Persuasion by Force

She had already confirmed through the Chat Group that this giant wolf, who looked like Izayoi Sakamaki’s pet, was someone formidable.

In the Cthulhu Mythos, he was someone who could trade blows with Yog-Sothoth, one of the Three Great Gods.

Even Master Ancient had to face the Lord of the Hounds of Tindalos with caution.

She lightly nodded at Mithras, then said,

"Was that little thing you mentioned this?"

Master Ancient raised a hand.

Something inexplicable was wrapped around her wrist.

Izayoi Sakamaki took a closer look and saw an utterly disoriented Ishtar person.

Izayoi Sakamaki had every reason to believe that this Ishtar person’s spiritual body had been smacked out of him by Master Ancient.

It might not even have returned yet.

Watching the Ishtar person being swung around like a yo-yo in her hand, only to be reeled back in again, Izayoi Sakamaki felt a little sympathy for him.

Of course, sympathy was sympathy. Izayoi Sakamaki still handed the fellow over to Mithras.

At that point, he no longer felt any sympathy at all. He said seriously, "Find all the remaining ones, Mithras."

"Then we can wipe out the Ishtar people in one fell swoop."

Mithras nodded excitedly, but then added,

"Not necessarily. These Ishtar people rarely appear in groups unless they run into someone like Anna…"

When he mentioned Anna, Mithras was clearly a little downcast.

But he quickly pulled himself together and said, "Lord Izayoi, may I borrow a place to interrogate him?"

Izayoi Sakamaki asked strangely, "What is it? Did the previous one lie?"

Mithras said, "No, Lord Izayoi. That one was an Ishtar person from the past. I want to question this current one."

"That way, I can compare their statements against each other."

Izayoi Sakamaki looked at Master Ancient.

After hesitating for a moment, Master Ancient said, "Let’s go deeper into the mountains…"

The surroundings here were secluded and tranquil, and it was where the villagers lived peaceful lives.

Of everything she had said to the Ishtar person earlier, only the word "home" had been sincere.

Kamar-Taj was a peaceful village, and she did not want this place stained with blood.

Even though there might not be any bloodshed.

Mithras nodded in surprise.

Wasn’t Master Ancient Izayoi Sakamaki’s subordinate?

No, she definitely was.

It was just that this bald woman was so strong that she had to be this world’s guardian.

Then it was perfectly normal for Lord Izayoi to treat her well and seek her opinion.

Even in Tindalos City, if I wanted to enter someone else’s den, I’d need the owner’s permission.

With that thought, Mithras immediately felt relieved.

He nodded to both Izayoi Sakamaki and Master Ancient, then bit down on the Ishtar person, leaped up, and ran toward the depths of the Himalayan Mountains.

Izayoi Sakamaki called after him, "All right, remember to come back quickly—"

Mithras answered with a long wolf howl.

Just as Izayoi Sakamaki was about to say something to Master Ancient, he suddenly noticed that quite a few villagers had gathered around them.

And they were all looking at him with accusing eyes.

Izayoi Sakamaki was briefly dumbfounded.

Master Ancient came over to smooth things over, telling the villagers to disperse.

Only then did she say to Izayoi Sakamaki,

"Though this place is remote and quiet, it is not entirely peaceful."

"Especially when sounds are too loud, they can trigger avalanches."

Only then did Izayoi Sakamaki understand why the villagers had been looking at him that way, leaving him both amused and helpless.

Physical Persuasion
###
Master Ancient led him into a simple cave and introduced it softly.

"This is where I usually live."

"Mr. Izayoi, make yourself comfortable."

Izayoi Sakamaki sat down on a stone stool and raised an eyebrow.

"You don’t seem very curious."

"On the contrary," Master Ancient replied. "I’m dying of curiosity."

This mage had always carried herself with an air of casual indifference.

The fact that something could make her curious was rather interesting.

Izayoi Sakamaki smiled and told her about his recent experiences.

Master Ancient had already lived for several centuries.

But compared to the Hounds of Tindalos, who could live for hundreds of millions of years, her age was nothing remarkable.

