BAMN: Chapter 166/167

Chapter 166: All Words

"Elder Kaede!"

"We want to see Elder Kaede!"

"You must give us an explanation today, or we will not rest!"

"..."

As Rin pondered how to deal with Frey's invasion, some discordant noises reached his ears.

Without thinking, Rin knew who was speaking.

The Hawk Faction Tengu.

Those who supported Shu had come knocking.

"Do you need me to step in?"

Rin looked at Kaede in front of him. The beautiful woman shook her head, but her eyes revealed a hint of killing intent. "Momiji, make those fools quiet."

"Yes, Mother."

Momiji had long been unable to hold back. She couldn't kill them, but she could teach them a lesson first.

"Momiji!"

"Are you even Tengu anymore?!"

"You actually let outsiders freely kill our kin in the village!"

"Hand those guys over quickly!"

"The Tengu Clan will never compromise with invaders, nor will we become vassals to some damn Demon Lord of the forest!"

"..."

Appearing before Momiji were a group of Tengu, all in their seventies and eighties.

Most of them were from the same era as Kaede.

Many of them had once pursued Kaede madly due to their admiration for her.

Unfortunately, Kaede's heart belonged to someone else, and she had secretly committed to Rin for life.

However, no one knew that the initial jealousy and dissatisfaction would become the fuse today, endangering the unity of the Tengu Clan.

No matter in which world, racists exist.

The Hawk Faction Tengu upheld Tengu supremacy and were quite displeased with Momiji, who had Oni blood, and with Kaede.

To regain power, they did not hesitate to betray the interests of their kin to the Harpy Queendom of Fulbrosia.

It was just that they had never considered, if the Harpy Queendom of Fulbrosia really attacked, given Frey's personality, would she truly tolerate these petty individuals acting high and mighty?

Inviting a wolf into the house, believing they could control the situation.

Little did they know, the moment they opened the door for Frey, they had already lost their value.

Whether to appease the Tengu Clan or for internal stability, Frey and the Tengu Clan would deal with these people.

With a myriad of thoughts in her mind, Momiji's expression grew increasingly grim.

The young woman didn't waste words, continuously waving the paper fan in her hand.

The Unique Skill, Ape Maiden Sovereign, greatly enhanced Momiji's control over wind-attribute energy.

Terrifying magical fluctuations instantly struck down the clamoring Tengu in front of her.

"Ahhh!!"

"You, how dare you…"

The Hawk Faction Tengu, who had not expected Momiji to act, were immediately sent scrambling, clutching their heads.

"By what right do you question me?!"

"A bunch of old fools!"

Momiji angrily scanned the Tengu sprawled on the ground. "Do you really think just anyone can sit in the Elder's position?"

Momiji, who had completely aligned herself and the Tengu Clan's stance with Rin, faced these individuals, who had already been branded as traitors, showing no mercy.

"I can become the acting Elder."

Momiji, abandoning her usual caution, exuded dominance. "It's because of my strength. I am the strongest in the Tengu Clan!"

No matter where, power is the reason for kingship.

What Tengu Clan or not.

Where does such a thing exist in the world of monsters?

Do you really think that being old and living long means you can control the discourse?

Don't be ridiculous!

Without sufficiently strong power to protect the clan, the Tengu would have long been devoured by other monsters.

Momiji didn't understand what the Hawk Faction Tengu were thinking.

But if she had visited human kingdoms and seen the faces of their nobles, Momiji would understand how similar the two were.

They had no power, nor talent.

Yet, they could stand atop countless strong individuals, acting high and mighty, by virtue of their so-called noble bloodline.

They spoke grand, righteous words.

Then, they would turn around and sell out the common people below them completely.

'Is this what Rin-sama meant by corruption?'

Momiji increasingly felt the weight of Rin's words. 'Arrogant Tengu, long-nosed clan, so that's it.'

The Tengu's life was simply too comfortable.

For hundreds of years, a group of Tengu who were protected in the rear and didn't need to fight personally increasingly felt superior.

These Tengu believed Kaede should belong to them.

