Persuasion
The best-case scenario he'd imagined on the way here had already sailed across the river. So, he needed to find the next best option.
"What is the reason for the existence of the Law?"
Zerik's face twisted instantly at the question from Tiny's mouth.
"How dare a human speak of orc law!"
His thunderous roar echoed through the space, filling it with a killing intent to match. Bold and Narn paled and immediately dropped to their knees.
"Great Warrior! Please withdraw your anger!"
"Great Warrior, that can't be his intent. Just a bit more conversation...!"
As they shouted, Tiny met Zerik's eyes straight on and continued in a calm tone.
"A chain and a tool to prevent orcs from falling into excessive belligerence and forgetting their civilized nature. Isn't that what the Law is?"
Bold and Narn's eyes widened as they glared at the back of Tiny's head.
— Calling the sacred Law a chain? A tool?
It felt like betrayal from a trusted friend.
"Sir Tiny!"
"Friend, how could you say such a thing...!"
Even as their heated gazes bore into him, Tiny didn't waver and kept looking at Zerik. But surprisingly...
"...Enough! Orc warriors, be silent. And you, human hero—who told you that?"
Zerik responded with a composed face once more.
Of course, the particularly fierce faces among the orcs looked like they'd barely suppressed their rage on the verge of explosion, but to someone who'd spent years as comrades guarding each other's lives, that emotion was clear.
Curiosity... Good enough.
The suffocating pressure on his chest eased a little.
But he couldn't say 'something you told me,' so for now, he could only reveal a partial truth.
"A orc friend I know always says it. Is that opinion wrong?"
His companions behind him bit their lips hard, staring only at Zerik's mouth.
"...It's not wrong. That's the very purpose of the Law."
The response far exceeded their expectations.
"Great Warrior!?"
"N-No, what does that...?"
Bold and Narn were the ones startled, eyes bulging. As executors of the Law—Bator's warriors, and especially their leader, the Great Warrior—they couldn't comprehend his words.
But only then could Tiny finally smile.
Good. I was worried for a second...
He'd confirmed that the Zerik he knew hadn't developed that worldview after the orcs' downfall. Relief washed over him. Thanks to that...
"It's surprising to hear it from a human. But what does that have to do with this matter?"
He could answer Zerik's follow-up with leisure.
"If keeping the Law means just watching the orc race fall, what meaning does the Law have?"
"...So you're saying that if we don't heed you, the orc race will fall?"
Killing intent rippled from Zerik's entire body like heat haze once more.
Killing intent visible even without projected mana. His temper's the same as ever...
A phenomenon that appeared when orcs with near-mad belligerence or outstanding beastkin warriors possessed by pure madness flew into rage. But it wasn't enough to startle Tiny, who knew him well.
"Of course."
At the utterly nonchalant follow-up, Zerik finally exploded.
"Absurd nonsense!"
Boom!
Whoooosh.
Just standing abruptly from his chair and stepping forward caved the floor, and the storm-like aura whipped up fierce winds indoors.
But even in that storm of momentum, Tiny didn't flinch.
"I'm not telling you to break the Law right now!"
"Playing word games...!"
Thud.
The pressure intensified with another step.
"If there's a possibility of crisis for the race! Wouldn't it be worth showing some flexibility for once? Not just breaking the Law outright!"
"...Flexibility?"
Zerik looked baffled at the word, and his volcanic aura gradually subsided.
"Go check with the Black Rhino tribe's chieftain yourself. If it's not true, just come back. Surely even that doesn't violate the Law?"
He didn't know the Law in detail, so there was slight unease saying it. But...
"...Go check? Hm, but even that could be implicit pressure."
Zerik's tone had softened considerably.
"Think of it as precautions against 'what if.' As I said, in the worst case, the orc race will fall in this war. Due to the demon worshippers' schemes."
"...And if you're wrong, and it harms a just struggle?"
Describing intra-species war as a just struggle? Orcs were still hard to understand, but he knew what to say now.
"My neck... no..."
To orcs who saw dying in battle as virtue, pledging one's life held little weight. So...
"...I'll stake my name."
"Hm?"
"The Radiant Knight who overcame humanity's calamity twice, Tiny. I'll stake my name, my honor."
Tailor to the opponent—stake what they valued most. But Zerik frowned immediately.
"I know humans don't cling to honor like us. But..."
As he spoke, Zerik trailed off upon seeing Tiny's blazing eyes.
I'm the one who'll smash the Demon King's skull and etch an immortal name on this land.
So that his fame reaches the heavens.
Those black eyes, filled with that resolve, locked onto Zerik's yellow ones for a moment, and a faint smile crept across Zerik's fierce face.
"...You seem sincere, human. Heh..."
Surprisingly, Zerik stepped back and plopped into his chair.
Of course, even so...
"Flexibility..."
Hesitation lingered on his face as he muttered the unfamiliar word.
So Tiny pushed one step further.
