Chapter 204

Chapter 204 - Conquistador (5)

Homi completely awakened the blood of a snow leopard and transformed into a Beast Warrior. Her glossy silver figure and wild charisma were a masterpiece crafted by Mother Nature.

The thoughts of the people looking at her varied.

'She is a king.'

That was Valda's one-line evaluation.

Unlike a human who becomes a king only when commanding a crown and people, a beast does not need such cumbersome things.

The strength to captivate everyone and the fur to shine in place of a crown. With those two things, one can become a noble king. Just like the current Homi.

'I thought she was a special lady.'

Cassandra recalled the fur coats she had collected so far. Luxurious collections that even wealthy noblewomen would envy.

Compared to Homi, all of them looked shabby. Because a true luster originates from life and freedom.

'Seems like she's about to charge recklessly.'

This was Eugene's impression.

While others focused on Homi's appearance, Eugene paid attention to the fighting spirit fiercely dwelling in her eyes.

Because he cares about Homi's safety more than anyone else, he caught what others failed to see.

"Homi! Stop!"

Her agile calf muscles contracted, and right before she charged, he hugged her from behind.

"Kareung?!"

"No."

Homi tried to detach the arms wrapping around her as if scratching them off, but soon caught Eugene's scent and stopped her hands.

She wanted to fight, not that she had lost her reason.

- Don't cry because it doesn't hurt.

- Heuaang.

- Over a tiny scrape like this. I often cut myself even when I do it myself.

She is the one who cried profusely in the past from a slight bleeding when shaving Eugene for the first time. She would absolutely never do anything to harm Eugene.

"I understand your blood is boiling, but fighting in this state is troubling. Entering actual combat with a body you're using for the first time is too dangerous."

Clearly, Homi will be strong. Because the aura she exuded alone was not ordinary.

However, a new weapon must go through practice before being used in actual combat. Let alone a new body, there's no need to mention it further.

Meanwhile, Yakson, who struck out first, let out a roar fully containing a wolf's might.

"Kuwoooong!"

The Smallfolk, getting goosebumps, all turned around and rushed at Yakson. It was because they realized it wasn't the time to aim for refugees on useless trees.

Yakson swung his two arms as if crossing them in an X shape. It wasn't exactly a grandiose technique. He simply scattered the sand he was holding in both hands.

"Kyauk-!"

However, the effect was tremendous. The attacking Smallfolk went mad clutching their eyes, and Yakson didn't miss that opening.

His long, pitch-black claws accurately parted and passed through their vitals.

"■■■!"

The guys who barely brushed off the foreign substances forcefully glared with their eyes and tried to swing their weapons. However, Yakson was already holding more dirt and sand.

"Kkiyaaak-!"

Whether they didn't expect him to use a cheap trick twice or lost their reason at the scent of their kin's blood, the Smallfolk suffered in their eyes once again.

There was no way Yakson would get hit by attacks swung wildly into the empty air without even opening their eyes.

Slash!

As the black claws parted the carotid arteries of their necks, blood spurted out like a stream of urine.

Puck!

Sometimes he pierced 4 holes into a flank.

"Heueoeoeo-."

The Smallfolk with air leaking from its lungs collapsed as it was and heaved its chest strenuously.

Meanwhile, spin kicks were delivered to the guys attacking from the side. They didn't hit because they were outside the leg's reach, but he wasn't aiming for a strike in the first place.

Yakson's toes and claws shoveled up dirt and sand from the floor like a catapult and covered the Smallfolk.

Of course, they weren't guys who would be easily done in by a trick repeated 3 times. The Smallfolk withstood it by covering their eyes with both arms.

However, with the time bought like that, the refugees evacuated back to the top of the tree, and Yakson also retreated to Eugene's formation.

From the beginning, he never harbored a reckless thought like trying to defeat them all alone. He only intended to draw their attention until Eugene's army arrived.

"It was an excellent stalling of time. Now! Deliver death to those bastards!"

Cassandra, who took charge of command instead of Eugene, praised Yakson and issued the attack order.

Because this was a flat terrain, when the Dwarves thrust forward putting up their shields, the Smallfolk were swept away helplessly.

"Kareureu."

"Good girl. Good girl. So cool, our Homi."

Homi twisted her body as if wanting to fight several times, but every time, Eugene hugged her tightly.

Then, thinking it wouldn't do, he used his trump card.

"Nyam!"

"!!!"

When he firmly bit her tail, the corners of Homi's eyes trembled rapidly. Her rough breath also subsided noticeably.

It's the same as grabbing the scruff of a kitten or puppy's neck. It is a method that is always effective when calming Homi down.

'Does it feel different when someone else bites it?'

Compared to biting it herself like a tickle, her reaction was entirely different when Eugene bit it.

Thus, when the battle ended and the heat of the battlefield subsided, her body also returned to its original state.

"It was a wise judgment. When you first transform into a Beast Warrior, it is difficult to engage in battle with intact reasoning."

Yakson, who had returned to his human form, said.

"It seemed you were too excited to fight pragmatically like him."

