486 – Reigning Without Dominating
A plan to stop the Wolf King using Ende’s power. It’s a good strategy, but there’s a prerequisite. Ende didn’t ask for permission. Even if Ende is ready to fight the wolves, if he’s not prepared to fight, it’s a lost cause.
The returnee, preparing to set out, spoke to me.
“Today, I’m going to meet Treavor, Ende’s market. I’m going to warn him about the Wolf King.”
“Have a safe trip.”
As I lay on the sofa, shaking hands, the returnee narrowed his eyes and approached behind the sofa. Then, with his toes, he flipped the sofa over.
Under the overturned sofa, I muttered to the returnee.
“Why don’t you just take Aji? What about me?”
“Someone has to watch Aji. Besides, you have nothing else to do anyway!”
“If you attack with facts like that, it hurts my heart.”
“Get up before I really hurt you!”
Already lying down and in pain. My excuses were in vain as the returnee led me to the center of Ende.
The city of Ende, a city of free beings. There are no high walls or grand buildings. However, like many places, there are social classes even in such a city.
And, as is often the case in many places, those with higher status tend to live in physically elevated places.
In Endé, there is a small meadow. The first humans who settled in Endé built a structure there for one reason—height provides relative safety from beasts.
As the population in Endé grew, the city no longer worried about beast attacks. Instead, the initial inhabitants were wary of the gathering number of supernaturals. More precisely, they were cautious not of the supernaturals themselves but of their mixed future with the supernaturals.
Oberli was created that way. A neighborhood with a different order than the chaos of Endé. Over time, it did become mixed with supernaturals, but it remained a city within the city, distinct from Endé.
Triber, the market leader in Endé, was also there.
The center of Oberli. In the solemn square covered with white bricks, Triber welcomed the returnee.
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“…Is it you? The adventurer recommended with a purple top.”
Wrinkles on an old man are like traces of age, but to supernaturals, they seem like traces of turning into beasts. The drooping ears and the wrinkles created by them can only resemble beasts.
In that sense, the old man in front of them looked like an old dog standing on two legs.
Of course, there was no intention to demean supernatural dogs, and it was purely a personal impression.
A powerful figure with connections to the imperial family, a veteran who maintained his position in the supernatural city, Triber, holding a cane, looked at the returnee.
“Purple top adventurers are not recommended so easily, but still, such a young adventurer… Well, there must be a major crisis in Endé, right? What is it?”
“If it’s a crisis in Endé, there’s only one, right? You should know it too.”
Even in front of the powerful figure of Endé, the returnee spoke without hesitation.
I admit it. You really don’t discriminate. Because you have no manners no matter who the opponent is!
“The Wolf King will come soon. I came to warn you in advance.”
Triber and other senior supernaturals roared. Some even shivered. It’s scary to know the taste, even if you expected the name to come up.
Triber surveyed the audience with his wrinkled face.
“…Do you have such strong evidence to be so sure?”
Now is the time. I, who was waiting for a dramatic entrance, threw the bouncing ball into the square. Azji almost mechanically leaped to catch it. Catching the ball as if sliding on the ground, Azji tumbled and rolled.
Oberli Square is a solemn place where the ruling class openly holds meetings. It’s a performance to jump into it barefoot and create a shock.
“You’ve come at the right time.”
…It’s not my unilateral decision. It’s a pre-agreed action with the regressors. I didn’t think I would like this kind of thing, but surprisingly, they were flexible.
Some of the beastmen frowned, but a considerable number of them perked up their ears. Some of them betrayed the king due to their mixed animal parts.
“Ah, as expected. Your Majesty…”
To call the king of the beastmen a true king of beasts is truly difficult. It’s not like we have any relationship, and there is no obligation to obey, and the king of beasts does not try to dominate.
But still, he is the king.
There is no need to prove it. I don’t even have any doubts. I just know. Our intentions are aligned.
That is what the king of beasts is.
Tribor, who welcomed the king of beasts, slowly approached Azhi. Azhi, who was friendly to humans and faithful to dogs, did not even show any caution towards the old dog beastman. Watching Azhi happily chewing on a ball, Tribor spoke slowly.
“…The last sighting was in the kingdom. After the royal family disappeared and it became a military state, the news stopped.”
“I was trapped in a den. Because Azhi disappeared from the world, the king of wolves aimlessly roamed the plains without any meaning. That’s why we often clashed with Enda.”
“Now that the king of beasts has appeared in the world, the king of wolves will start to act as well.”
“Yes. Conflict is inevitable.”
The regressor declared an unavoidable fate to the leaders of Enda. Just as the atmosphere was becoming heavy, Tribor stood up again and spoke.
“It’s actually a good thing. The fight with the wolves was bound to happen someday. If we’re going to fight, it’s better to do it with the king.”
Tribor, who was a dog beastman and had a faint connection to the royal bloodline, was political, rational, and even cooperative. Tribor firmly held his staff and declared.
“Enda will abide by the alliance between the dogs and humans.”
“A wise decision.”
“It’s also a natural decision. The king of beasts is a powerful force. If we have the king of beasts, it will greatly reduce the burden of fighting against the king of wolves.”
