Our Family Has Fallen

Chapter 333: Chapter 241: Deerhead Tribe_2

She had seen the drills of those soldiers, and they had proved Hamlet’s strength.

She had also visited the exhibition room with the Alpha Wolf’s Great Shield among other captured equipment, and from the soldiers, she had heard about how those tough battles had been turned around in the hands of the Lord.

All of this without exception demonstrated the Lord’s power, not to mention his growth within just three months.

And from the relatives of the patients, she learned of the Lord’s journey: he never broke his word, always fulfilled his promises, and displayed strong tolerance and fairness.

To tell the truth, I was filled with despair for this land, but unexpectedly, such a... perfect Lord had emerged in this cursed place. It all feels like an illusion, unreal.

But at the same time, I harbor hope for my own quest for revenge. Perhaps he truly can help me accomplish it.

”I have made my decision, and I hope you will keep your promise,” she said.

Upon hearing this, a faint smile appeared on Lance’s face. Her choice was not unexpected, because their goals aligned, and she had no better choice than him.

However, Lance was still willing to give ample respect to talent and immediately stood up to lead her to a more relaxed drawing room, rather than remaining here.

”Since you’ve chosen to join us, that means we are comrades. Since that’s the case, let’s clarify everything here. If you have any doubts, I can answer them to avoid issues later on.”

Lance used the iron stove on one side of the room to heat water. This time, he used charcoal, not firewood. The development of the wilderness had begun, and resources were starting to flow back to the town. This was just the simplest manifestation of it.

”First things first, detail the situation of your tribe and the Fang Wolf Tribe,” Lance said, putting down what was in his hands and taking a seat beside Grendel. He had already discussed the Alpha Wolf, so now it was her turn to show sincerity.

Grendel was not foolish, and after the tribe’s annihilation, there was nothing worth concealing. However, a look of sorrow couldn’t help but show on her face when she spoke of this.

”In the Misty Mountains, there are numerous tribes, big and small, and our Deerhead Tribe is just a small one, but every tribe that survives in the mountains has its unique ability...”

With Grendel’s explanation, Lance gradually understood the situation of the Deerhead Tribe.

The Spirit of the Wilderness that the Deerhead Tribe worshipped resembled a deer with verdant branches for antlers. The Deer Spirit’s abilities could be summarized as resistance to toxins, plant control, and the acceleration of plant growth.

The Blue Deer had a mild nature and disliked slaughter. Even the sacrificial offerings in its rituals were various plants—not ordinary ones, but those with Spiritual Essence.

As the tribe that worshipped the Blue Deer, they could wield similar abilities by certain means, but likewise, due to the Blue Deer’s influence, they disliked killing.

Their mild-natured people used this ability to cultivate plants, and under such conditions, most of the Deerhead people became experts in Herbology or cultivation.

Their dislike for conflict yet ability to survive in the mountains was no coincidence, as the precious medicinal herbs grown by the Deerhead Tribe and the various Potions they concocted were valuable commodities. Furthermore, their gentle character made them willing to help those who were wounded or ill.

As time passed, every accomplished individual would travel as a healer. While many did so to test their knowledge—or, to put it bluntly, to practice on people—other tribe members and even people from the Empire had received such aid.

Injuries and disease within the mountains were terrifying, and the Deerhead Tribe’s ability to heal such afflictions, combined with their lack of ambition, earned them Sanctuary from many parties.

Even the Empire, which was the largest buyer of materials and Potions, would not harm them, and curiously, the Deerhead Tribe became the darling of many groups.

In theory, this should have continued until...

”We became complacent, never expecting an Evil Wolf to have set its sights on us.”

Grendel didn’t recount the tribe’s attack directly but spoke instead of the cause, which was herself.

Grendel had shown extraordinary talent since childhood, gaining the Deer Spirit’s favor. With the tribe’s ample resources, she received the best upbringing.

She didn’t let them down, displaying remarkable Extraordinary traits by the age of ten and becoming the tribe’s priestess.

Then she began dealing with the tribe’s affairs under the guidance of the previous Priest. Because of the trade with the Empire, she was taught about the Empire, including its language, from a young age.

