The dwelling place of the aquatic monsters known as the [Lizardmen], who governed the vast marshlands spread across the central region of the Jura Great Forest.
"...'The [Orc]s are becoming more and more active,' is it..."
In the wetlands surrounding the lake known as Sis, the leaders of the [Lizardmen] had gathered.
"...Those filthy pigs are actually trying to invade even this place now. Hah. What a joke."
Perhaps because of their reptilian appearance and traits, the [Lizardmen] were mid-ranking monsters specialized for survival in watery regions, and for at least several hundred years they had ruled the marshes of the great forest alone.
But now, that dominion over the marshlands, which had lasted for centuries... was about to be stolen away, along with the [Lizardmen]' very right to survive.
"Scout. How large is the [Orc] force?"
A white-haired [Lizardman], making no effort to hide his disbelief, questioned the soldiers who had returned from monitoring the [Orc]s' movements.
He had no name yet, but as one of the oldest among his kind, he had led the [Lizardmen] for decades as their chieftain.
'If it had been the [Ogre]s or the Tengu trying to invade, we could have settled it through negotiation somehow. But there is no reason for the proud [Lizardmen] to bow to witless creatures like the [Orc]s.'
Having served as chieftain for an exceptionally long time even among past leaders, and possessing great pride as a [Lizardman], he had already resolved to prepare for war with the [Orc]s.
That was, at least, until the soldiers barely managed to force out their report through trembling voices.
"Th-that would be..."
"...The [Orc] army—"
"—is, approximately... two hundred thousand..."
Gasp
"Th-that's impossible..."
An army nearly twenty times larger than the [Lizardmen]' own forces.
It was a monstrous number that no race in the great forest had ever reached before.
"...I understand it's hard to believe, but we confirmed it several times already using [Magic Sense] and [Heat Detection]. I swear on my life that it's the truth!"
The chieftain, the elders at his side, and even his daughter, who served as his bodyguard, had all initially looked as though they could not believe the scout's report. But there was no trace of falsehood in the desperate way he spoke while staking his life on it.
"...You've done well. Withdraw and get some rest."
"Y-yes, sir!"
Like the experienced leader he was, the chieftain saw through the truth of the scout's report before the elders, who were still trying to deny reality, and gave a solemn nod.
"If they've managed to stuff those absurd pigs' bellies full, then it may not be impossible... but how in the world did they satisfy a force of two hundred thousand?"
Now was not the time to escape into denial.
They needed to determine, as quickly as possible, why the [Orc]s had multiplied so drastically and what strategy could stop them.
And perhaps the chieftain's resolve reached the elders as well, because one by one they stopped denying reality and began offering their opinions.
"...The [Orc]s were always a lawless bunch to begin with, and hardly the cooperative type, weren't they?"
"There's no way those pigs could command an absurd number like two hundred thousand by ordinary means!"
"...Come to think of it, it was only a rumor, but I believe I heard not long ago that the [Orc]s attacked an [Ogre] village..."
"What?! If that rumor is true, then those pigs have finally—"
"—an [Orc Lord]."
"......!!!"
At the [Lizardmen] chieftain's low murmur, all the elders lined up on either side fell silent.
"If there is an [Orc] capable of commanding an army of two hundred thousand, then it can only be the legendary unique monster, the [Orc Lord]."
"N-no... but..."
"An [Orc Lord], all of a sudden..."
"...If that really is the case, then it would explain how the [Orc]s are able to lead such a massive army."
"...But that isn't what matters most right now, is it?"
What mattered to the [Lizardmen] was victory.
In other words, whether they could survive by defeating the great army led by the [Orc Lord].
"Whew... If an [Orc Lord] truly has been born, then it will be difficult for us to claim victory through our strength alone."
"......"
"An [Orc Lord] is a true monster without question, one said to devour even the fear of its own allies."
He had never seen an [Orc Lord] himself, but he had heard of that monster through tales passed down since the time of the previous chieftains.
And for good reason. An [Orc Lord] was the kind of monster that might appear only once in nearly a century, if at all.
"It is still only the most likely possibility, but if that is the case, then we must use every means available to us as well."
"By every means available... you mean?"
When his daughter, seated beside him as his bodyguard, asked the question, the chieftain rose to his feet and answered that he would call for reinforcements.
"My son, are you there?"
-...
Tap
"I am here."
Before long, not much time after he called out, a [Lizardman] wearing especially eye-catching attire sprang out.
"However, Father, don't you think there's no longer any need to address me that way?"
Even in a formal gathering, with the chieftain right before him, his tone and manner were remarkably arrogant.
And yet, none of the elders rebuked his attitude.
Because—
"The current me bears the name 'Gabiru,' bestowed upon me by Lord Gelmud."
—he was the only [Lizardman] who possessed a name.
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