The Strongest in the World Doesn’t Want To Do Anything

36 – Return of the Inhumans

Even now, Tendrial’s body continued to tremble upon arriving in Tesa.

The image of Wolfgang, who suddenly appeared and massacred his subordinates, kept replaying in her mind.

The scene of the monster covered in blue flames, taunting her as it whipped and roamed around, refused to leave her thoughts easily.

Tendrial nearly succumbed to despair and lost consciousness in the forest, but with the determination to survive, she barely managed to escape and joined the group carrying Casey’s body.

Seeing the worn-out Tendrial, the members worriedly asked her questions, but she refused to answer.

After enduring two days in that frigid atmosphere, they crossed the border of Terosa.

The procession led by a massive carriage with countless inhumans was enough to catch the attention of the outer guards stationed at the border.

A lightly armed group of dozens of guards blocked their path.

The forest unit had received information about the escape, and it was essentially the same as taking steps to arrest them.

Tendrial, who had been following the formation from behind, walked up to the guards exuding an oppressive attitude. In no time, he stood in front of them.

“Tendrial?”

“Step aside. These are the ones the queen pardoned.”

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The guard, scanning the faces of the unit members at the mention of pardon, turned around and instructed another guard to report.

“I haven’t received any orders yet. I’ll send them after confirmation…”

“Hey, you guys are the outermost guards. When do you report, and when do you get approval?”

Tendrial approached a covered cart and lifted the cloth, revealing Kacey lying on it. The guard, seeing Kacey’s injured state, couldn’t hide his astonishment.

“K-Kacey? Are you seriously injured? It looks like you’re unconscious…”

“She’s dead.”

“What?”

“She’s dead. It’s Wolfgang’s doing. Do you understand the gravity of the situation now? Fool? Hurry up and let them in.”

The guard, facing Tendrial’s firm expression, nodded after a moment.

“Yes. I understand. You can pass for now.”

“Sooner than expected.”

“Just a moment.”

The expression of the guard who grabbed Tendrial’s wrist as he was about to leave stiffened.

“…What?”

“How did Lady Kacey face her last moments? If you witnessed it, please…”

The guard’s hand holding Tendrial’s wrist trembled slightly.

As the youngest chief of the guard and the most skilled guard, Kacey was nothing short of an idol to the guards of Terosa. It wasn’t strange for the guard to be overwhelmed by emotions like regret and sorrow when this person, who had become a cold corpse, was brought on the cart of the criminals she had fought against.

Of course, since he didn’t know her innocence, it was a possible reaction.

“…I didn’t see.”

“I see…”

A brief silence enveloped them.

The guard sighed and said to Tendrial.

“Understood. You can go through, but the next guard unit might inspect more thoroughly. The queen may have pardoned them, but since it’s not confirmed, it’s better for them to move with handcuffs on. It’s for their own safety.”

Tendrial thought it was annoying and frustrating, but considering he had to pass through many checkpoints until he reached Tessa, he decided to comply with the guard’s words.

The ranks of inhumans in shackles had to endure the same questions every time they passed through the checkpoint.

More than inquiries about how Casey died, how bravely she fought, and why she failed, Kacey also heard words that bordered on reproach.

Praises and condolences for her poured endlessly from the mouths of every guard she encountered.

Among them were those who strongly expressed hostility toward Wolfgang, whom they considered the cause of death.

“…Was Casey really like this?”

Every time he witnessed such scenes, Tendrial resolved to conceal the truth of Casey’s death until the end.

After a long journey, when they arrived in Tessa, rumors had already spread, and citizens had gathered to watch the procession of Tendrial and the Forest members.

The gaze of those watching them carried a strange chill.

It must have been an uncomfortable feeling to witness the corpses of their non-human heroes, beings who had committed heinous crimes and were despised by humans.

– Thud

A thrown pebble struck the head of a goblin who was walking with lowered head in the formation.

