The easiest way to crush the rebels is the restoration of the monarchy. It might be a stretch to compare Obeli's Duke to a king, but Grul knew that liberating the Duke and the Obelisk would be fatal to Orcma.
Orcma himself didn't know his own weakness. So engrossed in the thought of driving out Aji, he completely forgot about Obeli and neglected them. This was practically suicide.
He's definitely smarter than Orcma. Though the problem is that the standard for comparison is too inferior.
"Weren't you going to look for Shei? I saw the Beast Faction's warriors earlier."
"To be precise, I was looking for those who move the King of Dogs. I received a report that they were found, but... for some reason, I felt like waiting here."
Only Grul can face the regressor. So I thought Grul would go if the regressor caused a scene. Miscalculation.
However... Grul was also one of the people I needed to meet. I said,
"What's your business?"
"Leave for the Principality."
Grul answered briefly. He didn't seem inclined to explain why, but I spoke on his behalf.
"You want me to lure the wolves to the Principality?"
His intentions read, Grul paused for a moment, seemingly surprised.
"...You know."
"More like I guessed. You're not from Ende, and even after the coup succeeded, you didn't try to do anything in Ende. Your original goal was to protect the Beast Faction. Isn't that right?"
"Saying 'protect the Beast Faction' makes it sound like I've become some king. I merely wish to preserve the natural order."
Perhaps thinking there was no need to hide it since he was found out, Grul crossed his arms and continued.
"Those you call the Beast Faction have been a nomadic people wandering the wilderness with water buffalo since ancient times. They are strong and warlike, but... not stable. Floods, droughts, rampaging wild beasts. Whenever a disaster sweeps through the southern plains, their numbers also greatly dwindle. But disasters always pass. When better days come, they prosper again. That is the natural order."
"And?"
"However... the wolves have been staying on the Engr Plains for too long."
Grul turned his head and stared into the distance. South of Ende, a land bone-dry for half the year and submerged in water for the other half. Therefore, beasts must constantly move. The same goes for humans.
"Whether floods or droughts, they merely brush past the plains. But the wolf pack, which should have temporarily swelled in numbers before shrinking again, has been there for too long. They roam from the territory of the ancient nations to Ende, killing water buffalo and attacking humans."
That all happened because the King of Dogs, who would fight the King of Wolves, did not appear. Grul looked at Aji and said,
"If the King of Dogs is here, the King of Wolves will surely march north. It would be even more certain if we go up to the Principality. As long as I can eradicate the wolves, I don't care what I have to do. Since it's come to this, it's better to go all the way to the Principality and have them dealt with for sure."
From the Beast Faction's perspective, they just need the wolves to disappear from the Engr Plains. They don't care what happens to Ende or the Principality.
For the Obeli guard dogs, it was a bolt from the blue.
"Are you planning to keep the Duke imprisoned...!"
"That's not the issue! The Principality above, the wolves below! Ende will be in danger!"
Even if the Obelisk and the Duke were liberated, Grul wouldn't win. Much less now, with them restrained; if Grul set his mind to it, he could control Ende. The guard dogs' faces darkened. At this rate, the dog beastmen who failed the coup would face even harsher persecution.
However, there is one question.
"Wait. Then why did you come to Ende? If your goal was to drive out the King of Wolves, there's no reason for you to take the risk of coming all the way here."
"Because I had to confirm one possibility."
"Possibility?"
"The possibility of defeating the King of Wolves in Ende, if there was any. The most certain way to eradicate the King of Wolves from the Engr Plains is... to kill the King of Wolves, isn't it?"
If there hadn't been a major problem, it might have been possible. But the pig beastmen staged a protest, the Obelisk, tense from the turmoil, kept the Beast Faction in check, and the Beast Faction, unable to be isolated in an unfamiliar city, outright took the side of the pig beastmen. In the city without the Obelisk, the pig beastmen seized power.
Actually, up to this point, it was fine. But the pig beastmen disappointed Grul. Without showing any particular leadership or ability, the pig beastmen chose the option of avoiding the fight.
Disappointing, but for Grul, it wasn't a bad outcome.
"Looking at how things are going, it's already ruined. I have no choice but to take the second-best option."
"So in the end, you're going to wash your hands of this too."
"It's a cold choice. Isn't it better than keeping a promise that won't be fulfilled anyway?"
No one wants to fight the wolves. Instead, there are only those who want to use them, avoid them, or ignore them.
Grul must be the same in the end. Of course, he might have had some expectations, but...
"Awoooooooo!"
It was then.
A dog howled loudly. At the sudden beastly howl, not only the Obeli guard dogs but even Grul were startled.
Me? My ears hurt. Because the howl came from right beside me.
"Woof! Woof woof! Awoo!"
Aji barked at the sky a few times. It was a howl imbued with some strange emotion that humans couldn't understand.
Even those who say beasts are emotionless machines would reconsider if they heard it. Aji's wailing was so sorrowful.
"Awoooooo..."
Aji barked towards the sky, turning away from the ground. The King of Dogs represents all dogs. Additionally, he took on a human form to convey his will to humans. The emotion Aji let out stimulated all the dogs and dog beastmen in Ende.
The howling of dogs could be heard from all over Ende. The dog beastmen also stopped retreating.
"King?"
"Why is he crying..."
"Awoo, awoo."
Having howled with all his might, Aji raised his head. Near Aji's forehead, a pitch-black crack appeared. The seemingly incomplete crack distorted and expanded, then bundled together into one as if weaving plant stems.
