Wolves are powerful. But at the end of the day, they are just a wolf pack. If a nation exerts its full strength and deals with them in time, they can be defeated without issue.
However, a nation is a massive collective where tens of millions live together, and it is difficult to constantly pay attention to a beast pack whose actions are unpredictable. Moreover, the Wolf King is cunning and knows to avoid fights if there is no reason to engage. Without the existence of a Dog King, fighting the Wolf King itself is difficult.
Even Gunguk lost hundreds of soldiers during their sea reclamation project, and Yeolguk couldn't settle in the mountains for fear of the mountain beasts. Even that Jeguk only uses a tiny fraction of the sea, fearing the sea monsters of the Mediterranean. Beasts were certainly a headache that no nation could afford to ignore.
That was why the principality created Ende.
A few years after the Seonghwangcheong subjugated the wolf pack, a new pack presumed to be led by the Wolf King appeared in the southern part of the Enger Plains. However, for various political, geopolitical, and administrative reasons, the Dog King was abandoned or driven away over several generations. Furthermore, after the kingdom fell to a rebellion, they vanished without a trace.
Meanwhile, the wolf pack gradually grew in power and roamed the southern Enger Plains. To the point where even the principality slowly began to feel threatened. So the Lilac Principality, which was closest to the wolves, decided to raise a shield.
With the Suin and Ende. As existences that could be discarded at any time.
"Ende is... a shield?"
"That's right, we are the principality's meat shield. However, by becoming that shield, we gained our freedom."
Mayor Triver looked around the square once. The countless houses and people beyond. The tens of thousands of Suin living in Ende. Mayor Triver spoke as he took in the city he had built from the ground up.
"Everyone in this city enjoys freedom. We earn money, work, receive fair treatment, and form organizations. Things that are hard to easily do in a human nation. This proves that Suin are not much different from humans."
Looking at the Suin with emotional eyes for a moment, he soon appealed with desperate urgency.
"Wolves. We only need to overcome the wolves. Then we can shake off the threat and gain full autonomy. We will show the principality that we Suin... can do it too!"
"You're telling us to become the meat shield against the wolves."
"Wolves are powerful, but they are not an opponent we cannot defeat. We can fight and win. And through that, we Suin will earn the right to demand from the principality and the world!"
Azi as a sacrifice? No, Ende is the sacrifice. Driving Azi out here is like pushing sacrifices off the altar so they get eaten first. It's utterly ridiculous.
Of course, the Suin who didn't even know they were sacrifices until now would find that hard to accept.
"We don't need it! We weren't born to be meat shields!"
"But thanks to that, we escaped the principality's interference and enjoyed freedom!"
"We don't need interference that dominates and kills people! We will live our own lives! Ende will decide Ende's future!"
"Even so, driving away the Dog King is no different from treason!"
Alright, alright. Since there's no time, you guys can stay and fight. I need to do what I have to do.
I picked up the megaphone I had brought in advance and calmly climbed up onto the platform. I stood blocking the two who were just making noise, whether it was an argument or just a war of words. After a brief fake cough, I put the megaphone to my mouth and shouted loudly.
"I understand your intentions well. You won't fight the wolves. I'm bewildered that your attitude changed in just a few days, but if that's the judgment reached after careful consideration by all of Ende, I will respect it."
I heard a murmuring sound from Orcma's side, perhaps because it wasn't the reaction they wanted. They probably wanted me to be appalled and protest. Unfortunately, the action you just took was exactly what I intended.
"Wolves harm humans, and dogs follow humans. Wolves are evil, dogs are good. It's truly disappointing that you would surrender to evil and cast away good, but... from the standpoint of leading a city, I fully understand. People extol sacrifice as noble, but when it comes to telling me to sacrifice, isn't it hard to accept?"
Sighing as if disappointed, I swallowed my breath and smiled brightly again.
"It can't be helped. So we too have no choice but to go north and request help directly from the principality."
It's the same rational judgment the Orc made. If you won't help, we have to leave, what else can we do? Since an unavoidable situation has occurred, this is the best response.
However, now that I know the relationship between the principality and Ende. That has become unacceptable. Poyna asked with a pale complexion.
"Wait a minute. Then, to the Lilac Principality...?"
"Of course. Because it's the closest principality."
"T-That can't happen!"
'If the story gets out that we drove out the Dog King to avoid the Wolf King, on top of having already driven out the Gongin, there will be repercussions on a completely different level...!'
Exactly. It's no different from treason. Thanks to Mayor Triver telling me in advance, I saved the trouble of explaining. I turned my gaze away, pretending to be regretful. Still holding the megaphone in my hand.
"It can't be helped. The Dog King must fight alongside humans. Protecting humans from wolves is the pledge. But since you won't fight for us, shouldn't we ask the nearest country for help?"
It can't be helped. It's an action taken because we have no choice, just like you. Continuing to appeal, I put the final period on this speech.
