Volume 6 Chapter 13 The Shackled Lion King (Part II)
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
The smell of mold and stone dust in the basement seemed to dissolve into a collective sigh of disbelief.
”So…” I said flatly, “just to be clear, you crossed an entire mountain range because you were hungry?”
At my question, the fox-eared Lara1 lowered her head and gave a small, apologetic nod. Gauz, however, showed no such embarrassment.
”That’s right,” the Lion-man replied with a grin. “I caught the smell of somethin’ good, and before I knew it, I was testin’ the Boss’s strength myself.”
As he spread his arms, a sharp hum rolled through the basement. The scent of beast and iron-rich blood washed over the room, stinging my nose.
”The law of the beast is simple. The strong are justice. Since I lost, it’s only natural for my life, my subordinates, and my country to follow the strongest Boss!”
Gauz’s pupils were wide with excitement, yet there was no madness in his eyes. What shone there was pure conviction.
”Hold on,” I cut in. “Subordinates? There are only two of you here. What happened to the rest?”
”There’s a whole lot of ’em.”
The answer came without the slightest hint of shame.
I clicked my tongue. The man was built like a fortress and apparently counted about as well as one.
”Gauz-sama’s Southern Army numbers roughly thirty-five thousand,” Lara said in her usual refined tone.
”…What?”
My brows drew together.
”Thirty-five thousand soldiers are under his command?”
”Yes. They form the main force guarding the Iberian Sea of Trees. His personal retinue of one thousand is currently waiting at the northern border. If Gauz-sama does not return soon, they may already be fighting among themselves to decide the next Boss.”
That sounds less like an army and more like a giant nest of predators. Still, I obviously couldn’t bring thirty-five thousand soldiers to Silver Moon Village. Leaving them where they were for now seemed like the best option, though there was no reason to throw away a useful asset. As long as Gauz remained under my control, that army could become a weapon I might call upon one day.
”…Fine. You two can stay here for the time being.”
The moment I spoke, Gauz thrust a fist into the air.
”Yes!”
The force of it shook loose a shower of lime dust from the ceiling.
”However,” I continued, “you’re the one who needs to explain this to your homeland. Do not drag me into it.”
”You got it! If I tell ’em I found a stronger Boss and switched packs, they’ll understand!”
I seriously doubt that.
My gaze shifted to the two women standing behind me.
”Now then… let’s see what the accessories can do.”
Sensing the attention, Lara quickly pushed Mimi forward.
”T-this girl isn’t merely an extra,” Lara said. “Even in our homeland, Mimi could hear the sounds of Ley Lines from beyond the mountains.”
”…Oh?”
I narrowed my eyes.
The border lay so far away that even a wolf-kin would need nearly twenty days to reach it. If Mimi truly heard sounds from that distance, then her ability was frightening.
My gaze settled on her long ears. Through the thin skin, I could make out delicate cartilage and tiny blood vessels. In a world without radios or smartphones, the ability to gather information in real time from so far away was nothing short of terrifying.
”…Is that true?”
The moment I spoke, Mimi’s slender body jerked as though struck by electricity. She looked up at me, and her eyes immediately began to lose focus.
”Ah… uuu… scary… it’s ringing…!”
The reaction was far too intense to be simple fear.
Was her hearing so sensitive that even my voice struck her mind like a physical blow? Or was she detecting something else entirely, such as my mana? Whatever the answer, her senses clearly worked on a level far beyond normal hearing.
”Next.”
My gaze moved away from Mimi and settled on Lara.
”What can you do?”
Lara glanced briefly toward Mimi before clearing her throat. Almost instantly, her composure returned, and she shot me a sidelong look filled with practiced charm.
”I am the brains,” she said smoothly. “As you can see, Gauz-sama is an uncontrollable mass of muscle, while Mimi is merely a receiver. To make proper use of them, you need someone like me.”
She certainly sounds confident.
An interpreter capable of relaying orders and coordinating workers would be useful.
”Besides…” Lara continued, lowering her voice, “doesn’t a victorious master deserve the finest bedding after battle?”
