-----
After the incidents yesterday, the clan awoke to a cold morning. Winter was closing in. Soon the sky would cloud over, and snow would begin falling across this part of the plains.
Because of yesterday's battle, we had little left to continue our journey to the far side of the Green Plains. Sixty percent of our belongings had been destroyed or burned, seventy percent of our cattle lay dead, and several warriors had fallen. Despite the victory celebration, the clan now teetered on the edge of peril.
I woke up lazily today. I didn't feel like moving at all. My mother insisted I stay in bed and rest, reminding me that I had literally died and come back to life. But I suspected she was also shielding me from the rest of the village.
I could already hear the whispers outside. People were talking about me—how I had returned from death. Some even speculated that I was the reincarnation of our ancestor. Ridiculous. I had actually met her, and I was fairly certain I was not her.
Still, there were things I needed to do. Now that I had become the clan's hero, a heavy responsibility rested on my shoulders. But it wasn't as if I hadn't planned to save this pitiful clan from the start. From the beginning, I had resolved not to let them perish in the war that was slowly drawing nearer.
"Ah, thank you, Fenrir."
As I rose from bed and yawned, I noticed Fenrir had brought me three Horned Rabbits he had hunted. Two were still alive, breathing heavily with wounds in their stomachs. I quickly finished them off, completing the daily quest.
[You have completed the Novice War Goddess Quest: [Hunt a Tier 1 Magic Beast: 1/1]]
[Reward]: +10 Strength and the Talent: [War Spirit Physique (C Rank)]
[Do you wish to accept the rewards?]
[Yes] [No]
[Complete! You have gained +10 Strength and the Talent: [War Spirit Physique (C Rank)]!]
[Your compatible Physiques have merged. The [Great War Spirit Physique – Tier 2: Rank 4 (B Rank)] has advanced to Rank 6!]
[Your [War Spirit of Strength: ??? – Tier 2: Rank 3] has Ranked Up to Tier 2: Rank 6!]
Once more, a crimson spirit manifested and merged with my body. Glowing runes appeared across my skin, then quickly faded. The lingering spiritual power remained in every cell, making me feel noticeably stronger.
"Let's see my status, shall we?"
The moment I opened it, several system messages appeared.
[You and your Clan have slain a [Bone Wyvern – Tier 3: Rank 9] x3. You have earned Bonus Experience Points from slaying a foe stronger than you.]
[Level Up!] (x14)
[You have reached Level 30. Stat Points have been allocated. You gained 20 Free Stat Points.]
[Congratulations, you have reached Max Level, and it is now possible to Rank Up your Classes through specific Materials and Conditions.]
[Do you wish to see your Class Rank Up Requirements?]
"Wow, max level already? Really? Then everyone who participated in that fight must have leveled up a lot too… at least those who survived got stronger," I sighed, speaking to Fenrir even though he likely didn't understand. "I have five classes, though, so I have to fulfill five different conditions?"
As I rubbed my chin, I decided to check the requirements.
[Class Rank Up Requirements.]
[Five Tier 3 Magic Beast Cores]: [0/5]
[Fifteen Tier 2 Magic Beast Cores]: [0/15]
[Twenty-five Tier 1 Magic Beast Cores]: [0/25]
[Learn Five Magic Spells]: [2/3]
[Learn Three Healing Magic Spells]: [1/3]
[Learn Three Weapon Techniques]: [1/3]
[Hunt Down 10 Airborne Beasts With Bow and Arrow]: [2/10]
[Steal Three Valuable Things From Someone]: [0/3]
"A-Are you kidding me? What are these requirements?! So I can't do one class at a time—all of them combined?! Whew… this will take a while."
I checked the system properly this time.
