Power is Law
Right after Grandine passed out, Lily—who'd accumulated extreme injuries and fatigue from the prolonged battle—staggered as she raised her hand and pointed at me.
"You... you... later, you and me... we're gonna talk... Ugh..."
With that, she lost consciousness and collapsed, following in Grandine's footsteps.
I figured I'd be in for a proper grilling once this was all over, but for now, I hurriedly called out to Yukino.
"Yukino!"
A moment later, the lion spirits she commanded flew over, circling around me as they relayed her voice.
『Why.』
……She sounded seriously pissed off; her voice was pretty prickly.
"Sorry, but come here and watch over these two! They're both badly hurt!"
『Hah?! You want me to protect them right now!? Why should I!?』
"Please! We don't have time! If this drags on, the Libertas non-humans up in the mountains will clash for real with the subjugation team, and there'll be casualties! We have to stop that! I'm the only one who can do it right now! Please!"
『Tch… You better brace yourself later for real!』
The lion spirits withdrew, and soon after, Yukino herself floated across the forest on them, drifting lightly through the air.
She glared at me with a face full of resentment, then glanced at Lily and Grandine—who were covered in blood, their bodies broken and torn—and let out a sigh.
"...They are in bad shape. I can't even look at one of them, and the other's an enemy, but since you asked... this is a one-time thing."
"Thanks, Yukino. I'll explain everything once we're back."
"Don't think it'll be a nice atmosphere."
"Y-yeah..."
I bowed my head to her in gratitude and hurriedly dashed up the mountain.
The wildfire had spread, but the time spent putting it out meant the subjugation team and Libertas non-humans hadn't clashed yet.
According to Yukino, the main subjugation force was still at the base of the mountain, so even in my powerless civilian state, I had some time to resolve this.
It was the dead of night in the mountains, so I couldn't see where anyone was...
"People of Libertas' free folk! Can you hear me? If you can, please respond! This is Jeong Hyun-soo! I want to meet you all and talk!"
I'd only shouted into the empty mountains like that when soon, rustling sounds started coming from the surrounding bushes and trees.
Then, shadowy figures emerged from the darkness, slowly stepping into the moonlight.
A few with long, pointed ears—elves—and people with rabbit ears atop their heads—rabbit beastkin.
These soldiers from Libertas' non-human races were armed with somewhat outdated rifles compared to modern firearms. They didn't drop their guard at first, but as the distance closed, their suspicious expressions turned to joy.
The Libertas folk recognized me and cried out in shock.
"I-is that... the Liberator?!"
"No way... it's really the Liberator! He's here!"
"Liberator! Is this a dream or reality!? You're alive! We thought for sure humans had kidnapped you or something after you went missing for three years...!"
All the non-humans of Libertas had lived under brutal oppression and discrimination from humans.
Grandine and I had led the liberation front, freeing them all, so from children to adults, every single one revered me as a heaven-sent benefactor.
The elves and rabbit beastkin with their keen ears had rushed over at the sound of my voice, and once they confirmed it was really me, they shrieked with joy and swarmed around me.
"Liberator, have you been well?! We were so worried..."
"After you vanished, Dragon Princess cried so much. Where on earth did you go?"
"We're thrilled to see you again! These past few months, we've had no clue about the outside world—just tons of intruders—and now that you're here, we finally feel safe!"
Libertas non-humans hated all humans, but they showed me 100% goodwill.
I hoped they'd react the same to what I was about to say...
I looked at the elves and rabbit beastkin who'd gathered close and opened my mouth.
"Everyone, listen carefully to what I say now. It might be hard to believe, or feel like betrayal, but this is the unvarnished truth."
And so I laid out the facts for them.
This was my real homeworld, and they'd all been dimensionally transferred here just like I had back then.
Unlike Libertas, this world was inhabited solely by pure humans.
But if you worked hard here, you wouldn't face the discrimination and oppression they'd endured in Libertas—in fact, humans here punished those who committed such acts.
And people like me in the Settlement Support Division would wholeheartedly help dimensional transferees like them settle in, both materially and otherwise.
So there was no reason to treat humans as enemies like in Libertas, and they shouldn't.
"I understand why you attacked and repelled the intruders—the search team—since you didn't know the situation. But because it kept happening, HQ misunderstood and sent the subjugation team. You mustn't attack the subjugation team. If you do, you'll truly be branded as evil here and suffer the same as you did from Libertas' humans."
"Urgh... but Dragon Princess said she'd kill all the humans..."
