Chapter 99 – Renia Gate (9)
“Damn it, those foolhardy bastards…”
The explosion at Renia Gate was beginning to affect the Federation government. The justification and evidence were all on the other side, and they could not resist the protests of Tas, the King of the Fox Tribe, who was enraged.
“There’s nothing we can do. It has come to light that there are those on our side who have joined them.”
“Is that all? Isn’t it natural for everyone to be involved to some extent? Tell me, how many among the Federation government members are working completely independently of their own tribes?”
The elder councilor of the long-bearded Monkey Tribe shook his head in response, and the young councilor snorted in frustration.
Every time he quivered his body, his drooping dog-like ears shook.
“It’s understandable to protest, but isn’t this crossing a line? A response protocol for the Corruption Zones? The Fox Tribe has no right to impose this on us!”
The young councilor was particularly angry because Tas had begun using this as an excuse to pressure the Federation government.
He wanted a guarantee for the response manual created by Renia in the name of the Federation and to issue orders not just to the Federation but to each tribe.
While the justification was that it was to prevent the impending apocalypse, some were enraged that the Federation was being manipulated by the Fox Tribe.
“And the biggest problem in all of this is the involvement of that High Elf. If you think about it, they matter even more than the Fox Tribe. The High Elf is entirely an outsider.”
He naturally turned arrows towards Irilia. Her existence and actions were a hot topic everywhere. With almost all eyes on her, there was no way to leverage public opinion to pressure the Fox Tribe.
“W-well, there’s nothing we can do. If it were not for the High Elf, even if our ancestors from a thousand years ago were to return from mythology, it would draw attention.”
Another councilor timidly tried to counter. Given her origins and identity, it was understandable.
He added that Irilia’s sole purpose was for the various factions to unite and prepare for the approaching apocalypse.
‘Tch, it’s clear that old hag is deeply immersed in one of those ancient stories she keeps spinning.’
He looked at them with disdain.
He knew that those smelling money had already packaged her words into books to sell or leaked them to journalists and scholars to make a pretty penny.
“The Grand Coalition itself is a problem. Isn’t it basically an announcement that the High Elf wants to become the leader of a powerful force that dominates this world?”
“That’s a misunderstanding. She only wished to create a place for all living beings to converse in order to prepare for the apocalypse.”
“So, I’m saying, is that really necessary? If the apocalypse truly comes, wouldn’t people know how to handle it on their own…”
“Something serious is happening!”
However, his ongoing opposition was cut short.
The aides of the waiting councilors rushed into the conference room.
“What in the world is happening? What’s going on?”
“From the lands of the Cat Tribe… monsters are invading in large numbers!”
The panicked councilors pressed for answers. The trembling aide provided a response that warranted their hasty entrance.
“Quickly evacuate the residents! Call up the soldiers!”
“W-wait, is it really alright to do this? We don’t have orders from higher-ups yet…”
“The King already commanded a few days ago that we act according to the given response protocol!”
The Cat Tribe’s general stood with his tail raised in an authoritative manner, urging his subordinates.
The Corruption Zone near the isolated village had opened up, unleashing a multitude of monsters that were now invading. A rabid horde of orcs, losing all reason, numbered in the hundreds.
“We must defend the fortress!”
He led his soldiers into the fortress made of earth and barricades and began to fortify. At least, they had the advantage of having a response protocol that was issued through the King’s orders a few days prior.
The protocol laid out by Renia, detailing how to respond when a Corruption Zone occurs.
Tas had forced that onto the Federation while separately informing the Cat Tribe, urging them to act accordingly.
Now, they were seeing the benefits of that. As soon as the fact of the Corruption Zone was known, all residents were evacuated and soldiers were gathered.
“But there are just so many of them…!”
The problem was that despite having reduced the damage, there were simply too many enemies charging out.
The frenzied enemies were rampaging as if they were extremely angry, destroying and killing everything in their path.
“Reinforcements will arrive soon. Hold on!”
The general could do nothing but wait for the reinforcements, hoping to endure with the hastily gathered military strength. This was the moment when news had just begun spreading to the Federation government and beyond.
*
“Seems like they’re really angry, huh? They must want to vent their frustrations now that their plans to engulf the internal personnel, including Taizhu, have collapsed.”
Upon hearing about this uproar that had gripped the entire Beastman Federation, Irilia, holding her head due to a hangover, smiled wryly.
This attack felt more deliberate and forceful than any usual strategy.
However, even though she was confident that she possessed her own will to prepare for the imminent apocalypse, she hadn’t expected them to act so simply and emotionally.
“The Cat Tribe has responded calmly, but I’ve heard they’re being pushed back due to the pressure of the enemy. Are you going?”
“With things like this, I need to go and block the entrance. I’m the only one here who can do it.”
At Arisa’s words, Irilia sighed and nodded.
The situation was now one where Irilia would confront the will of the apocalypse directly.
It was a battle between how effectively she could rally the local forces to establish a preparedness system for the apocalypse and how swiftly the will of the apocalypse could disrupt that and hasten the world’s destruction.
“Everything is ready. Let’s go!”
Renia had completed all the preparations and was waiting for Irilia. She scoffed at Renia’s eagerness.
“Just days ago you were struggling, and now you want to go out again?”
“I have already made this my mission. As a researcher of the Mythical Era, I cannot sit idly by when the same crisis as during that time has come upon this world.”
Renia declared her resolve without a hint of hesitation. Irilia, unable to refute those words, quickly moved with Renia towards the Cat Tribe’s territory.
“You know well, Renia, don’t you? If there’s no reason, there’s no need to rush like this.”
“That’s true. There’s still much we lack in records, and I haven’t grasped things properly, but it’s clear that the predetermined apocalypse must have certain conditions attached to it.”
A thousand years ago, when Irilia was still in the tower, peacefully going through the tutorial.
Even back then, the tower had collapsed, and a great apocalypse had wiped out an era.
That great apocalypse had come so suddenly and swiftly that a proper response had not been possible. People could not unite and quickly crumbled, and the few survivors clung fiercely to life and hid, enduring that nightmare.
However, even in that era, the apocalypse was not perfect.
The survivors had procreated and created this current era.
“If the great apocalypse is truly an unavoidable disaster, then the fact that we are born and living like this makes no sense.”
Renia saw that very aspect as hope. She was convinced that with sufficient preparation and response, it was not an insurmountable disaster.
“Right, it’s an opportunity to cut off a bad fate.”
Irilia looked through the carriage window at the advancing transference site, growing closer.
It was an event that happened too long ago. Now, with the world having become completely different, there was no need to repay the sins of the past.
“And politically, it’s advantageous. I’ve heard that the Federation government and some major powers are looking at us very unfavorably, right? It’s not that they care about what we do; they’re just wary of their authority and interests being threatened.”
“Those foolish and despicable ones.”
“They need a shock treatment. While it’s unfortunate that the territory of our allies, the Cat Tribe, has been invaded, if those fools comprehend the extent of the impending apocalypse, they might change their thoughts. Because I doubt they want to die.”
Irilia naturally calculated the benefits that could be gained from this situation. She had developed a habit of thinking politically while revealing and acting upon her intentions.
From that standpoint, this incident was not entirely a loss either.
The more incidents that can raise awareness occur, the greater the necessity for the Grand Coalition will become, and the more Irilia takes a prominent role, the more her reputation and standing will rise.
Tas didn’t just frivolously suggest that Irilia remain in the lands of the Fox Tribe.
If her mere presence there is accepted as a form of safety, then soon all factions will be clamoring to invite Irilia over.
