The situation could not have been better.
On a national level, I had planted the seeds of internal conflict in the enemy.
On a personal level—
[Objective Exceeded Achievement Reward]
—like this, the status window had given me a reward.
However, that did not mean I was pleased with it.
—Frost Mane? Your face does not look well, which is unlike you. Could there be some discomfort? Did you not thoroughly toy with your opponent again today?
—Goodness. Why is it that I cannot manage my expression in front of Lord Batory? Or is it perhaps because you never stop examining my face, catching every change?
—Of course. It is only natural to care for one's vassals.
…I hadn't expected such a bold reply.
I thought there would be a little more shame.
—...
—At any rate, you are merciless. That too is a strength, but at times…
I let Batory's following words wash over me.
Still, I had successfully deflected the question, so that was enough.
'But honestly, this reward is a bit… unsatisfying. It leaves me wanting more.'
To the point that even Batory noticed.
That was how strong my sense of disappointment was.
The long-awaited reward was neither a relic nor a skill.
[Linked Quest Conditions Achieved]
[Beastman Rebels]
[With overwhelming strength and the backing of prophecy, "Calamity of the Pack" has risen to an unchallenged pinnacle within beastman society.]
[However, there are always those who harbor doubts and resist.]
[A few beastmen who share that will have secretly created a gathering, away from the eyes of their leader, with grand aspirations that may one day reach his throat.]
[Location of the Beastman Rebel Gathering is marked on the map.]
[As an "Important Witness," you may participate.]
[Visit the location to proceed with the linked quest.]
'Fancy words.'
As if simply going there would bring great rewards.
But in truth, there was nothing of substance.
Normally, in games, a linked quest would grant rare weapons or hidden classes—rewards that anyone would covet.
But Under the Chandelier was cut from a different cloth.
[Linked quest? Are we even supposed to do this?]
[It just said I satisfied the condition somehow and told me to kill goblins? Is it fine if I just follow the quest?]
—[Who knows? Is it really worth it?]
└ [Goblins turn into orcs, orcs into trolls… and in the end all you get is Adventurer Guild trust points? Better to spend that time on something else.]
—[There are still suckers who don't skip linked quests?!]
└ [Nah nah, it's honey rewards. Don't get fooled, go try it and post your review.]
└ [Bastard.]
└ [LOL can't believe you fell for that.]
The general consensus was that the demands were too high and the rewards too poor.
On top of that, this linked quest wasn't even in the original story, so the reward was completely shrouded in mist.
At best, all the trouble would only raise my reputation among beastmen.
'Tsk. I'd go if I had the time….'
I furrowed my brow and let out a sigh.
Right now, I was already busy just dealing with the Calamity of the Pack.
There was no way I had the leeway to mess around with linked quests.
"Will it be all right, sir? If we just let them go… they might come for our backs."
Meanwhile, Oparn kept glancing behind us with those red eyes of his.
It made sense he'd worry.
We had neither killed nor captured them, and left the enemies in fairly decent condition.
"It's fine. They won't have the leeway to pursue us. They'll be too busy tending to their defeated troops, and more than that, they're mentally cornered."
Even so.
Though the reward left me unsatisfied, the situation was proceeding very well.
Seeds of suspicion had already been planted among the beastmen by my silver tongue.
'If anything, now is the time to leave it be.'
They needed to reconsider for themselves whether what they had done until now was right.
The betrayal discovered on one's own is always heavier than when fed to them by another.
"Drop such trifling worries. More importantly, we've finished our role, so we should think of what comes next."
"The next step would be…."
"Of course, supporting the main force."
At the center of this camp, there was surely a totem.
To guard it, a beastman shaman with special power would be waiting.
The core forces would be gathered there as well.
"D-Do you think the ones who went ahead will be all right? I heard beastman shamans are incredibly strong."
At Frigia's worried voice, I just shrugged.
But really.
Core force or shaman—what did it matter?
"Well, in truth, it's not us who should be worrying, but the shaman."
"What?"
"My lord is strong. No matter how powerful the beastman shaman may be, they could never stand against Lady Luciana."
Not only Luciana, either.
There was also the saintess, protagonist of the original story, even if only a hollow shell here.
Scions of other ducal houses.
The likes of Elizabeth and Liura from distinguished count families.
…and even the accursed crown prince, as much as I hated to admit it.
It was no exaggeration to call it the academy's dream party.
"Ah, you've come, Hans."
And my prediction was correct.
In the middle of the beastmen's camp, inside the largest hut flying a grand banner, Luciana greeted me with a delighted face.
While stepping firmly on the back of a wolf beastman adorned with dangling ornaments.
"Grkkhh…."
"…I told you not to move. Show the slightest suspicious sign, and I'll sever your neck first."
In stark contrast to the warmth she showed me, her voice turned icy cold in an instant.
This was truly the public face of the proud Jewel of the North.
Beautiful, and strong.
Arrogant, yet noble—shining flawlessly without a single blemish.
"You've splendidly subdued the enemy."
I looked down with satisfaction at the figure beneath her foot.
Most likely, she had delivered the final decisive blow.
After all, the sweat running down her cheeks made it clear the battle had just ended.
"Ah, it was only the guards that proved troublesome. This one's true strength wasn't so threatening."
"Damn it… damn you humans!"
