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Tilea's Worries

Chapter 3

When I rushed over breathlessly, a crowd had formed in the village square.


They seemed to be surrounding an unfamiliar group.


I could feel the tension.


Gato's corpse had been carried away.


A village warrior had died. I expected them to move for revenge, or at least hear tremendous angry shouts from the villagers...


But everyone stood still.


They just watched with bated breath, weapons in hand.


This was strange.


This wasn't behavior befitting the wolf tribe, a warrior race.


What was happening?


I had planned to wait in the rear, but curiosity won out.


I pushed through the crowd and cautiously approached.


There...


There was a group of humans.


Hm!?


The man in the center was worth noting.


He was about 180 centimeters tall. Thin build, no, that was just hidden by his clothes. What I could glimpse of his shirt revealed a robust physique reminiscent of a steel body. Muscles that rivaled or surpassed those of beastmen. Above all, he emanated an aura of strength and fighting spirit.


Ah, Zeal is being kicked around.


Zeal was rolled on the ground, his face being trampled by that man. That prideful Zeal was letting this man do whatever he wanted.


Who was this man?


I swallowed hard.


As I watched this major incident - the first attack on Vegeta Village in a long time - unfold helplessly before me,


"Listen well. My name is Ortissio. I am Tilea-sama's foremost retainer and a high executive of the Demon God Army. Today, I have come to bestow honor upon you worthless rabble."


The man calling himself Ortissio made his declaration loudly.


Demon God Army?


I'd never heard of it.


Perhaps a new national army of the human race?


And bestowing honor?


That couldn't be right after attacking the village.


The villagers were also confused.


"What are you idiots gaping at? Hurry up and kneel. Pledge your loyalty to the Demon God Army."


Ortissio shouted angrily.


I think Ortissio and his group, who defeated Gato and Zeal, are strong.


However, the enemy numbers, including Ortissio, were less than ten.


With such a small force, demanding immediate surrender!?


Even though the clan leader and main forces were away, this village had hundreds of men who prided themselves on their strength. It was obvious that attacking with less than ten people would result in being overwhelmed.


"W-what the hell are you suddenly saying!"


"Y-yeah, that's right!"


The villagers shouted in response to such outrageous words.


However, their somewhat hesitant attitude was probably due to fear of this man who had defeated Gato and Zeal.


I hadn't witnessed that scene, so I couldn't say for certain.


Perhaps Ortissio possessed strength rivaling Gigand-sama, the leader of Vegeta Village, or at least matching the [Executive Warriors].


"Shut up, you chattering trash. I'm saying I'll let you serve as slaves to the great Emperor Tilea-sama. You should shed tears of gratitude."


Just as everyone was stunned by Ortissio's outrageous words,


"What a pathetic bunch."


"Yeah, they can't even handle a mere human properly."


"We were in the middle of a banquet. Don't make us go to the trouble."


"All the guards will be demoted and punished."


It was Gigand-sama.


The leader of Vegeta Village and his elite entourage appeared, voicing their complaints.


"Hey, shorty, move!"


Ouch!


Yam-sama knocked me aside while I was standing there dazed.


That's bad. I was blocking their path.


This was uncharacteristic carelessness for me. Ortissio's presence must have shocked me too.


I must survive.


I immediately moved to a corner to avoid upsetting them.


"What's your answer? This is too good a treatment for trash like you!"


Ortissio looked around and continued his provocations.


"...Cocky human."


"Yeah, so what if he defeated Gato and Zeal? We're stronger."


"Exactly. Don't get carried away just because you have a little confidence in your strength."


Ortissio's arrogant attitude gradually changed the faces of Gigand-sama and the elites into expressions of anger.


Then, among those elites, the particularly short-tempered man, Strong-sama, lunged at Ortissio.


"Die, human!"


"What? You're resisting? Even trash like you, I'm saying I'll keep you as livestock."


Ortissio grabbed the attacking Strong-sama's hand with a "here we go again" expression.


They were in what you'd call a grappling position.


"Guhehehe. Fool, I'll crush a weak human like you."


Strong-sama tried to crush Ortissio's hand with a sneering smile.


Strong-sama was the village's strongest man. His personality was also cruel. He would mercilessly inflict violence on enemies begging for their lives.


Ah, how pitiful.


Though he was a raider who attacked the village, I felt sympathy for Ortissio who would receive violence from the sadistic Strong-sama.


Imagining the gruesome scene to come, I involuntarily closed my eyes.


*Crush!*


As soon as I closed my eyes, I heard the unpleasant sound of bone and flesh being crushed.


"IIGYAAAAAAAH!"


A few beats later, screams echoed throughout the area.


Ah, as expected.


Imagining Ortissio's miserable state, I gently opened my eyes, and


"Eh!?"


There stood Ortissio, perfectly fine.


Not even breaking a sweat!?


Ortissio had a relaxed expression.


In complete contrast, Strong-sama was writhing on the ground, scattering large tears and drool.


Looking closely, Strong-sama's hand was crushed to pieces.


"It hurts, it huuuurts!"


"Shut up. Stop wailing."


Ortissio yelled at Strong-sama with an annoyed face.


"Aguu. It hurts. H-help—"


"I said shut up!"


Ortissio mercilessly trampled the writhing Strong-sama. The sound of crushed organs echoed, and Strong-sama let out a tremendous scream.


Then, his body convulsed and he died.


Having Strong-sama killed like an insect, Gigand-sama and the others openly showed their anger.


