Building My SSS-Rank Universal Empire: From Trash to Cosmic Overlord-Chapter 154: Complicated

"Don’t worry. Nothing will happen to them. They’ll be treated as guests," Manefor said as he led Vale into a hallway lit with torches.

"Am I a guest as well?" Vale asked with a smile.

Manefor hesitated. "That remains to be seen... You are complicated."

Vale grunted. He could guess why he was considered complicated. He was using the fire the Forsaken Tribes considered as the power their Lord only gave to the True Blightfur.

’How will they feel if they know this power stems from the Demon World?’ Vale shook his head.

Finally, he was led into the hall that actually looked like a throne room.

The room seemed to be carved into the mountain itself, the walls worn smooth with age. Four long tables took up two sections of the room, stretching from the raised dais to the end.

On the raised dais stood a stone throne, and on it sat a man even bigger than Manefor. He had gray hair and an ugly scar on his chin, his eyes dark and solemn.

Atop his head was a crown made of stone etched with numerous symbols, but the one that caught Vale’s eye was the moon at the center. ’...That... I feel like that moon should be glowing red...’

Immediately in front of the dais stood four chairs, three of which were occupied. Manefor took the last unoccupied one.

Vale stopped a few feet before the four chairs, studying the occupants. They were older men, except for Manefor, and they looked at Vale with mistrust.

Manefor stood and bowed to the Chief. "This is Vale Athrimir."

’..So the news that I declared myself as Athrimir has traveled this far...’

The Chief nodded and regarded Vale from his throne. His voice rumbled like stones rubbing together. "You are welcome to the last shrine of the Crimson Lord, Vale Athrimir."

Vale nodded and bowed.

"That is if he really is an Athrimir!" one of the elders said. "We should have nothing to do with someone like him who lies and tricks."

"Yes. He says he is Athrimir, and so? Even if he is, it has nothing to do with us! We want you lot gone from our land anyway," another elder replied.

Vale looked toward the Chief, but the man seemed content to let the elders have their say.

’...Maybe they are even speaking his mind...’ Vale thought.

Vale spread his hands, his voice calm and controlled. "It has nothing to do with you? You swear loyalty to the Athrimir, and it is by our grace you remain in this land."

The elders sputtered, faces reddening. One of them stood and pointed at him angrily. "You...! We owe loyalty only to the Crimson Lord! And how dare you talk about our land? We own this place! For years, generations."

Vale smiled. "And yet, you pay homage to the Clan Leader of the Athrimir Clan."

Silence descended as they could only glare at him. Even before the Rift opened here, the Forsaken Tribes had long been under the Athrimir Clan.

Manefor finally spoke. "Then why hasn’t the Athrimir Clan come and cleansed this place of the monsters and ruins?"

For that, Vale had no words.

After a moment, he finally spoke. "Maybe the time is finally right."

After observing him for some time, the Chief said, "I am Takoda, Chief of the Forsaken Tribes. What are you here for, Vale Athrimir?"

"I want you to support me. I want to be the new Commander here. An Athrimir will finally take the lead in the Borderlands again," he said without hesitation.

Surprise rippled through the room, and they stared at him as if he would follow the words with a laugh. But Vale stood there, back straight. "I will be the Commander. I need your support."

Takoda sat up in his throne, his expression serious and severe. "You? Who can’t even prove that he’s really Athrimir? You want to be the Commander?"

"I am Athrimir," he said firmly. "And I know you can tell I’m telling no lies."

"I hear no lies in your voice, but then are you not the same one who said you are blessed by the Crimson Lord?"

Vale smirked. "Have you asked me yourself, Takoda? If I say I am, then I am. Will you support me because of that?"

This made the elders even angrier as they began to shout.

"How dare you!"

"You brat! You think you can fool us? That child that told us knows nothing!"

"I say we sacrifice him to the Crimson Lord!"

Suddenly, the sound of large stones groaning and rubbing together reverberated through the room. Everyone fell silent and turned to the Chief, who had raised one of his hands.

His eyes weighed down on Vale like the mountains. "The blessed of the Crimson Lord are like guides sent to us by Him. We will always follow them. The True Blightfurs were our blessed guardians before they, too, vanished.

"If you are truly the blessed, then praise to the Crimson Lord! But if you are not, Vale of Athrimir, then you will wish to have never entered this palace. Are you the blessed of the Crimson Lord?" His voice was like stone speaking, hard and heavy.

’...Well... I do have some kind of inheritance from who is likely the Crimson Lord... I’m very sure he’s the one... Now how to prove it? Everyone is trying to make me prove something these days...’

Vale, who already felt some kind of familiarity with the moon symbol at the center of the Chief’s crown, raised his hand. A red fire appeared, dancing on his palm and casting a warm glow over everyone.

The elders, except for Manefor, flinched, their eyes widening. Of course, they’d never seen it before, but they were sure this was the same fire!

It was described as a red fire.

Still, they remained suspicious. Anyone could have a sub-essence that could create tricks.

Before they could say anything more, Vale raised his hand, the back of his right hand facing them. He allowed his Mark Order to be revealed.