Overlord

Part 2

The Great Forest of Tob was silent under the oppression of its new rulers. That was because all the living beings here had gone into hiding, afraid of the gaze of those who held power over them.

However, that was not the case for a specific area of the forest.

The sound of tree-cutting and logs being moved filled the air in that place.

There was a Golem which resembled a piece of heavy machinery —​ a Heavy Iron Machine —​ which carried logs to a massive wooden structure that was still under construction.

It looked like it would take a long time before that building was complete. While it occupied a large area, the portions which had actually been constructed were surprisingly small.

A group of undead and Golems worked there.

Among these undead were Elder Liches who wore eye-catchingly bright red robes.

Every now and then, they would be approached by demons that were roughly thirty centimeters tall —​ small monsters with bat wings and coppery-red skin, called Imps. The Imps kept their slender tails —​ which were tipped with venom-dripping stingers —​ out of the way lest they get in the way of the Elder Liches' work.

The Golem obediently stopped what it was doing and compared the worksite before him to the blueprints, before pausing to cogitate. Shortly after, it spoke to the Imp on its shoulder.

After hearing it out, the Imp indicated that it understood, and took wing.

Flying with ungraceful movements, the Imp opened its eyes and took in the surrounding area. Before long, it found its target and swooped down.

Said target was the Guardian of the Sixth Floor of the Great Underground Tomb of Nazarick —​ Aura Bella Fiora. In other words, she was one of the people who now ruled this forest.

♦ ♦ ♦

The Dark Elf Girl rolled up her scroll into a megaphone so her voice would carry out to a long distance. The Imp landed before her and bowed deeply, whereupon she asked in a familiar tone:

"All right~ and which group are you from?"

"Aura-sama, I come from Number 3 in U Group."

"U Group, huh? All right, Got it. Anything else?"

"There's a discrepancy in the thickness of the timbers used in construction, so could we please have more time—​"

The Imp suddenly shut up, because the steel band around Aura's wrist suddenly made a sound.

"Break time~!"

Aura's face changed as she heard that lazy, yet cheerful voice. Her ears drooped and she looked oddly vulnerable and embarrassed.

"Got it, Bukubukuchagama-sama!" she answered the wristband.

"So, uh, it's time to eat, so we're done working for the morning."

Hardly any of the monsters here needed to eat. In fact, Aura was also wearing a Ring of Sustenance, which eliminated the need for food or sleep. However, her master had insisted that "everyone must take breaks from time to time," so she had to obey him despite her wishes.

"Ah, sorry about you, but I need to rest, so come back in an hour's time."

"Understood. Then I shall take my leave first."

As she watched the Imp fly off towards the storehouse, Aura worked her shoulders, and then glanced down at the band around her wrist.

Then, her face was all smiles.

This was a reward her master had given her for her hard work. Of course, the Guardians had been created to serve their master and the Supreme Beings, so working hard for them was a fundamental fact of life. Thus, they should not have accepted a reward, as their labor was only a matter of course.

However, she could not refuse the band her master had given her.

"Kukuku, I want to hear more of Bukubukuchagama's voice."

Aura tenderly c.a.r.e.s.sed the band on her wrist. That gesture was more loving and gentle than how she stroked her own beasts.

All the voices recorded into this item came from the Supreme Being who had made Aura.

They filled Aura with delight, even if all they did was tell the time.

She had felt jealous when she learned that her brother (Mare) had received a Ring of Ainz Ooal Gown, but in all honesty, she felt that this item was better.

Aura's ears drooped and she c.a.r.e.s.sed the band with an embarrassed look on her face. Then she nodded in satisfaction as it gleamed in the sunlight. But shortly after that, she tilted her head in bafflement.

"Why did Ainz-sama say that I could not set it for certain times?'

Ainz-sama had commanded that the watch not be set to state the times of 07:21 or 19:19, among others.

"Hm… I might as well ask him. Ah, crap!"

After noticing the time which floated above the watch, she hurriedly rushed off.

There was a maid at her destination.

The forty one maids who served the Great Underground Tomb of Nazarick were heteromorphic creatures called Homunculi. All of them resembled beautiful women. However, she did not.

She had the head of a dog that was divided down the middle by a line —​ it resembled a scar, complete with traces of stitching. It looked as though her face had been split in half and joined back together again.

Her name was Pestonya S. Wanko.

"I have brought the hamburger over as you wish, Aura-sama. The side dishes are two pickles and unpeeled french fries, while the drink is cola… wan."

The delay before the "wan" made Aura think that she had forgotten to add her verbal tic at the end of her words, but Aura did not comment on it. Her attention was focused on the smell that tantalized her tummy and made her drool in anticipation. While the ring she wore meant that she did not need to eat, it did not make her unable to do so. In addition, eating was a pleasurable activity, especially when it came to such delectable cuisine.

"The combined effects of this food and drink are—​"

"Ah, no need for that. I didn't ask you to make this for me just to boost my stats."

"Understood -wan."

Aura approached Pestonya and the dinner service she was pushing, which emanated a delicious scent.

"Time to eat, time to eat~!"

Pestonya whipped the silver lid off the tray as Aura intoned her eating-rhyme.

"Ohhhhh~"

"A7 beef mince is good, but I prefer mixed mince. I hope you can make a triple patty with that meat."

"Then, I shall inform the Head Chef of your wishes -wan."

"Mm, thank you!"

Aura picked up the entire tray and giggled as she strode off.

Part 3

As Zaryusu examined the village of the Dragon Tusk tribe which lay before his eyes, a pile of vegetation thrust itself forward from beside his head. Needless to say, that mass of leaves was actually Crusch. She reached out to pull away the vegetation covering her face, which Zaryusu felt was very beautiful.

