◆ ？？？ ◆
“I’ll be back soon, so be a good girl and wait here.”
“No way! I know! Big sister is going to be killed!”
With the gentle rustle of the green hair flowing like a river, and skin reminiscent of milky white, I continued to watch until she disappeared from view. Even as everyone held me back, I couldn’t tear my gaze away. Why was everyone giving up, even though we were comrades? It was heartless; I hated them all. The adults, who could do nothing but hand my sister over to those monsters.
“Big sister will return soon. That person promised it.”
“That’s a lie! There’s no way that monster would keep a promise!”
“You must never speak such words. If the humans hear that, we will have nowhere to go. We have been granted the right to live on this land governed by that person… Lord Vandalsia.”
“To be at the mercy of such a monster! Everyone, you’re all insane!”
“Elmera!”
I was struck hard enough to fall to the ground, my cheeks stinging and covered in dirt, yet tears streamed down my face. The adults looked down at me with eyes filled with disdain and fear. They regarded me as a nuisance. Why, why had it come to this? Just the other day, I had been playing in the fields from dawn until dusk. Sometimes I helped my sister, and at night, I studied magic. Even though I was a failure who could hardly use magic, my sister patiently taught me.
“Elmera, you must escape… Uwaaaah!”
“The right to live will be stripped away.”
As I watched my comrades disappear one by one, I ran with all my might. A horde of soldiers, and that monster’s face leading the way.
◆ ネーゲスタ城 王妃の部屋 ◆
“Noooooo!”
When I woke up screaming, I was drenched in sweat, despite having taken a shower before bed. I had been plagued by this dream almost every night, making it impossible to sleep peacefully. This soft down comforter, custom-made by the kingdom’s top craftsmen, felt repulsive. The owner of this room was locked away in a dark prison, yet the thought of going there to kill her crossed my mind.
“Why are we at the mercy of humans…?”
The Beastkin were one thing, but elves were originally a far superior race compared to humans. What took humans decades to learn, we could master in just three days. Even the amount of magical power we possessed was like comparing a cup of water to a lake. The only area where we fell short was in numbers. Yes, numbers were absolute. Winning through sheer numbers determined the world. That was why we had always been treated as outcasts and persecuted. Yet, we had never needed humans to survive, so we had never harbored much hatred towards them.
But that King of Destruction had forsaken his humanity. Just to dominate other races, he had done that. He must have exploited countless elves to complete the secret arts for that purpose. Otherwise, it would have been impossible for a human to become such a monster while retaining their self-awareness.
“Just because their ears are pointed and their skin is too pale, it’s ridiculous… Are they stupid? To become a monster themselves is just absurd.”
From our perspective, humans were far more bizarre in appearance. But that didn’t mean we looked down on them. The emotions bubbling up inside me upon waking felt like they were about to explode, and I pressed my hands against my chest.
“Big sister, I’ve been a good girl all this time. So you’ll come back, right?”
I still couldn’t forget that back. That warmth. I would wait, forever and ever.
◆ ネーゲスタ国 城下町 入り口 ◆
“We’ve arrived. You are free to go now.”
Just as I thought they were being polite, Nice leaped over the town’s surrounding walls and vanished. “Free to go” meant I had to manage on my own if I wanted to enter. After all, two Beastkin were already approaching us right in front of the gate. A black, bull-like Beastkin towered over us, its muscles glistening ominously.
“What do humans want?”
“What do you mean, what do we want? This is a human country.”
“This is a base established by us Phantoms. Are you here to reclaim it?”
“I just want to get inside.”
【Bull Beastkin Gyumo has appeared! HP 6210】
【Bull Beastkin Minos has appeared! HP 6070】
“How dare a mere human speak so boldly!”
I had only said I wanted to enter, yet they both responded in unison. If a fight was unavoidable, then I had no choice but to face it.
◆ ネーゲスタ城下町 平城通り ◆
“So this is the town of Negesta. It kind of resembles Azuma, doesn’t it? Like those roofs.”
“The red tiles with white walls and red pillars are similar to the Uzei Religion temple built in the Avangarde Royal Capital.”
Now that I thought about it, Kurinka was right. Unlike the Kingdom of Avangarde, all the buildings here had a similar design. And everywhere I looked, there were Beastkin, Beastkin, and more Beastkin. To top it off, there were people being made to walk around with collars on. Some were pulling heavy carts loaded with burdens. They could carry it themselves, but it seemed like the Beastkin were deliberately tormenting the humans.
