Son of Destruction Hakai No Miko Chapter 2.9 Part1

“Why's this guy here?”

Bararak, who entered the big tent where the clan chief conference will take place, said no sooner than discovering Souma who was already present while accompanied by only Shyemul.
Having been strongly advised by Garam in advance to stay silent until he's introduced, Souma shifts his eyes towards Garam instead of answering. Comprehending, Garam said to Bararak,

“Soma is my guest. It's not like inviting a guest to the conference to listen to their opinion poses a problem.”

“That only applies if the other clan chiefs agree, right?”

Due to Bararak's objection as if saying that a human being present in itself is unforgivable, Zurgu and Shunpa speak up together at once.

“In my position as clan chief of the Claw Clan I approve of Sir Soma's invitation to the conference as guest.”

“As representative of the Eye Clan's Head Priestess I accept the attendance of Soma Kisaki.”

With the representatives of the other two clans giving their consent, it will bear no meaning even if I were to object by myself.

“I haven't actually said that I'm refusing it either. I just wanted to point out the rule.”

After spitting out a sharp remark that can also be taken as making excuses, Bararak sits down with a thump. Only Banuka, who sat behind him together with the other warriors of the Mane Clan, apologized to Souma and Shyemul with his eyes.

“We are complete, right? —Let's start the clan chief conference then.”

Making sure of Bararak having sat down, Garam announces the beginning of the conference.
However, just when he was about to state the conference's topics, Bararak suddenly cut in,

“Wait, 《Ferocious Fang》.”

Garam, who had the wind taken out of his sails, turns a questioning look at Bararak. At that Bararak said with a triumphant look,

“The ones gathered here are all clan chiefs responsible for their respective clans. There are no differences in standing between fellow clan chiefs. But it's custom for the most senior clan chief to preside over the meeting on such occasions.”

Certainly, just as Bararak says, such a custom does exists. And the clan chiefs present in this place are Bararak, Garam and Zurgu. There's no need to explicitly state who's the eldest among them.

“In short, you are saying you will take control over this conference?”

As expected, even for Garam it's impossible to not blend his tone with displeasure.

“Indeed. —Well, it's not like I want to do it as it's troublesome. But it's a custom after all. It can't be helped.”

Even as such words left his mouth, Bararak's nostrils widened while twitching.
In contrast to that, Zurgu and Garam crease their brows.
Until now the two of them constantly fought at the forefront while risking their lives, and finally managed to regain the plains. If they are now told that the conference, where they will talk about the future of those plains, will be presided by Bararak, who not only didn't appear on the battlefield himself but even held back on sending reinforcements, it's more than natural for them to lose their calm.
To put it frankly, those words of Bararak are aggravating.
Even Shunpa places a hand on her right cheek and tilts her head slightly, obviously bewildered.

“Skip the fooling around. Putting aside the matter with the equality of fellow clan chiefs, 《Ferocious Fang》 holds the rank of Great Clan Chief. What are you talking about while disregarding that?”

Zurgu, who couldn't suppress his anger towards Bararak to begin with, completely cut down Bararak's suggestion without mincing his words.
However, having waited for those very words, Bararak grins broadly.

“Yes. That, that.”

Next Bararak proudly said to everyone, who looked at him with puzzled expressions wondering what he's speaking about,

“Is it really true that 《Ferocious Fang》 has been declared as Great Clan Chief?”

Due to that sudden statement by Bararak, the venue becomes noisy.

“Do you remember? To become a Great Clan Chief, one must gain the approval of all clan chiefs of the five clans living in the plains, and receive the blessing of the Eye Clan's Head Priestess. But not only hasn't 《Ferocious Fang》 received the blessing of the Head Priestess, I was only informed of him becoming Great Clan Chief after the fact. In other words, he hasn't obtained the approval of the Mane Clan's chief, which is me.”

The majority of those present looked at Bararak with reproach, thinking What is he talking about this late in the game? In the first place it was Bararak who acted slowly even after being requested to depart to the front many times. For that reason Garam became the Great Clan Chief after obtaining the approval of Banuka, who was sent forth as the Mane Clan chief's representative.
To put that in doubt now that the situation has developed this far can even be regarded as Bararak picking a fight.

“However, your son Banuka has given his consent.”

Garam said after turning his gaze towards Banuka for just an instant. Responding to that, Bararak clearly declares,

“Banuka isn't the clan chief. It's me.”