"Are you really going to charge right in? Do you want to pick a fight with them?"

"No, it's the exact opposite, actually. The Dragon Tusk tribe places great value on strength. If I left Rororo behind and went in on foot, I might end up being challenged by all sorts of people before I even got to their chief. Entering while on Rororo's back will avoid that sort of trouble."

After advancing with Rororo for some distance, it would seem they had been spotted, because several warriors emerged from the village, each brandishing a weapon and eying Zaryusu and his group.

Rororo sensed their hostility and let out a low growl. As he heard Rororo's growl of warning, he urged it forward.

Continuing on like this would spark a confrontation. Zaryusu went on until conflict was almost inevitable before stopping Rororo and hopping down from it. Crusch jumped down as well.

Quite a number of warriors stared daggers at the two of them. Their gazes seemed to inflict a palpable pressure; this was no longer mere hostility, but on the level of murderous intent.

Crusch seemed shaken by their gazes and froze. That was because she was not experienced with the battlefield, despite her potent abilities as a druid.

In contrast to her, Zaryusu strode forth. He shielded Crusch with his body and shouted:

"—​I am Zaryusu Shasha, a representative who has come to visit. I seek an audience with your chief!"

His powerful voice blew away the bloodl.u.s.t in the air. The tables were turned on the warriors of the Dragon Tusk, who flinched as they were shaken by him.

Then, Crusch raised her voice and stated her name.

"I am Crusch Lulu, acting chief of the Red Eye tribe. I too seek an audience with your chief."

Though her voice was not loud, it was filled with the assurance and confidence of one who bore the fate of her tribe on her shoulders. Spurred on by the manly and proud voice of the male beside her, the cowering girl from just now was nowhere to be seen.

"I say again! I am here to see the chief! Where is he!?"

In that moment —​ a ripple ran through the air. It was as though raw emotion had been transformed into a shockwave, which washed over them.

Rororo's heads thrashed wildly. Its jaws gaped and it gave voice to a menacing roar, glaring angrily around itself. As the hydra's roaring echoed from all around, the air seemed to shrink away from it, as though in fear.

"…There's no need to protect me from small things like this."

"I didn't do it to protect you, because you chose to come here of your own free will. However, I was the one who destroyed their tribe, so I should be the one to bear their vengeful gazes."

The warriors started gathering at the entrance of the village. All of them were heavily muscled and imposing Lizardmen. Their bodies were covered in faded scars, which implied that they were grizzled veterans. However, Zaryusu did not see their chief among them.

All of these Lizardmen were mere warriors. None of them had the fearsome stature of his brother, nor did any of them have anything like Crusch's unusual looks or her air of authority.

As Rororo roared, the Lizardmen remained on edge. And then—​

"Ngk!"

—​Crusch gulped and squeaked. However, Zaryusu had already sensed the arrival of another Lizardman and remained unmoved. That was because he had already sensed the slow approach of a mighty being even before it had made its appearance.

Still, he could not help but stare at the Lizardman before him.

Simply put, that Lizardman was a monster.

Facing them was a gigantic male Lizardman who was in excess of two hundred thirty centimeters in height. That alone would not have qualified him as monstrous, but that was not the only reason it was described as such.

For starters, his right arm was extremely large and bizarre in appearance, like the oversized claw of a fiddler crab. No, his left arm was hardly slender, being about the same as Zaryusu's. It was merely his right arm which was abnormally thick, and it had not become that way because of a mutation or disease, but simply because of sheer muscle mass.

The ring finger and little finger were missing from his left hand.

A scar continued back from the edge of his mouth, possibly caused by some sort of injury. His tail was flat, like it had been squashed. It resembled an alligator's more than a Lizardman's.

However, outof all these visual features, the thing which drew the most attention was the brand on his c.h.e.s.t. The design was different from the one Zaryusu had on his c.h.e.s.t, but the meaning was the same —​ this Lizardman was also a "traveller."

And as he sized up Zaryusu and company—​

—​The rustle of dry kindling spilled from his mouth, the sound of that monstrous Lizardman grinding his teeth. It was probably his version of laughter.

"Welcome, master of Frost Pain."

The monstrous Lizardman's rich, basso profundo voice matched his appearance perfectly. He was probably speaking normally, but even that exuded an awesome air of power.

"Pleased to meet you. I am the Green Claw tribe's Zaryu—​"

The monster Lizardman waved off the rest of his introduction.

"State your names."

"…I am Zaryusu Shasha, and this is Crusch Lulu."

"That wouldn't be a… plant monster? No, since you've brought a Hydra along, it stands to reason that you'd have another creature by your side. Hardly anything to be worried about."

"…Not quite."

The monstrous Lizardman once again waved off Crusch, who was taking off her costume of leaves.

"Hey, it was just a joke. Don't take everything I say so seriously, it's a pain."

"—​"

After glancing at Crusch as she doffed her pile of leaves, he looked back to Zaryusu.

"So, why are you here?"

"Before that, might I know your name?"

"Oh, I'm the chief of the Dragon Tusk tribe, Zenberu Gugu. Zenberu will do."

Zenberu laughed in his tooth-grinding way. While this was exactly what he had expected, the idea of a traveller becoming chief was still quite surprising.

On the other hand, it was an answer he could accept. A Lizardman like him was no mere traveller. In truth, the gathering hostility had vanished the moment he showed up. Clearly, he was a Lizardman with great authority, as well as extraordinary martial might and leadership.

"Zaryusu will be fine, then. Tell me, Zenberu… have any strange monsters visited your village recently?"