Aaand…
♢♢♢♢
[System Owner]: [Brunhild Skadi]
[Titles]: [Red Fang's Young Seer]
[Level]: [10/30] -> [30/30] (Max Level)
[Class]: [Magician – Tier 1] [Warrior – Tier 1] [Archer – Tier 1] [Healer – Tier 1] [Rogue – Tier 1]
[Elemental Spirit Root]: [None]
[Spirit Beast Tattoo]: [None]
[Talents]: [Great War Spirit Physique – Tier 2: Rank 6 (B Rank)]
[Traits]: [Divine Soul Orb – Tier 10 (SSS+ Rank)]
[Vitality]: [1540] -> [4040]
[Mana]: [1670] -> [4170]
[Strength]: [1110] -> [2610]
[Endurance]: [970] -> [2470]
[Spirit]: [890] -> [2140]
[Resistance]: [760] -> [2010]
[Agility]: [990] -> [2240]
[Luck]: [275] -> [1525]
[Charm]: [800] -> [2050]
[Free Stat Points]: [29]
[Bonded Familiars]:
[Adult Gray Wolf: Fenrir – Tier 1: Rank 10]
[War Spirit of Strength: ??? – Tier 2: Rank 6]
[War Goddess System: Freyja – Tier ?: Rank ?]
[Weapon Techniques]:
[Red Fang Axe Style – Tier 1: 32% -> 77%] (First Form: Searing Cleave – Burning Claw)
[Burning Dragon Soul Style – Tier 3: 1%] (Inherited Ancestor Legacy)
[Skills]:
[Mana Manipulation – Tier 1: Level 10/10]
[Mana Aura – Tier 1: Level 5/10]
[Mana Reinforcement – Tier 1: Level 5/10]
[Weapon Talent: Axe – Tier 1: Level 4/10]
[War Spirit Aura Embodiment – Tier 1: Level 3/10]
[Divine Soul Orb Sanctuary – Tier 1: Level 1/10]
[Class Skills]:
[Magic Rune: Wild Beast Path – Tier 1: Level 2/10]
[Charge Attack – Tier 1: Level 2/10]
[Archery – Tier 1: Level 2/10]
[Healing Flame – Tier 1: Level 2/10]
[Shadow Step – Tier 1: Level 2/10]
♢♢♢♢
"Ah…"
My eyes narrowed as I noticed what was new. My stats had skyrocketed again. And now there was the Divine Soul Orb listed as a Trait. I also gained a Weapon Technique. When? A legacy from my ancestor?
"Uuh…"
I sat down for a moment, staring at my status in disbelief. That dark place where I fought the Lich's Soul had been real, and I had gained new power from it.
"Um, Freyja, are you awake?"
[Yes… just now. I also tend to sleep for a few hours. Please forgive me.]
"No, no, it's fine. It's just that… oh, you appear as a familiar. But why is your classification unknown?"
[Perhaps because I don't grow the same way other beings in this world do.]
"Ah, I see… so anyway… What's this Burning Dragon Soul Style thingy?"
[It's not from the System. It appears to be an Ability or Inheritance—a Legacy you awakened within your Bloodline when you made contact with your Ancestor.]
"W-We have dragon bloodline?! The Red Fangs? We, the jobbers of the game?"
[From what I analyzed, your ancestry includes dragon, elf, and even fairy bloodlines. I don't know who this "Sylph" was, but she was a monster among monsters—a goddess in her own right.]
"Wait, you don't know her? From what I remember, she was your dad's boss?"
[I barely ever spoke to him. He kept me in a separate space until he threw me toward you…]
"Oh, shoot… sorry."
[It's fine. We can find things out together.]
"Okay, so… okay, let's calm down and think… does that mean I can awaken more of my bloodline's powers?" I wondered.
[I don't know, but maybe. Though the method remains unknown.]
"Okay, gotcha," I nodded. "And about this Soul Orb… what is this?"
[It is a powerful Divine Relic used by Reincarnation Gods to manage the Souls of the Dead and guide them to Reincarnation.]
"W-What does that mean?"
[As it is now, it is mostly dormant. Its power alone has enhanced your soul and fully healed it from the damage caused by the Lich's Ghostly Fire. You lack divine power, so you must absorb souls directly from your victims, like that rabbit. Look over there and channel the Trait's power.]
"Wait, what?"
By instinct, I activated the Divine Soul Orb Trait. My eyes glowed bright gold, and I saw a small rabbit soul hovering near the dead Horned Rabbit—tiny and very weak.
