The Most Noble Beast (5) Complete
Orolbai shrugged his shoulders in response to Ushun’s words.
“I’ll give them to you.”
“...They’re too early for the kids. What if their palates get spoiled and they develop picky eating?”
Ushun’s voice softened. It seemed she had finally realized that snatching their meals was a bit too much for her.
“My consort, I’ll share them. Please come find me at dinner.”
“What? Is this favoritism?”
“The dog is barking.”
Orolbai no longer paid any attention to Ushun’s words. He clearly saw her as nothing more than an annoying fly.
Annoyed, Ushun changed her target. She began staring straight at Vesta.
Is she actually trying to demand a share?
“Ah, I worked hard today~”
“...All right.”
Ushun grinned with a mischievous laugh at Vesta’s reply.
“You’re hopeless. Really.”
“No, I really did work hard.”
They chatted about such pointless matters, and before long they had reached the heart of the tribe.
*
“You’ve arrived.”
Ahor was there to greet him along with her subordinates.
Ushun approached Aruk and Asmur.
“Heh, do you know what this big sister has been up to today?”
“What? She must have gone hunting for puppies.”
“No. If that was all, I wouldn’t be saying anything.”
“Then what did you do?”
The others did not seem particularly curious.
“Lay out the drinking mat. I’ll tell you all about the epic battle I won against the Ekarkwidae.”
“Wow. You’re really showing off. Say something believable.”
“Today I’m going to drink with my husband?”
“These people…”
The women became noisy in an instant. The ones who refused to believe Ushun, and her exasperated voice, were enough to startle the young camel foals.
“Ahor.”
Leaving Ushun’s rising indignation aside, Vesta called out to Ahor.
He wanted to hand over the sack containing the puppies.
“Ah, thank you. You were carrying them, weren’t you, Vesta?”
Ahor did not seem to have any special interest in Ushun’s return, as if she were distracted by something else.
It looked like she was waiting for something, and Vesta knew exactly what it was.
Ahor loosened the sack in her hands.
Vesta glanced over. Inside were fluffy earth-marmot pups squirming and rolling cutely.
“……”
Ahor watched the puppies without saying a word.
Once Ushun finished her story, she came over with the others.
“Commander, look at this.”
Ushun began unwrapping her bundle.
“It’s huge, right?”
“Whoa, what is this?”
“Are they even pups?”
Asmur and Aruk were amazed. The enormous puppy in Ushun’s hand wagged its tail eagerly.
“Big ones are cuter, aren’t they?”
“That’s true. It’s amazing. The fairy is nothing like this.”
“What?”
The tallest among them, Asmur, took the comment personally and gave a sharp reply.
Ushun passed the puppy to Aruk, who in turn handed it to Asmur.
Asmur received it from Vesta, but Vesta noticed Ahor’s eyes following the puppy, trembling slightly in her hand.
Vesta handed the puppy to Ahor.
“...It’s adorable.”
“I knew you would like it. This is a gift from me and Vesta. By the way, Orolbai gave nothing, so I took it.”
“...A gift.”
“Because the commander is holding it, it looks even cuter. A big puppy and a small commander—almost the same size.”
“That’s not it.”
Ahor poked Ushun.
“It won’t hurt.”
With her easygoing nature, Ahor smiled faintly and thanked Ushun and Vesta.
“Will you get hit again?”
“Yes. This time I won’t give you any love.”
“That’s… harsh…”
Even Vesta did not believe her. Ahor herself spoke firmly, but “love” was not something one could simply command.
Kiing.
“Yes. You must be afraid of heights.”
Ahor smiled just a little, very slightly, then gently placed the puppy into the leather sack.
Ahor, who had claimed she would not give love, was already acting like a protective mother.
Ushun smiled bitterly, unable to help herself.
“...Why are you looking at me like that, Ushun?”
“You won’t give love.”
“I won’t. Not this time.”
Ushun chatted a little more, then placed her hand on the shoulders of her comrades and led them toward the drinking area.
“Hey, I was supposed to drink with my husband!”
“There’s your husband over there.”
“Really. Don’t worry. I’ll be right in.”
“Rahan! This big sister will tie up your wife for you! Go sleep in peace!”
“You’ve gone crazy, really?”
“It’s noisy out here.”
“There’s no thunder.”
It was impossible for just the two of them to stand there. Ahor led Vesta toward the Khan’s quarters.
Standing in front of the Khan’s tent.
Vesta asked directly.
“May I enter?”
“You’ve returned. Come in, please.”
