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Chapter 266 part 2

Perhaps Nessa, too, envisioned the same imagination as Gwandan, as she chuckled disdainfully, almost saying, 「Serves them right」

「It would have been better if they had openly declared from the beginning that they wanted to fight together. I understand the old ties, but I wish they would consider whether it’s really worth sacrificing the present and the future.

But with this victory, it will be easier to garner cooperation from other tribes and species. The people in the South won’t be able to look down on us so much in the future. It’s an uplifting story, isn’t it?」

「Well, if you think so, I’m glad to hear it. You are in a responsible position, but it’s not wise to take too much time. After all, it’s not advisable for a woman to stay up late」

「Hahaha, whoops, my apologies for raising my voice. Well, well, it’s been a while since I’ve been treated like a woman. Before the rebellion, I used to work with women. But I suppose we’re the ones in trouble if we’re too late」

「I’ll take your word for it and cut to the chase. I know it’s not a good story for you, so I’ll only tell it once」

「Uh hm」

「Frankly, I believe the war with the Empire is going to intensify. The first thing you need to do is get a clear idea of what you want to achieve. The Elkens and everyone else cooperating with the Seven Fangs— to secure victory and peace in the future, we need power

So, Gwandan, I want you and all three of those girls to lend me your power. In exchange, we will do what you ask, within the limits of what we can achieve」

Nessa delivered her words in a very earnest manner, lacking any tact or diplomatic finesse. Gwandan, deep in thought, briefly closed his eyelids and responded without hesitation. It wasn’t hard for anyone, even Gwandan himself, to anticipate such a request.

「I suppose asking for 10,000 is a bit much, isn’t it?」

Gwandan, appearing troubled as he tilted his head, broke the blank expression maintained by both Nessa and Panz. It was somewhat unbelievable that Dragonian who had defeated the entire army of Count Verginten with such murderous impulse can have such a gentle nature.

「If you ask whether I overdid it, I’d have to say yes, of course I did. I’d also emphasize that the fact they not only retreated but did so without taking a single life makes the whole situation even more extraordinary.」

「Oh, I see. In reality, it’s often easier to eliminate everyone than to spare them alive without killing anyone.」

Gwandan’s casual demeanor and attitude, subtly conveying that it’s a bit troublesome, sent a chill of cold sweat down Nessa’s cheek.

Indeed, the Dragonian before her not only possessed strength but also seemed to have a different perspective or a different way of perceiving the world.

It was as if he looked down on the earth from a benevolent god’s heavenly realm or gazed upon it from the great demon realm like a malevolent god.

「I find you a bit intimidating because you understand the ease of choosing between life and death」

「Whoops, I didn’t intend to frighten you, but my words might not have been well-considered. I apologize if I offended you」

Because Gwandan manifests not as Doran but as Gwandan the Dragonian, his consciousness leans more to the former, influencing his words and actions.

Whether acting as Dreissen or taking on the form of a dragon, there is a consistent tendency for his consciousness to lean more toward the dragon side.

「It’s not that I was hurt; it’s just that I’ve become afraid. Can you help me with this?」

「No, our goal is not to let the rebels, including you, win. And it’s not to destroy the Romal Empire either. The most important thing is to understand the current situation of the empire.

Fighting Count Verginten’s army was not the right thing to do, but the reason we did not kill his army was so that we would not have any more influence on this civil war.

「Oops, then don’t ask me why we didn’t fight in the first place. We moved because we couldn’t let the refugees get killed, and we couldn’t let you get defeated by any means.」

「So I’m going to act sparingly to prevent a repeat of what happened this time. I am sorry, but I cannot join your forces」

Gwandan’s words were filled with a firm refusal, and Nessa did not add any more words of solicitation to his words.

She seemed to have made up her mind that she would only solicit once, just as she had said in advance. She knew that she would be rejected.

「Haa, as I thought. Well, you didn’t seem suited to settle down around here anyway. I can’t blame you. Above all, our victory owes a lot to your cooperation」

「Really? I think you would have won this battle even if we had not interfered so much」

「We could have won. But there is no doubt that many more of our people would have died. I don’t know what we would have done if we had, but it is true that you helped us a lot, and we are very grateful to you
We had a big victory banquet to tell our friends who had gone over there that they should not worry about us, but it is better to have fewer people to see them off with, after all」

「Hmm, it seems like a good consideration, letting the departed go to the afterlife in peace and having the living send them off grandly. We may not be able to offer further assistance, but we will pray without fail for light on your path」

「Yes, thank you for saying that. If you’re going to pray for us, I have a feeling it will be quite effective. Well, now that I have the answer, I think it’s time for me to leave. I apologize for barging in here so late at night」

Just before Nessa stood up and turned away to walk out into the darkness with the lantern in her hand, Panz looked back at Gwandan and gave him a sincere look. He had been silent up to this point, but I wondered what was really going through his mind.

「Let me express my gratitude once again. It’s not that we’re disrespecting our fallen comrades, but thanks to your assistance, Nessa’s mental burden has undoubtedly lessened. She’s putting on a brave front, but dealing with it every day takes a toll on her nerves.
I express my sincere gratitude to you for saving the lives of our comrades and protecting her. And to the ladies, as well. We’ll take our leave now」

「Oh, did you notice Torne and the others?」

Even before Gwandan handed the letter to the Arkrest Kingdom’s counterintelligence, Lynette and the others were lurking in the vicinity, erasing any sign of their presence, even halting their breath and blood flow. Detecting this hidden form would challenge even a top-tier assassin, but did the Leopardese manage to notice?

If so, Lynette and the others, after careful consideration, would subject themselves to intense training to further refine their art of concealment.

「No? I have no idea where they are now. Maybe they’re sleeping in their tents, but I figured those ladies would be lurking around, gasping for breath, while we talked, so I just said what I thought was right. I guess I was right」

「Hmmm. Heh, you’re right. You have good instincts」

「Thanks for the compliment. Well, good night」

「Yeah, good night, sweet dreams」

Then, after watching Nessa and Panz disappear beyond the dimness, he calls out to the darkness around him.

「Torne, Gundeus, Kyrlinne, that’s enough. You guys take the rest of the day off. You will be busy for a while, so it is important to rest while you can」

Gwandan, speaking with a gentle voice as if addressing a beloved daughter, received no response. However, he certainly sensed the presence that had been lurking in the darkness, obediently returning to their own tent.

「Now, will what we see in the South be better than what we saw in the empire and what we saw here, or will it be worse? Or it’s going to be… awful !?」

Remembering what Nessa had told him about the powerful leader of The Lion-Head in the South, Gwandan now had a bad feeling that it was going to be troublesome.