They also wanted to obtain the power of the Sacred Mountain.

Even the entire Tengu Clan had to live according to their ideas.

Previously, Momiji never understood why their Tengu Clan was called the "long-nosed clan" by other monsters.

One should know that Kaede, hundreds of years ago, knew to descend the mountain for training.

She even studied swordsmanship under Araki Byakuya, practicing with Hakurou.

With such a humble attitude, how could she be arrogant?

'The reputation of the Tengu Clan has been ruined by these scoundrels!'

If there was a group of Tengu constantly exuding arrogant messages, it would not be surprising that others would think that way.

Coincidentally, the Hawk Faction Tengu were precisely in charge of the Tengu Clan's external trade.

In other words, these guys were the source of outsiders' stereotypes about the Tengu!

"Momiji, you, you actually did such a rebellious thing!"

"How presumptuous!"

"How did Kaede teach you? Even she wouldn't dare treat us like this!"

"Have you really been defiled by foreign, dirty blood?"

"As a descendant of the Oni Clan, you are not worthy to be the Mountain God!"

Listening to these people's words, Momiji's patience had reached its limit.

She could erupt at any moment, killing them to vent her inner rage.

"Enough!!"

And just as Momiji was increasingly unable to suppress her killing intent, Kaede's figure emerged from behind the young woman.

Many Tengu Clan members followed her.

They were Kaede's confidantes and the true elites of the Tengu Clan.

"Someone, please escort the elders back."

"As you command!"

At Kaede's command, many strong individuals of the Tengu Clan immediately surrounded the Hawk Faction Tengu.

In terms of strength, Kaede's side held an absolute advantage.

The Hawk Faction Tengu seemed strong, but in reality, it was only in their words.

If it came to a real fight, they were simply no match.

For a moment, the Hawk Faction Tengu looked grim but dared not say anything.

There was nothing they could do, the prestige accumulated over 300 years was not so easily shaken.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 167: The Root

"You must have found this amusing."

Returning to the inner room, Kaede sat down again, then said with embarrassment, "Ever since I gave birth to Momiji, my body has become increasingly weak, and my control over the clan has diminished greatly."

"However, I truly didn't expect there would be so many treacherous individuals."

The Tengu Clan has a population of approximately 30,000.

And in the hands of Kaede and Momiji, there is an armed force of nearly 6,000 people, called the Karasu Tengu Legion.

This is the elite of the entire Tengu Clan, and they are absolutely loyal to the mother and daughter.

Among the remaining Tengu, 20,000 are ordinary clan members who know nothing.

They have not participated in the power struggles of the upper echelons and are the families of the Karasu Tengu Legion members.

In other words, the Hawk Faction Tengu would not exceed 4,000 people at most.

And half of them are Dove Faction Tengu who stand with Kaede and Momiji.

Their ideas are somewhat conservative.

While they also value bloodline and freedom, they are not as radical as the Hawk Faction.

At least, they would not betray the Tengu.

"2,000 people."

Rin said, "I heard they have noble blood and are pure Tengu. Is there such a saying?"

"Hehe."

Kaede scoffed, disdainfully saying, "There's no such thing as a pure Tengu."

"For us monsters, bloodline is indeed crucial, but whether one can develop it is the most important thing."

Bloodline is indeed important, without it, the concept of evolution is empty talk.

But for monsters that can evolve, does it make a big difference what kind of bloodline they evolve?

Just like Goblins, they possess the bloodline of Fire Sprites.

Even if this bloodline is extremely diluted, a Goblin can still evolve all the way up, eventually reaching the level of a Fire Elemental King (True Demon Lord).

Of course, this is merely theoretical.

But what about in reality?

Making a Goblin evolve into an Elemental King is simply a pipe dream.

Even if Rin specifically trained Goblins, he couldn't achieve something so exaggerated.

From a few hundred magicules to millions of magicules.

Such a Goblin, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say it's one in a billion.

If a Goblin truly evolved into an Elemental King.

Does this have anything to do with bloodline?

