?! What did you say?”

“They look quite upset… Did you say something wrong?”

“Everyone, calm down. I’m sure he will handle it.”

“And what if he can't?”

"Then we'd have no other option but to fight. We might be going along with them right now, but we also have more than enough power to resist. Let’s just observe the situation for now.”

Seol had a cold look as he spoke to the leader of the scouts.

“What are you doing right now? Are you trying to get their revenge?”

“......”

The leader then waved his hand away.

“Put your spears away. We have much to go.”

Woosh… Woosh…

As their guards put their spears away, the tension between the expedition party and the Black Thunder Tribe eased a little.

“Phew… I’m glad that it was a misunderstanding, at least.”

“I think we need to observe the situation more before we can make that conclusion.”

“What are they saying?”

"I’m still trying to figure out the exact context of their words.”

As Chameli and Mael continued their conversation, Seol asked the leader of the scouts questions.

“If you’re taking us to get revenge for the events at Yognatun…”

"Not at all. Each tribe has its own lives. The Sulfur Skull Tribe may be large, but the Black Thunder Tribe is also comparable in size. Unless the Sulfur Skull Tribe specifically requests something from us, their matters are their own to deal with."

“Then why were you specifically looking for me? We were busy enough already.”

"Entering our territory means you will be using the roads we have been maintaining. Once we finish our business with you, you will be able to save time."

“Why do I also hear it as potentially taking as much time as I'd be saving…”

“As long as everything goes well, that won’t happen.”

Seol then quickly followed it up with a question, as he was unable to wrap his head around something.

“But... how did you know that I was there?”

“We didn’t.”

"...What?"

"It was likely fate that brought you here. We've simply asked that question to every human who has recently intruded on our territory, and if their answers weren’t satisfactory, we've expelled them."

"...Have you killed some of them?"

"If we had to. Regardless, if you claim you are the summoner, that is more than enough. I’ve done the most I can, the rest is up for Ungola to confirm and decide."

“Hm…”

Ungola.

As there weren’t any Required Adventures that involved the Black Thunder Tribe, Seol had never run into them before, even in his previous Adventures.

However, Seol had an extremely handy troll database that he could use exactly for moments like these.

‘Jamad, do you know Ungola?’

Jamad answered him immediately.

- It would be harder not to know him. The Black Thunder Tribe’s current leaders are Ungola and Ungus. They are brothers, but not of the same mother, and they are leaders with polar opposite personalities.

‘Is it possible that their relationship is like the one you had with your four brothers?’

- There’s no way, that’s impossible. If my memory serves me right, Ungus is the older brother, and Ungola is the younger brother. Ungola fell behind physically compared to the other trolls ever since he was young. When it comes to strength, Ungus is head and shoulders above.

‘But if you hear them right now… all they’re talking about is Ungola. Are you sure Ungola didn’t become the sole chief?’

- ...I doubt it. I haven’t heard much about them since becoming chief myself, but it’s impossible for Ungola to surpass Ungus to become the chief.

‘Maybe… they fought over the chieftain spot? And Ungola defeated him in that?’

- I don’t know. We’ll have to go there and find out.

* * *

Translator - goguma

Proofreader - Karane

* * *

The Black Thunder Tribe resided in the center of the Wet Fog Hills, their village in the highlands, visible from anywhere in the hills.

“Humans! There are humans!”

“Are they intruders?”

“They must have committed a sin! Human meat is too stringy, though...”

“Do you think we’ll get a taste too?”

As Chameli got off the carriage, she shuddered at the sight of the trolls surrounding her, talking to each other.

“Wh-what are they saying? Mael, what are they saying about us?”

“...They are giving us a very warm welcome.”

“Ah, it was just something like that? I was worried that it was something else…”

Mael pushed down the guilt from lying by closing his eyes and continued forward. It was quite polarizing compared to Chameli who was waving her hands at the trolls.

“Hahaha! That woman is smiling at us!”

"After we're done with her, we should make sure to brew her bones!"

Mael’s expression grew worse and worse.

Seol then asked the trolls that were guiding them.

“Does the Black Thunder Tribe still eat humans?”

"We punish criminals like that to instill fear, but we don’t usually. Humans taste awful."

"By criminals... What crimes had they committed to be considered criminals? I've heard you typically don't interact with humans."

“For example, intruding into our territory…”

- So we’re already criminals?

- We’re on death row?

- Dying like that might be better, though LMFAO. Imagine being bathed and thrown into a cauldron with carrots and onions.

- I think… we’re fucked.

- Claim that local law doesn’t apply to you because you’re a foreign citizen!

As Seol’s expression stiffened, the leader of the scouts smiled.

“But don’t worry too much. If you’re the human we had been looking for, you won’t be on our dinner table tonight.”

“I’ll trust you.”

“Then wait here. Ungola will soon decide whether you will be guests or intruders.”

They arrived at the center of the village.

Seol and the others were first surprised by the location. It was enormous, like a square in a large city. But what surprised them even more was the number of trolls occupying the area.

