『Should you waste our time, it shall only serve to aggravate the Supreme One.』
After this unilateral declaration, the incorporeal undead returned to their masters’ side.
“Ha...? It can’t be… That is it?”
Zaryusu had a stumped look as he said this.
So he sent out such powerful undead just to transmit this message?
However, what was even harder to believe was when the silver haired girl, who was waiting at attention at the back, forcefully used both hands to make a clap once she received her instructions from the supreme ruler of death.
At the moment of the hand clap— those undead were exterminated.
“What!”
Zaryusu, who had taken in a large shock, involuntarily shouted out.
Since that move was not to return the summoned monsters, but to exterminate them.
Priests could exterminate undead. Although normally sending them back was already not easy, if there were two individuals and there was a great difference in strength, they could do more than make the undead retreat, and even directly exterminate them. However, to exterminate a group of undead at the same time was impossible.
What that meant was that the silver haired girl’s strength was on par with the Overlord of Death. If that was so, then the others by his side were fearfully also the same.
“Ha ha ha ha—”
Zaryusu could not stop his own laughter.
This was natural. At this moment, what could he do other than laugh? If the difference in their strength was as such—
“Younger brother!”
“—Ah, older brother!”
Zaryusu replied as he glanced to the voice which came from the under of the mud wall, and discovered that both Shasuryu and Crusch had arrived at the wall. Both individuals climbed up the mud wall and looked in the direction of the magic caster’s entourage.
Crusch forcefully squeezed herself between Zenberu and Zaryusu, almost causing Zenberu to fall over. However, this should have counted as a forgivable action.
“Is that the enemy's leader? The atmosphere around him is so strong that merely looking at him will cause people’s bones to chill. Although the appearance is similar to the lich which you defeated… but the strength of both individuals simply cannot be compared…”
“... Older brother, have you finished on your side?”
“Mm, pretty much. My and Crusch’s magic reserves have been depleted. Furthermore, after hearing that being’s words… I also think that we must resolve this matter first. About what that being said… Zaryusu, are you willing to come along?”
Zaryusu looked silently at Shasuryu for a while, then nodded gravely. Shasuryu momentarily showed an anguished look, but immediately returned to normal, so fast that nobody had noticed his expression.
“Sorry.”
“Don’t mind it, older brother.”
Shasuryu had only apologised before jumping off the mud wall, treading on the thin layer of ice coating the wetlands, and letting out splashing sounds.
“I’m off then.”
“Be careful.”
After Zaryusu hugged Crusch tightly, he also followed Shasuryu and jumped down into the wetlands.
Zaryusu and Shasuryu treaded across the thin ice above the lake, moving forward together. After they walked through the main entrance, Zaryusu felt the Overlord of Death’s group gaze intently at the two of them, as if their gazes carried actual pressuring strength. He desperately restrained his strong emotions telling him not to get away.
At this moment, Shasuryu spoke out.
“... Sorry.”
“... Sorry for what, older brother?”
“... If negotiations fall apart, the opponent may perhaps kill the two of us there and then.”
Zaryusu had already prepared himself mentally a while ago. It was because of this that he had hugged Crusch so tightly first.
“... Considering the opponent’s numbers, I cannot allow older brother to go forward alone. If you were by yourself, the opponent would probably also form the opinion that we are not paying them enough respect.”
Amongst lizardmen, Zaryusu was indeed widely known, and extremely suitable to take part in negotiations. However, his identity was that of a traveller, therefore even if he were sacrificed, it would not affect the lizardmen group structure. From this perspective, his loss would not be regretted.
Even if the hero were to be killed, so long as there were other remaining tribe chiefs, the battle could be continued. The only pity would be the loss of Frost Pain. Without it, there would be no means to block the cold wind coming from the frozen lake.
The two of them continued silently forward, getting step-by-step closer to death.
They arrived before the undead stairs leading up to the throne, and announced their arrival loudly. If the throne was situated even further back, they could have chosen to climb up the stairs first, but the opponent stood at the brink of the stairs, showing that they were not intended to climb up.
The king must sit at a higher level.
Although lizardmen did not have such a rule, many tribes had the habit where those in a higher position would look down on the others. Of course, from the perspective of holding talks, this was considered disrespectful treatment of the other party.
Therefore, whilst on the surface it was called negotiation, blatantly there was no intention for these negotiations to be conducted between equals.
However, requesting equality in talks would be overconfidence. Indeed, Zaryusu and the others had won the previous battle, but after seeing the rows of enemy soldiers on top of the enormous boulder, they were forced to realise that their previous victory had no meaning even if they did not wish to believe so. All of it had been just a game.
“Our delegation has arrived! I am the lizardmen representative, Shasuryu Shasha, the strongest hero amongst the lizardmen!”
“I am Zaryusu Shasha!”
Even so, their sonorous voices still had no flattery in them. They knew that this was foolishness, but this was their remaining dignity. Perhaps the previous battle was only a game in the opponent’s eyes, but they absolutely could not forfeit the honour of those who sacrificed their lives in that battle.
No response. The Overlord of Death seated on top of the throne merely looked critically at them, unceremoniously sizing them up. It was completely impossible to tell if there was any intent to take action.
The one who replied was the demon who had a pair of black wings which grew from her waist.
“Our master does not consider that you have not entered into a listening posture which demonstrates respect.”
“... What?”
Once the female heard the confused voice, she called out to the man by her side who had a tail.
“—Demiurge.”
“『Prostrate』.”