"Mm, that messenger of the Supreme One or whatnot."

"Well, if they came, then we can discuss—​"

Zenberu raised his hand to interrupt Zaryusu.

"I think I know what you want to say. However, we only listen to the strong. Draw your sword."

The towering Lizardman before him —​ Zenberu Gugu of the Dragon Tusk tribe —​ bared his fangs in a toothy grin.

"What!?"

As Crusch gasped, she saw approving looks on the faces of Zaryusu and the surrounding warriors.

"…Well, that makes things simple, chief of the Dragon Tusk. It certainly saves a lot of time."

"You're a truly outstanding messenger. No, as the master of Frost Pain, perhaps I should say that it was only to be expected?"

♦ ♦ ♦

Choosing the strong as their leaders was a very rational decision for the Lizardmen.

However, was it really such a good idea when it involved the continued survival of their tribes? Should they not discuss it with the others and consider the matter from various angles before coming to a conclusion?

Those thoughts ran through Crusch's head —​ followed by surprise that she would actually think that way.

The fact was that all the warriors watching them approved of their chief's decision, be they male or female. She would probably have felt the same way had she been asked the same thing earlier.

Then, why am I questioning this now?

Where had these doubts come from?

Was it because of some kind of magical attack? That was impossible. She was confident that nobody in this swamp was her superior in terms of magic. That confidence made her absolutely certain that she had not been the victim of some sort of spell.

Crusch turned to look at the two of them.

Zaryusu and Zenberu.

Standing next to each other, they looked like a child compared to an a.d.u.l.t.

One's physique did not determine everything. She was very clear about that as a magic caster. However, given the massive difference between their bodies, she could not help but hope that this was not the case.

Hope? I'm hoping that they —​ that he won't have to fight?

Crusch wanted to know why she was feeling such a bizarre thing. Why did she not want that? Why did she not want them to fight?

There was only one answer for that, which went without saying.

Crusch smiled bitterly, as though to mock herself.

You might as well admit it, Crusch. You don't want Zaryusu to fight because you're afraid he'll get hurt… that he'll die.

That was the whole thing in a nutshell.

It was rare for these battles to be fought to the death. However, the word "rare" implied that the possibility still existed. Lives could easily be lost if they fought until they were no longer in possession of their senses. As a female, she did not want her companion to die because he had taken part in this fight.

In other words, Crusch had long since accepted Zaryusu's proposal within her heart.

I gave in so simply because no male ever… does that mean I'm easily tricked? Eh, it just feels… I'm both happy and a little upset… ah, what a pain!

Having accepted her innermost feelings, Crusch stepped up to Zaryusu as he prepared for battle, and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Do you need anything? Is anything lacking?"

"No, I'm fine."

Crusch patted his shoulder.

It was a strong shoulder.

Ever since she had come of age, Crusch had walked the path of the priest. She had touched the bodies of many males while she was praying, while she was applying medicine to them, and while she was casting spells on them. But her contact with Zaryusu's body was longer than all those other times put together.

So this is Zaryusu's body… huh.

His firm muscles, filled with hot blood that was eager for battle and a palpable manliness.

"…What's wrong?"

Zaryusu was baffled by Crusch's lingering hand.

"—​Eh? Ah, that… It was a prayer. A priest's prayer."

"I see, so your ancestor spirits watch over those of other tribes, then?"

"The spirits of our tribe are not so petty. Good luck."

Crusch apologized internally to her ancestors as she peeled her hand off Zaryusu's shoulders, because she had lied about praying to them for the victory of the male she favored.

Zenberu was also preparing for battle. He carried a massive polearm in his right hand —​ a steel halberd that was almost three meters long. A regular Lizardman would need both hands to wield it.

And then —​ he swung it lazily.

The sweep of the halberd generated a gust of wind that swept over Crusch, who was some distance away from him.

"Can you… no, I should ask, will you be all right?"

"About that… well, I'll see how it goes."

At first, Crusch had wanted to ask if he could win, but ultimately, she did not. Zaryusu must have fought while knowing that victory was not impossible.

That would mean that the male before her would not lose. They had only known each other for a day and travelled with each other for half that time, but Crusch was certain of that.

She loved this male because there was something about him to love.

"Then, are you ready, master of Frost… ah, Zaryusu."

"I'm fine. Whenever you're ready."

With a dramatic flourish, Zaryusu turned his back to Crusch and stepped into the dueling circle.

Crusch sighed. That was because of the back which could not help but draw her attention.

♦ ♦ ♦

The warmth of her hand which had been touching his shoulder for so long —​ not very long, in actual fact —​ slowly faded away.

The battle which came next was essentially a simplified version of the tribal chief selection battle. Since this was intended to be a one-on-one fight, magical assistance from a third party was against the rules.

However, the warmth on Zaryusu's shoulder —​ which had made him feel nervous and jittery —​ and the contact with Crusch made him wonder if she had worked some magic on him. However, there was no way that she, as the acting chief of her tribe, could not know of that rule.

Then, why was he so fired up, even though she had not cast a spell?

Was it because he wanted to do his best for her, as a male performing for his female? His big brother had once said that he was a "withered tree…" but that did not seem quite right.

Zaryusu entered the circle formed of Lizardmen, and swiftly drew Frost Pain from his waist. The blade emanated a frosty white mist, as though in response to Zaryusu's will.

A disturbance swept through the surrounding Lizardmen.

They were the survivors of the Razor Edge tribe —​ in other words, they had known the previous owner of Frost Pain, and they understood its fearsome power.

