In Tirna, beastfolk are subjects of discrimination.
While not comparable to orcs, if orcs lean toward being objects of hate, beastfolk conversely represent objects of fear.
Those who possess bestial traits carry savagery within them.
How those with savagery are treated in modern civilized society can be seen through the Northerners, the northern people who are looked down upon as barbarians.
The beastfolk race, who embody even more primitive savagery and violence than such people.
Though not all beastfolk are like this, most of them carry such unpredictable danger.
Thus, people discriminate against beastfolk, viewing them as beasts without reason.
'But that doesn't mean beastfolk are at the bottom of this society.'
While ascending to high positions is blocked, beastfolk' abilities are highly valuable in certain fields, specifically, in industries where power rules everything.
Beastfolk who can accept their savage nature and perform beast transformation have combat abilities that far surpass ordinary people.Even without any training, a beastfolk’s physical abilities exceed those of a well-trained person. With beast transformation, this gap becomes even more pronounced.
This was talent. Innate, natural talent.
'Warriors by birth. Unlike the northerners who wield the power of runes and frost, they are a race that became strong purely through physical means.'
The same was true for Tarka.
For a civil servant position handling such special missions, it meant the city had acknowledged him. He must have possessed innate talent even among beastfolk.
'Leading with fists might be unavoidable for a beastfolk.'
Instead of wielding sharp claws, he had his fists clenched.
Considering beastfolk' physical abilities, that alone would be enough force to kill a person, but there was no killing intent in those fists.
'He's not even striking seriously. Literally just intimidation.'
He probably expected this side to cower in fear. It would have been fine to just stay still without even closing my eyes.
But that wouldn't improve the immediate situation. Instead, Osian decided to take a more aggressive approach.
He deliberately moved his face into the path of the fist that should have stopped short of hitting him.
-THWACK!
With the impact sound, the surrounding people froze.
The same was true for Tarka, who had thrown the punch.
'This bastard, did he just deliberately...!'
Tarka could tell. That Osian had deliberately moved his face into the path of his fist.
Though he had intended to stop, the momentum until then had been serious. As such, if an ordinary person had been hit, their skull would have shattered.
Tarka belatedly felt that something was off.
Osian's head didn't even turn, he was completely fine.
Rather, his fist was tingling, as if he had struck something that merely had a human shape.
"Hmm. Is that all?"
After muttering that, Osian immediately grabbed Tarka's wrist and slammed him to the ground.
With a crash, Tarka's back hit the ground. It was impressive that he had tried to break his fall, but that was all.
"Kahak!"
When Tarka tried to get up, Osian firmly stepped on his chest.
Tarka grabbed Osian's ankle with both hands and tried to throw him.
'...He's not budging at all!'
That meant Osian possessed strength greater than his own.
A human stronger than himself who had undergone beast transformation? Tarka thought this impossible and drew out even more power.
The hair all over his body stood on end, and his muscles swelled as if inflated.
Veins bulged on his forearms as his clothes stretched.
This was the appearance of a beastfolk drawing out more of their savage nature but Osian's foot still didn't move an inch.
Rather, Osian narrowed his eyes as if disappointed by Tarka's display, and applied even more force to his leg.
BOOM!
With a shock wave, spider web-like cracks spread across the ground centered on Tarka.
Tarka's eyes bulged as if they would pop out. Blood vessels stood out, and red blood trickled from between his clenched teeth.
"I'll praise you for not screaming until the end, but you should have sized up your opponent first."
Osian wondered. What would happen if he applied even more force here?
"Stop. That's enough."
"You're too excited. Please calm down."
The Special Forces Captain and Coruntio stepped in to stop Osian.
At this rate, it seemed like someone would have to die before this would end.
"He threw the first punch. You know that getting hit by a transformed beastfolk's fist could be lethal, right?"
The Special Forces Captain's expression turned dumbfounded at Osian's words.
It wasn't something that should be said by a human who had taken such a punch and remained unharmed.
But regardless, the fact remained that Tarka had initiated the violence. The justification lay with Osian.