"It was just a shameful trick."

Yakson smiled awkwardly. In front of a knight who reveres the virtue of fair and square fight, he seemed ashamed of the sight of scattering sand.

"I'm neither despising nor mocking it. It was surprisingly efficient. As you transformed into a Beast Warrior, your hands became difficult to use weapons with, right? On top of that, a low posture somewhere between bipedal and quadrupedal walking. The opponents were also Smallfolk close to the ground. Every part interlocked into a perfect combat tactic."

Not human, yet not a true wolf either. Simply put, an ambiguous form possessing half the characteristics of both sides.

Therefore, fighting in the style of either side is inefficient. For a half-human half-beast, there is a combat method fitting for them.

And Yakson had chosen dirt and sand as that means.

"It just brings me joy that you look upon it favorably."

"I've calmed down now."

Homi tapped lightly on Eugene's wrist.

"Is that so."

"???"

However, Eugene didn't unwrap his arms. Although it started as a hug to restrain Homi, there was no particular reason to let go either. The two of them often share hugs even normally.

"Hehe."

Homi also giggled and leaned the back of her head against Eugene's chest.

"Now that you know the method, you will be able to become a Beast Warrior at will in the future as well. The physical abilities of a beast and the reasoning of a human. If the two are not harmonized, you are merely a half-wit, so please continue practicing to control your mind."

"I know."

Homi said. It was the second voice that transcended the restriction of once a day.

"Eh?"

"Oh!"

Homi, surprised even after speaking it herself, and Eugene, rejoicing.

Yakson, who was looking at the two with a warm face, nodded his head.

"There are several ways to recover a voice, but the most certain one is the transformation into a Beast Warrior. When the beast's power exhausts and subsides, the wildness that shackled the voice also softens."

"Aside from becoming stronger, you've gained a reason to train. Truly praiseworthy."

When Eugene massaged Homi's shoulders, she twisted her body as if shy.

"It seems that mysterious armor helped."

Yakson pointed at Dullahan's armor that Homi was wearing.

"When I first acquired the power of a Beast Warrior, I trained in the sea. Getting drenched in cold seawater made it easier to hold onto my fading reason."

"In a pinch, it's armor that emits coldness worse than seawater after all."

Dullahan is an existence belonging to the underworld. Its armor also contains the power to emit a spiritual chill.

The master's will to resist the wild vigor was also conveyed to Dullahan's armor. It emitted coldness and cooled Homi's heated body.

"This must also be God's arrangement. Especially for her, a woman, it is undeniably superb armor."

Yakson draped the top he had taken off over himself and embarrassedly hitched up his stretched pants.

"It must be awkward to fling off exactly all your clothes every time you transform into a beast."

"It will also help in combat. Clothes can roughly stretch or tear, but armor cannot. Carrying two types of armor and changing them is also troublesome, after all."

Dullahan's armor is hard like metal but an existence that is alive. Thus, the armor also changes its form fitting Homi's physical mutation.

"Miss Homi is different from a Pseudo Wolf like me; she is the real deal. And a leopard at that, not a wolf or a fox. The power when she finishes growing will be terrifying."

"Pseudo? Are you saying it's fake?"

"I am 100% human, not a half-human, half-beast werewolf. I merely received the teachings of a Druid, accepted the mystery of beasts, and can wear the shape of a wolf."

Werebeasts, half-human and half-beast, are broadly divided into two types.

Those who can transform without separate training because they flow with the blood of a beast from the beginning taking up the majority. A representative case is werewolf.

On the other hand, there are also those who acquire the ability to become Beast Warriors acquiredly through magical training, like Yakson.

These are called Pseudo Beasts in the sense of imitations or replicas. If it's a wolf, a Pseudo Wolf; if it's a fox, a Pseudo Fox.

The physical abilities during transformation fall short of the real ones.

Instead, they can evolve it according to their ideals, even if the details are somewhat restricted.

"After careful training, it became possible for me to accept the soul of a wolf and the soul of a duck into one body."

Yakson, who became a wolf Beast Warrior, has a low posture and webs like duck feet on his hands and feet.

Therefore, he can quickly save natives who have fallen into the river, and during combat, it is also possible to surprise the enemies by scattering sand at any time.

"This kind of magic, I've never heard or seen of."

"In return for giving up civilization, the indigenous people here live lives extremely close to nature. Thus, there is knowledge that has been preserved."

Valda listened attentively to Yakson's story with an intrigued face.

"Certainly! In the old continent, even Druids living alongside nature cannot completely abandon the light of civilization."

There is a price for the convenience civilization provides. That approaches mages most fatally.

Even so, they couldn't just give up the suppliers of materials, various infrastructures, and safety needed for research either.

In the new continent where the entire community lives according to primitive ways, the benefits provided by society and the preservation of mysteries... It was possible to harmonize both sides to a considerable degree.

"A duck, you say. An interesting choice? If it were me, I would have chosen a strong creature like a tiger."

Cassandra, a witch overflowing with a thirst for power, seemed unable to understand Yakson's choice.

