Chapter 204
Chapter 204
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 204
Chapter Title: Jaeger (4)
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The New Beastman Alliance's headquarters was nestled in the Nazun Mountains, northwest of Rundalian. This fortress, hastily renovated from the ruins of an ancient beastman kingdom, might have been cramped and rundown, but it was a natural bastion with ironclad defensive capabilities.
In theory, it should have been the most heavily guarded place of all. Yet the members stationed here all suffered from chronic laziness. It stemmed from the excessively stable surroundings, a history of never once allowing an intrusion, and their unwavering belief that their leader, Jaeger, could never be defeated by anyone.
"Wonder what the weather's like out there... Damn it, how long do we have to keep this up?"
"No rain smell, so probably clear. What can we do? It's our mission."
"Does Jaeger even need bodyguards? It's been ages since he last killed a human. I wish he'd just get thrown into the front lines already."
This applied even to the sentries guarding Jaeger's residence. The two guards—one a werewolf, the other a werebear—had their eyes fixed on the wide corridor stretching out before them.
A third of their day was spent staring at this view while chatting idly. Behind them loomed the grand gate connecting to the central sector of Jaeger's fortress.
It was a passage so rarely used that posting guards here seemed absurd, but orders were orders. The pair stood watch here once a day without fail. Today, as usual, the werewolf was spacing out and yawning as he muttered to himself.
"Yaaawn... Anyway, what the hell's taking so long? It's been five hours already."
"He's probably giving Jaeger his usual advice. It always takes this long."
"I just don't like the guy. Always hiding his whole body under that hood. What if he's human or something?"
"Doubt it. I saw him from afar once—guy's built almost as big as Jaeger. Probably one of our kin, inherited lion or tiger blood."
The werebear sentry standing beside him nodded. He figured the 'advisor' who visited Jaeger periodically was a werelion or weretiger.
This enigmatic guest, present since the New Northern Alliance's founding and known only to Jaeger, provided decent gossip fodder for the boredom-stricken sentries.
"Should've kept a lower profile if he didn't want to get stuck guarding the fortress."
"Heh, take pride in it. Means we're pretty capable ourselves."
As the two killed time with small talk, the werebear sentry suddenly gripped his spear, sensing a presence.
"Hold up—who's coming?"
"Huh?"
The werewolf tilted his head. Listening closely, he could hear footsteps approaching. Not just one person—several. Before long, a burly werebear emerged from around the corner, making both sentries' eyes bulge in shock.
"C-Captain Umkano?!"
"Thank the gods—you're alive?!"
The sentries stammered in disbelief. They'd heard the centurion captain had died in the Rundalian raid three days ago. Umkano gave a curt reply.
"...Yeah."
He stopped in front of them, approaching slowly. The pair still couldn't close their gaping mouths. The werewolf finally regained his composure and asked in a trembling voice.
"E-Excuse me, but could you tell us what happened? We heard the entire assault team was wiped out..."
"...Escaped while they were off guard. Only survivor... grrk. Just me."
"I-I see. That's a relief. No, incredible."
Umkano, whom they hadn't seen in three days, looked utterly exhausted. His fur was matted, his eyes dull, as if he might collapse any second. Even his once-energetic speech felt sluggish.
"Huh?"
That's when the sentries noticed the rope clutched in Umkano's hand. It was too thin for beastman use. Following the rope, they gasped sharply.
"A... human?"
"...What are they?"
"Prisoners... I caught."
Umkano rasped out the answer. Tied to the rope trailing behind him were a human man and woman, heads bowed, bound tightly. Both had black hair, and even to beastmen ignorant of human customs, their clothes screamed wealth and quality. Umkano continued.
"Both nobles' kids... Valuable as prisoners."
"R-Right. Capturing prisoners amid all that—truly impressive."
The sentries eyed the humans with pity. Of all people, to get caught by Umkano, the notorious human-hater. Talk about rotten luck.
That's when the young man looked up, locking eyes with the werewolf sentry. The fierce, bird-of-prey glare made the werewolf flinch.
"W-What're you lookin' at?"
"......"
Those weren't prisoner eyes. His sunset-crimson irises burned with imminent fury. The boy just glared silently.
"The hell...!"
Feeling overpowered by a mere human ignited sudden rage. As the werewolf instinctively raised his arm—crack! Umkano's hand shot out like lightning, seizing his wrist.
"Don't... touch."
"Gaaah! S-Sorry! His eyes were so insolent, I just...!"
The werewolf sentry screamed. It felt like his bones would shatter. Umkano released him slowly and warned in a firm tone.
"Prisoners can't be touched... Kill 'em. Right?"
"Y-Yes... ugh... sorry."
The werewolf sentry bowed his head. A warrior who'd survived alone in enemy territory had grip strength on another level. Suddenly, the werebear beside him tilted his head.
"Uh... Captain, what did you just say?"
"Grk, what're you on about."
"You definitely said 'kill me'... N-No, must've misheard."
The werebear sentry trailed off, then shook his head. Logically, Umkano wouldn't say that. Turning to the gate, Umkano spoke.
"Is Jaeger... inside?"
"Yes. But today's the advisor's visit, so you might have to wait a bit."
"...Advisor?"
"Yeah. Comes every week. Probably done in two hours."
Umkano fell silent. This was new information. After a pause, he nodded.
"...Right. I'll wait my turn. Step aside... kill me."
"Pardon?"
The werebear's eyes widened. He'd heard it clearly this time. 'Kill me' without a doubt. The werewolf sentry, who'd heard too, frowned.
