Chapter 63: Your Name (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 63: Your Name (4)
The Canine Tribe’s village was closer to the Rias territory than I had expected.
Even though we had moved at a fairly brisk pace, it took less than half a day to get there.
For someone capable of using mana, wouldn't it take only an hour or two at most?
Considering that most heterogeneous species tend to keep their distance from human settlements, it was an almost unbelievable proximity.
“Why do we live so close to humans? So we can help if one side is about to go under,” Arang replied when I asked.
He mentioned that not only the Canine Tribe but also the Elves living nearby resided at a similar distance. I began to realize just how harsh a place Rias must be to live in.
Just how difficult must life be there for even the human-hating heterogeneous species to settle down nearby?
“We’ve arrived.”
Perhaps that was why the Beastkin village we reached had no particular security measures.
“A cave?”
It was a massive cavern.
“Indeed. we live within this cave.”
I followed behind Arang as he introduced his home with a cheerful laugh.
…Up to this point, it fit the image of a Beastkin village in a fantasy setting perfectly.
However.
“What is this, some kind of sci-fi world…?”
The interior of the cave was a bit—no, a lot—different from what I had imagined.
“How is it? It’s not small even compared to human cities, is it?”
“…I suppose not.”
Far from being small, it felt even larger.
The roads, carved out of solid rock, looked like the paved streets you’d find near Leon.
Stone-carved stairs stretched endlessly upward and downward.
But what was even more surprising…
“What are those?”
“Those are called automatic stairs. They run on magic stones. As we kept expanding, the elders started complaining about their knees hurting from using regular stairs.”
There were escalators and elevators here, things I hadn't even seen in the Empire.
“The previous elders went through quite a lot of trouble finding a Magic Tower that knew how to install those.”
Ah, so they do exist in Magic Towers.
I didn't know because the Leon Magic Tower didn't have them.
Every time I saw those Magic Tower bastards huffing and puffing as they moved around, I thought they were just making life hard for themselves by building a tower in the first place.
It turns out our Magic Tower was just incompetent.
…A fact I really didn't want to know.
“Well then.”
Arang exchanged a few words with his warriors and then led us to a small elevator tucked away in a corner.
“This is the automatic stairs for special deliveries and guests. It just moves up and down, so don’t be too startled.”
They even have a VIP elevator.
The Leon Kingdom is worse off than wild Beastkin; is it really going to be okay at this rate?
Watching this new piece of technology—the automatic stairs—descend slowly, I began to seriously worry about Leon’s future.
“Did… the Canine Tribe build all of this?”
For a tribe of "individuals," cooperation would have been essential to build something like this.
“This? Us?”
But his expression alone said, How on earth could we have made this?
“Then…”
“The core technology was a collaboration with the Dwarves. For the magical parts, we received help from the Elves in the neighboring village.”
I see. If it’s a joint venture between Dwarves and Elves—famed for their craftsmanship and magic in fantasy—then I have to acknowledge it.
What a relief.
Leon isn't lower than a "wild" race after all.
“But do Dwarves and Elves actually cooperate? I heard Dwarves often break promises even with royal families.”
To think those Dwarves would cooperate in building a home for another race.
“It’s an Ancient Covenant. We cooperated during the slave hunts in the past…”
Seeing him smile while casting a cautious glance my way, I could guess who the perpetrators of those slave hunts were.
…Those damn humans.
Your atrocities actually managed to achieve the grand unification of heterogeneous species.
“Ahem. Anyway. Because of what happened back then, various tribes gather periodically to send manpower wherever it’s needed. The folks in the Brown Forest next door live in a similar environment to ours.”
That was quite shocking.
Elves not living in trees?
However, it wasn't as shocking as the name "Canine Tribe," so it didn't take me long to snap out of it.
“Mhm. We’ve arrived.”
The doors opened with a familiar ding.
Judging by how long we had been descending, we seemed to be deep underground.
Since the air quality was similar to the surface, they must have ventilation systems or air purifiers as well.
“Grandma!”
While I was admiring the facilities, Bell let out a light cry and threw herself forward.
Following her movement, I saw an elderly woman with snow-white hair standing there.
“Weak Bell.”
“Even you, Grandma?!”
Unlike Arang, she didn't deliver a "Doggie Punch."
Instead, the elder smiled benevolently at Bell, who looked wide-eyed and shocked, and pulled her into an embrace.
“I am Gyarang, the Elder of the Canine Tribe who invited you all.”
She introduced herself with a slight bow.
And my first impression of Gyarang was…
“……”
Why does everyone in the Canine Tribe have a name ending in "-rang"?
I really don't get it.
My question was answered surprisingly quickly.
“My bloodline is not of the Canine Tribe. I am of the Wolfkin.”
Since she called Arang "uncle," and wolves are canines, I thought they were cousins.
As it turns out, those in the Canine Tribe who use the "-rang" suffix are either Wolfkin or descendants with strong Wolfkin blood.
“Well, we can tell just by looking, but I suppose it all looks the same to humans.”
Gyarang spoke as she stroked Bell, who was whimpering in her arms.
“Conversely, this child is Wolfkin, but she inherited the blood of the Canine Tribe more strongly.”
No wonder she’s so good at playing solo.
