36-65

EP.65 The Beastkin Nation 

“It’s about time I head back.” 

For the first time in a while, I strapped on my sword. 

Because of Leia’s seductive temptations, I’d already stayed here for over a week. 

I’d told them I might be delayed just in case, but if I was too late, they’d start to worry. 

Leia, watching me, looked disappointed. 

“Are you leaving?” 

“There are people waiting for me.” 

“I see. Then, may I come with you?” 

If she joined me, I’d welcome it wholeheartedly. 

It would mean gaining an incredible ally. 

“I don’t mind, but could I ask a favor first?” 

“Anything, just say the word.” 

“Investigate the Demon King’s army for me. Where the Demon King is, how many dungeons like the last one there are, things like that.” 

If the dragon Leia investigated personally, she could gather a lot of information. It would be very useful for subjugating the Demon King. 

“It’s a shame I can’t go with you right away... but I’ll investigate thoroughly and come find you whenever I have something to report. So...” 

Leia looked at me with a bewitching gaze, like a dog begging for praise. 

I smiled and grabbed her butt. 

“Hngh...!” 

I smiled at the feel of her luscious butt even through her clothes. 

“I’ll praise you as much as you want every time. However you like.” 

“Yes...♥ Then I’ll send you straight to the mansion.” 

As soon as Leia finished her spell, a white light enveloped my body. 

The scenery changed rapidly. 

In the blink of an eye, she was gone and my familiar mansion came into view. 

“Glad things worked out again this time. The Demon King must be pretty pissed off by now.” 

Feeling relieved, I opened the door and went inside. 

Not only had I destroyed one of the enemy’s bases, but I’d also gained a powerful ally. 

From the Demon King’s perspective, not only had his plan failed, but things were now at their worst. 

Walking through the mansion with a broad smile, I saw Karin cleaning. 

She turned at the sound of footsteps and greeted me with a gentle smile. 

“Ah... you’re back, Master.” 

“Nothing happened, right?” 

A routine question that just slipped out. 

But Karin’s expression was different from usual. 

“Well...” 

“Is something wrong?” 

“A message came from the kingdom.” 

“Don’t tell me they’re conscripting me?” 

Was I too late? 

It didn’t seem like it had taken that long after destroying the Demon King’s base. 

How impatient is that strict queen? 

But contrary to my expectation, Karin shook her head. 

“No, it’s something else.” 

“Something else?” 

“They want you, as the kingdom’s representative, to establish friendly relations with the nearby Carrion Kingdom...” 

Carrion Kingdom. Hearing that name, I could guess why Karin looked that way. 

Carrion, the only beastkin nation on the continent, is famous for not liking humans. 

“Ugh... I thought I’d finally earned some rest after all my achievements, but now I’m saddled with a difficult, annoying job.” 

Diplomacy is extremely complicated and annoying. 

Even on Earth, it’s a job for specialists. 

Etiquette is the bare minimum, but that’s not my strong suit. 

“Why me? They must know I’m not suited for this.” 

“I heard Carrion specifically requested you, Master.” 

“Sigh... I don’t have a good feeling about this.” 

The fact that they singled me out is suspicious. 

I’ve become a famous figure on the continent against my will, but why would a nation that dislikes humans choose me directly? 

“Should I just refuse?” 

“I don’t think that’s possible.” 

It was an important matter, so Sylvia must have heard about it too. 

And she, who knows me well, would know better than anyone that I’m not fit for this. 

And yet, I can’t refuse. 

Refusing would itself be diplomatically poor behavior. 

Carrion rarely interacts with neighboring countries and is often unfriendly. 

If I refuse after they went so far as to request me directly for friendly relations... 

They wouldn’t take it well. 

“With the Demon King as an unstable factor already, I can’t afford to make more enemies for no reason.” 

“I’ll go with you this time.” 

“Having a beastkin in the group might help a bit.” 

Agnes... unfortunately, I can’t bring her this time. 

Given beastkin’s dislike for humans, bringing her wouldn’t be wise. 

