Isekai Lizardman Survival Log

I took in the sight of the palisade, scarred like wrinkles.

The old, shabby-looking palisade was deeply gouged in places, as if testifying to past struggles.

As I focused my eyes, I noticed a slightly lower palisade tightly attached to the inside of the shabby-looking one.

The shabby appearance is a disguise, and the real one is set up inside. They’ve used their heads.

Anyone deceived by the shabby-looking palisade that seems like it would break after a few strikes would be met with the sturdy palisade revealing itself the moment they charge.

With a structure designed to lure the opponent into letting their guard down and then striking at that weakness, it seemed capable of withstanding even the mounted charges of deer herds.

“Hmm…”

However, the palisade itself wasn’t all that thick.

It looked like something even a wild boar could break through, and I felt I could destroy it if I charged at full power.

If necessary, I could just ram through it to get in or out.

Tucking the thinner-than-expected palisade into a corner of my mind, I lowered my gaze.

Two furry creatures holding swords and axes, warily watching us from a distance.

One was a real cat, and the other was… a rabbit?

As our eyes met, they lowered their posture and heightened their guard even more. It seemed it would be difficult to communicate with them.

“Lulu.”
“I’ll be right back∼.”

Lulu reluctantly let go of Kart’s hand and leisurely approached the palisade.

As Lulu, smaller than me, approached, those who had relaxed their guard opened their eyes wide in shock, seemingly surprised by Lulu’s unexpectedly large size.

She had only looked small because she was next to me, but Lulu was quite large.

Compared to that cat holding a sword on guard, there was about the difference between a child and an adult.

Perhaps because of this, I watched as Lulu leisurely approached them, their fur puffed up all over their bodies in wariness.

“They’re smaller than I expected.”
“Hmm―. They’re too small to be gatekeepers―.”

If there’s one puzzling point, it’s that these furry creatures seem far too small to act as gatekeepers.

The gatekeeper role is more important than one might think, responsible for security issues like checking those who pass through the gate, guarding against external threats, and identifying unfamiliar visitors.

Naturally, they need to be of above-average intelligence and skill, but.

The most important thing is intimidation.

Creating a sense of caution and wariness in visitors through intimidation is the most important virtue for a gatekeeper.

In this barbaric world, unfamiliar visitors are like ticking time bombs that could cause trouble at any moment.

The gatekeeper and palisade determine the first impression of the village, so they should give off an intimidating aura to prevent visitors from causing disturbances, but.

While the palisade is disguised to be used as a trap, at least the gatekeepers should have an intimidating presence, but there are only two small, harmless-looking animals standing there.

‘How can they function as gatekeepers like that?’

Just as Derek recklessly charged at Chik-chik thinking it was small and harmless, intimidation is important regardless of the gatekeeper’s actual skill.

Even if they can’t live up to their size, having an intimidating presence can instill caution in visitors, so it’s common to place a large-bodied individual and pair them with a highly skilled one.

Having two small animals barely a head taller than Chik-chik as gatekeepers suggests there’s likely a problem with the village before even considering their skills.

‘I wonder if this should be considered good luck or bad luck.’

As I continued my thoughts while watching the three furry creatures, Lulu soon turned back as if the negotiation had ended.

“Boss∼.”

Lulu approached, waving her hand with a bright face. Judging by her cheerful expression, things seemed to have gone well.

“They said no∼.”
“…”

Let me correct that. She’s just always cheerful. How can she bring bad news with such a bright face?

“…The reason?”
“They said they can’t tell∼.”

A reason they can’t talk about… Usually, people say such things when they’ve become militarily weak…

If it was a problem like an epidemic, they wouldn’t have let us approach in the first place, and if it was for another reason, they wouldn’t have such tiny creatures acting as gatekeepers.

In the end, it seems like there might have been some kind of violent conflict resulting in a large number of injured.

I’m not sure if it’s because of other visitors causing problems, or if some threatening presence has appeared nearby.

Normally, if the gatekeepers’ vigilance is strict, one would assume visitors have caused problems, but the gatekeepers facing me are all so wary that it’s hard to distinguish.

I couldn’t tell if they were being cautious because they judged me as dangerous, or if it was because they had suffered due to visitors, but.

Seeing that they conversed with Lulu, it’s likely not a visitor problem.

‘I guess I’ll have to check directly.’

It’s better to confront them directly than just thinking alone.

After telling Lulu she did a good job, I moved towards the village.

As I turned my gaze and met their eyes, they showed a startled, wary reaction. As I slowly approached, they pointed their weapons at me, full of caution.

-S-stop―!

As I approached the furry creatures shouting with trembling voices as if frightened, I gently bent my body as they looked like they might collapse at any moment.

“Hya―!”

Thinking it was about to be eaten, the rabbit jumped up and swung its axe.

“Ah, aah―.”

The quickly swung axe was caught by a rough hand.

“Hmm. Strike first at suspicious individuals. An admirable mindset.”

I gently picked up the rabbit floundering while hanging onto the handle and detached it from the axe.

