kscans

Chapter 107 - The Little One and the Seaside Forest

"All right then... where to next, I wonder."

The Little One took out a copy of the world map that Sapphard and Merda were said to have made long ago and spread it out on the table. It was a relic from several thousand years ago. Even after being copied over and over, it was a map far removed from the current state of the world.

"Ah, here it is, Castrato’s underground lake. It’s so tiny."

There was a small, lonely mark where present-day Castrato was located. It was a map from the age of myths, after all. In those days, there were probably no proper countries yet. Even Frontier had only just been founded. Naturally, the locations of the Lords’ forests were also just marks. Sticky notes were placed on the Lords’ forests that had been lost over the long years as various things were written over them.

After receiving a cup of tea from Sasha, the Little One happened to look up at the lovely maid.

"Come to think of it, we’ve traveled through half the borderlands, but we haven’t seen any beast-humans."

At Chihiro’s casual question, Sasha’s eyes widened for a moment, then her brows furrowed in a troubled expression.

"Beast-humans are short-lived... The people who were abducted with me are also probably already..."

"Huh?"

After a brief hesitation, Sasha told the Little One what she knew. Beast-humans, as the name suggests, are a clan with beast-like characteristics. They also have chimeric traits, with herbivorous children being born to carnivorous parents, making it very random. However, they do inherit facial features from their parents, and since they raise and dote on all children, whether their own or others, it’s apparently not a problem.

"Beast-human men are extremely rare. Only about one in a hundred is born male. So we don’t have the concept of marriage... well, it’s that kind of situation."

She was vague, but the Little One understood. In a way, it’s peaceful. A world without cheating, affairs, or stealing partners.

Beast-humans, due to their beastly traits, have sturdy bodies, high agility, and great strength. This makes them ideal for labor slavery. Moreover, their appearance is flashy. Depending on their looks, they can also be made into pleasure slaves.

What a nasty world. Wait a minute.

Chewing on a bitter pill at the general explanation, the Little One looked at Sasha.

"Could it be that’s why you ended up with my foster father?"

"Of course not! The master would never do such a thing!"

"No, that’s not what I mean..."

She knew that. There was no way that Drago would treat someone like a slave.

"I was just wondering if my foster father, whose home is in the palace grounds, took you in because of that possibility."

If she were in the city, she would surely have been abducted again. Even if not abducted, she might have been bought by a wealthy person or a noble and subjected to terrible things.

"Ah, that may be so. I was young at the time."

Sasha was five or six. She met Naya on the same slave ship, and because they were confined for days until the Frontier inspection, she doesn’t know where her hometown is. Naya was born and raised a slave, so the fact that she had no bill of sale worked in her favor, and she was protected along with Sasha. This is because a purebred slave, born from pairing slaves, does not have a bill of sale unless they are sold.

Thus, the two were protected by Frontier and treated as commoners, but Sasha being a beast-human became an issue. If she were to be seen by people, she would inevitably attract curious eyes. She would surely be targeted by someone with ill intentions. At worst, they were considering confining her to a convent when Drago, who had become a baron and needed staff for his mansion, came to an employment agency. And when Drago heard that there were young children among the protected slaves, he said he would take in Naya as well, which brings us to the present. It was likely also convenient that his residence was in the outer bailey of the royal palace, where Sasha would not be seen by many people.

That’s just like my foster father.

"We receive proper wages and were even educated as members of the household. I have nothing but gratitude for my master."

With a smile of heartfelt gratitude, Sasha poured a fresh cup of tea.

"So, I don’t know about Frontier, but in my hometown, people die around the age of fifty. I probably will too..."

Sasha was not born in Frontier. She probably hasn't received many of the benefits of the golden magic. She received baptism and, like Sakura, became able to use magic later in life, but her future is uncertain. Ten years have passed since then. Sasha must be in her late twenties.

"Aren’t you going to get married? Sasha, isn’t there a nice person for you?"

At the Little One’s blunt words, Sasha’s face turned bright red. Chihiro chuckled at her face, which looked like it was about to burst into flames, bon. Sasha slapped her cheeks, pan pan, forcing herself to calm down, and then murmured.

"I am not considering marriage. ...If my blood were to mix... there is a possibility a beast-human could be born. ...It would be a nuisance to the other family."

"There are people who wouldn’t mind that. Right, Dorfen?"

The Little One turned to Dorfen, who was standing behind her, seeking his agreement. Dorfen thought for a moment, then shook his head.

"That would be a very small minority... I cannot say they do not exist, but it is unlikely that even a commoner would accept a beast-human."

According to Dorfen’s explanation, beast-humans were few in number to begin with and existed only as slaves. The image of beast-human equals slave was firmly established. Furthermore, their beastly features evoked an animalistic sense of aversion, making them objects of disgust. And on top of that, their short lifespan was an image of bad luck that could not be shaken off.

"No one would marry someone knowing their child would die young."

I see. The first two points were discriminatory, but the Little One had to agree with the last one. No parent would wish for their child’s early death.

"I hope someone appears who will love Sasha for who she is, including all that."

She understood it would be difficult, but the Little One couldn’t give up. To Chihiro, Sasha was like a sister. She wanted her to meet a good man, have a happy marriage, and build a family.

Putting her own situation grandly on the shelf, the Little One nonchalantly imagined how beautiful Sasha would be as a bride.

Chihaya pulled the Little One back to reality.

"So, where are you going next?"

Staring at the map, the two of them confirmed the borderlands beyond Castrato. Frontier and Castrato were located along the southern coast of the continent. So, the path ahead followed the coastline in a large arc. In the desert northeast of Castrato, there were two Lords’ forests, both at a similar distance. However, a large mountain range lay between the forests, physically separating them. They could be called the forest of the plains and the forest of the seaside.

"We’ll have to cross the mountains. I’m so glad we built the Honeybee Carriage."

The Little One muttered to herself.

Next to her, Sasha, who was staring intently at the map, suddenly went pale.

"This place... surrounded by mountains. It’s similar to my hometown."

At her whispered words, everyone in the room stared in surprise. According to her, she could see a mountain range to the southwest from her home village. And the merchants who occasionally came would also bring things like salted fish. A long mountain range to the west, and a coastline to the east. The conditions matched.

"So it might be Sasha’s hometown."

They didn’t know where the slave traders were getting the beast-humans from. It was their livelihood. They wouldn’t talk so easily. Sasha’s hometown, which they hadn’t been able to find with a light investigation, might have just been discovered.

With a niyo niyo grin, the Little One decided on the seaside forest as their next pilgrimage destination.

"I’ll be sure to check it out thoroughly! Look forward to it♪"

Sasha watched with a complicated expression as Chihiro energetically began her preparations. On one hand, she thought it was too late, but on the other, a feeling of disbelief, really? She couldn’t be purely happy, unaware that Dorfen was quietly watching over her.

And so, the Little One sets out on a new pilgrimage.

Today, as always, she forges her own path♪