I like the title
Hifumi, who walks holding the reins matching the two beastgirls that cant follow the pace after all, leaves the forest and advances into the blazing sun of the wastelands.
So, what are you going to do once you reach the human country? (Helen)
Helen looks up at Hifumi, whos a head taller than her.
First I will have a look. After looking? I will crush it? Well, I will decide it at that ti. (Hifumi)
Crush it, you say (Helen)
Watching Helens stunned expression, Reni continued her words with a wry smile,
Hifumi-san, you ca from a human country in the other direction, right? Arent you afraid to travel the wastelands by yourself? (Reni)
Correct, Im not afraid. (Hifumi)
Due to Hifumi replying nonchalantly, Helen shakes her ears and leaks a snort through her nose.
Unlike with the tigers, how did it work out with the wolves? As it seems that they co attacking in groups, isnt it impossible for a single person to oppose them? (Helen)
If its wolf beastn, I killed several tens of them. Sneakily following without even striking up a conversation, several of them ca plunging at . Rolling on the ground after having their noses systematically beaten, I stepped on their necks and broke them. (Hifumi)
Arent these fellows able to speak human language? Hifumi says seemingly pouting.
How amazing. (Reni)
Though I dont think thats the issue here (Helen)
Compared to advancing through the wastelands, where its survival of the fittest, they welco the evening of that day in a relaxed mood.
With Hifumi taking out several dishes from within his storage, the three of them eat their dinner in a circle. Their dessert is that red fruit.
Apparently it is called by the na Bodan. Many beastn like to eat it, but since it cant be found anywhere but at places with clear water, they apparently treat it as a feast once they stumble upon it occasionally.
Currently those are casually being piled up in front of the girls.
They are delicious, after all. (Reni)
Reni laughs delightfully, but the area around her mouth is bright red with fruit juice.
Eat them in a bit more refined manner. You are a glutton. (Helen)
Even as Helen says so, she spills a smile due to having bodan after a long ti.
From tomorrow on we will pass through the areas of the bear and leopard tribes, however stay docile, okay? Id like you to excuse us from getting involved in your fights. (Helen)
Once her stomach bulged, Helen called out to Hifumi.
The wastelands, which are in-between the human countries, have the areas of the strong tribes at the outer edges, fairly close to the locations where humans live on both sides of the wastelands, and the centre of the wastelands, which are inhabited by the weaker tribes.
At the edges there are many forests and rivers. But, although there is also the reason of the nature being abundant in the east and west controlled by the strong beastn, there is likewise the reason that the weaker tribes avoid human habitations, because in case humans discover one of them there are cases of them being caught as slaves.
Up to this point there are still many tribes, like us, who dont like to fight, but tomorrow we will enter a dangerous area. (Helen)
I see. Well, then its fine with you guiding just that far. Once you tell the direction to head for afterwards, I will go by myself. (Hifumi)
Hifumi consented easily with her.
Even though Helen showed a facial expression that it was only natural, Reni had a lonely look.
Then tomorrow will be goodbye? (Reni)
I will have to pass through the wastelands on my way back anyway. We might et again if you have good luck. (Hifumi)
Humph. Before that, do your best to not get killed by the bears and leopards. (Helen)
In the first place, Helen continued,
I wonder why a human like you wants to crush a human country? You are a weirdo. (Helen)
A reason, huh? Let see (Hifumi)
Pondering about it for a while, Hifumi shook his head.
To put it simply, since I have the principle that its just normal to crush an enemy, thats the way it is. (Hifumi)
Enemy? Isnt it only natural for humans to fight back, if they are attacked? (Reni)
No, its different from that. (Hifumi)
He quickly denies Renis words.
After getting attacked is too late. Theres plenty reason to kill them, if they appear as if they want to attack. (Hifumi)
Isnt that slightly excessive?
Dont say such foolishness. You might get killed without the ti to counter-attack after getting attacked. Its important to decide whether to kill or not as fast as possible. (Hifumi)
You are the sa, Hifumi points at Helen.
I am? (Helen)
Dont you have the habit of judging in an instant whether you should run away once you determined a sound you heard? If you were just a little bit late in your judgent, that would lead to your death. (Hifumi)
Uhh certainly. (Helen)
Because I have the power to fight, I kill without fleeing. Thats the only difference there is. (Hifumi)
In the ti while Hifumi was talking to Helen, Reni brooded over sothing, but suddenly lifting her head, she stared at Hifumi.
Strength to fight is necessary after all? (Reni)
Not really? (Hifumi)
The two girls stare blankly due to Hifumi saying this forthrightly.
