Polaris Serpent, Grayrim Territory
Was it because the heavens knew the dire straits Grayrim Territory was in? Clear days were rare, and the sky hung heavy and overcast every day. That day was especially gloomy. It would have been better if a downpour had hammered down instead. But it only drizzled, a misty patter impossible to tell if it was rain or fog. The soldiers' hair was damp because of it.
"Prepare to march—!"
the commander bellowed. The squad leaders formed ranks with their men. Every soldier looked fierce and battle-hardened. Only those who had crossed the death line at least once were gathered here—and they had all fought monsters before. One thousand soldiers and one hundred knights. That was the makeup of this expedition.
The proportion of knights to soldiers was high. It meant this force was made of elites.
Zain wasn't part of the expedition. He watched the ranks form from atop the wall built to hold back the Great Forest. Raindrops trickled from his wet bangs down his cheek. His face had gone pale. Not because he couldn't join the expedition. Because he'd noticed something suspicious.
'This is weird. Definitely weird.'
Why suddenly launch an expedition into the Great Forest? Left alone, those monsters would just fight and kill each other. Sweeping the nearby monsters for the territory's safety? The ones on the outskirts aren't that dangerous. The deep-forest beasts don't come out. That's common sense, isn't it?
But his lord, Gunter, was preparing as if for war.
'It's the mages from the Magic Tower.'
Three old men in robes instead of armor stood beside Gunter. No tower insignia on their robes, no spells cast, but Zain was sure they were Magic Tower magi. Considering those cranky old misers' massive egos and insatiable greed, Gunter couldn't have hired them out of pocket. Plus, one Magic Tower magus was worth dozens of siege engines.
'A royal request, maybe.'
That was all Zain could guess. But the suspicions didn't end there. Grayrim itself had changed. Massive stockpiles of oil and gunpowder. The young and children shipped off under the pretext of pioneering new lands. What kind of pioneering? The villages were left with only the elderly nearing death's door or the sick. Or the lord's family holed up in the castle...
Then someone approached Zain.
"My lord, you look cold. Come warm yourself by the fire..."
"...I'm fine."
The one offering warmth was another old man. He'd normally be whiling away time in a cozy room. But after his children left for "pioneering," he was out here roasting potatoes by the fire.
"Don't be like that. The potatoes are done. Come eat."
"... "
No appetite, but Zain sat by the fire anyway. The old man poked the logs with kindling and spoke.
"Feels like my time's coming..."
"What do you mean?"
"Just a feeling. Time to go. And it's not just me—all us old folks left behind feel it."
Even the illiterate elders sensed the ominous air. Zain snapped irritably for some reason.
"If it's so foreboding, just leave. If the vibe's bad, you old timers could band together and run."
"Heh heh..."
The knight's anger didn't faze the old man. Zain bet even a drawn sword wouldn't scare him.
"We've clung to life this long, outlasting even this—sorry to our kids. But grateful we sent them away. My son, my grandkids—they're gone. Yes, truly grateful. To you lords..."
Zain's chest tightened. "Lords" lumped Gunter, the Iron Lion Knights, and even Zain together. How could he group them all like that? Zain was just a squire who hadn't even made the expedition.
"Zain!"
A knight clapped Zain's back hard.
"Kid, why the funeral face? You get to sit this out and suck honey—should be thrilled."
The grinning knight was a senior Iron Lion. A few veterans had stayed behind. Which felt even more ominous.
"Stand and wave. The expedition's departing soon."
Bwoooo—
The horn signaling departure blared right on cue.
"Damn beasts!"
The gates opened. Zain followed his senior into salute position. Silently, for a long time.
Gunter rode out at the front. He glanced back at the wall. His eyes were as cold as ever. When Gunter turned away, the knights and magi beside him followed suit. They'd see Zain and the knights saluting atop the wall.
"Something wrong, Captain?"
one knight asked Gunter.
"Nothing."
"Heh, Zain looks like death."
Only those who'd survived battlefields with Gunter could joke like that.
"Seemed like his head was full of worries lately."
"It was."
"...You sure about leaving him behind?"
The casual question carried a hint of ruthlessness.
"Let him be. Without becoming a knight, he'd have inherited his family business and lived easy."
"If you say so."
"Captain!"
A Magic Tower magus cut in with the last word. The gap-toothed one grinned with a "hee hee."
"Prepare two chickens and some gunpowder. Need to draw a magic circle here first."
"As you wish."
Gunter was calm; the knight beside him frowned.
"Ugh, feels like the expedition's gonna suck from the start."
"Good."
Gunter smirked faintly.
"Brace yourselves. It'll be the worst one yet."
Thwack! I coldly swatted away Father's hand as he tried to pat my head.
'Don't touch me.'
It wasn't some late puberty phase. We'd just fought.
Swoosh.
'Hey, I said don't touch!'
This time his tail smacked me. I spun three times in midair before landing.
"Saaak!"
I hissed in anger, and Father flicked his tongue, looking pissed too. If you're gonna make up, commit to it.
I debated unleashing Overlord skill, but Father turned away first. Bitter taste in my mouth. I was hurt because he'd tail-smacked me. At least ten ribs cracked. Without potions, I'd have died.
"Saaak!"
Thinking about it reignited my rage. Good thing past-life beatings made me used to it. Otherwise, I'd report this as domestic abuse!
