515 – Time Of Dogs And Wolves – 3
That day was the day when dogs and wolves fought a proxy war. It was the day when the will to kill humans and the will to save them collided. It was the day when a promise that had been constantly broken was finally fulfilled after a long wait.
Even on such a historic day, the beginning of the day was the same as usual. The sun rose in the east, the rooster crowed, and the humans who woke up from their sleep cursed the morning and got up. The only difference was that the curse was much thicker and longer than usual.
Against the fast wolves, Ende was too late to respond. The front line where the traps were set was repeatedly retreating and was almost touching the city.
However, retreat is not necessarily a bad thing. Retreating to narrow the front line and draw in the enemy is shameful but helpful. Despite the fact that there are many generals who have died in the field without acknowledging this fact, people still point fingers at the word “retreat”.
“The damage was great. But thanks to that… the troops have gathered.”
Another word for freedom is indulgence. Ende, which did not have a specific system, conscripted the Suin and gave them only one weapon. The Suin, who were united by clan, lined up with the equipment they were familiar with.
Some of them didn’t want to fight, and some of them wanted to run away. However, because the wolves attacked Ende, the option of not fighting disappeared. It was better to fight together with the city than to face the wolf pack on the plain.
“If I hide behind the wall, at least someone will protect me… That’s what I expect.”
Even freedom could not give up the sense of security that the wall provided. Grull nodded at Sapien’s words.
“That’s too bad. I’m afraid you’ll have to give up that expectation.”
“Grull. Are you really going to go with that kind of strategy? His strategy isn’t even a strategy. There’s no merit to it. There’s no reason to follow it.”
Sapien advised Grull seriously, but Grull smiled calmly.
“It’s fine. What’s the problem?”
“What’s the problem? How can ‘I’ll leave it to the discretion of the field commander’ be a strategy?”
Sapien recalled the ridiculous strategy meeting that had taken place yesterday.
‘Everyone. Unfortunately, we don’t know much about their plans or their strength. They’re not particularly strong, fast, or even prepared. If we try to do something here, we’ll gradually lose our stake and collapse.’
A truth that wasn’t very helpful. Sapien was furious. Sapien also knew that they were not prepared. However, if they had to fight anyway, it was the commander’s job to come up with a slightly better strategy rather than demoralizing them.
‘So, I’ll leave it to the discretion of the field commander for the most important part. Until something happens, do your best to survive. Just keep in touch with each other.’
However, the magician, who was acting as a staff officer, did not come up with any strategy. Sapien, who was displeased, replied.
‘If there’s no strategy, is there any reason for us to follow your command?’
‘Just one. Because I hold the only strength we can choose.’
‘What is that?’
‘When, where, and how Azga will fight. Only I can decide that.’
Sapien could not say anything in response. In fact, they were the ones who brought the King of Dogs, and they seemed to be much closer. It was better for the one who was familiar with them to give instructions.
It wasn’t as if the opponent was so weak that they could take the King of Dogs by force.
‘This battle will be a battle of moving each other’s pawns before the King of Dogs and the King of Wolves meet. Please move wisely. I’ll keep you updated.’
It wasn’t a strategy, just a notice. If you want to follow it, you have to move as you please, and if you ignore it and do as you please, you’ll be following it. Sapien, who was caught in an unpleasant dilemma, complained, but Grull liked it.
“Isn’t it okay? It’s better to do as I please than to come up with a lousy strategy or complain about it.”
“A lousy strategy? You’re saying that, but your better plan is just a charge? What if it goes wrong?”
“I’m the strongest in Ende. Then, whether it goes well or wrong, it’s my responsibility. If it’s going to be my responsibility anyway, it’s better to do as I please.”
There was no point in trying to persuade him. Sapien, who could not come up with an alternative, decided to respect Grull’s judgment. He also put aside the thought that he was following the will of the magician for the time being.
“I’ll stay here. There’s no point in leaving the base empty. It’ll only increase the danger.”“I’m moving. If I just sit here with my heavy butt, I’ll just get my flesh ripped off and hunted.”
The two eventually headed in the direction they thought was right. Sapien was contemplating whether to build more outposts while watching the Beastmen warriors moving with the Orc mercenaries.
