Leona confidently declared that she would beco my wife, which instantly made the atmosphere awkward. It wouldn’t have been a big deal if I were alone, but the presence of Marie added complexity to the situation.
Leona seed to sense that sothing was wrong as she lowered her gaze and discreetly glanced around, but due to coughing, I couldn’t provide a proper explanation.
Amidst this, Marie, who had been wearing a bewildered and slightly flustered expression, quietly called out to Leona.
“Leona.”
“Yes? What is it?”
“I don’t quite understand, but do you know that Isaac and I are in a relationship?”
“Of course, I know.”
“But isn’t it a bit strange to talk about it openly in front of ?”
Marie’s words were hesitant, but her disbelief was evident. After all, from Marie’s perspective, Leona could be seen as a threat to our relationship.
Leona blinked a few tis in response to her question and then answered with a timid voice, quite unlike her usual self.
“… Is it strange for humans? Humans sotis give their daughters away in marriage or have multiple wives. That’s why I said it…”
“Cough! There’s a… cough! difference in cultural norms among our species. Cough. I’ll explain properly.”
It seed that I had misunderstood a lot of what I had learned so far. Once we had cald down a bit, I began to teach her everything step by step.
As Leona ntioned, giving one’s own child as an offering was a practice that was common in the distant past, as a part of their culture. It was common to offer one’s child as a tribute to a warrior who had contributed greatly to a war effort. This concept still exists today, albeit sowhat obscured by the shadow of “strategic marriages.” The idea remains similar but is now about ensuring one’s own interests.
“Oh, so it’s not necessary to offer one’s own child as a tribute. You can offer sothing else as tribute?”
“Yes, and as you ntioned, while it can be a tribute, it is also strategically used in politics. Humans are known to value kinship relationships, so even through marriage, they consider those they marry into as family. The ergence of strategic marriages is a result of this.”
“I see. I understand now.”
Humans, being the most fragile species, have had a tendency to stick together since ancient tis and have built civilizations through this unique kinship. This unique kinship has even given rise to the peculiar custom of strategic marriages.
On the other hand, beastn have a strong sense of independence. So, if they decide to marry and establish a family, they are treated almost like outsiders.
Of course, it’s not that beastn lack familial bonds, and if anyone touches their family, they beco extrely angry. This remains the sa even after marriage. Treating them like outsiders ans there is little interference, and they willingly help if asked for assistance.
The concept of “tribute” that Leona ntioned is purely about giving one’s own child as a form of tribute, without any political reasons.
“So, what about polygamy? Humans also have cases where males have multiple females, right? Is this also due to political reasons?”
“Yes, and if a peaceful agreent is not reached in such cases, it can beco quite troubleso. Mating disputes are common, and there are often headaches caused by one’s own offspring. What about beastn?”
“We naturally obey the males. The fact that a male can lead multiple females ans that the male has strong and excellent genes. Even my father has five wives, you know?”
Leona, while enjoying the remaining steak, explained the ecology of beastn to . As expected, their customs were similar to animals since they were based on animals. After listening to her explanation and pondering for a while, a curious question ca to mind, so I asked her.
“Then, do females ever lead multiple males?”
“It’s very rare. If a strong female appears, an even stronger male will usually defeat her and accept her as his wife. So, it’s extrely unlikely for a strong female to bring multiple males.”
“… …”
It’s truly a kingdom of animals in the truest sense. I think I now understand why they call beastn savages.
“Well, then it doesn’t matter if you give a different reward, right?”
“No, it doesn’t matter. Do you have sothing in mind?”
“Um…”
Chew, chew…
Leona now chewed the T-bone steak bones ticulously. She raised her gaze as if deeply contemplating, then smiled brightly and answered energetically.
“No, I don’t!”
“… …”
“… …”
The silence settled into an uncomfortably self-assured stillness. The response had been too cheerful, almost to the point of making one wonder if they had misheard.
Leona, after gulping down a bone like it was a snack, glanced around at both of us with a bitter smile.
“…There really are no other options here. Even if I’m the chief’s daughter, all I have is my body as the third wife’s daughter.”
“… …”
“But still, if you use the wisdom you’ve shown to change Anirs, I’ll definitely give you a reward, even if it’s not ! So, don’t make that kind of face…”
The more she spoke, the more Leona’s voice seed to waver. Judging by the way her ears were pinned back, it seed she wasn’t entirely sure herself.
I hesitated whether to laugh or sigh at her reaction. It was quite a contrast from Leona’s usual cynical deanor.
“You can take your ti thinking about the reward. Are you planning to return to Anirs for now?”
“Yeah, I’ll clean up first and then head back. I’m not sure if it’ll go well, but they’ll definitely listen to my voice.”
“Alright. Is there anything else you’re curious about?”
“Curious… well, has the scent on your body changed at all? Not like perfu, but more like a natural floral scent?”
“I received quite a bit of divine power, that’s why.”
