Chapter 510: Even a Hunter Can Be Fired
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 510: Even a Hunter Can Be Fired
A wolf is powerful, but at the end of the day, it’s just part of a pack. If a nation were to devote its full strength to dealing with them in a timely manner, they could be defeated without much trouble.
However, a nation is a massive collective of tens of millions of people living together, and it’s difficult to remain constantly vigilant against a pack of beasts whose movements are unpredictable. Moreover, the Wolf King is clever and knows to avoid a fight if there’s no reason for one. Without the Dog King, even fighting the Wolf King is a challenge in itself.
The Military State lost hundreds of soldiers while trying to manage its sea beast problem, and the Fallen Dominion couldn’t settle in the mountains for fear of wild animals. Even the Empire only utilizes a tiny fraction of the sea, fearing the Leviathans of the Mediterranean. Beasts were a definite nuisance that not even a nation could afford to ignore.
That was why the vassal states created Ende.
A few years after the Sanctum subjugated a wolf pack, another pack, presumed to be led by the Wolf King, appeared in the southern Enger Plains. But for various political, geopolitical, and administrative reasons, the Dog King was abandoned or driven out for several generations. And after the kingdom fell to a rebellion, the Dog King vanished without a trace.
During that time, the wolf pack gradually grew in strength, roaming the southern Enger Plains until it became a threat even the vassal states could no longer ignore. And so, the Lilac Vassal State, being the closest to the wolves, decided to raise a shield.
With the beastkin of Ende. Beings they could discard at any moment.
“Ende… is a shield?”
“That’s right. We are the vassal states’ meat shield. But by becoming that shield, we gained our freedom.”
Mayor Triver glanced around the square, at the countless homes and people in the distance—the tens of thousands of beastkin living in Ende. Gazing at the city he had built from the ground up, he spoke.
“Everyone in this city enjoys freedom. They earn money, they work, they are treated with respect, and they form their own organizations. These are things that are difficult to do in the lands of men. This has proven that beastkin are no different from humans.”
After looking upon his people with a moment of pride, his expression turned desperate as he pleaded.
“The wolves. We only need to overcome the wolves. Then we can cast off this threat and gain complete autonomy. We can show the vassal states that we beastkin… can do it!”
“So you’re telling us to be a meat shield against the wolves.”
“The wolves are strong, but they are not invincible. We can fight and win. And by doing so, we beastkin will earn the right to make demands of the vassal states, of the world!”
Azzy, a sacrifice? No, Ende is the sacrifice. Trying to drive Azzy out now is like one sacrifice pushing another off the altar, telling them, ‘You get eaten first.’ How utterly ridiculous.
Of course, for the beastkin who hadn't realized they were sacrifices until now, even that would be hard to accept.
“We don’t need it! We weren’t born to be meat shields!”
“But thanks to that, we escaped the vassal states’ interference and enjoyed our freedom!”
“We don’t need the kind of interference that dominates and kills people! We will live our own lives! Ende will decide Ende’s future!”
“But driving out the Dog King is tantamount to treason!”
Alright, alright. There’s no time for this. You can all stay and fight amongst yourselves. I have a job to do.
I picked up the megaphone I had brought with me and slowly walked up onto the stage. I stood in front of the two of them, who were lost in what might have been a debate or just a petty squabble. After a brief cough, I brought the megaphone to my lips and shouted forcefully.
“I understand your intentions perfectly. You will not fight the wolves. I must admit, I’m bewildered by your change of heart after just a few days, but if this is the considered decision of all of Ende, I will respect it.”
A murmur rippled through Okma’s faction, as if this wasn’t the reaction they’d been hoping for. They must have expected me to be shocked and to argue. Too bad for them, what they just did was exactly what I intended.
“Wolves harm humans, and dogs follow humans. Wolves are evil, dogs are good. To bow to evil and cast out good is a truly disappointing choice, but… from the perspective of leading a city, I can fully understand. We praise sacrifice as noble, but when we’re the ones asked to make it, it’s a difficult thing to accept, isn’t it?”
I lamented with a sigh of disappointment, then swallowed and put on a bright smile again.
“It can’t be helped. Therefore, we have no choice but to head north and ask the vassal states for help directly.”
It was the same kind of rational judgment the orc had made. If they won’t help, we have to leave. What else can we do? An unavoidable situation has occurred, so we are taking the best possible course of action.
However, now that I knew the relationship between the vassal states and Ende, that had become an unacceptable outcome for them. Poina’s face went pale as she asked.
“Wait a minute. Then, you’re going to the Lilac Vassal State…?”
“Of course. It’s the closest vassal state.”
“Y-You can’t do that!”
We already drove out a public official, but if word gets out that we drove away the Dog King to avoid the Wolf King, the fallout will be on a whole different level…!
Exactly. It’s no different from treason. Thanks to Mayor Triver’s earlier explanation, I was saved the trouble of explaining it myself. I looked away, feigning regret, and spoke, still holding the megaphone.
“We have no choice. The Dog King must fight alongside humans. The covenant is to protect humans from wolves. But since you won’t fight, we must ask the nearest nation for help, mustn’t we?”
It can’t be helped. Just like you, we are acting out of a lack of options. I kept hammering this point home as I delivered the final, punctuating line of my speech.
