Once her fiancé, the last remaining kin, was worth preserving as a natural monument. But the Queen showed no sentimentality, no hesitation.
Becoming a monster truly changed her life. Now was the time to sever those old, tangled ties.
With a ruthless hand, she ended it in one strike. Then, she took a deep breath.
Not all are like this, but generally, beastmen surpass humans in physical abilities. The gap can be narrowed or reversed through training.
However, even untrained beastmen are stronger than ordinary humans. Their vitality and regenerative abilities are superior, almost more like monsters than humans.
This wasn’t always the case. It’s a change that occurred to the beastmen living half-isolated from the continent.
Gradually evolving by absorbing the immense life force emitted by the Kalkanmir Mountain Range. The more the world’s secrets are uncovered, the clearer the truth becomes.
“We’ve been living by absorbing this life force all along. Without even knowing it.”
Mountains emitting life force. Frankly, it sounds absurd. How can something dead emit life force? It’s impossible unless it’s alive.
This fact completely changed Epirna’s worldview. The life force emitted by the Kalkanmir Mountain Range affects all living beings, but its effect is greatest on monsters.
As a monster, she could feel the overflowing life force around her. Even a fraction of the immense life force released made her feel as if her rank as a living being had risen.
“Come here, puppy.”
So, shouldn’t that beauty be shared with more beings? No need to hold back. Epirna was more than willing.
Upon hearing “puppy,” a dog approached, drooling, with a heavy chain dragging on the ground.
The black dog, with dilated pupils like it had rabies, couldn’t stop drooling.
Wolves and dogs share ancestors but made different choices. Long ago, when Epirna took control of the plains, the wolves fled, and the dogs submitted. As a reward for their submission, Epirna gave them a great gift.
She implanted them with cells from the Primal Body, gifting them the bodies of monsters. But they couldn’t control it. Unable to withstand the sudden physical upheaval, they turned into mere beasts.
“Did you take care of the house while I was away?”
Woof woof! The dog barked in response. Epirna smiled contentedly, petting the dog like a cute puppy.
In truth, this was the effect she intended. From the beginning, she wanted the dog tribe to lose their identity and become like this.
The Demon King of the Arctic has researched numerous things. Among them were great discoveries and pitiful results. The technology to create beasts was among the most pitiful.
If such technology existed in a small country on the continent, it could be a serious contender for world domination. But for the Demon King, it was a failure.
What he wanted to create was a being with its own consciousness, capable of communication, with a clear sense of self.
To create such a being, or to transform an existing one, requires a careful process and advanced technology. Without such preparation, implanting cells extracted from the Primal Body directly leads to the brain being reconstructed, losing its sense of self.
Not fully becoming a monster, the self is erased, leaving behind a blank slate. The Demon King called these “wild beasts.”
Too pitiful to be called monsters, they are failed attempts at becoming monsters. Haphazard procedures naturally produce only failures.
If you’re going to do it, do it properly. What use is mass-producing these? Yet, these puppets, lacking a conscious self but obedient and possessing monstrous strength, were undoubtedly useful.
The military always demands and desires such beings. The Demon King’s mistake perfectly suited Epirna’s taste. She learned the technology to create beast soldiers and began experimenting.
First, she turned dogs into beasts. Loyal hunting dogs that couldn’t think for themselves were born. Though fewer in number than the corpse soldiers of the Underground Castle of Flesh, their strength was such that one could easily take on a hundred.
Even as failed monsters, they are still monsters, possessing the unique vitality and strength of monsters. These hunting dogs, loyal only to Epirna’s commands, were one of the secrets to her complete subjugation of the plains. Now, no one in the plains could threaten her position.
At least, no one from within.
Outsiders from beyond are a different story.
“Intruders…?”
Returning from the Arctic and starting her official schedule with murder, the Queen’s story truly bewildered people. The high officials of the Beastman Kingdom trembled upon hearing the news.
Even her own kin were treated so harshly. They were no exception. Long ago, all forces that could oppose Epirna were either completely eradicated or fled beyond the plains.
Thus, Epirna now enjoys absolute power with no competitors. She was the great leader of the plains, and if one wished to live on the plains, submission was the only option.
Following out of fear. The foxes knelt and reported, unable to hide their trembling bodies and stiffened faces.
“Intruders have appeared.”
“Yes, Your Majesty, the great leader of all beastmen.”
