Volume 6 Chapter 16 Not So Simple Or Straightforward
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
She was no ordinary presence.
A divine force.
Sacred and new.
Piercing the clouds above, bringing light to the earth’s shadowed surface—chaos made radiant.
A sun that divided this colorless world with fiery crosses entwined by thorns.
She was a reaper.
Chosen executioner of the underworld’s gods.
A destined guide from inevitable endings to rebirth, delivering salvation.
An ancient curse’s enemy, wading through the abyss.
”—Activation. Stellar Manifestation,” she declared.
The girl ascending the labyrinth was like a shooting star—brilliant and fleeting.
Any who caught sight would turn, captivated by her radiant beauty.
Even if only a moment passed, no one could look away before her image faded.
Through the wind’s hollow, she emerged—the embodiment of death itself.
All who saw her averted their eyes, repelled by the dreadful sight.
Even a brief encounter left a haunting impression no one could ignore.
”—!”
The one struck down was the Crimson King.
Once a sovereign lord of the heavens, he lost his grip and plummeted from power.
The great serpent that had devoured millennia recoiled in shock at such a swift end.
Jealous of the terrifying blade that chilled the spine, it could only lament.
Before the monster, the slender girl stood her ground.
In hand, twin blades unlike any mortal’s—sharp and unforgiving.
Envy twisted and snapped, turned and broke.
The blade of jealousy kissed the ruler’s neck with silent intent,
”—”
silver lips cutting through flesh without a sound.
The forest murmured; the sway of hair seemed to echo the whispered judgment.
The pool of crimson grew deeper. Around them, animals fled, leaving only the wind’s sigh.
A dark tome of ominous design.
A wickedly shaped blade.
A girl, ill-suited to the pure white dress of a distant royal castle, stood clutching strange weapons.
Her expression was blank.
Flat. Direct.
Having fulfilled her duty with cold efficiency, she closed her blade and glared at the book—her doll-like face softening just slightly.
”…Ah, at last we meet,” she said softly.
The girl closed the book and turned.
The divine form aloft directed her gaze toward the Beastkin village nestled below the mountain.
* * *
”Meowww… morning,” the girl muttered, stretching with her cat ears still folded down.
Her slender tail flicked up.
She yawned widely, flashing a small, playful grin.
Watching her drowsy movements stirred a mischievous urge.
Reaching out, a hand tugged her closer with a gentle pull.
Without resistance, Mina slipped into the embrace.
Her full weight was caught as their faces nestled at each other’s necks.
One arm circled her slender frame.
…
Her body was soft and warm to the touch.
The hand explored lightly, tracing delicate curves.
The quiet breath against the neck grew heavier in response.
The gentle sounds of stirring mingled with a soft, wet noise.
A sideways glance caught Mina’s eyes half-open, surrendering to the comfort.
At peace, fully trusting.
Rolling onto her back, the other took control, settling atop her.
From above, the sleepy girl was covered and held close.
A steady pressure pressed gently, searching for what brought her the most comfort.
”—Mmm?” Mina gasped softly.
She clung suddenly, surprised but not resisting.
The steady rhythm coaxed a sigh, a quiet acknowledgment of shared warmth.
The embrace tightened, breaths mingling.
Mina trembled lightly, her small frame wrapped protectively.
Even a strong cat Beastkin struggled a little this early.
Her breaths came in shallow pants as the weight pressed down, warmth spreading.
The soft pressure was a silent promise.
Movements grew purposeful yet tender, a careful dance of closeness.
The boy pressed closer, breathing in the subtle scent of youth and trust.
Mina curled into the embrace, seeking comfort and safety.
Her soft whimpers mingled with steady breathing.
The rhythm deepened, slow and steady.
They moved together, connected by a wordless bond.
Mina’s quiet sounds grew more insistent, pressing back with equal longing.
The morning light filtered in as they held each other tight, lost in the moment.
* * *
”Today, they said they’ll meet with us,” said Roko, the older dog Beastkin sister, arriving to wake the pair who had fallen back asleep.
She pinched her nose, frowning but grateful to find them alive. Unlike Klock and the others who hadn’t left the house, Roko had already been to the merchant’s early that morning.
”Maybe you should clean up first. The whole village is talking about you, and if you keep smelling like that… aren’t you overdoing it a little?”
The price for the night—and early morning’s—indulgence was a cold bath at dawn.
It was spring, but the mornings and evenings remained chilly, making the swim a harsh wake-up call.
Waking Mina from her second nap was a challenge.
