The humans have offered a compensation.
Did they think we humans were easy to bully? Or did they treat us like a tattered coat that could be worn and discarded at will?
Chief Baccus of the War Pigs had no choice but to grit his teeth and bark an order, “Give it everything you’ve got! Attack the Wasteland Bovine Clan! Tonight, we feast on bull-head wine!”
As the command was relayed, the main force of the War Pigs surged forward.
The balance of victory had already tilted. By the time the sunset turned the world a golden yellow, the ground was littered with wreckage.
Aililan waved her hand, and her adjutants began signaling with flag signals to initiate the final wave of the charge.
The War Pigs had already swallowed the bone that was the Wasteland Bulls. Right now, Aililan was simply making it look like she was working hard and being useful, but in reality, her losses were minimal.
However, the impression left on the commoners of the War Pig tribe was one of valiant humans charging into the fray.
***
After the war.
“What are the casualties?” Aililan asked in a heavy voice.
Renata replied softly, “Sixty-eight dead, 170 with light injuries, and forty-six with heavy injuries. The rest are negligible. This can be considered a major victory.”
Aililan nodded and instructed, “Remember, you must prioritize treating the wounded soldiers. We must also retrieve the bodies of the fallen and bring them back to Atlant.”
Standing to the side, Milisanel walked over and asked, “Was it really necessary to help the War Pigs?”
Fina Nisi let out a snort and a laugh. “Whether it was necessary or not—don’t you know just by looking at the friendly expressions of those War Pig soldiers?”
Aililan couldn’t help but look at Fina Nisi. Although this woman spent most of her time thinking with her lower half, her brain was, after all, quite functional.
At the same time, her heart felt a bit heavy.
She could pick the “soft persimmons” to squeeze in this war, but even with a powerful branch like the cavalry and their previous successful battle, they had still lost nearly eighty people. These were the elites selected by the command group.
‘It isn’t that humans are weak, but that the Orcs themselves are simply too powerful.’
Taking the 10,000 soldiers of the Wasteland Bulls as an example, she would need to mobilize at least 50,000 troops to completely annihilate them, and the casualty ratio would certainly not be low.
It was hard to imagine what kind of disaster would occur if the Orcs formed a united army of hundreds of thousands or even millions to march south. At the very least, Atlant would never be able to hold out against them.
A short while later, their side was fully packed and ready.
Renata asked, “Saintess, shall we return?”
Aililan looked toward the War Pig camp and shook her head. “No. Since we’re already here, how can we not go see our good friends, the War Pigs?”
Renata said worriedly, “The current War Pigs probably don’t welcome us very much.”
Aililan laughed and countered, “No, the War Pigs still welcome us. It’s just that a small number of them might not.”
Aililan had the cavalry continue their rest while she took Fina Nisi, Renata, and Milisanel toward the War Pig camp.
Everywhere they passed, War Pigs let out cheers.
The common War Pigs didn’t care about complex schemes; they only knew that these humans had brought charcoal to keep them from freezing and grain to keep them from starving. To them, Aililan was the War Pigs’ great benefactor.
Now, she had even assisted the War Pigs in defeating the Wasteland Bovine Clan. If that didn’t count as being a good friend, then what did?
Fina Nisi whispered excitedly, “If the War Pigs ever think of rebelling in the future, I’m afraid the common soldiers will be the first to disagree.”
Aililan didn’t want to pay her much mind, but she added, “Grandmaster Fina Nisi, you are right, but also wrong.”
Fina Nisi narrowed her eyes slightly. She felt as if she had finally found the key to opening Saintess Aililan.
‘If I just pester her about romance and sex all day, this Saintess won’t even bother to look at me. But if I ask about strategy, politics, or discuss the truth, Aililan is willing to talk.’
Fina Nisi smiled and said, “Please, teach me.”
Aililan took a deep breath, pointed at the War Pigs and the other Orcs, and said, “What truly leashes the War Pigs isn’t gratitude or prestige, but actual, tangible food. If the day comes when they can no longer trade for grain, the War Pigs will not hesitate to raise their butcher knives against us humans.”
“Therefore, we must never let them develop agricultural technology. Although the vast plains of the Orcs can only grow one crop a year, if they truly managed to cultivate it, the yield of that one season could surpass the output of our entire Fifth Diocese.”
“There are no permanent friends.”
“There are only permanent interests.”
An inexplicable fire flickered in Fina Nisi’s eyes. She simply loved Aililan’s serious expression, especially since she was a girl with genuine talent and learning.
She had a hunch that with Aililan’s methods, even if she left the support of the Church, she could still establish a powerful kingdom.
‘This is what it means to be a Saintess!’
The Saintess was the Church’s most precious treasure.
The group arrived before the grand tent. Naris, the daughter of the War Pig Chief, had been waiting for a long time. Her eyes sparkled with stars, especially when she looked at Fina Nisi.
“Sister Fina Nisi!”
“Uh… Miss Naris, please… please behave yourself.”
“Sister Fina Nisi, I missed you so much.”
“I don’t miss you. Also, I am a human, and you are an Orc.”
“What does that matter? As long as we unite, we will surely give birth to the strongest descendants! That’s all that matters!”
Fina Nisi was about to collapse. “Shut up!”
Aililan scolded her with a fake sternness, “Grandmaster Fina Nisi, you must not be rude. Miss Naris is only expressing her feelings. Even if you don’t love her, please don’t hurt the heart of the loving Miss Naris.”
Fina Nisi almost spat out a mouthful of blood.
‘The one being stalked isn’t you, Saintess! Being confessed to by a pig… you’re telling me not to hurt her heart? I think you’re the one who needs a good lesson!’
After entering the tent, Aililan noticed the atmosphere inside wasn’t very… friendly?
Aililan smiled and said, “My War Pig friend, Chief Baccus, I am very happy to see you again!”
Baccus was fuming, his nostrils flaring as he exhaled white steam to show his dissatisfaction. He then questioned her, “Human girl, why did you appear here?”
Aililan spread her hands, appearing puzzled. “That’s a bit strange. We humans helped you win the war, didn’t we? How is it our fault now?”
Baccus bared his teeth, his temper flaring. “But this was an internal Orc war! You shouldn’t have, and couldn’t have, appeared—let alone participated. How will the other tribes look at us War Pigs from now on?”
Aililan shook her head helplessly. “Fine, fine, it’s all my fault. But you can’t really blame me this time. Our diplomatic mission was insulted by the Wasteland Bulls and even severely injured. We had to teach them a lesson.”
“If you feel it’s inappropriate…”
“You can put that news out.”
Suddenly, Aililan’s expression shifted, and her tone turned sharp. “However, we do not accept baseless accusations either.”
“I know how I have offended you.”
“I have always treated the War Pigs with sincerity.”
“We humans have an old saying: ‘A good gathering leads to a good parting.’ If you feel that cooperating and trading with humans brings shame to the War Pigs, then I will respect your choice.”
“What do you think?”
Aililan’s words were loaded. She was accusing them of “kicking the bowl after eating the rice.”
‘We humans aren’t that cheap.’ She was essentially telling them: “Don’t give me this attitude.”
Go ask around on the street—who would dare not give Aililan face?
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