Chapter 218: The Great Chieftain(4)
Chapter 218: The Great Chieftain(4)
Though things had progressed at breakneck speed, the position of Grand Chieftain was not one to be decided lightly.
While the conclusion was that Zinai would essentially become the Grand Chieftain, it wasn't one hundred percent official yet. As Balkan had mentioned, the opinions of the royalty and the people had to be consulted and coordinated, which would take a considerable amount of time.
However, the original goal—resolving the issue of Leona becoming Grand Chieftain—had been settled amicably, which was a relief. Leona also seemed relieved, despite her lingering concerns about Zinai potentially taking the mantle.
"If I actually become the Grand Chieftain, just you wait."
"People who say things like that are usually the least scary."
As a bonus, Zinai, who had somehow ended up in danger of becoming the Grand Chieftain, threw a half-hearted threat my way. Her reaction was more like someone annoyed at being caught up in a bothersome chore rather than genuine anger.
If Zinai truly possessed the abilities I thought she did, it wasn't an empty compliment to say she could rule Animus more wisely than most.
She was dissatisfied with many of the current traditions, possessed excellent political skills, and had a long-term vision. Even if she didn't become a legendary 'Sage King,' she was more than capable of being a 'Wise King.'
I felt my heart lighten for a moment, but then a certain beastkin custom suddenly crossed my mind. I had heard before that if Leona became the Grand Chieftain, she would have to bear my child.
Would the same apply to Zinai? As that thought struck me, I felt my face go pale and asked in a slightly urgent voice.
"...Excuse me, but I heard something from Leona before. She said there's a tradition where if she becomes the Grand Chieftain, she has to bear my child as a reward. Does that mean if Miss Zinai becomes the Grand Chieftain..."
"Why? You want me to bear your child too?"
Zinai asked with a sharp, stinging tone, clearly already annoyed. I immediately shook my head at the question.
I had helped Leona escape the position of Grand Chieftain precisely because I didn't want her to be treated like a mere vessel for seeds; I certainly wasn't looking for a replacement. Above all, having a relationship with someone who had the face of an animal was far beyond my personal taste.
Seeing my reaction, Zinai let out a short laugh and shrugged, putting my anxieties to rest.
"Sorry to disappoint, but I don't follow those stupid traditions. I heard humans prefer wealth over things like that, right? I can gift you some expensive jewelry instead."
"That's a relief."
"A relief? Why does that sound offensive? Believe it or not, I'm considered quite the beauty within Animus."
"It's not that. It's just that I already have a lover."
My reasonable excuse seemed to work, as Zinai stared at me for a moment before nodding. Since she was someone who hated stifling traditions, she seemed to move past it without much thought.
Still, the fact that an animal face like hers was considered a beauty in Animus made me realize once again how fascinating cultural differences could be.
In my past life, beauty standards varied by culture and era, so I suppose it's the same here. I just hoped Leona wasn't considered ugly by Animus standards.
As I was lost in these useless thoughts, Zinai spoke up again.
"If you have a lover, then it can't be helped. I have five husbands myself, so it would be awkward if you asked to mate."
"You have five?"
"Yeah. I'm talented and strong. It's only natural for males to flock to me."
In nature, hyenas form matriarchal societies where females are larger and much stronger than males. It seemed that fact held true in this world as well.
Furthermore, hyenas have a mating culture that could be described as promiscuous. However, seeing as she mentioned having 'husbands,' perhaps that wasn't the case here.
Zinai noticed my curious gaze and, interpreting it in her own way, spoke with a boastful, confident air.
"Why? Don't tell me you've fallen for me? If you really want to, I could do it with you just once."
"I'm sorry, but your face is far from my type."
I still couldn't do the animal face. That was a preference that wouldn't change even if I died and came back to life again.
If it were someone like Leona, who had a human face with only animal ears and a tail, it might be different. But I couldn't deal with a protruding snout and a face that was almost entirely animal, like Zinai's.
"Well, that's strange. Is a face like Lady Leona's your type, then?"
"Yes."
"M-Me?"
At my short, blunt answer, Leona stammered in surprise. Why are you the one getting flustered?
If anything, I was the one confused. Leona had lived at Halo Academy, so she should be familiar with human culture.
She should know that the aesthetic senses of beastkin and humans were completely different, so her shock was a bit puzzling.
At least in my eyes, Leona was quite beautiful. Unlike Marina or Cecile, her beauty wasn't glamorous, but rather wild—and that had a charm all its own.
"Why are you surprised? You're definitely a beauty by human standards."
"I-Is that so? I didn't know. I thought my face was average or even below average by human standards."
"Hmm... I can see why you'd think that."
Halo Academy had a much higher ratio of nobles than commoners. And most nobles tended to have looks that far exceeded the average.
Leona had a reason to think that way. Although there were commoners working at the academy, Leona usually spent all her time studying and didn't wander around much.
And a girl like that asked me to pet her head as a sign of affection...
