Chapter 103
[ The villainess is a tiger. ]
I was extremely pleased the moment I read this message.
I never expected the villainess to show up here.
'The villainess is openly standing on the exact opposite side from Mirne.'
I had been thinking hard about how to approach choosing a representative for the beastmen.
Now that the tiger beastman had turned out to be the villainess, the plan had become remarkably simple.
'I just have to follow the tiger beastman's plan.'
Even Estella was walking in the exact opposite direction from the Grand Duke of the North, and that direction pointed toward something unconditionally beneficial to the Empire.
If so, tiger beastman Vark must also be walking Estella's path.
Put simply, Creed wanted to steer the beastmen in a direction beneficial to Maselin.
Vark, on the other hand, likely wanted to create a world for beastmen completely unrelated to Maselin.
"I ought to back Vark wholeheartedly. But... she may harbor hostility toward humans."
But I thought she might also be reluctant to accept help simply because it came from a human.
Seeing the candidate for beastman representative on the other side infatuated with a human woman,
it was only natural that hostility toward humans might grow in his heart.
Of course, that didn't mean I intended to give up.
'That's one thing, but I still have to do what needs doing.'
The Empire itself was offering direct assistance. Refuse it?
And if I backed down after that, I wouldn't be the Empire.
"Pinpoint Beastman Vark's location through the Fairy Eye. I'll go there myself."
"Your Highness! I want to come with you too! I... I'm sad I haven't been able to travel with you lately!"
"Arveda, regrettably, I can handle this alone."
"....Understood."
Leaving Arveda behind with a dejected expression,
I began preparing to meet Beastman Vark.
'Looks like it's going to rain.'
The sky I happened to glance up at was dark.
++++++
Tigers fundamentally insist on living completely solitary lives.
Based on their own vast territories, they resolve most matters alone,
and thus each claims an entire mountain as its territory, earning the common name "Mountain Lord."
But.
"Given the circumstances, it's time for everyone to set aside their solitary lives... and cooperate for a while. You all know that, right?"
"...Yeah. It's obvious what will happen if we lose the position of beastman representative this time, so we have no choice."
"Was it a mistake to show those lions any consideration in the first place? We should've just killed every last one of them."
The tiger beastmen were suppressing those instincts and continuing to live communally.
There was only one reason they were living this way.
So that a tiger beastman could claim the position of beastman representative.
"How could those crazy lions offer the beastmen's treasure to a human...?"
"The way they dressed it up was hilarious too. Did they say a human could use it more valuably?"
"Didn't we refrain from using it because no one knew how to use it valuably in the first place? It was the only sacred treasure capable of uniting beastmen of different species, so no one dared touch it lightly!"
More precisely, it was to stop those insane lion beastmen from doing something strange.
They claimed that if they became representatives, they would open a new horizon of life together with the Kingdom of Maselin,
but from the tiger beastmen's perspective, there was nothing comprehensible about that claim.
"I don't understand why we have to live mingled together in the first place. Our instincts are different, so why should we band together?"
"They just keep spouting crazy nonsense... nothing but crazy nonsense... But what's even harder to understand is that quite a few beastmen have sided with the lion beastmen."
"I don't know what kind of dirty trick they pulled, but seriously, since when did choosing the beastmen's representative become this important?"
The position of beastman representative had originally been merely ceremonial.
It didn't matter who held it; whoever occupied the position brought about no major changes.
They said it led the common agenda of the species, but even that was purely formal.
But the lion beastmen seeking the position this time showed no sign of thinking that way.
They were deliberately gathering beastmen who had been scattered around, living well in their own places,
and proclaiming that they would create a place where everyone could live happily.
With a human kingdom, no less.
"Do they really think this makes sense...? No, why aren't they asking our opinion in the first place?"
"It's ridiculous how they subtly pressure us, as if asking whether we can imagine what will happen if we don't follow them."
"I feel like starting a war, but what a shame."
As though they never expected to miss the days when there had been no rules at all,
the tiger beastmen longed for the era before the rules had been written in blood.
An age of the law of the jungle, more thorough than now.
The weak beastmen died.
"Can't we just kill the lion beastmen leadership and be done with it?"
"We're much stronger than they are. I don't know why we should hold back."
"Since when did carnivorous beastmen form groups, talking about alliances and all that? Do we really have to keep watching this disgrace?"
If that simple law alone had still existed, every lion beastman seeking the position of representative would have been turned into bloody pulp.
Just as the forum for discussion was growing increasingly raucous,
"Enough. That's far enough."
Vark, the tiger beastmen's representative, raised a hand and neatly settled the situation.
"Our task remains unchanged. We seek the position of representative, so let's save our complaints about the situation for later."
"Understood."
A perfect hierarchy.
At tigress Vark's words, everyone lowered their heads.
"I don't know what the lion beastmen are thinking, but there is only one thing we need to do to vie for the position of beastman representative: win the contest for supremacy."
A battle for supremacy among the beastmen vying for the position of representative.
The simple yet absolute rule of the beastmen: the strongest became the representative.
Of course, she strongly suspected the lion beastmen would use underhanded tactics in the process.
Even though she had never lost a fight against a lion beastman,
the lion beastmen preparing for this contest had unusual momentum.