“Hmm…”
Glancing. The reporting fox’s gaze turned towards the beast behind Epirna.
If she were to rage, they too would end up like that. The dog was just the beginning. Epirna had started turning those who wronged her into beasts first.
Of course, she didn’t declare that she would turn everyone into such monsters. She didn’t want to become the king of a puppet kingdom. Above all, the foxes would start fleeing immediately.
She only punished those who committed crimes in such a manner. The problem was that the judgment was quite arbitrary. Unlike the empire, the Eastern Plains didn’t even have a court.
Epirna’s word was law. Her single word decided life and death.
“Was it a human?”
“We couldn’t confirm that far.”
“So, you’re telling me to check? You should know how to solve problems on your own, not just report. Do you even have the spirit of a beastman?”
Fortunately, she was in a good mood today. She had just returned from seeing the Demon King and had become the monster she longed to be. The punishment was just a few scolding words. For the fox, it was a narrow escape.
“Release the dogs. Track the intruder’s trail. Report to me immediately if you find anything.”
She replied with a somewhat annoyed expression. An intruder capable of defeating both a Death Worm and a Griffin had entered her territory. Her mood soured, but it was also strange.
What could they possibly want from the Eastern Plains? Is there money here? Or perhaps an unknown gold vein? There’s no abundance of jewels or rare minerals.
Though it’s not for her to say, the beastmen are poor. Most rely on rations from the central government.
Of course, there’s a wealth gap, but generally, they are equally poor. The wealthy of the Beastman Kingdom have a lower quality of life than the middle class of the empire.
What could they possibly want to take from such a place? Epirna pondered for a moment.
She is at the pinnacle of the Beastman Kingdom but not wealthy. If she had desired money and wealth, she would have sought trade and diplomatic relations with the empire.
She doesn’t even glance at the jewels that ordinary women covet. Her palace is large but lacks decorations.
Even if a skilled intruder who defeated two monsters were to ransack the palace, it wouldn’t cover the labor costs. There was no profit to be gained.
“What could they possibly want from this place…”
The more she thought about it, the stranger it seemed. If they could defeat two monsters, their capabilities, whether as an individual or a group, were already proven.
They could easily make a fortune in any country on the continent, not just the empire. There’s no reason to come here. Unless they’re undergoing some extreme training.
‘Perhaps they came here to train?’
Maybe that’s the answer. No, there was no other plausible reason.
Even though two monsters were killed, Epirna’s attitude was surprisingly calm. The fox glanced at her and cautiously reported.
“Your Majesty, what should we do with the bodies of the Griffin and the Death Worm? Shall we bury them properly?”
“Bring them here.”
With that simple command, the fox was startled. No, surely not. Did I misreport out of fear and tension? I clearly reported their deaths, but did I say they fainted from exhaustion?
Clattering. She trembled with fear. Now, she had to ask. If she had falsely reported to Epirna, she had to correct it immediately. If it was discovered later, there would be no turning back.
“Your Majesty, the two monsters are definitely dead…”
“Do I have to spell everything out for you? Bring their bodies here.”
The fox blinked rapidly. Hurriedly bowing, she agreed, but her mind was in chaos.
Did I mishear? Slowly backing away, she glanced at Epirna, but the tiger’s words were heavy. Not something to be taken lightly.
“Only then will I have the face to see that person.”
How on earth are we supposed to drag those huge, heavy things from the wasteland here?
Should we lay logs on the ground and pull the bodies with ropes? It’s an effort and labor beyond imagination. But it’s Epirna’s command. There’s no room for refusal.
‘Ah, whatever. It’s not like I’m the one suffering.’
But as the saying goes, clear water upstream means clear water downstream. If the master is like this, the subordinates have their ways.
The method is to conscript people who should be engaged in their livelihoods by invoking Epirna’s royal decree.
“This is absurd. To abandon our work for days, carrying provisions, and drag the bodies of monsters here. If I don’t receive rations, my family will starve.”
“Kid, do you think you’re the only one with a family? I have a family too! If this goes wrong, I’ll die too.”
The fox, trembling before the tiger, was a tyrant before the powerless. The woman snapped fiercely.
“Enough talk, gather everyone. We’re embarking on a march of hardship.”
Dragging those huge monsters, two of them, here by manpower. Just imagining it brought tears to her eyes. But it’s her position to do as commanded. The fox shed tears.
