Tilea's Worries

"You people, if you resist any further, the village will be destroyed. This ba... this man doesn't know restraint."

Edim declared.

Indeed, Ortissio's power was tremendous.

He had easily defeated Gigand-sama and all the village's warriors. Ortissio might be stronger than even Vegetable-sama, the current clan leader who was the strongest among the beastmen.

If they opposed Ortissio, the village would be destroyed. All the village residents must have felt this keenly.

However, all the villagers remained silent.

They didn't respond to Ortissio and his group's questions, keeping their faces down and staying still.

That was natural.

Might makes right!

This was the wolf tribe's law.

It didn't matter that Ortissio was human. If it were a normal surrender demand, they wouldn't be unwilling to follow Ortissio, the absolute strongest.

But Ortissio's words were far too harsh.

He called the proud warriors, the wolf tribe, livestock.

If it were just submission, they could still accept it. Even under Ortissio, as long as they could enjoy battle, that would be fine.

But being called livestock and treated as slaves - not being treated as warriors - was a matter of the wolf tribe's honor.

"What's your answer?"

"..."

The villagers didn't respond.

Many were trembling with anger, their shoulders shaking. But they couldn't act. They endured desperately, knowing they'd be killed if they resisted.

They had no intention of opposing the absolute strongest. But they also had no intention of readily becoming livestock.

It was a half-hearted state.

"...Won't you answer? I graciously offered to let trash like you work as slaves of the Demon God Army, giving you mercy."

Ortissio looked around irritably.

No one answered.

They all looked down with their heads hanging.

"Hmm~ How utterly rude. Should I kill them?"

After taking a breath, Ortissio glared menacingly.

"Hi, hii!"

A scream escaped involuntarily.

S-such terrifying bloodlust...

That piercing gaze made everyone, including the village's tough warriors, tremble with fear.

Compared to Ortissio's overwhelming presence, even Gigand-sama's anger seemed like a child's tantrum.

I was saved because I hadn't drunk any water, but some people were probably wetting themselves.

"Ortissio-sama, please calm down."

Edim stepped between the angry Ortissio.

"Edim, why are you stopping me!"

"Ortissio-sama, please learn something. How many villages do you need to destroy before you're satisfied! Do you know how much our income has plummeted because of your rampages?"

"Edim, this isn't about income."

"No, income is important! If you don't meet this month's quota, I'll be held responsible too. For some reason, everyone thinks of you and me as a set. If we fall short again this month, execution is possible..."

"Edim, I don't care if you get executed."

"Hah? How much do you think I'm—mmph!"

Ortissio grabbed Edim's mouth mid-speech. Edim seemed to want to say something, but Ortissio wouldn't allow it.

"Listen, I've graciously mentioned the revered name of Tilea-sama. Normally, refusal would be impossible even if heaven and earth were to change. They should joyfully bow their heads. But these trash insects!"

Just as Ortissio was overflowing with bloodlust and about to pounce,

"You bastards! I finally found you. I won't allow any more of this violence!"

An angry voice echoed from the village entrance.

Ah, that's... Vegetable-sama!

I had seen him from afar once before.

He had defeated hundreds of enemies alone and brought numerous settlements under his control.

He had achieved the great feat of beastmen unification that even the previous and previous-previous clan leaders couldn't accomplish.

The strongest beastman warrior with countless legends had appeared.

With him were Yaruashi-sama from Kiroro Village and Saiuikuu-sama from Yariawa Township. Even Fanfan-sama, the fox tribe leader who had been in opposition, was with them.

Amazing.

Led by Vegetable-sama, said to be closest to the Wolf King, this was an all-star team of the beastmen elite unit called the Golden Generation, with superstars from each village gathered together.

If anyone could defeat Ortissio, it would only be this group.

Vegetable-sama was furious, his fur standing on end all over his body. He was truly like raging fire.

Apparently, Vegetable-sama had learned that Ortissio's Demon God Army was rampaging through beastmen towns and had led his unit in pursuit.

"Hmm, reinforcements? How convenient. This saves me the trouble of going to other villages. I'll keep you as livestock too."

Ortissio was completely unfazed by Vegetable-sama and the others' tremendous anger.

He remained calm and at his own pace.

Instead, he was provoking them by calling Vegetable-sama and the others [livestock].

"Calling the proud combat group, the wolf tribe, livestock - how we've been underestimated."

Vegetable-sama's anger intensified.

"Hmph, combat group? Don't make me laugh. You are livestock. Nothing more, nothing less."