As he beheld the power of Frost Pain which only a true owner could unleash, Zenberu's savage expression turned to one of glee. He bared his teeth and growled like a beast.

In response to his opponent's fighting spirit, Zaryusu only had a single, cold response:

"I don't want to hurt you too badly."

His taunt immediately incurred the ire of all the warriors around him. However, they immediately calmed down as the sound of an unnaturally loud splash echoed through the air.

Zenberu had driven the point of his halberd into the mushy ground.

"Oh… then make me accept my defeat! Listen up, all of you! If I die in this fight, he will be your new chief! There will be no objections to that!"

The surrounding warriors did not agree right away, but neither did they protest. If Zaryusu really did kill Zenberu, they would obey him, however unwillingly.

"Good. Now come at me with the readiness to die. I ought to be the strongest foe you've ever faced."

"Indeed… I understand. Also, if I die by your hand—​"

Zaryusu glanced back to Crusch.

"It's fine. I'll let your female go back safely."

"…She's not mine yet."

"Kek, it seems you're really into that plant monster. Is she really such a good female?"

"Very good."

They paid no heed to said female, who was hugging her head and squatting on the ground.

"Now that I'd like to see. Perhaps if I win, I'll strip her b.a.r.e and see what she looks like before I let her go."

Until now, Zaryusu had only been filled with an intent to fight, but now that intent had developed another nuance.

"…It feels like you've given me an excellent reason to win. I won't let someone like you enjoy Crusch's b.a.r.e body."

"You really are hopelessly in love with her, aren't you?"

"Oh yes. There's no helping how much in love I am."

Several other Lizardwomen seemed to be talking to the squatting female, but she hurriedly shook her head. The two males put that matter out of mind for now.

"Ha!"

Zenberu chortled in glee.

"Then defeat me! If you die, none of that will matter any more."

"That was my intention."

Zaryusu and Zenberu locked gazes. It would seem they had said everything that had to be said.

"—​Here I come."

"—​Bring it on."

The two of them exchanged terse words, but no blows.

Just as the anticipation of the spectating Lizardmen built to its peak, Zaryusu began inching forward. There was no sound, despite this being a waterlogged marsh.

Zenberu remained still, awaiting his foe.

Before long, when Zaryusu had reached a certain distance, a massive clang rang out from the air which Zaryusu had just leapt away from. It was the sound of Zenberu swinging his halberd.

There was no skill to it; it was merely a forceful swing.

However, it was so shocking precisely because of its artlessness.

Zenberu braced his halberd, took a stance, and prepared himself for Zaryusu's next incursion. He wielded the massive halberd with just his right hand. Immediately after every cyclonic swing, he would immediately reset to a ready position.

Zaryusu felt something was strange.

Therefore, to verify the meaning of that motion, he darted into his foe's attack range —​ and was subjected to that hurricane-like swing. He blocked the haft of the weapon with Frost Pain, but a bolt of intense pain wracked the hand holding the sword, and he was bodily flung away,

One could say that he had extraordinary arm-strength if he could toss away a grown Lizardman with just the might of one arm.

—​Their blood was boiling.

The surrounding warriors roared as they saw their chief display his matchless might.

Zaryusu's tail swished as he stumbled back, still on his feet.

He shook his numbed hand, and narrowed his eyes.

This… what's this?

Zaryusu's attention was focused on the hulking body before him.

What's going on? This is… too weak.

Indeed, that was a swift blow, and if he blocked it with his sword he would be sent flying, but that was all. It was not terrifying in the least.

Zenberu's moves were like a child swinging around with a stick. There was no technique to speak of, only sheer brute strength. The question now was if that was really all he had. Someone with a huge arm like his ought to be able to wield his weapon more skillfully.

Could it be that he's not using his full strength to lull me into overconfidence?

Zaryusu felt that it was not the case.

He began to reconsider his strategy, watchful against the unusual feeling of not knowing the truth. The hitherto stationary Zenberu smiled and asked:

"What's the matter? Not using Frost Pain's power?"

He was clearly taunting him with that smile, but Zaryusu did not take Zenberu's bait.

"I was once beaten by the wielder of Frost Pain."

Zaryusu remembered. He knew the person of whom Zenberu spoke —​ the former chief of the Razor Edge tribe, and also the one whose head Zaryusu had taken.

He relaxed the intense focus he had directed at Zenberu, and set his sights wider.

Among all those who bore hostility towards him, the ones who hated him most must be the survivors of the Razor Edge tribe.

"That's where the wounds on my left hand came from."

Zenberu waggled his left hand and its two missing fingers for emphasis.

"Maybe if you use the ability that guy used to beat me, you might be able to win."

"Really now?" Zaryusu replied in a cold, calm voice.

Granted, that ability was very powerful.

Because it could only be used three times a day, he had a good chance of victory if he used it. The reason why Zaryusu had defeated the previous owner of Frost Pain was because his foe had already expended his three uses of the ability. If his foe had been able to use it back then, Zaryusu might well have been the one to die instead.

However, someone who knew of Frost Pain's power would not deliberately incite its wielder to make use of it.

Zaryusu's remained on his guard.

I have no idea… still, there's no point dragging this out. Time to make my move.

Having decided on his course of action, Zaryusu charged forward, twice as fast as before.

Zenberu responded to Zaryusu with shocking speed.

Zaryusu did not evade, but met the blow head-on with Frost Pain. Everyone who saw it felt that Zaryusu would be swatted away once more.

Zaryusu met the halberd with Frost Pain —​ and countered the attack.

There was no need for martial arts or the like. Zenberu's halberd swings were child's play. No matter how forcefully he swung, his blows could be easily dispersed.

