No, not exactly that either.
“...Not as Clan Head, but as your older brother, I cannot tell you that things will go smoothly if you go alone. Come back safely, don’t try to be brave.”
In response to this remark, Zaryusu replied with a haughty smile:
“Of course I will complete this mission with perfection for you to see. This task is nothing to me.”
“Huh.” Shasuryu’s face broke out into a wry smile.
“Then if your mission were to be a failure, the fattest fish that you have raised shall be mine.”
“Older brother, that kind of thing is nothing amazing, and not something you ought to be saying at this moment.”
“...Muu.”
Both men silently laughed.
And then exchanged serious looks.
“So is your objective really just that?”
“...What are you saying? What do you mean?”
For a brief moment Zaryusu narrowed his eyes… and then thought to himself “Darn!”. With knowledge of his older brother’s insight, his reaction just now was a mistake.
“... Your speech in the hut was as if to incite everybody’s opinion, yet the way you said it was obviously withholding something.”
Zaryusu fell silent and Shasuryu continued:
“...The cause of the previous war was not solely due to the dispute between tribes. A substantial increase in the population of lizardmen was also one of the reasons.”
“Older brother… Let’s not talk about this any further.”
Zaryusu’s grim tone seemingly confirmed Shasuryu’s statement.
“So… it was that.”
“...It can only be that, in order to prevent a recurrence of the previous war.”
These words that Zaryusu spat out implicitly contained his own detestable thoughts and plans. It was simply too foul, and if possible he did not wish for his older brother to know about them.
“So then if the other tribes refuse to form an alliance, what then? Because those who are only willing to provide support and those who wish to flee from the outset would surely refuse.”
“In that case then… The only option is to exterminate them.”
“Starting with wiping out your own tribe?”
“Older brother...”
Hearing the tone of persuasion in Zaryusu’s voice, Shasuryu smiled almost inappropriately.
“I understand that your concern is correct, and I also agree. As the guiding figure for the tribe, since it concerns the survival of our tribe, of course I would have to consider this. That is why you need not be reserved, younger brother.”
“I appreciate those words. Then shall they be brought to this village?”
“No. According to that person this village was the second one, so the main battle should take place at the first village. Ordinarily it would be the best strategy to gather at the final village or the one with the highest defence, but if it were to be destroyed then it would have serious impact on the subsequent battles, therefore let us establish our defensive position at the first village. To exchange intelligence reports with you, let us communicate through the elder druids’ magic so that you can directly transmit from over there.”
“Understood.”
The magic which older brother described was a delicate one which was unable to transmit too much content or if the distance was too far away, but Zaryusu judged that it would be fine for this instance.
“Then I assume that there will be no problem if we draw out rations for the soldiers from your farm?”
“Of course, but spare the juveniles. It was not easy to get them where they are now, and even if we were to abandon the village it would eventually come in handy.”
“Deal. Then how much can it provide?”
“...If we are talking about dried consumables, around one thousand tonnes should not be a problem.”
“If it is that… then in the short term there will be no problems.”
“Ah, I leave it in your hands then. So, older brother, let me go ahead… Rororo.”
Reacting to Zaryusu’s voice, a snake head appeared at the window. Pale blue moonlight reflected on the scales, giving off a fantasy-like beauty.
“We have to depart. Can you come over here?”
Rororo looked for a moment at Zaryusu and Shasuryu, and retreated its head back inside. Then a sound came out like that of a heavy animal moving through water.
“Older brother, there are still some issues which I wish to hear about, are you able to answer? What about the numbers? Depending on the situation we need equipment to be used for negotiations.”
Shasuryu paused slightly, then replied:
“...Ten warriors, twenty hunters, three druids, seventy females, a hundred males, children… that’s about it.”
“...Ah, I understand.”
Shasuryu gave a tired smile and Zaryusu remained silent. A sudden loud water noise broke the silence. Both men observed the direction where the water noise came from, and smiled out of nostalgia.
“Ah, older brother, me too. I did not expect it to grow so big. When I picked it up, it was so small.”
“I also find it hard to believe, it was already quite large when you brought it back.”
The two men reminisced about the past Rororo. Then four snake heads surfaced on the water a short distance from the hut, all four using the same action in splitting the water and heading towards Zaryusu.
Suddenly the snake raised its heads and the figure of an enormous body could be seen inside the water. The beast had four reptilian heads connected through long necks to the enormous four-legged body.
It was a monster, a hydra.
This was the name of Rororo's species.
It was not only evident from the snake elements, but also recognisable from the chewing sound when it was fed with fish.
With an unexpectedly fast movement unbefitting of its large body that spanned five meters in length, it arrived beside Zaryusu.
Zaryusu climbed onto Rororo’s back as nimble as a monkey.
“You have to return safely. In addition, it’s more your style not to use your brain like you did in the past when you shouted “not even one person shall be sacrificed”.”