The fact that one of their own was killed by a human in one-on-one combat seemed to severely wound the pride of the wolf tribe, a warrior race.


Full of hostility, especially Gigand-sama, the leader of Vegeta Village, showed tremendous anger. He trembled his fists and bared his teeth.


Then, Gigand-sama raised his weapon and


"Diiiiie!"


He attacked Ortissio with a roar.


Gigand-sama wielded the battle axe in his hand freely in all directions.


One swing, two swings...


Each time the axe was swung, the air vibrated greatly.


Ah, it's always tremendous to watch.


What incredible force. Someone like me probably couldn't even lift that large battle axe.


The enemies who fell prey to Gigand-sama's axe easily exceeded a hundred.


Gigand-sama's serious mode had defeated any difficult enemy.


None of the villagers would have doubted that Ortissio's corpse would be created.


But...


I couldn't believe my eyes.


"Die."


Ortissio muttered a word and casually swung his fist. Then, Gigand-sama was blown away to the wall like a piece of paper.


Instant kill!?


Gigand-sama was vomiting large amounts of blood from his mouth and had died. A considerable impact must have been applied, as a large fist mark remained on Gigand-sama's chest.


With the death of Gigand-sama, said to be peerless under heaven, the place fell silent.


Then, after some time passed, several people who had grasped the situation began to stir restlessly.


"I-impossible. Gigand-sama so easily..."


"I-it's a lie, right? There's no way Gigand-sama could be killed by a mere human."


"What's wrong? Still going to resist? If you don't fight back, I'll keep you as livestock. Don't make me say it again."


Ortissio's intimidation that didn't treat people as people.


Normally, there would be warriors who would fly into a rage and attack.


But having seen Gigand-sama, the leader of Vegeta Village, killed as easily as twisting a baby's arm, everyone's fighting spirit was crushed.


This included the elite entourage who had absolute confidence.


An atmosphere of surrender, or at least accepting unfavorable conditions for peace, flowed through.


However, Ortissio's provocations didn't stop.


He persistently continued insulting the wolf tribe with words like "weak" and "trash."


Even the prideful elite entourage couldn't tolerate this.


Anger at the insults overcame fear.


Though sweating on their foreheads, they directed their hostility at Ortissio.


"...Y-you bastard. If you keep saying that—"


"Hooo~ Still want to fight? Interesting. Can I have a little fun?"


"Don't underestimate the Golden Generation!!"


The young men said to be the greatest talents since Vegeta Village's founding. Exceptional individuals said to appear once in ten years were all gathered together.


Such was the year of the Golden Generation.


The men who prided themselves on their strength all attacked at once.


In their hands, any ordinary enemy would have been pulverized to pieces.


However, the enemy was no ordinary foe. He was a monster among monsters. Only the heads of the Golden Generation were being harvested.


And after twenty or thirty had been struck down, only one of the Golden Generation remained: Yam-sama.


"D-damn, monster."


Yam-sama cowered before Ortissio and backed away. In contrast, Ortissio calmly advanced forward, cornering Yam-sama against the wall.


"What's wrong? Got cold feet? You can't win anything if you don't come forward."


"D-don't mock me. Take this. Wolf Fang Couple Fist!"


Yam-sama kicked off the wall and dashed fiercely.


Twin swords were gripped in his hands.


Yam-sama was a dual-wielder with a matched pair of swords. The enemies who had been minced by his swordsmanship were too numerous to count.


Such was Yam-sama's sword that attacked Ortissio.


High-speed swords flew back and forth, too fast to track with right and left.


What sword speed!


If I were the opponent, I would have been cut in half without understanding what happened.


But for Ortissio, it must have been a yawn-inducing attack. He easily dodged Yam-sama's attacks.


"Lukewarm, lukewarm."


"Hah, hah, hah. W-why won't they hit?"


Yam-sama let out a voice of despair, gasping for breath. Ortissio glared at such a Yam-sama and


"Immature fool. Your entire body is wide open!"


"Guhah!!"


Ortissio delivered a powerful kick to Yam-sama.


A-amazing.


Yam-sama was defending, wasn't he?


It looked like Ortissio forced his way through with brute strength...


He must have seen an opening that only the strong could perceive.


Yam-sama was slammed hard into the ground, twitched convulsively, and then died.


"What Golden Generation indeed. When you open the lid, it's disappointingly beyond measure."


"Tch."


Having defeated Gigand-sama, the leader of Vegeta Village, and the Golden Generation, and then having their name disparaged, the villagers' faces twisted with humiliation.


"What's wrong? Is it over already? Are you done with this so-called Golden Generation? Next, why don't you bring out the Silver Generation?"


"Ortissio-sama, that would just be a gathering of old men."


Saying this, a young girl stepped forward.


A human girl?


A beautiful girl with short brown hair.


She was delicate and didn't look strong at all. At least, she wasn't the type to fight with physical strength.


"Edim. These guys have no bite at all."


"...I see."


"This won't even serve as a warm-up."


"...I see."


From the conversation with Ortissio, this girl seemed to be called Edim.


Edim answered matter-of-factly without even making eye contact with Ortissio.


A-are they not getting along?


She could make sarcastic remarks to Ortissio, who possessed such terrifying strength.


Edim must hold a considerable position within the Demon God Army.


Looking closely, Edim was wearing very elegant clothes. She might be one of those noble aristocrats with titles that humans often gossip about.

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