Zenberu's eyes went wide in shock —​ no, in respect.

At the same time, Zaryusu dashed forward with lightning speed, faster than Zenberu could bring the halberd back. Even with muscles like his, resetting his stance after a full-power hit with his halberd would take time. That time was enough for Zaryusu to close in.

In the next moment, Frost Pain cut in at Zenberu's body—​

♦ ♦ ♦

—And blood splattered.

Thunderous cheering erupted from all around, as well as a whimper of pain.

It was not Zenberu who stumbled back, oozing fresh blood. It was Zaryusu, with two bleeding wounds on his face.

In contrast with what he had done until now, Zenberu strode forward at Zaryusu, intent on not letting him escape. He led the way with the weapon that had wounded Zaryusu.

That weapon was —​ his claws.

They collided with Frost Pain, and the ringing of metal pealed forth. The halberd splashed as Zenberu let go of it.

"Guh—​!"

Zenberu exhaled, and as he stepped forward, his massive arm launched into a flurry of blows.

Compared to his amateurish spearplay from earlier, his bare-handed chops were on the level of a master. Now that the most important piece of the puzzle had been revealed, it all came together for Zaryusu.

Zenberu was not a warrior, but a monk; one who used the power of ki to turn his body into a living weapon.

Zaryusu blocked his chops with Frost Pain.

Lizardman claws were sharper and harder than human nails, but even they would not make metallic sounds like this. Indeed, this was a monk ability called 「Iron Natural Weapon」, which hardened one's natural weaponry, such as claws or teeth.

It was said that the fists of the most skilled monks could even break adamantite, the hardest metal known. However, judging by the sensation which filtered back through Frost Pain, Zenberu had not yet reached that level. He was only on par with steel. Even so, his hardened claws could stand on even terms with Frost Pain, one of the Four Treasures, so he could not look down on it.

The two of them exchanged blow after blow.

Zenberu swiped with his chops while Zaryusu swung with Frost Pain. They leapt away to avoid each other's strikes, opening up the distance between them.

"—​Haha, so you're still alive!"

Zenberu licked at the flesh and blood staining his fingertips.

Zaryusu too extended that tongue of his that was longer than a humans, and licked at the red fluid that flowed from the place which corresponded to the cheek on a human being.

He was glad that he had managed to evade the knife hand thrust that had been intended to gouge out his eyes. He was wounded, but not deeply, and he could continue fighting. He thanked his tribe's spirits for protecting him, and—​

Maybe I evaded it because the ancestors of Crusch's tribe protected me.

Zaryusu was grateful, but Zenberu was grumbling instead.

"Come to think of it, if I beat you without making you use that move, it'll feel like you're going easy on me."

Zenberu clenched his fists and pounded his c.h.e.s.t several times.

"Sorry, but I don't intend to use that move."

"Oh? Then don't say you didn't go all-out after you lose."

"Do you think I'm someone who'd say that, after fighting me?"

"…No, I don't. Forgive me, I misspoke. Just… if you're not using that move, then here I come!"

With a whoosh, Zenberu's leg cleaved through the air at Zaryusu.

There was no hesitation in that movement.

Zaryusu slashed at Zenberu's leg with Frost Pain while evading the kick, but a metallic clang rang out, and the strike bounced off.

Zaryusu's eyes went wide.

When a sword met flesh, the flesh should have been wounded. That was the way of the world. Yet, a monk's ki turned that precept on its head.

This was the result of 「Iron Skin」. That skill could shroud the body in ki before any attack could touch it, making it as tough as steel. Much like 「Iron Natural Weapon」, the more skilled one was, the harder it would become.

The fact that his opponent had repelled a magic sword with his b.a.r.e flesh spoke volumes about his monk skills. However, Zaryusu still felt that he had a chance of victory.

It was not that there was an overwhelming difference between their combat skills. It was only that the circ.u.mstances had been against Zenberu from the start.

♦ ♦ ♦

He came with a bewildering series of strikes.

Flying kick. Tail sweep. Straight punch. Knife hand. He attacked with all these and more.

Every blow Zenberu struck was both fast and weighty. All Zaryusu could do against a foe like that was adopt a total defense.

Combination followed combination.

If he did not defend against his foe's destructive strikes, Zaryusu's defeat was assured. Confident in their chief's victory, the surrounding Lizardmen cheered as Zenberu lashed out with blow after blow.

Zenberu's claws occasionally grazed Zaryusu, easily scoring his scale-sheathed body and leaving wounds which wept blood in their wake. Those injuries could not be considered light in any sense.

Zaryusu's body was covered in those wounds. His life hung in the balance, and it would not be strange if he surrendered at any time. The joyful looks on the spectating Lizardmen's faces only proved it as they prepared to celebrate their chief's imminent victory.

However —​ that was not the case for Zenberu.

Every time his strikes were blocked, Zenberu felt victory slipping further and further away from his grasp, and it made him anxious.

Frost Pain was imbued with cold, and it inflicted additional cold damage whenever it wounded a foe. A side effect of that was that it dealt cold damage to anyone who touched the weapon. In other words, just touching the weapon was enough to slowly wear away at Zenberu's body with its cold damage.

His hands were freezing, his legs were numb, and his movements were slowing down.

Dammit, I lost too quickly in the previous fight… so I didn't know it had a power like this too! So it didn't just have that move alone! That's one of the Four Treasures for you!

Zaryusu had adopted a defensive stance because he knew the item had an effect like this. Or rather, he had done so because he knew it was an assured way to deal damage. That was probably why he had not dodged Zenberu's attacks.

He had chosen a steady path to victory.