“Damn it-“

As the goblin clenched its yellow fangs and was about to flare up, Tendrial intervened, thrusting a dagger to restrain its temper.

“Quell your temper.”

“…Yes, Chief.”

Ignoring the criticisms coming from all directions, Tendrial and his subordinates reached the front of the royal palace.

The heavily armed elite guards of Terosa surrounded them, awaiting the queen.

Shortly afterward, Rosalia, who had heard the news, appeared before them.

“Tendrial.”

Tendrial kneeled before the queen, bowing his head in greeting.

“I report my return.”

“…You took your subordinates with you.”

The queen spoke nonchalantly, as if she had not given any orders.

Feeling a sense of irony but having no choice but to adapt to her whims, Tendrial nodded, seeking forgiveness.

“I apologize, Your Majesty. We needed the manpower to track Wolfgang.”

“Yes. Fine. We’ll sort it out gradually…”

The queen, looking at the carriage, seemed to feel a headache, pressing her forehead with her hand and furrowing her brows.

“So, Casey is dead?”

“Yes.”

“Could I hear the detailed circumstances? Tendrial.”

Tendrial began to explain elaborately and excessively to the queen’s question. He completely erased the conspiracies that had been woven among the forest dwellers, detailing how he began tracking, where he witnessed Wolfgang, and where Casey was encountered, narrating in detail and vividly what happened when she encountered Wolfgang.

Given Tendrial’s inherently wicked and cunning nature, fabricating such a story was no trouble for him.

The queen, who was well aware of Tendrial’s disposition, couldn’t help but suspect some degree of falsehood in his account but didn’t outright consider her testimony as false.

Her worries only piled up about how to deal with Wolfgang.

“Casey, too… What in the world should I do?”

Seeing Rosalia’s face filled with concern, Tendrial thought it was the perfect time to bring forth the proposal he had prepared.

“Your Majesty, may I dare to propose something?”

The queen responded with unease, “What is it? Go ahead.”

“My subordinates… It’s true they’ve caused significant trouble even before the war. But could there be friends more useful in a situation more serious than the current invasion of demons?”

As Tendrial spoke as expected, the queen smirked.

She had already contemplated making use of Tendrial and her subordinates in a way that wouldn’t pose a significant threat to herself or Terosa, even if they were discarded or executed for a failed operation.

The queen seemed to reluctantly deliberate Tendrial’s proposal, wanting it to appear as though she was making a forced decision.

“Hmm… Go on.”

“Though their past is shameful, under my command, these fellows are willing to lay down their lives. If given a chance, I will train them to pledge lifelong loyalty and willingly die for Terosa. So, I implore you to accept them into Terosa’s regular forces instead of confining them to the underground prison.”

Though Rosalia felt inclined to accept the proposal on the spot and immediately organize the unit, she intentionally hesitated.

“Well… Let’s discuss this again after we’ve held the funerals for our heroes, Tendrial.”

Adelus and the Captain of the Guard still lay in the morgue. Now, Casey had joined them.

Tendrial sensed that Rosalia’s words were practically a positive response.

“Yes, of course. Until the decision is made, where should they…”

“Naturally, it’s the underground prison. Considering that the decision won’t take long, you should consider that much.”

A faint murmur of discontent arose from the forest dwellers.

Before their dissatisfaction became more pronounced, Tendrial quickly responded, “Yes, understood. Thank you…”

As Tendrial was about to finish with formal gratitude, a brightly glowing bead fell from his pocket.

Tendrial looked at the bead, unfamiliar both with seeing it and recalling putting it in his pocket.

With its radiant light, the bead floated into the air, captivating everyone’s attention.

After a moment, cracks appeared in the concrete, and thick mist began to seep out.

“That… that is… illusion magic?”

As Rosalia was familiar with the sight, she could identify its nature earlier than others.

Soon, within the illusion magic, a scene unfolded where Tendrial and Casey were together in the forest.

Upon seeing the scene, Tendrial spoke.

“Damn.”