“Just the name will do.”

“... I am Zaryusu Shasha, and this is Crusch Lulu.”

“That person cannot be… a plant monster? However, since you already bring a hydra here, bringing along a monster to be its food shouldn’t be too much of a surprise.”

“... That is not the case.”

Towards Crusch who was about to shed her weed costume, the strange looking lizardman once again waved his hand to indicate that it was not necessary.

“Don’t treat my joke for real, how troublesome.”

“— !”

Feeling uninterested, the strange looking lizardman gave a brief glance at the bundle of weed which was Crusch before once again turning his gaze towards Zaryusu.

“Then, why have you come?”

“Before that, would you please give us your name?”

“Ah. I am the tribe chief of the Dragon Tusk Tribe, Zenberu Gugu. Feel free to call me Zenberu.”

Zenberu revealed his teeth as he smiled. Although it was within expectations, the fact that a traveller was also the tribe chief still came across as startling news.

But then on the contrary, this was also the most acceptable answer. It was impossible that such a powerful male lizardman was merely a traveller. In truth, at the moment he had appeared, the surrounding hostile intent had immediately dispersed like smoke. This male lizardman possessed such large authority as well as having extraordinary combat prowess and cohesiveness.

“You may also call me simply as Zaryusu. Then, Zenberu, please let us know if there has been any unnatural monster which has visited your village recently.”

“Un, that Supreme One person.”

“Since the opponent has been here, the matter to discuss becomes much simpler—”

Zenberu raised his hand, interrupting Zaryusu’s speech.

“I can roughly guess what you plan to say. However, we only believe in strength. Unsheathe your sword.”

The burly lizardman standing before Zaryusu — the Dragon Tusk tribe chief, Zenberu Gugu — smiled revealing a mouth full of teeth.

“What!”

Only Crusch exclaimed. Zaryusu and the surrounding warriors all showed expressions of agreement.

“... This method is simple, Dragon Tusk Tribe Chief. It keeps the judgment brief, and wastes no time at all.”

“You truly are an outstanding emissary. No, since you are the master of Frost Pain, that should be a given, right?”

♦ ♦ ♦

Selecting the strongest as the tribe chief— for lizardmen this was a natural and ordinary matter.

However, for a problem where the subsistence of the tribe was at stake, was such a simple method of determining an answer appropriate? Shouldn’t this be a matter to be discussed and evaluated by everybody, taking detailed analyses from different approaches before arriving at a conclusion?

Crush thought as such, then realised how coming up with this idea was incredulous.

In reality, all of the surrounding observing warriors, regardless if they were male or female, all agreed with the tribe chief’s judgment. If it were before, she herself would also feel that this decision was one of the options.

Then why does the current me feel doubt about this?

Where did this doubt originate?

Did she think this way because she had suffered the magic attack of some stranger? Impossible. When it came to magic, she was confident that she would not lose to anyone.

Crusch turned to look at the two individuals.

Zaryusu and Zenberu.

The two of them standing together looked like a child versus an adult.

Of course, body physique did not determine everything, and as a magic caster she understood this point fully. However after seeing the difference in body build which was like that of heaven and earth, she could not help internally screaming out at herself that she did not wish for it to be like this.

Do not wish? I hope that they do not— no, do I not wish for them to battle?

Crusch wanted to comprehend why such a miraculous feeling would swell up inside of her. Why did she not wish for this to happen? Why did she not wish for them to fight each other?

There was only one answer which was obvious.

Crusch let out a slight smile. It was both a wry smile and also a self-mocking smile.

You can only honestly admit it now, Crusch. You don’t want Zaryusu to fight because you fear that he will be injured… fear that he may possibly die.

Simply put, that was the matter.

In this kind of battle, only rarely would it end with the death of one party. However the meaning of ‘rare’ meant that there was still a possibility of it happening. If the fight escalated to one which involved a loss of reasoning, a life could be easily taken away. Born as a female lizardman, she did not wish that her partner would lose his life because of his participation in this battle.

This also meant to say that in fact, subconsciously, Crusch had long already accepted Zaryusu’s pledge of love.

It is because no male in the past had treated me like he did… that was why I would so simply… if it’s like this, does it mean that I am easily swooned? Eh, in the very least I feel… a bit happy and also a bit saddened… ah, really, enough!

Honestly accepting her feelings, Crusch walked to the side of Zaryusu who was preparing for battle, and gently tapped his shoulder.

“Are you missing anything in your preparations?”

“Nothing. There are no problems at all.”

Once again Crusch tapped his shoulder.

His powerfully built shoulders.

From a young age, she had walked the path of a druid, and had come into physical contact with male lizardmen’s bodies during prayers, anointment of medicine, and when casting magic. However it seemed like this time spent touching Zaryusu’s body was even longer than those previous times aggregated.

So this is Zaryusu’s body… ah.

When facing battle, hot blood flowing through the body inflated the powerful muscles allowing others to sense his masculinity.

“... What is it?”

Since Crusch had still had not let go, Zaryusu momentarily felt that this was strange.