Even though she could already see the veins throbbing on Big Cat's forehead, Iri still had no intention of letting this fool of a Big Cat off the hook. "Big Cat, how are you leading your team? You dug a pit and then didn't bother to bury it!"
"When your troops encounter a strong enemy, you know to jump out and sacrifice yourself? What were you doing normally! Since you've unified the Beast Kingdom through force, why don't you use force to 'compel' those stingy tribes to hand over their technology!"
"Well! But this large-scale invasion also had Xiao Di as the mastermind, so for now, I'll forgive this foolish Big Cat. We can't delve any deeper now, or it'll be bad if Middle Cat exposes Xiao Di. Let's quickly wrap this up!"
"Hehe! Hearing this reason is truly a bit amusing, making me not know how to react. Should I pity you? Or should I mock you?" Iri chuckled, then glanced at Big Cat, who was still desperately enduring and feigning unconsciousness.
"Even so! Lion King cannot die here!" Middle Cat shouted, a hint of nervousness in his voice.
"Got it, got it. I won't kill Big Cat." Iri spread her hands helplessly. As soon as Iri said this, the people behind her started to stir again, though their reaction wasn't as strong as before.
"Is that so... Thank you. In exchange, take my head!" Middle Cat seemed to let out a sigh of relief, then looked at Iri with determination and said.
"Your head isn't interesting to me, and it's not as comfortable to step on as this Big Cat's. Keep your cat head. However! In exchange, all three cities you previously captured must be returned to me! And what you just said yourself! The entire Beastman army must withdraw from the Dragon Kingdom! And you are not allowed to attack the Dragon Kingdom again for the next few years. As for how many years, please discuss that with the Dragon Queen. That's all! Hey! Big Cat! Stop pretending to sleep! Isn't it time for you to wake up? Or do you have an interest in being trampled by a beautiful girl?" Iri said, then stomped hard on Big Cat's face again.
"You... you scoundrel!! Since you know I'm awake, don't step on me!!" Since Iri had exposed him, Lion King no longer cared about losing face. He quickly rolled over to dodge Iri's next stomp, then got up. Middle Cat looked utterly bewildered.
"Who told your fluffy big head to be so good to step on?" Iri said with a smile, watching Big Cat rub his face, which Iri had been stepping on, with a very displeased expression.
"Hmph! Damned Xiao BuDian! You spared my life! But I won't thank you!" Big Cat snorted and turned his face away.
Uh... a lion strongman, two meters, almost three meters tall, saying classic tsundere lines and striking a tsundere pose. This scene is just too...
"No... no... no need for your thanks, puff... haha..." Iri immediately covered her mouth and stomach, forcing herself to hold back laughter... This tsundere Big Cat was too cute.
"Hey! What are you laughing at!" Big Cat saw Iri covering her stomach and holding back laughter, and roared in displeasure.
The people behind Iri also looked bewildered, as they probably didn't even know the word 'tsundere', did they?
"You... you Big Cat are just too cute... I can't, it's too funny." Iri said while laughing, which made Big Cat even more annoyed.
"Hey!! I am Lion King! The leader of the Beast Kingdom, Lion King Sin Aodi Tisi Gu Roba! I'm not some cat!!" Big Cat immediately clenched his fists, looking like he wanted to fight again, scaring Middle Cat who quickly came to stop him.
"Alright, alright, I won't laugh anymore, puff... Mmm... That Lion King Sin Ao... huh? What, what, what Roba, I have one last thing." Iri said.
"Hmph! If you have something, say it quickly!" Big Cat was held back by Middle Cat, and he also understood that their current situation was not one where he could lose his temper, so he could only patiently endure.
Iri mysteriously crooked her finger at Big Cat, signaling him to come closer. Big Cat obediently pushed Middle Cat away and walked over, standing in front of Iri.
The petite Iri and the massive Lion King stood together. Just looking at this scene, one would never guess that just minutes ago, Lion King was being trampled under Iri's feet.
Iri continued to crook her finger, signaling him to come even closer. Lion King had no choice but to lower himself and lean his head in. To others, it looked like Lion King could bite off Iri's head at any moment...
Then Iri directly reached out, grabbed Lion King's ear, pulled him closer, and whispered.
"When you go back, tell the guy who instructed you to take it easy. The Dragon Kingdom is under the protection of me, Clementine!"
"Ugh! Let... let go!!" Lion King's ear was aching from Iri's pull, and he quickly cried out. Only then did Iri let go.
"Understood?!" Iri smiled, but it was a very sinister smile.
"Kno... understood! I will relay it! Hmph!!" This Big Cat snorted again, tsundere as ever.
"Clementine!! I found the blunt knife!!" At this moment, Bei Lu rushed over, waving a rusty machete in her hand...
Uh... I almost forgot about this clumsy big sister. Never mind, Big Cat's problem is solved, so next are the problems on the Dragon Kingdom's side. Making the decision to let Big Cat go, a guy who is a great menace to them, the Dragon Queen should hold a grudge against me, right?!
Looking back at the guards and Adventurers, including that Steel Rank lolicon pervert from before, they were all looking at her with very complex expressions.
The Dragon Queen's attitude was even stranger; she just silently held her elbow, head bowed, seemingly regretting something. The maid next to her, who looked very much like someone, was smiling and staring intently at her. It just felt very strange.
"Hmm? We've already won, you know? Why is everyone still looking so gloomy?" Iri pretended to be happy and walked back. As Iri took a step forward, the guards and Adventurers took a step back, clearly treating Iri as an enemy!
So, you foolish humans? Although I let Big Cat go, I at least helped you defend three cities, didn't I? And just like that, you treat me as an enemy?
"Ho... It seems letting Big Cat go has made you very dissatisfied. Well! Fine, let's just pretend I was never here. The three cities were defended by your own arduous efforts, and have nothing to do with me, an Adventurer who passed by out of interest. Bei Lu, come quickly, we're going home!" Iri shouted at Bei Lu, who was still in a daze, holding the rusty machete.
"Eh? Didn't we win? Are we leaving already? Can't we rest a bit longer?" Bei Lu, who couldn't read the atmosphere, said with great confusion.
"Didn't you see that they don't welcome us? Just because we did something that went against their so-called 'great righteousness'." Iri gave the Dragon Queen a meaningful look.
The Dragon Queen looked hesitant. She must be very conflicted now, needing to maintain her image in front of her soldiers while also not being able to expose Iri's identity. It was difficult for her.
But it didn't matter anyway. She hadn't really intended to target the Dragon Kingdom on this trip; it just happened to coincide with Xiao Di's previous arrangements.
Although she initially did want to take the opportunity to mess with the Dragon Kingdom, looking at the Dragon Queen's current state, it seemed there wouldn't be much opportunity. Consider it a public-funded trip, and besides, there was still the Beast Kingdom! Overall, it wasn't a loss.
"That... can... can..." Although the Dragon Queen's voice was very soft, through her lip movements and her gesture of wanting to call out to Iri, Iri could roughly tell that she wanted to stop her. Alright! Then I'll give you one more chance to cling to my leg!
---------------------------------
If you'd like to read the next 70 chapters in advance, you can support me on Patreon.
I regularly post chapter previews there, so you'll always be up-to-date and won't have to wait too long.
patreon.com/SolyuraMT
And if you enjoy the story, don't forget to give me a Power Stone. Your support really motivates me to continue translating!