'To think things would turn out like this.'
When we approached the Lizardmen's habitat, I had brought only Xenon, Ganic, and Soana with me.
I didn't want to bring too many Dullahans and unnecessarily heighten the Lizardmen's wariness.
Above all, if a conflict broke out, the commotion would reach the soldiers who had approached the wetlands, and we couldn't have our presence revealed.
My plan was to release the young Lizardman first, then play some light pranks on the subjugation force.
I still had illegal magical tools in my possession, and Xenon had shown enthusiasm about actively helping. Even without Soana's warning, I had no intention of summoning the Dullahans.
What threw everything off happened right after we released the young Lizardman.
"It seems they've grown quite attached."
Even Xenon, who couldn't understand monster speech, could feel it—the parting between Ganic and the young Lizardman was tender and heartfelt.
However, Ganic had agreed that the young one needed to be released, so he reluctantly pushed the little one's back and sent it toward the habitat.
The Lizardmen noticed the young one appearing in their habitat before long.
"They said they treasure their young, so they'll surely take it in."
"Yeah, with communal child-rearing, they should..."
Xenon and I exchanged casual conversation while waiting, but Soana, who had been watching the habitat's movements from above, descended rapidly.
[Chief, the monsters' movements are strange.]
"Strange?"
Before I could ask what was strange, Ganic hurriedly stepped forward.
[I'll go check!]
However, there was something we had overlooked. Ganic was a turtle, and very slow....
Before Ganic could reach the young Lizardman, a sharp cry erupted from the distance. To Xenon, it would have sounded like incomprehensible roaring.
But I could understand it clearly.
The Lizardmen were shouting that an intruder had appeared and to prepare for battle immediately.
'Not only do they refuse to accept the young Lizardman, but they've actually designated it as an enemy.'
They didn't even try to communicate. The Lizardmen seemed to be inherently hostile by nature. Since they wouldn't listen no matter what was said, conflict was inevitable.
The young Lizardman, which had nearly been torn to shreds by the Lizardmen's sharp claws and teeth, was rescued by Ganic.
The young Lizardman seemed thoroughly frightened by the killing intent directed at it, and clung tightly to Ganic—who had transformed into a Dullahan—crying bitterly.
Naturally, Ganic was furious and tried to protect the young Lizardman. Soana alone couldn't help Ganic, so I summoned the other Dullahans....
It was complete chaos. The commotion reaching the subjugation force was only a matter of time.
"It's a good thing Maxel has no patience."
I muttered with a sigh of relief.
When Tristan spied through insects, it seemed the subjugation force had mistaken it for a territorial dispute between monsters in the wetlands.
So they planned to wait until the Dullahans and Lizardmen fought each other to exhaustion, then raid the scene to catch two birds with one stone.
It was inevitable that I would step in, having no intention of letting them get away with that.
"They brought so many soldiers, yet retreated more easily than expected."
"In situations like that, capturing a high-value human solves things easily."
"By that logic, wouldn't the most high-value one be that trash of a son?"
"His value is useless. A jewel that can't be used is no different from a stone."
I had briefly considered breaking Maxel's legs during the raid on the subjugation force, but I ended up sending him back unharmed.
If Maxel got injured here, it was obvious he'd be praised for bravely fighting monsters and earning a glorious wound.
So instead, the target became the eldest son of Count Lueasak.
"With Lueasak's eldest son seriously injured, even Maxel has no choice but to retreat for now."
I knew the atmosphere of the Lueasak household well. Thanks to the experience of being close with their young lady.
It meant I also knew well how high the expectations and pride of the frontier count were for his eldest son. That was why he had sent his eldest son on this subjugation.
Probably the frontier count had noticed the crown prince's shortcomings and judged that his eldest son could gain a reputation superior to the crown prince's through this opportunity.
At the same time, Count Lueasak envied the Roam family's position, so he likely intended to manipulate the crown prince and establish connections with the imperial family.
But if asked whether all of that was worth risking his eldest son's safety, the answer would surely be no.
So what an easy target for sowing discord.
"Will they come back?"
"Probably."
Maxel wasn't someone who would back down over pride alone. Besides, Dullahans were here.
Monsters officially designated as evil by the Temple. Victory in battle would instantly earn him fame comparable to any subjugation.
But it didn't matter how many times he returned. He would lose.
"He'll come back and be miserably defeated by my Dullahans again, then flee."
"The Dullahans' infamy will grow even more."
Honestly, that was a bit unpleasant, but since our presence had already been revealed, there was nothing to be done. Since it had come to this, it might be better to instill such terror that no one would dare think of resisting.