After hearing about Anna and Chloe, even the Sorcerer Supreme let out a soft sigh.

Seeing her expression, Izayoi Sakamaki suddenly thought of Tsunade from the group.

At some point, she seemed to have gradually faded from the group chat.

She rarely spoke anymore.

But whenever her sisters in the group called for her, she still responded.

Every request to visit her world had been rejected.

Even when Akemi Homura had previously said she wanted to visit Tsunade’s world and hum songs for her, Tsunade had refused.

Izayoi Sakamaki had originally thought Tsunade was so unmoved, barely ever showing herself, because she had been raised as a ninja—a killing machine by nature.

Perhaps she simply had nothing to say after seeing situations like Anna’s and Chloe’s.

After all, in Tsunade’s childhood, she had grown up under the care of the God of Shinobi, Hashirama Senju, and Princess Uzumaki, Mito Uzumaki.

Before those two passed away, Tsunade had encountered few setbacks despite being a ninja.

It was only the deaths of her younger brother and lover that brought this medical ninja, once shining with such greatness, crashing down.

Could Anna’s situation have made Tsunade feel miserable?

Izayoi Sakamaki did not know.

He had never experienced familial love, nor did he truly understand the emotions within it.

But that did not stop him from planning to visit Tsunade once everything here was over.

While considering this, he did not forget to explain everything clearly to Master Ancient.

Because of her stance, she leaned toward absolute justice. Thus, when it came to considering certain matters and methods, she was certainly not as capable as Aizen Sōsuke, who straddled both good and evil.

But precisely because she considered things more thoroughly, she was not so unscrupulous.

Izayoi Sakamaki also liked discussing matters with Master Ancient.

She could always think of better solutions.

Sure enough, after listening to the whole story, Master Ancient frowned and pondered for a while before speaking.

"Actually, Mr. Izayoi."

"I do not recommend that you and the Hounds of Tindalos exterminate every last Ishtar person."

Izayoi Sakamaki raised an eyebrow and asked with interest, "Why?"

Of course, that was what he had been thinking as well.

But he did not know whether their thoughts would align in the specifics too.

At the same time, another voice came from nearby, low and heavy.

"Why?"

Izayoi Sakamaki turned around and saw that the light at the cave entrance had been blocked by a massive figure.

Mithras had entered.

His enormous, icy eyes fixed on her, carrying even a hint of killing intent.

Of course, with Izayoi Sakamaki still sitting there, Mithras could not possibly do anything to Master Ancient.

He could only glare at her coldly, looking entirely determined to bite out her throat if Master Ancient said any nonsense.

Izayoi Sakamaki remained unmoved, sitting calmly in place.

It was not because he trusted Mithras not to attack.

In fact, he simply had enough confidence in Master Ancient.

Even if there was a gap in Combat Power, Master Ancient would not be weaker than him.

And besides… there was a very good chance Master Ancient could persuade Mithras.

Her first sentence alone was enough to strike at the heart of the matter.

Master Ancient calmly asked, "Mr. Mithras, may I ask what the duty of a hound is?"

Without hesitation, Mithras answered, "Of course, it is hunting!"

Master Ancient fell silent for a moment before speaking softly.

"Mr. Mithras, forgive my presumption."

"By our understanding, hounds are keen dogs trained specifically for hunting."

"During the busy season, hounds are extremely occupied, but there is always an off-season for hunting."

"At those times, the hounds have a chance to catch their breath."

"But when all prey disappears, how are the hounds treated?"

Mithras answered in a low voice.

"…They become prey."

Master Ancient nodded lightly, as though she had not noticed the awkwardness on Mithras’s face.

She continued, "Let me make a bold guess, Mr. Mithras."

"Even the Lord of Tindalos City serves someone stronger."

"Am I wrong?"

When Mithras said nothing, Master Ancient sighed.

"It seems I was right."

"Do you still think the Ishtar people should be exterminated?"

Mithras fell silent for a moment.

"But Frank, Anna, and Chloe must be avenged!"

"The Ishtar people must die. There is no room for discussion!"