Chapter 329: There's Always a Way Out, Even When Caught Red-Handed
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 329: There's Always a Way Out, Even When Caught Red-Handed
King Grandiomor of the Kingdom.
The monarch, who possessed the power to never receive hostility from his fellow humans, was swept away by the will of the masses and died.
It was an undeniable death. Although the Military State had managed to survive thanks to the Saintess, the king's death was brought about purely by human hands. His power to avoid hostility was not enough to overcome the corruption and chaos that had grown far greater than before.
The princess, a descendant of the monarch, is still alive, but it no longer matters.
It's been proven that simply not being disliked—being a 'nice person'—is not enough to be a king.
Tch, if it weren't for the Saintess, this would have been so much easier. Because she stubbornly clung to a future where the Military State barely held on... everything was shrouded in secrecy, and I had to run around dealing with all this annoying crap.
Anyway, four remain.
Next up is King Elric of the Golden Empire. The king of technology and metallurgy, who could grasp and understand any structure in an instant, was devoured by the Golden Lord. As for how that happened... I'll have to find that out now.
Fortunately, it seems the Saintess couldn't meddle in this one, so I should be able to just go and read a few thoughts to find out how he fell.
Ah, it pisses me off just thinking about it. I thought I'd gotten lucky and found traces of the Overlord and the Grand Master in the Abyss. But then the Saintess had to go and cling to a future where the Overlord survived...
The King of Humans is just trying to learn a little something about humanity, and she has to throw a wrench in my plans at every turn. The Sky God is the real problem. 'Watches over all,' my ass. It's just a fancy way of saying he's a stalker of all mankind, isn't it? Someone should arrest him.
At this point, I'm glad the Regressor showed up. I never would have been able to find the traces of the five sovereigns on my own while dealing with the Sanctum's interference. In fact, in the past timeline where the Regressor existed, it seems I failed right from the Abyss.
Whew. Without the Regressor, this would have been a disaster...
Ah, or maybe not.
After all, even if I find everything, it'll all be for nothing if she regresses. It might even be worse, just handing information over to the enemy.
For all I know, the Regressor could be the Saintess herself.
“Hee-hmm. It seems we've arrived~.”
Hilde's voice rang out. I lifted my head and looked in the direction the Cataphract was heading. At the end of a path worn purely by the passage of many people, an impressive sight unfolded before my eyes.
“We're here.”
A wide pasture spread out before us. Upon the carpet woven haphazardly by nature, horses and sheep tore at the tufts of grass with their mouths. Humans on mounts kept a sharp watch, making sure none of the horses or sheep disappeared. Their gazes were directed outward, suggesting they believed the animals were more likely to be taken than to wander off on their own.
And beyond that, on a plain enclosed by a wire fence, hundreds of tents formed a massive settlement. The sound of fabric flapping in the wind was clamorous. I could feel the heated vitality of the crowd even from here.
The Regressor muttered, “It's a camp.”
It was clearly different from the ghost town we'd seen before. It was far filthier and messier, but filth is the residue left by the living. The city of tents was more vibrant than I had expected.
“Entering now!”
Hilde headed for an entrance in the wire fence.
The camp even had a gatekeeper. A man who didn't look particularly diligent stopped us and asked our business.
“Halt. What's your business? Staying long, or leaving soon?”
“We'll be gone after a day!”
“Leaving soon, are you? Then there's no fee. Park your vehicle by the fence and walk in.”
The gatekeeper said nothing more and waved his hand dismissively, as if that was all he had to say. He sounded slightly confrontational, perhaps weary from a long shift. But Hilde, who couldn't care less about his circumstances, glanced at me, seeking my opinion.
‘How insolent for a mere camp gatekeeper to speak to a diplomatic envoy like that~. Father. What should we do? Slit his throat and force our way through?’
Force our way through? Is this woman really an envoy? Does she not know the difference between a truce and an escalation? If you're going to cause trouble, at least do it when no one's watching.
“Let's just do as he says for now.”
“A pity~. Very well~.”
Hilde drove the Cataphract toward the outer edge of the fence.
Lined up outside the fence were the wanderers' vehicles. Their owners, fearing theft, were leaning against the fence, dozing off with weapons cradled in their arms, even though the camp was just on the other side of the wire.
“Looks like everyone's afraid of getting robbed, so they can't leave their rides. The camp is pretty clever. They're making people who are leaving soon split their forces.”