Meeting its eyes that were shaking as if in an earthquake, I slowly applied force to my grip.

Creak―

The axe screamed as if begging for its life, then let out a death cry and shattered into pieces.

“But you should have chosen your opponent more carefully.”

The rabbit, watching this, widened its already large eyes even further, then started trembling violently.

“Fortunately, I have no intention of harming you, so relax.”

As I put down the terrified rabbit, it fainted, foaming at the mouth.

How did they even manage to act as gatekeepers like this? I turned my head to look at the cat, and it dropped its sword to the ground.

“Meow∼.”

It tried to placate me by acting cute. I chuckled at the sight and reached out my hand to its head.

“First, can you explain the reason?”

It flinched fearfully but then rubbed its head against my palm.

“I’ve come here, sparing my precious time…”

As I gently stroked the short-haired cat, feeling the texture of its fur in my hand, it purred contentedly but then suddenly stood up, startled.

“So, won’t you explain?”

-Before I break down the palisade to enter.

Sensing the unspoken words, the stiffened cat finally spoke words instead of meows.

As we crossed the palisade, a faint smell of blood tickled my nose.

“This way meow.”

The cat, carrying the rabbit on its back, led us into the village, diligently moving its short legs.

I slowly moved my steps to match its short stride while taking in the sight of the village.

The village gave off an overall gloomy atmosphere. The buildings, which had many scratch marks as if claws had been sharpened on them, didn’t feel like they held any human warmth.

Moreover, there wasn’t a single person on the path leading to the gate, making me wonder if people really lived here.

Even the south gate area of our village is deserted, but it still feels like people live there.

This place, however… It feels like everyone is dying.

“This is the chief’s house meow.”

As I turned my gaze, there was one house that looked somewhat lived in. The cat approached the door and knocked with its front paw.

“Chief! We have a visitor meow!”
“…Come in.”

As a cracking voice from inside granted permission to enter, the cat gently opened the door and went in.

Following the cat inside, a strong smell of blood stung my nose. Tracing the source of the smell, I saw a goat wrapped in bandages all over its body looking at us.

“So…, you’re the visitor…”

The goat’s characteristic square pupils moved leisurely as it examined us, and it wasn’t my imagination that its gaze lingered on me for a long time.

“I am called Goof, young dragon…”
“…Are you referring to me?”

The goat—Goof—nodded leisurely, and every time it moved, blood seeped out a little, as if rubbing against the bandages.

“That’s right…. To my eyes, you look nothing but a dragon…”

Young dragon… Given that the old man is called a small dragon, it seems people around here like to call reptiles dragons. Or maybe it’s just what they prefer.

“Let’s cut the pretense and get to the point.”
“It’s not pretense, but… If that’s what you wish…”

Goof smiled meaningfully as it drawled its words, but judging by its speech, it seemed quite healthy despite its near-death appearance.

“So…, what is it you want…?”
“An alliance with us. Furthermore, hostility towards the trolls.”
“Kekeke… You’re asking for too much from the start…”

Goof laughed as if amused, its voice cracking, and met my eyes.

“If we fall out with the trolls…, how are we supposed to survive…?”
“Isn’t it better than dying right now?”
“Kekekeke…. This is quite the rough treatment….”

Square pupils met vertically slit pupils in midair.

“Then…. What do we gain…?”
“The elimination of the culprit who reduced your village to this state. And the protection of our village.”
“I see…”

Goof pretended to ponder, stroking its beard with its hand that was split like a human’s.

They have no choice but to take our hand since they can’t resolve the immediate crisis on their own.

Knowing this fact, I crossed my arms and waited quietly. Goof shook its head as if admitting defeat and opened its mouth.

“I’ll ask just in case… What happens if we refuse…?”
“If you want to become fertilizer for the forest, you should say so now.”
“Kekeke… Just a joke.”

Goof nodded as if it had expected this, probably realizing I was serious.

I’m sorry to say this, but we can’t leave potential threats, especially ones close to our village, alone.

We’re not stupid enough to leave potential enemies who might turn hostile in the future alone, even if they’re neutral for now.

If Goof had refused the proposal, we would have erased Kandol village from the forest.

It might have been difficult originally, but now that they’re all sick and bedridden, they wouldn’t be able to resist properly and would become forest fertilizer.

Knowing this fact, Goof nodded and extended its hand.

“Alright… We’ll join hands with you…”
“I hope we won’t have to wash our hands of this later.”
“Kekeke… I look forward to working with you…”

We shook hands, his wrapped in bandages. Perhaps due to the size difference, Goof shook weakly.

When I let go of his hand, he clutched his head as if dizzy and groaned.

“Ugh… I look forward to working with you…, young dragon…”
“My name is Rex.”
“Yes, young dragon Rex…. I humbly request your help…”

I smiled bitterly at his insistence on calling me young dragon till the end and stood up.

“Ah, there’s something I need. Can I borrow it?”
“Do as you please…. If it helps, take whatever you need…”
“Understood.”