That blackmailer bastard made a bad move because he was pushed to the edge, but if he thought I’d be swayed by it, he was dead wrong.

It would be even worse if a bastard like him survived with my help and continued acting as Chief or became the Great Chief. I didn't know what kind of tribe Zatab was, but at the very least, that bastard Atart was the kind of guy who would set his people's lives back by decades.

But even so, I couldn't just turn a blind eye to the children.

In the end, I pulled out my final card.

"Hah, you're here. I guess you couldn't abandon the children after all?"

I just brought Akata with me—that was what the Archmage called the child—because I figured she'd be taken hostage if I left her behind. Never mind shielding her from cruel scenes, wasn't survival the priority right now?

But even if Akata was safe, the rest of the children were still exposed to life-threatening danger. Just looking at the child Atart currently had in his grasp made that clear.

Boasting about having six arms, he was using two of them to carry a child on his shoulders. Given that the child on his shoulders was crying, they definitely weren't enjoying the ride.

"If you were to use magic, it would be troublesome for me."

Ah. So you're putting a child on your head as a meat shield in case I pierce your skull with a mana spear?

"For the record, have your Priestess be careful too. I might not know much else, but I can recognize the precursors to magic."

Atart even pointed behind him, threatening to kill the children if we tried any tricks. I could see children suspended everywhere at an adult's height.

It seemed to be a deliberate arrangement, taking into account everything I had shown when subduing the rebels.

It had been a long time since I'd seen such a thorough son of a bitch.

"So, will you help me out now? Those bastards have invaded with a small elite force. Taking advantage of the fact that we don't have a Priestess, they focused on magic and even mobilized Jahukayas. Still, there aren't many of them. If we do this right..."

Seeing that, a sudden heat surged around my eyes.

'You're angry, aren't you?'

I really was.

'Don't you want to kill him?'

It was pissing me off.

'Don't hold back.'

Listen here. I never once thought that living like a pushover was wrong. The losses I took were always at a bearable level, and sometimes, my loss would become an irreplaceable opportunity for someone else.

'There's no need for you to hold back.'

But sometimes, I get sick and tired of looking at those who try to exploit my goodwill.

'Let's kill them all.'

Did I look like an easy mark just because I stayed quiet? I had never been an easy person to mess with.

"Demon Knight?"

「Fury」

I realized the depth and magnitude of my boiling anger. I couldn't hold this in. I was already under severe stress, and I absolutely couldn't handle this fucking situation.

"Demon Knight!"

「Nullifying all active status effects except Fury...」

However, that didn't matter.

「Haa──@# null7%$ing addit4#^ status$$^&! @.

#$^$@#$@@#&?????」

What happens if I forcefully hold back my anger, what kind of consequences my explosive rage can bring.

Didn't I already know?

"Demon Knight, what on earth are you trying to—!"

「Error!」

First and foremost, I narrowed the target of my anger, avoiding the children and civilians crowding the surroundings.

'... How?'

It was different from when I was on the island.

Back then, I was angry at so many things—the enemies oppressing the children, the blood-soaked scenes—and yet, I was in a position where I had to suppress my emotions. That was why my anger had amplified until it eventually manifested as the Fury status effect.

But my position was different now.

The current me could unleash my anger before it paralyzed my brain. It was okay to do so.

'How can you control your anger?'

Furthermore, if you face the target of your anger head-on and pour it out in the right direction with justification and value in your actions, anger isn't necessarily a bad thing.

Releasing the water before the dam breaks isn't a sign of short patience; it's a wise act.

'How.'

Therefore, after specifying my target, I concentrated the fluctuating mana in my right arm into a single point.

'A mere human.'

"Demon Knight—!"

And when the mana had completely converged into a single point, I spat out all my anger and sorrow along with it.

The mana, which had slightly increased and boasted a value of 2,941, plummeted to 0 as I fired off a pitch-black blast.

---!

With a sound like thunder, a long, snake-like streak of black energy raced across the sky.

The path where the giant serpent had passed evaporated completely, looking exactly as if a giant had taken a bite out of the forest.

It was such an overwhelming sight that even I let out a hollow laugh. To the point where my first thought was that it might be a fragment of a myth, even in a world where magic and sword aura existed.

"Go ahead and try."

So listen, you son of a bitch. Let's reshape the board.

"Because you'll quickly learn that the children's lives were directly tied to your own."

You aren't the only one who knows how to make threats.

... I thought I could definitely break him down this time.

「Ah. Aah...」

"... What?"

"Why, are you surprised because it's an unexpected reaction?"

The surroundings fell silent. It was a bizarrely unfitting stillness for a situation where another tribe had just waged war on them.

"Did you really think I would be afraid to carry the corpses of innocent children?!"

But considering what I had just done, and how the resulting wind pressure had smashed several houses and sent people tumbling, it wasn't strange at all.

"Kill them! You've already murdered your own flesh and blood; adding the blood of children won't change anything!"

