“Then tell me your decision, Red Eye tribe’s acting chief, Crusch Lulu.”
Crusch devised countless ideas.
Of course, killing Zaryusu was also one of the possible choices. She personally did not wish to kill him. But acting chief Crusch was different. What if the whole tribe fled after killing him?
She discarded that idea. It’s future was too dangerous. Also, there was no guarantee that he really did come alone.
Then what about promising him before fleeing.
This could also become a problem. If things went wrong, it would set off a war between them and the Red Eye tribe. They would become a target of population depletion. The other side’s true intentions would be to reduce the population, it would not matter who the target was.
In the end, he figured that should the answer be no to forming an alliance, Zaryusu would probably return to his village and lead an army here to exterminate the Red Eye tribe.
However, not knowing if Zaryusu had realised, there was one loophole. In the end, the food problem wouldn't be resolved.
Crusch suddenly smiled. From the very start there was no way out. From the moment Zaryusu suggested to her to form an alliance; From the start when the Green Claw tribe's phase of action began—
There was only one path of survival for the Red Eye tribe, that was to form an alliance with the others and participate together in the war. Likewise, Zaryusu should have understood this reasoning.
Even so, he had to wait for Crusch to personally respond. He probably wanted to discern whether Crusch who was in command of the tribe’s lizardmen, had the qualifications to become an alliance partner.
All that was left was whether she wanted to voice out her decision.
Except, after declaring that decision, there would definitely be many individuals who would lose their lives. However—
“Let me first make one thing clear. We are not going to war for the sake of sacrificing lives, but to obtain victory. I have perhaps said many things which have made you feel unsettled. However, we want to be the ones with the standing and laughing victoriously. Please do not be mistaken on this point.”
Crusch nodded to express her understanding.
This male lizardman really was kind. With such thoughts, Crusch voiced out her own decision.
“... We, the Red Eye tribe shall cooperate with you, because I do not wish to see tribe chief’s smile become meaningless, and also because it will grant Red Eye tribesmen a chance at survival.”
Crusch lowered her head in a deep bow; her tail was straight and elevated.
“—I am extremely grateful.”
Zaryusu nodded slightly. That elevated tail expressed a complex thoughts, more intensely than his words.
¦ ¦ ¦
Early morning.
Zaryusu stood in front of Rororo, looking towards the main entrance of the Red Eye tribe.
He could not resist opening his mouth wide and yawning. Last night he was a guest spectator at a Red Eye conference until late at night, therefore he was currently a little fatigued. However there was not much time left, and it was necessary to visit another tribe within today.
Zaryusu desperately fought against his drowsiness, but momentarily subsided to it and gave another yawn, but the one this time was even larger than the previous one.
Although sitting on Rororo was not comfortable enough for sleeping, he felt like he was able to do so.
After taking a glimpse of the yellow sun which had just risen, Zaryusu turned his gaze back at the main entrance, and then felt some confusion. This was because a curious object had just run out of the main gate.
It was a bundle of grass.
There were weeds grown on top of a clothing which was sewn together from many long strips of cloth and threads clothes. If one were to lay on the wetlands and observe it from a distance, it would look like a bundle of weeds.
“Coming up next, I plan to visit another tribe… the Dragon Tusk tribe.”
“They are the tribe where strength means everything right? I heard that their fighting force was the strongest out of all the tribes.”
“Erm, you are right. Seeing as the other side is a tribe of which we have never exchanged with before, we have to prepare ourselves mentally.”
All information on the other side was cast with a veil of mystery. Therefore just heading towards the other side’s base was an extremely perilous matter. Furthermore, they had absorbed the survivors of the two exterminated tribes of the past war. This fact merely elevated the upcoming danger.
To the defeated from the two tribes, Zaryusu, who played an active role in the previous war was an absolutely hated enemy, detested to their very bones.
Even so, they were the most needed helping hand out of all the tribes for this war.
“If that is so… then, it is still better for me to go with you.”
“— What?”
“Is it so strange?”
The weed pile made a small movement, and let out a faint whispering noise. Because he could not see her face, he could not know what her intent was.
“I don’t mean to say that it is strange… but it would be very dangerous.”
“Is there still a place that is safe now?”
Zaryusu stayed silent. He was calmly thinking, bringing Crusch with him would be beneficial in many ways. However as a male lizardman, he still had reservations against bringing a female lizardman, whom he had feelings for, to a knowingly dangerous place.
