The atmosphere grew tense in an instant under the low voice and fierce gaze of Song of the Crouched Flame.
Zeke looked at him calmly and said, "Can't you tell just by looking? I'm grilling the meat properly."
Song of the Crouched Flame bristled his feathers and replied, "Don't humans have even the basic common sense that they shouldn't eat monster meat?"
Zeke shook his head. "Normally, of course not. But that's because of the toxicity, right?
Once the toxicity is removed, it's fine to eat, so don't worry and dig in."
At those words, Song of the Crouched Flame raised his heavy iron club, about to smash down on the stone slab where the meat was grilling.
Whoosh!
At that moment, Helen behind him drew her Dragon Buster and blocked the iron club from above.
Clang!
Song of the Crouched Flame staggered back.
The Blackwing Tribe warriors behind him bristled their feathers and aimed their iron clubs.
Song of the Crouched Flame glared at Zeke and Helen. "You foolish humans. The toxicity in monster meat isn't something you can just remove like that! They might not notice it right away, but those who eat it will collapse soon enough! Your misguided actions will kill all our allies!"
Zeke pondered how to explain as Song of the Crouched Flame bellowed.
After a moment of thought, Zeke said to a knight, "Go fetch a bowl of dirty water." The knight quickly went to the well and brought back a bowl of water.
They had found an old well, but the water was contaminated, so they had been settling the sediment and drinking only the clearer surface water bit by bit. Zeke pointed to the dirty water and said, "Everyone, watch closely." He activated his Purification Skill on the dirty water.
A golden aura seeped into the water, and the contaminated liquid turned unbelievably clear.
Not only the beastmen but also the Blackwing Tribe warriors behind them were stunned by the miracle Zeke had performed.
"H-How?"
"Is that a miracle? From a human?"
Song of the Crouched Flame glared at the purified water before asking Zeke, "...Human, are you a mage?"
"It seems even an orc passing by would know I'm not a mage."
"How can a knight do something like this?"
Zeke thought for a moment before slowly replying, "I visited the Fairy Lake not long ago.
I met the Fairy King there and received his blessing, which granted me this ability."
At the mention of receiving the Fairy King's blessing, the surrounding beastmen, Zoin Tribe members, and even the knights gaped in disbelief.
No one could believe Zeke's words.
"The Fairy King...?"
"Isn't that just something from storybooks?"
Since they all seemed skeptical, Zeke decided to show them proof.
Zeke usually preferred to keep his powers hidden, but building trust was crucial now, so he had no choice.
He thought the blessed fairy stone from the Fairy King would serve as evidence, and as he reached to take it out—
The phoenix, which had been hidden in a dimensional rift, revealed itself.
Whooo—
The phoenix spread its magnificent wings on Zeke's shoulder and let out a Phoenix Cry, causing the Zoin Tribe members to panic and step back.
"M-My god! Th-That's...!"
"A ph-phoenix! It's the phoenix!"
"The divine beast from legends has appeared!"
Zeke was taken aback by the Blackwing Tribe warriors shouting in the Zoin Tribe language.
'Why were they suddenly acting like this?'
The notorious Blackwing Tribe warriors, who fearlessly charged at the Imperial Knight Order with their war cries, were now in a frenzy at the sight of the phoenix—a bizarre spectacle.
Even Song of the Crouched Flame looked visibly flustered.
"...Human, is that really the phoenix?"
Zeke nodded, puzzled by Song of the Crouched Flame's unexpected reaction. "Yes, it was born at the Fairy Lake. But why are you all reacting like this?"
Song of the Crouched Flame swallowed hard before slowly speaking. "There was a prophecy."
"What prophecy?"
He looked at Zeke with a reluctant expression. "A prophecy that when the divine beast phoenix appears, the Zoin Tribe will regain their freedom."
Zeke stared at the phoenix, which was perched on Helen's shoulder, chirping a song as it fluffed its feathers, his face showing disbelief.
'Was there some power I didn't know about?'
