Chapter 92

“Overcoming mountains, indeed.”

In the command tent, Priegoss wrapped his arms around his forehead and spoke.

Up until yesterday, the participants around him, intoxicated with the joy of victory except for the elves, did not have such good expressions.

Perhaps among the histories humans would record, this battle would be the first to be noted as a true battle, ending with a victory for Pohelrn.

Of course, behind both sides of humans were elves, succubi, and orcs, but even so, it would be recorded as a human battle.

It would be the first battle where thousands of armed humans gathered to contend for hegemony.

With this battle, Pohelrn would gain the status of the first dynasty to unify the continent after a little time, as long as variables like Algul did not arise again.

Moreover, even though Priegoss’s first thought of a perfect victory in his battle with Mutuk was not the outcome, it held great meaning to have defeated Algul, who was both an enemy and a nemesis to Alia, as well as the orcs.

Most of the subordinate races in this world were neither hostile nor friendly towards humans.

To the subordinate races born from the Elder Roa, humans were far too insignificant, sitting at the bottom of nature’s food chain.

Considering that even ordinary Roa rarely get offered as human sacrifices, the elves, to which Araya belonged, and the succubi led by the now few Alia had to be seen as exceptions.

Furthermore, orcs, who had already contributed to ravaging one continent and nearly resulting in the extinction of humanity, were undoubtedly a potential significant threat to humanity on the western continent.

Though it was unlikely that Algul, the Einherjar of the orcs, had brought all the orcs scattered across the eastern continent under his shadow, it was not hard to predict that losing their long-time leader would make it difficult for the orcs to enjoy their previous prosperity on the eastern continent.

For Priegoss, who wished for humans to stand tall as a legitimate species on this planet rather than merely being consumed under nature’s food chain, it would be a joyful occasion that a foundation for unifying the humans of the western continent had been laid.

That’s why he could smile and commend the actions of Araya, who had defeated Algul, despite the unexpected outcome of being presented with the head of Algul by the holy warrior boy who suddenly harbored hatred towards him.

As long as it went that far.

The problem was the information brought back the next day by the Gal Dragon, who had originally pursued Algul.

“…Was the issue yesterday about this?”

Receiving Priegoss’s question, Araya awkwardly scratched her cheek.

“Well, that is indeed the case. I didn’t expect things to escalate so quickly.”

The faces of the humans in the tent, including Priegoss, darkened.

They had just finished a long war.

Moreover, it wasn’t a complete victory like normal campaigns; it had been a hard-won triumph with near annihilation followed by the miraculous rescue from the elves and Alia.

Excluding the reserve forces and non-combatants who had originally been responsible for healing, the number of soldiers surviving for only a single day was confirmed to be under 400.

Additionally, considering those who had suffered severe injuries like amputations and would have to retire after this war, the number was even lower.

“Suddenly giants…”

And it was the titan, the largest of the giant races.

The people of Pohelrn were no longer unaware of how unreasonable a race the titans were compared to the past.

That was only natural, as the first disciple of the goddess, who did not appear before people except during the martial arts festival once a year, was the titan brothers.

Unlike the mysterious goddess, who rarely made appearances, the giant brothers revered as deities in the new belief had surprisingly close ties with the citizens of Pohelrn.

Given their size, it was impossible not to notice how they moved; most of the enormous stones that formed the Pohelrn city walls, expanded with forces incomprehensible to humans, were moved by the hands of the giant brothers.

Moreover, countless massive constructions that would have been burdensome for humans became significantly easier with the brothers’ help.

Additionally, whenever they traveled the country for their rituals and came across dangerous beasts or monsters, they would dispatch them effortlessly with a single punch, breaking their spines, which led the initially fearful citizens to eventually revere the giant brothers as the protectors of Pohelrn.

Araya’s attempts to integrate the giant brothers with humans resulted in unexpectedly beneficial outcomes for the prosperity of Pohelrn.

Thus, the soldiers who had benefited from Araya’s martial arts were acutely aware of the fact that the gap between the race of humans and the strongest of the giant races, the titan, could not be closed simply by a few years of martial arts training.

“Don’t worry too much. Golb and Silv taught those kids martial arts suitable for them; they aren’t as strong as you might think when considering their past before learning martial arts.”

“…How many trained soldiers do you think would need to engage with a single such giant?”

Araya furrowed her brows slightly at Priegoss’s question, gauging in her mind the scale of a battle.

“…Even so, it would take nearly twenty to confront one individual.”

“If it requires twenty soldiers to form a line to hunt a large beast, then in the chaotic scenario with more participants, it would require even more soldiers.”

“…Hmm.”

Seeing Araya’s embarrassed expression, Priegoss bitterly smiled.

After all, their instructor was in a realm so different from not just humans, but most of the creatures of the world.

In Araya’s eyes, it was likely a difference akin to that between an ant and a cricket.

There was no way their perspectives could align.

“Uh… Saras. If those giants you’re talking about came to harass the humans, shouldn’t we step up?”

“Uh?”

Ignoring the serious atmosphere in the tent, Anart spoke to Sarasvati, who was examining Algul’s head.

At those words, all eyes turned to Priegoss and Alia, including the others.

