Weekly chapters (1/2)
Enjoy the chapter~
The destination I was guided to was the foot of the Great Wall.
『It was just right, wasn’t it? Saved us time』
[Yeah, that’s right.]When I looked up at it up close again, I couldn’t help but feel oppressed by its height.
It was as if I was connected to the clouds floating in the sky.
I asked the chief’s son to wait just a little while and approached the Great Wall.
『Fate, what’s wrong?』
[There are countless handprints…]
There were countless red handprints stamped on the pure white wall. The heights were within reach, and some of them overlap.
And all the handprints were from the left hand.What does this mean? While I was thinking about Greed, I heard a voice from behind me.
[It’s just a small form of resistance by the beastkin.]
When I turned around, an old male dog-beastkin was standing there. His eyes were hidden by his long eyebrows. However, I could see that he was staring intently at me from within.
[I’m Perth, the head of the dog tribe. I hail from the sacred land.]
He further rounded his bent waist and bowed deeply, so I did the same and introduced myself.
[I am Fate Barbatos. And this black sword is Greed.]
『Nice to meet you, old man』
[I haven’t lived for long. A speaking sword, is it?]
While rubbing his beard, which had grown as long as his eyebrows, he was observing Greed as if he was looking at something interesting.
『I don’t like being a spectacle. That aside, what do you mean by small resistance?』
[All the handprints here are those who were exiled from the Great Wall. Before being reborn as monsters, they carved here the proof of their lives as beastkin. There are many places like this for each race.]
[I thought the Great Wall was sacred to the elves?]
[It’s nothing. Those who left their evidence here will become monsters, and even if the elves impose collective responsibility on the entire tribe, we have nothing to stop them. They can easily turn beastkin into monsters one after another. But if they do that, the lives of the elves will be disrupted. We are the ones producing the elves’ food after all.]
『So, that’s why the elves leave it be?』
[That’s the thing. When we look at these handprints, we remember the regrets of our compatriots. There’s no point in standing around and talking, we’re heading to my house.]
Perth seemed to have bad legs, so he started walking slowly using a cane. Perth’s son, who had guided me this far, gave me a nod and headed back the way he had come.
[I wanted my son to be with me, but unfortunately the elves require him to do some farming work. I’m sorry, but I’ll guide you from here. Now, come inside.]
It was a simple wooden house. Grass could be seen growing on the roof.
When Perth opened the front door, a wide variety of beastkin were sitting there.
[This is…]
[I’m sorry to have surprised you. Today was a gathering of the clan chiefs. And just as we were talking, you showed up.]
『It’s like you knew that we’ll come here.』
[Hahaha, depending on the tribe, some of us have good ears. I’m old, but I have good ears. Also, I have a good nose.]
Perth pointed to his ears and nose and smiled.
As if their laughter had been absorbed, the other chieftains fell silent.
『It doesn’t seem like we’re welcomed here.』
[That’s not true. Everyone is nervous. The rumored foreigner is suddenly coming to visit us after all. Now please, sit down.]
I joined the group sitting around the hearth.
Perth sat down on my left side. He took the initiative to introduce me and Greed and explained things to the other chiefs.
As soon as that was finished, the fox beastkin spoke to me. He must be nervous after all. It stretched out its thick tail and was trembling slightly.
[Is it true that you won the duel against the elf?]
[Yes.]
I was at a loss for words because I was asked this question so suddenly. There shouldn’t have been any beastkin witnessing that duel.
Perth came in between the conversations with a troubled look on his face.
[We heard the rumors from the elves. This is the first time something about elves has leaked out to where we live.]
『So, it leaked out! Look Fate, the tale of your bravery actually become known widely this time』
[You should be quiet. Perth-san… it’s true that we won the duel against the elf.]
All the chieftains let out a voice of surprise. Everyone started asking me how I was able to defeat an elf who uses spirits.
[Be quiet. Don’t disturb the guests.]
[I heard that you even stole the elf’s spirit!]
[Really? Is it possible to do something like that?]
[I heard it was a one-sided battle. Of course you were overwhelming the elves.]
[By the gods!]
[Don’t you listen to me!! Be quiet!!]
After Perth let out a shout, everyone finally stopped talking.
Then, he took a deep breath.
[I’m sorry. Everyone doesn’t know how to treat you.]
『No wonder. A life held down by elves in a cage called the Great Wall. If someone who can stand up to that elf appears, something like this will naturally happen.』
[I have no intention of fighting against the elves.]
Hearing those words, the tribe chiefs let out voices of disappointment. There was silence for a while.
As I was looking at the fire in the hearth, the cat beastkin started talking.
[It’s like I said. This guy is not the savior. He’s already been tamed by the elves.]
[Red, shut up!]
[You must have heard what he said earlier, Perth. he said he wouldn’t fight against the elves. You didn’t even know that we had been oppressed by the elves for a mind-boggling number of years!]
I guess the chieftains were probably gathering here to discuss how they could get help from me.
I would be in trouble if someone, who I’ve never met or spoken to before, suddenly hailed me as the savior without mentioning me.
When I tried to open my mouth, Greed got ahead of me.
『Hey, isn’t that too convenient? Fate didn’t come here for you. He just happened to have washed up on Louise Island. What savior? Anyway, you guys probably won’t do anything. There’s no way we, as outsiders, should be to take the blame. Anyone who has a complaint should come forward. I’ll turn you into a speck rust on my blade!』
Hmm… Greed… I think that’s too much.
Cecilia had approached me about improving the relationship between elves and beastkin.
However, looking at the current state of the tribe chiefs, it seems like we have a long way to go. As Greed said, the beastkin wouldn’t do anything.
To use their language, they had been tamed by the elves to the point that they couldn’t even say the words “let’s stand together”.
[This sword is a bit nasty. Don’t worry about it. More importantly, the elf Cecilia is worried about you guys. Isn’t it wiser to ask her for help instead of me?]
Perth and his colleagues lowered their heads. Is their relationship with Cecilia not so good?
In that case, her hopes would be completely undermined.
Perth opened his mouth, albeit seemingly reluctant to speak.
[Cecilia-sama is very kind to us. But… I can’t accept that alms.]
[Why? Cecilia doesn’t really see the reincarnation ceremony positively either.]
[…it’s his brother Georg-sama. He always keeps an eye on Cecilia-sama’s actions. Cecilia-sama doesn’t know. What kind of punishment will those who receive her alms have to undertake behind the scenes.]
[That’s… but Cecilia genuinely cares for the beastkin…]
[It’s hard to say this to someone close to Cecilia-sama, but she’s causing us pain.]
I was confused by Perth’s words. The rift between the two sides was deeper than I expected.
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