He had heard it was an auspicious omen, but since it had hatched not long ago, it didn't have any particular special abilities yet.
Just then, the phoenix spread its wings, flapped, and snatched a piece of meat from the stone slab.
The Zoin Tribe members were startled.
"Th-The phoenix ate that meat!"
"Is it really okay?"
Song of the Crouched Flame wore a complicated expression before stepping forward to the stone slab and picking up a piece of meat to eat.
He chewed and swallowed it, then stared intently at Zeke.
After a moment, he turned and nodded to the other Blackwing Tribe warriors.
The Blackwing Tribe warriors suddenly rushed to the grill and stuffed the meat into their mouths.
"Wow, meat after so long!"
"It's delicious. So good."
They had been acting like it was poison earlier, but now they were devouring the meat more eagerly than the beastmen, leaving Zeke with an incredulous expression.
Once the Zoin Tribe members had cleaned the meat off the slab, they stood tall again, furrowing their brows as before.
But grease still glistened around their beaks.
Satisfied from the hearty meal, Song of the Crouched Flame suddenly raised his iron club and let out a war cry.
"Arararara!"
The other Zoin Tribe members behind him began to cry out as well.
"Arararara!"
"Kiyooooot!"
As the war cries echoed, the phoenix, excited, let out another Phoenix Cry from Helen's shoulder.
Whooo—
The Phoenix Cry had the power to repel evil energies and summon good fortune.
Vitality began to stir in the fortress, which had been weighed down by exhaustion.
After the war cries, Song of the Crouched Flame suddenly led his warriors out of the fortress.
Those left inside were left bewildered.
"Are those guys crazy?"
The beastmen, lounging on their sides and patting their full bellies, clicked their tongues at the Zoin Tribe members rushing out.
Soon after, the Zoin Tribe returned to the fortress, having caught a few minotaurs.
Thud!
Song of the Crouched Flame placed the minotaur in front of Zeke and said with a sharp gaze, "Blackwing Tribe warriors never eat for free."
He and the other Blackwing Tribe warriors stared silently at Zeke.
'They basically wanted more grilled.'
Zeke read the hidden intent in their actions and chuckled inwardly at the absurdity, but since they needed to regain their strength anyway, it was fine.
Zeke butchered, purified, and grilled the minotaur the Blackwing Tribe had brought.
Big Joe, understanding the situation, ordered his subordinates to catch some appetizing-looking monsters.
In the end, thanks to Zeke's efforts, everyone in the fortress was able to eat well and recover their stamina.
The tiger beastman who had been guarding the gate, knocked out by Zeke's blow, ate some minotaur meat and was soon up and about again, thanks to his astonishing recovery.
Zeke nodded at the sight. The beastmen's innate recovery was a great asset on the battlefield.
It wasn't for nothing that beastmen were considered top-tier among mercenaries.
However, most beastmen of the fierce animal types were hot-blooded and prone to causing trouble, so many mercenary companies avoided them.
This ferocity was also why beastmen couldn't integrate into Central Continent society like dwarves or other races.
With their hunger satisfied and energy restored, Zeke resumed the meeting with Song of the Crouched Flame and Big Joe.
"The Zoin Tribe will accept Kali's terms."
Surprisingly, Song of the Crouched Flame, who had been so rigid, was the first to agree to the proposal.
'Had the phoenix really changed his mind?'
The Zoin Tribe was one of the most mysterious races, alongside the naga.
Their high priests often received revelations and made prophecies about the future.
Since the high priest's prophecies were sacred revelations to the Zoin Tribe, the phoenix's appearance must have held great significance for them.
Big Joe nodded at Song of the Crouched Flame's words. "The phoenix is indeed a good omen worthy of forming an alliance."
Even Big Joe seemed pleased by the phoenix's appearance.
The phoenix, which had nothing but pretty feathers to its name, had accomplished something major.