“Sir Sapien. A group of dog-kin has come from outside the city. They say they’re fleeing from wolves and want to fight with us.”
Sapien narrowed his brow at the sudden report.
“A group of dog-kin? In these times? Who are they?”
“I don’t know. They’re faces I’ve never seen before. Are they Beastkin?”
“How would I know that? Grull would know if they were Beastkin.”
Could it be that a tribe chased by a pack of wolves has flowed into Ende? Nothing can be known from speculation alone. Sapien spoke as he walked.
“Were there any other characteristics?”
“They all had short, glossy black fur. Their ears were pointed and triangular, and their tails were very short.”
It was a description focused on the fur, ears, and tail, as befitting a dog-kin. If they were described like that by another dog-kin, they must be very distinctive. Sapien, who had been recalling it in his head, muttered at a memory that suddenly came to mind.
“They sound like the Baskerville family.”
“The Baskerville family?”
“You wouldn’t know. They’re the most famous dog-kin family in the Empire. They are dog-kin born only to hunt, and as soon as they are born, a hairdresser comes and cuts their ears and tails short.”
The dog-kin who had reported hurriedly covered his own ears and tail.
“Ugh, it hurts just to imagine it! Why would they do that!”
“Because floppy ears and tails can be a weakness in a fight. The idea is to cut them off in advance.”
“Huh? Then why don’t humans shave their hair short in case someone grabs it when they fight?”
“I’ve heard that there are actually humans like that. It’s the same thing… but that’s an old story. Nowadays, it’s just that the nobles prefer short ears and tails.”
“Are you saying they cut their ears and tails to look good to people? Why do they cut them off in the first place, and why do they like that?”
“It’s the Empire’s taste. How would I know.”
“I can’t understand it at all!”
“Don’t try to understand it, just accept it. That’s the Empire. But I heard that things are changing a bit these days….”
Sapien, who had been indulging in wishful thinking that it would be really reassuring if the Baskerville family had come to help, soon burst out laughing.
‘No way. Am I so desperate that I’m relying on delusions?’
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It must just be a dog-kin tribe from somewhere that has come to Ende for help. Sapien walked, lost in thought, following the guidance of his subordinate.
‘Come to think of it. They said they had distinctive blue eyes that seemed to be wearing a crown. I’d like to see them once. If I have the chance left to me….’
However, Sapien did not know. That the opportunity would come in the worst possible way.
Grull and the Beastkin advanced slowly. The Beastkin warriors walked across the plains as calmly as if they were out for a walk. After crossing two or three hills, the familiar terrain disappeared and an unfamiliar plain appeared. And around them, wolves began to gather one by one.
One of the Beastkin warriors, who had been tense for a moment, looked around.
“Hmm, they’re not attacking.”
“They know we’re not the prey they’re after. They’re probably just watching until a bigger pack arrives.”
“I know that… but even when wolves form an army, they fight the same way. I guess a wolf is a wolf.”
Wolves do not form dense formations. They always hunt their prey at a distance from each other. They constantly press on, draining the beast of all its energy, and then bite its throat at the most critical moment.
An all-out attack on the city. Intimidating and dividing the herd and biting the stragglers. That was definitely the way of the wolf.
However, Grull denied the warrior’s speculation.
“It’s different.”
“Yes?”
“Wolves are no longer a pack, but an army. The prey is not a beast, but a city. The scale has changed, but you’re saying they’re responding with the same fighting style? That’s proof that they’re not wolves.”
…However, it is impossible to understand the city without being able to deceive the shepherds and attack the outposts in one fell swoop.
“There’s someone behind the wolves. I didn’t discuss it further because I didn’t know who it was… but now I know.”A shadow flickered around the wolf, and someone appeared. Humans in tunics walked through the wolves like shepherds. The wolves, who should have bitten the humans, obediently wagged their tails and stepped aside.
The humans with tanned skin under the sun stood in front of Grull. Among them, an old man with a beard pointed his cane at Grull and said,
“Grull! You bastard. Even you, who should have been the glory of the Suin, have decided to side with the hypocrites?”
“When did I ever see you, you ghosts of a dead country?”
Just as they knew Grull, Grull knew who they were.
The Beast Faction is used in a similar sense to barbarians. However, the reason why they are called the Beast Faction is not only because they are Suin, but also because they were a faction of a country.
