Chapter 502: If You Flip the Pyramid
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 502: If You Flip the Pyramid
A revolution inverts the class pyramid. The ones who suffered the greatest loss were, naturally, the humans who had reigned from the apex of power. Just as the tip of a soft pyramid crumbles when flipped upside down, the pressure from all sides forced the humans to walk on eggshells in their daily lives.
But hidden by that great collapse, there was another class groaning in agony, their cries unheard.
They were the dog beastkin, inheritors of the traits of man's best friend.
“Hey, you orcs! Why are we being put under surveillance?”
“We have to surrender our weapons and insignia and just wait at home? You’re just trying to kick us out!”
The dog beastkin guards vented their frustrations at the Okma mercenaries.
Most of the guards in Obeli were dogs. This was partly because dog beastkin possessed a superior sense of smell and hunting instincts, but that wasn't the only reason. The most important reason was that dog beastkin were friendly with humans.
They were said to be the first beastkin Muhu ever created. They were loyal and affectionate toward humans, and most importantly, they never hid it. Full of affection and quick to show it, dog beastkin served humans as slaves, butlers, friends, and companions.
That was why the majority of Obeli’s guards were dog beastkin. Because dogs do not betray humans.
However, now that the Okma had seized power, that same logic was interpreted in the exact opposite way.
“You all enjoyed power by colluding with the humans. Of course we have to be suspicious. Don’t worry. As long as you don’t try anything stupid, you’ll be fine.”
“And for that, we have to lose our jobs overnight and be monitored? This is tyranny! You said all beastkin are equal!”
“That’s right. All beastkin are equal.”
Gulta, the cart magnate who had managed the Okma’s logistics and personnel—and had thus seized control of Obeli’s appointments—spoke to the protesting dog beastkin.
“Which is why we must drag down you who have been enjoying an unequal share of the benefits. Weren’t all your privileges gained by sucking up to humans, rather than through your own abilities?”
“What did you say?”
“How dare you spout such nonsense!”
“We rose through the ranks on our own merit!”
Fierce protests erupted, but Gulta replied with a smirk still playing on his lips.
“Then let me ask you. What makes you so much better than us orcs?”
“That’s…”
“What, some paltry senses? Orcs are no different. In fact, our sense of smell is far superior. Slightly sharper teeth? Hmph. As if teeth matter when we all use weapons and Qi Arts anyway. Hunting instincts? Do you really need instincts to chase down an enemy?”
Gulta let out a distinctively orcish snort that sounded like he was swallowing his snot. The snorting sound of a pig beastkin was once a target of ridicule, but now it was an expression of confidence. The dog beastkin couldn't muster a rebuttal as they looked up at the pig beastkin who now gazed down on them with such assurance.
“There is only one thing that makes you different from other beastkin: your closeness to humans. And in Ende, which has become a city of beastkin, that is no advantage at all.”
“…Still, we’ve served as guards for years! You can’t just dismiss us as you please!”
“To put it another way, besides having served as guards for years, you have no other reason to be in that position. Even now, you’re using your status as guards to conspire with humans.”
At Gulta’s accusation, the dog beastkin reacted as if they’d been pricked by something sharp. One of them, tail tucked, protested.
“What? Are you suspecting us? Without any proof?!”
“Proof? Hmph. Were we ever cast out with proof? When there was an unpleasant smell, everyone looked at the orcs first. When the ledgers came up short, investigators would show up in the pig beastkin’s residential area with scowls on their faces. From now on, you’ll have to keep proving yourselves. Just as we always have.”
The orcs surrounding the guards laughed and jeered in support of Gulta. The dog beastkin gnashed their teeth and let out low growls.
Since the success of the revolution, the majority of the Okma had occupied Obeli, using their numbers as a weapon to throw their weight around. The very act of being in Obeli granted one the power to influence all of Ende. By occupying nearly half the place with sheer numbers, the orcs could now control even the dog beastkin.
With power at his back, Gulta issued a declaration to the guards.
“Bring me Duke Erectus. That is the only way for you to prove your competence as guards and your loyalty to Ende.”
“How are we supposed to find the Duke, hidden somewhere in this vast city…! The ones we call the Duke are all of the ducal bloodline! You may have taken Obeli, but you don’t rule all of Ende. The people of this city, however weak their sense of belonging, are still subjects of the vassal state! They won’t report the Duke!”
