The Light Sword Doesn't Know Moderation
"Run! I said run!"
Kauli bellowed at his fellow beastkin. Even now, the hero and the elves' attention was being drawn by the dark elves, but no one knew how long that would last.
'Of course, if Balam has any brains, he'll keep pulling their focus.' Kauli thought as he watched his comrades racing through the forest.
Kauli's plan was simple: he'd brought a unit made up of beastkin specialized for combat—wolves, bears, and tigers. They would swing wide around the enemy's front lines, where traps had been laid, and strike the rear. The enemy's strongest forces were probably there, but Kauli didn't think they'd lose.
The elves acted like they owned the forest, but in truth, no one dominated it like the beastkin. Or at least, that's what Kauli believed.
Of course, Kauli wasn't as reckless as Balam, and he wasn't underestimating the enemy. But if Balam timed it right and drew the hero out front, they could definitely capture the elf queen. That was Kauli's judgment.
"Faster. The future of our race is on the line."
Kauli shouted at the bear, tiger, and wolf beastkin.
He did have his doubts about siding with the Demon King's army. But it hadn't been his decision alone—it was the consensus of the entire race. And now the situation favored them. As he'd told the dark elf leader, retreating here would bring nothing but scorn and humiliation. Kauli understood that better than anyone.
"Stop, Kauli!"
But at that critical moment, an obstacle appeared before the desperate Kauli. And it was the worst possible one, blocking his path.
"Dalshinyang."
Kauli bared his teeth at his former leader, who gazed at him with cold eyes, looking ready to tear her throat out at any second.
'Dumbass. What the hell made you start this shit, nyang?'
Dalshinyang licked her hand as she eyed Kauli, who had brought the beastkin elite. She knew him better than anyone and had predicted he'd make this choice, which was why she'd slipped to the rear instead of the front lines.
And as expected, Kauli had chosen to ambush the rear. Dalshinyang found it predictable—and tragic.
The beastkin had no idea how skilled the hero was or just how powerful the elf queen truly was. Hell, even the Light Sword following her or that crazy mage alone would overwhelm them.
Of course, the beastkin weren't weak in the forest. They had superior physical abilities to humans and knew how to fight using the terrain.
But the ones Dalshinyang mentioned transcended beastkin common sense. Kauli's choice was suicide.
"Surrender now, Kauli."
Dalshinyang dropped her usual meowing tone and spoke to him seriously.
There was no reason for Kauli to listen.
"Surrender? Have you thrown away even your pride, Dalshinyang?"
Kauli glared at her furiously instead.
Pride? Dalshinyang could only let out an exasperated laugh.
What pride had they preserved when they volunteered to join the Demon King's army? They were treated barely better than slaves.
"Pride? More important than survival, nyang?"
"Shut your mouth. You demon-tongued bitch who sucked up to the Demon King—now you're spreading your legs for the hero!"
Kauli shouted to provoke her, but Dalshinyang's face flushed bright red.
Of course, nothing had happened between her and the Demon King. He'd only kept her close for her looks.
But she couldn't deny sleeping with the hero. And Kauli's "demon tongue" jab reminded her of the hero praising how good her tongue was for cock cleaning. It made her flinch.
"...You slut."
Quick-witted Kauli didn't miss her reaction. He glared at her in disgust and shouted to his beastkin followers.
"You all saw that, right? Dalshinyang isn't just whoring herself out to the hero—she's trying to drag the whole race down with her. If any of you listen to that bitch, I'll cut your throat myself!"
His followers' expressions hardened.
It was true—Dalshinyang was disliked by many beastkin. Her sassy mouth made enemies easily whenever she gained a little power.
But not all hated her. She had an alluring appearance, and despite her snark, she looked after those around her. Some valued her actions over her attitude and quietly supported her.
Kauli knew that, which was why he'd warned his unit.
"Hmm? The beastkin have some complicated drama going on?"
Then an old man stepped forward before Kauli, muttering.
Kauli eyed him tensely. Anyone on the continent would know this man—a monster said to be half a kingdom's entire strength. He'd single-handedly held off the Demon King's army until the hero arrived.
"Light Sword..."
"Heh heh. You always run whenever you see me, but today you'll give me a proper fight?"
Kauli ground his teeth as the Light Sword patted his shoulder with the flat of his blade.
There was a reason the Light Sword had held off the army alone: Balam had dawdled, too busy chasing dark elf women.
Kauli didn't think he could beat the Light Sword alone. But with his elite beastkin unit against an old man past his prime? They couldn't lose.
"Charge!"
Kauli roared at his men, and battle erupted.
The bear, wolf, and tiger beastkin spread out in a wide circle around the Light Sword, circling warily. They all knew how monstrous the old man was.
"Stop! I said stop!"
Dalshinyang's sharp voice rang out, but no one listened anymore.
"Don't worry. For the hero's sake if nothing else, I'll go easy."
Only the Light Sword responded.
But that remark needled Kauli.
"Go easy? Has the old fart lost his mind?!"
Kauli extended his claws and charged straight at the Light Sword. His powerful forepaw, strong enough to cleave a massive tree in one swipe, slashed toward the Light Sword's face.
"Whoa!"
The Light Sword blocked with his sword and was flung back by the force—or so it seemed.
Kauli thought he'd won the power struggle, but it was an illusion. The Light Sword twisted mid-air, his elbow smashing into the nose of a tiger beastkin lunging from behind.
"Grrooaaagh!"
The tiger collapsed, blood gushing from his nose, and the Light Sword grinned slyly at Kauli.
"Let's take it easy, yeah? This old body's got aches in every joint."
Kauli seethed at the Light Sword's whining.
And the tiger whose nose got smashed into those 'old bones'?
"Raaargh!"
A bear beastkin seized the opening, charging to crush the Light Sword. But in an instant, the Light Sword drew his blade.
Slash-.
With a chilling sound, the bear's hand hit the ground. Clutching his spurting stump, the beastkin dropped to his knees.
"Too bad. I hear bear paws make great bone broth."
Blood dripped from the Light Sword's blade. Despite his light joke, no one dared underestimate him now.
Only Dalshinyang stared in disbelief.
'Going easy, my ass, you crazy old geezer!'