EP.171 A Story from Afar. The Spokesperson of All Dogs
『Military State Communications Officer Yuel, transmitting to all units deployed near Amitengrad.』
The voice that rang out near the outskirts of Amitengrad was rigid and dry, much like the Military State itself.
The voice produced by a single person—just one—was relayed through dozens of synchronized golems to nearby units.
The Capital Defense Force, the military police, the supply and perimeter units alike. They all stopped what they were doing and quietly listened to the voice emanating from the communications golems.
『At present, four entities possessing Level 5 danger levels are rapidly approaching the Military State capital. They are heading in a straight line from the northeast vicinity, with an estimated arrival time of approximately two hours.』
The Military State's capital, Amitengrad, possesses communications facilities. And communications officers are always on standby in case the heavy, conspicuous communications facilities are damaged for whatever reason. It is certain that at least one exists, but how many more there are remains unknown. Because it is classified.
Regardless, since this was a direct order from the Military State's central command, all units held their breath and waited for what would follow.
『Level 3 or lower regular units cannot intercept them. Level 4 units can execute delay operations but deal virtually no substantial damage. For an efficient suppression operation, I estimate that at minimum a Level 5 unit and two Six-Star Generals are required.』
However, at the communications officer's dispassionate assessment, all nearby units could only hold their breath.
A Level 5 unit and two Six-Star Generals. This combination constituted anti-warfare combat power. It meant that the elite of the elite—forces only mustered when fighting an entire nation—would be necessary to efficiently suppress these four.
And even "efficient suppression" didn't necessarily mean minimal allied casualties.
Just how many would die in this little war?
『However, their violence level is extremely low. No fatalities have occurred in engagements thus far, and it is expected that even if left unattended, civilian casualties would be minimal or nonexistent. For these reasons, I judge combat avoidance to be rational. I hereby issue an active combat avoidance order to all units near Amitengrad.』
At the mention that they would not harm civilians, some felt relieved while others frowned.
Relief at not having to fight opponents of such caliber.
Dissatisfaction that, despite being soldiers, they would simply hand over the capital.
Anyway, an argument that such powerful beings wouldn't live forever, so treating them properly would make them go away eventually.
A counter-argument that standing by while the nation's soil was trampled would be disgraceful.
A cry that if it bothered them so much, they should disobey orders, get reprimanded, and go fight.
Self-rationalization from those retreating, claiming they would normally lay down their lives to eliminate invaders but were holding back because of orders.
『Perimeter units expected to be in the path of their movement are to avoid direct engagement. Proceed to the Third Supply Base with all equipment. The Capital Defense Force, excluding the Defense Command, is hereby issued an evacuation order.』
Regardless, orders must be obeyed. Officers immediately urged their soldiers to pack up and gather their equipment.
To actively avoid combat.
However, no one in the Military State knew.
That the four who were to be actively avoided had already slipped into Amitengrad under the cover of darkness.
High-ranking vampires manipulate darkness and can swim through thick shadows.
Far above even the tallest building in Amitengrad. Crimson, ominous twin stars overlooked the Military State's capital.
"...Is this the Military State's royal capital?"
Amitengrad, which she had heard was the Military State's capital, looked utterly different from what Tirkanshaka had imagined.
There was no magnificent royal castle built with wealth gathered from all directions. Nor did the massive city walls that typically enclose cities exist in Amitengrad.
Instead, Amitengrad appeared as though a colossal dragon had coiled up, poised to crush enemies with its sheer mass alone.
Dwellings were invariably stacked layer upon layer as multi-story structures for density and heat retention.
Faint streetlamps stood in rows between the squared-off blocks.
Some places beamed with light like lighthouses even in the pitch-black darkness.
Countless people walked the streets like corpses even at night.
After the sun had fully set in the west, the twilight faded and shadows enveloped the sky in the quiet night. Tirkanshaka, floating alone and gazing at Amitengrad's full view, murmured.
"...It is tremendously large. It seems as if dozens of cities are connected together. Even though humans appear as small as ants, the city is so vast it cannot be taken in at a glance. The meaning of 'countless people'... I understand it a little now."
Shea, floating in the air with wind wrapped around her entire body, answered.
"Well, it is the most populated city in the Military State. The population alone reaches nearly a million..."
"How do you intend to find him among all those people?"
"So that's what you were curious about. Don't worry. There is a way."
Filtering out just one person among the countless people filling the city was impossible even for Shea. However, Shea was a regressor, and she had one or two methods prepared for such situations.
"There are three ways to find a person in the Military State."
Shea said so, intending to explain the three methods one by one. But Tirkanshaka said without a moment of hesitation:
"Use them all."
"No. That's realistically impossible."
"If the right arm writes a letter, the left arm does not cease moving. With three methods at your disposal, why would you not use them? In the first place, if they are methods that cannot be used, why would you list them as options?"
Shea, who had been listing options and trying to explain a little about this country, found herself suddenly being lectured and answered somewhat deflated.
