41. Falling Blossoms (5)

Bistern.

A nation formed by the gathering of beastfolk.

However, since no neighboring country recognized it as a nation of beastfolk, it wasn't officially called a country.

Nevertheless, being roughly two to three times larger than a village, it was more fitting to describe it as a tribe or settlement.

Since it was about a three-day journey on horseback, we continued on, camping along the way.

And the day before arriving at Bistern, we decided to formulate a rough plan before entering.

Because if they attacked on sight, it would be too late to respond then.

"Your Highness, it's starting to come into view."

"Hmm."

Exactly on the third day from the capital.

A large settlement began to appear in the distance.

It was too modest to be called a castle.

Even the surrounding fence was made of wood, not stone.

But its scale was considerable nonetheless.

It looked at least five times larger than Arbel Village.

To be precise, it resembled the territory of a baron-level noble.

"Kyahaha!"

"Woah!"

Should it be called a settlement or a village?

Near the outer fence, beastfolk children were running around playing.

Seeing the children playing joyfully, a thought suddenly occurred to me.

From their perspective, we were enemies coming to disrupt their peace.

Facing such pure and innocent smiles, the resolve I had built up ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠began to weaken.

'After all, there's no reason they should be discriminated against...'

"H-humans! Humans! Kids, get inside now!"

The moment a scout spotted us approaching, he shouted at the top of his lungs toward the interior of the village.

It felt strange being treated like some kind of demon, but considering how we'd been treated so far, I had no grounds to object.

Naturally, since we had no intention of attacking first, we raised our hands to signal our peaceful intentions.

But the beastfolk warriors who rushed out from the settlement continued to approach us with their swords drawn.

"Get lost, humans! We have nothing to say to you!"

A tiger beastman who appeared to be the strongest among them spoke.

But being the strongest doesn't necessarily make one the leader.

He seemed quite powerful, but he didn't appear to be the leader of Bistern.

"I apologize for making you come out, but if possible, could you call your leader?"

"Hah? Do you find my order for you to leave immediately amusing?"

The scout's bowstring grew even tauter.

It seemed like he would shoot an arrow the moment we showed any carelessness.

Eventually, unable to endure the threat to our lives any longer, our knights also placed their hands on their sword hilts.

They heightened their senses to draw their swords at any moment.

As skilled knights who could use mana, deflecting two or three arrows would be simple enough.

Just as the tension was escalating and someone was about to fire an arrow-

"What's going on here?"

"C-Captain!"

The person, no, the beastfolk who emerged from inside the barracks was a man with tall fox ears drooping down.

It seemed this man was likely the representative of the beastfolk.

The atmosphere around him was unusual from the start.

To be precise, he wasn't as burly as the tiger beastman.

But even so, he didn't seem like he would lose to any of the other beastfolk soldiers except the tiger.

And most importantly, the aura he emitted was more charismatic than physically intimidating.

I was almost overwhelmed by the charisma that seemed to command everyone around him.

"To what do we owe the visit from the Empire?"

The leader of Bistern asked warily in a low voice.

His guarded gaze toward us, and the firm stance of his body.

It seemed like he had absolutely no intention of letting us inside.

Facing such an impenetrable wall, I had ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠no choice but to get straight to the point.

"...Beastfolk. I heard Bistern has joined the Demon King's forces and is following them. I came to verify if this is true."

"Don't insult us, human! Why would we bow our heads to demons?!"

My words must have struck a nerve with the tiger beastman's pride.

The tiger beastman beside him flared up and shouted.

I felt sorry for him, but being a tiger, his voice was so powerfully loud that it hurt my ears.

Anyway, if what the tiger beastman said was true, it differed slightly from what the Night Knights Captain had told me.

If that was the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠case, perhaps the information was miscommunicated, or there was some deception involved.

"...To be precise, I'll clarify that we're only in an alliance relationship."

"I see."

But the beastfolk representative himself corrected that doubt.

The Night Knights weren't so incompetent as to be fooled by demon tricks.