"Defeat the wolf."
A crown, split in half, was floating above Aji's head.
The symbol possessed by the King of Beasts. A crown I no longer have after losing my power. But... Aji has it hanging. Only half of it.
Half? Wait. Why only half? Where's the rest?
"If you keep your promise, if you form a pack with me and fight. Defeat the wolf. We can do it."
Words spoken while wearing the crown are a declaration. Aji was now speaking on behalf of all dogs.
"Fight with me. If humans keep their promise, I will protect humans too."
Grul is also a beastman. Like other beastmen, he holds reverence for the King of Beasts.
But still, he was human, and the great chieftain responsible for the Beast Faction. He said with a troubled expression.
"Even if you say that..."
"It won't work. I'm sorry. Our Aji made an unreasonable request."
You tried hard, Aji. But humans won't be moved by your sincerity. They're neither dogs nor pigs, just humans.
I'll persuade the humans.
"In the end, you're a pig-man just like Orcma, so what request. Alright. Then I'll do as you wish."
"...Orcma?"
When his disappointing kinsman was mentioned from my mouth, Grul twitched his eyebrows. Having successfully provoked him, I shrugged and answered.
"Orcma was the one who said to use Aji as a sacrificial lamb and run away because it seemed like we'd lose if we fought. You said you were disappointed in those guys, yet you're trying to use Ende as a sacrificial lamb and run away just the same. You're exactly the same."
"If I don't want to be the same, I must face the wolves and fight."
He hit the nail on the head. But I can't just be happy because my opponent is sharp. Sharp people scrutinize even my intentions.
Muttering, Grul made a strange expression and said.
"Bizarre, magician."
"What is?"
"You helped Orcma drag the Duke down. And you put the pig beastmen in the highest position and laughed as they destroyed themselves."
...I thought he didn't know the affairs of Ende, but it seems he accessed quite a lot of information while staying in Obeli. He spoke without hiding his wariness of me.
"But now you're provoking me to fight the King of Wolves. What is your intention? If you wanted to fight the wolves, you shouldn't have helped Orcma in the first place."
Suddenly recalling a hypothesis, he asked sharply.
"Is what you desire simply chaos?"
This is why I dislike sharp people. I didn't expect him to turn the tables and question my intentions here.
But for Aji's sake, I must answer this. Grul adheres to logic. Li (離) is the power to complete one's own world and realize it. He will only move if his heart is inclined.
I answered relatively honestly.
"I think there's nothing natural in this world. Not having animal ears cannot be a reason to rightfully rule over others. All humans being equal is not a reason to blindly take away what others enjoy. That is merely fulfilling one's desires using 'what is taken for granted' as a weapon."
The Duke who swaggered despite having no power, and the pig beastmen who savored power despite having no ability. They all realized their own weakness and foolishness. Peel back a layer, and in the end, they were all just beasts and humans.
I wanted to know that. And I confirmed once again that I was right.
"The only natural thing is the desires of beasts. I've confirmed everything, so now I must do what needs to be done."
"Is that thing to do, helping the King of Dogs to save humans? Of all things?"
Grul made an expression of interest. I asked back in annoyance.
"What's the problem?"
"The King of Dogs is the King of Beasts, yet his purpose is more noble than any human's."
That's because Aji is weird. In the first place, it makes no sense for a beast to not 'unconditionally' attack humans. There are so many dogs that bite people.
But a promise is a promise, so I must keep it for now. This is why people shouldn't be bitten. Whether an animal or a contract.
"Indeed, they say the devil who tests humans is actually seeking God more than anyone. In that sense, you're the same."
Why is he bringing up the Bible? Just stop and answer.
"You're the same. Anyone looking would think I'm the mastermind. You're the one who gave the pig beastmen the opportunity."
Proposing to the piggy boy to become his disciple as soon as he arrived, and aiding Orcma as soon as he heard news of the coup. This isn't the time to interrogate me. Interrogate yourself first.
"If you want to be aloof, stay away from Ende until the end. The pig beastmen held a protest because you came, they succeeded in the revolution thanks to you, and they enjoyed power through your strength. The most important thing to Orcma was that you subdued the Obelisk. The one who moved this board is Grul. It's you."
"So in the end, I was also tested, is that it?"
Pointed out in return, Grul chuckled self-deprecatingly.
"...Right. I was also recklessly relying on my kinsmen."
"Now stop relying on others and do it yourself. Before you wish for your kinsmen to be cool, you need to show that kind of appearance yourself. I mean, set an example."
Grul uncrossed his arms. He was the one who entered Ende leading the Beast Faction. He had enough will to fight from the start.
He lost motivation seeing how the city was turning out, but motivation appears and disappears as it pleases.
"...The King of Dogs will fight even without me, right?"
"He's been fighting since before you were born."
"Don't get me wrong. I'm not fighting for my kinsmen or for honor. It's because it seems worth fighting the King of Wolves. I'll pass on a dog's death, no, a pig's death."
Grul turned around and strode away. Before him was the prison where the Obelisk was locked up. Looking at the rather luxurious building for a prison, Grul asked me and Aji.
"Can we win?"
The promise is kept. Having confirmed his will, Aji shouted with a confident expression.
"We'll win!"
"If so."
Grul pulled the door of the prison. Among the luxurious prison, the large and thick iron door, the only thing that looked like a prison, was torn apart like paper.