Chapter 62
Translator: FusionX
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It seemed they had noticed our true intentions.
Though Yuyoung maintained a smile on the surface, it was merely a mask to avoid showing weakness to her opponent.
In reality, she had been properly caught off guard.
The power to see the future was not invincible.
If the future she saw had been absolute, the beastmen would have already driven out the elves and taken over the forest long ago.To achieve a desired future required commensurate effort, and when stronger external pressure came in, the future changed.
For example, like the elf in front of her.
It seemed the position of forest guardian was not won by gambling.
She subdued 5 warriors in an instant.
Her swordsmanship was not flashy, but practical and infused with experience.
No matter how brave the tiger clan warriors were, the difference in ability was too great.
As expected, that elf was troublesome.
She knew Yuyoung’s power and knew how to avoid being detected by it.
‘With that woman here, the commander must surely know too.’
Had she underestimated him too much as a mere human?
Well, even if corrupt, he was a human entrusted with the position of Commander of the Royal Knights.
She should have come more thoroughly prepared, rather than underestimating him.
She had rushed again, just like back then.
Because such a sweet future was right before her eyes.
She had been too greedy.
Just like 200 years ago.
Yuyoung reconsidered her thoughts.
It wasn’t a failure yet.
If she could get past that woman, she could somehow salvage the situation.
Besides, she hadn’t come empty-handed.
Yuyoung widely opened the fan she had been holding.
“I don’t like barbaric methods, but in life sometimes you have to do things you don’t want to do.”
The fan swung gently in a diagonal curve, stirring up wind.
The artificially created wind instantly began rotating and growing in size.
Cluna also responded immediately.
She took out the bow she had been carrying on her back and shot an arrow.
The arrow, trailing green light, pierced through the typhoon and landed in front of Yuyoung.
Cluna spoke coldly.
“To even bring the Banana Leaf Fan, one of the beastmen’s national treasures. Are you planning to start another war?”
“Of course not. In this frightening world, shouldn’t I have at least some means to protect myself?”
“You certainly have a way with words.”
The Banana Leaf Fan.
One of the 12 national treasures said to have been divided among the first chiefs of the 12 tribes.
It was known to be imbued with the authority to freely control the winds of the atmosphere.
To bring such a simple yet powerful and versatile fan while coming as an envoy?
No matter how one looked at it, it seemed there must be some other scheme.
However, they couldn’t be certain.
It was true that monster activity had increased since the fall of the Royal Knights.
If pressed on that point, they would have no retort.
For the first time, Cluna frowned and put away her bow.
The wind raised by the Banana Leaf Fan was protecting the warriors like armor.
In that state, bows and arrows would not be effective.
“Taking away the enemy’s numbers is the basics of warfare, isn’t it?”
No matter how experienced Cluna was, having her main weapons of bow and arrows sealed was quite a blow.
Moreover, the beastmen warriors were further strengthened by the Banana Leaf Fan.
As Yuyoung said, the tide began to turn little by little.
While Cluna was trying to subdue them without killing as much as possible, the beastmen warriors were swinging their blades with the intent to kill Cluna.
Naturally, there had to be a difference.
Moreover, the opponents were not just anyone, but warriors of the tiger clan, the strongest fighting tribe among the 12 tribes.
Slowly but surely, Cluna was being pushed back.
Still as soft-hearted as ever, I see.
Watching the tide of battle begin to turn, Yuyoung thought.
It had been the same before.
200 years ago, when the beastmen and elves had clashed.
All of the forest guardians had rushed to the battlefield.
At that time, the beastmen led by Yuyoung, who had misjudged the enemy’s strength, were ultimately defeated by the elves.
It was because she had trusted too much in the future she saw.
However, there were very few casualties.
The reason was that Cluna and the forest guardians subdued their opponents as much as possible without killing them.
In the process, Yuyoung realized that Cluna did not use lethal force.
Was it a promise with the first hero?
Or was it something else?
She didn’t know, but from what she had investigated over the 200 years in preparation, Cluna did not use lethal force against people, that is, continentals.
And that was the correct answer.
Of course, if she had used lethal force, Yuyoung would have approached differently.
But for now, this much was enough to subdue them.