Her body twitched now and then; her ears and tail drooped lifelessly.
Drool dripped, her face slack, legs spread open with no shame.
Even Roko, a former courtesan, blushed at the sight.
”Looks like it’s almost noon. You said you’d take us soon, but it’s been a while,” Roko remarked.
”Sorry, sorry,” Klock replied.
About two hours later, the three set off toward the merchant’s shop.
The sun hung high, and the village buzzed with life.
Rows of old wooden houses lined the roads, busy with Beastkin of all kinds.
Ears, ears, tails.
They followed the crowd with curious eyes, relieved to see no humans around.
The villagers’ curious gazes lingered—not just because they were men, but because they were human.
”Mmm?”
”Huh?”
Almost simultaneously, the two turned their heads toward an odd direction.
”Did you see something?” Klock asked.
”Did someone just look at us?”
Realizing too late, Klock felt many eyes on him. When he met their gaze, people quickly looked away, but it was clear—they were watching. The elderly made no attempt to hide it, while the younger Beastkin barely suppressed their chuckles, their glances flickering with amusement.
Strictly speaking, the focus of their attention was likely on Klock. He had learned from his time in Rizan that wandering alone would invite a barrage of questions.
Venturing away from Mina or Roko would spell trouble.
Despite its size, the village wasn’t so vast that it required hours to traverse. Less than 30 minutes into their walk, they reached a building with a larger estate compared to others. The moderately sized house likely had a storefront on the first floor and living quarters on the second. Behind the building, a stable was visible, and an empty, fenced-off area suggested it was used for livestock.
”Pleased to meet you, I’m Zain,” a man introduced himself.
”And I’m his daughter, Annerose. Feel free to call me Rose,” the young woman added.
Knocking on the door, they were greeted by a middle-aged man and his daughter. Middle-aged in appearance only, for not being conscripted suggested he was much older. The daughter appeared to be in her late teens, but Roko mentioned she was actually 23.
Despite their rural setting, both were surprisingly well-groomed. It seemed even here, a merchant was a merchant.
”…I’m Klock. I want to go to Boorinel,” Klock stated plainly.
”We’ve been expecting you. Please, let’s talk inside,” Zain responded.
Zain welcomed only Klock inside the shop. As if by prior agreement, the two companions stepped back, leaving Mina and Roko to wait outside while Annerose blocked the door behind Klock.
Klock had expected they would be asked to wait somewhere──perhaps together──but cultural differences in etiquette were hard to navigate.
”To think, all this just to discuss transport arrangements,” Klock mused internally, suspecting the real motive was to negotiate a price. “But I’ve already said I have no money.”
A merchant would never provide something for nothing. Even if the other party had no money, a merchant would find a way to turn a profit.
”First, let me confirm. What business takes you to Boorinel?” Zain inquired, seizing the moment they were alone to start gathering information.
”Because I’m human. Boorinel is where the lord resides,” Klock replied, straightforwardly sharing his reason for being called from Rizan village.
Zain, assessing Klock from head to toe with a merchant’s keen eye, quickly smiled and expressed his thanks. Klock couldn’t help but find the man’s demeanor overly suspicious.
”Understood. However, there are unsettling rumors about Lord Beatrice,” Klock said. “You might want to be cautious.”
”Unsettling rumors?”
Giving useful information and feigning alliance is a typical merchant tactic. Klock mused internally, maintaining an aristocratic poker face while pretending to be an unsuspecting lamb.
To Klock, this was simpler than hiding an affair from a woman.
”Those skeptical of the queen lose their males, while those loyal to her are granted prosperity. Lord Beatrice is said to have many males at her disposal,” the informant whispered.
This was new information referring to the queen’s mysterious policies──an inefficient conscription duty that gathered men from children to middle age.
Klock found it baffling, a consequence of being secluded in a countryside village with outdated information.
”So, you’re saying the reason you called me here is related to these unsettling rumors?”
”There’s a high possibility. You mentioned living in Rizan Village, but if you’re looking to verify your humanity publicly, Fwavlotz is much closer than Boorinel.”
Fwavlotz was a town beyond a mountain north of Rizan Village. Further north would lead to the Beast Continent’s northernmost region, with the Rize Sea separating it from the Human Continent.
”So, I guess not going isn’t really an option, is it?”
”Indeed. Defying would prompt action from public authorities. Arrest would be inevitable.”
Heading there was risky. Not going was dangerous too.
Truly a vexing dilemma. The only surefire way to safety was leaving the continent, but Klock was wanted in the Human Continent, which posed a far greater danger.