“—I really am not calm enough.”
Although Crusch was hidden inside the grass, and her expression could not be seen, she almost seemed to smile slightly.
“... Then, let me ask you another question. What is with your appearance?”
“Does it not look nice?”
The question of whether it looked nice or not was a strange one. However, wouldn’t it be better to give a little compliment? Zaryusu did not know how to respond, and after a moment of deep thought, sized up the other’s unseen expression and replied:
“...I should say that it looks good… right?”
“How can that be possible.”
Crusch steadfastly rejected this. Zaryusu felt his strength drain from him, that couldn’t be helped.
“It is solely because I am weak against sunlight, therefore when I head outside, I almost always dress like this.”
“So that’s why…”
“Ah, you haven’t given me your answer. Will you let me travel with you?”
Any further discussion on this would probably not sway her mind. From the point of view of forming an alliance, bringing her along should be advantageous for obtaining this objective. She also thought along the same lines, which is why she probably made this suggestion. With that being said, there was no reason to refuse her company.
“...I understand, then please lend me a helping hand, Crusch.”
Crusch was delighted from the bottom of her heart as she replied:
“— Understood, Zaryusu. Leave it to me.”
“Are you already prepared for departure?”
“Of course. My backpack is already filled with all the various necessary items.”
After hearing this, Zaryusu subtly assessed her back region and discovered that there was a slight lump on the surface of the grass. A fresh grass smell wafted from that area, as well as some concentrated fragrance. Since she was a forest druid, therefore there should be some herbal related skills, that was why the contents inside should be filled with related goods.
“Zaryusu, you look very tired.”
“Ah, yes, I am a bit. The past two days have been hectic, I’m lacking sleep.”
At this moment, a white scaled hand stretched outwards from underneath the weed costume.
“For you. This is a strength replenishing fruit. You eat it along with the skin.”
There was a purple fruit on the outstretched hand. Hesitantly, Zaryusu placed it in his mouth and gave it a bite.
His mouth was immediately filled with a sudden sharp and bitter taste, getting rid of a bit of tiredness. Certainly for raising alertness, this effect was barely passable, but after continuously chewing it multiple times, suddenly a gush of taste exploded from the top of his tongue. Not only that, but even the breath he spat out had the same taste.
“Muu, what is with this cooling sensation that even permeates the nasal cavity?”
Zaryusu subconsciously shouted out his brother’s catch phrase. Seeing his reaction, Crusch could not resist chuckling.
“Do you feel that your drowsiness is slowly disappearing? The reality is that it has not actually vanished, please do not get overly familiar with this sensation. It is still better that you find time to rest.”
Zaryusu felt that his mind was clear and refreshed because of his inhaled and exhaled breaths, and because his entire body was filled with a cooled sensation. Feeling satisfied, Zaryusu nodded and replied:
“Then let us find some time and have a quick nap on Rororo.”
Having said this, Zaryusu immediately climbed on top of Rororo’s back, followed by Crusch likewise climbing upwards. The unfamiliar feeling of having a weed pile laying against its body made Rororo unhappily glare at Zaryusu, but eventually thought of a method to reassure it.
“Then let’s be on our way. Because the ride will be bumpy, hold onto me.”
“Got it.”
Crusch hugged Zaryusu’s waist— the prickly feeling of the weeds gave Zaryusu a bit of an itch.
“......”
The difference in the actual feeling and what he had imagined it to be like, made the corners of Zaryusu’s lips curl.
“—What’s wrong?”
“No, nothing. Rororo, let’s depart.”
What was it that made her so jubilant? Crusch’s extremely merry laughter came from behind him, making Zaryusu irresistibly reveal a wide smile on top of Rororo’s back.
Part 2
The newly dominated Tove forest was full of silence, every living being was afraid of the king’s gaze and held their breath.
But, only this place was different.
The sounds of trees being cut down and voices spread throughout the surroundings.
The golems here would make one think of heavy construction machinery— Heavy Iron Machine, were transporting wooden logs to a construction area of a huge building. This building still had a long way to go before completion, the foundation was huge, and a small part was completed.
Working within this area were a group of golems and undead.
Out of the undead working here, most of them were Elder Liches, who wore conspicuous red robes.
Upon each one’s shoulders were demons about thirty centimeters in length, sporting long bat wings and red copper-colored skin— demons known as imps. The imps lifted their venomous tails up high in order to prevent them from dripping poison and hinder the Elder Liches.