"I told you not to move, did I not?"
"Khahhk! Gyaaahh!"
Squeezed pressure and the beastman shaman's scream blended together.
At the cruel sight, Frigia behind me averted her eyes.
"Ah, what of the totem?"
"I destroyed it. I couldn't leave such a cursed object alone. Of course, I kept fragments as proof."
'Fragments,' huh.
I glanced at the hands of those behind Luciana.
"…Ahem. W-What business do you have with me?"
Perhaps afraid I would seize it.
Though she tried to keep her tone hostile, Liura subtly hid the piece of black crystal she held behind her back.
She wasn't the only one.
The saintess also had one in her hand.
As did the detestable crown prince.
Each of them held fragments of what had once been the totem.
—Lady Luciana, don't tell me you shared the reward?
By all rights, as the one who dealt the final blow and contributed most to the fight, Luciana could have claimed the totem whole.
The fact that she had shared it at all left me deeply dissatisfied.
I kept my face neutral and sent her a questioning look.
—Why would you make such a choice? It is not too late even now. Using the shaman's subjugation as a pretext, we could reopen distribution of the spoils…
—Fufu, it has been long since you last lost your composure.
Luciana's cold expression melted, and she answered with a smile through voice transmission.
—Rest easy. I didn't share without thought.
—It seems my understanding is shallow, for I cannot grasp your intent. Could you explain?
—It is simple. Had I monopolized the spoils, those who aided me would gain nothing.
Her blue eyes shifted toward the others.
Rene, who may not have fought directly but supported everyone with blessings.
Elizabeth, who surely assisted with flame magic from afar.
And me, who cut down the reinforcements from the rear.
—I kept a share for you too. Since I, who had the greatest claim, agreed, none will raise strong objections.
—…Hah.
She could have monopolized everything if she wished.
But Luciana did not seek that.
Considering her subordinates even when they arrived late.
Her concern for those below her moved me to admiration.
—At this rate, I am a foolish, disloyal servant who cannot even discern my master's will.
—Fufu, indeed. Have you forgotten our promise?
—Promise?
Luciana curved her lips into a mischievous smile.
—You said you would surpass me and aim for the top seat. Yet like this, will you even keep your position as second?
Her words were a kind of provocation, a jest.
As our eyes met, we both broke into laughter.
'And then, this atmosphere….'
"Tch, to even share spoils with those who arrived late."
The crown prince poured cold water on the mood with his grating remarks, as always.
"Truly the pillar of the Imperial Faction. Such terrifying skill paired with the virtue of humility."
"Lady Speda, I see you differently now. To acknowledge the contributions of a rival faction and even share spoils…."
"An ideal commander."
Regardless of faction, all were filled with respect for Luciana.
'…Could she have aimed for this outcome too?'
If her sharing was a calculated move to win the favor of most academy students on this expedition, it had worked splendidly.
—Why do you look at me so proudly?
—…No reason.
But looking into Luciana's innocent eyes, I felt only admiration.
Perhaps she had no such intention at all.
But even that was part of her ability.
'Luck and misinterpretation are still part of her talent.'
Her political instincts grew sharper by the day.
"In any case, we've accomplished our goal. Let us begin the return."
At Luke's proposal, as nominal commander, everyone nodded.
"Ah, Sir Daimon. What will you do with the captured shaman?"
"We'll take him. I'll use every method to uncover the beastmen's internal affairs."
What sort of "methods" those would be was obvious.
The shaman's face soured at our words.
"Father, we've completed our mission. We've destroyed the totem, so let's prepare to withdraw—"
But unexpected events always arrive suddenly.
"What? At last contact? What did you say?!"
Luke's voice was shaken, souring the atmosphere.
"Uhaha, at last!"
At the same time, the bound shaman stirred excitedly.
"…Have you lost your mind? Are you actually looking forward to torture?"
"You'll torture me? Do your worst! But before that, you humans will lose the Mother Tree!"
His mad laughter carried a crazed conviction I had never felt before.
—Ah, can you all hear me?
Then a voice boomed from the crystal sphere. A familiar voice.
"I hear you well, Duke Daimon."
—Hans Byron? You are safe? And the other scions of ducal houses? The crown prince?
"All of them are unharmed, however…."
—Phew, at least some good news. Return at once. That place is just as dangerous. Time is short.
'Dangerous?'
Not only I, but Luke too showed confusion at those words.
"I don't understand. This mission didn't seem so dangerous. At most, a single shaman—"
—That's not the problem!
Suddenly, Daimon's voice thundered from the sphere, freezing everyone in place.
Gone was the usual calm born of noble leisure—only urgency remained.
I took the sphere from the stiff Luke and asked.
"What has happened?"
—…Ugh. My face must look a mess.
The duke's gloomy voice filled the hut.
—The other front has been annihilated.
"…What?"
—Damn it. You heard me right, don't make me repeat it. The cherished knights of the ducal house, the dwarves—wiped out! If you don't want the same fate, retreat immediately!
As the duke's command echoed from the sphere—
"Khuhuhuh… Hahaha! The Calamity of the Pack has descended! All will return to the proper order! The humans and dwarves who oppressed the Mother Tree, the humiliating history of beastmen's defeat—!"
—the shaman's curse-like prophecy overlapped it.
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