Chapter 67
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 067
Chapter Title: Higher-Ups
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Following behind the gnolls, he surveyed the current state of the battlefield.
'The remnants of the expeditionary force are putting up resistance.'
Soldiers were fleeing like startled sheep, but here and there, commanders who had somehow rallied them were launching counterattacks. It was somewhat encouraging progress. Still, the outlook didn't look good.
The rhinos had scattered in different directions, slicing the expeditionary force into pieces like a cake being cut. A divided army could never win a war.
······It was the outcome that had been expected.
'Why on earth did they choose all-out war?'
No matter how he thought about it, it was incomprehensible.
The old humanity had built walls to secure safe territories and lived peacefully within those greenhouses for hundreds of years. All because they feared the Demonic Realm.
The bizarre plants, beasts, and the ancient beings from legends that humanity called the Old Ones...
In this harsh and dangerous environment, the gnolls had proliferated enough to form a major force. A sign that their martial prowess was nothing to scoff at.
Despite the obvious warning, the higher-ups had insisted on a preemptive strike. This was a perfect example of how one bad superior could make life hell for everyone under them.
In that sense...
'Who’s the gnoll commander?'
The great warrior controlling the gnolls. Woojin hoped it was someone reasonable.
As he followed the guides, a combat rhino and gnoll warriors came into view. In the center stood an especially massive gnoll.
'Great Warrior Braknak.'
A gigantic hyena with black fur. Its build rivaled that of the giant knight Boemong in full plate armor. The two-handed mace in its grip was fashioned from a rhino's skull.
Braknak stared right at them.
"······What are these guys?"
The gnoll great warrior growled his question. The gnolls acting as guides hesitated before briefly reporting what had just happened. Enraged, Braknak bared his fangs.
"These fools causing trouble already... How should I handle this?"
"You should discuss that matter with me."
Woojin spoke in the gnoll tongue from where he stood beside them. Braknak's expression turned intrigued.
"Just as Logar described. A human who speaks our language. What brings you to me?"
No beating around the bush—he got straight to the point.
"To uphold our sacred pact, I turned a blind eye to my kin's deaths. But you lot were about to break that promise without a second thought. I demand compensation."
"We haven't actually broken the deal, have we?"
"If I hadn't stepped in, your subordinates would have attacked my pack. The situation itself is the problem."
An act that violated the sanctity of the pact.
Woojin made his case, and Braknak nodded as if convinced.
"You're right. What do you want as recompense?"
"The war is as good as over. I'd like to negotiate a ceasefire. To save as many of my kin's lives as possible."
Acknowledging the expeditionary force's defeat and withdrawing their troops back home.
Braknak crossed his arms at the proposal, pondering his response. But what came from the great warrior's mouth was negative.
"······Your army is too dangerous. We lost two combat rhinos. Those wielders of strange powers inflicted heavy casualties."
A cornered rat will bite the cat.
As the gnolls pressed the expeditionary force, the knights and priests had gone all out in desperation. The gnoll army had taken significant losses as a result.
"Now that our strategy's exposed, we won't win this easily next time."
The gnoll vanguard had sneaked under the oxen for an easy victory. But such tactics lost their edge once revealed.
The expeditionary force now knew the gnolls' playbook. If they resupplied, regrouped, and fought again... the gnolls would suffer heavy losses too.
"We can't leave any future threats."
No ceasefire. All invaders on this land would die.
Woojin countered.
"That's unwise. Your choice will bring even greater threats."
"······What do you mean?"
"What you faced was just the vanguard."
The second expeditionary force consisted of Duke Edwin's private troops, forces under Archbishop Conrad, and reinforcements from the kingdom alliance.
Eight thousand strong. But compared to the Church Alliance's main forces, it was trivial.
"If you slaughter the second expeditionary force, the Pope will issue a direct subjugation order. I've already sent a messenger ahead before crossing the pass."
The second force included troops from various churches. Their annihilation would provoke the Church Alliance, bringing elite forces handpicked by the seven churches.
Once that happened, there'd be no turning back.
The Church Alliance's wrath would descend on this land. The gnolls would face extermination, and the Alliance would suffer losses in the process. That scenario would only benefit the Dark Cultists.
"The Church Alliance will remember your mercy. So make the ceasefire and send those people home."
"······."
Braknak's expression grew grave. He'd thought wiping out the army would end it all, but realized too late it was just the beginning.
The great warrior pondered longer than before. Woojin hoped for a positive reply.
But reality was the opposite.
"······What we need now isn't mercy—it's a warning. That invading our land brings a horrific end. We'll make an example of that army."
The great warrior rejected the ceasefire outright.
Woojin let out a deep sigh. Whether this one or that one... no one listened properly when he spoke.
He was getting fed up with this situation.
"Hey, Braknak."