"If I'm wrong, I'll grant whatever you desire."
"Me, bending to one human..."
"Even I have quite the debt to the Aslan Empire. Great Warrior of the orcs who call Aslan enemy—don't you need that debt?"
Those final words were enough to make Zerik's heavy head nod.
* * *
Around the time Tiny met Zerik in Bator.
Eschard von Valentia—the Sword Emperor, superhuman representative of Aslan and noble—was having a private audience with the emperor in the heart of the imperial capital Asrian as dusk fell.
"Come in, father-in-law. Here, sit."
In the emperor's office, the newly ascended former crown prince Bradley rose from his ornate desk and greeted him casually.
But a subject couldn't accept a lord's reception, so the Sword Emperor knelt on one knee with dignified courtesy, bowing his head.
"Yes, Your Majesty. It's been a week since I last saw you."
The emperor gave a wry smile at the sight, then chuckled resignedly and lifted the teacup before him.
"You come right after your schedule ends. Are you here for the same talk as always?"
A sip to hide an emerging sigh. But knowing he knew, the Sword Emperor nodded anyway.
"Regrettably, yes."
The wedding delayed by the palace incident. Official events including the enthronement required far more preparation than expected. Thus, palace and Valentia retainers toiled day and night, but the matter they were about to discuss was far from those blessed events.
Clutching his head, the emperor spoke first.
"Isn't that settled? Whatever demon worshippers do, orc matters are orc matters. As I said again, even if the orcs fall, it's to our empire's benefit. You know that."
The Sword Emperor bit his lip, head bowed.
He needed an excuse to preserve orc forces, but none came.
'Humanity' won't fly.
In this era where 'humanity' was foreign to nobles. Let alone warnings of the Great War of the demon realm—mere ancient legend.
'This is separate from believing Tiny.'
Even if revealing regression's truth didn't threaten that legendary genius's life, few would believe it. Convincing others, especially the emperor, was harder still.
"I know it's for the empire's benefit. I know the emperor must act so."
"Then why, when you know?"
It was settled, but new info this time.
"Sir Tiny seems to have suffered a major ambush en route to Bator. My people remaining in the Great Forest witnessed a wildfire ravaging a section, and found demon-corrupted land and corpses there."
"...Sir Tiny?!"
The emperor owed that young genius too, holding him in high favor—a potential angle.
"Yes. Only the orc Great Warrior and Bator's orc army can end this strife."
The emperor clutched his head again. But after brief silence, his words missed expectations.
"...Could be demon worshippers' grudge?"
As expected...
The emperor didn't want to move imperial forces amid chaos. So the Sword Emperor avoided 'humanity' or 'plains peace.'
Other words worked better on nobles, especially the emperor.
"Either way, their traces clearly follow Sir Tiny's path now. Shouldn't you restore the damaged imperial prestige?"
Two effective words: imperial prestige.
The emperor sighed deeply. Then...
Slurp.
Sipping calmly, he gave a wry smile and looked at the Sword Emperor.
"...Be honest, father-in-law. Why use imperial power to save orcs? As Duke Rohiter says, plotting imperial overthrow with them?"
"...Pardon?"
Absurdity made him lift his head unwittingly.
...That fucking bastard?
Mana stirred as strength gripped his hand unconsciously. Shing. Seeing his guard knight Iksiran draw steel with a stiff face snapped him back.
"...As if. I have no desire to hear my daughter's resentment for such nonsense."
He covered hastily, but inwardly cursed his slip.
But for the first time, a genuine smile curved the emperor's lips.
"More convincing than prattling about firm loyalty."
"...Thank you for believing."
"Well, Princess Cloi is that lovable."
Matching doting smiles briefly. Then, recalling the topic, father- and son-in-law coughed and returned to it.
"Demon worshippers' calamities will continue. Against all humanity. Fail to uproot them, and empire and throne fall again."
"...Sir Tiny said that?"
"My judgment matches."
"But I can only give the same answer, father-in-law."
The Sword Emperor's face hardened. But...
"But with evidence piling up, I can't ignore forever. Too many eyes for official action yet, but I'll dispatch imperial shadows. Including 'that talent' Sir Tiny requested before."
"Ah...!"
"Valentia send a few elites too. If not you personally, I'll handle diplomatic fallout."
Relief sighed from the Sword Emperor.
"Thank you. Thank you, Your Majesty."
Burdensome for dooming only Tiny despite knowing future calamity. The relief cracked his psyche.
Then...
"I'm yielding this time, father-in-law. You know?"
The emperor pierced the gap with heavy eyes. Managing expression, but the emperor pressed relentlessly.
"For debt to Sir Tiny. But next, prioritize empire's benefit."
"..."
"As emperor to Duke Valentia, beyond personal ties. Understood?"
"...I'll remember."
A strained reply ended the talk. En route home...
'This can't continue...
Maybe Tiny's right—seizing empire as in past life better?'
Brief irreverent thought buried deep in his heart.