“I wonder if that bull will come after us once it wakes up.”
“More importantly, we should worry about the present…”
It seemed our presence stood out, as the Beastkin quickly surrounded us. Dogs, birds, and various other Beastkin, including that bull, encircled us with an unsettling atmosphere.
“Are you human brats? You’re not from this country, are you?”
As I observed the situation, the Beastkin looked at us with keen interest, as if they were sizing us up from head to toe. The humans, on the other hand, shot us piercing glares, as if to question what we were doing here. The fact that they didn’t seem to think we were here to help indicated just how overwhelming the Beastkin were. Even though there should be users of Tenryu-ken among us, this was the current state of affairs.
“Wait, if you’re not from this country, how did you get here? As long as Minos and Gyumo are here, nothing can come in from outside.”
“That’s right, a mere human can’t possibly stand against us Beastkin.”
“Well, well, there are some strong ones like that Kensai.”
“What about me?”
As soon as that voice rang out, the Beastkin parted like the forest foliage. A burly man with a bald head, resembling Mugen, stepped forward. I recognized him; it was Fist Saint Baran, who had been present during the battle at the Garden of Beasts.
Just moments ago, they had been mocking humans, but now that Baran had appeared, their bravado seemed to vanish. With every glare from Baran, the Beastkin stepped back.
“K-Kensai! What are you doing here…?”
“I came to buy supplies. Ordinary humans can’t walk through this royal capital where you Beastkin roam freely. Of course, the shops are still operating normally, right?”
“Y-Yeah. We haven’t caused any trouble…”
“And release those humans over there. I warned you to refrain from such actions.”
“Ugh… A mere human dares to be so bold…”
“Are we going to do this here?”
Just Baran clenching his fist silenced the crowd of Beastkin. The muscles in his arms bulged slightly; if he unleashed a punch, even a Beastkin would be in danger. He was that much of a threat. He was ranked S, just like Tiferia, and there was no way the average Beastkin could stand against him.
“Tch…”
Reluctantly, the Beastkin released the humans they had been tormenting. The freed individuals rushed to Baran, relief washing over their faces. Baran comforted the adults, assuring them they were safe.
“For now, let’s take refuge in our dojo.”
“Thank you, Lord Baran…”
“Ah! There you are, Uho!”
The voice that boomed out was, of course, not from a human. A Beastkin resembling a gorilla, covered in dark fur, approached us, moving on all fours with a hunched back.
“Kurinka, what is that?”
“It looks like a gorilla…”
“A gorilla? Like a big monkey?”
The gorilla looked down at Baran as if it had found an amusing toy.
“Is that Gorita? Are you here to challenge me again?”
“I’ve been searching for you since you weren’t at the dojo, Uho! Today, I will win for sure, Uho!”
“You never learn, do you? The result will always be the same.”
“My strength is greater, Uho!”
“Fights are not decided by strength alone. If you can’t understand that after losing so many times, there’s no point in discussing it.”
“I will win next time, Uhoooooo!”
Gorita, the Beastkin, was pounding his chest with both hands, throwing a tantrum. He had fought Baran multiple times, and so far, Baran had won every single match. The frustration was evident in the way he huffed and puffed. I could understand how he felt. I had my own share of defeats in the Abyss Cave, where I had to flee time and again, crying out of sheer frustration. But no one ever comforted me; in the end, it was up to me to grow stronger. So at the very least…
“Just go home already. If you cause any trouble, I won’t hold back.”
“If you won’t fight me, then I’ll…!”
“Baran, please fight him.”
Baran turned his sharp gaze toward me, as if to say, “Who is this?” The other Beastkin also focused their attention on us, and Gorita’s eyes widened in surprise.
“…You seem to be here casually, but you’re no ordinary person. No, I’ve seen you somewhere before. That’s right, I won’t forget… it was during the battle at the Garden of Beasts! I never expected the Flash Strike Girl to appear here.”
His stern expression softened, welcoming me as if I were a guest. Ignoring the painful stares from the other Beastkin, Baran reached out for a handshake. At that moment, he gripped my hand with such force that it felt like he was trying to crush it. His challenging gaze clearly indicated he was testing me.
I couldn’t afford to lose. However, if I went all out, I might end up crushing his hand, which would lead to a disaster. I had to hold back just enough.
“Ugh, gggggh! I-I give up!”
“If you want to fight, just say so.”