Even now, beastkin slaves are traded in the underbelly of the Lumis Kingdom. 

Karin is really an exception. 

“I’ll get ready right away.” 

“Thanks.” 

After Karin left to prepare, silence filled the mansion hallway. 

“I don’t want to, but I guess I have to.” 

I hope it ends smoothly, but since I was personally requested, that’s unlikely. 

At the very least, they must want something from me. 

“Sigh...” 

Well, once I get there, I’ll just have to deal with whatever comes. 

“Keep reporting.” 

The palace of the Carrion Kingdom. 

On a grand, ornate throne sat a large man. 

His sharp, wolf-like features belonged to Ullen, the king. 

His face was twisted in frustration. 

“...The knights we dispatched are currently retreating, and it’s difficult to send additional troops.” 

Gnash-! 

The sound of grinding teeth in anger made the reporting official fall silent and bow his head. 

But what could he do? 

It was a fact that even the kingdom’s elite knights had been defeated. 

Currently, the Carrion Kingdom was plagued by a serious problem: 

Mysterious attacks occurring all over the country. 

They’d even sent in the knights, but all they got in return was bitter defeat. 

“What about civilian casualties?” 

“It’s hard to get exact numbers, but there are reportedly significant casualties in the eastern and southern regions.” 

Ullen clenched his fist in rising anger. 

Unlike human nations, which grew around cities, Carrion had many small villages. 

To enemies who could defeat even the elite knights, the villagers’ resistance was as light as a feather. 

“For now, we should bring as many people into the cities as possible and strengthen defenses.” 

The official’s words made Ullen’s blood boil. 

The country was being wrecked, and all they could do was defend. 

He’d never felt such humiliation before; he wanted to rush out and cut down the enemies himself. 

But as king, he couldn’t just act on rage. 

“...Proceed as quickly as possible.” 

Even if it was humiliating, he had to make the choice best for the nation. 

That was the king’s duty. 

“Yes. I’ll begin relocating the people immediately.” 

Ullen closed his eyes for a moment, overwhelmed by the hopeless situation. 

Strengthening defenses might help for a while, but it wasn’t a real solution. 

And there was a limit to how many people the cities could hold. 

With limited food stores, they’d have to defeat the enemy. 

“Have we learned anything about the enemy?” 

His voice was quiet but laced with anger and regret. 

He opened his eyes and looked sharply at his official. 

“We’ve seen our own troops among the enemy ranks, so it appears to be the work of a high-level monster-a lich.” 

A lich. 

A powerful wizard turned undead. 

A lich, who specializes in reviving and controlling the dead, was the worst possible foe for Carrion. 

With so many small villages, Carrion’s resistance was almost nonexistent, and the lich’s army had swelled enormously. 

“If we’d figured it out sooner, we could have reduced the damage...” 

Ullen lamented, but none of the officials blamed him. 

His decisions had been quick; it was just a terrible situation. 

“What about the request to the Lumis Kingdom?” 

“They’re sending Yujin, the hero everyone’s talking about.” 

“That’s good. Our situation hasn’t been exposed yet, right?” 

“Yes. When I visited, they were also busy with monsters, so it seems they haven’t realized.” 

Carrion’s situation was completely unknown to the outside world. 

The only beastkin nation on the continent- 

which also meant they were completely isolated. 

If anyone realized how bad things were, they might invade. 

That was Ullen’s fear. 

“So in the end, I have to ally with humans?” 

He didn’t really believe in legendary heroes. 

He’d only called Yujin out of desperation. 

“When he arrives, give him a grand welcome and make sure he can’t escape.” 

If Yujin was just a figurehead hero, he’d run as soon as he learned Carrion’s true situation. 

If that happened, it would be fatal for Carrion, even giving others an excuse to invade. 

“What if he tries to run?” 

“In that case...” 

The worst-case scenario: enemies on all sides. 

It would be better to risk diplomatic problems than that. 

A calm but strong resolve shone in Ullen’s eyes. 

“It can’t be helped.”