She turned her back toward me and slowly drew a single golden tail from beneath her skirt.
”…Huh? Wait a second.”
”Yes?”
”You had nine tails outside. Why do you only have one now?”
Lara blinked.
”Oh.”
Then she awkwardly looked away.
”T-that was just for show.”
”For show?”
”…I weave mana into phantom tails to make myself appear larger.”
She tilted her head and looked up at me with a faint pout.
”Would you mock the survival instincts of a fragile maiden? A weak beast like me must look like a monster. Otherwise, I could never survive as a military strategist.”
So it was the same principle as a cat puffing up its fur.
Only in her case, she did it with magical illusions.
Could she create other visual effects too?
I reached out and grabbed the real tail.
”Kyaa!?”
The fur swallowed my fingers.
The texture was astonishing. Every strand felt smooth as silk, while a warm, living core ran through the center. There was no illusion here. It possessed real weight, real warmth, and undeniable life.
”Nn… ah…”
As I slowly stroked upward, Lara’s back arched. Her carefully maintained expression shattered, revealing a flushed face and a helpless look she could not hide.
”Hm. The material is acceptable.”
I released the tail and flexed my fingers. The sensation lingered.
At the very least, it passed inspection.
”Gauz. Starting today, you’re a construction worker.”
”Gahaha! A construction worker!” Gauz roared with laughter. “Treatin’ me like a tool takes guts, Boss! I like it. If that’s the role you’ve got for me, I’ll take it!”
As expected, he cared little for logic and even less for status. Strength was all that mattered to him.
Simple.
Yet there was something refreshingly honest about it.
”Good. Then the operation begins now. You broke the Wall of Rejection, so fix it before sunset.”
I jerked my chin toward the exit.
The Lion-man had smashed through trees harder than steel and torn apart the poisonous thorn barrier protecting the village.
”Listen to the Elf guards. Stack the trees back into place, drag the thorns where they belong, and close the gap. If monsters show up, deal with them.”
”Leave it to me!” Gauz boomed. “I broke it, so it’s only right that I fix it! If any trash tries sneakin’ in, I’ll turn ’em into fertilizer!”
Laughing loudly, he headed for the basement exit.
”Wait.”
Gauz stopped.
”Hm?”
I folded my arms and fixed him with a cold stare.
”Repairing the wall is your responsibility. But that is not the only thing you owe.”
The massive Lion-man froze.
”You nearly killed my woman. You killed many of my people.”
My voice remained calm, which only made the words heavier.
”The wall can be rebuilt. People cannot. Do you understand?”
”…Yeah.”
Gauz’s reply came out low and heavy.
”I almost destroyed the Boss’s pack. I hurt the Boss’s woman. That’s a sin that can’t be erased.”
”Exactly.”
I stepped closer.
”The Elves have not forgiven you. Some of them are terrified just looking at you.”
Gauz silently nodded.
”But I’m keeping you here because you’re useful.”
I raised a finger.
”Do not touch the Elves. That is the bare minimum. More importantly, as long as you stay here, you’re part of the same pack. I am not asking you to become friends, but I expect a minimum level of sincerity.”
Our eyes locked.
”Apologize to Sylvia. Do not expect forgiveness. Do it because it is the right thing to do, and because it is an order from your Boss.”
Several seconds passed.
Finally, Gauz lowered his head.
”…Understood, Boss. I hurt the Boss’s woman. I tried to destroy the pack. Lowering my head is only right.”
”Good. Let’s go.”
I turned toward the exit.
”I’ll come with you.”
Gauz nodded and left the basement. I followed after him, releasing a quiet breath.
I did not expect the Elves to accept the Lion-man overnight. Still, I was the one who had tied this knot together. If I wanted it to hold, then I had to keep tension on the rope myself.
Outside, the atmosphere felt sharp against my skin.
The Elves were still gathered in the sunlit square, tending to the wounded and clearing debris. The instant they spotted Gauz behind me, movement across the area stopped.
I raised my voice.
”Back to work. I have subdued them. From today onward, they will repair the broken wall.”
