44
Chapter 44
It wasn't just an ordinary orangutan.
The creature was wearing plate armor that looked as if it had been cobbled together from several sets of human armor.
On its back, it carried a massive container filled with spears carved from wood.
The beast was armed just like a human.
None of the low-tier demons I'd seen so far, nor even the mid-tier ones, had such equipment.
I had only encountered the Cobra and Ox-headed demons among the mid-tier ones, and they fought relying strictly on their physical specs and magical abilities.
Yet, the creatures living in this city wore armor starting from the low-tier rank.
It seemed that primate infected had evolved into low-tier demons.
But why were only these guys equipped with gear?
Because they have a body structure similar to humans? Because primates are intelligent?
I couldn't be sure, but one thing was crystal clear.
These bastards... aren't going to be easy to deal with.
As soon as the Orangutan Demon entered the yard, another demon emerged from the mansion.
Uuuuu-!
A cry characteristic of primates.
It was a demon that looked like a chimpanzee, and this one was also geared up in heavy armor.
With a sword at its waist and a shield in its left hand, it was practically a Primate Knight.
I felt like I was in some Planet of the Apes movie.
Still, looking at its size, it wasn't a mid-tier. The mid-tiers I'd seen so far were at least 5 to 10 meters tall.
The orangutan and chimpanzee greeted each other with primate calls.
The two demons stood there for several minutes, chatting away like idiots, exchanging "Uuuu!" sounds.
That was when the mansion doors, which were as large as city gates, swung open, and holy shit.
A crazed Giant Gorilla, over 7 meters tall, was approaching them, supporting itself with two feet and four hands.
So that insane monster was the reason the top part of the mansion door was broken.
Why the hell does a mammal have six limbs in total? What kind of Digimon are you?
I can say with certainty that its presence was not inferior to the Cobra Demon or the Ox-headed Demon.
No, it looked even stronger than those bastards.
With a massive scar across its face, it was a total Veteran monkey. He looked like he could fight like crazy.
The creature, like its subordinates, was also wearing armor.
Could a Rake Punch even land a significant hit on that?
Suppressing the urge to swear, I granted Divine Descent to Rake.
- Can you beat that thing?
"...I think we'll have to fight it to find out."
Even Rake, my strongest asset, couldn't give me a definite answer.
Ugh, why the hell are these kinds of lunatic monsters only in the area where I live?
I wanted to face someone like the Cobra or the Ox-headed demon as a first-round boss and grow steadily.
You bastards in the dev team, do you not know how to balance the game?
I deactivated Divine Descent, which drains a lot of mental strength, and watched them again.
The monster gorilla grabbed the orangutan by the collar with one hand and lifted him up.
Screeee...!
The orangutan, standing over 3 meters tall, was hoisted effortlessly. He began to whimper.
It was a desperate sound, as if he were begging for his life.
The gorilla snorted and dropped the orangutan onto the ground.
Or rather, he threw him. The orangutan rolled across the yard.
He's a real powerhouse.
The gorilla gestured something to the chimpanzee. It looked like sign language.
Nodding as if he understood, the chimpanzee took a horn from his chest and blew it.
Bwaaaah!
The Devil's Sights near the city simultaneously flew toward the mansion.
Is that tool used to control the Devil's Sights?
"I'll crouch for a moment."
Rake lay flat on the ground. A few Devil's Sights flew over her, but they didn't seem to notice us.
Luckily, those things only fly straight ahead.
Uoooooooo-!
The Gorilla Demon, having gathered the Devil's Sights in one place, let out a monstrous roar.
The roar echoed loudly across the entire city. His lung capacity is insane.
The one-eyed monsters, the Devil's Sights, blinked a few times and then flew off again.
Did they receive a new order? Now I have a rough idea of what's happening.
This gorilla bastard is currently searching for our Tribe Alliance.
He must be furious that the Orangutan Demon and the Demon Worshippers haven't found any leads despite being tasked with the search.
In reality, those guys are just stumbling around. At first, they lingered near the mountains, then moved elsewhere, and last time they swarmed a certain area just because Princess Dina fired a single beam of light.
As if venting his rage, the Gorilla Demon slammed the ground several times with his four arms and went back into the mansion.
Like Muri said, low-tier demons are stupid, but mid-tiers are different.
Arming the primates under his command and sending troops to catch us was likely that monster's doing.
He might even be as clever as a human.
Watching the gorilla leave, the Orangutan Demon left the mansion and stood before a massive warehouse.
