Текст книги "Overlord - The Lizardmen Heroes"

Автор книги: Maruyama Kugane

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Текущая страница: 4 (всего у книги 18 страниц)

Crusch also wondered just what exactly she was thinking.

“Not afraid of my albino body, I mean.”

“...It’s like the white snow that covers the top of the mountain range.”

“...Eh?”

“...A beautiful colour.”

Of course, she had never heard this line once in her life.

W-What is this male saying!

The internal pressure building up within Crusch reached a point at which it could no longer be contained, and the lid holding it in was blown off with this single phrase. Whilst Crusch was lost in the chaos of her own thoughts, Zaryusu smoothly reached out and stroked her scales. Their bright colour was of a polished beauty… and on those slightly cool scales his hands moved downwards like water in a flowing river.

Hiss! It was a short warning noise, but something else was mixed within her breath as well.

It gave both the chance to regain some of their lost composure.

The two realized what was just done to her and what he just did subconsciously. Their entire bodies trembled. Why did I do that? Why did I let him? Doubt became anxiety, and anxiety led to confusion.

As a result, two tails slammed the floor, violently enough to shake the hut.

Then both of them looked at each other, and confirmed the status of the other’s tail. As if time had stopped, both tails stopped moving.

“……”

“……”

The atmosphere was heavy, or perhaps better described as nervousness. Silence fell upon the two individuals, followed by the two secretly stealing glances at each other. Finally managing to get her thoughts in order, Crusch asked him with an icy gaze, determined to detect any lies in his words.

“...Why did you… all of a sudden?”

Although Crush had trouble expressing her thoughts in words, Zaryusu appeared to have understood as he replied honestly and without hesitation.

“It was love at first sight. Besides, death may result from the war this time, and I do not wish to leave any regrets behind.”

This simple honesty, his words that hid none of his emotions made Crusch momentarily lost for words. However, there was a part that she just could not relate to.

“...Even the wielder of that famous Frost Pain is prepared to die in battle?”

“Correct. The opponent is an incomprehensible enemy, one which cannot be taken lightly… Have you seen the monster that acted as the messenger? The one which came to our settlement had this appearance...”

Crusch accepted the illustration which Zaryusu passed over, and nodded after giving it a cursory glance.

“Yes. It was the exact same monster.”

“Do you know what kind of monster that was?”

“No. Including me, no one in the tribe had any idea.”

“Is that so… actually I have come across that kind of monster once before...” Zaryusu spoke up to this point and paused to observe Crusch’s response as he continued “...and I fled.”

“—Eh?”

“It was impossible to defeat. No, to put it nicely, it was a fifty-fifty chance of dying.”

Crusch then understood that the monster was such a terrifying undead, and heaved a sigh of relief that her decision to stop the warriors back then was the right decision.

“It can emit a scream that causes mental confusion. Not only that, it has an ethereal body therefore it is almost entirely immune towards attacks with weapons which are not magically enchanted. Using numbers will not work.”

“Amongst the magic which our druids use, there is a kind of magic which can temporarily imbue magic on swords…”

“...Is it able to defend against mental attacks?”

“It is able to strengthen the resistance, but protecting everyone’s mental state would be too much and our strength would be insufficient.”

“So it’s like that… are all the druids able to use that magic?”

“If it is strengthening resistance, almost all of the druids are capable of it. But I’m the only one in this tribe who can shield the mind from confusion.”

Crusch noticed that Zaryusu’s breathing had shifted ever so slightly. It seemed that he had already noticed that Crusch’s position was not merely an empty title.

Correct. The lizardman Crusch Lulu was an extremely skilled forest druid. Maybe even above some of the other elder druids amongst the lizardmen.

“...Which number was the Red Eye tribe in order of the tribes that were attacked?”

“The opponent said we are the fourth.”

“I see… then, what are your plans?”

Time passed by.

Crusch was contemplating whether revealing the plans would be beneficial. The Green Claw tribe would certainly choose to go to war, and Zaryusu’s objective in coming here should be to form an alliance, requesting to head to battle together. With that in mind, what should be done for the bests interests of the Red Eye tribe?