"Speaking of, where is Dragon Princess?"
"Grandine was transferred here... and passed out fighting an acquaintance from another world."
The non-humans stirred at the news that the mighty Grandine had blacked out in a 1-on-1 fight.
In Libertas, Grandine couldn't sweep away humans because their numbers and firepower overwhelmed her—not because her 1-on-1 combat prowess was weak.
No one in Libertas could dare oppose her in single combat, so this was a huge shock to them.
"There are people here as strong as the one who fought Grandine to a draw. That's how strong folks are in this world. But not everyone here is evil like Libertas' humans. I know you all hate humans, but there's no need to fight here. No need to make enemies where there aren't any. Trust me."
"But..."
"I guide people like you who've transferred from other worlds so they can settle well in ours. Trust me, stop fighting, and follow HQ's demands for now. I'll take full responsibility to ensure nothing happens to you or Grandine."
The non-humans exchanged glances, then asked in voices still tinged with doubt.
"But... hasn't someone already attacked Dragon Princess? She won't just let that slide..."
"I'll take responsibility and resolve that. I'll convince the subjugation team down the mountain to halt their attack too, so after that, please trust me and comply."
They discussed among themselves for a while, then replied with reluctant yet trusting expressions.
"If they really won't harm us... then we'll trust and follow you, Liberator."
"You're the one who brought us freedom, after all!"
"Thank you so much, everyone. Then please wait up on the mountain and make sure there's no clash with the humans."
"Yes, Liberator!"
Having successfully held them back for now, I raced down the mountain, shouting into the air.
"Yukino!"
Once more, her lion spirit appeared like a will-o'-the-wisp, relaying her voice.
『Why.』
"Where are the subjugation team people right now?"
『They've just arrived where I am. The fire's died down, so no need for suppression—they're advancing again.』
"I'm coming right now!"
Guided by Yukino's lion spirit, I headed toward the subjugation team's approach.
As I descended a bit, I heard hundreds of voices chatting below, and I shouted loudly to them.
"Subjugation team! It's over! The dimensional transferees up the mountain have abandoned hostilities and will comply! Please guide them peacefully without attacking!"
"What? Who the hell are you?"
Lee Min-ho's voice rang out—he was the on-site commander, a First Class Hunter—and he approached.
As the distance closed and he recognized me, his face twisted in disbelief.
"Huh? What're you doing here, you from the Settlement Support Division...? Whatever your name is. Why're you here?"
"Lee Min-ho Hunter. These transferees won't attack anyone anymore. I just came from meeting them. As long as you don't strike first, they won't fight back—so please guide them peacefully."
"Listen, we're here on HQ orders to wipe out every last one of these things. You think we're the search team or something?"
"Unless they've killed or caused irreparable permanent injury, minimizing physical conflict is HQ's core principle. That doesn't change even for a subjugation team. They haven't clashed with you yet, and they've promised no attacks—so please escort without incident."
"Hah... so you're telling us, the subjugation team, to act like some search squad, huh?"
With that, Lee Min-ho suddenly swung his fist, smashing my jaw.
"Ugh...!"
Caught off guard by the sucker punch, my head spun and I hit the ground. He looked down at me like I was a bug.
"Been a while since I saw you—forgot for a sec. Oh yeah, you were always crawling into our training grounds, acting like hot shit. Guess letting you slide made you forget your place. I'm the strongest guy here, which means my word is law. This ain't some backroom HQ office—it's the front lines. If you don't wanna die before those transferee bastards, shut your—Gahk!"
Suddenly, Lee Min-ho screamed as a translucent pale blue mass burst out from inside his body.
At the same time, an arrow pierced through his back and out his stomach—infused with purifying energy, yet bizarrely, not a drop of blood spilled from his body.
Letting out a final death rattle, he collapsed like a puppet with cut strings. The subjugation hunters panicked, calling out to him.
"L-Lee Min-ho?!"
"What the...?!"
I knew instantly why he'd dropped.
Far off, Yukino held her shooting stance, radiating ferocious killing intent.
"Who gave you permission to lay hands on him so casually...? Only I get to touch those lips—not some brain-dead trash like you. How dare you..."
Her rage was so intense that even the lion spirits around her blazed like flames, making her look wreathed in pale blue fire.
The subjugation hunters froze in overwhelming pressure that choked the air, and Yukino declared in a chilling voice.
"That fool just said he's the strongest here, so his word is law, right? Let me correct that. I am the strongest here. Follow Mr. Jeong Hyun-soo's requests. That's an order!"