“So that’s why the suffix '-rang' isn't in her name.”
“Exactly.”
“Among humans, that sort of thing often leads to being ostracized.”
“Unlike humans, once someone is family, they are family forever. As long as this child is Wolfkin, she is a wolf for eternity.”
“Kyeng!”
At Gyarang’s words, Bell let out a proud howl.
Once a wolf, always a wolf.
It’s a pretty cool sentiment… but for someone who says that, she sure acted like a dog in my room.
Well, for the sake of her canine—no, personal—privacy, I should keep that a secret.
“By the way. The letter sent by the Wolfkin said the ones who rescued this child were two men…”
At the questioning gaze asking why there was one man and two women, Bell answered in my stead.
“The other male lost the competition for dominance!”
“……”
Lost what?
If we were actually competing, the one losing wouldn't be Prince Ellen, it would be me.
“Hmm, is that so?”
Seeing her nod at that explanation, I realized they really were a race of the wild.
“It’s not like that.”
I stepped in to explain why I had brought the two of them, speaking for Daisy and Violet, who were currently struck dumb.
I explained that I had heard an ancient legacy, which only the Saintess of the Church could unlock, was located here, so I brought the Saintess and a guide.
At that, suspicion flickered in Gyarang’s eyes.
“We have been settled here for a long time. It may look like this on the outside, but we have protected this land for thousands of years. Are you saying there’s a place here we didn't know about?”
Ah, so you’ve lived here for thousands of years. No wonder the houses all look like they’ve been remodeled.
“I do not distrust the words of my savior. However, since the person who first mentioned such a place is not my savior but someone else… can you give me a reason to believe?”
In short, she was asking for proof. Violet, who had been whispering with Daisy, quietly stepped forward.
And then.
“I’m a sorcerer.”
“Oh.”
With that one sentence, Gyarang nodded immediately.
…What?
Sorcerer Boradori.
Sorcery felt similar to ancient magic.
However, because the ones who primarily used it were Dark Mages, it had a terrible reputation in the human world.
Even races like Elves and Dwarves mostly used magic because of their unintentionally deep and close history with humans.
Of course, in the original work, some of the High Elves who managed the World Tree used sorcery.
But unlike other Elves, they never left the vicinity of the World Tree.
That’s why even in the original story, there were only a little over ten characters who used sorcery, including Silence.
And among them, only four were not villains.
Of course, there were a few more if you counted those who were only mentioned and never appeared directly.
But only four actually showed their faces in the original work.
One was a High Elf who came to the human world because the World Tree was half-dying, and the other three were Beastkin.
That’s right.
The Beastkin were a race that still used sorcery instead of magic.
Due to the unique characteristics of sorcery, very few people could use it compared to magic…
Because of that, sorcerers were held in very high regard among the Beastkin.
In other words, from the Beastkin’s perspective, I was highly skilled labor!
Furthermore, as a human from a lineage where sorcery had died out, I could gain a very high favorability rating as long as I wasn't a Dark Mage.
“……”
“……”
I had stepped forward with confidence, but the back of my head felt prickly.
I didn't even need to look to know who those gazes belonged to.
They were probably thinking things like: What is this situation? Did you know? Did you know and not tell us?
But it couldn't be helped.
I… I had intended to tell them everything.
That’s why I had given them a highly compressed explanation of future events!
But every time a piece of information was revealed, wasn't the way they treated me a bit much?
Honestly, not lending me Prince Ellen?
I could accept that because I understood Adam’s position well.
But if I’m going to survive, we should at least try to live together.
I still haven't forgotten what happened in the Holy Kingdom.
I even know everything that’s going to happen in the future.
There’s a reason that purple bald guy talked to the Iron Man about the "curse of knowledge."
…I’ve been called Boradori so much that I hate how I flinch at the thought of a "purple bald guy."
Anyway, honestly, I was more afraid of the future I knew was coming than an uncertain future like the Rias field trip.
And even if I wanted to avoid it, doesn't my damn boss, Mr. Adam, only think about throwing me into it as an intelligence agent?
Therefore, to increase my value, I have to be able to sell information at a high price.
Of course, I told them all the important stuff… and I’ll tell them everything once the incidents are right in front of us!
But other sub-events, things that aren't strictly necessary to know, must be hidden.
And they must be hidden in a way that makes me look very impressive.
If they realize I’m actually not that necessary, I’ll be abandoned again!
I had to make them think they needed to keep me around, at least for the necessary information.
So, while being verified by the Canine Tribe’s sorcerer summoned by Gyarang, I tried my best to maintain my poker face.
But was it just my imagination?
Why did the back of my head feel twice as prickly as before?
With cold sweat trickling down my spine, I stole a glance back.
“……”
As expected, I saw Adam with his eyes narrowed.
“……”
And when I turned my gaze to the other side… for some reason, Daisy had an expression similar to Adam’s.
…No, why are you acting like that too?!
“She is indeed a sorcerer.”
“Then we can trust her if she stakes her soul.”
“That is correct.”
In the meantime, I was officially recognized as a sorcerer.
Thanks to that, the eyes of the Canine Tribe members were filled with trust and faith, but…
Zzzzzzt.
I couldn't help but make a tearful face at the gaze of distrust piercing the back of my head.