Red Eye tribe originally did not intend to form an alliance. Their opinion was to choose to seek refuge. Going to war against people able to use 4^th tier magic was an incredibly foolish idea. Moreover, knowing that the undead which were sent out by the opponent possessed such terrifying abilities made it more obvious that there could not be any other verdict.

However, was honestly revealing such thoughts really for the best?

Towards Crusch who was trapped in her own thoughts, Zaryusu narrowed his eyes, and opened his mouth to speak:

“Let me tell you what I truly think.”

Having no idea what Zaryusu was about to say, Crusch looked at him with unblinking eyes.

“What I am worried about is what happens after seeking refuge.”

To Crusch who was unable to understand the meaning of this sentence, Zaryusu calmly continued.

“Do you think that after moving away from a familiar environment which you are used to living in, you will be able to maintain the same lifestyle as the one right now?”

“Impossible… no, it would be rather difficult.”

If they were to leave here and establish a new place of habitat, they would have to fight with their lives on the line – they would have to win the fight for survival. The reality was that lizardmen were actually not the only occupants of this lake, and they had obtained this piece of wetlands after many tiresome years of warring. For this kind of species, it was not possible to easily set up a new habitat in unfamiliar environments.

“There’s also more than enough chance that there wouldn’t be enough food.”

“Probably so.”

Crusch, who was unable to understand what this male lizardman standing in front of her was getting towards, replied with a sharp suspicious voice.

“Then, if the nearby five tribes seek refuge at the same time, what do you think will happen?”

“That…!”

Crusch fell silent, because she already figured out the true meaning behind Zaryusu’s words.

Although the size of the lake was quite vast, when a tribe would choose a certain area to serve as a place of refuge, that area should also be the place that other tribes would want to obtain. Therefore, just moving to a new place could trigger another fight for survival, nearby would also have opponents who would fight for fish as the main source of food supply. Like this, what kind of situation would play out? Finally there would be no guarantee that the most feared result would arise, that being a war just like the one in the past.

“Don’t tell me… the reason you want to fight even though we might not win…”

“...That’s right. With the other tribes combined, I’m considering how many less mouths we can feed.”

“For something like that!”

That was why he wanted to form an army. So even if they lose the battle, there would be less lizardmen to feed.

In a war for survival, it would be extreme but understandable to think that everyone aside from the battle-able warriors, hunters, and druids were expendable. No, in the long-term it may be better if the rest simply died.

Less mouths to feed means less food required to survive. In that case, even coexistence may be possible.

Crusch frantically tried to think of reasons to reject his idea.

“You don’t even know how dangerous the new location will be, yet you want to start from the beginning with reduced numbers?”

“Then I’ll ask you this. Let’s say we easily win the battle for survival, what then? If our fish dwindle, will the five tribes fight one another next?”

“We may be able to catch more fish!”

“And if we can’t?”

She could not answer in the face of Zaryusu’s chilling barrage of questions.

Zaryusu acts with what is the closest to a worst case scenario in mind. Crusch thinks with wishful thinking as her foundation. If a bad situation arises, her choices will lead to disaster, while Zaryusu’s will not.

And even if they were to be defeated and the number of adult lizardmen decrease, they will have died a glorious death in battle.

“...If you refuse, we will have to attack the Red Eyes first.”

The dark tone of his voice caused Crusch to flinch.

It was a declaration that they will not allow only the Red Eyes to flee to a new land with their members intact.

That was the correct, reasonable judgement.

If a tribe with reduced numbers fled to a refuge where the Red Eyes, with their full strength undiminished, had settled, the only thing that awaited them there would be doom. Considering the danger, the only measure would be a preemptive attack. It was an obvious choice for one responsible for an entire tribe. If she herself had been in that position, she would also have made the same decision.

“Even if we lose the war, I believe that allying with us will lower the chance of there being bloodshed between our tribes in the new habitat.”

Crusch, unable to understand what he meant, showed an honest, confused expression on her face. Zaryusu explained himself so that his real intentions would become clear.

“It will plant a sense of camaraderie. Rather than as different tribes, we will be able to recognize one another as allies who fought together.”

That’s right.

Crusch chewed Zaryusu’s words in her mouth.

He was claiming the possibility that tribes that spilled blood together will not be so quick to war against each other if food becomes scarce. But her own ideas and experience caused her to doubt. With her face slightly lowered, as soon as she was about to fall into deep thought, Zaryusu posed a question.