"First, the simplest way is to order the Military State to find him. The Military State is skilled at locating its own citizens. The problem is..."
"Good. Let us go."
As if the problems were of no concern whatsoever, Tirkanshaka readily waved her finger. The massive coffin floating in the air began to push forward through darkness and shadow.
Shea hurriedly moved Cheon-aeng and clung behind her.
"...No! You need to hear the problems! The Military State won't properly listen to us!"
"If we search, they will move as well. If they graciously heed our demands, then that is well."
"What if the Military State tries to take hostages?"
"Them?"
Tirkanshaka smirked.
"Would such a thing happen? They who avoid fighting out of fear of us—would they really risk conflict with us to detain him? Unless they wish their nation to burn."
Tirkanshaka pinpointed the Military State's intentions precisely.
Born as a poor physician's daughter, she had been reborn as the Progenitor and reigned as an absolute sovereign, leading tens of thousands of troops alone. Even renowned kingdoms knelt before her and swore fealty, and she had inadvertently become involved in politics.
"Active combat avoidance. What grandiose packaging. No matter what they call it, they simply do not wish to expend force against us who harbor no particular hostility. Then there is no reason not to use them."
Muttering thus, Tirkanshaka caught sight of a figure below.
The Dog King, walking along the Military State's streets as if they were her own front yard.
Tirkanshaka narrowed her eyes and murmured.
"Besides, even without me, someone must deal with the Military State."
With the Dog King, not the Progenitor.
District 1, Capital Defense Headquarters.
An intruder appeared at the headquarters where they sat splitting and scattering units to various locations.
The sentries did not recognize the intruder. Because the intruder had entered far too confidently, her attire was too foreign, and at the same time, she harbored no hostility whatsoever.
The intruder who walked through the main gate with confidence, immediately spoke upon encountering the first human she met.
"Human. Summon your king."
Coincidentally, Major Rictus of the Capital Defense Headquarters blinked.
An evacuation order had been issued, and they were in the middle of being extremely busy. He was already brimming with dissatisfaction that the job of officers bearing proud rank insignia was to flee, when a beast-kin girl suddenly approached with her tail wagging vigorously and made a strange demand.
"What? How did you get in here?"
The beast-kin answered.
"Summon your king."
"This is a secure facility. Get out immediately."
"Summon your king."
"If you don't leave at once, I will attack!"
"Summon your king."
Seeing the beast-kin repeat the same words as if she were a parrot, Major Rictus, whose patience had run out, drew his military sword and aimed it at Azi.
"Warning is over! You will be killed!"
Boom. He stepped forward and swung his military sword. The concrete floor cracked from the mere step. Having pulled the ground with Gungihon in an instant, he brought the military sword down as if splitting firewood. The sound of slicing through the air was fierce.
Crunch.
The sound of steel crumpling against teeth was several times more chilling.
At the impact that nearly dislocated his wrist, Major Rictus staggered backward. He steadied his trembling body and looked down at his beloved sword. Above the handle, half of the military sword's blade had disappeared.
Not a chipped blade, but marks of having been bitten. When the appalled Major Rictus glared wide-eyed—
"Summon your king."
Only then did Major Rictus properly see the beast-kin girl before him.
Against the backdrop of a dark moon, a full moon, the girl stood with her ears and tail bristling erect. Her gaze was friendly, yet from it emanated an inexplicable authority and dignity.
Like a gentle king who cherishes her subjects...
Major Rictus, who had contributed to overthrowing the kingdom and establishing the Military State, clenched his teeth in revulsion.
"We have no king, beast. Unlike you lot."
Words fired off to demean the beast-kin and provoke the opponent.
However, the beast-kin girl nodded and accepted those words.
"King, mayor, village chief, Maripgan, chairman, lord, emperor, general. The title does not matter. I, simply. Need to meet your representative."
If speaking of the representative of the Defense Headquarters, that would be Defense Commander General Buidun. He was one of the Military State's great stars, possessing formidable martial prowess and having earned military merits across numerous battlefields.
But this was the relatively safe capital. Though his qi cultivation was as formidable as other generals', he was certainly not at the level of a Six-Star General.
If that girl were to harm the General...
The command would be annihilated.
"As if I'd open the way for an intruder like you!!"
Major Rictus shouted with veins bulging in his neck. This was both a desperate resolve and a signal to those who would be observing the situation from behind.
Rictus prayed inwardly. Begging for someone, anyone, to understand his intent.
The first to grasp his meaning was, ironically, the beast-kin girl.
The beast-kin girl let her tail droop and answered as if it were a pity.
"You, don't like talking to me."
It was a statement, and simultaneously the truth.
Rictus hated the monster that had caught a flying blade—in fact, a qi-reinforced blade—with her teeth. The fact that she was a beast-kin only amplified the fear and revulsion.
The girl saw him directing fear and loathing toward her. She felt the terror within his eyes. She knew that she herself was the source of that fear.
