Don’t Look for the Resurrected Villainess - Chapter 199
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 199
‘To think things would turn out this way.’
When I approached close to the Lizardman habitat, those I brought with me were only Jeon, Ganic, and Soana.
I didn’t want to bring out too many Dura’han and unnecessarily heighten the Lizardmen’s wariness.
Most importantly, if a conflict broke out, the commotion would reach the soldiers who had approached near the wetland, but we couldn’t reveal our existence.
I planned to release the young Lizardman first, then play some light pranks on the expedition force.
I still had illegal magical tools left, and Jeon showed enthusiasm, saying he would actively help. Even without Soana’s threats, I had no intention of summoning the Dura’han.
Things went wrong right after releasing the young Lizardman.
“They must have grown quite attached.”
Even Jeon, who couldn’t understand monster speech, felt it – the farewell between Ganic and the young Lizardman was touching and heartfelt.
However, since Ganic agreed that the young Lizardman had to be released, he reluctantly pushed the youngster’s back to return it to its habitat.
The Lizardmen soon noticed the youngster that appeared in their habitat.
“You said they cherish their young, so they’ll take it in.”
“Yeah, if it’s communal child-rearing then surely…”
While Jeon and I were having a peaceful conversation and waiting, Soana, who had been observing the habitat’s movements from the sky, quickly descended.
[Captain, the monsters’ movements are strange.]
“Strange?”
Before I could ask what was strange, Ganic rushed out urgently.
[I’ll go check!]
But there was something we overlooked. Ganic was a turtle, and very slow…
Before Ganic could reach the young Lizardman, sharp cries erupted from the distance. To Jeon, it would have sounded like incomprehensible screams.
But I could understand it clearly.
The cries of Lizardmen shouting that intruders had appeared and to prepare for battle immediately.
‘Not only are they not accepting the young Lizardman, they’re treating it as an enemy.’
They wouldn’t even communicate. The Lizardmen seemed inherently belligerent. No matter what we said, they wouldn’t listen, so conflict was inevitable.
The young Lizardman, who nearly got torn to shreds by the Lizardmen’s sharp claws and teeth, was rescued again by Ganic.
The young Lizardman seemed terrified by the piercing killing intent, clinging tightly to Ganic, who had transformed into a Dura’han, and crying loudly.
Naturally, the enraged Ganic tried to protect the young Lizardman, and since Soana alone couldn’t help Ganic, she summoned other Dura’han…
It was complete chaos. The commotion reached the expedition force in an instant.
“It’s fortunate that Maxel’s persistence is terrible.”
I muttered with a sigh of relief.
When Tristan spied through insects, it seemed the expedition force mistook it for a territorial dispute between monsters in the wetland.
So they planned to raid the scene after the Dura’han and Lizardmen fought to exhaustion, trying to catch two birds with one stone.
It was inevitable that I would step in, having no intention of watching that spectacle quietly.
“For bringing so many soldiers, they retreated more easily than expected.”
“In such situations, capturing a high-value human usually resolves things easily.”
“By that logic, wouldn’t the trash bastard have the highest value?”
“His value is useless. An unusable jewel is no different from a pebble.”
During the process of attacking the expedition force, I briefly considered breaking Maxel’s leg or something, but I sent him back unharmed.
Even if Maxel got injured here, it would obviously be evaluated as a glorious wound from fighting monsters valiantly.
So instead, the target became the eldest son of Count Ruewark.
“Since Ruewark’s eldest son was seriously injured, even Maxel has no choice but to retreat for now.”
I knew the Ruewark family’s atmosphere well, thanks to my experience of being close with that family’s daughter.
I also knew well how high the margrave’s expectations and pride for his eldest son were, and why he sent his eldest son on this subjugation.
The margrave probably noticed the Crown Prince’s inadequacy and judged that his eldest son could gain a reputation superior to the Crown Prince through this opportunity.
At the same time, since Luewak Margrave greatly envied the Roam Family’s position, he probably tried to manipulate the Crown Prince to establish connections with the Imperial House.
But if asked whether all of that was worth risking his eldest son’s safety, it obviously wasn’t.
So what a perfect target for sowing discord.
“Will they come back?”
“Probably.”
Maxel wasn’t someone who would retreat like this, if only for his pride. Moreover, what’s here now are Dura’han.
Monsters officially designated as evil by the Temple. Just by winning in battle, he could instantly gain fame incomparable to any other subjugation.
But it didn’t matter how many times he returned. He would be defeated.
“He’ll come back and get miserably beaten by my Dura’han before fleeing.”
“The Dura’han’s infamy will grow even more.”
That was somewhat unpleasant, but since their appearance was already exposed, it couldn’t be helped. Since it turned out this way, it might be better to instill fear so no one would dare resist.