But, with this Banuka, who made the decision as clan chief representative, completely loses face. Banuka casts his face downward in shame behind Bararak.
As if to blow away the unpleasant mood hanging in the air, Zurgu bluntly said,

“No matter what kind of nonsense you blurt out at this point, it won't change the fact of 《Ferocious Fang》 being the Great Clan Chief!”

Bararak sniffs at that.
Even Bararak was plenty aware that his own remark is a false accusation. But, if he recognizes Garam as Great Clan Chief here, Garam's influence will increase. That will equal to a decline in his own influence, leading to a disadvantage in the distribution of clan territory that might be decided in this meeting. That was something he couldn't accept as chief of his clan.
That's why he denied Garam's a.s.signment to the post of Great Clan Chief with the knowledge that it will be opposed, but what was unexpected for Bararak was Zurgu's response. Even though it had been said until now that Garam and Zurgu are two great rivals that cannot coexist, Zurgu supports Garam's a.s.signment from the beginning to the end, and even turns his anger at him, who's voicing his criticism against the appointment.
As might be expected, even Bararak hadn't foreseen that development.
I don't know just what has happened between the two, but this is a bad situation. Thinking that, Bararak decides to drive a verbal wedge between the two.

“Well, well, how surprising. I certainly never expected for you, 《Mad Claw》, who's known for his unmatched valor, to serve under 《Ferocious Fang》.”

Bararak provokes Zurgu in an exaggeratedly surprised manner. If he's told something like this, there's likely no way for Zurgu, who's famous for his arrogance, to stand up for Garam in the same manner as he did until now.
It was a provocation with such an aim, but Zurgu went unconventionally beyond being led around by the nose through Bararak.

“Very well, Bararak!—”

Zurgu slaps his own knee once, bares his fangs and shows a ferocious smile.

“—You got yourself a fight!”

Zurgu throws all bargaining out of the window and immediately jumps to the final measure.

“If you call us, who respected 《Ferocious Fang》 as Great Clan Chief and fought according to Sir Soma's instructions, gutless, I will have you see it through by actually crossing machetes. Luckily Lady Shunpa and 《Ferocious Fang》 are present. Let's go with a Clan War Ritual while the two of them act as witnesses!”

Bararak becomes scared to death.
Among the five zoan clans living in the Solbiant Plains, it's the Fang Clan and the Claw Clan who are said to excel in battle. Right now the Fang Clan was missing many warriors due to the frequent battles against the humans, but in the past they were known as strong clan not inferior to anyone.
But, even back then Bararak would have probably made sure to avoid a battle with the Claw Clan, if his clan would vanish unless he fought either of the two.
Both are warlike clans, but contrary to the Fang Clan's trait of valuing honor, the Claw Clan puts importance on practicality. Hence, in contrast to being able to create a common ground in battle against the Fang Clan as long as you respect their honor, the Claw Clan will never withdraw from a once-started battle until they achieve satisfying results. To say nothing of 《Mad Claw》 Kraga Bigana Zurgu's mercilessness which Bararak has heard about many times in rumors.
I totally refuse going to war with that bunch.

“Wait, wait! I have no intention to fight against a fellow clan!”

Bararak denied the war in a hurry, but that resulted in him bringing even more calamity upon himself.

“Hoo. —Then you desire an one-on-one duel against this me?”

At that moment the air stirred despite no wind blowing within the tent.
Even though he's simply sitting there, Zurgu's body triggers an optical illusion of having grown manifold due to the intimidating air he has started to leak.
Garam was told by Shishul, “Uncle has mellowed down,” but that's far from reality. Even Garam, who's known for his courage, can't suppress his fur tensely standing on end from just being present in this place. Much less to talk about the easily conjecturable emotions of Bararak who was. .h.i.t by the naked coercion released from Zurgu's large build directly from the front.
A duel with Zurgu, said to rival Garam who's highly appraised as Strongest Warrior of the Plains, is no more than a suicidal act. Bararak apologized in a hurry.

“No. I didn't say it with that in mind! I-I went too far. Sorry.”

The bloodl.u.s.t that surged out of Zurgu's body subsided and the heavy atmosphere in the tent was lifted. Everyone breathed a sigh in relief.
Among them Zurgu waves his hands towards Bararak as if chasing a puppy away with a casual att.i.tude which made it apparent that he had already lost interest.