“By the way, how did the Red Eyes overcome that period?”

It felt like being stabbed by a needle. Before she herself realized it, Crusch jumped up. Seeing his face straight on, she could see the surprise on Zaryusu’s face, the one who had asked the question.

Ah, he asked because he really didn’t know.

Although she had known him only for a short time, Crusch had grasped the basics of his personality, of the male named Zaryusu. She intuitively realized that it was not a question to threaten them.

Crusch narrowed her eyes and stared at Zaryusu. Her gaze was so sharp that it seemed like it would pierce a hole through him. Unable to understand the reason for her glare, she saw how it made him feel helpless. But even so, Crusch could not control herself.

“—Is there a reason that I need to tell you?”

She spat out her words, tone brimming with loathing. The change in Crusch made him doubt whether he was talking to the same person.

But Zaryusu could not back down. It might contain the answer that will let everyone survive.

“I would like to hear it. Was it a druid power? Or was there another method? Therein could be our salvation…”

Zaryusu stopped there and closed his mouth.

If it really did hold the answer, there was no way that Crusch would look as pained as she did now.

As if she read his mind, Crusch snorted like she was ridiculing everything, including herself.

“You’re right. That is no salvation.”

After a pause, she wore an exhausted smile and continued.

“What we did was a war of fratricide– we ate our dead.”

Zaryusu was unable to open his mouth from the shock that overcame him. Killing the weak– reducing the mouths to feed was not taboo. But eating your own was a foul act and a taboo amongst taboos.

Why is she telling me this willingly? This is something that should be taken to the grave. Why did she reveal it to an outsider, an envoy? Does she intend to not let me leave alive? No, this isn’t that sort of atmosphere.

Crusch herself could not understand why she told him.

She knew well how much scorn this would invite from the other tribes. So why—

Her mouth moved smoothly, as if it was not her own.

“That day, when a different tribe started the war, our tribe also had serious food shortages and were in a dangerous situation. But the reason our tribe did not participate in the war was because we were composed of many druids and few warriors. Our druids were able to create food through magic.”

Crusch’s mouth did not show any signs of stopping, as if it was being controlled by a different consciousness.

“But the food our druids made just weren’t enough, not if you were to compare it with the size of the tribe as a whole. The only choice left to us was to walk the path of gradual destruction. Then one day, our tribe chief brought back food. Bright red meat.”

—Maybe I wanted him to listen… to my sin.

Crusch grinded her teeth together. The male in front of her listened quietly. Even if he was disgusted, he hid it and listened.

For that, Crusch was grateful.

“Everyone vaguely knew what kind of meat that was. For the moment, we made strict laws and anyone who broke them were banished. The only time the tribe chief would bring back meat was after someone had been banished. Even so, we all closed our eyes and ate in order to survive. But something like that could never last very long. The grievances that piled up suddenly all exploded one day and took the form of a revolt.”

With her eyes closed, she remembered their chief.

“We ate… we knew and still ate. That makes us accomplices and yet… looking back on it now, it’s laughable.”

Crusch finished a silent prayer and stared straight at Zaryusu’s face. She looked into his quiet eyes and saw that they harbored no disgust. She felt surprised from the joy that sprouted from somewhere in her heart.

Why did she feel happy?

Crusch too, vaguely knew the answer to that question.

“... Look at me. Once in a while, someone like me is born in the Red Eye tribe. Since ancient times, they will display a power. In my case, it was the power of a druid. This leads to us having authority that almost rivals that of the tribe chief… And I was the center of the rebellion that split the tribe in half. We won because we had the greater numbers.”

“And in the end, the food was divided up evenly amongst those who were left?”

“Yes… as a result our tribe managed to survive. During the rebellion– that time, the tribe chief never surrendered. He died with countless injuries. And when he received the final blow, he smiled at me.”

As if she was coughing up blood, Crusch continued to speak.

It was the pus that slowly coalesced in her heart, ever since she killed the tribe chief.

The pus that she could never reveal to the members of the tribe who trusted her and fought against their chief, Crusch was just barely able to confess it to the one named Zaryusu. That was why her words did not stop, like water emptying out at the bottom.