"Noble lady. There are no tigers here. The strongest on land is the alpha jaguar, and in the water, the black crocodile."

"A jaguar wouldn't be bad either."

"A jaguar's soul is too massive for me to accept. I would definitely become a beast that loses its reason every time I become a Beast Warrior."

Yakson had no intention of being revered as a great hunter or warrior. He was satisfied just being able to protect and feed the indigenous people.

Perhaps realizing her attitude wasn't very mature, Cassandra apologized.

"I didn't mean to look poorly upon your nobility. Please excuse me."

"It was a point that could be confusing enough. It is fine."

Yakson understood Cassandra's heart. A witch is an existence that manifests miracles by accepting otherworldly mysteries into her body.

However, the types were far from direct power, like familiars for foresight or communication.

In terms of accepting something into the body, Druids and Witches are somewhat of the same kind.

Thus, a Druid who can clad their body in the true power of a Beast Warrior is an object of envy for a witch.

"Is there anything you want to do in commemoration of recovering your voice?"

"When you enter a duel, I want to shout your name and achievements."

Homi said as if she had been waiting for it.

The trial by combat in Bonyard. It seems it pierced her deeply that she alone remained silent when the squires praised the honor of the knights they served.

"Well. I don't know when I'll ever step into a dueling arena again."

"That's right."

Homi became crestfallen. Now Eugene is not lacking in money or connections, nor is he a mere knight. The opportunity Homi desires will be difficult to grasp easily.

"Instead, how about dropping honorifics time?"

"???"

"Since we've been together for over ten years, there must be something you want to say right. Feel free to speak."

"Really?"

"Of course! However, since I also have to maintain dignity as a Count, whisper so others can't hear."

Homi accepted without declining. Shielding their lips with her tail erected like a fan so others couldn't eavesdrop.

For the first time, Eugene exchanged a conversation an older brother and younger sister might have. In this world, it was an enjoyable amusement that only Homi could provide.

* * *

"Excellency. We have destroyed all the places that could be used as campsites and are fortifying the core choke points."

"The second group of the main force will arrive sometime tomorrow. Let's endure hardship just a bit more."

Eugene, who embarked on a massive mopping-up operation, didn't blindly rummage through the jungle. If he did, the accumulated damage, like getting clothes wet in a drizzle, would gnaw at the army.

Instead, they occupied core bases in the jungle and plastered them with wooden palisades and traps.

Behind them, the massive army of Rakshas; in front of them, a solid defensive line established by Eugene's army.

Losing places to go, the Smallfolk, Orcs, Goblins, and other monsters were forced into bloody battles in the wild with nowhere to hide themselves.

"Chalco is playing a very active role. If I knew it would be like this, I should have brought more."

Ankle-crushing traps were the best companions in these situations. After occupying the bases, the results reaped through poisoned traps were greater than direct combat.

- That's really noisy. I can't sleep.

- It sounds like a lullaby to me? It's the sound of them killing each other, after all.

Flocks of Orcs and Smallfolk inevitably injuring and starving as they spent the night outdoors.

- Charge! Don't leave a single one alive!

When their fatigue reached its peak, mobile units organized in tens to hundreds sortied and annihilated them.

- It's an ambush!

- These guys came in looking for a place to die, didn't they?

Perhaps thinking there was no answer like this, groups forming large scales sometimes attacked, but charging into a civilized army's defensive encampment is no different from a suicidal act.

- Sprout more sharply. Grow more abundantly. The army within this fence shall be your flowers and seeds. Oh thornbushes, protect us.

Especially since it was a defensive encampment plastered with gruesome thornbushes by Valda's magic.

The enemies who attacked frequently fled leaving behind only countless corpses, and in their weakened state, they were torn to shreds before the fangs of the wild.

Around the time the season changed, nothing was left between the Rakshas and Eugene's army.

"At dawn, Raksha scouts were discovered."

Having removed all obstacles, the true enemy began to slink over.

Crops and herbs growing natively only on the new continent, Homi's voice and strength. That alone was enough reward for Eugene.

However, it was now time to also secure the shares for his loyal subordinates.

However, an unexpected event occurred to Eugene, who was preparing for an all-out war.

"Excellency! Rakshas have visited base number 2!"

"Numbers?"

"It's three."

"They didn't invade, and aren't they just the usual scouts? There's no need to report, handle it accordingly."

The Rakshas had also noticed Eugene's army and started full-scale reconnaissance warfare. Sporadic encounters were occurring everywhere.

However, looking at the messenger's expression, they didn't seem to be an ordinary reconnaissance party.

"Well, that's, they are holding a white flag."

"...Are you sure you didn't see it wrong? Like holding the skinned hide of a white Cat-folk."

There were quite a few Rakshas who brought and waved the hides and skulls of chieftains from occupied lands as a threat.

"It's very clumsy, but they even spoke our language! They said they wanted to converse with the great chieftain here, meaning Your Excellency. They desire peaceful coexistence."

"..."

Mutations don't only occur physically. In the world, there also existed cases where mutations occur in the heart.

Just like the guests who have come seeking them right now.