第６９６堀：受け入れてきた歪み (Part2)
"With that, my part is finished. What would you like to do now? Shall we have some casual conversation?"
"No, I have some matters to discuss with this old man here. Yuki-dono, you should take a good rest. That’s fine, isn't it, old man?"
"……Indeed. We have much to discuss. I have had rooms prepared for you and your companions, so please make yourselves comfortable there. We shall meet again at dinner."
"In that case, I shall accompany Yuki-dono and the others. There are some things I wish to ask them personally."
As expected, it seemed we wouldn't just be heading home after the conversation ended. We were guided to our rooms by the soldiers who had been waiting outside.
"At least those soldiers from before weren't the ones guiding us," I remarked.
"……If they had been the ones in charge of our escort, we would have had to rethink how we associate with this country," Kaya replied to Riel's comment, and everyone nodded in agreement.
I agreed as well.
"Still, it was unexpected. I didn't realize the rift between them and the Beastmen was this deep..."
"Yeah. If it's like this on the Rogari Continent, I wonder if the If Continent is even worse..."
"It’s worrying, isn't it..."
That came from Kagura and the other members from the New Continent. Well, seeing that commotion would make anyone uneasy.
"It’s not like that’s the norm everywhere. You all know that well enough from seeing Weed with your own eyes, don't you?"
"Ah, yeah."
"That's true."
"You're right..."
"The impact was just so big that you're feeling pressured by it. Well, it’s just the scars of war, which you can find anywhere."
"……War. Is our country going to be like this in the future too..."
At Yuki's words, Kagura’s face clouded over, perhaps anxious about her own country, but Yuki reached out and patted her head, just as I had done earlier...
"Well, think of it as seeing a good example. Watch how the Wild King handles this from here on out. That will surely be a good experience for you, Kagura, and for Haiden, too."
"……Yeah. Thank you."
With those words, Kagura’s troubled expression vanished, replaced by a smile that bloomed like a flower.
……She’s so easy to read.
Though, I think Yuki is also a bit oblivious for not noticing that.
"Anyway, for now, because of the trouble earlier, Tori and Riel, you should take off your chokers here to avoid any strange misunderstandings."
"Yes!"
At his instruction, Riel and I immediately removed our chokers. We didn't want to be a burden to Yuki.
"Hmm. I understand you are having a complicated discussion, but may I speak as well?"
"Ah, I’m sorry."
The Beast God, who had been lying on the floor, said this looking a bit awkward, so we hurriedly moved aside to let him face Yuki.
……I had completely forgotten he was there.
I feel bad for the Beast God, but he has less presence than Aslin’s Kuro-chan, so it’s hard to keep him in mind... I suppose that just goes to show how much stronger we’ve become.
"I apologize for bringing this up after such a conversation, but..."
"Yes. You mean your grandparents, Faide-sama and Lilishe-sama, right?"
"Indeed. Since Yuki-dono and the others met the two of them, does that mean they have ended their feud and reconciled?"
"……"
Hearing that hopeful voice, we all turned our faces away in silence.
……What could we possibly say? No words came to mind at all.
Seeing our reaction, the Beast God seemed to sense the truth and slumped down.
"……I see. They are still at odds. Well, I suppose it cannot be helped. But it is a good thing that you were able to make contact with them. I, for one, shall fulfill the promise entrusted to me by my mother."
"A promise?"
"Yes. My mother was also concerned about their feud. She told me that if I were ever in a position to face them, I should deliver this letter. Well, I’ve relaxed the conditions a bit, but I didn't think my mother would have wanted a marital spat to last this long."
With that, two letters were handed to Yuki. One addressed to Lilishe-sama, and the other to Faide-sama. The sender was Ritea.
"Is it alright for me to deliver these? Surely, as their child, you—"
"I appreciate your concern, but I don't know what face I could show them. I left my grandparents behind to protect this land. In truth, I should have been the one to scour the earth in search of them."
"That isn't the position you were in. This place is a precious sanctuary entrusted to you by your mother, Ritea-dono."
"I appreciate you saying that. Well, please deliver them, and if there is a reply, I would be grateful. In return, while you are in this country, I shall stay by your side to protect you from trouble. I’m sure you have your own way of doing things, but that child from earlier was truly strange."
So, the Beast God thought that soldier was strange too. I wonder if things will be alright?
I stared out the window at the setting sun, harboring that unease.
Using an outsider to unify one's own people is a common tactic. And then, there’s that cryptic letter.
Well, let’s see what happens next.
Oh, it seems the release date for the *Victory Dungeon* manga was the 30th. Sorry, I must have misunderstood something.