Perhaps she was weak to compliments about her looks, as Leona's face turned slightly red. Seeing her ears droop downward confirmed it.
Unlike the times she boldly claimed she would be my wife or bear my child, she was now acting shy. It was a rare sight to behold.
I watched her in silence before turning my gaze forward and asking a related question.
"I suppose faces like Miss Zinai's or Mr. Balkan's are popular among beastkin?"
"That is correct. I'm sorry to say this, but Leona... at least by our standards, her face is far from the ideal of beauty. Of course, everyone has their own tastes, so you can just consider it a cultural difference."
"Then, perhaps Leona's mother as well?"
"...My father wasn't particularly picky. My third mother also has a face close to a human's, like Leona."
Is he an omnivore or something? Truly, there are all kinds of people in the world, and just as many different tastes.
Still, thanks to that, she was able to enter Halo Academy, so I suppose it was a good thing. If she had an animal face, she wouldn't have even been able to try.
"Anyway, let's end today's conversation here. As expected of a Sage, you give good advice."
"I'm really not, though."
"You, keep your mouth shut. It's not fully decided yet, so I'd appreciate it if you stopped grumbling."
"I'm just glad you took it well."
One way or another, the issue regarding the Grand Chieftain was more or less settled. Zinai seemed quite dissatisfied, but Balkan easily brushed her off.
And Leona...
"He said... I'm pretty..."
She was still dazed, my words seemingly stuck in her head. She was covering her burning cheeks with her hands, but it didn't do much to hide it.
I decided it was best to stay quiet as I watched her. Balkan, however, seemed to have a different idea as he called Leona's name in a serious voice.
"Leona."
"Y-Yes? Did you call?"
"I understand your thoughts. I shall withdraw the proposal to appoint you as Grand Chieftain."
"T-Thank you."
"However, the Sage must be rewarded. Sage."
I told you not to call me that. But since I knew he'd keep doing it, I just nodded.
Even if I told him not to, he probably wouldn't have any other title to call me by, so 'Sage' was likely more comfortable for him.
Balkan stared at me intently before glancing at Leona again. Then, as if he had reached a conclusion on his own, he gave a heavy nod and spoke quietly.
"As you've heard from Leona, we beastkin, when we owe a great debt of gratitude, offer a member of our family as a wife. And the only female in our family is Leona."
"I've heard that. I also know that refusing is considered an insult."
"You are well-informed."
I had hoped that after hearing our conversation, he might have changed his mind. If he had, I could have considered my relationship with Leona more carefully.
"I leave our Leona in your hands. However, I would like the cubs to be born after she graduates from the academy. Can you grant me that much consideration?"
"...I understand."
Of course, for the lions of Animus who lived and died by tradition, there was no such thing as changing their minds. I was the fool for thinking a short conversation would change anything.
Balkan gave a satisfied smile when I readily accepted, then turned his gaze to Leona. Perhaps because it had now become an undeniable reality, Leona tensed up.
"Leona. You must live wisely, just like your mother. Even though she was the third wife, she was a great help to your father."
"Yes. Of course I will."
"Good. I will send your mother to the academy soon. She should at least see the face of the man who will be her son-in-law."
The meeting of the in-laws was proceeding as smoothly as a snake sliding over a wall. It seemed best to just let go of my worries and accept it.
However, if I were to accept Leona, I would have to tell her the truth—that I am Xenon. I could tell her that gradually, so it wasn't a huge problem, but a much bigger obstacle remained.
How am I going to tell Adelia...
That was the problem. Adelia had confessed her feelings to me after her duel with Hiriya.
She promised to protect me and said she would stay by my side even if I didn't accept her feelings.
If I were to fully accept Leona now, it would deeply hurt Adelia. Even if she laughed it off on the outside, knowing her gentle nature, she might cry in secret.
So, once Balkan and Zinai left, I planned to tell Leona the truth. That we should take things slow before she officially becomes my wife.
"We shall take our leave now. You two should have a private talk and confirm each other's feelings."
"See ya. If I really become the Grand Chieftain, I'll bring you some jewelry."
With that, Balkan and Zinai stood up, having nothing left to say. Leona and I also tried to stand up to see them off.
However, Balkan gestured for us to stay seated, saying there was no need. I thought it might be rude, but after hearing his words, I had no choice but to keep my seat.
"There is no need. For beastkin, it is polite to leave immediately once a conversation is over, unless a new topic arises. Humans call this 'short and sweet,' do they not?"
"I think I get the gist of it."
"As expected of a Sage, you are quick-witted. We shall be off then."
After Balkan and Zinai left, only Leona and I remained in the room. Unlike before, a strange awkwardness filled the air.
Until now, we had been what you could call ordinary friends, but soon we would be undeniably husband and wife. Leona seemed to realize this as well, as she hesitated to speak.
I looked around at the subtle atmosphere, cleared my throat, and cautiously opened my mouth.
