Chapter 154 (2/2)

I would also like to refrain from being introduced to the rest of the capital’s populace like in such a manner .

“The reward which they asked for…… was the immediate release of all elven and beastmen slaves . Furthermore, they insisted that we outlaw the unjust enslavement of either of those races and that a befitting punishment is enacted for anyone breaking this law . Here and now, I swear that from this day forward, that the provisions of human law shall be applied to beastmen and elves as well!”

There was a moment of silence after Asparuf’s declaration before the crowd of beastmen erupted into cheers as the king quietly looked on .

It must have been difficult, given the conditions they faced till now, but the rumored slave emancipation had just been announced by the King himself .

Apparently, the story was easier to accept when there was an existence that thrust the liberation condition upon the country .

Naturally, the topic moved on to the three people who had laid down that condition .

“Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce these heroes! The elven knight from the Great Canada Forest, Arc Raratoia-dono! The elven warrior, Ariane Glenys Raratoia-dono!”

After Asparuf’s introduction, Ariane and I stepped onto the balcony and stood before the crowd below .

People immediately began to talk amongst themselves when we came out .

The course of this event had been prepared in advance, but I was unaccustomed to being the center of attrition .

Though I always caught the crowds’ attention when I walked down the street, coming off the King’s introduction and the sheer difference in scale was unnerving .

Some of them seemed to have seen our fight with Cardinal Palermo and began speaking about Ariane and me .

“Can we believe that elves would assist humans in a crisis?”

“Hey, hey, is that guy in the armor really an elf? I’ve never heard of an elf wearing armor before . ”

Various people pointed at us and doubted my elven nature, or questioned why elves would lend humans a helping hand .

“Why is he hiding his face in front of an audience?”

“Idiot, it’s obvious . Not everyone wants to sell his face as a hero . He’s either trying to hide his identity, or he’s too ugly to look at . ”

Someone in the crowd tried to ease the general worry, but their guesses were far off because there was only a skeleton in this armor .

“Finally, the representative of the Jin Shin Clan*, Chiome-dono!”

Chiome was the same as usual, but she was covering her mouth with her face mask . I wonder, was that to uphold her dignity as a ninja, or to hide her tension?

The ones below were stunned when Asparuf introduced Chiome .

“Did he say the Jin Shin clan?”

“Have they ever come to this country before!? Are we truly free!?”

As the name of the “Blade Heart Clan” spread among the beastmen, exhilaration began to take over their expressions, whereas I was surprised that they even knew that name .

Chiome’s tail swayed as she gazed upon the crowd below .

Asparuf was content with letting the celebration occur for a while, before ordering the minstrels to play a short piece to let him regain their attention .

“Those in the capital shall be the first to be released, and once the latest affairs are put in order, beastmen in the surrounding cities shall be freed as well . Furthermore, Chiome-dono is recruiting beastmen to migrate to new lands . If you are interested in the offer, details will be posted in the near future . That is all . ”

With Asparuf’s declaration complete, the people excitedly discussed everything they’d heard as they left the garden under the guards’ instruction .

I started up a conversation with Chiome-dono while seeing them off .

“Migrating to new lands…… how many are you expecting to come, Chiome-dono?”

“Fifty to a hundred at first…… since the new village isn’t ready to accept normal people, men that can survive harsh environment will be given top priority . ”

Ariane simply shrugged and sighed at her answer .

“Looks like the place will become even stuffier, isn’t it……”

When I remembered the current state of the village, I realized it might be a dangerous place for Ariane to visit .

I doubted they could do anything to Ariane, but the number of injured we’d have to deal with when she lost her patience with them wouldn’t be worth it .

A panicked guard rushed to the King’s side while I was thinking that potential situation over .

Zahar promptly stopped the guard and spoke to him in a business-like manner .

“Halt! State your business with the His Majesty . ”

“Messengers from Salma Kingdom’s Branier Territory have arrived, Margrave Branier requests an audience with the King . How should we proceed?”

Asrapuf stepped forward with a incredulous look on his face when he heard that report .

“Wait, are they really messengers from the Branier territory?”

Under the King’s direct questioning, the guard retrieved a letter from a breast pocket and began speaking in a high pitched voice .

“I beg for your forgiveness! I forgot about the letter the Margrave’s people had been carrying! And to answer your question, the people claiming to be messengers rode under a banner that definitely had the Margrave’s coat of arms!”

Zahar took the letter from the guard and confirmed the wax seal pushed onto it .

Ariane realized something after watching their exchange play out .

“Isn’t that the territory we passed through on our way here? The place where that group of soldiers had been attacked by undead……”

Zahar and I both remembered when she said that .

Honestly, yesterday had been so busy that that felt like a distant memory now .

Zahar quickly went to King Asrapuf’s side, whispered what he knew into his ear, and stepped back after handing him the letter .

“…… What, Lille gave that kind of order? Did the monsters enter the Margrave’s territory because they were chasing Lille, or for some other reason? The Margrave is different from the ignorant nobles in their capital, maybe he already figured out that Lille has crossed his territory . What is his intention……”

Asrapuf muttered as he broke the way seal and quickly read the context of the letter .

He was immediately shocked by what he read .

“What does Margrave Branier want??”

Zahar unintentionally questioned the king when he saw the change in the king’s expression .

Asrapuf remained lost in the letter for a moment before raising an eyebrow .

“It seems like they are about to face a crisis…… There’s no greeting, only a request to have an informal chat with me is written . Ignoring every formality as if……”

The King’s voice trailed off as he set his eye upon the guard that delivered the letter .

“I will answer the Margrave’s request . I am sorry Arc-dono, but I’ll be taking my leave today . ”

Asrapuf left in a hurry after apologizing for his abrupt exit .

“Hmm, something seems off about this……”

“Kyun?”

Ponta tilted her head to the side when those words slipped from my mouth after the King’s footsteps became a distant echo .

Ariane didn’t seem to mind it and simply stroked Ponta’s tail .

However, Chiome’s cat ears stood straight up, signaling that she’d caught on to the same thing I had .

“I agree……

Chiome and I looked towards the grey sky above the city, the low hanging clouds seemingly even  more oppressive than before .