“They were not the eyes of someone staring at their killer. No hatred, jealousy, hostility, curses, none of it. It was such a beautiful smile! The chief always faced reality directly and acted. And we… we acted on our ideals and hostility. Maybe the one who was in the right was the tribe chief! That’s what I always think about! Because the chief died– the one who was regarded as the root of all evil, our tribe was able to unite as one once more. And what’s even worse, since our numbers were smaller, we even got the gift of no more food problems!”

This was her limit.

As the tribe acting chief, as the one who shouldered the sin, desperately enduring it all, the force of her collapse was as great as her struggle. The overflowing muddy stream swallowed everything. The thoughts that had been torn to shreds, it was difficult to change them with words alone.

With a faint noise, although her tears did not fall, mentally, she was crying.

It was a small body.

It was agreed that in nature, weakness was a sin. Of course, children were to be protected, but regardless, both male and female lizardmen emphasize strength as a virtue. On that point, the female in front of him could only be seen as an object of ridicule. One who gathers a tribe, how could she show such weakness in front of a stranger, one from a different tribe nonetheless?

However, what Zaryusu felt in his heart was a completely different emotion.

It could have been because she was a beautiful female. But as much as he thought so, he believed that the one before him was a warrior. Wounded, groaning, in torment, but still she tries to walk forward. His thought was that a warrior of such caliber only briefly showed a moment of weakness.

One who tries to stand and walk forward, that person was not weak.

Zaryusu approached her and hugged Crusch around her shoulders.

“—We are neither omniscient nor omnipotent. We can only choose our course in the moment. I may have acted similarly had I been in the same position. But I don’t wish to console you. Just where would one find an answer that is wholly correct this world. We merely walk forward, the soles of our feet bearing countless wounds from our regrets and suffering. You as well, your only option is to move forward. This is what I believe.”

As their body temperatures transferred to one another, though slight, they could feel the beating of their heart through their bodies. They were caught in the illusion of the two beating hearts matching their rhythm and slowly becoming one.

It was a mysterious sensation.

Zaryusu felt a warmth that he had never before experienced since the day he was born. It wasn’t because he was hugging a lizardman.

Is it because I’m holding this female, Crusch Lulu?

After a while, Crusch separated herself from Zaryusu’s body.

The heat leaving him was regrettable, but he could not mention it out of embarrassment.

“I’ve shown you something shameful… do you scorn me?”

“Just which part of it was shameful? And do you see me as the type of foolish male to scorn someone getting up and walking forward through the pain and suffering? You are beautiful.”

“–！–！！"

A white tail repeatedly slammed against the floor.

“What should I do.”

Without even being able to ask the muttering Crusch what she meant, Zaryusu asked a different question.

“Anyway, does the Red Eye tribe cultivate fish?”

“Cultivate?”

“Right, it’s raising the fish that will become food.”

“We do not. Fish are nature’s blessing, after all.

The cultivation that Zaryusu was talking of was a technique that was not known to any of the lizardmen tribes. The idea that they could raise their prey with their own hands was an idea that fundamentally different from their way of thinking.

“That seems to be the druid way of thinking. Would you not care to compromise? Raise the fish with the sole purpose of eating them. The druids of my own tribe agreed.”

Crusch nodded her head.

“Then I will teach you how to cultivate fish. The important part is what you feed them. You can give them the fruits created from the druids’ magic. That’ll greatly enhance their growth.”

“Is it really okay for you to share that?”

“Of course. There’s no use keeping it hidden. It’s more important that many tribes survive using this method.

Crusch deeply bowed her head and raised her tail high.

“Thank you.”

“Your gratitude… there is no need. In return, I wish to ask you again.”

The gratitude disappeared from Crusch’s face. Seeing her behaviour, Zaryusu calmed his heart.

The question that absolutely could not be avoided. Both Zaryusu and Crusch inhaled at the same time.

And he asks.

“What will be the Red Eye tribe’s course of action regarding the upcoming war?”

“...From the consensus of yesterday’s meeting, we will be fleeing.”

“Then I will ask Crusch Lulu, the tribe acting chief. And today, is the decision unchanged?”

Crusch did not answer.

Her answer here will determine the fate of the Red Eye tribe. It was obvious that she would hesitate.

However, there was nothing for Zaryusu to do here. All he could do was smile awkwardly.