“I’m sorry, when faced with an unprecedented strong opponent, I couldn’t help myself…”
I wished he wouldn’t say such childish things. If it weren’t for me, my right hand would have been completely shattered and useless by now. Thankfully, Kurinka was here, but what would have happened if she weren’t?
◆ Negesta Royal Capital, Fist Saint Dojo ◆
The inside of the walls seemed to stretch endlessly, truly vast. Even the entrance to the dojo in the distance looked small. It resembled the Uzei Religion temple in the Avangarde Royal Capital, but somehow felt more comfortable. A large number of disciples raised their voices in unison, welcoming Baran with enthusiasm. Just this alone made it clear how much trust he had earned from so many people.
“That’s amazing! Baran teaches all of these people martial arts?”
“No, I leave the basic instruction to my assistant instructor. Currently, I have no one I’m directly training.”
Kurinka asked the question that had been on my mind.
“That’s right! Normally, there are many who wouldn’t even be allowed to step through the doors of this dojo! Let alone ask for direct instruction from Baran-sama! Even that gorilla over there! How dare he challenge Baran-sama again!”
One of the disciples was fired up. However, when Gorita glared and slammed his fist into the ground, the excitement quieted down. The ground where he struck was deeply dented, leaving a mark as if something had fallen from the sky. This demonstrated Gorita’s incredible strength, and it was clear he was not someone the disciples could contend with.
“I’m not interested in weaklings, uho.”
He picked his nose with his pinky, mocking the disciples. I thought he would fly into a rage and attack, but surprisingly, he remained calm. Was he childish or mature?
“So, Baran-sama, who are these two?”
“My guests, Rua and Kurinka. You must have heard of the Flash Strike Girl and the Flame Princess?”
“W-Wait, are you saying they defeated over ten thousand monsters from the Garden of Beasts in just a few seconds?! They’re still just kids!”
“I heard that the aftermath split the sea and the continent, changing the terrain…”
“I’ve heard that the Flame Princess’s flames burned the beasts to ashes without leaving a single bone behind…”
I understood it was embarrassing, but Kurinka, please don’t hide behind me. If I could, I would want to hide too, or rather, run away. This was clearly ridiculous, and no matter how skilled I was, there was no way I could defeat over ten thousand monsters in just a few seconds. Who said such a thing? It was infuriating.
“I can’t take this anymore…”
“Puh, hehehe…”
I wanted to crush the one laughing inside my bag of tools.
“Don’t underestimate children. Now then… Gorita, shall we begin?”
“I want to fight that one over there!”
“What? Rua…?”
“If he’s that amazing, I want to fight him, uho!”
“Well, I don’t know about that…”
Baran was glancing back and forth between the excited Gorita and me. He seemed troubled, but if I agreed, that would settle it.
“Sure, let’s do it.”
“Are you sure? Just so you know, Gorita ranks among the top in power among the Beastkin.”
“That sounds fun.”
“…I suppose it’s unnecessary worry.”
“Uho! Let’s do this, uho!”
To be honest, I wasn’t that excited, but I didn’t know how to respond. If I said it was no problem, Gorita would probably get angry. But watching Gorita bounce around like that made it hard to pin down my image of the Beastkin. They were supposed to be a group planning something outrageous after taking over Negesta, but they didn’t seem like that at all. Maybe they weren’t all like Nice.
“By the way, if I win, I want you to answer a question.”
“A question? I’ll answer anything, uho! But I’m going to win!”
【Gorita the Beastkin has appeared! HP 8663】
As the battle began, Gorita’s arms, thick as tree trunks, seemed to grow even larger. The power he wielded was on a completely different level. This was a match against a Beastkin, and Gorita was intent on taking me down. That was only natural; no matter how cheerful he was, he was still a Beastkin, just like Nice.
“Gorita Punch!”
【Gorita the Beastkin’s Gorita Punch!】
“Take this!”
【Rua’s attack!】
Gorita’s fist, which was several times larger than mine, collided with my own, like a log meeting a twig. His so-called Gorita Punch was just a regular punch, but it struck me directly. In that moment, I felt a force far beyond my expectations, and for a brief moment, I felt like I might be pushed back. But that was all. With just a little more strength, I could easily push back.
I struck back, the sound of my fist digging into his finger bones echoing unpleasantly, and sent his massive fist flying. Clearly not expecting to lose, Gorita let out a bewildered cry as he was knocked back, unable to stop the momentum of his right hand, causing his giant body to tumble to the ground.
“Ugggh! Nnnngh!”
