My Kingdom Building Done Right!

"Brent, do you think the Aslan Tribe is strong?" Leone asked him in a teasing tone.

"It is strong," Brent replied without hesitation. "Very strong."

"Then, do you know how many tribes had come together to form the Aslan Tribe?" Leone asked once more.

In response, Brent looked at the faces of the people who stood behind Leone.

The Alborin Tribe, the Riverfang Tribe, the Black Wolf Tribe, the Stormhorn Tribe, and the remains of the Bloodtusk Tribe.

Five tribes.

The Aslan Tribe was composed of five tribes, and yet, their combined numbers only reached a little over a thousand.

"The Aslan Tribe is made up of people at the bottom of the hierarchy of the Borderlands," Leone stated. "Keep in mind, we were only a low-ranking tribe two months ago. After the war, our numbers are now below a thousand. Now, you might be wondering. Why am I telling you this bit of information?"

The young chieftain smiled faintly as if the answer was very obvious.

"I... I don’t know, Great Chieftain," Brent answered.

Leone nodded. "Then I’ll tell you why. It is because your worries are completely unfounded. The Aslan Tribe has never been a tribe that devours the identities of the people who join it."

Hearing those words, Brent and the members of the Bonegnash Tribe looked at the young chieftain as if seeing him in a new light.

However, Leone was not finished just yet.

"We grew this strong, for we consist of different tribes that chose to stand together," Leone stated in a firm tone. "The Alborin Tribe, the Riverfang Tribe, the Black Wolf Tribe, the Stormhorn Tribe, and even the remnants of the Bloodtusk Tribe all have their own histories."

The young man then pointed at the monuments standing in the Plaza of the Brave.

"Now, do you think I would allow those histories to disappear?" Leone asked him in a challenging tone.

Everyone followed his gaze.

The monuments represented the sacrifices, victories, and memories of the people who had helped shape the Aslan Tribe into what it was today.

And the Earth Mother bore witness to all their bravery.

"Sure, we are called the Aslan Tribe," Leone said. "But that doesn’t mean everyone who follows me must forget where they came from."

His words caused several members of the Bonegnash Tribe to look at each other.

"And that is why your request doesn’t anger me, Brent. On the contrary, I understand." Leone looked directly at him. "After all, you want to protect the last remnants of your tribe."

Brent slowly lowered his head in return. "Yes."

"There is nothing shameful about that." Leone smiled at that.

For the past few days, Brent had constantly wondered whether his decision was selfish.

After all, the Aslan Tribe had given them a place to stay.

They had even been allowed inside its territory.

And yet, despite all of that, he still wanted to preserve the Bonegnash Tribe. A part of him feared that Leone would interpret his request as lack of loyalty.

Yet, the young chieftain simply understood.

"However," Leone continued, "There is something you need to understand as well."

At this, Brent and the Bonegnash Tribe’s expressions became serious.

"If the Bonegnash Tribe wishes to remain a distinct tribe under my protection, then you must also accept the fact that you will obey my word." Leone’s tone was firm.

This was the part that he needed to make Brent and the Bonegnash Tribe understand.

"A vassal must serve their lord," Leone added. "With unwavering loyalty."

Brent nodded in response. "I understand."

"You will have autonomy over your internal affairs," Leone declared. "Your Elders may continue to guide your people. You may preserve your customs and traditions. You may also retain the Bonegnash Tribe’s name."

The four Elders listened attentively.

"However, when it comes to matters concerning the safety and future of this entire domain, my word is final." Leone’s words were like a sharp sword, cutting through the crux of the matter.

"We accept," Brent replied immediately.

Leone smiled once more, the tension disappearing from his face.

"Brent, you don’t need to sacrifice yourself to ensure your people are treated fairly," Leone said. "Do you know why?"

"Why, Great Chieftain?"

"Because that’s already my responsibility."

Leone turned and looked at the Bonegnash Tribe, making sure that all of them were looking at him.

"Ever since you entered my domain and accepted my protection, your safety has already become my responsibility," Leone said firmly. "If someone from the Aslan Tribe tries to bully you because your tribe has fallen, they will have to answer to me."

The members of the Bonegnash Tribe looked surprised after hearing the young chieftain’s statement.

"If someone tries to steal what belongs to you, they will have to answer to me," Leone continued, his eyes narrowing. "And if someone attempts to harm you without justification... they will definitely have to answer to me."

Silence descended upon the Plaza of the Brave.

For a brief moment, Brent thought that the smile of the Earth Mother’s statue widened a bit after hearing Leone’s heartfelt declaration about protecting her children.

Brent stared at Leone seriously in return. He understood that the young chieftain wasn’t saying these things merely to persuade him.

After all, he could see it in his eyes.

Leone kept his word and abided by it.

Suddenly, someone behind Leone spoke up, catching everyone by surprise.

"A tribe is more than its name," Kael commented, his voice reaching everyone in the plaza. "It is the people who carry that name."

Then, as if coming to an understanding, someone else made their opinion known.

This time, the one who stepped up was Jason. He was in a similar position to Brent, so he best understood what the young man was thinking right now.

"If you wish to preserve the Bonegnash Tribe, don’t focus only on preserving its name," Jason said. "Preserve your people. Build homes for them. Give the children a future. Allow your warriors to grow stronger. Only in strength can we truly protect the peace."

Then, as if passing the baton to someone else, Ulric took a step forward.