Even if they didn't have the presence of mind to look at me, they would have no choice but to examine their surroundings once their bodies were slammed into the ground. Furthermore, if everyone around them was looking at the forest behind them, wouldn't they naturally follow their gaze?

Ultimately, anyone with the guts to make a move after seeing that spectacle... well, I highly doubt there is one.

"However, remember this!"

At least not until I finish speaking, anyway.

"If you kill those children, in revenge for those innocent souls, I will slice your flesh, crush your bones, and tear your innards to shreds before scattering them over those children's gravestones!"

So let's go. It's a game of chicken.

Whether you snap and go, 'Ah, fuck it, everybody dies,' or whether you freeze up and let me save the children just as I intended. Let's go with whoever chickens out first is the one who dies.

"Then make your choice!"

But I can guarantee you this. I might not be the winner at the end of this, but you will definitely be the loser.

"Will you take the children's lives as your companions on the road to the afterlife, or will you quietly mind your own business?"

Because either way you choose, you're going to die.

"W-What..."

Perhaps it was because my concept and my true self had become one and expressed genuine anger for the first time in a while. I felt heat radiating from my cheeks. It was the temperature of my rage.

But was that a bad thing? Not really.

Even though the situation was completely fucked, I felt refreshed inside. Honestly, this was the first time I could just get angry without calculating the circumstances.

During Montata, it was a bit... yeah. Due to my situation, I had to walk on eggshells a bit even when I wanted to get angry.

"The ch-children..."

GRIP.

More importantly, I expected this, but this bastard was genuinely panicking.

I deliberately brought up his lore-accurate past to speak harshly, and it seemed to have an effect.

Then again, one wouldn't normally think a person who murdered their own flesh and blood would be shaken by the deaths of others. That was exactly what I aimed for when I said it.

I barely suppressed my desire to harshly criticize him and stabbed my Zweihänder into the ground next to me. The mana that rapidly surged up flowed in streams of black energy through the hand gripping the Zweihänder.

It was a clear threat signal.

"I told you. To choose."

At that, Atart, who had been pathetically using the children as a shield, finally shut his mouth.

He must not have wanted his life to end quickly, as he wasn't laying a single finger on the children in the meantime. I was so dumbfounded I couldn't even laugh.

【Just now... what on earth...】

【Black thunder... shot out from the outlander's hand.】

【Did a snake... a snake fly through the sky?】

Meanwhile, those who were responding to the battle began to murmur. Both the invaders and the defenders just stood there awkwardly, lacking the courage to clash swords.

【He's running away!】

At that moment, a boy of about fifteen holding a child bolted away. The Zatab warrior drawing his spear at the boy was probably just a reflex.

SLASH!

However, I couldn't allow it. To clearly demonstrate that it was my doing, I swung my hand and fired a mana spear.

You could say I gathered mana at my fingertips and threw it like a knife or a card.

The spear, which was twice as easy to create and consumed less mana than forming it in midair, flew swiftly and sliced off the Zatab warrior's spear.

The warrior's expression turned bewildered, and the child quickly scurried away.

"How dare you."

What a funny guy. Do you think I'm refusing to side with Bigabol because Atart is a dirty scumbag, and that means I'm defending you invaders?

"My refusal to side with that insect does not justify your invasion. So go ahead and run wild. But the moment you target those who are unarmed or have no will to fight, I will personally take your heads."

I stared fiercely and tenaciously at the Zatab warrior. I had been told that unblinking pupils fixed on a single point were the eyes of a killer, so I kept my gaze as motionless as possible.

Whether it had an effect or not, the warrior broke out in a cold sweat and stepped back.

【... I am relaying this to the warriors of Zatab. We are currently visiting the Bigabol tribe as guests... and we have no intention of intervening in this fight. At least, not as long as you do not attack those who have no will to resist.】

Ah, come to think of it, couldn't they not understand me? It didn't matter. It seemed the Archmage was translating for me.

【I ask of you, we will not care whether you fry or boil each other, so please leave the fleeing or surrendered civilians alone. That is, if you do not want us to interfere.】

Of course, this made me feel like some international organization like the UN... but whatever. I had already revealed my strength; it was a good thing if I could save people with it.

【We cannot trust the words of an outlander!】

【And if you do not believe us? What will you do then? I warn you in advance, the person next to me will not treat you with the same polite attitude that I do.】

【...!!】

【I will say it again. You do not have a choice. Please do not force us to make the worst possible choice.】

Fortunately, perhaps because the Archmage communicated it well, Zatab no longer drew their swords against the civilians.

【Damn it. In the end, that is just taking Zatab's side under the guise of neutrality! You are my guests, yet you plan to stand by and watch our tribe be slaughtered?!】

【It seems you were the one who crossed the line first, Chief. Also, it appears the true person pushing the Bigabol tribe to the edge of the cliff is not us.】

【Do you not even pity us?!】

I watched the children and the elderly gather behind me and glared at Atart again. I didn't know what he was saying, but judging by his shameless face, it didn't seem like he was saying anything good.

Atart, who had been whining to the Archmage, flinched.

