The Village Chief's Revelation
“Here it is.”
Lily brought me in front of the house belonging to the village chief.
“What the hell is this? You promised not to scare me!”
“Just go in.”
“No, let me look first…”
“Go in. If you come out, I’ll tell you. Ah, the village chief wants to talk with just the two of you, so only oppa come in.”
I had no choice. I opened the door of the house whose contents I didn’t know.
“Is anyone there?”
No answer came.
“Anyone home?”
When there was still no reply, I scanned the room I had entered.
The inside was a complete mess. There was no corner free of dust or clutter.
The only clean thing was a specially honed, thin rapier-like blade with a sharp blade.
“Do you like it? It’s a special one. Made only for me.”
For a moment I was lost in the cool touch of the blade, but the voice suddenly coming from behind made me jump.
And then I had no choice but to be startled again by the ‘village chief’ standing behind me.
I had promised Lily not to be surprised, but that promise was easier said than done.
In fact, hiding my shock was impossible.
“Haha, sorry. Did I scare you?”
Because the person calling himself the village chief was an eagle beastman.
“I’ve heard a lot about you. You’re a companion of that girl, right?”
I forced my expression—mixed with shock and bewilderment—into something ordinary.
“Th-that girl… her name is Lily. A beastman girl who came here a few days ago. Since we’re of the same race, we could accept her.”
“Then the rest of the party…”
“A friend of a friend is still a friend. You’re included in that.”
“Th-thank you.”
“No need to thank me. Rest comfortably. Did you think we’re beastmen and were surprised?”
“Y-yes, a little.”
“No need. There are some beastmen among us who are hostile to humans, but we basically pursue peace.”
“That’s reassuring. But what kind of place is this? I’ve never seen anything like it…”
“I should introduce the village to you. Treat your wounds too. You don’t look in good shape. We’ll prepare to leave, so can you wait outside for a bit?”
“Of course.”
When I stepped outside, Lily was still waiting.
“Ah, oppa. What did you talk about?”
“Hey! Why didn’t you tell me this is where the beastmen live! I almost had a heart attack seeing the village chief!”
“Oppa doesn’t trust people as much as you think. When I saw the village chief is a beastman, I thought you’d remember that guy from last time and want to leave immediately. Now oppa needs rest. We have to stay in this village.”
“Hey, even if so, a heads-up…”
“Ah, sorry it was a bit late. My coat suddenly disappeared.”
“Ah, it’s fine. I was talking with Lily.”
“This, after a long time, I feel like I’m interrupting.”
“No. Lily, I’ll go for a walk with the village chief for a bit.”
“Yes, the two of you.”
“Let’s go.”
The village chief and I started walking along the village path.
Too many unresolved questions swirled in my head. Where should I start?
“Hey, village chief. So, where is this place?”
“Ah, you’re curious, right? This place is paradise, utopia, heaven. You can call it whatever.”
“Is this the ideal world?”
“Yes. Of course, from our beastmen’s perspective. This place was created based on the appearance of our homeland before we left. You’ve experienced it, but we’re isolated from the outside world with various devices. Artificially created forests, springs, etc.”
“Ah! So the spring and forest were made by someone.”
“By us. They protect us from outside.”
“If it’s blocked from outside, how do you survive?”
“Well, it’s not different from outside. Farming. Livestock. Everything is there. Of course, when necessary, we get supplies from outside.”
“What do you mainly get from outside?”
The village chief stopped for a moment and spoke.
“Since you’re interested in us, good. Outsiders are rare.”
“So, what do you get?”
“Information. You need to know how the world is running.”
“Information… You buy valuable things.”
“You understand well. We send young people to the outside world. Those who can adapt. Those young people send back the necessary goods or information.”
“Impressive. But,”
I stopped for a moment and spoke.
“Why are you telling me this?”
The village chief pointed to a house a little distance away.
“There might be an answer inside that house.”
I opened the door without hesitation and went inside.
“Wife, I brought a patient.”
Inside the house, various herbs hanging on the wall to dry, a pestle and mortar on the table, and the koala beastwoman who caught my eye.
She silently sat me down and placed her hands on my shoulders and wounds.
That was all. But a few seconds later, I could confirm that all my wounds had disappeared cleanly and strength had returned to my body.
“Thank you.”
“Hey, go out again.”
I thanked the koala woman once more, and the village chief and I resumed our walk.
“What was that just now? Healing magic?”
“Yes.”
“But the healing magic I’ve experienced is different. This feels… more natural.”
“You expressed it well. Human healing magic is just imitating that.”
I couldn’t stop the rooster’s words from coming to mind.
“I’ve heard. The story that all magic started from beastmen.”
The village chief’s expression showed surprise.
“You know that story? Rare. Humans thought our abilities not interesting. Because of Lily?”
“No. That’s, personal interest. Pure curiosity.”
“I see. Well, not all magic. May I take a short break?”
“Sure.”
I watched him light a long pipe and inhale deeply with his beak. It wasn’t a sight I saw every day.
“Some magic, yes, started from us.”
“Do all beastmen have such abilities? Or can they learn it?”
“From birth. Born with such abilities. Stored in our bodies. Like, some wolf beastmen run surprisingly fast, eagle beastmen have good eyes, etc.”
“Did you mean yourself?”
“Yes. I was boasting a bit.”
“So, the answer is inside there, what does it have to do with beastmen’s abilities and me?”
“Do you believe in fate?”
Believe in fate? Of course I do. I think what I’m doing is like the hero’s fate.
“No need to answer. You can see it. You believe in fate. Rather, you rely on it.”
“Correct.”
“Fate. All life is born with fate. But only a very few of us can recognize that fate.”
“Who is in that ‘we’?”
“We. Beings with intelligence. Anyway, some of us are born with the power to fulfill that fate. In my view, beastmen’s abilities are also that. Tools to fulfill our fate.”
“But everyone is born with power, right? Regardless of race.”
“Ah, but our beastmen’s abilities are strangely specific. So, we think we understand that fate more concretely. Ah, I wandered off. Why am I telling you this?”
“Yes, that’s what I was curious about.”
“Fate. It is fate. You brought your broken body here alone. Experienced tremendous luck and fortune. Right?”
“Correct. If there was no luck, I wouldn’t be standing here now.”
“Luck. This place is where we’ve been desperately trying to hide. But you just broke through it with luck. I see this as not luck but fate.”
“Fate? Is coming here my fate?”
“Yes, fate. Fate is too vast for my head to understand. Just, I can do what my heart tells me.”
“Is that the reason? Did fate tell me to say this?”
“Well, yes. In the end, it might be up to my own will.”
“No basis.”
“Does the fate you believe in have basis?”
The question I’ve always wondered. Does the hero have to kill the demon king? I couldn’t find the reason or answer, just accepted it for convenience.
“No.”
“I see. Moreover, I think I know your fate.”
“What?”
“You, aren’t you the hero?”
“How did you know? Did the other companions tell you?”
“No, it’s obvious from the eyes. People who carry heavy fate like you, I can see that weight.”
He pointed to his deep yellow eyes.
“I can’t fool these eyes.”
“So, you know I’m the hero. What do you want from me now?”
“Nothing special. Just… follow that fate.”
“That, don’t tell me…”
“Kill the demon king for me.”