Chapter 117: The Raccoon Tribes Chiefs

-----

(Veronica)

[Experience Points have reached the required Level!]

[The individual's Rank has increased to level 100!]

[The individual's Job has increased to level 100!]

[The Levels of the [Aura of Fear; Level 1], [Tame; Level 3], [Artillery Technique; Level 3], [Charge; Level 5], [Golem Transmutation; Level 2], [Soul Binding; Level 2], [Dominate Created Undead; Level 2], [Automatic Mana Recovery; Level 2], [Increased Mana Recovery Rate; Level 2], [Strengthened Attribute Values; Legion; Level 2], [Chant Revocation; Level 3], [Strengthen Followers; Level 3], and [Commanding; Level 3] Skills have increased!]

(Ervas)

[Experience Points have reached the required Level!]

[The individual's Rank has increased to level 100!]

[The individual's Job has increased to level 100!]

[The Levels of the [Digestion; Level 3], [Bloodsucking; Level 3], [Shield Technique; Level 2], [Armor Technique; Level 2], [Unarmed Fighting Technique; Level 3], [Golem Transmutation; Level 2], [Soul Binding; Level 2], [Dominate Created Undead; Level 2], [Telekinesis; Level 4], and [Surpass Limits; Telekinesis; Level 4] Skills have increased!]

After the fight against both of Oggoth's armies led by Gazers, Ervas and Veronica finally gathered at the Raccoon tribe of the south alongside the chiefs of both the South and the North Tribe.

Their meeting with the chiefs was quick and unorganized before the war, as the Raccoon-kin people were completely unaware that an army of monsters was coming for them.

But now that they could finally relax and talk properly, they sighed in relief and also were filled with gratitude towards Ervas and Veronica, both chiefs were kneeling in the ground.

The chief of the South Raccoon Tribe was a man in his mid-forties with a slim physique, short brown hair, and the ears of Raccoon atop his head, alongside a small Raccoon tail at his back.

He had a weak-looking complexion and was not at all a strong man by looks alone, but he seemed to be well-versed in a few magic spells.

His name was Riann and he was a respected father of five children.

Meanwhile, the chief of the North Raccoon Tribe was a woman of a similar age to Riann, but with a youthful figure and a mischievous smile.

She had white skin with long brown hair decorated with many flowers, she had a beautiful figure and also had brown-colored raccoon ears atop her head and a fluffy raccoon tail atop her butt, dangling around.

Unlike Riann's tribe, the northern tribe of Raccoon-kin was led by a strong matriarchy where women were descendants of a strong raccoon witch that once separated from the tribe of the south, creating her own tribe to the north with her own family.

Most of those that still possessed a strong bloodline from that witch showcased great magic talent, but as time went on, this bloodline diluted more and more, only leaving a handful of strong combatants for the tribe to defend themselves… nonetheless, those that could fight joined in, including the chief, named Mysticia.

Although both chefs were quite proud and old, both were prostrating on the ground, deeply thanking Ervas and Veronica.

"Thank you, Lady Veronica! Without you… my tribe… my family, all of us would have ended up being wiped out…" muttered Riann between tears, at first he was too frightened to even talk properly with Veronica, but after understanding her motives and that she was truly a good woman, despite being a Living Armor, he couldn't help but be grateful for her actions.

"Ah, Ryan, there is no need to prostrate in the ground, please stand up! Come on, it doesn't fit such an old man to do such a thing!" said Veronica.

"Ah… Lady Veronica…" muttered Riann while trying to wipe the tears off his eyes.

Mysticia was in a similar position to Riann.

"Ah, Lord Ervas! Thank you so much! Even if I were to fight alongside my daughters… it would have been hopeless against so many Rank 6 monsters and the hundreds of other monsters… saving my brethren has been your greatest deed! Please, take any of my daughters as your future wife! No! Take them all!" said Mysticia with a strange fanatic look on her brown eyes. She was staring deeply into Ervas's crimson eyes, seemingly slowly falling into fascination, unlike Riann who was just very thankful and admired Veronica's personality.