[That is a Tier 0 Horned Rabbit Soul. It's very weak, but it will do. Direct your hand toward it and order it to come to you.]
"Eh… Come to me!"
FLUOSH!
The soul was instantly pulled into my hand, glowing as a golden orb appeared in my palm.
"Woah, what the hell?!"
I panicked for a moment and fell backward onto the grass.
"What happened? Wait, nothing changed."
[No, it has been stored in your Divine Soul Orb Sanctuary! Now access it through the Skill. It's free—no cost. You should also close your eyes for it to work properly.]
"Um, okay then."
I closed my eyes and activated the technique as instructed. My body felt strangely wobbly. Then it felt as if I had left my physical self behind.
When I opened my eyes again, I was no longer in my tent. No, I wasn't even in the physical world anymore.
"W-Where am I?"
It was a pitch-black void stretching endlessly. I stood at the center of a small, ruined sanctuary—or temple—made of bright yellow stone. At the center stood a small, dry fountain and an altar. The horned rabbit's soul floated near the fountain. Ancient pillars reached into the darkness, and yellow-white grass grew through the cracks of the old ruin.
"Welcome. This is the Divine Soul Orb Sanctuary, Brunhild."
Freyja appeared beside me, an adorable fairy made of red light.
"Ah, you're here too… so this is inside the Soul Orb?"
[Yes, it is a pocket space—a spiritual realm. This is where you manage the Souls you collect.]
"Okay then… what now?"
"Walk to the altar."
I approached and touched it. In an instant, the horned rabbit's soul teleported in front of me, becoming a small golden sphere.
"Oh?"
"Now you have three options," Freyja said. "First, eat the Soul. If you do, your own Soul will grow stronger, your Spiritual Energies and Mana reserves will be restored based on the soul's strength and size, and they will increase permanently by a small amount. You could even potentially gain a new power, ability, or skill, though it's rare."
"Wait, what?!" I gasped.
"The second option is to send it toward reincarnation," she continued. "By sending it to the cycle, the soul will pass peacefully and leave behind Soul Essence, which becomes Soul Points. You can use Soul Points for many things! I believe my system and the Soul Orb have merged. Soul Points may now unlock features I couldn't access before, such as the Town Building System or the Unit Summoning System."
"Wait, really?!" I said. "So I can build a town! And summon units?!"
"Yes, but this pitiful soul won't be enough," Freyja sighed. "Anyway, the third option is to turn the Soul into Soul Essence and add it to the Fountain of Souls. Depending on how many Souls you feed it, the Fountain—and the Sanctuary—will grow, granting various perks such as increased Soul Points, better absorption of soul power, and more."
"Huh, pretty hard to decide," I said. "Seems complicated but… honestly, I'll reincarnate this little guy for now. Eating it just doesn't sit right with me. My brother would probably kill me if he knew I ate the soul of an innocent rabbit."
"Hahaha, I suppose so. Well then," Freyja nodded. "Be at ease."
Freyja embraced the little soul. It quickly flew upward, transforming once more into a cute rabbit and rising higher and higher. It glanced back at me for a moment before disappearing. For a brief second, I glimpsed an endless garden of bright flowers.
Was that the place souls pass through while reincarnating? I wondered. I hadn't passed through anything like that myself.
FLASH!
As the soul departed peacefully, I felt energy left behind.
[You have allowed a small soul to reincarnate peacefully.]
[You earned 1 Soul Point.]
"Only one, huh? Can I get any soul or only those I take down?"
"For now, only those you defeat yourself. You would need to ascend into a Reincarnation Goddess to govern every soul across a planet."
"Right, I guess that's the limit of this authority… well, this is pretty neat. How many Soul Points do I need to build something?"
"Hmm, the Town Building System and Unit Summoning System are still locked. You would need 100 Soul Points to unlock both—fifty each."
"Eh?! Fuck… where am I getting that many if a tiny rabbit only gives one? Do I have to make the rabbits go extinct?"
"I don't know, but don't worry. We'll find a way. The Green Plains are vast, and the forest where your family settled is quite large. There are mountains nearby and even a swamp."
