Arthur pointed at the image of the Werebeast soldier, pinched his chin, and remarked seriously, "He doesn't look very bright."
No matter what the facts were.
The beastman Merry conjured perfectly replicated Skadi's memories. To move more quickly, he dropped onto all fours like a wild animal. His pupils glowed crimson, giving him a fierce appearance, yet there was an inexplicable sense that if you tossed a frisbee, he'd happily fetch it.
And because this was a reconstructed memory, the beastman's eyes also gleamed with "wisdom," which only made the impression more ridiculous.
"It's a dog."
"Yeah, it's a dog."
"It's a dog."
Even Skadi, who had witnessed it firsthand, commented on the recreated image: "It's definitely a dog—an extremely energetic one."
Well, generally speaking, the dumber someone is and the simpler their behavioral patterns, the easier they are to manipulate.
Thinking along these lines, Arthur recalled the common sense he had learned from Riku.
Werebeasts, like humans, lacked the organs that connected to the Elemental Corridor and were therefore incapable of using magecraft (magic).
But that did not put them in the same category as humans.
As though compensating for their inability to wield magecraft, the Werebeasts' physical abilities were extraordinary, pushing right up against the limits of the body. Skadi had even remarked that the Werebeast soldiers she encountered surpassed Britain's soldiers in every measurable aspect of physical prowess—arm strength, explosive force, reflexes, and more.
And Britain's soldiers, remember, belonged to the Age of Gods. With both the divine barrier and the protection of the holy lake, they could already be considered the strongest military force in that entire era of Type-Moon's mythos.
For a simple comparison: if British soldiers had been placed on the legendary battlefield of Troy during the Greek Age of Gods, even if outnumbered two to one, with no tactics, no magecraft, and with identical equipment, sheer physical fitness alone would still have given them an overwhelming advantage.
Even against a demigod hero, as long as they maintained formation, Britain's soldiers could encircle and kill.
From that comparison alone, one could imagine how terrifying a race must be if its physical functions surpassed Britain's soldiers across the board.
Even so, when reduced to pure numerical values, the difference was less dramatic.
"As for strength, it's just barely qualified," Arthur conceded.
Perhaps not every Werebeast was suited for combat, but in this war-torn age, even if universal conscription was impossible, the Werebeasts as a race still represented considerable military potential.
"Keen beast-like senses, powerful physical functions, and… individuals with [Blood Destruction]?" Arthur mused, a plan already forming. "This race was born to be manipulated—especially in this era."
"My king, my king! I know, I know!" Merry shouted excitedly.
He looked like a student who had just figured out the teacher's question and couldn't wait to answer.
"All right, go on."
"Yes! Hehehe~ The Werebeasts possess powerful instincts and formidable physical functions. Especially the most unique individuals afflicted with Blood Destruction—their simple bodily functions alone are enough to break the laws of physics. But to sustain such bodies, enormous caloric intake is indispensable!" Merry's eyes sparkled, as though awaiting praise.
Seeing his excitement, Arthur smiled helplessly and reached out to gently stroke Merry's head.
"That's correct. The Werebeasts' food intake scales directly with their physical capacity. This is likely the greatest limiting factor on their development. Particularly for Blood-Destroyed individuals—their food consumption is several times, even dozens of times greater than ordinary Werebeasts. And yet, the race cannot survive without them."
Magecraft—or rather, the energy of this world's elves—was mystical.
Its unique circulation system could even produce phenomena inexplicable to science: breaking common sense, overturning the very principle of energy conservation.
But while the Werebeasts were powerful, they lacked the connection to the Elf Corridor and could not escape the law of conservation of energy.
Thus, even without detailed knowledge of their society, Arthur could infer a great deal.
Especially in these chaotic times, efficient agriculture was simply impossible.
Most critically, while Werebeasts had formidable physical traits—on average pressing against their biological limits—that alone was insufficient to guarantee survival. They had to rely on peak combatants like the Blood-Destroyed just to secure safety in large-scale conflicts.
But the more they fought, the more catastrophic their food shortages became.
In such circumstances, the Werebeasts were forced to divert scarce resources: reducing ordinary rations to prioritize feeding Blood-Destroyed warriors. This was why Arthur concluded the race could never sustain universal conscription.
And this was no baseless speculation.
Direct evidence existed in intelligence reports.
Among the fifteen races, the Werebeasts were one of the few that actively hunted humans.
But unlike demons, who killed purely on instinct, the Werebeasts hunted with purpose.
They treated humans as prey, a supplemental food source.
Yet compared to other races, humans were few in number—only one of many dwindling species. Moreover, in this age, not only Riku's tribe but other human clans also possessed their own survival strategies.
Thus, humans were insufficient to solve the Werebeasts' hunger.
But suppose a power suddenly appeared and offered them stable supplies of food. Not only could the race advance, they could rapidly expand their military strength. And all they would need to do in return was complete assigned missions. Under such a simple transactional model, what choice would they make?
Exactly. The Werebeasts would be manipulated.
They would act for food.
As long as the supplies outweighed the losses and dangers of the mission, they would fight without hesitation.
What's more, they had the capacity to plan and execute operations themselves, minimizing casualties—or even securing food with no losses at all.
Given such generous terms, they had no reason to refuse.
Even if they knew they were being used, they would still fight.
That was why Arthur concluded: in this era, the Werebeasts were a race born to be manipulated by humans.
"Still, they are too weak. Their inability to wield magecraft is a decisive flaw. They can handle small-scale operations, but their direct combat potential is limited. More importantly, what we lack right now isn't combat strength—it's intelligence. We don't have enough pawns."
"Well then, my king, what about the four races: elves, giants, dwarves, and vampires?" Merry laughed cheerfully.
Leaving aside elves and dwarves, the other two, like the Werebeasts, could easily be manipulated in one way or another.
As for elves and dwarves, they were significant actors in the war. With Arthur's abilities, he could easily reduce them to puppets.
-End Chapter-
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