"Of course, I can run."
"Are you brave enough to collide with others?"
"What’s there to be scared of?"
"You can run, you can crash into others, and you can hold the ball with one hand—how could you not compete? Many of our team mbers are just like you; they have so physical issues too. That guy, Miritus—you should know him—his leg is injured and he walks with a limp, but he still enthusiastically signed up. You’re in way better shape than they are!
Stop making excuses. Join the team, train properly every evening with everyone, and when the tribal gas start, try to win one or two matches. Bring honor to our village and earn the greater blessings of the Danu Goddess!"
These words stirred sothing deep inside Tirisis.
Not only had he watched olive ball matches before, but the tribespeople of Snowdonia were also actively preparing for the upcoming sumr olive gas. In Snowdonia, after finishing their daily work and having dinner, foreign auxiliary officials would often take them to the South Bank fields to watch training matches. These sessions added color to their otherwise monotonous and exhausting lives and made him fall in love with the exciting, intense, and entertaining sport.
Now, seeing that Village Chief Pro was not only not prejudiced against his disability but also held high expectations for him, Tirisis—though still sowhat reserved in deanor—responded with a firm voice, "Alright... I’ll join!"
As he stepped out of the courtyard of the main house, Tirisis whispered to his wife, "This Pro... Pro Village Chief of the Nix Tribe isn’t bad."
"Not just ’not bad,’ he’s excellent!" Lulina praised sincerely. "Ever since he beca the village chief here, he’s been teaching us how to cultivate fields properly to grow more wheat and organizing all able-bodied laborers in the village to help struggling families like ours with farming and plowing.
Whenever anyone faces difficulties, he takes the initiative to help. He’s even adopted several orphans in the village. Compared to him, the previous tribal leader was nothing. Now, our family’s life has improved so much. Now that you’re back, our life will get even better!"
Looking at his wife’s radiant smile, the resentnt and anxiety Tirisis had long harbored toward the Nixes began to dissolve. He smiled with relief and, unable to contain himself, reached out to embrace his wife.
Lulina, however, quickly pushed him away and, seeing a Nix tribesman approaching, loudly said, "Hello, this is my husband, Tirisis. He just returned from Alde and is now also one of our tribe’s Reserve mbers!"
"Ah, congratulations, congratulations! Your family is finally reunited!" The tribesman hurriedly offered his congratulations and even warmly greeted Tirisis.
With his wife’s introduction, Tirisis also politely returned the greeting.
By now, it was dusk, and the villagers were returning from the fields. On the path ho, Lulina continued to encounter other villagers, enthusiastically greeting each one and happily announcing, "My husband has returned!"
Tirisis cooperated actively, bowing and greeting each person.
However, after greeting another villager, Tirisis unexpectedly quickened his pace, leaving his wife behind.
When Lulina caught up, he scolded her quietly with a serious expression, "How can you greet a Scodisqi person so willingly?!"
"Tirisis, you don’t know; among the people helping our family with farming and plowing, he was the most hardworking! And two months ago, when Tedesis (our eldest son) fell ill, burning with a fever and unconscious, it was under Pro’s orders that he carried the child several miles to Ophelia Hospital and saved your son’s life.
Later, the doctor told that if the child hadn’t been brought in ti, even if the fever subsided, his brain might have been damaged... He has helped our family so much. If we don’t show gratitude and instead keep scowling at him like an enemy every day, wouldn’t the whole village laugh at us?" Lulina retorted with righteous conviction.
Tirisis was left speechless.
Softening her tone, Lulina reminded him, "Tirisis, you are now a Nix tribesman. Don’t forget the vow you made before the Goddess—to live in harmony with the other tribesn and to work together to create a better ho!"
Tirisis felt a tremble in his heart, and the figure of the Danu Goddess—graceful, kind, and compassionate—appeared in his mind. Her serene and wise gaze seed to envelop him once again...
Instinctively, he turned his head. The Scodisqi tribesman leading the ox also turned back, and their eyes t for a mont. Tirisis stiffly nodded.
The other man solemnly nodded back.
Lulina watched this mont quietly and then said, "By the way, I’ve been going to the temple over the past few months to pray to the Goddess for your safe return. Now that She has answered my prayers, tomorrow I will go again to offer thanks for Her blessings. Will you go with ?"
"Yes!" Tirisis’s response this ti was resolute.
........................