"Hmm, maybe… I guess I'll have to hunt with my friends and family. But how do I explain that I need the kills? Ahh, I'll figure out the details later."
I blinked and returned to normal, feeling slightly groggy but otherwise fine.
"Whew… that was amazing. I've got a much clearer path now. It's nice."
[I'm glad I could help. Without your Ancestor's assistance, assimilating the Divine Soul Orb wouldn't have been easy… but it worked in the end.]
"And that's what matters. Alright, Fenrir, let's go grab a meal."
I stood up, stretched, and stepped out of my tent. I walked into the larger family tent where my family was gathered, their expressions grave as they spoke in low voices.
"Oh? Brunhild! Our hero! Are you awake now, my granddaughter?!"
"G-Grandpa?!"
My grandfather was here. I hadn't expected him to appear so suddenly. I assumed he would still be busy helping the village, yet there he sat, eating casually with my family.
The others were far less relaxed. Why was he so calm? Was this the composure of a chieftain—projecting strength and confidence so the clan would not spiral into deeper despair?
"Brunhild!" My mother rushed over, her voice gentler than usual. "My baby, why don't you go rest? You haven't slept enough. At least take a week, alright?" She pulled me into a tight hug, caressed my face, and kissed my forehead. "Come on now, let's get you—"
"No, Mom, I'm fine," I said. "Really. A lot happened, but when I returned, my body was already fully healed. I'm alright now. I'm just a little hungry."
"B-But…" My mother's face remained clouded with worry.
"Frigga, let the girl sit down and eat with her family," my father said. "Come on, dear. Sit between your dad and your grandpa. We have something important to discuss."
"Eh?" I tilted my head. "What is it?"
"It's… uhh…"
"Hm…"
Magnus and Astrid stayed silent, barely meeting my eyes.
"Honestly, you have no shame even suggesting such a thing for our daughter," my mother said, stepping protectively in front of me. "I won't let you place that kind of responsibility on her shoulders! She's barely eleven years old!"
"Frigga, enough…" my father sighed. "It's not like we want this either, but it has to be done. Look at the clan. At this rate, even if we survive the immediate threat, we could still starve by winter without someone to inspire them."
"Hmm, I understand your concern," my grandfather sighed. "But the Elders want to see her first. Nothing is decided yet. In the end, it all depends on her response. We will not force her, Frigga. I already told you that."
Still confused, I spoke up. "Um, Mother, I'm grateful you're so worried about me, but I really want to know what's going on… Also, I'm hungry."
My mother looked at me with troubled eyes. "Okay… I'll warm you some stew. There's bread, cheese, and milk on the table too. Help yourself, dear." After planting another firm kiss on my cheek, she headed to the bonfire.
I sat at the table, made a cheese sandwich with some meat, and drank the cold, refreshing sheep's milk.
"Alright," I said after a moment of heavy silence. "So what's wrong?"
"Well, the thing is…" my father sighed, shooting a glare at my grandfather.
My grandfather shook his head. "It's nothing that bad! Why all the tension? Listen, Brunhild. The Elders want to meet with you. After all, you didn't just return from the dead—you came back wielding what many believe was divine power. You defeated an enemy even I couldn't overcome and became the clan's hero. Your parents told me you awakened new abilities, but even so, this level of growth is simply insane. We need to address it and discuss your new role in the clan—whether you wish to accept it or not."
"…My new role?" I asked.
As I tried to process his words, my mother returned with a steaming bowl of stew and handed me a wooden spoon.
"Eat first, dear. You can go after a proper meal."
I nodded quietly and ate. When I finished, my grandfather and father led me to a large tent where the Four Elders of the Clan waited.
A heavy silence greeted me inside. The Elders rarely spoke directly; they usually let the chieftain serve as their voice.
They were four ancient members—two grandfathers and two grandmothers. Like me, they had awakened their bloodline powers. Their ears were elegantly pointed like those of elves, and despite their visible age, they had lived far longer than most humans. The youngest among them was nearly three hundred years old.
I noticed one grandmother had a strange hand covered in red scales, her black nails long and claw-like.