Not all tribes were closed off. The Deerhead Tribe was relatively enlightened. At fourteen, she became an adult and finally began her journey as a traveling healer. To test her own abilities, she had even followed trade caravans and visited the Empire several times.

That’s why she spoke the common language so well, and why her worldview was broader compared to Boudica, who was also from the Barbarian Tribes.

By that time, she had already completed her travels as a healer and returned to the tribe to begin learning about deeper powers and how to manage the tribe as the next Priest.

It was when she came into contact with one of the Barbarian Tribes that trouble started to brew.

Yes, that tribe was the Fang Wolf Tribe. At the time, however, they had not yet recovered from the decline resulting from their defeat in the war with the Empire. Under the steady leadership of their Alpha Wolf, they did not engage in widespread slaughter but resembled hungry wolves licking their wounds in the shadows.

The turning point came when the genius Warwolf of the Fang Wolf Tribe decided to please the Wolf God with a hunt during a ritual and chose to challenge an Extraordinary beast.

Although he succeeded, he was severely injured, and the Fang Wolf Tribe, fearing the loss of their genius, sought help from the Deerhead Tribe.

You see, the Deerhead Tribe’s survival was not solely due to certain methods. They were also good at networking and building good relationships, getting along well with everyone.

Despite their decline from the war with the Empire, the Fang Wolf Tribe still had the foundation of a large tribe, and naturally, the Deerhead Tribe also wanted to foster good relations.

And Grendel, as the Priest-in-training, was the most suitable one to help. Simply put, it was a chance to curry favor and get acquainted firsthand.

Grendel’s abilities were such that she could even cure plagues concocted by Witches, so saving the Warwolf was an effortless task for her.

However, during this brief period of treatment, the Warwolf actually declared his affection for her.

Uh... Being from the Barbarian Tribes myself, I could understand such a matter, as Barbarians are very straightforward in expressing their feelings.

She didn’t take it too seriously. After all, many in the Mountain Tribe liked her, and that Alpha Wolf didn’t even rank.

She merely replied that she needed to serve the spirits.

But to her surprise, the Warwolf did not care about her rejection at all, continuing to proclaim his affection for her and even coming to the Deerhead Tribe to pester her.

But for the Barbarian Tribes, such matters were merely a laughingstock. Everyone knew that their Priest could not possibly marry out, and with the Alpha Wolf above him keeping him in check, it was assumed that this issue would end there.

But then, out of the blue one day, the Warwolf led the barbarian warriors of his tribe in a sudden raid on the unsuspecting Deerhead Tribe.

The Deerhead Tribe had warriors as well, but years of peace had dulled their vigilance, and they never imagined that someone would actually come to attack them.

Moreover, their Secret Techniques were mostly related to plants. They were fine with farming but not quite cut out for combat. Facing the Fang Wolf warriors, who lived by slaughter, the massacre was overwhelmingly one-sided.

”The entire camp was stained red with blood, flames rose all around, filled with wailing and screams...”

Through Grendel’s recounting, Lance could glimpse the tragic state the Deerhead Tribe had endured from her perspective.

Yet, even though the members of the Barbarian Tribes had lived in peace for a long time, they still possessed a fierce determination, and their resources were plentiful. Their warriors immediately consumed combat stimulants, and various Potions were employed.

Grendel and the other Priests who had mastered such arts also unleashed the tribe’s Secret Techniques during the battle, controlling the surrounding plants to strangle their foes.

There was also a key factor: each tribe possessed some unknown, eerie secret arts. In reality, every member of the Deerhead Tribe carried a taboo within them—the cultivation of Extraordinary plants using their own Flesh and blood, a power that would be triggered upon their death.

Bloodthirsty Thorns, feeding on Flesh and blood, grew from the corpses of the tribespeople, thrashing wildly against the invaders. Anyone caught by them would have their blood drained in moments, their body turning into a desiccated corpse that fell to the ground as fertilizer.

Admittedly, for a moment, they actually managed to hold back the attack.

But amidst them, the figure of a tall man became the last straw that broke the Deerhead Tribe.

”My lover! Where are you?”

Accompanied by a roar-like voice, he appeared on the battlefield...