Man-country. A savage land of wild beasts, and a land of sin committed by the late Emperor Agartha.
The country where beasts and humans lived together was divided and scattered. However, its remnants still remain. After Agartha’s death, the ghosts of the dead country are barely surviving in the harsh southern jungle where humans live.
The descendants of the priests are trying to expand their power by forming an alliance with the wolves.
“I never thought I’d see the day. You’re the only ones who would do such a crazy thing, but you’re too weak to do anything. But acting without knowing your own situation is really crazy.”
“hahahahaha! Sometimes only crazy things can save lives from the quagmire!”
“Crazy things are crazy things. It’s not that you’ve been pulled out of the quagmire, it’s that the quagmire has spit you out.”
“Whether it’s spit out or not, it’s a chance to end a miserable life, isn’t it? Whether it’s misery or life!”
In the old days, Emperor Agartha did crazy things. Just by looking at the fact that the Suin are the result of that crazy act, you can guess what kind of things he did.
It was long before Grull was born. I don’t know what happened. However, one thing is for sure. Even though the Suin were of Agartha’s bloodline, they were not treated any differently.
“You’re the same. How long are you going to live on pork? Join us. Then we’ll let you live on meat!”
The priests who uphold the orthodoxy of the Man-country saw the Suin as tools. The reason why there are so many Suin in the Beast Faction is that after the Man-country was destroyed, the Suin who remained in the land could not endure discrimination and joined the nomadic tribes.
Of course, Grull hated them too. He had been patient, following the teachings of the prairie not to hold grudges, but now that he had made an enemy, it was time to follow the teachings to crush them so that they could never take revenge again.
“Do you think you can defeat the principalities and empires by carrying the wolf king on your back?”
Grull rubbed the ground with his feet. The movement was so small that it only seemed like he was thinking. The priests answered without much caution.
“Of course not. The power of beasts has its limits.”
“Who’s behind you?”
“The Druids protect the forest and the prairie. The Great Witch whispers the most evil knowledge. The Patriarch vows bloody revenge. The Wolf King reveals his brutality to humans. All these wills will meet and lead that arrogant civilization to ruin!”
The story was so large-scale that it was absurd. Grull continued to ask calmly. He was still smoothing the ground with one foot.
“Have they all promised to lend you their strength? What do you believe in?”
“You idiot. It’s nonsense that your vision is so narrow. Where do you think they use the enormous power they have gathered?”
“They haven’t promised you anything.”
“Can you trust a promise? We believe in reason more than promises!”
“Well, such great people wouldn’t make such a grand gesture as a promise to you. You’re just grabbing at their pants after being ignored.”
“…It’s better to grab their pants when you can, Grull. No matter what you do… the ears and tail attached to you will not disappear.”
The Suin are always Suin. They can never be like humans. Grull agreed with him inwardly.
However, what the pig Suin wants is not the collapse of order. What the pig Suin really wants is to climb the ladder of order and reign supreme. Grull came to realize this fact in Ende.
Moreover, Grull himself, even if he didn’t want to, is now acting as the commander of Ende. To create an outcome that he likes.
“Do you really have to side with someone? We should just kill those who keep trying to attach ears and tails to us, like you.”
Grull stopped smoothing the ground.Geonki energy is the power to control the world. Gonki energy is the power to push and pull the ground. Since both of them control something outside of the body, Geon and Gon are usually grouped together.
However, there is a big difference between Geon and Gon.
Geon moves the world around ‘me’. Gon moves ‘me’ around the world. The two seem the same, but they feel like different things. The difference seems trivial at first, but it has remained a big wall for a long time.
Gruul had been stuck in that realm for a long time. For a pig-human who had lived a simple life, the truth was too difficult.
However… thanks to his struggle to get out of there, he got a chance. Gruul was inspired by the overwhelming stomping of a rhinoceros he met by chance, and he came to a realization and understood the truth.
Ground stomping.
The ground he chooses is under his control. As much as he chooses the ground in advance, he can freely push and pull his body.
And during the conversation, Gruul chose a distance that would reach the priest exactly.
The moment Gruul shook off his energy and released the truth, the world was pushed away and the priest’s body was torn into hundreds of pieces and scattered.