If you want to fight, you train and use your head, though you might have to put in great and desperate efforts to kill. I dont particularly believe that everyone in this world should possess military power. (Hifumi)
However, you say to kill if its an enemy
Its only who does this. For a fellow, who knows they cant fight or has no interest in fighting, it is the height of idiocy to oppose soone they cant win against. If you feel like making an enemy out of soone and fight them, you probably shouldnt complain about getting killed either. (Hifumi)
With these words Hifumi lies down on the spread-out cloth.
Before anyone noticing, even the horse had entered a pose of sleeping.
If thats the case, you wouldnt complain, if you soone were to kill you, either? (Reni)
Hifumi answered Renis words, she told as a tease, without turning his sight towards her.
Of course. Above it being the giving and taking of life, its just natural for to always think that its fine even if I die any ti. (Hifumi)
Go sleep quickly as we will walk tomorrow, too, Hifumi shut his eyes.
Reni and Helen, who looked at each other, were confused about the strange ways of human thinking.
The reason it was called Knight Country was that this nation, Swordland, originated from a knight order, which beca alienated from Orsongrande and had immigrated.
At the ti of founding the nation it was a poor village, but by building a sturdy bulwark, the commoners, who followed the knights, began to gradually get familiar with hunting and farming. It took a century for it to establish the system of a nation.
Above all, with the knight order from the ti of founding possessing considerable might, far from being able to equally compete with the beastn, they completely repelled the beastn, who ca to attack, on countless occasions.
The person with the highest position among the knights becos king and each of the other knights supports the king as nobles. Thats the shape of the governntal system.
Although it might be called a nation, it is nothing more but a single, large city. With the centre of the city being surrounded by high walls, the circumference had agricultural land spreading out.
The knights, with their great might, captured beastn at the ti they saw them, had them obey and chose to employ them as labour force. The commoners, who originally likewise engaged in the mortifying manual labour of reclaiming the wastelands, were comforted in their hearts by watching the beastn doing more dangerous work than themselves and being discarded after abusing them without even giving them proper food.
And even now the system of catching and enslaving beastn still exists.
Tsk. Aint there anythin but brats?
Spurring on his horse, the man spit out while his armour made clinking sounds.
The soldiers, who are in the vicinity, are cautious of their surroundings wearing plain leather armours and spears.
Its still better than returning without results, but at this rate it will effect my records.
There was a two-horse cart pulling a load-carrying tray without cover at the place the man turned his sight to.
On top of the load-carrying tray an iron-made cage is placed. Within there are two small, completely exhausted beastn. Its the older brother and younger sister, who t Hifumi.
Andrus-sama, there are no beastn in the surroundings.
Due to the soldier asking whether they should move on, the man called Andrus decided to split away from the city a bit further.
Since theres the possibility of strong beastn appearing, to the degree that they wouldnt be able to deal with them, if they separated from the city too far, they have to be careful in their movents.
The knights from the ti of founding the nation apparently fought with the bear and tiger beastn, but Andrus believes this to be a tale. For the knights, who are currently in Swordland, its doubtful whether they could equally fight 1-on-1 against beastn, who are strong in combat.
Uuhh
Its the young tigerboy raising a moan as he wakes up within the cage.
Th-This place is
Did ya snap outta it? If ya stay obedient, ya will be able ta keep living in a far nicer place than yer animal dwelling. Ya will even be able ta eat da good stuff. (Andrus)
Therefore, be nice, Andrus intended to coerce him with his gaze, but the tigerboy began to shout to let him out of the cage.
Tsk. He beca annoyin. Oi. (Andrus)
Calling a single soldier, he ordered him to thrust the sword at the still not conscious tigergirl.
As the soldier did it without a single shred of hesitation, the tigerboy shut his mouth.
If ya aint quiet, I will kill dat female brat over there and not ya. She will be simply stabbed from outside. (Andrus)
Shut yer trap, if ya get it, Andrus says over his shoulders and returns his gaze towards the direction of their travel. Thereupon he discovered a single bearchild sleeping visibly hidden in the shades of the trees ahead.
Oh, whatcha great on. Though its a brat once again, da quota had been reached. (Andrus)
By the order of Andrus, who felt like having already caught it, the soldiers slowly and quietly approach the bearchild.
The instant a soldier, who turned his spearhead towards the bearchild, advanced to a distance where he could touch it after a few steps,
Its the humans! Run awaaaaay!
The tigerboy within the cage shouted with all his strength.
Ya shitty bastard!
Although Andrus raised his voice in anger, the bearchild, who had already lifted its head after waking up, has been surprised in noticing the humans, who had approached right next to it.
Tsk. Surround it quickly! I don even mind, if it has a few injuries here n there. (Andrus)
The bearchild was a girl, who had cute, rotund eyes and small, round ears. Even if her hands and legs had wounds, there will be demand for a beargirl with such a nice appearance.
It will be well worth the ti, before the eyes of Andrus, who mumbled that, a single soldier, who tried to shorten the distance by running fast upon his order, was abruptly blown away.