I muttered with distaste while looking at the gradually completing campsite.
“It would be better to make the expedition force fight the Lizardmen…”
Unfortunately, that was impossible. The Dura’han had almost completely subjugated the Lizardman group.
The remaining Lizardmen wouldn’t be able to face the expedition force. I didn’t want to unnecessarily boost their morale by giving the expedition force victory.
As I clicked my tongue in regret, Jeon spoke with a puzzled voice.
“But were Dura’han originally this strong?”
“Well, Dura’han are originally strong monsters, right?”
“That’s true. But even so, Lizardmen aren’t low-level monsters either…”
“It was quite an overwhelming difference.”
Since there was virtually no occasion for the Dura’han to fight with full power during our journey, this was practically the first time seeing them fight properly.
‘I was a bit nervous because the Lizardmen were so fierce.’
Embarrassingly, despite my inner worries, the knights defeated the charging Lizardmen with an overwhelming gap.
Even if Dura’han are strong monsters, could they win so easily?
As I tilted my head in puzzlement, Nadab, who was nearby, spoke.
[It’s because we’re with you, Captain.]
“Me?”
[Yes. Just being with you makes us stronger, Captain. Moreover, as we regain our memories, our past skills are returning too. Most importantly, this Dura’han body has conditions very suitable for combat, except for the lack of a head.]
In other words, the Dura’han body combined with past skills made them very strong, plus being by the captain’s side?
“…Well, being strong is better than being weak.”
Having defeated Lizardmen so decisively, dealing with the expedition force wouldn’t be difficult.
I decided to think positively. I should moderately crush Maxel when he charges in claiming to subjugate Dura’han, and induce the enraged him to expand his forces.
That way, the Imperial Palace would move quickly too.
* * *
The surviving Lizardmen might attack at night. So I decided not to send the Dura’han into the separate space dimension.
Since they didn’t need sleep anyway, the Dura’han repeatedly emphasized for me to rest comfortably.
Jeon had cast magic around the area, and with all the Dura’han guarding around the tent, it was the safest night ever.
Nevertheless, sleep didn’t come easily.
Going outside the tent would obviously worry the Dura’han, so I just lay on the cot and stared blankly into space.
While blinking endlessly waiting for sleep that wouldn’t come, I heard whispering voices outside the tent.
[How much do you remember, Soana?]
[Well, probably similar to you, Mori?]
It was Soana and Mori with their voices completely lowered. They probably thought their conversation wouldn’t disturb my sleep.
If I had ordinary human hearing, I wouldn’t have heard the conversation. But the resurrected me had the ability to understand even insect chatter if I concentrated.
[Tristan, are you seducing females even in this situation?]
[Soana, this is all part of training agents. Do you know any better intelligence source than insects?]
Ah, Tristan was there too.
Listening carefully, Soana was looking after each of the Dura’han besides Mori and Tristan.
She certainly cared for all the Dura’han.
Strictly speaking, her role was no different from a caretaker of the Dura’han. Soana probably acted like this in the old days too.
Because she cares for the Dura’han, she can obediently bow her head to me, whom she dislikes.
‘Is that what tolerance is?’
Tolerance. Something that couldn’t be found even if you searched thoroughly in the bleak Roam.
Something I never learned, never felt the need to have.
I once heard such words before. That I needed tolerance.
The person who told me that was the Empress. At that time, I was busy rationally pointing out Maxel’s emotional aspects.
Maxel was fed up with me like that, but I couldn’t understand his reaction at all. Seeing me like that, the Empress gave me advice.
‘You need warm compassion.’
If I had somehow changed my attitude then and shown just a little more mercy, Maxel might have liked me at least a little.
However, the Empress’s advice couldn’t change me. I had no such tender emotions, and I thought I would never have them in the future.
[Ganic, the Young Lizardman wasn’t startled?]
[Fortunately, he’s fine.]
[That guy will become a great monster.]
[You think so too, Soana?]
Even while I was lost in random thoughts, the Dura’han continued their trivial conversation. Their conversation was so ordinary and peaceful that just hearing their voices, one might mistake it for some village street.
Come to think of it, the Dura’han might have lived ordinary human lives long ago if they hadn’t been held back by the Goddess and her agents. The moment I realized that, Soana’s words came back to life.
“I hope you will no longer exploit the innocent loyalty of the Knights.”
Soana’s resentment was natural. The former captain had used the Knights, and now I was using the Knights too.
The difference from the past was that this time, I intended to complete my authority and liberate them.
I closed my eyes, trying to force myself to sleep. Chaotic emotions churned in my dark consciousness.
‘The final authority.’
I felt like I had come much closer to it.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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