“Well, I am a little worried when I think about you all being pressured by the Wolf King from below and the Lilac Vassal State from above… but I trust that you wise people will once again make an excellent decision for your city!”
My words said I trusted them, but my meaning was that I was going to tattle to the vassal states, so they’d better figure things out on their own. This was something neither Mayor Triver nor Okma could accept.
Poina shouted viciously.
“Stop! We can’t let the Dog King leave!”
The answer I’d been waiting for. I leisurely stopped walking and asked nonchalantly.
“Oh? Then what do you suggest we do? You said you won’t fight. If you abandon Azzy here, you’re just leaving her to die, aren’t you?”
“…That’s not your concern. The Dog King exists to protect humans.”
“Wow! That sounds awfully familiar!”
Peel back one layer of the heart, and you’ll find the same thing inside everyone. They try so hard to wrap it up in pretty packaging, but a human is a human, no matter what they do.
Beastkin don’t need to try to become human. They don’t need to shout that they want to be equal to humans. Because they were the same from the very beginning.
“Everyone, I’ll acknowledge it. You are all already wonderfully human! You’ve broken a treaty, ignored a promise, and abandoned the Dog King. And now that you realize letting her go might turn out badly for you, you’re just going to let her die? Perfect! Could there be a more perfect human!”
It wasn’t just the beastkin’s fault. After all, it was humans who had not only driven out and left the Dog King to die but had even imprisoned one in the Abyss.
So, of course, the beastkin would choose the same option. They’re all cut from the same cloth.
“Humans are nothing special. They’re just beasts, same as wolves. They bow to those stronger than them and try to devour the weak. They scheme for a fuller belly and a more comfortable life. Just another pack of beasts. Exactly like you!”
Thinking about it the other way, the vassal states sending the beastkin to Ende to act as a shield… was exactly the same as the beastkin trying to use Azzy as a shield.
“The vassal states must have thought the same thing! ‘Ah, damn. Those Empire bastards are strong, and they’re telling us to do the same. This sucks, let’s just use the beastkin. It’s fine. That’s what beastkin are for, right?’”
I whispered, speaking for the vassal states, then spread my arms wide and shouted.
“How about it, beastkin? Now that you’re in this position, can you see the human perspective? Do you understand what was in the hearts of the humans who sent you to the front lines against the wolves? Congratulations! If you understand, then you’re the same as them—you’re human!”
“…!”
I offered them my sincere congratulations. It was a heartfelt celebration, given because the beastkin had achieved the dream they so desperately desired.
To be honest, it didn’t quite come from the heart. I already knew their desires weren’t so noble.
They just wanted to live well, didn’t they? They just wanted to eat delicious food, wield power, and be treated with respect. They attached all sorts of reasons to it, making them seem like ideological activists, but in reality, they were just a gathering of people who wanted a better life than their current one. They were steeped in a victim mentality, but that was the essence of it.
“…You know us well, magician. If you’re so full of understanding, then you must also understand why we can’t let the Dog King go.”
“That’s right! It’s a perfectly understandable decision! Of course I understand!”
However, the pie they wanted already belonged to someone else. Unless they bake a new one, they have no choice but to take it from another.
When it comes down to it, all that remains is the logic of power.
“However, there’s no reason we have to follow it, is there? Just as you don’t follow the orders of the vassal states!”
Whether it’s money, power, consideration, or respect, it must be won through strength.
It’s so beast-like, isn’t it? I like desires like these. I just hate it when this simple, primal desire pretends to be something more noble.
“Our survival is at stake. Now, you and we are in the same boat. Ende and us. Which of us will die? I’m sorry, but I don’t want to die.”
I deliberately held the megaphone to my lips and shouted cheerfully.
“I’m sorry! Please die in my place, everyone!”
“Get them!”
Urukfang and the other mercenaries rushed forward. They intended to grab Azzy and me before we could escape, but in that instant, a massive slash cleaved the space between us and them. The Regressor, wielding Chun-aeng, strode forward, parting the terrified orcs.
My words seemed to have improved her mood slightly, as the aura she emitted was less sharp than before. Still, she was just as fierce.
“I-I’m not saying we’ll kill you! You just have to abandon the Dog King!”
“Why? Azzy is better than you. If anyone’s getting abandoned, it should be you.”
The Regressor raised Chun-aeng and retorted.
“It’s not because you’re beastkin. It’s simply because you’re humans who are worse than dogs. Unlike Azzy, I don’t think it would matter much if you were abandoned.”
Wow. She can be that provocative without even trying? The natural-born talent is on another level. And here I am, a mere commoner who has to read minds and choose my words carefully to provoke people.
“Grr…!”
“We have no more business in Ende. Go ahead and do as you please. Because I’ll be doing the same.”
The Regressor scoffed and unleashed the power of Chun-aeng.
Skyblade Art, Draconic Ascension.
A vortex enveloped Azzy and me. A fierce wind shattered the stage and kicked up a cloud of sand. A massive whirlwind of dirt, dust, wood splinters, and debris raged. The beastkin crouched down, covering their faces to shield themselves from the wind.
When the whirlwind, so strong they couldn’t even open their eyes, finally subsided, we had already vanished from their sight.