Ortissio spoke as if genuinely contemptuous.

"Silence! I won't allow any more insults!"

"Ah, threatening the peace of the wolf tribe. The grudges of the villages you've destroyed - I'll settle them here."

"Let's go, we'll show you the pride of the wolf tribe!"

Finally, their patience had reached its limit.

Vegetable-sama and the others, who had been enduring humiliation, flew out in anger.

It was an attack from all directions, surrounding Ortissio.

Vegetable-sama and the others' powerful magic bullets crashed into the ground.

In an instant - a tremendous explosion sounded and dust clouds rose.

Uwaaah!

I couldn't keep my eyes open at all.

It was an endless storm of energy raining down.

Vegetable-sama's words about showing the pride of the wolf tribe weren't just for show. It was as if an earthquake was occurring throughout the village, with lightning raining down.

I crouched desperately on the ground until Vegetable-sama and the others' attack ceased, enduring it.

And then...

As Vegetable-sama watched with ragged breathing,

"What's wrong? Is that all?"

Ortissio stood calmly.

No damage from that bombardment!?

Despite all the attacks hitting, Ortissio remained composed.

"I-impossible."

All the beastmen let out voices of shock.

A monster.

Ortissio was a genuine great monster.

Even the impressive Vegetable-sama was trembling.

Having been shown the overwhelming difference in power, Vegetable-sama

"R-retreat—gufh!"

The moment he ordered retreat, Ortissio pierced his chest with a hand blade.

"W-wait, wait please. I surrender—guhah!"

Against Yaruashi-sama, who had faltered after Vegetable-sama was killed, Ortissio delivered a powerful roundhouse kick.

Yaruashi-sama, hit by the kick, was blown away to a large tree dozens of meters away. Yaruashi-sama died with his ribs protruding and his eyes rolled back.

From then on, it was one-sided.

Fanfan-sama and the other village leaders were taken down by Ortissio in single strikes.

...It was over.

A loud thud echoed.

The last remaining Saiuikuu-sama had collapsed to the ground.

With this, the strongest beastmen elite unit was completely annihilated.

Even Vegetable-sama and the others, the all-star group, couldn't defeat him.

"Heh heh, there was no need to show pride after all."

Ortissio mocked while licking the blood from his fingers.

The village beastmen were stunned by the overwhelming shock.

"Hmm!? I see. These guys wanted to raise dust and show dirt. Heh heh, ahahahahaha!"

Ortissio laughed loudly in front of the beastmen's corpses.

There wasn't a trace of dignity for the dead warriors. It was an unbearable sight for the proud beastmen. The corpses included Vegetable-sama, the strongest beastman warrior, but no one could voice a complaint.

"No no, Ortissio-sama, that's not funny."

In the midst of this, Edim shook her head in denial.

"What, Edim? You've been unusually confrontational. Do you have some complaint against me?"

"...Are you asking that now? Of course I do."

"What? What's your complaint?"

"Don't you understand!"

"I don't understand, that's why I'm asking. Are you stupid?"

"Tch! Then I'll say it. I'm incredibly, incredibly busy. So why do I have to help you every single time? I'm seriously going to complain to Tilea-sama!"

"Busy? You understand nothing. This subjugation contributes to the Demon God Army's, and by extension Tilea-sama's, world unification. Don't make weak excuses like being busy!"

"T-that may be true, but..."

"More importantly, Edim, these guys had no bite at all. I didn't even need to make the trip."

"That's what I told you! I alone would have been enough here! I'm helping you out despite being so busy. Please trust me a little."

"Hmph, a half-baked person like you might make a blunder. I can't have you dragging me down any further."

"Ugh, k-kill. I'll definitely kill him."

Edim was openly showing her anger, her shoulders moving up and down.

Edim, who could defy that Ortissio, was amazing.

She really might be some important human noble.

After Edim and Ortissio's exchange ended,

"Now then, I hadn't heard your response. You people, have you made up your minds to become livestock?"

Ortissio asked the residents of Vegeta Village again.

They had been hit with tremendous fighting spirit and had witnessed the raging storm of violence.

Above all, they had seen up close the killing of Vegetable-sama, praised as the strongest among beastmen.

Only one choice remained.

If they delayed their response any further, Ortissio would destroy the entire village.

The beastmen's instinct to follow the strong was screaming.

"W-we surrender. Please spare our lives at least!!"

Everyone pressed their heads to the ground in prostration.