I looked at the gradually completed encampment and muttered with mixed feelings.
"It would have been better to set the subjugation force against the Lizardmen...."
Unfortunately, that was impossible. The Dullahans had nearly wiped out the entire Lizardmen group.
The remaining Lizardmen wouldn't be able to stand against the subjugation force. I didn't want to hand them an unnecessary victory and boost their morale.
I was clicking my tongue in regret when Xenon spoke with a puzzled voice.
"But were Dullahans always this strong?"
"Well, Dullahans are strong monsters to begin with, aren't they?"
"That's true. But even so, Lizardmen aren't low-ranking monsters...."
"It was... quite an overwhelming gap, yes."
There had been virtually no occasion during our journey for the Dullahans to fight with all their might, so this was practically the first time I'd seen them fight properly.
'I was nervous because the Lizardmen were so fierce.'
Embarrassingly, what I'd worried about internally was how the knights crushed the attacking Lizardmen with an overwhelming gap in power.
No matter how strong Dullahans were as monsters, could they really win that easily?
I tilted my head in confusion when Nadav, who was nearby, spoke.
[It's because we are with the Chief.]
"Me?"
[Yes. Just being with the Chief makes us stronger. Furthermore, as we recover our memories, our past skills are returning as well. Above all, this Dullahan body has conditions highly suitable for combat, except for being headless.]
In short, the Dullahan body combined with past skills had made them very strong. And on top of that, being by their leader's side?
"...Well, better strong than weak."
If they could defeat the Lizardmen this decisively, the subjugation force would be easy to handle.
I decided to think positively. I'd trample Maxel appropriately when he came to subjugate the Dullahans, and guide him to build up his forces in anger.
That way, the imperial palace would move quickly as well.
* * *
The surviving Lizardmen might launch a night raid. So I decided not to send the Dullahans into subspace.
The Dullahans repeatedly emphasized that I should sleep comfortably, saying they didn't need to sleep anyway.
Xenon had cast separate protective magic around the area, and with all the Dullahans guarding the tent, it was a safer night than any other.
Despite that, sleep didn't come easily.
Going outside the tent would only worry the Dullahans for nothing, so I just lay on the makeshift bed and stared blankly into empty space.
As I blinked endlessly waiting for sleep that wouldn't come, I heard whispered conversation outside the tent.
[How much do you remember, Soana?]
[I'm not sure. Probably similar to you, Mory?]
It was Soana and Mory with their voices hushed low. They probably thought their conversation wouldn't disturb my sleep.
If I had ordinary human hearing, I wouldn't have been able to hear them. But having been resurrected, I had the ability to understand even insects' chatter if I concentrated.
[Tristan, you're still courting females even at a time like this?]
[Soana, this is all part of training spies. Do you know any better informants than insects?]
Ah, Tristan was there too.
Listening quietly, Soana was checking on each and every one of the Dullahans.
She certainly treasured all the Dullahans.
If anything, her role was essentially that of the Dullahans' caretaker. Soana must have been like this in the past too.
Because she treasured the Dullahans, she could bow her head willingly to me, who she hated.
'Is that what they call acceptance?'
Acceptance. That was something I couldn't find anywhere in the barren Roam household.
Something I'd never learned, and never felt the need to have.
I remember hearing those words once. That I needed acceptance.
The one who said those words was the Empress. At that time, I was busy rationally pointing out Maxel's emotional tendencies.
Maxel had recoiled from me, but I had failed to understand his reaction. Seeing me like that, the Empress had offered her advice.
'That I need warm acceptance.'
If I had somehow changed my attitude back then and shown a slightly more merciful side, perhaps Maxel might have liked me a little.
But the Empress's advice didn't change me. I had thought I lacked such tender feelings, and would never have them in the future.
[Ganic, was the young Lizardman frightened?]
[Fortunately, it's fine.]
[That one's going to be a great monster.]
[You see it too, Soana?]
While I was lost in distracting thoughts, the Dullahans continued their casual conversation. It was so ordinary and peaceful that just hearing the voices might make one mistake it for a village street.
Come to think of it, if the Dullahans hadn't been held back by the Goddess and her proxy, they might have lived ordinary human lives long ago. The moment I realized that, Soana's words came back to me.
「I hope you will no longer exploit the knights' innocent devotion.」
Soana's resentment was natural. The past leader had exploited the knights, and even now I was exploiting them.
If there was a difference from the past, it was that this time I intended to complete the authority and liberate them.
I closed my eyes, forcing myself to seek sleep. In the pitch-black consciousness, incoherent emotions stirred.
'The final authority.'
I felt I had drawn one step closer to it.