Chapter 156
Chapter 156
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 156
Chapter Title: Feigned Truce
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Gordius, disguised in Koprik's form, held his breath inside the temple, biding his time.
Then one priest came rushing in—no, fleeing for his life.
"Lord Ozen, save me!"
Gordius was puzzled by the unfamiliar name but made no move to help the priest.
Gordius's abilities boiled down to two main things.
One was his theatrical talent, rooted in skills derived from Eldar's high-level subdomain of art.
The other was the intelligence based on the body Seong-un had created for him, coupled with swift reasoning derived from that intellect.
Gordius had devoured Koprik's brain to kill him, but he hadn't absorbed all of his memories.
The rest he inferred purely through deduction: the relationships between Koprik and those around him, what kind of being Koprik had been.
And according to his calculations, a Rakshasa priest was nothing more than food that could walk, talk, and live.
Rakshasas might think themselves different from Pangolins, but that was a delusion. In the past, Koprik had never treated them as anything else.
'And whatever's chasing that priest is getting on my nerves.'
In the end, the priest tumbled to the ground. A massive crow appeared and seized him with its talons.
Then it began pecking at the screaming priest, starting from his head.
Gordius surmised that this giant crow was Ozen, a guardian of similar stature to Koprik.
Ozen glanced at Gordius, then swallowed the Rakshasa in one gulp.
Ozen spoke.
Gordius realized his judgment had been off.
The real black panther had never once considered Pangolins, Rakshasas, or even other guardians as comrades.
Ozen said as he walked down the temple corridor lined with massive pillars.
Ozen continued.
Hmm.
The fish were likely the Deep Ones.
Gordius realized this was new information, aside from the fish, that even Seong-un hadn't heard.
Ozen went on.
Gordius replied.
Gordius tensed.
He'd slipped up again.
'This damn black panther had no sense of hierarchy!'
Gordius debated whether to attack and kill Ozen now or let Ozen attack and eat him.
Both were fine options for him, but they might derail the mortals' plans under Yacheon.
Ozen chuckled.
Gordius breathed a sigh of relief.
Gordius watched Ozen waddle away down the corridor.
One thing piqued Gordius's curiosity.
'Just what is this Ashurada?'
"You don't want to fight anymore?"
"Er... that's not quite it..."
Pangolian Mago fidgeted before Basen Rak Orasun.
In the days following their great victory over the Rakshasas, smaller skirmishes had continued, with the Pangolins winning each time.
But the Rakshasas fled at the mere rumor of Pangolins approaching, so they weren't proper battles.
To Basen, that made them even finer victories.
The Pangolins had reclaimed most of the northern territories, driving out the Rakshasas. If they now recaptured the largest city, Siul, they would have all their old villages back.
Of course, Basen had no intention of stopping there.
The Rakshasas—or more precisely, the Ashurada tribe's Rakshasas—formed a vast nation despite their low technology. The northern regions where Pangolins lived were just a fraction.
'But it might feel like more than enough for the Pangolins. They've ousted their oppressors and gained the power to defend themselves.'
It wasn't just the matchlocks.
Pangolian backscales were tough and leathery, but they could still be wounded by Rakshasa iron swords and spearheads.
Yet simply donning steel armor tailored for Pangolians made them a tough matchup for Rakshasas.
Rakshasas had ambushed unarmed Pangolins before, only to be routed by heavily armored Pangolian spearmen.
Physical disparities could be bridged by technology.
"They could keep winning if they pushed on, but are the Pangolins finding battle burdensome?"
"Not really. It's just that continuing the fight doesn't seem efficient..."
"Efficient?"
Mago hesitated, then spoke.
"War is a waste. If we can gain benefits without fighting, it's better not to war."
Basen had to nod at that.
War was a waste.
"So, you want to make peace with the Rakshasas."
"Yes. The Rakshasas aren't stupid, and behind them are Ashurada and the grand temple... It's hard to think we'll keep winning forever..."
Basen pondered.
'They might be right. We've won big so far, but prolonged fighting stretches the front lines. Longer lines mean roads, supplies, wagons—critical infrastructure becomes vital. But this land has almost none.'
And Basen's worries didn't end there.
Most Pangolins had lived as slaves for ages, so they lacked skilled commanders. As forces grew, maintaining high-quality gear would be tough.
They bridged the power gap with tech and boosted morale with victories, but it was a precarious balance.
He was especially wary of Ashurada and the guardian Koprik they might face next.
The white spider Hilrov had oddly dismissed Koprik as "no worry," but the Pangolins described him as terrifying.
'Yeah. Maybe end the war here and return the expedition to its original mission. We've gathered some intel already. Back in Heukrin, warships are probably prepped via relay. If Heukrin and Rakshasas must war, better do it directly than through Pangolins.'