"Well. I am a bit worried thinking about how you will be pressured by the Wolf King from below and the Lilac Principality from above... but I trust that you, the wise, will make another excellent judgment for the city!"
I only say I trust them, but it means I'll report this to the principality, so deal with it amongst yourselves. This was something neither Mayor Triver nor Orcma could accept.
Poyna cried out viciously.
"Stop! We can't let the Dog King leave!"
The answer I was waiting for came. I leisurely stopped my steps and calmly asked back.
"Huh? Then what? You said you won't fight, so if we abandon Azi here, you'll just let her die?"
"...That's none of your business. The Dog King is a being that protects humans."
"Wow! I've heard that story somewhere before!"
If you peel back a layer of the heart, everyone has the exact same thing inside. They keep trying to dress it up, but humans are humans no matter what they do.
Suin don't need to try so hard to become humans. There's no need to cry out that they want to be equal to humans. Because they were originally the same.
"Everyone. I'll admit it. You are already human enough! Breaking treaties, ignoring promises, and finally abandoning the Dog King. And now you're saying you'll just let her die because things will get worse if you let her go? It's perfect! Could there be another human as perfect as this!"
It's not like I can only blame the Suin. It was humans who, not content with driving out the Dog King and leaving them to die, even imprisoned them in the Abyss.
So naturally, the Suin chose the same option. They're all the same.
"Humans are nothing special. Just like wolves, they are mere beasts. Bowing to those stronger than them, and trying to devour the weak. Scheming just to live a little more comfortably and with fuller bellies. Just a pack of beasts like that. Truly the same as you!"
Thinking about it the other way around, the principality sending the Suin to Ende to use as a shield. It's exactly the same as the Suin trying to use Azi as a shield.
"The principality must have thought the same! 'Ah, damn. Those Jeguk bastards are telling us to do the same thing just because they're strong. This feels awful, so let's just use the Suin. It's fine. Suin are originally that kind of existence anyway.'"
Whispering on behalf of the principality, I spread my arms wide and shouted.
"How is it, Suin? Now that you stand in that position, can you see the human perspective? Can you understand with what intentions humans sent you to the very frontline against the wolves? Congratulations! If you understand, you are the same humans too!"
"...!"
I offered my congratulations sincerely. It was a heartfelt congratulation that I could give because the Suin had achieved the very desire they wanted so much.
Actually, it didn't come from the heart that much. Because I already knew their desire wasn't that noble.
They just wanted to live well themselves. They just wanted to eat delicious things, enjoy power, and be treated well. By attaching all sorts of reasons to it, it looked like an ideological movement, but in reality, it was just a gathering of people who wanted to live better than they did now. They were soaked in a victim mentality, but essentially, that was it.
"...You know very well, Magician. If you are that overflowing with understanding, you'll understand us who can't let the Dog King leave, too."
"That's right! It's a completely viable judgment! Of course I understand!"
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However, the pie they want already belongs to someone else. Unless they bake a new pie, they will inevitably have to take someone else's.
Coming this far, ultimately, all that remains is the logic of power.
"However, there is no reason for us to follow that, right? Just as you don't follow the principality's orders!"
Money, power, consideration, respect. You have to obtain them with power.
Isn't it fitting for beasts? I like this kind of desire. I just hate it when this simple, primal desire pretends to be something noble.
"Survival is on the line. Now you and we are in the same boat. Ende and us. Which of us will die? I'm sorry, but I don't want to die."
I deliberately put the megaphone to my mouth and shouted brightly.
"I'm sorry! Please everyone, die in my place!"
"Catch them!"
Mercenaries, including Urupang, rushed out. They intended to catch us so Azi and I couldn't escape, but at that moment, a massive cleave split the space between me and them. Pushing through the terrified Orcs, the Regressor holding Cheonaeng walked in slowly.
Perhaps my words lightened their mood a bit, the Regressor was emitting a less sharp aura than before. But it was still just as fierce.
"I-I'm not trying to kill you! We just need to throw away the Dog King!"
"Why? Azi is better than you. If we're throwing someone away, it should be you."
The Regressor retorted, lifting Cheonaeng.
"It's not because you're Suin. It's just because you're humans worse than dogs. Unlike Azi, it doesn't seem to matter much if you're thrown away."
Wow. They can provoke that much without even intending to? Natural talent is different. I, who read minds and choose words to provoke the opponent, am just a commoner.
"Ugh...!"
"We have no more business in Ende. Try doing whatever you want. Because I'm going to do whatever I want too."
Sneering, the Regressor unleashed the power of Cheonaeng.
Cheonggeomgi, Yongoreum.
A vortex wrapped around me and Azi. The fierce wind shattered the platform and kicked up a sandstorm. A massive whirlwind mixed with dirt, dust, wood chips, and debris swirled around. The Suin crouched and covered their faces, avoiding the wind.
By the time the tornado, which prevented them from even opening their eyes, cleared, we had already vanished from their sight.