After Ahor’s greeting, Vesta opened the door and stepped into the Khan’s quarters.
*
“Oh? You met the princess?”
“Yes. I believe that is the case.”
“What an unusual experience. Thank you for reporting about the spirit body ahead of time.”
“Was it not a vision?”
“Haha. What are you talking about.”
“...Did you use supernatural power?”
“No.”
The Khan replied firmly.
“Then it was the princess…”
“Have you also met the Ekarkwidae, Khan?”
Vesta had assumed she would have. Ushun had once mentioned that the Ekarkwidae recognized the brave.
Was there a chance that an entity who recognized the brave had not come to meet the Khan?
“Yes. I have met it.”
“Was it the princess or the prince?”
“Neither.”
“What? Then…”
Although the Ekarkwidae was a mysterious creature, it was impossible for it to have a third gender.
There was only one remaining possibility.
“You met the king. The true Ekarkwidae.”
The princess and prince were only called that for convenience; in truth they were nameless beasts.
Only their leader was referred to as the Ekarkwidae.
“That’s right. It was a long time ago.”
“How was it?”
“It was far beyond anything you could imagine. It was an extremely surprising experience for me as well.”
If the Khan said it that way, it must have been truly extraordinary.
“I was also surprised when I saw the princess.”
“That makes sense. They are beings that feel mysterious even to fairies.”
“Ushun was worried that she might be eaten.”
“Ah, really. There are certainly cases like that. But that is when one fears the Ekarkwidae. If you show your back, they see you as prey.”
“If you’re afraid, you get eaten…?”
“Yes. I didn’t think we would actually meet. When I met the princess, did you not fear her?”
Vesta nodded and tilted his teacup. The Khan watched his action with fresh eyes.
“You’ve become accustomed to drinking tea.”
“Yes, somehow.”
“A good change. Tea calms the mind, so there is nothing wrong with staying close.”
While speaking, the Khan tilted her teacup.
The way she held it was somehow similar to Vesta’s.
The Khan had been drinking tea like that for a long time.
Therefore, in her appearance, Vesta could see that he had come to resemble her to a certain degree.
“Hey, hey, it’s real! Really real!”
The sound that broke the calm of the teacup gathering.
Since it came from the Khan’s quarters at the very center of the tribe, the culprit was limited.
The Khan set down her teacup. She was smiling as if it were familiar. She offered it to Vesta first.
“Want to step outside and get some fresh air?”
“Yes, let’s do that.”
The Khan went out first, and Vesta followed closely behind.
*
“Who would believe that?”
“Ah, you’re so frustrating. You saw me lying, didn’t you?”
Ushun downed her cup and spoke.
She looked quite lively, with tiny fairy pups clinging to her sturdy body.
“Ushun.”
A tiny fairy on her broad back tugged at Ushun’s hair.
“Yah!”
Some pups even tapped her thick thigh. They looked like foolish marmots poking a lion.
She should have been angry, but Ushun continued the conversation as if nothing happened.
“No one clings to Asmur either. These quick-witted little ones.”
“Hey! Orolbai! Bring me some marmot meat quickly! I’m hungry!”
Ushun scratched her stomach while speaking. Upon closer look, Altaia was also seated at the drinking mat.
By pulling Altaia to the mat, she seemed invincible. She looked overly bold.
“Hungry-!”
“Bring it!”
The children followed Ushun and urged Orolbai. Ushun, finding the kids delightful, smiled and patted their heads.
“What’s so fun about it?”
“Oh. Khan.”
Ushun noticed the Khan’s presence and tried to stand.
“It’s fine. You can stay as you are.”
Ushun smiled awkwardly. She was clearly embarrassed after being turned into a toy for the children.
The Khan naturally slipped into the mat.
Orolbai, who had been bringing marmot meat, flinched when he saw the Khan.
“Your Highness…”
“Haha. There are days like this too. Orolbai, you’ve worked hard taking care of my consort.”
“No. You are very well-behaved, so there was no need to intervene.”
“Really? Is that so?”
“Yes. Aigoo.”
Ushun poured wine into the Khan’s cup.
Before the Khan could tilt her cup, she told Vesta.
“Like.”
“Since you’re already used to tea, you should get used to alcohol too.”
She brought the cup to her lips.
“When will you let me divide the cup?”
“Like beasts.”
Vesta brushed his forehead, and Ushun shrieked.
Altaia covered her mouth with her hand and repeated “Oh my” repeatedly, while Asmur tore off a small piece of marmot meat—probably for Rahan.
“...I can drink a little too.”
The Khan smiled faintly and tilted her cup.