After Krevkan and his subordinates were driven away in shock at the appearance of the red-masked man, an awkward atmosphere settled over the fortress walls.
“Uuum…”
“Krrrrk…”
“Krrrk.”
“Krrrrrk!”
A tense yet somewhat anticlimactic standoff formed between the dozen or so remaining monsters and the soldiers.
And in the middle of it all, the Sage stood, deep in thought, wondering how to handle the situation.
He had only returned to the fortress to scold Count Glacia and observe how things unfolded, yet an entirely unexpected scenario had developed in his absence.
While he was certainly impressed by Tartakan, who had fought against his own kind to honor their deal, and by the monsters who had been moved by his actions, that did little to change the awkwardness of the present moment.
“Sage… these monsters… what exactly is going on?”
The lord of the castle, who had just received healing, tested his newly reattached elbow by moving it around while glancing between the Sage and the monsters behind him.
The lord wasn’t even sure where to start.
Why were these monsters helping humans?
Why were they fighting against their own kind?
Why were they just standing there, not retaliating against the soldiers?
There were too many questions.
Tartakan, too, found the situation strange.
Standing face to face with humans without attacking them felt incredibly unnatural.
And yet, at the same time, there was an odd feeling in the air.
A realization struck him—perhaps it was possible to stand before humans without violence.
Breaking the silence, the red-masked Sage called out to both the lord and Tartakan.
“My lord, come here for a moment. You too, Tartakan.”
“Huh…?”
The lord hesitated, but Tartakan, without a word of protest, obeyed immediately.
The soldiers murmured among themselves at the sight.
“T-The monster is obeying the Sage…!!”
“Did the Sage… tame the monsters?”
“What? Is that even possible?”
“If anyone could do it, it would be the Sage.”
“What are you waiting for, my lord? Come here.”
“Ah! Y-Yes! My apologies!”
Snapped out of his daze, the lord hurried over.
“Krrrrk…”
“U-Umm… Ahem… Hm…”
Standing together like this, the lord couldn’t shake the feeling that he was somehow representing all of humanity in some important negotiation.
Then, the Sage spoke.
“My lord, the truth is… I made a deal with the monsters’ leader.”
“What? A… a deal?!”
As expected, the Sage was on an entirely different level.
A human making deals with monsters?
They say the line between genius and madman is thin—perhaps that was true after all.
The Sage proceeded to summarize everything from the beginning.
“I see… So that’s why the number of monsters suddenly increased.”
The lord was stunned.
He had assumed the monsters had been gathering in such numbers for some grand, incomprehensible reason.
But the truth?
They were simply starving.
That was all it took for hundreds of people to lose their lives.
How absurd.
“And so, I made a deal. If we provide them with food, they will not attack humans.”
“Krrrrk… Forgive me, Sage. I failed to stop my subordinate from harboring hatred toward humans… Krrrrk…”
“It’s fine. I will not break our agreement, so don’t worry. I’ve seen your sincerity.”
A strange conversation unfolded.
A Sage making a deal with monsters.
A monster apologizing for failing to uphold that deal.
And the Sage accepting that apology, recognizing the monster’s sincerity.
Then, the Sage turned to the lord again.
“So, my lord, I have a question. Do you think your people could coexist with the monsters?”
“What…?! W-What are you saying, Sage?!”
The Sage couldn’t stay in this fortress forever.
Once his assigned period of confinement ended, he would have to return to the ducal house as a noble.
Before then, he needed to visit as many border regions as possible, performing as many good deeds as he could to accumulate Meritorious Virtue of World Salvation.
“You saw it yourself. As long as they have food, they won’t attack. And if other monsters invade, these ones could help defend the land.”
“E-Even so…”
It wasn’t as simple as it sounded.
“For one, we don’t have enough food to sustain hundreds of monsters. And persuading the people will be difficult—many of them have lost loved ones to these creatures.”
“And what if, while you’re away, they betray us and turn on the villagers?”
“Hmm…”
The Sage, realizing he had been too caught up in his own plans, paused to reconsider.
The food issue would soon be resolved.
He had already “persuaded” the other nobles into sending tributes—if they didn’t comply, he’d simply pay them another visit.
The real problem was how to convince the villagers.
