"...Only three days left now."
Morning of the fourth day after the [Lizardmen] formed their temporary alliance.
Until the arrival, three days from now, of Rimuru Tempest—the master of the [Ogre]—the [Lizardmen] chieftain had been gathering his soldiers and holding out in a defensive siege. As he did, he let out a low groan.
"I expected the [Orc Lord]'s [Skills] to strengthen its kin, but to think even ordinary [Orc] soldiers would become this powerful..."
They had spent days holed up inside a vast dark cavern where it was hard to tell day from night, doing nothing but endure. It was only natural that his worries kept growing heavier.
Fortunately, the first day had passed without major losses because there had not been that many enemy soldiers. But starting on the second day, the number of attackers had multiplied several times over, and the [Lizardmen] had begun to suffer noticeable casualties as well.
'The damage still hasn't become a fatal blow. But if we keep doing nothing but hold our silence like this, others will start voicing their dissatisfaction.'
The elders who had served the chieftain for many years trusted him absolutely. But from his son Gabiru's generation onward, there had been almost no wars against other races, so they tended to be skeptical of this defensive strategy.
......
'In the end... is she my only option?'
The [Lizardmen] chieftain let out another quiet groan and looked toward the guard who was always by his side—his own daughter.
Because her older brother had been born first and had even received a name, she had spent her whole life stuck as the second heir. Even so, she had never voiced a single complaint and had carried out her duties in silence. That was why she had become one of the monsters most respected by the younger [Lizardmen].
'...If only until the war with the [Orc] ends, I place the tribe in her hands and hold the line myself...'
The chieftain had just come up with what he believed was the best possible plan, and was about to rise with the firm resolve that no matter what happened, he would never allow internal division.
Then—
"Father!"
—his son Gabiru called out to him, appearing after forcing his way past the [Lizardmen] soldiers guarding the door.
"Oh, you've returned."
Strictly speaking, even if Gabiru had only just come back, acting like this in the middle of wartime should have been punished. But the chieftain was not only a leader—he was also the father of two children. So he welcomed his son, who had returned after several days away.
"Seeing how boldly you came in, I take it you succeeded in securing the cooperation of the [Goblin]. Is that right?"
"Yes. About seven thousand [Goblin] have agreed to join our cause, and I've already had them stand by in advance."
Gabiru had failed to win the cooperation of the [Goblin] village ruled by Rimuru and the wolf clan, but he had succeeded in persuading the other [Goblin] villages. Hearing his proud answer, the chieftain smiled for the first time in four days.
...
It lasted only a few seconds—a very brief smile.
"And, Father."
"Hm?"
"There is one more thing I must tell you."
Clatter...
"There are many who can no longer bear to watch our proud [Lizardmen] cower in a siege against mere [Orc]. So—"
Rumble...!
"...What is this?!"
"T-those are..."
At Gabiru's light gesture, the [Lizardmen] under his command rushed in, pushing past the soldiers guarding the entrance.
Ignoring the panicked attempts to stop them, they advanced right up to the chieftain and leveled their spears at him.
"—It is time for you to step down, Father."
"...!!"
"L-Lord Gabiru! What in the world are you saying?!"
Treason.
No matter how anyone looked at it, Gabiru's actions could only be described as rebellion. His younger sister shouted at him to stop even now, but...
"Calm yourself, captain of the guard. Even I have no intention of carelessly harming my own blood."
...he had long since fallen for the clown's persuasion.
**
What that clown, Laplace, had said was very simple.
"The current [Lizardmen] chieftain is certainly capable, but now that he has grown old, isn't the burden simply too heavy for him~?"
He provoked Gabiru, who was already buoyed up by the expectations of those around him.
"Lord Gelmud also noticed that something strange was happening with the [Orc], and asked me to warn you to make the best choice possible, Lord Gabiru~"
Then he invoked the name of Gelmud, whom Gabiru regarded as his benefactor, and used it to pressure him into making a choice. That was all.
"...You're right. Before it's too late, I need to make my decision."
Of course, from Gabiru's point of view... Laplace's words had sounded a little different.
**
"Using this natural fortress to fight a great army may be a sound strategy for now, but by spreading our forces too thin across too many passages, we keep missing our chance to strike the [Orc] main force."
He—Gabiru—did not understand the [Orc Lord].
"Therefore, I myself will lead the soldiers and face the [Orc] in battle!"
Because he did not know what made the [Orc Lord] truly terrifying, he made a reckless decision.
"Even [Vortex Spear], which recognizes only the chieftain, has acknowledged me as its master. So cast aside your fear and charge!"
The young members of the tribe joined him, and the chieftain's weapon had chosen him. Because of that, Gabiru believed he was right.
Trample them...
Because he believed he had a just cause.
Trample them.
Because he believed he had the power to become chieftain.
Trample them!
Because he believed that he, unlike others, would not fail.
The strength of my comrades shall become mine!
But once the [Orc] advance began in earnest—
The strength of my enemies shall become mine!
—those confident thoughts became their prey, and vanished long ago.
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