He opened the door and dragged out three monsters the size of mid-sized cars.
They were low-tier mammals, not primates.
In order, were they donkey, rabbit, and Badger Demons? They looked devoid of intelligence.
Their equipment was meager compared to the three primates.
I wonder if there are more low-intelligence low-tier demons inside the warehouse.
"There are only three. I can't sense any other demons."
Rake answered before I even had the chance to ask.
Rake has an exceptional ability to detect demons, so she's likely right.
The Orangutan Demon climbed onto the back of the Donkey Demon and drove the other two forward.
The four demons left the city.
"All three of them are nimble. They've even sent low-tier demons to track us."
Rake was correct. They were trying to find a more foolproof method.
One mid-tier demon. Five low-tier demons.
The mid-tier and two of the low-tiers are heavily armored.
The mid-tier seems highly intelligent.
The worshippers living in the city are well-equipped.
Four low-tier demons just left the city.
At this point, I've gathered all the information I can from here.
Now, I'll leave it to Rake.
I granted Divine Descent to Paya, who was with Tuntun-i.
"Ah! Lord Mallak!"
Paya is currently flying through the sky on Tuntun-i.
Since becoming a spirit, Tuntun-i has grown larger by the day, and is now big enough to carry Paya on its back.
The body is about 1.8 meters long, and the wingspan is probably over 4 meters.
At this rate, it's basically a pterosaur.
I suspect that if it grows a bit more, it'll be as large as a low-tier demon.
- What's the situation?
I had tasked Paya and Tuntun-i with scouting the base of the mountain.
Since Devil's Sights struggle to see things positioned higher than themselves, they were safe as long as they circled the mountain peak.
They also have Stealth Mode just in case.
"The Devil's Sights are moving elsewhere! A-and... w-wait a moment. I think I'm going to throw up..."
Paya's face is pale, likely because it's her first time flying; it's almost pitiful.
Then again, when would a barbarian ever have flown? At best, she's probably ridden a horse.
I didn't even assign the scout duty; Paya volunteered for it.
She insisted that she wanted to be helpful to me and the Tribe Alliance.
'It's too dangerous! What if you fall!'
Kanto tried his best to stop her, but well, they say no brother can win against his little sister.
Was it parents against children? Either way, it's the same thing.
"I-I'm feeling better now."
- Don't overdo it.
"No, I'll get used to it if I fly with Tuntun-i often. I'll keep growing so I can stand by your side, Lord Mallak."
I can feel Paya's emotions fluctuating.
The role of the Right Hand of God must be incredibly alluring, but I hope she doesn't become too competitive with Rake.
What Paya can do and what Rake can do are entirely different.
And honestly... I'm still not exactly thrilled about the idea of taking a little girl to a battlefield.
It's a visceral repulsion, so it can't be helped. I've given my permission and I understand, but a part of me still feels uneasy.
Perhaps this is the limitation of a modern person who has learned 21st-century morality and ethics.
- What about the Demon Worshippers?
"I can't see any more. I think they've all moved elsewhere."
- I see.
Safe. Check complete.
I granted Divine Descent to Muri.
Using Divine Descent repeatedly is exhausting. Tsk.
- High Priest Muri.
"Lord Mallak, you've arrived."
Muri was sitting with the Tribe Alliance leadership, working out a strategy.
They were in the middle of a heated discussion, placing stones and pieces of wood on a scroll.
It's the kind of wargaming we often do during reserve training.
"I tested the Magic Interference Device earlier. It works perfectly."
Harry placed a device that looked like a retro radio on the table.
"Ugh."
It looks quite heavy.
"The strategy is all set!"
Kanto said, wiping drool from his mouth. He's pretending to have worked hard after being fast asleep until a moment ago.
I bet Muri and Harry did all the actual planning.
These elders are working so hard, so what are you doing, you young leader?
Is this what a Gen Z barbarian chief looks like?
- Three low-tier demons guarding the city have gone on reconnaissance. Currently, only one mid-tier and two low-tier demons remain in the city.
I gave them a general update on the situation in the city.
"Now is our chance."
"Indeed. We must head straight for the city through five villages. In any fight, the one who gets stabbed in the heart first is the one who loses."
Muri and Harry each shared their thoughts.
"Great! I'll show them the power of the Tribe Alliance!"
This Kanto bastard is just excited. All he knows is fighting.
- Let's start as soon as Rake arrives.
The Gorilla Demon was certainly strong.
But I don't think he's so overwhelmingly powerful that he's unbeatable.