With a faint smile, Tribor knelt down in front of Azhi and bowed his head.
“I am half. I can only kneel to the king with one knee. Although the king may not be familiar with human customs… like this.”
“Woof woof! Etiquette is not important! Promises come first!”
“If you say so, I’m glad. Don’t worry, Your Majesty. The promise will be kept.”
Oh, things are going surprisingly well according to the Regressionist’s plan. Well, it’s been strange so far, but I guess this is normal. When you regress, you just have to try the methods that will work well from the start.
“I’m glad the story is unfolding well this time. It’s a relief that I don’t have to resort to other threats.”
Threats? Against such a gentle dog-human hybrid? It’s not always something that goes well. If you say so.
Having received the king, all the dog-human hybrids who attended the meeting agreed with Trever’s decision. Even the non-dog hybrids felt a sense of unease but accepted it. They were all leaders of their clans or respected elders, so it could be said that they convinced the entire Ende.
However, there is one thing that worries me.
With so many hybrids gathered, why aren’t there any humans or piglets in sight?
Curious, while wondering about it, one of the councilors who heard the news approached Trever.
“Mayor Trever. A messenger from the Purple Top has arrived. It seems like you should meet them.”
“It’s perfect timing. Even if it’s just a formality, Ende is still part of the Lilac Empire’s territory. We need to receive support from the Empire for supplies, even in battle. And since the Purple Top has come…”
As Trever muttered to himself, he glanced briefly at the Regressionist with a sudden thought.
“…Hmm. I feel like I’m being pushed into a situation where I have no choice but to fight.”
It was a sharp insight that seemed to not waste his age. In contrast, the Regressionist who was dragged along casually lied.
“It’s just excessive consciousness.”
“Well, it doesn’t matter. Since it’s a messenger from the Purple Top, would you like to meet them together?”
“Let’s do that. Hughes!”
Finally, he called my name. I, who had been waiting leisurely after finishing my role as a ball thrower, walked briskly from outside. The Regressionist pointed to Azhi and said.
“Take care of Azhi while I’m gone for a moment.”
“Am I just a nanny to you?”
“Yeah. Well, not exactly.”
“Since there’s nothing else for me to do anyway.”
If you’re going to deny it, then at least do it to the end! Even though I haven’t done anything!
The staff of Obelly, including Treiber, headed somewhere with the regressors. Some of the subordinates also left their posts, leaving only the subordinates who genuinely welcomed Azhi. They were trying to maintain their dignity as Obelly’s subordinates, but their ears and tails were not as calm as their intellect.
“Creak. The King of Dogs, huh? After living for so long, the day has finally come to meet you….”
“Don’t we see the King of Dogs quite often? If we hear a rumor about the King of Sheep, it’s not a big deal, like which monastery or mountaintop.”
“Do we see them often! Most of the time, we can’t even find them because of the King of Wolves!”
A faint excitement could be heard in the murmuring voices. After calmly reading the thoughts of the subordinates, a conclusion was reached.
What should I say? To the subordinates, the King of Beasts is somewhat like a religious leader.
Subordinates are beings who inherit the characteristics of beasts, but they are not beasts themselves. They naturally have less influence than beasts. Even if there is no King of Beasts, it does not mean that the daily lives of the subordinates will be ruined.
But if there is one, it somehow brings joy, fills the heart, and becomes a catalyst that unites everyone. Just like now.
I understand why the regressors asked for Azhi to be brought along. It will be much easier to persuade them.
Azhi felt the same way. Normally, Azhi would play with a single ball and roll around, but now he was looking at the faces of the subordinates, one by one, with sparkling eyes.
It wasn’t just a favor shown to humans like a constant. Azhi’s big eyes and expression contained a greater joy.
“There are many humans who keep their promises! Will you fight me?”
Azhi approached the dog subordinate timidly and grabbed onto his clothes. It would be difficult to refuse when asked so innocently, but the dog subordinate clenched his fist and made up his mind.
“Of course! Your Majesty, I am ready to fight!”
“Bark! Bark! Me too!”
“We are the same!”
There were quite a few dogs, perhaps that’s why. Oveli Square was filled with excitement and cheers like no other. The dog-shifters, who had maintained their dignity, stealthily approached to catch Azhi’s attention.
Seems like there are many who would support me. But… even though I’m a wolf prince. Why doesn’t it happen to me? You dog-shifters are closer to humans.
Feeling a strange sense of alienation, I gazed silently at the gathering fan meeting. Someone passed by me near the entrance.
“Noisy!”
Bang, bang. Along with an irritated shout, someone vigorously banged on the iron gate. Sensitive dog-shifters collectively crouched, looking at the source of the noise.
Instead of feeling burdened by all the attention, he seemed rather annoyed.
“You just woke up! Did you all go into heat as a group today? Why is it so loud?”
“Master, master… Today, there’s a meeting organized by the market.”
“Since when did meetings turn into a choir? Don’t they realize how unpleasant their voices are!”
Two types unseen in Oveli Square. Humans and pig-shifters. One of them finally revealed themselves.
As time passed, generations changed, the threat of wolves approached, and Enda transformed into a city of shifters.
Still, at the pinnacle of Enda, there was a human.