It was unfortunate, but it couldn't be helped.
That was what humans were.
"Even so, you must keep your promise."
"I know nothing of that promise! Stop spouting nonsense. If you wish to meet someone, go through the proper procedures!"
Of course, even if Rictus went through procedures, he had no intention of letting her meet anyone, nor did he have the authority to do so. He was simply trying to buy time using procedures as an excuse.
And Major Rictus's efforts were rewarded.
"You've bought time splendidly, Major Rictus!"
Another voice rang out. Rictus and the beast-kin girl raised their heads simultaneously. A general wearing a single star at the main entrance of the headquarters building stepped forward with a twitch of his mustache, raising his arm.
"Your efforts were not in vain! Thanks to you, we've had time to prepare!"
Following his gesture, heavily armed troops descended from all around the Defense Headquarters.
That one's a captain, that one's a major. Each soldier was at minimum a field-grade officer, and general-grade officers were commonly visible.
Since they were just about to follow the evacuation order, they had all their military gear and weapons ready.
Even excluding units that had already departed, this was an elite force of 200 officers alone. Considering that lesser soldiers below a certain level would only be a hindrance, this was the maximum force that could be gathered in the capital at this moment.
"Entire force!"
Clack.
The officers simultaneously inserted their military gear into their packs.
Clatter, clack.
Giant steel plates split apart like scales and rose. Blue alchemical light gathered along the Akhi Avata-aligned steel plates and chain gaps. Steel interlocked and scales covered their bodies as the officers transformed into warriors donning full plate armor.
Sword, spear, gun, axe. Carrying weapons matched to their own qi cultivation, officers wearing flawless armor slowly approached. Cold qi swirled around the blades.
Some, while equipping their gear, hesitated and asked back.
"Wait! Didn't an evacuation order come down? We must not engage them!"
"There's no choice now that they've caught up with us. Are we going to hand over the Commander as is?!"
The general who had shouted looked back at Azi and bellowed.
"Surrender your arms and submit immediately!"
Meanwhile, the girl who had been calmly observing the general...
"...Insufficient."
Even looking at the deputy commander of the Defense Headquarters, a general bearing a single star, she shook her head.
Resolute and definitive.
"You, insufficient qualifications. Can't represent. Can't even be a fragment of your king."
Who indeed could claim a Military State general lacked qualifications? A Level 4 citizen commanding countless soldiers, a strong wielder of heaven-and-earth qi cultivation.
Incensed by what seemed like a dismissive attitude, the general shouted.
"We are the Military State, born from overthrowing the royal house! There is no king! If you seek a king, go to another country!"
At those words, Azi raised her head.
A gleaming light shone in her softly curved eyes. It was not the stars of the night sky, but countless weapons with blue-sharpened edges. Fierce lights radiating, various weapons concealing murderous intent beneath.
It was familiar. The Dog King had made promises, and in exchange for what would not be kept, had used the Dog King. But the Dog King had always, always been betrayed.
The former king and the present Azi were different entities, but the existence of the king was inherited. How meaningless promises became in the face of danger as well.
Even so.
"No need for king. Even general is fine. As long as qualified to face me. Even if only partial, if qualified to represent humans."
Even so, Azi had to find a human, or an organization, that would fulfill the promise.
Because to defeat the wolf, a shepherd was needed.
"Come before me, and recall the promise."
A pitch-black dot appeared on Azi's forehead.
The general was bewildered. He thought someone had shot her forehead.
But at the fact that no gunshot was heard—once.
At the fact that the dot on Azi's forehead gradually grew—once more.
He realized this was not a gunshot.
That this phenomenon itself was not ordinary in the first place.
Scrape, scrape.
The sound of space being scratched and gouged out by a sharp chisel was heard. As the sound gradually grew louder, pitch-black cracks formed along the line of Azi's forehead. The cracks warped and merged, then soon formed a single shape.
Someone looked at that shape and muttered.
"...A crown?"
Just as they said, what appeared to be a crown woven from plant stems materialized from empty air.
It began at Azi's forehead and extended to the back of her head. As if growing by consuming space itself, the crown made a scraping sound as it encircled half of Azi's head. And then it stopped without going any further.
"I, kept promise. Waited in the Abyss."
Azi lifted her head. Following her movement, the crown floating a handspan above her head moved with her.
Without any support, like an angel's halo that proved one's status by its very existence.
Only then did the general recall the opponent's existence.
"...The Spokesperson of the Dog King?"
The king of all beasts.
They simply possess the traits of beasts and live ordinary lives no different from other beasts.
However.
The beast king who has resolved to speak, or act, on behalf of all beasts—
Obtains that power and qualification.
Wearing a crown woven from stems that do not exist in this world, split in half. Azi arrived here as the Dog King.
Even if they are dogs who love humans and devote their loyalty, their hearts and will are not entirely in human hands.
The Dog King declared, representing all dogs.
"Now it's your turn to keep the promise."