"Fighting here won't do either side any good. Don't we have more pressing matters to attend to?"
"More pressing matters. To me, personally educating this impudent fellow seems most pressing."
"That's..."
Though human, the Special Forces Captain was someone who cared for his Special Forces members. Despite his personality, Tarka's skills were genuine.
He was the most rational person present in this situation.
"I apologize. I will apologize on behalf of my subordinate's rudeness."
"Kuugh!"
At the Special Forces Captain's apology, Tarka's eyes widened. He tried to shout at the captain not to apologize, but could only swallow the scream trying to escape his lips.
But the Special Forces Captain didn't regret his actions.
In his assessment, Osian was not someone who could be intimidated by force.
Rather, attempting such would only result in ending up like Tarka.
"Mr. Osian, since the Special Forces Captain has said as much, how about stopping there?"
Coruntio also stepped in to stop Osian.
However, while saying this, he was looking at Osian with an unexpected gaze.
'I should have noticed from the fact that he's wielding sister's sword, which she rarely makes well. He's no ordinary skilled person. Though his mindset is a bit strange.'
Osian glanced at the Special Forces Captain and Coruntio before removing his foot from Tarka's chest.
Finally free, Tarka sprang up like a spring, but staggered, his stepped-on chest still hurting.
"Want to continue?"
Tarka didn't answer Osian's question.
But both his hostility and savage nature had diminished from before.
Though his pride wasn't completely bent, Osian thought this was sufficient.
'Beastfolk possess savage nature. Therefore, the effective way to handle them is through the logic of power.'
In this aspect, they were similar to the Northerners.
No matter how fine a suit they wear or how sophisticated vocabulary they use, their essence ultimately pursues power as warriors.
The discipline of power that penetrates the soul was their highest valued principle.
'And for a beastfolk qualified enough to be in the Special Forces, such tendencies would be even stronger.'
Most beastfolk in industries using force end up being consumed as hired thugs or gang combat personnel.
In gang fights, the influence of a single beastfolk is considerable.
Though they can be subdued with firearms, compared to humans who die from a single bullet, beastfolk can endure several shots.
It's the same for contract work that requires forcing things through with power.
Therefore, beastfolk are treated as premium personnel in such fields.
However, beastfolk working in such places are doing low-grade work meant for those who have fallen from the society.
Like Tarka, beastfolk doing official work for the city of Tirna must be considerably capable individuals.
The fact that he can make judgments while sizing up his opponents is proof of his excellence as a beastfolk.
"Puhaha! Tarka, you fellow! Today you've really met your match!"
"Shut up! I'll eat you first!"
When a dwarf Special Forces member with a bushy beard laughed and teased, Tarka shouted angrily.
Next to him, another Special Forces member approached and handed him medicine.
Though they teased seeing Tarka get thoroughly beaten, they were inwardly amazed.
'To subdue that Tarka so easily.'
'Winning in a fight would be one thing, but subduing him without much effort shows an enormous gap in ability. Tarka being docile must be because he recognizes that gap.'
'With such skills, yet working as a fixer. Just where did this person come from and what was he doing?'
The Special Forces Captain approached Tarka and asked.
"Are you alright? How's your condition?"
"...Don't worry. Not bad enough to prevent combat."
As Tarka returned to his position quietly, Osian spoke.
"Let's continue our earlier discussion. The plants underground are probably distributed evenly across wide areas."
Having proven his ability once, everyone now listened attentively to Osian's words.
"Simply catching its main body won't be enough. Considering its reproduction rate, we can't let even one escape."
"That's right. We need to approach this as dealing with a group rather than individual specimens."
When Eldin stepped up beside Osian, the Special Forces members' gazes changed.
Judging by their eyes, they seemed to recognize Eldin. The fact that people in such work remembered her hinted at Eldin's extraordinary nature.
'Seems she's more famous than I thought.'
While Osian had such idle thoughts, Coruntio, the person in charge, stepped forward.