As he pondered a solution, Tartakan suddenly spoke up.
“I will apologize… to the humans.”
“W-What?!”
The lord was completely thrown off.
A monster acting so unlike a monster—it was difficult to process.
“Bring the humans here. I will apologize in front of everyone and swear never to harm them again.”
“Krrrrk… Leader…”
“Krrrrrrk…”
To a monster, this was an enormous declaration.
It meant abandoning both their pride and their honor.
Tartakan’s subordinates looked at their leader with pity.
He was willing to throw away his own pride just to ensure their survival.
“We will do it too, Leader…!”
“We will apologize together, Leader! Krrrrk…!!”
***
A rare and extraordinary scene unfolded before the castle gates.
A long line of monsters stood in single file.
And in front of them, the gathered townspeople watched in disbelief.
“W-What is happening…?!”
“The monsters…?”
“But why are they so calm??”
“Shouldn’t we be running away right now??”
“But… the lord told us all to gather here….”
Then, a voice rang out from behind the monsters.
“Everyone, please be silent for a moment.”
Someone stepped forward.
“T-The Sage!!”
“The Sage…?!”
“Why is the Sage here…?!”
“Sage, it’s dangerous!!”
“Please, get out of there!! Quickly!!”
“These monsters are not dangerous. From now on, they will stay in this castle with you and protect you from other invading monsters.”
“W-What?!?!”
“What are you saying…?!”
“We… We can’t believe this!!”
“Those creatures are the ones who took our parents, our children! They are our enemies!!”
“We can never live alongside our enemies!!”
“Yes, that was true… until now. That is why they have come to apologize.”
“Krrrrrrrk…!!!! Humans!!!!”
“Eek!!”
“H-How terrifying!!”
“I knew it!! They’re showing their true nature now!!”
As Tartakan’s thunderous voice echoed, the townspeople’s eardrums felt like they might burst.
It seemed like he was finally revealing his monstrous nature.
But then—something unbelievable happened.
“We apologize for everything we have done!!! Please, accept us!!!!”
With those words, Tartakan dropped to his knees and slammed his forehead into the frozen ground.
Following their leader’s example, the other monsters did the same.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
The ground trembled as though an earthquake had struck the fortress.
The sheer force of their apologies left the townspeople momentarily stunned.
Though their method of apologizing was rather excessive, the most shocking part was not the intensity—it was the fact that these monsters, who had terrorized them for so long, were now kneeling and bowing their heads in remorse.
They couldn’t believe it.
Was this truly the same horde of monsters that had invaded their lands time and time again, taking the lives of their families and friends?
Then, a child’s voice rang out.
“Y-You… You bad monsters! You killed my father!!”
A small stone flew through the air, striking one of the monsters.
Encouraged by the first child, others began throwing stones as well.
“My little brother…! You killed my little brother too!!”
“Give back my sister!! Bring her back!!”
“My husband…!! My husband…!! Give him back!!! Give him back to me!!!”
Seeing the children’s actions, the rest of the townspeople erupted in anger.
All their pent-up grief and resentment came pouring out as they grabbed anything they could—stones, sticks, even weapons—and began throwing them at the kneeling monsters.
“Do you even understand how many lives you’ve taken?! Do you really think an apology is enough?!”
“Lies! Everything you say is just empty words!!”
“Monsters like you can never be trusted!!!”
Despite the barrage, Tartakan did not flinch.
“Krrrrrk!! Fine…!! Release all your anger upon me…!! If I can be forgiven, I will endure anything!!!!”
“Shut up!!!”
“Be quiet!!”
“Get out of our castle!! Get lost!!!”
As he continued to bow, slamming his forehead into the ground, Tartakan suddenly straightened his upper body.
“Krrrrrrrrrk!!!!”
The townspeople, who had started to move forward with confidence, immediately recoiled in fear, stepping back in unison.
“If you want to stab me, then stab me! If you want to cut me, then cut me! Shoot me with arrows! Burn me with fire! No matter what pain I must endure, it will never compare to what you have suffered! I will endure it all if it helps ease your hatred even a little!!”
As he finished speaking, Tartakan withdrew the ominous aura that had always radiated from his body.
A silent message—you may approach and strike me if you wish.
