A Place With Nothing To See
“Uwaa〜, this is more rural than we imagined huh”
Beastfolk Country Azels; the country we visited. We were looking forward to what kind of a place it is since it’s a country we’re visiting for the first time, but it was 100 times more rural than we imagined.
Pretty much all of them were houses made of stone, but the architectural craftsmanship of every single one of them was unrefined, and the only decent one was the royal palace in the middle.
The soldiers that guard the entrance was a shabby bunch as well. Perhaps it’s because there’s pretty much nobody going in and out, the soldiers were standing while talking amongst themselves, and even when they saw us, they only inspected us briefly and let us through. It’s unheard of under normal circumstances.
Inside the town is also overly quiet, and there’s nothing to see. There are stores here and there, but I suppose it wouldn’t be wrong for me to say that they’re also a world apart compared to our country and other countries. After all, none of the stores have any Magic Tool present.
Thanks to Chrono’s research being stolen, even ordinary citizens possess some kind of Magic Tool in other countries. And yet there’s none present in any of the stores or houses in this country; the only one that had them is a slightly bigger restaurant, and even that was quite an old model.
“……. There is noーthing huh”
“……yeahー”
We walked around and took a look for about an hour after entering the town, but that was the only kind of evaluation we had in the end. We didn’t think that there’d be so few things to see and that it’d be so backwards. The only thing I found interesting was, the Beastfolk children that stand before us who are sitting on a bench in the plaza.
Like what I’d heard, if there are kids who are like they just have ears attached to humans, there are also kids who look like they’re standing dogs. It’s just that, if that’s all it is, then the same goes for the adults as well, but these kids
“Heyー, heyー, did Onii-chan and company perhaps come from the other side of the mountainn!?”
, they asked us with excited faces. I was surprised by those words as well as one would expect. I guess their ages are probably around 5-6 years old. Five children ask us with sparkly eyes. Leaving Mars and Tierra who look at the bewildered me aside
“How did you know?”
, I tried asking. The children all look at each other’s faces
“Because your scent is different from Otou-san and the others!”
, they say energetically. This too is a Beastfolk-like answer. Accordingly, it seems children their age have a different scent as the Beastfolks that came back from the outside, but adults who have been around the whole time without leaving the country all have the same scent for some reason. Hence, it looks like they thought that we who have a different scent came from outside.
“What do you think, Tierra”
“I cannot be certain, but it may have something to do with the fragment’s power”
Looks like Tierra thought the same thing as me as well. According to the way the children say it, we can probably assume that all the Beastfolks smell the same besides the Beastfolks that came back from the outside.
“Heyーheyー, where did you come from? What’s the outside like? Is it spacious?”
As I was thinking about such things, the children asked me something like that. ……I see, the children in this country, not just the children, they don’t know about the other side of this mountain huh. Everything ends up coming to an end within these mountains.
……they’re like me in the past. And then, I suppose they’re similar to Mars and company as well. If their occupations weren’t what they are now, they’ll undoubtedly be used as it is until they run dry in that village.
Mars and the others would’ve been killed as it is, and Tierra would’ve probably become a noble’s plaything. Nevertheless, unlike these children, they managed to go outside, so they might still have it better though.
The Beastfolks children who ask me pressingly about the things of the outside world with sparkling eyes. I get off the bench for the sake of being on the same eye level as the children and sit down on that spot. Mars and Tierra look over in surprise at that sight, but I ignore them and speak to the children about the things outside. Now then, I wonder where I should start.
◇◇◇
“Well done gathering, everybody”
A single large round table placed in a room where the floor, the walls, everything in the space is white. The representatives of various countries had gathered over there.
The man who sits on a chair that’s a grade more extravagant amongst them is, Fisland Holy Kingdom’s Chivalric Order’s Captain, Raymond・Bandras. The golden-haired man with a moustache underneath his nose, places his legs on the round table arrogantly and says while looking at the people around.
All of the people around are, ambassadors of the respective countries who were sent over from the allies of the Holy kingdom or vassal states. They were gathered here under the pretext of an emergency meeting this time around.
“The reason you were gathered here is exactly as I’d inform beforehand. Apparently, an insolent country declaring war on our country, Fisland Holy Kingdom, that governs this continent, appeared! Furthermore, through the cruel method of controlling the Holy Maiden’s parents and making them the messenger!
Towards this matter, Goddess Fistoria-sama is saddened and simultaneously greatly enraged. And then, she announced that she would commence a Holy War in the name of the Holy King!
We will have the respective countries provide soldiers as was informed for the sake of that. This is not a request; this is an order. Whyy, no need to worry. Goddess Fistoria says for the sake of the Holy War this time around, hundreds of Angels-sama and the Four Divine Angels-sama who lead them will also participate. If there is the strength of the soldiers of the respective countries and the Angels-sama, it is akin to having already won”
Amidst such an ongoing conversation, I leave the room by myself, without anybody realising. Now then, the Holy Kingdom also started preparing. I’ve got to report this matter to master.