“You're right. If we don't leave someone here, we'll get robbed too.”
Just as she said, in the Fallen Dominion, an unattended item belongs to the first person to pick it up. Every passerby is a potential thief. Leaving it unguarded would be risky.
Tyr stepped forward.
“No problem. I will leave my dark knight.”
“No, I don't really trust the dark knight. Besides, the sun hasn't even set yet, has it?”
“...Am I that untrustworthy?”
‘Ever since I reclaimed my heart, I haven't been able to command my retainers properly, and now I'm being treated with all sorts of contempt. I must find a solution quickly. Otherwise, this nagging will never end...’
This isn't nagging. It's a serious tactical assessment.
A guard's role isn't to stop a theft in progress, but to deter the very thought of it. But a dark knight, pitch-black from head to toe, runs the risk of being mistaken for an obsidian statue. It would just encourage thieves.
Besides, there's a more suitable candidate than a dark knight. Man's best sucker... no, friend. She might not be the most reliable, but Azzy is perfect for times like these.
“Azzy.”
“Woof? What?”
“Can you guard this vehicle while we're gone?”
“Woof woof? Guard?”
Yes. Azzy has an instinct to protect her territory. There's a reason humans use dogs as guards.
Whether she'll actually be wary of strangers... I'm not so sure. Still, her presence alone might be enough to deter thieves. Even if Azzy is the Dog King, she still looks like a human with animal ears.
“You don't need to attack. If anyone snoops around this Cataphract or touches it, just bark loudly. Loud enough for everyone to hear. That'll be enough.”
“Woof! Leave it to me!”
“Good girl! I'm counting on you, then. Don't follow anyone, even if they offer you food. And don't get distracted if something passes by.”
“Food? Passing by? Where? Where?”
“No, I didn't say food was passing by. I mean, for example, like that horse over there...”
Just then, the sound of clopping hooves reached us. A moment later, a horse running along the fence shot past us. Its golden tail, long enough to almost touch the ground, fluttered in the wind it created.
A perfect example just happened to pass by. Azzy has hunting instincts, too. I can't have her getting tempted and running off.
“Like that horse, even if something runs by, don't just take off after it because it looks fun...”
“Woof.”
Crap. Azzy's eyes are sparkling.
The horse's tail, swaying from side to side, had triggered her hunting instincts. Azzy's head followed the tail like a pendulum. Then, in an instant, she leaped to the ground and shouted.
“Woof woof! Stop right there!”
“Heyyyyyy! I told you not to!”
But Azzy was the Dog King. In the blink of an eye, she was right behind the horse. She had no intention of attacking, just barking and playfully tapping its tail, but the terrified horse shook its head frantically and galloped away.
Tch. At this rate, she's going to catch that horse. I wonder how much it's worth.
“This is no good! I'll go get Azzy, you guys figure out who's going inside!”
“Think you can catch her?”
“Do I look like I have a choice? I'm going because I have to!”
“Fine, whatever. I'll go meet the camp chief. You just bring Azzy back.”
Quickly gathering the necessary items, I took off after Azzy's shadow. The Regressor watched me go, then a thought belatedly occurred to her.
‘He's going to get Azzy, so why is he taking a rope?’
Because in the Fallen Dominion, finder's keepers. It looks like a fine steed, and with Azzy's help, I can corner it.
I have no need for a horse when I have the Cataphract, but humans have this concept called 'bartering.' If I don't need it, I can just trade it at a pawn shop. I bet I could get a pretty penny for it.
I don't know who it belongs to, but thanks for the meal.
“Woof woof! Woof woof! Don't move, woof!”
—Wheeeeeeeenny.
I didn't have to search for long. Azzy was circling a horse inside a low-fenced enclosure, staring it down. The horse, unfortunate enough to be targeted by the Beast King, was whimpering pitifully, thoroughly terrified.
I hurried to the scene.
“Azzy, you good girl! Well done!”
“Woof? I did good?”
“You did! You've earned yourself a meat dish today!”
“Awoooooo! Yay! Yay!”
“Stay right there! Until I get there...!”
I quickly tied the rope into a lasso. I'll just slip this over its neck and pull. Ah, if I pull the rope, I'll be the one getting dragged to a gruesome death. I should have Azzy pull it.
Spinning the lasso above my head, I slowly approached the cornered horse. The horse, frightened by the appearance of a suspicious human, pressed closer to its owner.