Ende was a frontier city in a vast vassal state. Its autonomy was guaranteed because it bordered the wildlands, but that also meant it was a city that could be abandoned at any time. If the main country were to exert its authority, this small spark of rebellion would be stamped out in an instant.
Gulta knew this better than anyone. In truth, the Okma’s desire to capture Duke Erectus was driven less by revenge and more by the need to prevent the vassal state’s intervention. Gulta spoke quickly.
“There was a servant who took Duke Erectus away. That dog beastkin. He’s one of your kind, so you figure it out.”
“Welsh? Impossible! Before he is our kin, that child is Duke Erectus’s Guard Dog. He is the son of a Guard Dog family!”
“A Guard Dog family…”
Gulta groaned at the term he hadn't heard in a long time.
Dogs cared about bloodlines. A dog from a distinguished lineage was treated almost as a quasi-noble, sold to powerful families for generations and showered with love. As hunting dogs, as companion dogs, dogs of noble blood stood by the side of noble lords.
And all beastkin were treated as beasts before they were treated as beastkin. The dog beastkin were no exception.
The powerful had carefully selected the finest specimens among the dog beastkin to create their own clans. Already loyal to humans, these dog beastkin underwent an education bordering on brainwashing to be raised as butlers, maids, and escorts.
A Guard Dog family, dedicated to protecting a single noble house. They truly existed, and their line had continued even after the appearance of the furred saintess. It was a wicked custom that had survived the longest because, unlike those of the orcs, it was the most docile.
“Welsh won’t answer our call! No, he’d even bite us!”
A new wave of immense pressure washed over Gulta. A beastkin created by humans, a system that used beastkin—what were the orcs to do in this invisible current? Gulta’s limited insight offered no answer.
But it was a miracle that this revolution had even occurred within that current. Gulta hardened his resolve to protect this small flame.
“Hmph. You seem to be misunderstanding something. We didn't call you here to listen to your excuses. If you can’t break free from the humans no matter what, then that’s all you’ll ever be!”
“Instead of boasting about how strong your shackles are, you should be thinking about how to break them! Like us orcs here!”
“Well said! Yes, we orcs did it… Who?”
I chimed in from beside Gulta. About to shout triumphantly, Gulta caught sight of me and recoiled so far he nearly fell over. His face was a mask of terror.
“Ma-Magician!”
“Yes? What is it?”
“No, Magician. W-what are you doing here…”
This reaction was starting to get depressing. I’d thought long and hard about this, positioning myself to help if needed, so why were they so scared of me?
“What is your problem? Is it because I captured you and locked you in Obeli? You understand now, don’t you? To take over Obeli, we had to infiltrate it beforehand.”
“Ugh, ugh. I know. I know, but.”
“It’s quite upsetting, you know. I’m not a tiger, yet you tremble every time you see me. Sigh… I’m the one who truly helped the Okma, and yet you don’t even consider me a comrade.”
He was still terrified of me, but did the position make the man? The surrounding orcs were looking at him with eyes full of expectation. Their gazes became a silent pressure, pushing Gulta forward. Buoyed by popular support, Gulta mustered his courage and spoke.
“O-of course! Because you’re not an orc, you’re a human! How can we trust a human who just rolled in from who knows where!”
Seriously? You just said everyone was equal. You should treat me equally, too. You told them to prove their ability, didn't you? What more do you want me to prove?
Be honest. You just don’t like me and you’re making up reasons. Just like you’re doing to the dog beastkin.
Hah, for crying out loud. After all I’ve done, I guess I have to do more.
“Even I, who has already delivered results, have to prove myself again? Fine. I’ll find Duke Erectus for you.”
“That’s not… What? Duke Erectus? Is that possible?”
“Of course it is. Finding one person is easier than taking down a secret organization with thousands of members.”
Actually, in terms of difficulty, it might be a little harder. A large organization is easy to spot, but finding a single person can be like looking for a needle in a haystack.
But I don’t make bets I can’t win. There was a reason I was so confidently offering to solve the problem.
‘No way. He’ll never find him. How could an outsider possibly find Duke Erectus, hidden away in a safe house?’
‘A magician? What’s that? Is he more important than the Duke?’
It was because I had read the thoughts of the Obeli guards, who were now silent and exchanging nervous glances.
There’s always a reason for a long tongue.