- At least he apologizes.
...True. This life's Father at least said sorry after hitting.
- And it didn't seem intentional. You're just narrow-minded...
Father's tail-whack might not have been on purpose. It happened at dawn. I woke and saw him lying there, eyes closed. Asleep for once, not vanished. Dozed off? Curiosity hit.
About his level, traits, skills. I focused to peek at his status window.
Polaris Serpent Lv100
Father's level was exactly 100. Asleep, maybe I saw more. Concentrating on traits and skills—
His eyes snapped open. Bam—I slammed into the ground. Realized later he'd tail-smacked me. That's how it went. A bit rough, but.
Couldn't keep going like that. I looked back at Father. He gazed down with unreadable eyes. I nodded. He nodded back.
Yeah, that works.
'Chammo.'
"Yeah, boss..."
'March!'
The gorilla lady acts as my herald. With her booming voice.
"Maaarch—!"
She bellowed thunderously. The zoo beasts started moving.
Monster Pack Leader
Tamed over 100 monsters.
Domination over monsters strengthened.
Natural dignity emanates.
My horde finally topped 100. Still lags behind insect legion or primate troop in power, but things changed. Now those forces can't ignore us. Monkey or bug raids stopped. Survived unscathed till now.
The tripartite division worked. And the day the radiant fruit ripened on the central root arrived.
All hordes gathered by the massive central root. Monkey troops, insect swarms visible.
'Jeez, swarming numbers.'
Amazed. Overwhelming insect numbers. That many bug monsters in the swamp? At least ten thousand.
Ah, giant centipede there too. Seems chimps edge out Riok and chimps in personal power. But horde-wise, bugs win on numbers.
Thorn bushes around the central root. Blockade, but monsters would smash through. Monkeys and bugs encircled it, growling competitively.
They'd clash inevitably. How tempting the fruit's scent? Riok and silverback glared, like resuming unfinished business.
'Halt.'
"Stooop!"
We stayed back, halting our group. The terrified ones sighed in relief.
Decent force. Not scary, but not ignorable. That's us. I'd fish in troubled waters again, doggedly.
"Soon, the radiant fruit will ripen."
Fed Father plenty of mana potions. The taciturn one spoke.
「Get the fruit. Must.」
Why the sudden change from the rock-sleeping indifferent guy? Doesn't matter. I want it too.
'Mole.'
The tunnel mole, honored to ride gorilla shoulders with me.
'Scout it out.'
He burrowed on command. Ghostly digger.
I pondered how to snag the fruit past the two hordes. Clash inevitable. For fishing, eliminate at least one survivor.
Pellelian and I brainstormed. Hundreds of scenarios—which win for us? Devised one stratagem.
'Think it'll work?'
- Depends on your execution.
Yeah. Based on observation.
'Belonging to a horde isn't just taming.'
Mistaken at first. Thought successful taming required for inclusion.
But realized: Kkubugi, Daegari, Wangnuni weren't in my horde. No shared EXP. They hunted despite youth.
Failed tame Father? He's in my horde. His EXP bumped me past Lv20.
So infer: Insect legion—all tamed by brainless Riok? That spider or giant centipede?
Doubtful. Spider even scorned Riok as monster.
Horde belonging likely "under that monster's domination." Obeying leader's command and control.
Like Father obeys me.
So I...
"Boss."
Gorilla pointed. Mole peeked out. Back.
'Found it? Good to go?'
Mole nodded. Cross-check: Purple parrot flapping overhead.
One-Eyed Purple Parrot Lv12
Owl replacement scout. Purple feathers less visible in flight. It squawked.
"It's there! There!"
Worth the gamble. Instructed gorilla and Father: Hold position, conserve power. I'd Emergency Return back easy.
「Go.」
Father saw me off. Followed mole into tunnel. Tight but crawlable. Advanced till mole stopped, pointed up, slipped aside.
'You head back.'
Mole nodded, fled. Now solo.
I surfaced.
And waiting was...
Swarms of bugs. Chitter, clack, tap. Tick, kick. Sizzle, splat. Chk. Clack-clack, crack, chitter, clack, tap. Tick, kick. Sizzle, splat. Chk. Clack-clack, crack, chitter, clack, tap. Tick, kick. Sizzle, splat. Chk. Clack-clack, crack, chitter, clack, tap. Tick, kick. Sizzle, splat. Chk. Clack-clack, crack.
Midst insect legion's right flank formation. Bugs turned to me en masse. Alien reptile—prey?
Didn't charge into bug brawl.
Because.
"Kkeeh!"
Panicked giant centipede mama was there. She bit surrounding bugs. These under her domination. Lucky.
Stood tall before her.
'Giant Centipede ma'am.'
Used to call her "Lady Giant Centipede" respectfully. But now I'm a leader too. Need dignity.
She twitched venom claws nervously.
'Here to propose.'
Kkubugi, Daegari, Wangnuni greeted happily. Ignored pointedly. Yeah, can't fight you. Won't let you die.
"Kke kke..."
Offered tail tip to tense mama.
'Join my horde.'
Recruit her and her bugs. My plan.
"Using Taming Lv9."
This time, firm.
'I'll make you happy.'
Uh, wrong line? Whatever!
'Come to me.'
Mama flailed antennae confusedly. Somehow the triplets clacked claws in centipede applause.
And her answer was...