“Then get lost at once. The talks we have to tackle won't get anywhere with some unrelated fellow being present.”

“—Wh!? I'm the clan chief of the Mane Clan! What's your idea behind calling me unrelated!?”

Zurgu laughed scornfully at Bararak who has half-risen to his feet in a fl.u.s.ter.

“Isn't that only natural? Who were the ones to regain the plains? It's our Clan Alliance that accepted 《Ferocious Fang》 as Great Clan Chief and welcomed Sir Soma as guest. You haven't recognized 《Ferocious Fang》 as Great Clan Chief. In other words, the Mane Clan, which hasn't partic.i.p.ated in the Clan Alliance, has no right to speak in this conference where we will decide the territory of the plains we took back while risking our lives, right?”

“B-But, starting with my son Banuka, our warriors have joined the battles, too!”

The panicked Bararak protests, but Zurgu fluently says with an overly serious expression,

“Yeah! Even though they hadn't obtained their clan chief's permission, they kept risking their life for the cause held up by our Clan Alliance. Isn't that a most admirable disposition? You can truly call them role models for zoan warriors. We shall give them our deep grat.i.tude. We shall give them just rewards. —But you know…”

Zurgu narrows his remaining eye s.a.d.i.s.tically.

“The plains' domain is a matter of clans. If the clan chief, who acts as representative of the clan, has nothing to do with it, it cannot be helped, don't you think? Well, this is a truly regrettable situation, isn't it?”

Even if they are clan chiefs of equal standing, Bararak, who was ridiculed by Zurgu – a fledgling in Bararak's eyes – up to this point, grinds his teeth in humiliation.
Judging that anymore of this would be bad, Garam interjected to mediate.

“Leave it at that, 《Mad Claw》.”

Being remonstrated by Garam, Zurgu turned his face away as if having become sulky. However, in the shadow of his body – invisible to Bararak – he lightly waved his hand towards Garam.
After involuntarily smiling wryly at Zurgu's method of telling him, “I leave the rest to you after having stirred up the the situation as much as possible,” Garam says towards Bararak,

“Sir Bararak, I knew that you haven't recognized me as Great Clan Chief. But, that time was one of strife. Urged by the necessity to unify the strength of all warriors, it was an emergency measure we carried out due to necessity.”

Garam turned his eyes at Banuka, who's even now curling up his body out of shame.

“Banuka likely made the daring decision without waiting for your reply because he understood that as well. It's my opinion, but I think Banuka magnificently accomplished his duty as your representative with his resolute decision.”

Unable to object, also because he was saved from Zurgu's relentless question-and-answer game, Bararak can only make an agreeable response of “Y-Yea.”

“And what should one think of a person who throws away another person, whom they recognized at some point in time, even if only as representative?”

Garam's point is extremely reasonable. Judging it as a bad plan to aggravate matters any further, Bararak had no choice but to approve of Garam as Great Clan Chief with a look that should be called extremely reluctant while still putting on airs.

“Let's start the clan chief conference once again then.”

As expected, Bararak didn't interrupt Garam taking control of the meeting this time.

“I'm pretty sure that the territory distribution is the most concerning matter for all of you, but—”

After cutting off his words for a moment at that part, Garam continued with,

“—Before deciding that, I want to talk about the treatment for our guest Soma who a.s.sisted us in taking back the plains.”

A small commotion stirs among the warriors who waited behind their respective clan chief due to that. Beyond doubt they expected that the talks would be about the distribution of territory at the foremost. However, as Zurgu and Shunpa had already been informed about this matter, both loudly say “No objection.”
And then, with a slight delay, Bararak also accepted the motion with a “No objection,” but his face was obviously clouded with discontent. Bararak had easily seen through Garam's ulterior motive. Using the distribution of territory that will be carried out after this as shield, he probably plans to push through the position of that human youngster as guest by himself.
Therefore Bararak beat Garam to the punch before he could broach the topic.

“I don't have any problem with treating this guy as guest of the zoan.”

Having placed the Mane Clan in a somewhat bad situation in addition to having diverted from his own intentions, Bararak schemed to recover here by deliberately showing a lenient att.i.tude towards Souma.
But, ignoring Bararak, Garam continued with his words.

“I'm planning to have Soma named as Clan King.”

“Clan King, you say!?”

Bararak screamed hysterically.

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————— End of Part 1 —————