This lack of openings made him Zenberu's greatest enemy right now.

Zenberu used his trump card on Zaryusu, who was rushing in. If he managed to block that move as well, Zenberu's chances of victory would be slim at best.

He felt like he was charging an impregnable fortress alone.

Ahhh, dammit, can't I beat him —​ But! I've waited too long for this!

His battle with that Lizardman from the past flashed through his mind. He was stronger now than he was then, and he had trained nonstop in order to attain victory. Even when he heard that the person who had defeated him had been killed, he might have felt regret, but he never stopped training.

He had been waiting for this day.

As chief, he could not abandon everything to indulge in battle, so he had been delighted when he heard that the bearer of Frost Pain had come to his village.

He could not let this long-awaited battle end like this.

Zenberu began losing the feeling in his punches and kicks, and his ki could no longer reach his limbs. Still, he kept attacking.

He's strong, stronger than that guy from last time!

Just like he had honed himself ceaselessly, the Lizardman before him must have trained himself without slacking off until now.

While he could have said that he could not narrow the gap between them because of Frost Pain, he had no d.e.s.i.r.e to spout quitter talk like that.

Amazing! He truly is the master of Frost Pain! The mightiest Lizardman ever!

Zenberu did not halt his combination attacks, even as he praised Zaryusu, who was blocking his strikes with Frost Pain.

♦ ♦ ♦

Wounds, blood, and more wounds.

Crusch had devoted all her attention to witnessing this intense back-and-forth struggle, and with her outstanding druid skills, she had already seen how the battle would end.

Incredible… he must have predicted all this when the battle started.

Crusch was in awe of Zaryusu's outstanding warrior skills.

The cheers continued from all around.

They were cheering for Zenberu, who was attacking non-stop and seemed to have the upper hand. None of them realised that Zenberu's limbs were gradually growing sluggish.

Zaryusu was very strong. Crusch was certain of that.

Almost all Lizardmen did battle with their bodies and brute strength, but Zaryusu —​ and Zenberu —​ fought with skill, and Frost Pain aided that fighting skill.

Therefore, Frost Pain was a major factor in the development of the present situation —​ of the gulf between them. However, it was not the sole reason for it.

If one gave Frost Pain to an ordinary warrior, could they fight with Zenberu like this?

The answer was no. Zenberu was not some two-bit mook.

The weapon was powerful, but the fact that Zaryusu could exploit it to its full potential because he was a first-rate warrior.

But more outstanding than that was his perceptive and analytical mind.

Zaryusu had evaded the strike when Zenberu had cast down his halberd because he had been on top of the situation and had been closely observing it. He had sensed the presence of his foe's ace in the hole and that the halberd was a mere distraction.

When he went on that journey as a branded traveller, what else had he brought back with him besides the knowledge of fish-rearing and these battle techniques?

Before she knew it, Crusch had become certain of Zaryusu's victory. Now, she merely watched the profile of his face, her heart pounding in what was no longer anxiety.

"He really is an impressive specimen of a male…"

♦ ♦ ♦

Time seemed to fly past for those watching this exciting battle, but the two participants felt otherwise. The toll on their bodies and spirits caused by their panting was more intense than the passage of time.

Despite being covered in blood, Zaryusu's fighting spirit was still strong. For that, the surrounding Lizardmen congratulated him. After all, nobody else had lasted this long against their chief before.

And then, just as Zenberu seemed on the verge of claiming victory, he dropped out of his fighting stance.

The audience waited with bated breath. Zenberu ought to be declaring his victory anytime soon.

However, the opposite happened.

"I've lost!"

But their chief should have been the winner.

Even so, why had he announced his defeat? Only Crusch had foreseen this. She raced into the fighting ring.

"Are you all right?"

As he heard those words, Zaryusu exhaled and lowered the sword in his hand. In a very tired voice, he replied:

"It's nothing fatal… I should be able to fight in the upcoming battle."

"…Mm. In any case, I'll use healing magic on you."

Crusch's grass costume rustled, and she poked her head out.

Zaryusu felt a comfortable warmth suffusing his wounds, different from the searing heat that had made them. As he luxuriated in the sensation of vitality flowing back into his body, he turned to look at the gigantic Lizardman with whom he had just fought a life-and-death struggle.

Zenberu was surrounded by his tribemates. He was explaining the situation to them, and the strategy Zaryusu was using.

"That'll do it."

Crusch declared that his treatment was complete after casting two spells on him, and Zaryusu looked down on his body.

While the clotted blood still stuck to his skin, the injuries beneath had completely recovered. There was a certain tension over the former wounds when he shifted his body, but at least they did not look like they would open up.

"—​Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Crusch smiled brightly, and the pearly teeth she exposed were very pretty.

"—​You're beautiful."

"What—​!?"

Her tail swished, and splashed against the water.

The two of them gazed silently at each other.

Crusch's silence was because she had no idea why this male would casually mention something like that. She was not used to such compliments, so hearing Zaryusu say things like that was not good for her heart.

Meanwhile, Zaryusu had no idea why Crusch was being quiet. Did I do something wrong? Thoughts like that ran through his mind. The fact was that he had little experience with females, so he had no idea what he should do. Zaryusu was surprisingly tense as well.

Just as the awkwardness between them reached its height, a voice saved them.

"Oi oi, are you trying to make me jealous, you bastard?"

The two of them looked to the source of the voice —​ to Zenberu.

Their simultaneous and identical reactions left Zenberu momentarily speechless.

"Hm! Oi, whitey, how about some healing over here?"

Zenberu seemed quite nonchalant about Crusch's albinism. However, Crusch recalled the Zenberu's branded body and realised why he reacted that way.