"Since we need to mind the entire area, I'll divide the people."
"How do you plan to distribute the personnel?"
"There's one condition. Each team must include at least one of our race."
Though they had mutated, these were plants they had created. Considering their characteristics, the elves led by Coruntio were the ones most aware of the situation's severity.
Elven help was essential to not miss traces of the mutant plants.
"Good. Then let's divide into teams."
Thus the personnel were divided, and they entered their assigned areas.
*
The team members with Osian were the fixer Mist, a black mage Special Forces member, and one elf.
"Please take care of me. I'm Alania from the [Forest Keeper Alliance]."
Alania, an elf with blonde hair and a clear impression, greeted politely.
"Yes, I look forward to working with you too."
"......"
Osian returned the elf's greeting, while Mist just stared at Alania without saying anything.
"Um, that person..."
Feeling somewhat burdened by that gaze, Alania carefully asked Mist, wondering if she had made some mistake.
"Mist."
Mist briefly explained his name at those words and Alania nodded with an "Ah."
"Have you heard of me?"
"Ah, no, I'm sorry. I'm not very familiar with the fixer industry."
"That's fine."
Mist said that but was internally disappointed.
Despite being famous in the fixer industry, to not be remembered by such a beautiful elf.
'It's okay, I just need to show impressive actions from now on.'
Mist had to calm his trembling heart.
Though he thought the healthy-looking Eldin was really attractive, thinking again, elves were truly the best fundamentally.
'Yes, elves should have white, fine skin and something delicate about them.'
Having finished her introduction, Alania lifted the huge gun she had been carrying on her back with both hands.
"Then shall we go!"
It was a vicious cannon that didn't suit a delicate elf and Mist blankly stared at that weapon.
Wait. This wasn't the kind of weapon I thought fundamental elves would use?
"What's that weapon?"
Osian was equally curious and asked while looking at Alania's weapon.
"Ah. This is my weapon."
"Elves use firearms too?"
"Hey, nowadays all elves use them. Ah, perhaps Mr. Osian is a traditionalist?"
"Traditionalist?"
When Osian asked back not knowing, Alania smiled brightly. This seemed to be her original personality.
"The type who thinks elves should use bows or regular swords. What era do you think this is, young elves use these latest weapons."
The clicking sound of skillfully loading the weapon showed this wasn't her first time using it.
"Still, isn't it a bit odd for an elf to use firearms?"
At least the elves Osian remembered were mostly like that. Though there were exceptions like Eldin, that was just because she was such an unusual case.
"Ah, the elders often say that, but this is different. Instead of gunpowder, it uses compressed steam mixed with ether water as propellant, so there's no fire hazard."
"Well, if that's the case..."
No, that wasn't the issue.
Osian was oddly unconvinced but decided to let it pass.
'A Gen Z elf?'
Well, the world changes, so why wouldn't elves change too?
Compared to Eldin who swings hammers and burns plants with fire, Alania was, well, sufficiently understandable.
"Ah, by the way, what's your name?"
Alania asked the black mage, the final member.
The Special Forces black mage was a man with an ordinary impression, appearing to be in his mid-30s.
His characteristic was a faint presence that wouldn't remain in memory even if you passed him on the street.
"I'm Special Forces member James."
"Nice to meet you, Mr. James!"
"Ah, yes..."
Though appearing ordinary, James was skilled enough to control nearly ten familiars. Being in the Special Forces, his abilities were beyond doubt.
Though Osian was internally uneasy about having to trust his back to a black mage, he didn't act recklessly like before.
"Then let's move right away."
As soon as they finished introductions, something could be seen writhing and approaching from the darkness beyond.
Soon, beasts leaped out from the darkness.
Lizards with excessively large heads, rats with stones scattered across their skin and insects with sharp blades growing from them, they were mutants from the contaminated zone.
But now these creatures weren't ordinary mutants. Looking closely, plant stems protruded like tendons all over their bodies.
"Controlled hosts, huh. We were going to find them, but they came to us instead."
Osian drew the sword from his waist.