What is it!?
In front of the panicking solders eyes a gigantic bear with a height of above 3 m stood in the way in order to protect the beargirl.
Having grown tough-looking fur, it possesses thick, sharp claws on the powerful, fat fingers on both paws. It is trembling in rage baring its fangs.
Human trash! I wont permit you targeting my daughter!
Closing in on a soldier with a nimbleness that doesnt fit its large build, everything above the soldiers neck was gone with an explosive sound once it waved its right paw.
In addition to beating the soldiers, who approached closer, to death, the bearman catches the thrust-out spear with his teeth and hits a soldiers belly with a kick.
At the ti the soldier, who vomited out his intestines with spasms, collapsed, the bearman ca in front of Andrus.
Tsk! (Andrus)
Andrus, quickly drawing his sword, jumped off the horse.
Although the bearmans claws fail to seize Andrus, the horses flank is torn up and it raises a shriek.
Taking a distance by rolling on the ground, the bearman had already approached imdiately before his eyes when he lifted his head.
He protects himself against the downward-swung arms with his sword.
Even though he managed to stop them sohow, a pain travels through his left arm due to the impact and it broke. Andrus knew that by instinct.
At the mont the bearman raised his arms overhead once more, Andrus swings his sword sweeping sideways with only his right hand.
Grazing the chest of the bearman, he inflicts a shallow wound, but without minding he evades the swung arms by scurrying.
He was cut deeply at a part of his face that failed to avoid it, however Andrus hasnt the leeway to worry about that right now.
Ooooh!
The sword of Andrus, who finished getting up in a sorry ss, inflicted yet another wound at the flank of the bearman.
But, Andrus hard struggle ended at that point.
The bearman, who took an evasive stance by bending back, severely kicked the nether region of Andrus with his right foot as is.
The large paws of his foot smash Andrus crotch and sink further into him.
Falling to the ground with such a pain that he cant even leak a voice, the bearman quickly crushed Andrus underfoot and thus he died.
Fuu
Dad, are you alright?
Once the beargirl rushed over seeing it all from the beginning to the end while being scared, the bearman showed a gentle smile making his expression of rage from before a lie.
Yea, of course. You have no injuries, Olra?
Im fine. I noticed them before they could hurt since that kid called out to . (Olra)
Which reminds , I was made aware of the situation by that voice as well.
The bearman, who approached the cage, grabbed the iron grid and burst it open with all his strength.
It was a courageous act. Thanks to it, my daughter was saved. You have my thanks.
The bearman, calling himself Salgu, pulled out the tigerboy from the cage and helped out with the unconscious tigergirl by gently carrying her.
Umm
Watching the battle, the tigerboy, who was dumbfounded until he was saved, resolves himself and speaks.
Yea? (Salgu)
Will I also be able to beco as strong as mister?
It was a letter for Iraria, who is the new Queen and very busy with the daily governntal affairs, reporting the schedule of the royal capitals visit delivered by Fokalore.
Although a noble has the liberty of leaving and entering a territory, there is an unwritten rule to send a notice before entering the capital, albeit that was completely ignored by Hifumi. Its for the sake of showing that a noble, who entered the capital, has no ulterior motive, even if there are also cases of them being summoned by the king.
From Fokalore? Just who the heck is coming here? (Iraria)
Not only the nobles but even the commoners knew very well about Hifumi having left for a long journey towards the wastelands to fight by himself against the beastn, who opposed mankind for a long ti. It has beco a commonly repeated topic among the townspeople as the start of a new legend.
It appears to be Earl Tohnos wife, who is coming for a visit of the royal capital. (Adol)
Pri Minister Adol, who read the docunts, calmly replied to Irarias question.
Apparently she is hoping for an audience with you, Your Majesty. Moreover she is even requesting my presence. (Adol)
Origa-san, is it? However, just what kind of business does she have with us? (Iraria)
Well, the notice doesnt explain that far. (Adol)
Iraria cocked her head in puzzlent for a while, but considering it inevitable, she issued instructions in order to prepare the arrangents.
Is it fine? (Adol)
She is Hifumi-samas wife. Its impossible to ignore her. Besides, its probably better to directly confirm whether her aim is for her own purposes or upon Hifumi-samas instruction. (Iraria)
I see, Adol nodded and left the office.
Really, he is a person who causes worries no matter whether he is here or not I wonder where in the wastelands he is currently rampaging about. (Iraria)
Although it wasnt by all ans, she wasnt able to imagine him dying a dogs death in the wastelands. And, simultaneously with Hifumis face, she recalled Origas face at the ti they t quite a while ago when she was still a slave.
What is she really aiming for? (Iraria)
If possible, Iraria was earnestly hoping to lead a quiet life at least for the period Hifumi wasnt there.
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