"Fine, fine, fine… but shouldn't you let the priests of your tribe heal you?"

"Ahhh, it doesn't matter. Enough talk, it really hurts. Feels like even my bones are frozen. Could you hurry it up a little?"

"Just remember to tell your priests that you were the one who asked me to do it."

"It's fine, I'll say I forced you into it, as a request."

Crusch sighed, and worked her healing magic.

Zaryusu noticed that the hostile glares around him had diminished somewhat, and that there were a few friendly eyes looking upon him.

"All right, it's done."

Crusch had cast more healing spells on Zenberu than on Zaryusu. That implied that his injuries were not external, but internal.

"Ohh, you're better than our priests."

"Thank you. Still, I don't usually heal members of other… never mind. Thank you for your kind words."

"Now then, since we're both healed, why don't we talk about the main topic. Might be a bit of a rush, but you don't mind, right?"

"Oh! Then let's hear it —​ although I wanted to say that…"

Zenberu stopped mid-sentence and then smiled.

"But first, let's drink!"

Zaryusu and Crusch had no idea what those words meant, and their faces were equally confused.

"Troublesome business should be discussed over wine. You know that, right?"

Zaryusu understood the meaning of the life-and-death duel. After all, it proved their respective strength, which was useful in negotiation. It was the Lizardman way of life. Drinking parties, on the other hand, were alien to him, because the Green Claw tribe had no such practice.

People who went drinking right after fighting for their lives seemed terribly sad to him.

"I don't get it…"

The strength drained from Zaryusu's body and his face was one of frank surprise as he muttered his response. However, it was immediately drowned out by a surging wave of regret in his heart, regret for behaving so childishly in front of a chief with whom he had not even allied with yet. In fact, he felt Crusch looking at him with a strange expression in her eyes.

Zaryusu had no experience with love, so he had no idea Crusch had been studying him all this time. He was seeing a new side of his beloved, and he found it both curious and adorable.

"No, I mean, if we drink a lot, our heads won't be clear, which would be troublesome for us."

Zaryusu hurriedly tried to amend his words, but Zenberu brushed it aside with his reply:

"Oi oi oi, you're a traveller, aren't you? Don't they say that if you want to learn something, go to the Dwarves?"

"No, I didn't learn from the Dwarves, but from the people of the forest."

"Really? Then all you need to know is this lesson of the Dwarves: friends who drink together become firm friends. Maybe we won't have much time together, but we ought to discuss things frankly and openly. Shouldn't we, Zaryusu Shasha?"

"I see… yes, I understand, Zenberu Gugu."

"Good! Come on, everyone! Time to drink! Bring it over! Get everything ready!"

♦ ♦ ♦

The pile of logs resting upon the ground stood nearly two meters tall, and the crimson flames upon it burned fiercely, as though they were reaching to the sky. This massive red blaze chased away the dark of the night.

Near the log pile was a large vessel that was over a meter tall and about eighty centimeters wide. A fermented scent wafted out from it.

Several dozen Lizardmen took turns scooping out liquid from the vessel. However, the wine within did not seem to deplete.

This was one of the Four Treasures that was ranked alongside Zaryusu's Frost Pain —​ the Great Wine Cask.

While it could produce an infinite supply of wine, the taste was passable at best, and anyone who knew their wine would turn their noses up at it. However, it was delicious nectar to the Lizardmen.

Therefore, the guests kept coming.

There was a quiet region some distance away from the wine cask. The reason why this place was quiet was simple enough —​ because it was littered with the bodies of many drunken Lizardmen, who lay insensate here.

All the Lizardmen who had gotten so drunk that they had passed out were dumped here.

Having shed her leafy costume, Crusch carefully —​ taking care not to step on the tails of the fallen Lizardmen —​ made her way to this place, paying close attention to the ground. Her footsteps were even, so she looked like she was still sober, but it was hard to say that she was not drunk.

Her tail seemed like it had a life of its own, energetically flexing here and there. Sometimes it curled, sometimes it stood straight and sometimes it drooped. It behaved like an excited child.

The fact was that Crusch felt something like a cool wind coursing through her soul. While part of that was because of the wine, that was not the sole reason. The liberated feeling of her body had also contributed to it.

This was the first time she had shown her albinized body to so many people. However, their leader was a monster in his own right, so while the people around her had been startled at first, she soon blended in with them.

With both hands full of food, a bliss-filled Crusch continued forward.

She reached the place where Zaryusu and Zenberu were sitting on the ground and hoisting a glass to each other.

Said glasses seemed to have been made using coconut shells, and the liquid within was transparent, but it emanated a thick fermented smell.

Crusch laid a pair of raw fish in front of the two of them —​ snacks to go with the drinks. Zenberu smiled and greeted Crusch.

"Yo, plant monster."

"…Could you not call me that?"

She had already shed her costume, so why did he insist on calling her that? It would seem he planned to amuse himself in that way. Once she realised it, Crusch decided to cease her pointless resistance.

"Have you finished your discussions?"

Zaryusu and Zenberu looked at each other, and nodded.

"For the most part."

The two of them wanted to speak in private, so they asked Crusch to leave them be. Since they had said as much, all she could do was leave and bring some food over, but within her heart, she was hoping to be part of their conversation. After all, if they were discussing the upcoming battle, then she was certainly involved in it.

She was hoping to be allowed to skim the essentials, even if she could not listen in on the inconvenient parts—​

"This is a conversation between males."

—​But Zenberu shut her down with those cold words. Crusch expressed her disp.l.e.a.s.u.r.e on her face, but she had no choice but to change the topic.