The Elves looked between me and Gauz in stunned silence.
I slapped the Lion-man across the back.
”Gauz. Go. And do not lay a finger on the Elves.”
”You got it, Boss!”
With that, Gauz strode across the square and ran toward the forest’s edge.
As the Elves watched his simple obedience, relief gradually spread through the crowd.
Are we safe now?
At least for the moment, the answer seemed to be yes.
”Now then…”
I turned back toward the remaining pair.
Lara and Mimi stood pressed together beneath the wary stares of the surrounding Elves. Yet the moment Lara met my eyes, she straightened her back and offered a seductive smile.
”…Please be gentle with us, Goshujin-sama.”
I leaned close enough for only the two of them to hear.
”You two are coming to the Manor. I’m going to conduct a very thorough interview.”
My lips curved slightly.
”Including a detailed inspection of what you’re hiding.”
The words made both women flinch.
Leaving the trembling pair behind, I turned and began walking toward the Manor.
—
Summary:
Ryuichi interrogates the beast-kin intruders in the basement, Gauz and his fox-eared companion Lara. After establishing his dominance over Gauz, Ryuichi forces the Lion-man to acknowledge his crimes against the village and orders him to repair the damage he caused. The scene shifts to the village square, where the fearful Elves witness Gauz’s forced obedience, before Ryuichi leads the two women to his Manor for further questioning.
—
Trivia:
Gauz commands a Southern Army of 35,000 soldiers.
Lara uses Mana to create phantom tails as a survival mechanism.
Mimi has hyper-sensitive hearing that allows her to perceive ley line activity from immense distances.
Ryuichi intends to use Gauz as a weapon and Lara as an advisor, keeping them under his control.
—
Translation Notes:
Notes:
• Gauz – A giant, steel-furred lion beast-man with golden eyes, dense muscle armor, and a massive mane. This hyper-durable, regenerative commander leads a 30,000-strong Southern Expeditionary Force. A muscle-brained warrior wielding the axe Agito, he is an arrogant, predatory tool for his boss, valuing only the strongest leader. Mentioned by Lara as a beast-keeper, he is now a charred runaway tank.
• Lara – A long-haired, golden fox-woman of the Hundred-Beast Federation with nine tails. Highly intelligent, elegant, and calculating, this strategist and political advisor suppresses her fear to manipulate social situations for survival. She uses Illusion Magic to project an aura of power and maneuvers Gauz for political goals, though she is currently a captive subjected to a body search.
• Mimi – A petite, cowering rabbit-kin from the Hundred-Beast Federation with translucent skin and long, sensitive ears. Perpetually terrified, traumatized by the sound of the world’s life force being consumed, she acts as a sensory receiver for distant information. Frequently dragged along by stronger individuals, she is currently a captive subjected to a body search alongside her companion, Lara.
• Sylvia – A voluptuous, white-blonde elf with porcelain skin and a heavily scarred body, Crimson Lotus is a loyal, battle-hardened Silver-rank vanguard. Enshrouded in a dark-red Spirit Shroud, she wields a bow and longsword with immense strength. Though left battered, exhausted, and with a scorched hand from a grueling sacrifice against Gauz, she remains a devoted confidante to Ryuichi and highly regards John, Nier, and her King.
• Man – A roughneck wearing a hat who participated in a group assault. He suffers the loss of his right arm and later his left arm during an experiment by the protagonist before being stored.
• Ryuichi – A 40-year-old, plain-looking Spirit King with black hair, a beard, and Japanese past-life memories. This weary, analytical leader controls the basement, Grimm mansion, and an elf village, protecting his growing household with blunt, ruthless pragmatism and calculated efficiency. Commanding god-like mana, Mana Shell, interdimensional magic, gravity manipulation, and regeneration, he treats enemies and powerful creatures as tools with cold, clinical logic. He provided the essence for the women and built the vitrified waterway, though his current absence has spurred intimacy between Nier and Helga.
• Ryu – A man with Interdimensional Magic who leads a growing household. He acts as a provider and protector for his slaves, while maintaining a pragmatic and blunt personality.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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