【Gorita the Beastkin took 3419 damage! HP 5244/8663】
“Rua-chan wins!”
Kurinka raised her hand triumphantly. No, what are you doing? I didn’t ask for that. I might provoke the writhing Gorita over there.
“Nnnngh, it doesn’t hurt! It doesn’t hurt, uho!”
【Gorita the Beastkin’s Earth Crash! Rua dodged!】
He slammed his fists into the ground like a child throwing a tantrum. The neatly laid stone pavement exploded spectacularly; at this rate, the dojo would suffer damage. As I pondered how to settle this, I suddenly had a good idea. I wondered what would happen if I dropped my heel from this height.
From a position higher than the roof, I let my heel fall directly onto Gorita’s head. His face contorted in shock, as if his eyes were about to pop out, and he let out a snoring sound before collapsing without a fight.
【Gorita the Beastkin took 16542 damage! HP 0/8663】
“Ugh…”
Gorita twitched on the ground, and the disciples watched in stunned silence. Wait, there were Beastkin peeking from beyond the walls. Long-necked Beastkin, who could easily see over the walls, and monkey-like Beastkin clinging to the walls, all watching intently. Even the various Beastkin seemed unable to predict this outcome.
“G-Gorita went down so easily…”
“Is there really such a strong human besides the Fist Saint?!”
The Fist Saint remained surprisingly expressionless. In fact, he seemed to be observing everything closely. Standing still with his arms crossed, he showed no surprise at the outcome. I felt like I was being scrutinized by him.
“…Hmm, treating that Gorita like a child. Kurinka, I’m sorry, but could you heal Gorita?”
“Eh, heal… him?”
“Is that a problem?”
“N-No, I’ll do it right away.”
As I watched Kurinka cast Angel Heal on the sprawled Gorita, I was surprised by Baran’s unexpected response. After all, it seemed he had fought Gorita many times, and despite the Beastkin taking over this country, he didn’t seem inclined to kill him.
“Baran, do you not hate the Beastkin?”
“I do hate them. I want to drive them out of this country immediately.”
“Then why…?”
The word “hate” seemed devoid of genuine emotion, as if Baran was merely reciting it. His calm demeanor, almost entranced by the light of Angel Heal, made me question whether he truly felt that way.
“But there’s no need to hate all Beastkin. At least Gorita simply wants a pure challenge… or rather, a playmate,” he said.
“A playmate?!”
“Beastkin are far too strong for humans to play with. For Gorita, competition is likely just a part of his games.”
Was the murderous intent I felt from Gorita back then just my imagination? No, wait a minute. When humans fight barehanded, they throw punches with the intent to take down their opponent. Was Gorita the same? Perhaps his overwhelming strength made his fighting spirit feel like pure malice. If that were the case…
“Even as a Phantom… Gorita seems a bit strange.”
“That’s not unique to him. Most Beastkin harbor ill feelings toward humans, but there are exceptions. Personally, I want to reconsider them before casting them out.”
Nice seemed to harbor a deep hatred for humans. Yet, there were Beastkin who were different. The more I learned about Phantoms, the less I understood.
“But the important people in this country have been killed, right?”
“That was done by the Comet Wolf Brigade. I nearly wiped them out. Some of their higher-ups managed to escape, though… Just thinking about the deaths of the elders pains my heart.”
“C-Comet…?!”
As I watched Baran’s face twist as if he had bitten into something bitter, I began to realize I could never be like him. Despite the murder of important figures in his country, he remained composed, analyzing even the Beastkin who allied with the Comet Wolf Brigade. I felt like my head would explode just trying to think about it. And to think the waterway was connected to the Comet Wolf Brigade. What was with that waterway, Elmera? Why would you associate with such beings?
“Just as there are fools like the Comet Wolf Brigade among humans, there are various types of Beastkin as well. If understanding some of the more conscientious ones could pave the way to a new future, there would be nothing happier than that.”
For the first time, Baran’s expression softened as he gazed up at the sky.
◆ Shin Report ◆
Good Beastkin, Bad Beastkin, that’s only natural.
However, if someone like Gorita were unleashed into human society, it would be a disaster.
It’s impossible to befriend such beings unless you’re a monster yourself.
Not that Rua said anything like that.
Coexistence between Beastkin and humans?
That’s as impossible as humans coexisting with demons.
Ah, no, no, Rua isn’t human, so it’s not applicable.
Shin is a broad-minded demon, so it’s not applicable.
Rua is just a simpleton, just kidding!