The amazing one is that Goblin, alright!

With such terrifying talent and luck, no matter what bloodline it had, it would reach the absolute peak.

At this stage, it's not that he takes pride in his bloodline.

Rather, his bloodline takes pride in him!

Because of such an example, everyone learned that Goblins can be so amazing too!

In summary.

Having a bloodline is enough.

And the Hawk Faction Tengu, who don't understand this point, are destined not to produce true powerhouses.

"They always think that the power of the Mountain God was obtained out of thin air."

"I spent 300 years to temper the soul of this child, Momiji, to its current level."

The subsequent naming even directly burned out all of Kaede's mental energy.

How many generations of people, how many generations of elders (Tengu Clan leaders) paid with their lives to cultivate such a Special A-Rank like Momiji for the Tengu Clan.

This is the hardship of monsters achieving class transcendence through their own efforts.

Momiji indeed didn't exert much effort.

But Kaede, she spent her entire life on her.

In contrast, what are the Hawk Faction Tengu thinking?

They actually believe that the countless generations of effort from Kaede's lineage belong to them.

There should be a limit to profiting without labor!

"Sigh~"

Kaede sighed, "Ultimately, it's still my lax discipline."

"As the external representatives of the Sacred Mountain, they have dealt with the Elf Race from the outside world and the humans from the west for many years."

"Over time, a bad influence eventually seeped in."

"So that's how it is."

Rin finally understood.

He had been wondering before how such a group of politicians could emerge from Tengu who lived in seclusion in the deep mountains.

It turned out they had gotten too close to the nobles of the Western nations and were assimilated by their ideas.

"That damned brat!"

"Just like her mother, she doesn't put us in her eyes at all!"

On the other side, the Hawk Faction Tengu, who had been forcibly sent home, had now secretly gathered.

Of course, their smooth assembly was mainly due to Kaede's indulgence.

Otherwise, with their meager abilities, how could they have remained hidden after being exposed?

"They won't be arrogant for much longer."

At the head of the group was the leader of the Hawk Faction, an elder, who took out a magical tool from his embrace, and then retrieved a secret letter from the Harpy Queendom of Fulbrosia.

"This is?!"

"That's right."

The elder revealed a sinister smile. "Just now, the Sky Queen sent word, instructing us to open the hidden village's barrier tomorrow night."

"The Harpy Queendom of Fulbrosia's 200,000 strong army will seize political power from the Tengu Clan in the shortest possible time."

"Elder!"

The Hawk Faction Tengu below showed expressions of surprise and delight upon hearing this news.

They had contacted the Harpy Queendom of Fulbrosia multiple times through trade opportunities.

Both sides had already reached an agreement.

As long as the Hawk Faction Tengu could open the barrier from within, once the Harpy Queendom of Fulbrosia successfully controlled the Sacred Mountain, they would surely be heavily rewarded.

At that time, control of the Divine Mountain would be handed over to them.

They could also use this to climb up Frey's high branch and become part of the Harpy Queendom of Fulbrosia.

With a Demon Lord's protection, and becoming citizens of a great nation.

Isn't this much better than being cooped up in a mountain valley?

As for whether Frey would deceive them.

These Tengu hadn't even considered it.

Just as Momiji believed, everyone thought that Frey had no interest in Khusha Mountains.

What she truly desired was the enormous Divine Tree of the Sorcerous Dynasty of Sarion.

Not the Tengu's small patch of land...

"That cheap woman Kaede and her brat of a daughter will never be a match for the Sky Queen!"

"At that time, I will become the new Sacred Mountain Elder and inherit the power of the Mountain God!"

"And you all will become nobles of the Tengu Clan."

The Elder had long coveted the noble system of the Western nations.

Unlike the Tengu Clan here.

What Elders, Captains, are mostly empty titles with no real power.

"We will surely follow the Elder's..."

"No, we will follow in the footsteps of the Sacred Mountain Elder!"

The high-ranking members of the Hawk Faction Tengu all swore allegiance to the Elder, stating their position.

(To be continued.)