”Perhaps, if you’d allow me, I could speak on your behalf? Lady Beatrice values her relationship with the merchant guild greatly. It might ensure your freedom if things go well,” the merchant offered.
Klock almost blurted out an accusation of allegiance but held back.
A mere country store owner couldn’t possibly have such influence with a lord. Yet, it appeared he was indeed a member of the merchant guild organization.
The cultural differences between the Beast Continent and Humans made it difficult to understand.
”…I see. However, I don’t have anything to offer in return,” Klock said reluctantly.
”I’m not sure what you mean by a return gift,” he said. “But if you don’t mind, would you like to talk to my daughter, Rose? She can be a bit difficult at times, but she’s kind-hearted and good at taking care of others. She’s a smart girl who can handle everything from housework to calculations──”
He paused, considering the implications.
He seemed to want to secure a rare male among humans.
Shutting out outside voices, he demonstrated both the dangers and the guarantees of safety and livelihood, filling in the gaps to make his offer appealing. It was a negotiation style typical of a Merchant.
It wasn’t so much skill as it was seizing a business opportunity. He struck first before anyone else could.
When safety became collateral, he couldn’t dismiss it. He was a rather troublesome opponent.
”Ugh. How disgusting,” she scoffed.
”Hey, stop that. This kid is a victim too!” he protested.
Outside the shop, 3 Beastkin girls stood waiting on the porch.
Merchant’s daughter, Annerose, turned quickly and smiled brightly.
”Ah, welcome back. Did you have a fruitful conversation?”
”Yeah. You really helped me out,” he replied.
”I’m glad to hear that. Well then, let’s meet again soon.”
As they passed by, her orange waves danced lightly in the breeze.
The smile on her face suggested she understood the gist of their conversation.
Her outfit was slightly revealing, accentuating her waist, yet her gaze was distinctly fox-like.
She was a dog Beastkin of the fox variety. If her parent was like that, it made sense for the daughter to follow suit.
To Klock, she felt like a cunning courtesan──someone not to be underestimated.
”How did it go?” she asked. “Did they seem willing? Did they say anything?”
”Yeah. They told me to take my daughter on a date,” he replied.
The 3 of them trudged home.
When he summarized the situation, Roko exclaimed, “Wow…” clearly taken aback.
Mina made a face of obvious distaste, lowering her gaze and gripping Klock’s sleeve tightly.
Their reactions were understandable.
However, Klock had other pressing concerns.
It wasn’t about his safety; it was about the reasons behind the conscription policy.
If they were truly loyal and supplying or withholding men, then the Emperor of the Hundred Beasts must be planning to prune the population by town or by species.
What did that mean?
The outcome was predictable.
”This is definitely going to lead to civil unrest,” he muttered.
”What do you mean?” she asked.
Would there really be a tribe that silently accepted their doom?
It was all too clear.
”…I just wanted to say something,” Roko murmured, leaning in closer. “That girl, Annerose──she’s pretty discriminatory toward cat Beastkin. Be careful around her.”
Roko’s ear brushed against Klock’s cheek, sending a slight shiver down his spine. She lowered her voice, pressing her lips near his ear, and continued in a hushed tone.
”A lot of people are skeptical of the Empress’s conscription policy. Among them, there’s a fair amount of hate directed toward cat Beastkin. Since Mina’s also someone they target, if you get involved with Anne, it’ll be tough.”
Klock blinked, confusion spreading across his face. “Huh?”
”It’s just a ride to Boorinel,” Roko said with a shrug. “It’s that simple. But now, it looks like we’ve got more trouble on our hands.”
Notes:
• Mina – She is a golden-haired catgirl employee of the beastman (Larana the cat woman) Inn, appeared performing fellatio, desperate and tear-streaked, with an inexperienced yet earnest approach to her work.
• Roko – An older dog beastkin sister who Klock previously paid for s*x.
• Rizan – Village on a hilly plateau.
• Zain – A middle-aged merchant who is a member of the merchant guild, he is negotiating with Klock for transport to Boorinel.
• Annerose – Zain’s daughter, a fox-like dog Beastkin who is discriminatory toward cat Beastkin, she is offered as a potential companion to Klock.
• Boorinel – A town east of Ryzan, where Lord Cattleya’s manor is located; said to be a long journey from Ryzan.
• Beatrice – The lord of Boorinel, rumored to have unsettling policies regarding conscription and loyalty.
• Fwavlotz – A town beyond a mountain north of Rizan Village, it is an alternative location for Klock to verify his humanity.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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