"Why call me so suddenly?"
"Ever been told you're slow on the uptake? Probably hear it a lot."
Braknak tilted his head slightly.
"Never heard that before. Why bring it up now?"
"Seems you don't even know who I am."
With that, he raised his right hand.
Crack—
Gray scales sprouted on Woojin's palm. Braknak's eyes widened at the sight.
"······."
The gnoll great warrior froze like ice. Then he snapped back to his senses.
But there was urgent business. Just as Braknak moved to act, Woojin, sensing it, quickly gestured to stop him.
"Hold off. Too many eyes watching."
Talking here was risky.
"Let's talk alone. Follow me."
Woojin pointed toward the forest as he spoke. Braknak hurriedly ordered the gnoll beside him.
"Sound the retreat."
"Great Warrior, why so sudden?"
"No time to explain. I'll be back—secure the prisoners and spoils."
With the order given,
he hurried after Woojin, who strode ahead. The choir and gnolls nearby could only watch in bewilderment.
The moment they entered the forest out of sight, Braknak flattened himself on the ground.
"······I see the tribe's guardian."
The gnoll great warrior offered belated respects. Woojin looked down and chuckled softly.
"Brak. You've climbed the ranks since we last met. Didn't expect you to be a great warrior now."
"Just luck."
Braknak continued cautiously.
"You've changed a bit over the years... Sorry for not recognizing you sooner."
"No need to apologize."
It was natural not to recognize him. Woojin's current appearance was quite different from back then.
Gray scales.
Truth be told, it wasn't a skill. After years in the Demonic Realm, it had become part of his body. Woojin had deliberately dulled his senses and regressed parts of his physique.
The reason was simple. At some point, his body had started feeling more beast than human, and his temperament seemed to shift accordingly...
'I got this nagging fear that I might cause an incident in the real world if I wasn't careful.'
From that moment, his insomnia worsened. Woojin regressed his body and wandered toward the lighter shadows.
This gnoll tribe was one he'd lived near before their full southward migration.
"Are you finally returning to our tribe?"
Braknak spoke with hopeful anticipation. Woojin scratched his nape awkwardly.
'······This is why I tried to hide it.'
It felt like returning to an old job.
Hanging with the gnoll tribe wasn't bad, but he had no intention of leaving human cities. Woojin wanted to live as a man, not a beast.
Settling in the walled city of Yurgis had been part of that. An attempt to fully abandon Demonic Realm life. But he'd grown bored and chosen the beast hunter path instead.
A life between human and beast. Woojin was content with it now.
"······Sorry, but I've found my own kind. I can't stay with you anymore."
"Then... have you come with your kin's army to trample our land?!"
Braknak's tone carried accusation. It was a reasonable misunderstanding—showing up with the human army invading the gnolls.
Woojin felt unjustly accused.
"I should be asking you. Why are you all down here? Your territory was farther north."
This wasn't gnoll land.
While Woojin had been away, gnoll territory had shifted south. Running into them on the second expedition was off-script.
At his words, Braknak answered sheepishly, as if finally understanding.
"The Old Ones have been too active... We had no choice but to move south."
"Sounds like the tribe's in a tough spot."
"Embarrassing, but yes. After you left, the Old Ones we'd been hiding from started invading our territory."
Braknak's push to annihilate the expeditionary force stemmed from having no room for mercy.
A ceasefire could flip like a pancake depending on mindset. If the seasoned army marched north again, the tribe would be in peril. The great warrior wouldn't risk it.
Woojin sighed after hearing the circumstances.
"I get your position is tricky... But what I said earlier is the plain truth. Slaughter them, and a bigger army comes. Ceasefire's your best bet."
"I'll trust the guardian's words."
Braknak nodded readily. Woojin had aided the tribe countless times.
······Still, one thing nagged.
"Why not side with your kin? If you'd wanted, you could've turned this war into a victory."
Braknak wanted to know why Woojin hadn't fought. After a moment's thought, Woojin answered.
"······I just thought this was the best way."
The path that saved the most lives.
By Woojin's measure... gnolls weren't so different from people. Sentient, communicative beings. He didn't want to draw a blade on them lightly.
So he'd proposed a peaceful solution. Trade with the gnolls. But the expeditionary leaders rejected it for all-out war. Edwin was blinded by ambitions to rebuild the kingdom.
'If I joined, we might win... but both human and gnoll sides would suffer massive casualties.'
From that judgment, Woojin had played the bystander. Believing it the way to save the most.
"I'll do my utmost to ensure the ceasefire holds. Play it right, and the Church Alliance won't invade your lands."
"Understood."
"Think we've talked enough... Get up. Time to head back."
Woojin turned to leave. The gnoll great warrior rose, gazing at the figure's back.
'······Guardian.'
The title stemmed from the footsteps that being had left behind.