Sarasvati, who had been examining the traces of mana on Algul’s neatly severed head, widened her eyes in surprise when attention suddenly shifted to her.

“Ah… well, I think we could step in if they are a dangerous species. But even though I received full authority from Demis, I feel the matter might be… quite significant?”

Sarasvati spoke with an unusually troubled expression.

“I hear the two long-legged ones who relayed the news to Araya are supposedly fighting some of their own kind… even if they’re a bit weak, there are rumors of several hundreds of such beings, and we’ve also got our mothers and similar figures behind us, right?”

“…Ugh.”

“Besides, considering Gal nearly got killed, it’s hard to dismiss this lightly.”

Anart clenched his staff, groaning.

As she continually glanced between the somber Priegoss and herself, Sarasvati detached her hands from Algul’s head, crossed her arms, and spoke.

“Well, even then, we cannot simply refuse our roles out of fear, so if needed, I will join in.”

However, even at Sarasvati’s words, Anart’s face did not brighten.

She wanted to help but understood that any assistance given would also bring casualties among the elves.

“Thank you, Anart. Your intentions mean a lot. However, this is our duty, and it’s something we were always prepared to accept. Please do not worry too much.”

Priegoss consoled the downcast Anart by holding her hand.

“…!?”

Suddenly feeling a chill, Araya looked around and saw Alia, wearing a smile akin to a mask just like when they first met.

Yet, contrasting her calm demeanor was the chaotic turmoil of Alia’s energy, which had previously been quietly contained like water in a jar, now threatening to surge violently.

Thanks to that, the energy-insensitive humans only trembled at the suddenly palpable chill, while Sarasvati, who seemed intrigued watching this display, and Palas, who quietly poured water from a kettle, ignored it altogether. Araya whispered quietly to Palas.

‘…What is it? I can’t quite grasp this since yesterday. What’s going on?’

‘…Those younger sisters of mine… one and all…’

Palas disregarded Araya’s words, muttering in lament, and then raised a bowl to drink cold water.

Yet, because of that, the dark outlook that had filled the tent was briefly washed away.

Sensing the momentary clearing of the energy, Priegoss cautiously asked someone a question.

“Gal Dragon. May I ask you a question?”

When Priegoss questioned the Gal Dragon, who sat expressionlessly next to Araya, the Gal Dragon slowly turned his head towards Priegoss.

The Gal Dragon then glanced at Araya, who silently nodded in response.

“What is it, little monkey’s head?”

“…I am Priegoss.”

“I don’t particularly want to distinguish you from the other monkeys. So I have no interest in your name, just ask your question.”

Despite the intense gaze that seemed ready to pierce through the back of the Gal Dragon’s head, he remained expressionless, showing his indifference.

Priegoss forced a bitter smile and opened his mouth.

“What is the Elder Roa of giants, Terato? It seems you have a long connection.”

At that question, everyone showed interest. Especially Sarasvati, whose ears perked up with interest, revealing her elven nature.

The previously expressionless Gal Dragon frowned with an expression full of displeasure.

Then, after looking back at Araya, who was eyeing him with interest, he quietly sighed, speaking in a voice thick with disdain.

“The great monkey… Babel Terato is the one closest to the heavens among those who walk the earth, seeing many things from a great height.

But, the wisest one who sees many things is often the most foolish.

From birth, he could share no common gaze with anyone.

In that regard, he was similar to me.

But while I lost interest in the world, that fellow tried to put all things into his understanding.”

“…What do you mean?”

Priegoss’s aide, Buker, murmured in confusion over the vague statement, but fell silent when the Gal Dragon turned to him.

The Gal Dragon narrowed his brow and took a moment to choose his words.

“…He sought to reach the realm of the gods.”

“Gods?”

“It is different from the little monkeys who have come to call the humble beings they worship gods. The trees you long-eared beings revere, I cannot even call them deities. I speak of the order and logic that fundamentally structures the world.”

The Gal Dragon’s expression changed as if recalling some memory from a long time ago.

“But it is impossible for a sentient being to become the logic itself. Just as sunlight, typhoons, rain, and wind have no will, it is something intolerable.

Thus, I judged him.

Still, even though he and I differ in essence, I was the only one in this world who understood him. I did not kill him.

Yet, I did not allow him to desire what was above his station.”

The Gal Dragon closed his eyes.

“But he did not give up, and the clever being, who played with the principles of this world, had created subordinates and prepared something during the last century while I was asleep. It might be that he prepared something even longer before that. Finished with his preparations, he provoked me by roaming in and out of my garden with his subordinates and ultimately inserted a magic-thralled pole into my body, freeing me from my shackles.”

Upon opening his eyes, a golden gaze with vertical pupils hovered above.

Like the sun awakening, that pair of golden eyes fixed upon Alia.

“What he desires is to become a god and to completely dominate this planet. But when he actually removed me and came down, he found something ridiculous in front of him.”

“…Deus Ex Machina.”

“To call something made by nothing but mere creatures with such a distinguished name is excessive. It describes the essence correctly, at least.”

The Gal Dragon said with a cynical smile.

“What the wise and foolish giant desires in reaching the realm of the gods is destruction of what you are presumptuously creating, and if you live meekly as mere creatures, perhaps you won’t die.”