It was to the point that their mere presence felt suffocating. Not to mention their fierce eyes, which only grew their worries.

“Woarghhhhh!”

“It’s been so long since we saw humans! With this many, even we might get a taste!”

For the first time ever, Seol regretted knowing the troll's language.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The low sound of a drum beat out.

“H-He’s coming!”

“Ungola is coming!”

“Everyone, bow down!”

Boom! Booom!

The trolls kneeled, touching their foreheads to the ground in reverence. Patiently and silently, they awaited something.

“Wh-what’s going on?”

“It seems like their leader is coming.”

“Are trolls normally like this?”

"Each tribe has different cultures. Isn't that the same for humans?"

“It is, but… do we need to kneel down too?”

"We probably don’t. How they treat us now will depend on the conversation Snowman is about to have with them."

As Chameli and Mael continued their conversation, a massive palanquin adorned with all sorts of animal bones approached them.

Atop the palanquin sat a troll exuding a heavy aura…

“......”

His face, covered in black from forehead to nose….

Ungola had appeared.

“Ungola! Ungola!”

“Lord Ungola!”

Ungola waved his hand.

As he did so, not even the loud trolls made a whisper.

“Humans. Those who trespass into the lands of the Black Thunder Tribe are doomed to become our meal. Yet here you stand, despite this knowledge..."

“Let’s drink their blood!”

“Their meat! We need to eat their meat!”

Seol stood still, maintaining a calm expression as he met Ungola's gaze from below the large palanquin.

“Though it would be pleasant to open a celebration with your blood and flesh, I have also heard something quite interesting. So, which one of you brought down the Sulfur Skull Tribe?”

“It was me,” answered Seol.

“Oho… you seem to be an ordinary human, though… to think you were hiding powers like that… No, I guess that wouldn’t be right. After all, those aren’t your powers.”

Ungola’s eyes flashed open.

"It was the work of the powers you are concealing!"

The crowd of trolls began to whisper and murmur.

The expedition party, unable to understand the conversation, grew increasingly worried. Some even began to tear up.

“...Now, show me,” said Ungola. “Show me that strength as well!”

Seol gulped before asking Jamad a question.

‘What should I do?’

- We’ve come all this way. I should at least see his face.

Fwirl!

Jamad emerged from Seol’s hands and set foot on the ground.

Thud…

He was massive, much bigger than any of the trolls from the Black Thunder Tribe.

“I-Isn’t that…”

“That’s Jamad! It’s Jamad!”

“Mountain Jamad really was still alive!”

“Woahhh…”

As Jamad appeared, everyone shuddered and stole meek glances.

- What the hell? Was Jamad actually someone really important?

- Jamad, the GOAT

“It’s been a long while, Jamad,” said Ungola.

"It has. This is the first time I've seen you since my death."

"Isn’t it also our first time meeting each other again after that tournament a long time ago? And I suppose even death couldn’t do much about the pressure you emit."

"Hmph. Seems like your older brother is better at treating his guests than you."

“Hahaha… I’m not sure if you’re allowed to say that after the mess you caused last time as Ungus’s guest, Jamad.”

“......”

"Regardless, I was shocked once upon hearing of your death, and I was shocked again upon hearing of your appearance in Yognatun."

Jamad fixed his expression, his eyes shining.

"Even death cannot stop my ambition."

“You’re going on about that again. You haven’t changed at all.”

"Of course, I won't change until I achieve my goal. But... it is strange, nonetheless."

“.......”

“Where is Ungus? I wish to see my friend.”

All of the trolls flinched at the mention of Ungus's name.

Something was off.

“Answer me, Ungola. Where is your older brother?”

Jamad was beginning to wonder if Ungola had killed Ungus to become the sole chief of the tribe.

“He’s dead.”

“Like I… What?”

“Well, it might be more apt to say he might as well be dead.”

“What the hell are you talking about, Ungola?!”

Ungola gave a defeated laugh before continuing.

"He challenged Ambika, the primal god of lightning, and lost. Now, he is cursed to wait at the Thunder Highlands."

It had been a long time since Seol saw Jamad this shocked. Seol could sense his desperate, mixed feelings.

“No way… Why would Ungus challenge Ambika…”

"It was because of your death, Jamad. After you died, Ungus felt desperate to sever the blood contract our kin faces, and he left alone to do it.”

“That fool! But… waiting? Waiting for what?”

“You, Jamad,” said Ungola. “He’s waiting for you.”

“......”

Ungola’s eyes grew colder.

“Please kill my brother, Jamad. Please kill… that cursed body…”

“Ungola.”

"He still waits for you there at the Thunder Highlands, his body scorched black... please, go find him and grant him peace. This is something that even I, his brother, can’t do... it’s something only you can do."

Multiple messages flooded Seol’s vision.

[The requirements have been met, activating Hidden Adventure.]

[Hidden Adventure ‘Awaiting Execution’ is now active.]