"Wolf-kin, please, listen to what I'm telling you! If we remain this stubborn, and don't change, our people will continue to suffer at the hands of humans and nature. What I'm offering you is an opportunity for our people to grow and become prosperous like the elves! To be immune to the humans' mistreatment!" (Zara)
I return to the wolf-kin village to see Zara facing a large group of wolf-kin, yelling at them. As I approach, a few of them notice me and become surprised. Seeing their reactions, Zara turns back to face me, and I see relief wash over her face. So, I guess it's not going well. I wave at her with a smile, trying to be encouraging.
"Hey Zara, how are things going? Any volunteers yet?" (Mizuki)
Zara shakes her head bitterly.
"No, Mizuki, they refuse to learn anything other than what they already know." (Zara)
Uhm…does that…even count as learning?
I turn my attention to the wolf-kin crowd in front of me. I see Vardo, the elder, standing off to the side apprehensively, and Zoda, Zara's brother, standing in the middle of the crowd with an annoyed look on his face.
"To clarify, all Zara is asking is to come help my friends in the Elven Kingdom build a new city. It would require learning new skills that would be useful to you, and you would be paid very well for the work. May I ask why none of you would want to do that? The elves have been nothing but kind to your people from what I understand." (Mizuki)
There's a bit of murmuring among the crowd, and Zoda eventually steps forward.
"It doesn't make sense to you because you don't understand the wolf-kin. It's not about the money, or whether we like the elves, it's about wasting our time on useless things. The wolf-kin are strong, unlike the elves and humans, and do not need to rely on your ways. Our people are fine as they are." (Zoda)
There's a round of assenting grunts from the crowd. Wow…so that's really what they think, huh? Hmm…from what I've gathered of wolf-kin culture via Zara, my normal polite and encouraging approaches aren't going to work here. I'll have to change my tune.
I sigh deeply and dramatically.
"If you all really think that, then you're the dumbest and most incompetent group of people I've ever met." (Mizuki)
Zara's and Vardo's eyes go wide in shock, and I hear some angry grumbling from the crowd. Zoda's eyes narrow dangerously.
"What would a human know of what's best for our people? You think your ways are better because you're weak and you need them." (Zoda)
"You say that you don't need to rely on the ways of other races, because they're for the weak. Do I need to remind you that, even though you are individually stronger than humans, and even though you outnumbered them, humans were able to storm into your village and take your children unimpeded? Were you not the very definition of helpless then? Also, you should remember that I, a human using human ways, am the only reason those children returned safely. How is that not relying on another race's ways?" (Mizuki)
I sense a lot of anger from the crowd now, but nobody voices an objection to my statements. Zoda is more than a little frustrated. Vardo is practically pale, and Zara is just looking at me in confusion.
"Those humans were only able to do such a thing because they used weapons and armor, wouldn't confront us directly, and attacked with no warning!" (Zoda)
"It seems that I was wrong. You know exactly how and why you were humiliated and taken advantage of, but you still do nothing to fix it. In that case, you're even worse than stupid. You're all selfish cowards, weak at your cores." (Mizuki)
The crowd becomes silent, and I can feel a bloodthirst emanating from them. Zoda is practically foaming with rage.
"You…how dare you…the wolf-kin are brave and strong, and we look after our own more than humans ever have. Take back your words or pay for them with your blood." (Zoda)
Now we're getting somewhere. I shrug and wave my hand at his comment dismissively.
"No, because I don't see you that way at all. You know what I see? You're selfish, because you would let your own children be kidnapped and exploited, rather than swallow your pride to grow more effective at protecting them. You are cowardly weaklings, because you lack the courage or the strength of will to change, even when it benefits you and the ones you love." (Mizuki)
The crowd's bloodlust is still clear, but I also see self-doubt on some of their faces now. Unfortunately, Zoda isn't one of those faces. He's fully murderous. Though, to his credit, he's shown a lot more restraint towards me this time versus my last visit. I'm guessing I earned some leeway.
"You talk a lot, human, but it's just words. The wolf-kin live our principles, and we won't listen to you run your mouth about our weakness without proving to you otherwise." (Zoda)
Perfect, that's what I was hoping for. I give him a smirk, and it seems to enrage him even more.
"Very well, no more words then. How about a wager of strength, me versus the wolf-kin? If you win, I'll admit that I was ignorant, that your principles are the correct ones, and I'll submit myself to whatever punishment you deem appropriate. I'll even pay every person here the wages of working for three months like Zara asked. If I win, your tribe will swallow its pride, and follow Zara's orders from now on. Tell me, will the wolf-kin back out of a wager of strength, or live by your principles?" (Mizuki)
Zara finally seems to realize what I've been aiming for, and her face is a very clear mix of amusement and gratitude. Zoda seems a little wary of my proposal, but a quick roar from the crowd to accept my challenge boxes him in. His face becomes resolved and excited.
"Let's hear this wager of yours human, and we'll see if it is truly a test of strength for you." (Zoda)
"My wager is this – I want you to gather every single combat-ready wolf-kin in this whole village. Anyone who doesn't join will be admitting they are a weakling. Then, you're all going to attack me at once. I, using no weapons, wearing only the clothes you see, not evading you, and telling you exactly how I plan to attack you, will defeat you all singlehandedly with overwhelming force. If even one of you manages to draw blood from me, we'll say you win the wager. Otherwise, I'm the winner." (Mizuki)
Zoda and the crowd are stunned silent, then they erupt in laughter. After a few minutes, they calm down, and Zoda responds.
"Fufufu…you'd die, human, and the wolf-kin would never pick on the weak like that. One of our warriors should be more than enough." (Zoda)
I shake my head.
"I've given you idiots my wager, and you freely admitted that it's not unfair to you. No more talk, no more boasting, and no altering the terms of the wager. Get your people like I asked and fight me, or back out like the cowards I know your people to be." (Mizuki)
The crowd goes dead silent, and the bloodlust is thicker than ever. Zoda directs a serious glare at me.
"So be it, human, but we won't just draw blood, we'll kill you for the way you've insulted us today." (Zoda)
Vardo becomes quite concerned and looks like he wants to intervene, but Zara quickly grabs him and shakes her head firmly. He looks between her and I frantically, but Zara seems to convince him of something. He sighs dejectedly and speaks out.
"As Elder, I will support the terms of the wager, if our people will it." (Vardo)
I look back at Zoda and smirk.
"Looks like we're all on board then. I'll be over there, a little way from the village. Come find me when you're ready, but don't make me wait too long. I have more important things to do after this." (Mizuki)
I wave to Zoda and walk outside the main area of the village, where nothing will get destroyed. Once there, I store my katana and dagger in my item box as promised. Then, I wait.
After fifteen minutes or so, wolf-kin start migrating over to where I'm standing. As they file in, they slowly begin to form a large circle around me. About thirty minutes after I proposed the wager, there is somewhere north of six hundred wolf-kin encircling me. They all look very angry.