"Good grief... I think we got them."
Rest wiped the sweat from his brow, feeling the oppressive heat radiating from the surrounding fires.
The subjugation of the Crazy Apes had proceeded almost exactly as planned. The pit trap before him was a mass of fallen monsters, their bodies impaled and silenced by the earth stakes he had conjured at the bottom.
The strategy Rest had employed was known as "Surround the Enemy on Three Sides," a classic military doctrine dating back to the Spring and Autumn and Warring States period of ancient China. The mages from the Marquis Rosemary House had coordinated their efforts, unleashing walls of fire from three directions simultaneously. Driven by the encroaching flames, the Crazy Apes had fled toward the only clear path—straight into the trap Rest had waiting for them. They had tumbled into the pit with enough momentum to ensure the stakes made short work of them.
Had they been completely encircled, the cornered creatures might have grown desperate enough to charge through the flames. By intentionally leaving them a perceived escape route, Rest had ensured they would herd themselves directly into the pit.
"I'll admit, I was a bit worried when they tried to leap across it..." Rest muttered.
"It's a good thing I was here, isn't it?" Yuri said, wearing a bright, cheerful smile.
She had stayed by Rest’s side during the slaughter, kicking back any apes that tried to clear the gap. Rest couldn't help but marvel at her sheer power; she had effortlessly sent creatures weighing three times as much as her flying back into the abyss.
"We need to make sure every last one is dealt with. Time to hunt down the stragglers."
To be safe, Rest activated [Life Search] to locate any remaining signatures. He methodically finished off the apes playing dead at the bottom of the pit, then moved on to those trying to burrow underground or flee through the canopy. He had already ordered the mages from the Marquis Rosemary House to do the same, trusting they were currently purging any survivors on their end.
"I'm glad we finished this without anyone getting hurt, but... this smell is going to haunt my dreams."
The stench of burning flesh was uniquely repulsive, clinging to the back of his throat. Rest grimaced, looking down at the carnage once more. He noticed one particular Crazy Ape at the bottom of the pit. It was making sounds that mimicked human speech, babbling pleas for mercy.
While a talking monkey might have been a marvel under different circumstances, the reality of it filled Rest with cold revulsion. They hadn't been taught those words out of kindness; the monsters had simply memorized the final cries of the victims they had devoured.
"Rest, are you all right?"
"Lord Rest, are you unharmed?"
Viola and Primula approached him, having finished their task of herding the pack.
"Yeah, I'm fine. What about you two? Did anything break through?"
"No, we didn't have any issues," Viola replied.
"The monsters never even reached our position. Good work, Yuri-san," Primula added politely.
"You too," Yuri said, waving a hand in acknowledgement. "Still... that was almost too easy. I just wish they were the kind of monsters that tasted good."
"Don't even think about it. Eating primates is incredibly dangerous."
Rest had no intention of letting her experiment. He vaguely recalled reading about "monkey brain" delicacies in his previous life—a practice fraught with the risk of prion diseases. While he didn't know the exact biology of this world, the genetic similarity between humans and apes made it a recipe for disaster.
"I'm not going to eat them! They look gross anyway," Yuri said, shaking her head vigorously.
Rest felt a wave of relief. At least she had enough sense to be picky about her prey.
"Well, once the fires die down, we'll start the cleanup... though dealing with the carcasses is going to be a chore."
Since he’d already dug a massive hole, he decided the most efficient route was to simply bury the entire mess right where it lay. Subjugating them was one thing, but tidying up after the massacre was going to be the real trial. Rest sighed, his shoulders slumping at the thought.