Chapter 38

Clank, clank, clank, clank.

The sharp metallic sounds echoed through the shabby hut.

In the dim room, a giant lizard sat. No, that wasn't right. A lizard couldn't sit cross-legged.

It was a lizardman.

A lizardman sat with his eyes closed, motionless.

In front of him stood a man.

A man with a turban on his head and a dark complexion. He looked to be in his early thirties. In the dim room, only his golden eyes shone brightly.

Clank, clank, clank, clank.

The metallic sounds came from the man's hands.

He pressed a thick, nail-like needle into the lizardman's scaly upper arm and delicately hammered the needle's head with a small hammer in his other hand.

The needle pierced through the scales, leaving a black stain.

Numerous points already tattooed on the lizardman's upper arm formed a complex pattern.

A tattoo.

He was the heraldic artist.

Living in the lizardman village, he was the one responsible for producing the powerful lizardmen who plagued the kingdom. His own skin was also covered with bizarrely shaped tattoos.

As the heraldic artist was engrossed in his work—

A step sounded behind him.

“—Your spirit is strong.”

“Old man.”

The heraldic artist spoke without turning around.

Behind him stood an old man in a robe, his hood pulled low over his face.

“Your spirit is strong? You say that as if it’s not your fault. Day after day, clank clank clank clank—no matter how much I love tattoos, I’m getting tired of it.”

“Unfortunately, there’s no other choice but to push you harder.”

“Ha! I know that! At least listen to my complaints, old man!”

While talking incessantly, the heraldic artist didn’t stop his hands. His movements remained steady.

Because he knew this—

The old man in the robe spoke without hesitation.

“How is the battle going?”

“The first battle was a test—using the ones with fewer tattoos. They couldn’t stand a chance against the knights around here.”

“Hmm, I see.”

“The second battle was with the mid-level ones. It seems to be a good match around here.”

“I see—what about the third battle this time?”

“Hell.”

The heraldic artist chuckled deep in his throat.

“I’ve sent in the elite forces. There are few of them, but they are my masterpieces. They won’t be stopped by just anyone.”

“Excellent, excellent. Truly excellent.”

The old man let out a muffled laugh.

“The kingdom’s forces will eventually be crushed. If they can be eliminated here, it would be most beneficial. Kill as many as you can.”

And the old man continued.

“This battle, victory seems certain, doesn’t it?”

“Yeah….”

The heraldic artist’s voice wavered with unease.

The old man didn’t miss it.

“Is there something worrying you?”

“…No, it’s just a bit unclear—some of the lizardmen have reported that there’s an enemy who shoots unusually powerful white arrows.”

“Unusually powerful white arrows…?”

The old man tilted his head.

“What is that?”

“Who knows. When I heard about the white arrows, I thought of Magic Arrow—but the fact that they are unusually powerful….”

The heraldic artist scratched his head.

It was a reasonable assumption. The power of magic depends on the caster’s magic power, but a powerful caster would typically use more potent offensive spells than Magic Arrow, which is only used by beginners.

Magic Arrow shouldn’t be that strong.

“…I don’t understand it either.”

“Well, there will be another report today. Let’s wait and see.”

Clank.

The heraldic artist’s hands, which had been moving continuously, stopped abruptly. It wasn’t because of any problem.

He took a few steps back and examined the tattoo he had just carved, then smiled.

“It’s complete.”

“Ho ho ho ho. Excellent, excellent. Very good.”

The old man’s presence and voice faded away.

Without turning around, the heraldic artist called out.

“Old man, are you leaving?”

“I’ve heard the situation. When the battle is over, come to the temple and give me a detailed report.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the old man’s presence disappeared.

The heraldic artist didn’t check to see if the old man was gone. He kept his gaze on the lizardman and approached with the needle and hammer again.

Clank, clank, clank, clank.

He began to carve a new tattoo on the lizardman’s chest as if nothing had happened.

◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

The day the third battle ended—

Alanjia was holding her head in her office.

Around her desk were crumpled reports that she had thrown in anger.

It was a crushing defeat.

“Alanjia-sama, leave it to me, Goubirbalphes!”

So said the hero of the second battle, who had set out with high spirits.

Even if not as much as the second battle, he was expected to achieve some results—

But Alanjia’s plan was completely shattered.

“Goubirbalphes-sama, fallen in battle.”

It happened right at the start.

“What?”

Alanjia, who usually controlled her expressions and emotions perfectly, couldn’t hide her shock.

She thought it must be a mistake.

But it wasn’t. Without their leader, the Goubirbalphes unit lost control and was overwhelmed by the lizardmen.

The unit that had fought valiantly in the second battle was completely annihilated in a matter of moments.

(…That idiot!? Even if you lose, there’s a way to lose! You’re the vanguard. If this happens…!)

The morale of the other units plummeted instantly. The slight advantage they had in the second battle, where the morale was high, quickly turned into a disadvantage.

That wasn’t all.

“There are lizardmen with terrifying strength mixed in! We can’t stand against them!”

Such reports came in.

The lizardmen, with their unusual tattoos, had overwhelming strength and endurance. Even when several people attacked them, they were easily defeated.

“I haven’t heard of such beings—!”

Alanjia gritted her teeth.

Probably the enemy’s trump card.

Alanjia, who had thought it was just a lizard hunt, finally realized the gravity of the situation.

This was not something to be taken lightly.

(Damn… I can’t believe I’m stuck with this hopeless mission…!)

She should retreat.

Alanjia’s sharp mind concluded this. Fortunately, the battle didn’t last long due to the low morale of the allies and the overwhelming strength of the enemy, so the damage wasn’t too severe.

She could reorganize the troops and bring back new information.

“…No… It won’t work….”

Alanjia slammed her fist on the desk.

This was a ‘failure’.

She couldn’t bring such a thing back to the capital. If she did, Alanjia’s reputation would be ruined, and she would lose the king’s favor instantly.

A man who lost to mere lizards.

The stain on her name would follow her forever.

“…I need a way out. …Is there anything? Anything….”

After much deliberation—

Alanjia finally saw a glimmer of hope.

“I see… There is one thing… I still have a move to make—”

A sly smile twisted her lips. A dangerous light flickered in her eyes.