kscans

Chapter 124 - The Secrets of the Claudia Kingdom and the Little One

"Uwaaaah, I’m so tired."

The Little One rolled around on the floor, melting into a puddle. But her limbs were still firmly latched onto Pochiko-san. While stroking Pochiko-san’s fur with a constant mofu mofu, her face was a landslide of blissful smiles. Exasperated with his sister, Chihaya held a document in his hand and gave instructions to the knights.

"Have you finished procuring the carriages? Freight wagons will do. Just make sure to add a canopy and reinforce the wheels."

"You mentioned empty carriages as well?"

"That’s right. We’ll be picking up the refugees from the border count’s territory. Do we have enough food? Could you go out and buy more, just in case?"

"Understood."

The Little One stared blankly at the adults moving about efficiently, her power switched off. She was leisurely, sluggishly, enjoying her state of utter laziness.

Three days had passed since then.

The Little One had bought all the beast-humans, paid half the price, and arranged for the rest to be paid later.

"The Lycan wasn’t being born anyway, so they’re a dwindling race. It’s no great loss to give them away."

"Indeed. We will gratefully accept them."

Having snatched a verbal promise and a sales contract from the King of Claudia, who was trying to sound tough, Chihaya and the Frontier knights were now busy arranging for the transport of the newly acquired beast-humans to Frontier. The Little One, exhausted from playing the role of a royal in the difficult negotiations, had thrown off the cat she had been wearing on her head, left the rest to Chihaya and the others, and collapsed sideways, recharging her energy by playing with a fluffy creature.

"The refugees from the border count’s territory… let’s ask Kazuki’s caravan to take them… and the beast-humans too… unii."

Even in her languid state, the Little One interjected with bits and pieces of instruction.

"Ngaah, let’s see… Leave just Dorfen… the rest will guard the caravan… with the monster carriage… We’ll go to the Plain Forest…? Oh, right, let’s deliver the Lord’s child and make a pact while we’re at it."

As if a switch had been flipped midway, Chihiro sat up abruptly and began to count on her fingers.

Just then, someone knocked on the carriage door. Dorfen opened the door and welcomed in a beast-human. She was the eldest of the purchased beast-humans and had not been born in the prison.

"Thank you so much for everything."

The wolf beast-human bowed her head deeply. Her name was M_ārya.

There was considerable variation among them. Some had a form close to humans, while others were covered in fur and more beast-like. The woman before them was one of the latter. Her sharp wolf-like snout and gallant eyes were impressive.

And then, M_ārya began to haltingly tell an old story.

That about twenty years ago, their last hidden village was attacked by slave hunters, and the beast-human population was almost completely wiped out. That the beast-human known as a Lycan had already been born at that time, but had gone missing during the attack on the last hidden village. So that’s it. A new Lycan wasn’t born because one already existed.

The Lycan was the only individual who could completely transform into a beast. Therefore, when the village was attacked, they had transformed and escaped at the first opportunity.

"We do not know what happened to them after that. It seems they were not captured, but they were just a small child. They are likely no longer alive. …The pure-blooded beast-humans will probably go extinct. Therefore, we would like to receive a small village somewhere and live out our days quietly."

Though it was possible for them to live among humans, the beast-humans had been repeatedly shunned by humans due to their appearance and short lifespans. They did not seem to hold any faint hopes. Furthermore, there was their outstanding physical ability. Though their instincts were now fading as the majority were prison-born, in the past they were a race of warriors with a history of striking fear into the Claudia Kingdom. The powerful figures of the time had taken notice of their abilities and toyed with them as they pleased, and they had lost many of their brethren in war. After that, they had quietly disappeared from the main stage and began to live in hiding deep in the borderlands.

"Several hundred years ago, there were a number of hidden villages, but they were repeatedly burned down by slave hunters. I believe that with the last hidden village, where I was the chief, almost all beast-humans were thrown into prison."

Due to their unusual appearance, developed muscles, and physical abilities, beast-humans could be sold for a high price as pleasure slaves, labor slaves, or combat slaves. They were in high demand. To breed them and turn them into commodities, the Claudia Kingdom had pursued them for many years.

"Did you not think of fleeing to another country?"

At the Little One’s tilted head, M_ārya shook her own slightly.

"Crossing the mountain range to travel through the wilderness and desert is no easy task. Even to the closest country, Castrato to the south, it takes over a month on foot. Moreover, Castrato is a country that tames monsters and has many unsavory rumors. …It was not a country we wished to aim for at the cost of leaving our homeland."

