Chapter 105
Chapter 105
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 105
Chapter Title: Anti-Species Discrimination
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These days, opposition to species discrimination had become trendy, with those who discriminate against other races dismissed as uneducated. But it was just another game for the privileged.
It was nothing more than a fad spreading among young humans like a playful trend.
A sense of superiority stemming from the notion of "We're different from the stuck-up old fogeys in the capital."
Unlike the imperial capital, which strictly favored humans based on bloodlines, other cities rebelled against it, using the stance as a shield to proclaim themselves more free-spirited and enlightened.
Of course, the beastkin inwardly bristled at such condescending attitudes but didn't openly oppose them.
After all, they wanted their children to face a little less discrimination that way.
The key point was that one reason species discrimination was seen as outdated tradition was the rigid atmosphere of the strict imperial capital.
Yes, just like now.
"Tch. Gross from the morning."
"If you're gonna buy one, at least get a cute one. Reptiles are a hard pass."
Luna pulled her hood lower over her head as passersby tossed their comments.
A lizard-type beastkin with a metal choker around her neck walked by with her head bowed.
[I don't understand.]
A chalkboard popped up in front of Luna's lowered gaze. She lifted her head slightly to see Leaf staring at her with an expressionless face.
But perhaps because they'd spent time together now, Luna could read a hint of worry and doubt even in that blank face.
"Me too."
Since when? For what reason? Who even remembered?
Just like that, humans hated beastkin, and beastkin hated humans.
Without reason.
Or maybe there was one—the things discrimination advocates claimed.
That humans were perfect, and beastkin were incomplete.
Leaf slowly closed her eyes as if unable to comprehend it, then opened them and turned to walk again.
The empire's largest library open to the public.
"Public" meaning only humans of noble birth, but public access to its collections was still a rare opportunity to build knowledge easily.
The empire was one of the largest on the continent in both territory and population, so its capital brimmed with nobles. Thus, Leaf easily passed by showing the fake noble insignia Adelrian had made to the library gatekeeper.
"Tsk tsk, must be some country noble. See he's got a beastkin maid."
Luna ignored the gatekeeper's quiet tongue-clicking as she followed behind Leaf, pretending to be his maid.
―......
"History section?"
Luna smiled at the feeling that Leaf had said something.
She didn't know why, but she understood what he meant.
If they'd built a civilization powerful enough to create Leaf, there had to be records somewhere.
The empire was ancient, after all.
And so, Luna and Leaf roamed the shelves for a while, pulling out stacks of promising books to read.
From worthless tomes claiming all humanoid lifeforms originated from humans, with beastkin born by filling deficient souls with animal-like substitutes.
To tales of the empire's founder, who gathered scattered peoples, beheaded a dragon with a single sword, and subjugated all beastkin beneath his feet.
They sifted through fairy tales and in-depth treatises alike.
[None.]
"None."
Luna grumbled as she stacked the pile of books like a tower and dropped them at the return desk.
It was like they'd been snipped clean with scissors. At some point, the trail just stopped—no further back.
Dragons lived for ten thousand years, so why were there no ancient stories?
Because it was a public library?
Even then, non-history books held plenty of secretive tales.
No matter what they read, it was all vague. Or just fleeting myths. In the end, they couldn't find Leaf's past.
"Anyway, these seem like common books. Not proper specialized stuff."
But Leaf looked disappointed, and Luna didn't want to see that. She spoke soothingly, and Leaf nodded slightly.
Then, after a moment's thought, he began scribbling on the chalkboard.
[Ask the Administrator.]
The young master?
Luna glanced at the chalkboard, then at Leaf's face.
Come to think of it, if they couldn't find it here......
Maybe.
The airship might have records.
Weren't there documents encrypted even from Adelrian's admin access?
Luna thought about it for a moment, then chuckled softly and nodded.
"Let's ask the young master."
He always found a way.
* * *
"I remember now."
We'd been munching on skewers side by side when I looked up.
Her eyes were lowered with makeup, but that was definitely Paiyan, right?
Seemed like it.
"What do you mean?"
I watched Zero finish a skewer and snap the wooden stick in half, then turned to Rachel.
"Remember that lily scent from that woman earlier?"
"Uh? Yeah, I remember."
"Can you track it?"
I gave Rachel a look like she was a police dog, and she shot back with an annoyed glare before huffing her response.
"Well, I could if I tried. But for free?"
She didn't like my look, so no sweet deal.
"I'll buy you skewers."
"You already cover food, clothes, and shelter!"
"So where is it."
Rachel and I bickered while Zero tapped my shoulder from the side.
"What."
"Lord Adelrian. I can track it too."
Zero, when did you get so capable?
Rachel and I paused, then she shrieked.
"I'll do it! I'll do it!"
The bus has already left, lady.
"Zero, wish granted."
I grinned brightly, and Zero smiled happily, gesturing somewhere.
"That way."
"N-n-no! I'll show you a shortcut. I want a wish too!"
"Which way?"
