Ch.101Chimera – Epilogue (1)

In truth, this ancient military beast known as Chimera, despite its extremely ferocious nature, is quite an intelligent species.

Since their original development purpose was military, a minimum level of intelligence was essential for them to understand and follow orders. Besides, this land itself isn’t exactly forgiving for creatures with low intelligence to survive.

Except for trolls, most innate mid-tier creatures possess their own form of high intelligence, albeit different in direction from humans. This Chimera kneeling before me with its head bowed is no exception.

However, even so, it’s truly strange to see these creatures kneeling and showing submission like this.

To be frank, if beasts submitted simply because of a display of power, every domesticated animal in this world would have been a magical beast.

There are several reasons why magical beasts are generally treated as dangerous hostile lifeforms—monsters—but one of the main reasons is their bizarre behavior patterns.

The species known as magical beasts fundamentally differ from normal creatures in their tendencies and soul structure. Their thought processes and structures are typically so divergent that they’re mutually incomprehensible.

Despite possessing intelligence that can surpass ordinary humans, their behavior is fundamentally bound by the mysteries that transformed them from animals to magical beasts—like unicorns that lose all reason specifically in the presence of virgins.

Particularly among these mysteries, one that exerts especially strong influence on beast-type creatures is the “Mystery of Great Nature,” which typically affects magical beasts several times more strongly than other creatures.

Among these influences, one of the most prominent is “civilization hostility.” In other words, it’s correct to say that the vast majority of magical beasts are born with an innate hostility toward civilizations established by intelligent beings like humans.

While there are many creatures with high intelligence or otherwise, magical beasts that occupy positions similar to predators are generally considered almost impossible to tame through normal methods because of this trait.

Therefore, the reason these Chimeras are now submitting to me… or rather, showing their intention to obey, is likely due to two main factors.

First, obviously, is the overwhelming force I’ve displayed before them.

No matter what other reasons there might be, magical beasts ultimately operate on the logic of survival of the fittest, and their reaction after witnessing my power was practically predetermined.

They saw me fighting equally against three of their kind without being pushed back, and then, despite their targeting my openings, I one-sidedly slaughtered a Chimera that was even larger and more majestic than myself.

Honestly, I could easily defeat both of them even if they attacked simultaneously, and the Chimeras, surely aware of this fact, submitted for this reason.

On the other hand, another reason… is probably due to several factors I currently possess.

First, the “Beast Affinity” factor. While this ability might sound like it simply makes animals love me, it’s actually a special ability of an entirely different nature.

It helps me understand what animals are trying to convey, or makes it easier for them to understand what I want to express. Although it’s merely an ability that facilitates communication, it’s now functioning somewhat differently.

‘…So it can work like this too.’

It’s taking the unique form of directly imprinting in their minds the fact that I can communicate with them to some extent.

Meanwhile, if there’s another factor influencing this… surprisingly, it’s the dormant factor named “Lord of the Other World (Former).”

I acquired this after defeating the Basilisk, but until now, I had no idea what this special factor actually did.

The peculiarity of this factor is that it minimizes their resistance to the act of “submitting to a human.” Thanks to this, these two Chimeras knelt before me, and I… honestly couldn’t refuse.

There are advantages to having Chimeras join the village forces, but the current situation isn’t comfortable enough for me to reject their submission.

So, right after I decided to accept their intention to submit, I could feel the “Lord of the Other World (Former)” factor moving on its own.

A magical connection formed between me and the two beasts, and a compelling force—what could be called “dominance”—from the “Lord of the Other World (Former)” factor instantly bound them.

In other words, a mystical bond of submission beyond simple force or similar reasons was established between us.

“Are you two alright?”

[[Grrrr! Gruk, grurruk!]]

Now that I was at least safe from betrayal, I asked them a question, and as the two Chimeras began to energetically say something, I looked at them briefly and then gave them instructions.

“Good, then we’ll move this corpse. Can you do that?”

[[[[[Grrrr!]]]]]

And after ordering these subjugated Chimeras to move their former master, I began picking up the pieces of armor that had melted and fallen off the body.

…Inwardly, I was thinking how fortunate it was that my clothes hadn’t burned up.

※ ※ ※

When I entered the village territory leading the newly subjugated Chimeras, the situation in the village seemed rather unusual.

The atmosphere suggested that a large-scale battle had occurred, and evidence supporting this thought was scattered throughout the village.

The smell of blood wafting from the surrounding plains that likely served as the battlefield, various types of weapons—or what appeared to be weapons—discarded here and there.

‘…Huh?’

While I was staring at this indescribable situation with a dumbfounded expression, a familiar face approached me as I had the two Chimeras on either side of me, dragging the corpse of another Chimera.

“Miss Gretel? What happened here?”

“Th-that’s what I want to ask youuu… How did you manage to tame these Chimeras and bring them hereee…?”

As our conversation reached a stalemate with both of us pushing our own questions, Hannah, who had suddenly joined us, was the first to offer an explanation.

“I’ll explain…! Leave it to me!”

“Oh, Miss Hannah will explain it herself?”

“That’s right.”

With an expression still flushed from the excitement of battle, she approached with what looked like a severed head in one hand and began her explanation.

“Yeah! It went boom! And then crash? And then…”

“Um, my sister was pushed back a little during the battle, but then she regained her strength and overwhelmed them…”

Of course, Hannah’s intense expressions and limited vocabulary weren’t enough for a complete explanation, so the actual explanation came from Gretel, who somehow managed to interpret Hannah’s words.

According to them, the village was attacked almost simultaneously with my ambush. The perpetrators were a force of less than one hundred and fifty mercenaries and one mid-tier creature.

The forces were defended against by Hannah and the village defense squad, and apparently the mid-tier creature infiltrated the village but was subdued by Gretel…

“You captured it alive?!”

“Y-yesss…!! We found out everything we needed to know!”

What seemed most important to me now was that they had captured about 80 people and the mid-tier creature after the battle, and had obtained various information from them.

Such as the mastermind behind this attack, its cause, and even the motive.

First, the cause of this incident was that these bandits-cum-mercenaries had attempted to kidnap me on the orders of someone… a noblewoman named “Bell.”

Since the circumstances, including the reason for this incident, were clearly evident to anyone, I didn’t bother asking meaningless questions about what had happened.

After all, it was obvious that this incident too had occurred due to the instigation of “Gluttony.”

And after the Wolfblood sisters finished their explanation…

“Ah, Lord Alzar… Then how did you end up with those… Chimeras?”

“…Various things happened.”

Now with the roles of questioner and answerer reversed, I began to explain about the Chimeras following me, calmly telling them about what had happened to me.