In the main hall of Ophelia East Village’s main house, a eting of the Political Affairs Hall was in session.
"Leader, five days ago, Legion Commander Fesaros led the army to defeat a portion of the Yabode warriors who were pursuing Segestica’s fleeing troops.
The very next day, they rushed to Segestica Village, which had just been captured by the Yabod people. The main forces of the Yabode Army hastily responded but were again defeated.
Fesaros continued the pursuit, and two days ago successfully reclaid the Segestica Territory that had been seized by the Yabod people. Over 1,300 Yabod people were captured, nearly 1,000 Yabod warriors were killed or injured, and our casualties amounted to just over 100 soldiers..."
After Military Officer Frantinus finished reading the battle report, the officials of various departnts, accustod to news of victory, still showed joy on their faces.
Volenus curiously asked, "Weren’t the Yabod people supposed to be fierce warriors? And we didn’t even send many troops this ti. How did we achieve such an easy victory?"
Quintus explained, "To maintain order in the territory and guard against Brochi and Mazi, this ti we drew 3,000 n each from the First Legion and the Third Legion, plus 1,000 crossbown, forming a 7,000-strong expedition force.
Compared to previous wars, the numbers were indeed smaller, but the Yabod invaders themselves numbered just over 5,000 warriors, marking the first ti our Nix Tribe sent out more troops than the enemy during an expedition.
We had been preparing for this war since last year, while the Yabod people seed unprepared for our intervention. They were caught off guard each ti, unable to fully unleash their combat potential.
As for their supposed ferocity, that’s a claim from the Segesticas. Fesaros’s battle report didn’t describe their performance in detail; he only ntioned that each ti they encountered the enemy, he ordered the crossbow soldiers to fire first. Since the Yabod people lack sufficient armor, two or three volleys of crossbow arrows inflicted significant casualties. Then, with the infantry lined up, he launched a charge that quickly broke their resistance..."
Frantinus then proposed, "Leader, in our last war with the Panoni Alliance Army and in this latest battle against the Yabod people, the crossbow soldiers played a vital role. I believe we should expand the crossbow soldier division to enhance our tribal army’s long-range attack capabilities."
Maximus replied, "The number of crossbow soldiers must naturally increase, but manufacturing crossbow chanisms takes ti and can only progress gradually.
Fortunately, after defeating the Yabod people and occupying the northern territory, we’ll pause our external expansion and focus on helping the tribespeople cultivate their own hos...
In one or two years, I believe the number of crossbow soldiers will grow to four or five thousand, fully eting the army’s requirents."
The decision to let the tribe recuperate and rebuild after concluding this war had already been agreed upon in the Political Affairs Hall, so no one raised objections.
"How are the army’s food supplies now?" Maximus inquired.
Arms Officer Lebilus imdiately answered, "Leader, the logistics for the northern campaign against the Yabods have been exceptionally smooth. Because of the limited number of troops sent, the short duration of the war, and the operations primarily along the Sava River, the Arms Departnt organized a fleet early on. River transport alone handled all logistics, and so far, grain and material consumption have been minimal."
"Your Arms Departnt has done well! However, although logistics were easier this ti, after the war ends, your departnt should thoroughly summarize the experience. When we eventually march south to attack Brochi, we will still rely heavily on river transport for grain and material supplies."
"Yes, Leader."
"Leader, now that we’ve won this war, I wonder when the Yabod people will send envoys to negotiate," Gaius asked.
Pigeris interjected, "We’ve captured so many Yabod prisoners, and Fesaros has already led the army near Yabod territory. They’ve suffered significant losses and must fear our retaliation. They’ll surely send envoys to negotiate soon.
However... Leader, when negotiating with the Yabod people, do we really have to return their land previously occupied by the Segestica people?"
"Of course," Maximus answered without hesitation, then patiently explained, "I’ve already said before, the tribe’s next expansion targets are the southeastern Brochi and Mazi. Compared to the fertile Great River Plain, the northern lands are narrow and barren. They’re not worth holding onto.
Our primary reasons for sending troops north to conquer Segestica’s lands were to secure this newly gained Ophelia territory, to incorporate the Segestica citizens to boost our tribe’s population, and to open a trade route with the Noric people.
Once these three goals are achieved, there’s no need for greed. A asured retreat can help us reach a ceasefire agreent with the Yabod people, and perhaps even form an alliance in the future. Conquering a tribe isn’t always about swords and spears, is it?"
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