He then placed his hand on Brent’s shoulder. Among the tribes that had become part of the Aslan Tribe, the Alborin Tribe had the least amount of people.

Only thirty.

Thirty people.

Yet, those same thirty people became the foundation of the Kingdom that Leone was starting to build in the Borderlands.

"If you can accomplish those things," Ulric said with a smile. "Then the Bonegnash Tribe will survive regardless of what name people call it."

Brent’s lips parted slightly. He wanted to say some things, but felt that the words he wanted to convey got stuck in his throat. His eyes also moistened because the fears, anxiety, and pressure he felt suddenly disappeared as if he was finally allowed to breathe once more.

For several seconds, he was unable to answer.

It was Leone who broke the silence.

"The Bonegnash Tribe has already lost enough," Leone said softly. "I have no intention of taking away the last thing you have."

Brent lowered his head at those words. At the moment, he was doing his best to keep his dignity as a warrior, as well as the current chieftain of the Bonegnash Tribe.

His shoulders trembled slightly, holding back the tears threatening to fall, touched by the words of the people who had accepted him and his tribe.

"Great Chieftain..." Brent said, doing his best to keep his voice from breaking.

"Don’t cry just yet," Leone said with a teasing smile. "You’re a warrior, aren’t you? Kael said that a warrior is only allowed to cry when their wife... uh, never mind."

At his words, several people chuckled, lightening the mood severalfold.

Brent hurriedly wiped the tears from the corner of his eyes, making sure not to leave any evidence behind.

Still, no one said anything as he looked at Leone with a smile.

"One day, when I become truly deserving to become your vassal, you will allow me to serve you, right, My Lord?" Brent asked.

"Yes," Leone replied without hesitation. "And I am already looking forward to that day, Brent."

The young chieftain had learned something after Vlad became his vassal.

Those who chose to become his vassals willingly, despite the doubts, challenges, fears, and contradictions in their hearts, seemed capable of drawing out far greater power from the bond that they shared with him.

Leone still didn’t really fully understand the reason behind it, but Brann and Vlad’s vassalships had given him food for thought.

Was it because their hearts were truly aligned with his?

Was it because they had willingly chosen to place their faith in him?

Or was it simply because a higher power had recognized the strength of a vow made without coercion?

Leone didn’t know the answer to these questions.

However, he had seen enough to understand one thing.

A vassalship forced upon someone was fundamentally different from one that was willingly accepted.

A person could kneel before a king out of fear.

They could swear loyalty out of helplessness.

They could even sacrifice themselves for the sake of the people that they loved.

Yet, deep inside their hearts, hesitation would remain.

And hesitation was something that could not be easily overcome.

Leone looked at Brent, who was still standing before him.

The young chieftain knew that the current chieftain of the Bonegnash Tribe was willing to become his vassal.

However, that willingness was born from desperation.

Sure, Brent was willing to sacrifice his own future so that his people could survive.

It was a noble decision.

But Leone didn’t want that.

He wanted Brent to choose it wholeheartedly.

Wholeheartedly in a sense that, despite knowing the difficulties that awaited him, despite the doubts and contradictions he might face, and despite having the freedom to walk away...

He would still choose to stand beside him.

’That is what I want from my vassals,’ Leone thought.

Not blind obedience.

Not loyalty born from fear.

Not a sacrifice made out of lack of choice.

But rather, he wanted people who would willingly walk beside him towards the future.

People who would question him when they believed he was wrong.

People who would disagree with him.

People who might even struggle with their own beliefs.

But in the end...

They would still choose to trust in him.

And perhaps that was the reason why Vlad had gained so much power after becoming his vassal.

Vlad had become Leone’s vassal in his own volition.

He had not been threatened.

Nor had he been forced into a corner.

Instead, the young man had overcome his doubts and fears, and had even faced the possibility of disappointing his own family.

Yet, despite everything, he had still chosen Leone.

He had chosen to follow him.

He had chosen to believe in him.

And that choice had awakened something within him.

The Thunder Roc Bloodline.

Leone’s gaze softened as he looked at Brent. ’I wonder if the same thing will happen to you someday.’

Brent was already strong.

As the current chieftain of the Bonegnash Tribe, he had the potential to become a powerful warrior.

However, Leone didn’t want to simply give him power.

Instead, he wanted Brent to discover the reason why he wished to wield that power in the first place.

"Brent," Leone said.

"Yes, Great Chieftain?" Brent replied.

"Being my vassal will not make your life easier." Leone smirked at him. "If anything, it might make your life much harder."

Several people at the Plaza chuckled after hearing those words.

They couldn’t deny it.

Becoming Leone’s vassal came with many benefits.

They would gain power.

They would gain status, as well as opportunities that most people could only dream of.

However, it also came with responsibilities.

A responsibility to protect the Kingdom that Leone was building in the Borderlands.

It was a dream.

An almost impossible dream, even. But now?

That dream was starting to become a reality.

And for the first time since arriving at the Aslan Tribe...

The members of the Bonegnash Tribe began to truly laugh alongside everyone else.

And as Brent looked at the people surrounding him, only to then gaze at the statue of the Earth Mother that was smiling down at him, he truly believed that one day, he would become worthy of becoming Leone’s vassal.

And when that day came, Brent and the Bonegnash Tribe would stand alongside the Aslan Tribe and their allies, fighting to protect the place that had given them a future worth fighting for.

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