Then Big Joe said to Zeke, "If the Western Allied Forces are formed, I'd like to hear the specifics of what Lady Kali will provide in support." Zeke felt that Big Joe was no pushover.
'From the alliance's perspective, it was good to have firm commitments like this.'
Zeke handed Big Joe the list he had prepared separately. It detailed the support terms, which he had intended to show once the alliance seemed amenable.
Big Joe smiled with satisfaction as he reviewed the list. "Are you sure about these terms? They're certainly favorable to us."
"Lady Kali isn't demanding anything from you. She simply supports the beastmen's alliance and hopes the ghetto region can stand as an independent territory."
Of course, it wasn't just pure goodwill toward the beastmen and Zoin Tribe alliance. With this, the Western Allied Forces would act as a bulwark against the Imperial Army's advance, allowing Kali and Zeke to keep Abel's faction in check more effectively.
Big Joe nodded. "Hmm, Crostel accepts Lady Kali's proposal as well. However, there is one condition."
Zeke looked at Big Joe. "What is it?"
Big Joe grinned. "We'd like Sir Zeke Draker to continue participating as the alliance's envoy and mediator. What do you say?"
Song of the Crouched Flame nodded in agreement from the side.
"Does that mean you'll trust me and form the pact?"
Big Joe laughed in response. "Of course. A human traveling with a divine beast is trustworthy enough, wouldn't you say?"
Song of the Crouched Flame silently nodded his agreement to Zeke.
Thanks to the absolute faith the Zoin Tribe and beastmen placed in the divine beast, the pact proceeded smoothly.
Once Zeke finalized the details of the pact, he moved on to the next plan.
"We can't keep catching and eating monsters here forever, so we need to head to the Autonomous District."
Both leaders agreed with Zeke's words.
However, since they had eaten all the horses they rode in on, they couldn't travel mounted.
Zeke asked Song of the Crouched Flame, "Is there a faster route besides that ravine?"
Song of the Crouched Flame shook his head. "The fastest way from here is through there."
They had no choice but to pass through the ravine Zeke had come from to reach the Autonomous District.
Zeke planned to secure the Autonomous District first and then inform Kali's side of the alliance pact details.
With the pact in place, Kali's army could enter the ghetto region to subjugate monsters without issue.
'No matter what, I needed to protect Song of the Crouched Flame and Big Joe to form the Western Allied Forces and announce it.'
As long as they held the west, they could pressure the Empire and exploit any gaps.
The next day, Zeke and his group packed jerky made from minotaur meat and drinking water securely before leaving the fortress.
As they all emerged, monsters drawn by the scent swarmed toward them.
Zeke drew his Horse-Cleaving Greatsword from his side and let out a Lionʼs Roar toward the monsters.
Roooaaar—
The monsters hesitated and stepped back at Zeke's Lionʼs Roar.
Zeke immediately hurled a Solar Grenade at them.
The Solar Grenade exploded, blinding the monsters with a flash.
"Move through the gap now!"
Song of the Crouched Flame and Helen took the lead, breaking through the monsters blocking the way.
The Zoin Tribe and beastmen warriors followed closely.
Some beastmen warriors ran swiftly, carrying Big Joe—who had leg issues—on a makeshift litter.
Grrrrowl!
At one point, berserk monsters flanked them and charged at Zeke.
Zeke swung Bahamut, transformed into a Horse-Cleaving Greatsword, toward the monsters.
Slaaash!
With one swing of the Horse-Cleaving Greatsword, over a dozen monsters fell.
Zeke immediately used his Absorption Skill, and shadows rippled out, enveloping and devouring the dead monsters.
By absorbing power right in the midst of battle, he could keep swinging his sword without tiring.
Suddenly, Zeke noticed the monsters slinking back.
'Why were they retreating?'
Moments later, a sound that shook the entire wasteland rang out.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Zeke looked toward the source and saw a massive something charging at him. 'What was that?' Roooaaar!
From the far wasteland, three barbarians bellowed war cries as they rushed toward Zeke.