【You were the one who said you would kill the children if we did not intervene, Chief Atart!! How dare you speak of pity after that!!】

At the same time, the Archmage exploded in anger. It made me wonder what on earth that bastard had just said.

【The same goes for those of you agreeing with the Chief! Are you just standing by because the hostages are the children of rebels?!】

Wow, the Archmage was really pissed off.

For some reason, I felt my anger vanish completely. It had been like this last time too, but seeing the usually endlessly benevolent Archmage fly into a rage made my own heart shrink back.

If it weren't for my concept, I would have politely folded my hands and planted my head on the floor.

【How foolish can you be! If those children die, it is blatantly obvious who the next hostages will be!】

【...! What do you mean by that!】

【Wait, what are you saying!】

【I will leave you with one last thing. The Chief did not just stake the lives of those children. He held all the children in this entire village hostage against us.】

I didn't know why she was mad, which made it even scarier.

【Chief...?】

【It is a lie. Do not be shaken! The enemy is right in front of us!】

【...】

But sooomething felt like their morale was crumbling?

【It's true!!】

At that moment, the child behind me, Akata, yelled out.

【That man even told me to kill this person!! All because he didn't help him!!】

Excuse me, why are you pointing at me while saying that...

【... Akata?】

【I don't know. Didn't you say yesterday there was a high possibility of that?】

【But if you do this...】

【My whole family is dead, so what's the point of this tribe surviving? As long as I can see Atart die, I don't care if this crappy tribe goes to ruin.】

Excuse me...

【C-Chief, is that true?】

【Do not be shaken! Are you going to be swayed by the words of a rebel's child with the enemies right in front of us?! You all already know the rebels colluded with Zatab!!】

【That bastard doesn't care about the fate of our tribe! Who takes all the children hostage, saying we're all dead anyway if we lose?!】

I became the silent eye of the storm and felt sullen. These people were totally leaving me out even though I went through the trouble of making an escape route for them... Humph.

SLASH!

Right then, Atart drew his sword. No, would it be more accurate to say he swung the one he already had drawn?

Either way, the fact that he had beheaded someone was undeniable. It was the neck of the guy who had been most passionately muttering something or other to Atart.

Atart's face, sizzling with rage, looked around with a cold glare.

【I am your Chief. If you are going to be swept up by the words of outlanders and rebels, then you might as well drop your weapons and crawl under them.】

Did he have... charisma?

I didn't know. A domestic abuser who also took children hostage—a "piece of human trash wasting oxygen that couldn't even be recycled." Even if he had charisma, I would say he didn't.

But that was just my opinion; the people around him fell right in line. Even though a person had died, they chose submission over objection.

He wasn't the Chief for nothing. Still a piece of trash, though.

【They cannot attack civilians! Aim for that opening!】

【... Yes!】

Atart even seemed to have some capability. Although the damage was significant, they somehow formed a formation and began to hold out.

Considering the handicaps of not having my help and lacking a Priestess, it was a truly surprising talent. Still a piece of trash, though.

【Son of a bitch...】

Regardless of the Bigabol tribe's victory or defeat, I really hoped Zatab would at least kill Atart.

I gritted my teeth as I watched the bastard still holding the children hostage—which was a given. The moment he released the hostages, I was going to kill him. If he got attacked, there was a high chance the child would get caught up in it, so it felt a bit wrong to even wish for it.

But for that guy to not only survive but also win? Those kids would have to live with the sons of bitches who took them hostage as their leaders.

Ah, how annoying.

'Kill him. Please.'

Isn't there a way to just do something about that guy?

'Kill everything that annoys you!'

Really, just that one guy...

"Boss."

Was it my imagination? I felt like I just heard a voice I shouldn't be hearing right now...

"Boss Knight."

"...!"

I stealthily rolled my eyes toward the voice that pierced through my ringing ears. Between the houses, I caught a glimpse of green ears and a tail. Behind them, an unhidden muscular fighter was poking his eyes out.

"Uh, well. Is there anything we can help you with?"

"Berserker wants to fight."

They were truly hilarious guys. When did they even get here? And why were they hiding like that? Berserker had nearly half his body sticking out...

Wait.

I looked at DeB and Berserker again.

If I played this right... couldn't I save the children?

"Mage."

"...? What is it?"

This wasn't something my brain could handle. I called for the person with the highest Intelligence stat here. It was time to formulate a plot.

【Damn it, the resistance is too strong!】

【Shit. And they said not to worry because even if the rebellion failed, they would chip away at their forces...! This is why you can't trust bastards from other tribes!】

【Commander, the damage to the Jahukayas is severe! We need orders!】

【Bring out that method! I didn't want to use the damn outlanders' item, but we have no choice. Throw it!】

It was time to formulate one, but...

【Throw it!】

At the height of the fierce battle, a small jar dropped right into the middle of the village.

【Huh?】

【U-Uuuuh!】

【Aaaaargh!!!】

"... Is it a curse?!"

A disaster began to spread.