After that, we had so rather trivial conversations. In between, Maríe asked questions about the beastn, and Leona diligently answered while crunching on the bones.
“Leona. If it’s alright, can you show your ears?”
“Huh? I’m already showing them.”
“Oh, not those ears. I an the part where humans have ears. It’s covered by your hair, so it’s not very visible.”
“Well, there’s nothing there, but if you insist…”
In response to Marie’s question, Leona nonchalantly lifted her head to reveal her human-like ears. There was indeed nothing where there should have been ears on a human. It was empty.
Marie looked at it with fascination for a mont before quickly moving on to her next question.
“How about your tail? Can you show your tail too?”
“Curiosity seems to run strong in you, just like a couple. Here you go.”
With a swish, Leona revealed her tail, which she had been hiding beneath her school uniform pants, rather than her skirt. Being a lioness beastwoman, her tail had a thick, bushy tip, reminiscent of a lion’s tail.
I, too, looked at Leona’s tail with amazent since it was my first ti seeing it. The swaying motion of her tail stirred an impulse in to reach out and touch it.
“Can your tail move on its own too?”
“Of course. Ta-da!”
“Wow.”
When Leona ford a heart shape with her tail, Marie gasped in excitent beside her. It was the expression of a child who had just discovered a new toy. At that mont, with a sowhat proud smile on her face, Leona heard Marie’s slightly excited voice as she made a request.
“Hey, can I touch it?”
“Absolutely not. The tail is a sensitive area for beastn. Only spouses can touch each other’s tails.”
“Oh, really? I didn’t know that.”
Thanks to this, I learned one more thing about beastn culture. After playing around for a while, Leona put her tail back into her pants, and that was the end of it. Marie was a bit disappointed, but she couldn’t keep insisting since it would be impolite.
“Ti has passed so quickly. Let’s start getting up now. Leona, you’ve finished eating too…”
“…There’s no need to wash dishes.”
Leona’s steak plate, which she handled, was clean without a single drop of sauce. I wondered what the waiter would think if they saw it. Leona looked a bit embarrassed as she watched our reactions, but she chuckled and scratched her head.
“I’m sorry for always receiving like this. Although I’m just saying this, I’ll definitely compensate you.”
“Okay. Please don’t make remarks like you’ll beco a wife like earlier.”
In response to my request, she made a slightly cautious expression and spoke quietly.
“…Before that, there’s sothing I want to tell you.”
“What is it?”
“We beastn have a cultural tradition where if we receive sothing, we must reciprocate it. Even if you refuse, Anir’s side will find a way to reward you sohow. If you reject it, they’ll take it as a severe offense.”
“Just say that you ca up with it. Say it’s the wisdom you gained from attending the Academy.”
“Absolutely not. Lying within a family is one of the greatest sins to beastn. I must definitely confess that it’s the wisdom you’ve shared.”
“Hmm…”
If that’s the culture, there’s nothing we can do about it. I hesitated for a mont and then shrugged lightly.
“Even if it’s sothing strange, it’s okay. So don’t feel too burdened and just do what makes you comfortable.”
“…Thank you. I won’t forget this favor.”
“What favor? Anyway, I hope everything works out well.”
I an it. Seeing her ask for a favor, despite not being close to usually, I can tell how desperate she must be feeling. As we were about to part ways outside the restaurant, Leona called .
“Isaac.”
She used my na instead of her usual ‘Hey, you.’ I looked at Leona with slight surprise.
“Yes?”
“I said to you that ‘apples sotis fall far from the tree’ before, right? I want to apologize for that.”
Leona said, bowing her head politely as she spoke. I blinked as I watched her. Now that I think about it, I heard her say sothing like that regarding my father. It wasn’t necessarily incorrect, so I didn’t get angry, but it seed to have bothered her in so way. She then lifted her bowed head, revealing a bright smile with her fangs slightly visible as she spoke.
“Indeed, under a lion, a lion is born. Just because one is powerful doesn’t an they are strong in every way. Isn’t that right?”
“Well… that’s one way to put it.”
“You should rember that a king must be wise, even if you can’t beco one. Making that king wise is enough.”
It seed like she had her own realizations. Leona bowed politely once more, then smiled brightly and shouted,
“Then enjoy yourselves! I’ll be going first!”
And she dashed away as if escaping. I watched Leona disappear into the darkness, then turned my head. As I turned my head, coincidentally, I t Marie’s face head-on. We both stared at each other for a while, then chuckled simultaneously without saying a word.
“Shall we go too?”
“Yeah, let’s.”
My date with Marie was not over yet.
******
Leona returned to Anirs and the next day.
“… So, who are you?”
“Kate Louise Angelica, a follower of Luminous.”
The Head Inquisitor ca to . She looked at with a deep gaze and suddenly asked.
“May I have your child for the sake of Luminous?”
“This is insane.”
Translators note:
They are popping out like damn rattatas now
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