Just as Yuyoung quickly made that judgment and lowered the Banana Leaf Fan.
Suddenly, a massive wind swept through everything around them, and it was not a wind created by Yuyoung.
It felt as if something huge was flapping its wings in the sky…
And then, she saw it.
The enormous being that appeared before her eyes.
It was clad in red skin as sturdy as a fortress.
Its wings were massive enough to cover the clouds, and when its heavy body touched the ground, the earth shook greatly, unable to withstand the impact.
The beastmen’s instincts were close to those of beasts.
What did that mean?
It meant they could instinctively recognize predators stronger than themselves.
Only then did the smile disappear from Yuyoung’s lips.
That being was looking down on them arrogantly with huge golden eyes before them.
It was a dragon, known as the supreme race on earth and also as the race of benevolence.
“Yuren? What brings you here?”
[The commander sent me. He said it would be good to go out and greet them.]
“As expected of the Commander.”
Cluna nodded.
After all, dragons were the natural enemy of beastmen in particular, not just other races.
In fact, the beastmen were now trembling with fear, their tails curled up.
“How in the world…?!”
Yuyoung couldn’t help but be flustered.
Yuren had not been in the future she saw.
If Yuren the dragon had been there, she would never have attempted something like this.
However, at this moment.
The future had changed.
As if someone had concealed it.
Eventually, Yuren spoke, looking down at the beastmen.
[Stop fighting any further, children.]
The reason dragons were called the race of benevolence was because of the composure that came from their overwhelming strength.
However, if one were to offend a dragon’s mood, then the consequences would be unpredictable.
Naturally, Yuyoung’s response was predetermined.
‘I’m curious about the face of that commander fellow.’
Who could he be, to be able to set the stage like this?
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Come to think of it, wasn’t it a bit lacking?
Hans was pondering with his arms crossed in the office.
No matter how short on resources they were, to send just one person to greet the envoy from the Rat Clan, foremost among the 12 tribes, seemed a bit…
He wondered if he should go himself even now.
It wasn’t that he hadn’t thought about it, but Cluna had dissuaded him.
If the leader moved carelessly, it would lower the weight of the organization.
That wasn’t wrong either.
Though the Royal Knights’ situation was bad, they should avoid cheapening their value.
Moreover, all of this wasn’t obtained for free.
It was all to be gained through negotiation, but for the current commander to rush out barefoot?
It would only advertise their desperation to the other side.
“If only we had one more person, it would have been perfect.”
Boom!
“Wh-What was that?!”
However, his worries didn’t last long.
Suddenly, an explosion rang out from the courtyard.
Wondering what had happened, he poked his head out the window, and there she was.
Commander Yuren.
She was now in the form of a dragon, the strongest race on earth.
Come to think of it, she had said she would return immediately after completing the request.
Wait a minute…
Wasn’t this actually fortunate?
Though former, Yuren was still a commander.
It wasn’t impossible for her to go as a proxy instead of Hans.
This had turned out well.
“Commander! I’ve returned. It was a very simple request.”
“Good work. I’m sorry, but could you go out again right away?”
“Another request?”
“No, we need to welcome guests.”
“Welcome guests?”
Yuren tilted her head.
Hans briefly explained to her what had happened so far, including Cluna going out to greet the Rat Clan’s envoy.
“I see, I understand what you mean.”
“Didn’t you see them on your way here?”
“I wanted to feel the sunlight after a long time, so I flew high above the clouds and didn’t see them.”
“Then it can’t be helped.”
“But finding them is no trouble at all. I’ll depart right away.”
With those words, Yuren went outside.
A moment later, a massive gust swept through the courtyard.
Hans looked at the window.
Despite such powerful wind, the window did not break.
He had heard it was a window made of specially manufactured glass commissioned from the Republic.
It certainly lived up to its reputation.
Anyway, now that Yuren had gone out to greet them along with Cluna, this should allow them to save face to some extent with the envoy.
Thinking that, Hans loosened his expression.
When the envoy arrived, he would have to somehow talk them into providing support.
Besides, even if Yuren didn’t know, Cluna would surely handle the reception perfectly.
There was no need to worry about anything else, right?
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