His subordinates followed his lead, completely suppressing their own demonic energy.
Yet, despite the open invitation, no one dared to approach.
The deep-seated fear and distrust of monsters still held them back.
As everyone hesitated, uncertain of what to do, a small child suddenly stepped forward.
Holding a wooden club, the child ran toward Tartakan and began striking his knee.
“H-Hey! Where are you going?!”
A woman—presumably the child’s mother—rushed forward, trying to grab him.
“Krrrrrk!!!!! Let the child do as he pleases!!!”
Tartakan locked eyes with the woman.
Her gaze was filled with fear and resentment.
She was the same woman who had earlier screamed in anguish, demanding the return of her husband.
“…Did you not say you lost your husband? If you wish, wound my body as much as you like.”
“….!!”
The woman stared at Tartakan for a moment before lowering her head.
Then, without a word, she snatched the wooden club from the child’s hands.
And she began to strike him.
Thud…!!
Thud…!!
Thud…!!
Thud…!!
Thwack…!!
Thud!!!
Thud!!!!
At first, her strikes were weak.
But as her arms gained strength, tears welled up in her eyes and began to fall.
“Hic… Hhhuuuh… Hhuuuh… Hhhhhnn…! Hhhhhnnn…!!!”
As the image of her husband, who had left this world so suddenly, filled her mind, overwhelming grief overtook her.
She swung the wooden club with all her might, releasing every bit of pain inside her.
For a while, the only sounds that filled the castle were the woman’s sobs and the dull impact of the club striking flesh.
Seeing this, the other townspeople slowly began stepping forward toward the monsters.
Some held kitchen knives.
Some held spears.
Some held swords.
Some carried bows and arrows.
One by one, they cried out the names of their lost loved ones, seeking their own form of small revenge by cutting into the flesh of the monsters.
Tartakan endured the piercing coldness of their weapons and the searing pain that followed.
He endured it all, with only one thought in his mind—to protect his subordinates.
His men, too, bore the humiliation and suffering in silence.
If they faltered now, their leader’s sacrifice would be for nothing.
For a long time, they endured, as though they were being tortured.
Eventually, one by one, the monsters began losing consciousness.
In the end, only Tartakan remained, his back straight, his posture unbroken.
‘Krr… Krrrrrk…. This pain… Is this the suffering I have inflicted upon humans…?No… Perhaps their pain was even greater than this… Krrrrrk….’
But even Tartakan could not endure forever.
Soon, he too collapsed.
***
When he opened his eyes, the green ceiling of a barracks tent came into view.
“Krr… Krrrrk…”
“You’re awake?”
“S-Sage…?”
“You did well. Thanks to your sacrifice, we were able to convince the townspeople.”
“Is… that so… Krrrrrk…”
“Of course, we had to negotiate a bit.”
“Negotiate…?”
“Yes. You monsters will be stationed outside the castle, not inside.”
“What… about food…?”
“That goes without saying. Also, using your demonic aura is strictly forbidden. The moment even one of you releases it, the deal is off. Understood?”
“I understand… Krrrrk…”
Demonic aura was a deadly weapon.
Even a mere brush of it against a human could mean death.
“And for now, I’ll be staying here with you. The townspeople still don’t fully trust you.”
And so, the Sage was left with no choice but to remain in the castle.
Days passed as humans and monsters worked to adapt to their new reality.
The monsters learned how to cultivate land from the humans and began clearing the fields outside the castle.
Meanwhile, the count’s estate started sending ample supplies of tribute.
With their daily struggles easing, the townspeople, in return, began sending carts filled with food outside the castle every other night at midnight.
Surprisingly, this strange coexistence between monsters and humans progressed smoothly, without major issues.
But the real problem wasn’t inside the castle—it was outside.
“P-Please, let us live here too.”
“I heard it’s safe from monster attacks here… Is it true?”
“They say the famous Sage is here… Where can we find him?”
“Whoa… It’s true. There really are monsters camped outside the castle…!!”
Word of the small castle spread like wildfire.
Suddenly, waves of people from other territories began arriving, seeking refuge.
Eventually, even the count’s estate caught wind of the situation.
And so.”…Who exactly are you?”
The deputy lord, Elena Glacia, stormed into the castle.