“... It’s your decision. The reason that the previous tribe chief smiled at you was probably because he was leaving the future of the tribe in your hands. Then now is the time for you carry out your mission. I have said everything there is to say. All that is left is for you to choose.”

Crusch’s eyes darted searchingly around the interior of the hut. She was neither looking for an escape, nor seeking help. But simply to draw out the correct answer from within herself.

Whatever she decides, Zaryusu would accept it.

“I will ask as the tribe acting chief. How many refugees are you planning to evacuate?”

“For each tribe’s refugees I’m considering ten warriors, twenty hunters, three druids, seventy males, a hundred females, and a few children.”

“...And the rest?”

“—Depending on the situation, they will die.”

Crusch wordlessly stared up into space, then suddenly muttered.

“—I see.”

“Then tell me your decision, Red Eye tribe’s acting chief, Crusch Lulu.”

Crusch devised countless ideas.

Of course, killing Zaryusu was also one of the possible choices. She personally did not wish to kill him. But acting chief Crusch was different. What if the whole tribe fled after killing him?

She discarded that idea. It’s future was too dangerous. Also, there was no guarantee that he really did come alone.

Then what about promising him before fleeing.

This could also become a problem. If things went wrong, it would set off a war between them and the Red Eye tribe. They would become a target of population depletion. The other side’s true intentions would be to reduce the population, it would not matter who the target was.

In the end, he figured that should the answer be no to forming an alliance, Zaryusu would probably return to his village and lead an army here to exterminate the Red Eye tribe.

However, not knowing if Zaryusu had realised, there was one loophole. In the end, the food problem wouldn't be resolved.

Crusch suddenly smiled. From the very start there was no way out. From the moment Zaryusu suggested to her to form an alliance; From the start when the Green Claw tribe's phase of action began—

There was only one path of survival for the Red Eye tribe, that was to form an alliance with the others and participate together in the war. Likewise, Zaryusu should have understood this reasoning.

Even so, he had to wait for Crusch to personally respond. He probably wanted to discern whether Crusch who was in command of the tribe’s lizardmen, had the qualifications to become an alliance partner.

All that was left was whether she wanted to voice out her decision.

Except, after declaring that decision, there would definitely be many individuals who would lose their lives. However—

“Let me first make one thing clear. We are not going to war for the sake of sacrificing lives, but to obtain victory. I have perhaps said many things which have made you feel unsettled. However, we want to be the ones with the standing and laughing victoriously. Please do not be mistaken on this point.”

Crusch nodded to express her understanding.

This male lizardman really was kind. With such thoughts, Crusch voiced out her own decision.

“... We, the Red Eye tribe shall cooperate with you, because I do not wish to see tribe chief’s smile become meaningless, and also because it will grant Red Eye tribesmen a chance at survival.”

Crusch lowered her head in a deep bow; her tail was straight and elevated.

“—I am extremely grateful.”

Zaryusu nodded slightly. That elevated tail expressed a complex thoughts, more intensely than his words.

♦ ♦ ♦

Early morning.

Zaryusu stood in front of Rororo, looking towards the main entrance of the Red Eye tribe.

He could not resist opening his mouth wide and yawning. Last night he was a guest spectator at a Red Eye conference until late at night, therefore he was currently a little fatigued. However there was not much time left, and it was necessary to visit another tribe within today.

Zaryusu desperately fought against his drowsiness, but momentarily subsided to it and gave another yawn, but the one this time was even larger than the previous one.

Although sitting on Rororo was not comfortable enough for sleeping, he felt like he was able to do so.

After taking a glimpse of the yellow sun which had just risen, Zaryusu turned his gaze back at the main entrance, and then felt some confusion. This was because a curious object had just run out of the main gate.

It was a bundle of grass.

There were weeds grown on top of a clothing which was sewn together from many long strips of cloth and threads clothes. If one were to lay on the wetlands and observe it from a distance, it would look like a bundle of weeds.

Ah, I believe I have seen a similar monster somewhere before—

Zaryusu was just recalling a sight he had seen during his travels as a traveler when Rororo behind him let out a warning low growl.

Of course Zaryusu understood who that bundle of grass actually was, and it was impossible to be incorrect because her white tail was slightly visible.