Ervas felt a bit uncomfortable with such an old (yet beautiful) lady clinging to him as if he were a desired male for her daughters to marry with, but didn't show this on his expression, and quickly forgot about it after some seconds of considering things out.

"You don't have to be so grateful; I was just doing what was right to do. Also… We have to apologize instead" said Ervas. 

Veronica nodded.

"Indeed, although we saved you… we used both of your tribes as bait for these armies to split and make their extermination quicker and swifter. We could have perfectly made contact with you way earlier… but we choose not to do so due to this tactic we decided to take on, we apologize" said Veronica.

"We know that what we did is unforgivable giving the circumstances, and we are willing to take on your rage… and that of your people," said Ervas.

"We'll leave this place in a few minutes if you desire for us to go away," said Veronica.

Riann and Mysticia glanced at both Ervas and Veronica with surprised looks. Instead of not revealing the strategy they used, risking their image with them, both of them decided to say it all without saving anything in between the two.

Have they ever met such honest people?

Were they even to blame after they saved them anyway?

Why were they so worried about being excluded?

The two chiefs wondered these two things as they thought words to say to them.

When Ervas and Veronica were still one single soul in their previous life, known as the Demon Queen Anastacia, they had many experiences where tribes of demons, humans, beastmen, or other races in the Demon Nation that they ruled would not accept them, or even grow animosity against them due to certain circumstances.

Many times Anastacia was hated by the people because she was born 'lucky' as a royal family member with many luxuries in her life that many lacked… but Anastacia always accepted the people's hates with a smile and slowly improved herself, coming back for them repeatedly until she managed to convince the people with her efforts and work.

After learning that what she was trying to do was improving their life, the people slowly saw her with different eyes… and at some point, she gained the Demon Guider Job, but it was a tad bit too late already, as she was, only a year later slain by the Heroes.

"Lady Veronica, there is nothing to apologize for! You just saved our whole tribe, there wasn't even any casualty and most of our people didn't even saw what happened… even if you used such tactics, if you saved us all at the end, I don't see that there is the need for any grudge to be held… you are an incredibly admirable woman, so please, don't think so low of yourself!" said Riann.

"And Lord Ervas, your whole existence exudes greatness, something vastly over us… and even more as I glance at Lady Veronica! I can feel in both of your presences… your souls are so deeply complex… yet so alike! It is fascinating, our people praise and admire those with strong souls… what you two did was nothing at all! In fact, even if you were to tell us that before, we would have gladly become the baits of the monsters! And at the end, just as Riann says, you two saved us anyways, so what is there to be afraid of? There is no grudge to be held, only admiration and worship! C-Can I build an altar for both of our lords?" asked Mysticia as her eyes seemed more and more fascinated with Ervas… and now with Veronica as well.

"I see… I suppose we were overthinking things" said Veronica.

"Yeah… and no, please don't make an altar, we are people, not gods," said Ervas.

"I agree, don't go overboard, Mysticia…" added Veronica.

"My lords! I insist! There must be an altar for your worship… I… I feel it deep within my soul! I have been chosen by fate!" said Mysticia, seemingly possessed by her wicked faith.

Veronica and Ervas calmed her down after a bit of chatting, but in the end, could not fight against her idea of making an altar for both of her saviors' worship.

The night was about to fall upon the day after the battles, and Ervas and Veronica were about to Evolve and Change Jobs after finally getting off the chief's grasps and having a time for themselves.

Both had already reached level 100 in both areas after defeating so many Rank 6 Gazers, but could not simply evolve and change Jobs yet as they were busy handling many things after everything happened… (Veronica cannot change Jobs through her clones) 

Meanwhile, outside of the Raccoon tribes, the Raccoon people and the Squirrel people were happily butchering orcs and lizardmen, and roasting them in a large feast, leaving aside any cultural differences as they celebrated their victory against a common enemy. 

-----