"So you've brought the young hero, Chieftain. Well done."
"Yes, my granddaughter is here, Elders. Sit down, Brunhild. Son, wait outside."
"No."
My father refused, standing firmly beside me.
"I'm not going outside. I promised her I would stay by her side, and you can't force me out."
"…"
"…"
"…"
"…"
The four Elders fixed my father with stern gazes. For a brief moment, their pupils turned reptilian. A crushing pressure filled the air, then vanished just as quickly.
"Do as you please, Ragnar," the grandmother with the dragon-like hand sighed. She turned to me with a gentle smile. "Brunhild, is it? Welcome to the Council of Elders. This is a small and humble place where the oldest among us decide the clan's path. Right now, we face a grave crisis. We never expected to be attacked by those wyverns. Whoever sent them clearly holds a deep grudge against us. We've lost most of our resources and can no longer continue the caravan to warmer lands. At this point, we fear we must somehow survive the coming winter here."
"Yeah, I've heard," I nodded, sitting between my father and grandfather. "I overheard my parents saying you wanted me to become some kind of inspirational figure. What exactly do you mean?"
The Elders exchanged glances before looking at my grandfather.
"No," he said. "We want you to become the new chieftain."
"…?!"
If I had been drinking tea, I would have spat it out. The words left me utterly speechless, my mouth hanging open.
My father sighed and gently closed my jaw.
"I know it sounds crazy, so you're free to reject the offer."
"E-Eh? Wait… what?! Me, the chief? But wasn't I an Empty One?" I asked.
"The Stone was clearly wrong," one Elder replied. "You were simply a late bloomer."
"We heard you awakened your abilities later. Please forgive us for our earlier judgment."
"Your grandfather still had many years ahead of him, but after he was nearly defeated by that monster—which you easily vanquished—things must change."
"As you know, only the strongest warrior traditionally becomes chieftain."
"I… I've heard that, yeah," I nodded. "So you want me to… but wait! I'm not even twelve years old! Are you all crazy?!"
"Hahah, it might sound crazy, but it makes sense to us."
"Your age does matter, of course. You won't become chieftain right away."
"If you accept, you will first undergo several years of training while serving as a secondary leader—standing beside your grandfather, guiding the clan, and inspiring our people."
"You are our hero now. Everyone looks up to you. Some even believe you are the reincarnation of our ancestor, Goddess Sylph. Others see this as the resurgence of our nearly forgotten bloodline."
I remained silent for a moment, nodding slowly as the reality of the situation settled over me. This was the direct consequence of my actions.
Farming too much Aura had its drawbacks. People began placing you on a pedestal, and then you carried the crushing weight of never disappointing them.
And if you failed… they would brand you a fraud.
It was delicate. Yet from the very beginning, I had planned to lead this clan anyway.
"…When I awakened nothing during the ceremony, I was truly sad," I sighed. "Not for myself, but because I lacked the strength to change anything. I've seen it in my visions—this clan will meet its end in five… no, four years."
"What?"
"So you've had another vision?"
"Your abilities are real!"
"Wait, we'll be wiped out?!"
"In four years, the Red Fang Clan will perish in the first War of the Plains," I explained. "We will be flanked on all sides by stronger clans and crushed mercilessly. No survivors."
"…!"
"…?!"
"…!"
"…"
Not only the Elders, but my father and grandfather as well, looked horrified.
Then I smiled at them.
"But I won't let that happen," I said. "The Red Fang Clan is my family, and I love my family. I was planning to help everyone from the start. So… even if it seems ridiculous at my age, becoming chieftain aligns perfectly with my goal."
"S-So you accept?"
"Wait, do you truly believe we can change our fate?"
"It is possible," I nodded. "But we'll need to take drastic measures. One is to settle down and stop being nomadic. We will build a village."
"What? But is that even sustainable?"
"The Green Plains always provide as long as we keep moving. Winter is merciless here, especially with Snow Beasts and Ice Specters roaming…"
"Some say winter is so cruel in the plains because it is a curse from the Beast God Fenrir…"
"Are you suggesting we endure this every year?! Preposterous!"