Huh, owner?
‘...A Dhole, trying to steal a horse in broad daylight? ...And so close to the camp, too. Do they take me for a fool...?’
The thought came from someone hidden in the horse's shadow. Looking again, I realized the horse hadn't been unable to escape; it had arrived. At its owner's side.
‘...And on top of that, raising a beastkin as a slave... An irredeemable scoundrel.’
Tch. Even if I'm the type of person who could live without laws, I don't exactly prefer robbery. Robbery is a violent crime, after all.
A violent crime is a crime only a violent person can commit. I'm a weakling, so I can only be a petty criminal. Of course, if my opponent is weaker than me, I could commit a violent crime by virtue of relative strength, but...
‘...Should I just melt him.’
This isn't good. I threw the lasso I'd been spinning.
Not at the horse, but at Azzy.
“Woof?”
Azzy snatched the flying lasso out of the air with her mouth. She stared at me, a puzzled look on her face as to why it had been thrown at her.
After a small, dry cough, I immediately began to scold Azzy.
“You rascal, Azzy! What do you think you're doing, bothering someone else's horse!”
“Arf?”
“A horse is a human's friend, mount, and property! You must treat them with care and never torment them! Why were you scaring it! Is that how I raised you!”
Don't you get it yet? I'm scolding you. You're being reprimanded.
Azzy, still not understanding the situation, tilted her head, then suddenly shook it as if she thought it was a game.
“Arf!”
“Aaaargh! Don't pull! I'm falling!”
My body was yanked into the air and then slammed onto the ground. Humiliation and misery washed over me before the pain. Is this what a fish feels like when it's reeled in on a line?
Someone approached my limp form. It was the horse's owner.
She had rust-colored reddish hair tied in a ponytail. Her loose overalls were stained with black grease and flecks of molten iron. She had a calm demeanor, but the bandages dotted across her face seemed to make it difficult for her to form an expression.
The woman, who looked like something between an alchemist and an engineer, looked down at me and asked.
“...You her owner?”
“I wish I were the owner. What kind of owner in this world feeds, clothes, and plays with their charge? If anything, she's my owner.”
“Woof! Woof woof! I'm not the owner! I'm the major shareholder!”
You're not quite the major shareholder yet, are you? Especially since the party in question is still very much alive.
The woman glanced at Azzy, then asked again as if to confirm.
“...You were trying to steal the horse.”
“No? I was trying to stop Azzy in case she hurt it. It would be a nuisance if someone else's horse got injured.”
“...The lasso.”
“I threw it to catch Azzy. I had to stop her before she hurt the horse.”
“...And the talk about a meat dish?”
“I couldn't let Azzy eat the horse, could I? So I had to distract her with the promise of a meat dish. It was a safety precaution.”
How's that for a logical excuse?
Faced with my perfectly logical argument, the woman said nothing. Her tightly pressed lips conveyed her resolve.
‘...The fact that he's even making excuses puts him in the top 10% of Dholes.’
What kind of country was the Fallen Dominion that making an excuse put you in the top 10%? I'll never understand it. The woman gave a small nod and turned back.
“...Fine. I'll let it go.”
“Let what go? If you think about it, the horse is the one at fault for escaping its pasture. Don't you manage your mounts properly? What would you do if such a valuable horse got stolen?”
The woman didn't react to my nonsense. She just ignores useless chatter. A tough type to find an opening against. In that case, I'll try a different approach.
The woman stroked the horse's mane and muttered, “...Aurea came to help me.”
“Aurea?”
“...My horse's name.”
“Ah, is that so? I guess this is the part where we introduce our pets. I'll go, too. This is Azzy. She has a bad habit of chasing after anything that runs.”
‘...A beastkin as a pet... I may have to revise my assessment. Even the bottom 1% of Dholes aren't this morally bankrupt.’
I really don't get the standards in the Fallen Dominion. I called a dog a dog and dropped from the top 10% to the bottom 1%. What's with that nosedive?
Meanwhile, Azzy tapped my leg and wagged her tail.
“Woof woof! Hey, human! You're a good liar!”
“Hey. No need to explain. Every human here already knows I'm a human, you know?”
“Introduction over!”
“Don't tell me you introduced me because you thought it was time to introduce pets?!”
‘...Pfft. What an interesting relationship. They get along well.’
The woman laughed inwardly and turned her head away.