Basen said,
"You're right, Mago. Let's see if they bite on a peace offer."
The Pangolian delegation headed to Siol, the Rakshasas' northern central city.
They immediately sensed the difference in treatment.
Rakshasas didn't hide their discomfort but treated the delegates like noble Rakshasas. Commoner Rakshasas in the plaza even flinched at the sight of Pangolins.
Northern Governor Akulda met them and heard their terms.
The Pangolians' conditions were simple.
One: Release all enslaved Pangolins from Siol and any unassaulted cities and villages.
Two: Vacate and abandon Siol, the city that was originally Pangolian.
Three: And never return.
Their reward? Even simpler.
'No more attacks? They're offering that just for such a promise?'
Akulda seethed inwardly.
But Akulda was a capable Rakshasa noble who had risen through political savvy.
"We accept your conditions. However..."
The delegates tensed, awaiting his words.
Akulda smiled.
"I want good relations with Pangolins going forward. We can't erase the past, but we'll show remorse—give us that chance. To that end, when we make peace, I'd like to invite those people from beyond the sea who aided you Pangolins and hold a grand festival. What say you?"
The delegates joyfully accepted and returned elated.
From behind the temple, eavesdropping on the exchange between Akulda and the delegates, Koprik—or rather, Gordius in Koprik's body—spoke.
Akulda looked at Gordius as if to say, "What are you talking about?"
"Of course. We can't pass up encircling and striking the enemy leaders in the city's heart."
Gordius smiled and replied.
"I didn't negotiate with Pangolins. True dialogue requires equals. And with your help, Lord Koprik, there'll be no 'next time' for them."
Gordius thought to himself,
'Exactly. Dialogue only works between equals.'
Pantheon, Conference Room 2.
Nicknamed the Tactics Room.
The room contained only a massive table filling it entirely.
On the table sat miniature figures—dolls, really—that moved on their own.
These dolls moved according to player inputs and had similar stats.
Perfect for mock battles—wargames.
Seong-un pointed at the temple miniature.
"The battle will probably happen right in front of this temple. Of course, to avoid provoking Basen and the invited Pangolins, there won't be any armed Rakshasas up front. The Pangolins will come lightly armed at most."
Wisdom, on the opposite side, said,
"So armed Rakshasa units will hide here—behind the temple, shortest path for a strike. Around... 2,000?"
"They've scraped together every last one they could."
"Hm. Wouldn't it be better to have Basen attack from outside? You already warned him it's a trap."
Seong-un replied,
"No. Then the Rakshasas would fortify the outskirts for efficient defense, racking up Pangolian casualties. But with insiders, they'll believe the deception, leaving the outer forces light. Easier for the units to enter."
Wisdom said,
"So the issue is here: Basen and the Pangolins as bait. Can you definitely save them?"
"We've got these."
"These?"
Seong-un pulled two small dolls from his pocket.
One white spider doll, one black panther doll.
He placed the white spider on the outskirts, the black panther atop the temple.
Hilrov's consciousness linked to the white spider, Gordius's to the black panther.
Hilrov and Gordius then stared with round eyes at the gigantic gods looming over Conference Room 2.
Seong-un, vast enough to overturn the world if he wished, pointed at Hilrov and Gordius like distant mountains.
"This wargame is to see if they can successfully defend. If it goes poorly, we use your method."
Wisdom, rising like a second sun opposite him, nodded.
"Alright, then... shall we?"
"Hilrov, Gordius. Move."
A massive black panther crept silently toward the Rakshasa unit waiting behind the temple and swiped with a forepaw.
Rakshasa bones shattered, flesh sprayed into the air.
Rakshasa screams echoed.
Akulda, waiting behind the temple with other warriors to ambush the Pangolins, shouted,
"W-what's happening?!"
As screams continued, a Rakshasa warrior rushed from behind the temple.
The warrior gasped,
"L-Lord Koprik has gone mad! He's attacking us Rakshasas!"
"What?!"
Akulda's head spun.
He couldn't grasp what was going on.
"Pull the warriors back to safety for now. I'll talk to Lord Koprik..."
"Governor, disaster!"
A warrior from another sector yelled at Akulda.
"A giant white spider is breaking through the defensive line, heading for the temple!"
The warrior pointed to one side of the city.
Sure enough, a massive white spider was slaughtering warriors.
"This... impossible! No, it can't be!"
Akulda rallied the panicked warriors with superhuman will, barking orders.
But Hilrov and Gordius knew it was futile.
Both had already seen this battle's end through the wargame.
To them, this was less a fight than fulfilling a predetermined fate.