"So, what do you plan to do? Fight shoulder to shoulder as allies?"

"Wha? Oh, as if you had to ask. Of course we're going to fight. Or rather, even if you didn't come, we'd be fighting anyway."

A sound like sticks scraping against each other came from Zenberu's maw.

"You really are a battle maniac."

"Aw, don't praise me like that, now I'm all embarrassed!"

Zenberu paid no heed to Crusch as she rolled her eyes, but made a request of her.

"Oh right, help me talk some sense into him, plant monster. No matter how I ask him, Zaryusu won't accept the position of our chief."

There was a weary, despondent look on Zaryusu's face. Judging by the fatigue there, Crusch could tell that he had repeated his answer many times in her absence.

"He can't accept that position. After all, you're from different tribes, and he's a—​"

Crusch was about to say "he's a traveller," but then she considered that Zenberu was also a traveller, and decided to change the topic.

"So why did you become a traveller, anyway?"

"What? Oh, after I lost to Frost Pain's previous owner, I was devastated, and wanted to become stronger. That being the case, why not leave this place and go somewhere else? That was why I became a traveller."

Beside him, Zaryusu rounded his shoulders in powerlessness. It was then that Crusch recalled what Zaryusu had told him about his own travels.

In the past, when he had left on his journey, the only thing keeping him going was his determination, resolve, and his sense of duty towards his tribe. Zenberu —​ as a fellow traveller —​ ought to have felt the same way… but right now, he could not sense any of that from him.

Crusch placed a gentle hand on Zaryusu's shoulder, as if to say, He's him, and you're you.

At this moment, anyone observing them would probably conclude that they were lovers. As she realised this, Crusch's tail curled up, while Zaryusu's tail swished back and forth.

The two of them gazed at each other, and smiled shyly.

Zenberu pretended that he had seen none of that and continued:

"I thought there must be someone pretty strong inside that mountain, given how big it was. So during my travels, I met the Dwarves and learned a lot of things from them. Got that halberd from them too. I didn't want it at first, but since they asked me to keep it as a memento of our meeting, I had to hang on to it."

"…So that happened. That's nice."

Crusch's answer seemed a little slapdash, or rather, somewhat cold.

"Oh, thanks."

—​Sarcasm did not work on him either.

Now that the good mood in the air had been ruined, Crusch picked up her wine and downed it in one gulp. She felt it burn as it went down her throat, and the heat seemed to radiate from her stomach throughout her entire body. Zaryusu polished off his wine in one go as well.

Just then, a quiet question made its way through the air. It seemed completely different from the voice just now, and for a moment it made them wonder who had asked it.

"Say, do you think we can win?"

Zaryusu quietly replied:

"…I have no idea."

"Mm, same here. After all, there's no such thing as a battle where victory is assured. If someone actually dared brag about how he'd win despite not knowing his enemy's strength, I'd beat the crap out of him to shut him up."

Crusch had no response to Zenberu as he chuckled.

"Still… our foe's gotten a little careless. The changes here ought to affect our chances of victory."

In place of Zaryusu, Crusch looked at Zenberu with a puzzled look on her face.

"Could you recall what that monster said?"

"Sorry, I was sleeping then."

"…Surely you must have heard of it from someone else?"

"Hmph, I couldn't be bothered to remember something like that, so I forgot it. In any case, the important thing is that if they come looking for a fight, then we're going to give them one."

There's no hope for this guy —​ Crusch decided to abandon her attempts at explanation with that. Zaryusu grinned wryly, and answered.

"…He told us to struggle with all our might."

A dangerous expression came over Zenberu's face, and his features twisted savagely.

"Well, that just pisses me off. To think they're sneering at us from the beginning."

Zenberu roared with frightful anger.

The cry carried with it his wrath and disp.l.e.a.s.u.r.e.

"That's right, they're turning their noses up at us. The fact they're so arrogant… probably suggests they're powerful enough to break our resistance easily. But we're going to crush their self-assurance. We're going to gather the five tribes and show them our full power. I want to beat back their assault and show them that we're a force to be reckoned with."

"Hmph, well put. I can understand that. I like it."

Just as the two males were eagerly discussing their battle plans, Crusch rained on their parade.

"I doubt there's much merit to wounding their pride. All we need to do is prove our worth to them, right? Perhaps if they know that, they won't exterminate us."

"Oi oi oi, are you telling me to bow to annoying people like that?"

"Zaryusu… I know fleeing is dangerous, but I think it's better to live on, even in bondage," Crusch quietly said.

The other two did not deny her or tease her for her slave mentality.

It was not that they wanted to be ruled, but being slaves had more of a future than being corpses. As long as there was a future, there was infinite possibility.

For instance, they could teach the method of fish farming to everyone, and that might allow them to abandon their homes and flee elsewhere.

Any leader who abandoned that possibility and ordered everyone to die was not worthy of his position.

"Now, listen closely, you all."

As they heard Zaryusu's calm voice, the three of them pricked up their ears, and they heard the sounds of mirth coming from the party.

"After we're ruled, we might not be able to laugh and rejoice like this."

"The operative word being might, right?"

"Really? I don't think so. I don't think anyone who would take p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e in watching us die would be so compassionate. After all, if there was any mercy in their hearts, they would not plan to exterminate us in such a playful manner."

Crusch nodded.

But even so—​

"Still, what I want to say is… please don't die."

"—​I won't. Not before I hear your answer."

"—​!"

Crusch and Zaryusu exchanged passionate looks under the night sky.

And then, they made their vow.

—​Paying no attention to Zenberu, the bored outsider.