"There's a way," I said firmly. "But you'll have to trust me. We can build a village with facilities to keep us warm through winter—walls strengthened by magic to repel threats, and a growing population that will fight for our survival."
The Elders and my parents fell silent, staring at the floor as they weighed the possibilities and the sacrifices they would demand.
"And well, there's much more I can't explain right now," I sighed, crossing my arms. "But we don't have any other option. We lack the resources to move on. We'll have to endure winter here regardless. We're lucky to be deep inside a large forest—there's plenty of lumber. We should start building houses. We have talented crafters and carpenters, and plenty of strong hands for the heavy work."
"…That's right. I guess there's no other choice," my grandfather nodded. "I support my granddaughter."
"Me too," my father said. "If my opinion even matters."
The Elders looked at one another, then back at me, nodding one by one.
"Very well. From now on, you will undergo chieftain training under your grandfather for the next two years. Once you turn thirteen, you will assume the position of chieftain—the youngest in our clan's history," the dragon-handed grandmother declared. "Yet your maturity and manner of speaking suggest you possess an 'old soul,' as some would call it."
"What's that?" I asked.
"When people retain traits from previous lives. You, Brunhild, likely reincarnated. Do you have any memories?" one of the male Elders asked.
Wait, what? They already guessed? I thought. Good thing reincarnation is an accepted concept here.
"Uh, well… I don't know," I said, playing dumb.
"Well, that's fine too."
"Anyway, you've already proven yourself to us."
"With nothing left but to trust you, we will follow your suggestions."
"Alright then. Gather the strongest workers with axes and start cutting as much wood as possible," I said. "We'll begin by clearing this area, then build a barricade and wall. Later, we'll construct houses. We need a wide, safe space. I'll need to inspect the forest in detail first, but I may recognize more once I do. I also need to hunt and kill many beasts. Doing so myself will grant me the power to help build this settlement through a Skill I awakened."
"It requires you to hunt beasts?" one Elder asked. "Well… if you say so. Very well. Thorfin, go inform the rest of the plans. Some may dislike it, but bring the hero with you. She will inspire them."
"Alright," my grandfather nodded. "Come on, Brunhild. Accompany me."
"Okay!" I nodded and followed him outside.
With my grandfather and father beside me, I delivered a simple, heartfelt speech to the clan—words I made up on the spot. Despite the heavy losses we had suffered, it motivated them.
Woodcutting began immediately. Dozens of strong warriors, both men and women, started felling the towering pine trees. The wood was hard, but it would serve us well.
While the work started, I told the rest of my family the news with my father present.
"S-So you accepted the chieftain position?!" My mother nearly fainted. "W-What are you even thinking?! My little girl is going to lead the entire clan?! Those damn Elders!"
"Calm down, Frigga. The girl wanted it," my father said, supporting me. "She gave us many excellent suggestions and seemed incredibly sharp. Even the Elders were impressed."
"I'll become chief if it means we can all survive together," I said with a gentle smile. "I know I'm still young and inexperienced, Mom… so please, I'm counting on your help too."
"Haaa… you've grown so fast—you already look fourteen or fifteen…" she sighed. "That Physique you awakened really accelerated your growth… Haaa… but I know you're still just eleven, my dear. Is this really okay?"
"It's fine," I smiled. "Don't worry."
I looked at my siblings, who were in tears, and they rushed forward to hug me.
"Congrats, Brunhild!"
"Well done!"
"A-Ah… t-thanks! Hahaha…" I laughed nervously. "Um, I was wondering something. Could you two come with me to hunt? I need your help. I'll bring my friends too, so we can form a big group. You're our seniors, so you could watch over us."
Both gave me curious looks.
"What are you planning?" my brother asked.
"I want to map the surrounding area," I said. "Then see if I recognize anything from my visions. We can use the landmarks to plan our town."
"Huh, so that's the plan," my sister chuckled. "Alright then. I've been feeling useless lately. It'll boost my ego if I can help my genius little sister!"
"Thanks! Let's begin!"
And so, without further delay, several projects began at once.
-----