"...Captain, you okay?"
"Fine... just kill me already."
Suddenly, Umkano's face twitched uncontrollably. The grotesque sight made both sentries recoil in horror. At that moment, the captive man and woman exchanged quick glances. The young man looked up at Umkano and sighed deeply.
"Sigh... Think it's hopeless now?"
"Yeah. Sorry."
The woman shook her head. The sentries' eyes bulged. Sensing something was wrong, the werewolf reached for his sword hilt—when the young prisoner's figure vanished from sight.
"Wh-What the?!"
Not even beastman dynamic vision could track it. Only the severed rope remained on the floor. The human woman alone stayed, looking at him pityingly.
"Damn it, what the hell!"
The werewolf aimed his spear at the woman and shouted. Splash—something warm and wet hit his cheek. What now? Glancing aside reflexively, his eyes flew wide. His fellow werebear sentry's head was gone.
"H-HEEEEK!"
Blood fountained from the clean stump. The liquid soaking half his face was his comrade's blood. The severed bear head rolled at his feet. Thud...! The headless body and Umkano collapsed simultaneously.
"Wh-Wh-What the fu—mmph."
"Shh. Don't wanna end up the same, do you? Stay quiet."
The werewolf choked on his yell. A sinister whisper came from right behind. He wanted to turn, but something pinned his back. A sharp, cold metal—likely a blade—pressed exactly against his heart. Ronan, gripping him from behind, spoke.
"Close one. Thought we'd slip through without a hitch."
"Sorry. If I'd done a bit better..."
"Nah. We penetrated deep enough. Feels like we're almost there, right?"
"Seems so."
Adeshan nodded, untying the special rope binding her. It came loose effortlessly. Ronan peeked out and nodded toward Umkano.
"That bear's done for, huh? Begging to be killed and all."
"Yeah... His mental fortitude's at its limit. Poor guy."
"Then let's use this one. He's a fortress sentry anyway—should get us to Jaeger's door no problem."
"Sounds good..."
Adeshan stared at the werewolf. Her ash-gray eyes sent chills down his spine. Something had gone terribly wrong. Instinct screaming danger, he bared his claws and roared.
"GRRRAAH! St-Stay back!"
"Sorry."
Adeshan said calmly. Ignoring the feral threat, she approached slowly.
"I said stay back! RAAAGH!"
The blade behind him was irrelevant now. Unable to bear the anxiety, the werewolf lunged desperately—when dark mist suddenly billowed from Adeshan's shoulders. The alien, eerie aura—unlike anything he'd seen—widened his eyes.
"What the—gasp!"
His movements froze. Limbs paralyzed, voice silenced. He felt the strange energy seeping into his body. Adeshan took a deep breath and spoke.
"Sorry."
"Hng... guh."
The convulsing werewolf's head drooped. Ronan lowered his blade. The standing werewolf regained his head after about a minute. Click. He silently opened the gate and muttered in a soulless voice.
"...No anomalies on watch."
Ronan exhaled in relief. The werewolf's eyes were glazed gray. Staring at the puppet sentry, Ronan clicked his tongue.
'She's fully awakening her powers now. Starting to get a little scary.'
Adeshan had first succeeded in mind-controlling a person two nights ago. Considering it'd taken a full day to dominate Umkano, her growth was unreal.
Even accounting for easier control over weaker minds, this surpassed Ronan's expectations by leaps. Glancing at her profile, he said.
"Lucky you're a good person, sunbae."
"Huh? Why suddenly?"
"Just... You stopped that guy from hitting me earlier."
She'd manipulated Umkano to grab the werewolf's wrist. Ronan was genuinely glad she wasn't evil. Adeshan fiddled with her hair, embarrassed.
"Haha, just had to be done."
"Thanks. Keep being like that."
His tone was earnest. The words carried weight, flushing her cheeks slightly. After a pause, she smiled softly.
"Yeah. I will."
After that, things proceeded smoothly. Disguised as prisoners with the mind-controlled werewolf sentry, Ronan and Adeshan pressed toward the fortress heart without pause. Unlike the enemy-swarming outer walls, inner forces were surprisingly sparse.
'At least that's a relief.'
Whether from complacency or not, it was fortunate. Even with the holy-sword-forged Ramancha, beastmen were tricky foes. Occasional encounters eyed Ronan and Adeshan, but hearing they were prisoners for Jaeger, most stepped aside.
"Don't touch 'em, punk. You gonna take responsibility?"
"Got it. No need to snap."
The werewolf sentry's speech had smoothed out compared to Umkano's. Any obstacles were dodged or cleared adequately, and they kept moving.
Through corridors, up stairs, across makeshift bridges between buildings, Ronan and Adeshan reached the fortress core. Perhaps due to the advisor's visit, people had vanished entirely. Rounding a corner, Ronan chuckled.
"Finally."
He sensed they'd arrived instinctively. A vast corridor yawned ahead, wide enough for twenty horses. At its end loomed a massive gate screaming 'boss lives here.' Ronan turned to Adeshan.
"Good work, sunbae."
The three-hour act that felt like three days was over. Time for a swift strike and Jaeger's throat. As Ronan moved to release the werewolf's mind control—Adeshan, silent till now, whispered.
"...Liar."
"What? What's wrong?"
Her inexplicable reaction furrowed his brows. Her face was pale as death. Trembling, she pointed at the gate.
"Beyond there... Zaifa's waiting."