To head to the neighboring country to the north, they would have to make a wide detour around Claudia. Naturally, the travel distance would be longer. The circumstances of a country, arising from a geography of scattered settlements in a desolate, barren land. That was what crushed the option of escape.

"We will not waste this good fortune. We will surely repay this kindness."

Watching M_ārya bow deeply and exit the carriage, the Little One contemplated the deep-seated nature of Arcadia’s worldview. They had no choice but to endure because they could not escape. They had no choice but to bow down and obey absolute power. If all the kings were wicked fools, the people’s patience would surely reach its limit. But because wise kings were mixed in at just the right intervals, the people’s dissatisfaction was reset, and the long, dark age continued. When push came to shove, someone with a conscience would usurp the throne and establish a new royal family, and as long as that continued, concepts like democratization would not develop. Revolution was out of the question. And the Little One who was present thought that this might not be a bad thing.

It would be possible to steer things in a better direction by preparing various things, like a manual for raising conscientious royals, or an environment for nurturing useful human resources. Reforming ideologies and perspectives was a major undertaking, but gradually shifting their direction was not difficult. Even if they democratized and elected a leader, if that person turned out to be a fool, a situation worse than the present would await them. It would not be much different from the current state of affairs. The Little One, who knew the history of modern Japan, was well aware of its ugliness. In fact, a person who was born to be a king and earnestly studied for the role would be far more suitable to stand above others, as long as they did not stray from the path.

To the Little One, a royal family with a consistent ideology seemed far more ideal than a prime minister who changed constantly or a series of political philosophies that were overturned in a heartbeat. That was why she did not think of changing this worldview. But she did think of making it better.

"That’s right. There are lots of royals, so instead of succession by rank, maybe the people could have a popularity vote to choose a king from among the royals… or use that as one opinion to consider. Then everyone would work harder and think of things that would benefit the people…"

The Frontier members watched with lukewarm gazes as the Little One began to mutter to herself.

Shrugging at his sister, whose thoughts were leaking out, Chihaya calmly began preparations for their return journey.

And so, with their preparations complete, Dorfen, Chihaya, and the Little One decided to head for the Plain Forest.

"We’ll return the child to the Lord of the Plain Forest, and if we can successfully make a pact, we’ll fly to the border town."

"Then we will head for the border town with the beast-humans and await you there."

It was about a four-day carriage ride to the border town where Hyrulia and the others were. As the Frontier party nodded in agreement, M_ārya called out to them.

"You are going to meet the Lord of the Forest? Is this true?"

"Yes. We have to deliver the Lord’s child who was with you all, and I have some business with the Lord myself."

"Then by all means, please take me with you!" M_ārya pressed forward with a desperate look on her face.

"To us beast-humans, the Lord of the Forest was our guardian deity. For generations, they have guided and protected us as we fled."

She explained that for hundreds of years, the Lords of the Forest had lent their strength to the beast-humans. They had helped them escape, protected the new villages they built, and had always been with them.

"That is why, before we leave this country, I wish to express my gratitude."

The Little One hurriedly helped M_ārya, who was prostrating herself on the ground, to her feet, and readily agreed to let her accompany them. The other beast-humans also looked like they wanted to go, but they were asked to be patient, and only M_ārya, their chief, and a few of her attendants were allowed to ride in the carriage with the Little One as they headed for the Plain Forest.

"It’s a shame that the Lycan is missing, but I want even just the beast-humans who are here now to live long and happy lives."

Since Hyrulia and Adonis were not there, the Little One poured her own tea and offered it with a happy smile. Accepting it, M_ārya’s brow furrowed with a hint of sadness.

"Nasha was a small child. Startled by the burning building, she transformed into a beast, and when we realized it, she was nowhere to be found… We don’t even know if she is still in her beast form or has returned to human form. They say that if you remain a beast for too long, your human memories fade and you forget. …As long as she is alive, either form is fine. But a little fox probably couldn’t survive on its own."

A little fox?

"That Lycan is a fox?"

"Yes. Beast-humans tend to be strictly either herbivores or carnivores. Omnivores are rare. That is the proof of a Lycan."

The Little One’s face froze.

Nasha, Nasha… It was a child’s memory. It wouldn’t be strange if it was hazy.

"That Lycan, by any chance, did she have pink hair and dark pink eyes?"

"Why…? How do you know that?! Nasha is my daughter! She is a red fox!!"

SASHAAAAA!!

A scream that could tear silk echoed through the Little One’s mind.

Nasha is Sasha, M_ārya is Sasha’s mother, and Sasha is that Lycan?!

Learning the shocking truth, the Little One thrashed about. Talk about a stroke of luck.

A toast to the suddenly bright future of the beast-humans!