As he was staring blankly at that excitedly swaying tail whilst at the same time reassuring Rororo, that bundle of weeds had already arrived beside Zaryusu.

“– Good morning.”

“Un, good morning… looks like you unified the entire tribe without a hitch.”

He turned his gaze towards the Red Eye tribe’s residence. Since early in the morning, the gathering area had already been palpitating with murderous intent. Many lizardmen were frantically running around. Crusch also stood on one side facing the same direction and replied:

“Yes, no problems have arisen. Today we should be able to arrive at Razor Tail tribe settlement, and those who wish to flee have also already packed up.”

The druids inside the village used magic to pass on a situation update. Razor Tail tribe was told that they would be the first tribe to be exterminated. The first tribe which would be wiped out was not the Dragon Tusk tribe, therefore this was more advantageous in terms of timing.

“Then Crusch, why would you want to come to our side?”

“The answer is very simple, Zaryusu, but before I give my reply, first tell me one thing. What are your plans?”

After yesterday’s meeting which took place from evening to early morning, the two individuals felt no reservation even when calling out each other’s names. The reason was because they had become familiar enough that even their manner of speaking to each other had changed.

“Coming up next, I plan to visit another tribe… the Dragon Tusk tribe.”

“They are the tribe where strength means everything right? I heard that their fighting force was the strongest out of all the tribes.”

“Erm, you are right. Seeing as the other side is a tribe of which we have never exchanged with before, we have to prepare ourselves mentally.”

All information on the other side was cast with a veil of mystery. Therefore just heading towards the other side’s base was an extremely perilous matter. Furthermore, they had absorbed the survivors of the two exterminated tribes of the past war. This fact merely elevated the upcoming danger.

To the defeated from the two tribes, Zaryusu, who played an active role in the previous war was an absolutely hated enemy, detested to their very bones.

Even so, they were the most needed helping hand out of all the tribes for this war.

“If that is so… then, it is still better for me to go with you.”

“– What?”

“Is it so strange?”

The weed pile made a small movement, and let out a faint whispering noise. Because he could not see her face, he could not know what her intent was.

“I don’t mean to say that it is strange… but it would be very dangerous.”

“Is there still a place that is safe now?”

Zaryusu stayed silent. He was calmly thinking, bringing Crusch with him would be beneficial in many ways. However as a male lizardman, he still had reservations against bringing a female lizardman, whom he had feelings for, to a knowingly dangerous place.

“—I really am not calm enough.”

Although Crusch was hidden inside the grass, and her expression could not be seen, she almost seemed to smile slightly.

“... Then, let me ask you another question. What is with your appearance?”

“Does it not look nice?”

The question of whether it looked nice or not was a strange one. However, wouldn’t it be better to give a little compliment? Zaryusu did not know how to respond, and after a moment of deep thought, sized up the other’s unseen expression and replied:

“...I should say that it looks good… right?”

“How can that be possible.”

Crusch steadfastly rejected this. Zaryusu felt his strength drain from him, that couldn’t be helped.

“It is solely because I am weak against sunlight, therefore when I head outside, I almost always dress like this.”

“So that’s why…”

“Ah, you haven’t given me your answer. Will you let me travel with you?”

Any further discussion on this would probably not sway her mind. From the point of view of forming an alliance, bringing her along should be advantageous for obtaining this objective. She also thought along the same lines, which is why she probably made this suggestion. With that being said, there was no reason to refuse her company.

“...I understand, then please lend me a helping hand, Crusch.”

Crusch was delighted from the bottom of her heart as she replied:

“– Understood, Zaryusu. Leave it to me.”

“Are you already prepared for departure?”

“Of course. My backpack is already filled with all the various necessary items.”

After hearing this, Zaryusu subtly assessed her back region and discovered that there was a slight lump on the surface of the grass. A fresh grass smell wafted from that area, as well as some concentrated fragrance. Since she was a forest druid, therefore there should be some herbal related skills, that was why the contents inside should be filled with related goods.

“Zaryusu, you look very tired.”

“Ah, yes, I am a bit. The past two days have been hectic, I’m lacking sleep.”

At this moment, a white scaled hand stretched outwards from underneath the weed costume.

“For you. This is a strength replenishing fruit. You eat it along with the skin.”