Anyway, the fact that the beastfolk had formed an alliance with the Demon King's faction meant we were enemies.

Which meant it wouldn't be strange at all if we started swinging swords at each other right now.

"I have one question."

"...What is it?"

I had become curious.

Perhaps it should have been obvious, but there was one thing I couldn't understand at all.

"Clearly, you appear quite exceptional even to my eyes. You don't seem like someone who would fall for the Demon King's army's tricks, so why did you make that choice?"

".................."

This is a beastfolk tribe after all.

Just as humans have emperors and commoners, they too have a leader whom they follow completely.

And that leader is typically determined by martial prowess.

But the fact that this fox beastman is the leader instead of the seemingly strongest tiger beastman means he must be quite intelligent.

So he must understand the meaning behind my question.

Those who follow ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the Demon King are demonkin.

And those demonkin are descendants of demons.

True to their demon bloodline, they are extremely cunning, always speak lies, and never engage in deals unless it benefits them.

There were undoubtedly hidden agendas in their dealings that they hadn't disclosed.

Nevertheless, Bistern had made a deal with the demonkin.

Which meant that even if they had to accept losses in the deal with the demonkin, there was something Bistern stood to gain.

"...I don't believe I need to explain that much to you. I apologize for your long journey, but please leave. Since we are enemies, if you come again, we will attack."

But the response from him was clearly hostile.

"Y-you! How dare you speak to Her Highness the Princess like that...!"

"Enough."

Eventually, one of our knights couldn't stand his rudeness and pointed it out, but I stopped him first.

Since we didn't know their capabilities, a fight could break out suddenly.

Unless I was certain we could subdue or eliminate them, it was imperative not to rashly initiate conflict.

Having already been defeated by the Succubus Queen, I had learned this lesson.

"We'll withdraw for now. But we will visit again. We have no intention of attacking, so even if you cannot welcome us, I ask for your cooperation."

And so we withdrew for the time being.

No matter how much beast characteristics they've inherited, they are still close to human.

That means even if they say they'll attack next time, they'll feel reluctant to attack unless we strike first.

That was enough.

A very small reluctance.

A tiny bit of moral conscience.

By planting just that much, they wouldn't be able to casually take our lives.

"Your Highness, but it's too dangerous."

If by any chance someone were to release a bowstring, someone might get hurt.

And that someone could be me.

Elise's opposition was natural.

After all, my life was politically significant and directly related to the knights' morale.

"Let me think about it for now."

We set up camp at a reasonably distant location.

What we told Bistern wasn't a lie.

If our goal was to stop the Demon King's army, then as long as they were allied with them, they were targets we had to stop somehow.

Of course, one option was to return to the capital and raise an army to subjugate them since they'd joined forces with the Demon King's army.

After all, they would eventually be annihilated by overwhelming military force.

"......What did you think, Sir?"

"If it's the tiger beastman, I might barely be able to win somehow, but if his subordinates join in, it might be difficult."

"No, not that."

"....Yes?"

Why was Sir already worrying about extreme outcomes?

That wasn't what I meant.

More peacefully, yes. If I had to explain-

"-The children playing by the fence. Weren't they cute?"

"Yes? Ah, yes... Certainly... for children of that age, but...."

Exactly, wasn't that so?

Why should such cute and lovely children have to live being bullied in the Empire?

They weren't livestock born for consumption, nor were they harmful beings that caused damage to humans.

And there was even less reason for them to be discriminated against just because they inherited a tiny bit of beast blood.

Those children and....... -No. This is thinking too far ahead.

For now, it's not too late to focus on the immediate problem.

"If anyone has opinions, feel free to speak up at any time. Everyone may freely share their thoughts."

Of course, I planned to visit again tomorrow.

Bistern.

I instructed the knights that even if I were attacked, they should absolutely not draw their swords.

From their perspective, it would be completely incomprehensible behavior, but at least I had no desire to take away those children's smiles.

Please.

Let this be resolved through peaceful means if possible.