Or rather, I was about to.
"...Hey."
"Leon— Yes?"
"Am I really pretty?"
I was dumbfounded by Leona's sudden question. But she seemed serious, looking me straight in the eye.
Her ears, now standing tall, and her characteristically sharp eyes created a unique charm. Her flushed cheeks only added to her unexpected appeal.
I looked at her twitching ears and then quietly gazed at her. Her beauty wasn't glamorous, but it possessed a different kind of allure.
In particular, the ears perched atop her head were her charm point. They were the epitome of cuteness, far from anything fierce. Who could look at her and call her ugly?
"Of course. At least in my eyes, you're beautiful."
"More than your other lovers?"
"It's wrong to compare like that. They have their own beauty, and you have yours. You are just as beautiful as they are."
"..."
It was the honest truth, without a hint of a lie. Mari had her own unique traits, and Cecile had hers. The same went for Leona.
Leona seemed to realize there was no falsehood in my words, as her ears began to twitch more frequently. To top it off, her face grew even redder.
After staring at my face for a while, she eventually looked away. Seeing her trembling golden eyes and her wavering lips, she seemed quite embarrassed.
"T-Thanks. It feels strange hearing it from you."
"You'd hear it from others too, not just me. But before that, Leona."
"Yeah. Go ahead."
"Actually... there's something I need to tell you."
I took the opportunity to bring up the story related to Adelia. When I mentioned another woman who wasn't Mari or Cecile, Leona showed curiosity.
Of course, I left out the truth about Adelia being an illegitimate child of the Ters Kingdom and only briefly explained her situation. For the record, I hadn't told Mari or Cecile either.
I had originally planned to tell them when I fully accepted Adelia, but since Leona had become an unexpected variable, I had no choice.
"...So it might be hard to accept you right away. She confessed to me, and Adelia is also waiting."
"Why not just accept her? What's the problem?"
"There are circumstances. I'll explain them to you eventually. So, can you wait for me?"
At my request, Leona blinked her golden eyes a few times, then tilted her head as if she couldn't understand.
"I don't mind? As long as I become your wife eventually."
"...You mean you can wait?"
"Why wouldn't I? If that's what you think, then I should follow it. Obeying the male—that's the basic family structure for beastkin."
Ah, right. She's a beastkin. I felt like a fool for worrying so much.
Still, I couldn't help but feel grateful for her consideration. Honestly, she could have taken it poorly, but she brushed it off as if it were nothing.
Feeling thankful, I slowly reached out and gently stroked her head. Last time, she had been the one to suggest it, but this time, I was the one to initiate the touch.
This meant that I, too, was expressing affection. Leona seemed to realize the meaning as her eyes widened, then she gave a beaming smile and leaned her head into my hand.
"Purr. Purrr."
As I stroked her head, Leona purred like a cat, looking very pleased. No matter how I looked at her, she seemed more like a cat than a lion.
Then, her tail, which had a brush-like tip, began to wag, making me want to touch it. But since she had said touching the tail was only allowed after we were fully married, I decided to hold back.
As we expressed our affection for each other for a while, Leona, who had been purring happily, looked up. It felt like a truly adorable cat was looking up at me.
"Isaac."
"Yeah."
"Then, do you plan on mating with that female first before doing it with me?"
At the word 'mating,' my hand stopped mid-stroke. She had referred to men and women as 'males' and 'females,' and it seemed she even called sex 'mating.'
I was quite flustered by the direct question, but I quickly regained my composure. I already knew Leona had a blunt personality, so I didn't stammer.
"I suppose so? It might take a while."
"I see. That's a bit disappointing. I wanted to start in three days if possible."
"In three days? Why?"
"Because that's when my heat starts."
"...Heat?"
I couldn't help but flinch again at the word 'heat.' I knew what it meant just by hearing it, but I needed a more detailed explanation.
Leona, still nestled in my arms, rubbed her face against me and explained about the heat.
"We beastkin have a heat cycle at specific intervals. For humans, I guess you could call it a period. Since I'm a lion beastkin and I take after my mother, it comes about once a month. It's similar to a human's menstrual cycle."
"...Does your sexual desire just boil over then?"
"Exactly. The reason beastkin can't control their instincts is because of the heat. Since we're becoming a couple anyway, I wanted to try it with you once. We can use contraception, right?"
"Y-Yeah. But still, no."
At my hesitant but firm answer, Leona simply nodded and moved on. It seemed she had just been testing the waters.
I was relieved by her acceptance, but then a worst-case scenario that might happen in the future crossed my mind.
Wait. If Cecile's Malice Cycle and Leona's heat overlap...
I would have to be thoroughly prepared for that time. If not, not only my waist but my very life force would be completely drained.
I would have to speed up my writing to receive divine power more efficiently. I had planned to take it easy, but now I had to write to survive.
...Now I have to write just to stay alive.
The readers would love it, but for me, it was a tragic realization.