With Rachel clinging to my back, I followed Zero's lead.
Through neat, well-kept alleys toward the outskirts a bit more.
Past the bustling commercial district, to slightly worn and shabby buildings.
Not total outskirts, so security didn't look too bad, and unlike the center, some beastkin without collars were visible.
This felt more familiar to me.
"The capital has no monsters—why an adventurers' guild?"
"No labyrinths either—any demand?"
Zero led us to a hub of guilds, specifically the adventurers' guild.
I looked at Rachel and Zero in response to their questions.
One was a dragon who'd been stuck on the borderlands punching monsters for the thrill, the other a doppelganger freshly freed after eons in a labyrinth.
So yeah, they wouldn't know more than some Earthling dropped from another dimension.
"No labyrinths, but there are dungeons. There's a massive sewer system under the capital."
Dirty sewage and clean water alike flowed through it. Slimes, kobolds, vampire bats sometimes popped out.
Deeper in, weird stuff appeared, and depending on the main boss that exploded later, undead hordes might swarm.
Hence, adventurers' guild. And Paiyan could be there.
"You two stand out too much."
"Should we wear hoods?"
I silently handed over wooden badges and slipped one onto my sleeve myself before entering the guild building.
One side doubled as a tavern and was noisy; the other had an entire wall as a bulletin board plastered with requests.
I scanned from reception to drinkers, then spotted a particularly pale round head inside.
"Really? I don't know much about that......"
"Just trust us, Lily."
"Don't worry—just stay behind us."
Long, wavy white hair, slightly drooping eyebrows, orange eyes.
Waist belt and bag full of small potion vials, like an herbalist or alchemist.
At a glance, pure and innocent, but.
'User's Eye.'
[Paiyan—Masked Lily]
Main Traits: [Charm (S)] [Compounding (B)]
Hidden Traits: [Submissive (B)] [Pottery (E)]
I didn't remember Paiyan's traits exactly, but Charm and the slash mark were definite.
The slash was gone, replaced by Compounding?
And she had some villain title with a bloody vibe before, now it's Masked Lily.
But the important thing: this was the Paiyan who'd approached our party as "Ruby" in the past.
The red hair and rose scent must've been a disguise.
Makes sense—if she had to flee trouble, strong associations with red hair and roses would make it hard to track her after an outward change like this.
"You'll protect me, right?"
With hands neatly clasped at her chest, head tilted, smiling softly—the two men nodded eagerly.
Still preying on other adventurers' backsides, huh. Heard no one survived her bomb potion blast, though.
'How'd she survive?'
"You two wait here."
I told Zero and Rachel, then stood across from Paiyan and removed the badge from my sleeve.
The moment I took off the perception-lowering badge, eyes that had passed me by like I was air slowly clung to me.
"Really? I'm so happy... um... just a moment......"
Her eyes met mine as she smiled sweetly and spoke softly.
Her voice cracked, face drained white; the men fretted, but she bolted up and headed for the back door.
"Go check out some fun requests or whatever."
"But?"
"We've got Ice King."
"Scream if trouble—I'll be right there."
I slipped the badge back on and headed out the back door slowly.
Paiyan stood in a narrow alley, back turned.
Her wavy white hair trembled faintly—she was shaking.
Anyone seeing this would think I was the villain.
"Long time no see?"
My approaching footsteps mixed with a smile in my voice, and her shoulders jumped.
"Wh-who are you? Do I know you?"
"No point pretending now."
If you're gonna play dumb, do it from the start.
She slowly turned at my words; her eyes slitted up like a cat's, just like before.
Well, well—now even a beauty mark by the eye.
Pretty sure there wasn't one last time. Was it a cheek scar then?
"How'd you recognize me? Hate to say it myself, but it should've been harder than most magic to spot."
Her voice was sharp and crisp, unlike the soft, sweet tone in the guild hall. I laughed.
"Didn't even realize it myself—guess I've got sharp eyes. So, how'd you survive?"
"Blunt, aren't you. Tell you that and you'll leave me alone? No, wait—why act like you know me? Want compensation or something?"
Arms crossed, legs braced, glaring defiantly—yet her body trembled subtly.
"Or what, gonna chew me out for stabbing someone in the back again? What do you plan to do with me?"
Was she scared of me?
Worried about revenge? But honestly, no real grudge against Paiyan. Her leg got cut partly by design anyway.
"How you live is your business. Just curious how you survived."
At that, she gnawed her nails before slowly speaking.
"I'm half-yoma originally. So that day......"
Her orange eyes flicked to the ground, then met mine slowly.
Less venom in them now.
"I awakened. Yoma powers...... Turned to mist and escaped. Happy now?"
Mist?
I grabbed her as she brushed past my shoulder, done talking.
"What. Conversation over?"
"Not for me."
I said cheerfully, and she bit her lower lip like it was unfair.
Why so guarded, though?
In her memory, I was the idiot who'd been duped and lost a leg.
I twisted my lips into a grin.