"Once I win, all those ridiculous schemes will disappear. Do I look like I'm going to lose?"
"No!"
"I believe you will definitely win!"
"I have never doubted that you would win, Lord Vark!"
Whether they were trying to dope themselves or acquire good equipment,
she didn't know the details, but Vark was nevertheless certain she would win.
"I'm sorry to intrude on your conversation so suddenly, but that is far too complacent a thought."
If a man with golden hair and red eyes hadn't suddenly appeared.
"Thinking positively is good, but I would like you to approach this contest for supremacy with greater caution."
"...."
The man, who no one knew when, where, or how he had appeared, naturally sat opposite Vark.
In the seat opposite the long table and directly in front of the door.
The tiger beastmen instinctively recognized that seat as the place of honor the moment the man sat there.
"I should have introduced myself sooner. I am Bellon Bellos, Crown Prince of the Empire. I have come because I wish to support the tiger beastmen in this contest for supremacy."
Every tiger beastman except Vark instinctively lowered their eyes the moment they heard Bellon's words.
'If we act rashly, we die.'
Lower your tail, flatten your ears, and keep your gaze fixed on the ground.
Their survival instincts were shouting it loud and clear.
"Are you saying the Empire will support us?"
The only tiger beastman in this room who had the right to speak was Vark.
Vark, keenly feeling this, slowly looked at Bellon and continued.
"This is very sudden. Hasn't the Empire been uninterested in beastman ecology until now?"
"I intend to take an interest from now on. Is that a problem?"
"Are you doing this because the Kingdom of Maselin, which has joined hands with Beastman Representative Creed, makes you uncomfortable?"
"If the Empire found a mere kingdom inconvenient, would it need to resort to such troublesome means?"
After hearing Bellon's answer, Vark suppressed any change in her expression as much as possible.
'Then what on earth is the Empire's reason for trying to make tiger beastmen the representatives?'
Now that she heard him, she realized he was right.
The Empire taking the Kingdom of Maselin's wishes into account? Impossible.
Then he must have some other motive,
but the problem was that she couldn't figure out what it was.
How could she dare ask the Empire's Little Sun directly about his intentions?
No matter how far beastmen lived from human society,
they weren't ignorant of how the continent worked.
'According to recent rumors, I hear the Crown Prince split the sea.'
Strength that casually surpassed ordinary standards.
And he had even come in person to state what he wanted? That could mean only one thing.
The Empire definitely intended to make tiger beastmen the beastmen's representatives,
and had something it wanted to obtain through that.
'So it wasn't something to laugh at, that the lion beastmen had joined hands with humans.'
Perhaps the lion beastmen were actually the better option.
If the Kingdom of Maselin's cooperation was merely like dipping its feet lightly into a pond,
the Empire's cooperation was like being submerged in the sea up to one's neck.
They were on entirely different levels.
'Refusal would be impossible too.'
Vark seemed to prove through her conversation with Bellon why she had become the representative.
"What can we gain if we join hands with the Empire?"
The instant she realized refusal was impossible, she began thinking about the next step.
If the situation was irreversible anyway, it was right to look ahead and move forward.
"I will guarantee that the beastmen's way of life remains unchanged."
"You mean you will guarantee that the beastmen's way of life will not change?"
"Yes. You wish to walk a path opposite to Creed's, don't you? I am saying I will actively support that path."
"What will you do if we suddenly say we want to live within the Empire?"
"I will show you how peaceful it is beneath the Empire's shadow, let you experience it firsthand, and allow you to live there for the rest of your lives."
Was what they could gain by joining hands with the Empire the shelter of the Empire's shadow?
'That makes no sense.'
No matter how she thought about it, this was a deal in which the Empire would unconditionally lose.
The Empire would guarantee their future?
It was practically a promise of a peaceful future not only for the tiger beastmen but for all beastmen.
There was no simple reason for the Empire to act this way.
'Is it after the beastmen's treasure?'
But that wasn't logical either.
If she had been the Empire, she would have simply taken it by force, not chosen such a troublesome method.
No matter how much she thought about it, Vark couldn't understand the Empire's intentions, so for the time being, she decided to accept the situation.
"I look forward to working with you."
"I like how quickly we reached an understanding. I look forward to working with you as well."
The lion beastmen were backed by Maselin,
while the tiger beastmen were backed by the Empire.
Vark felt the result of the contest for supremacy had already been decided.
+++++
The morning after it was decided that the tiger beastmen would join hands with the Empire.
"I heard that the tiger beastman who will participate in this contest for supremacy is here."
Someone wearing extremely luxurious armor appeared in the settlement where the tiger beastmen lived together.
"...That's me. Is there a problem?"
"Are all the other beastmen who represent the tiger beastmen here as well?"
"N-no, they aren't."
"Then distributing food will be somewhat troublesome. Well, it shouldn't matter. The staves will handle the supply."
Without even revealing who he was, the man spoke casually as he surveyed the surroundings,
"His Highness said that the tiger beastman representative's martial prowess fell slightly short of expectations."
He then naturally stopped in front of Vark and
"I should have introduced myself sooner. I am the Empire's Grand General, Arcam Bellos."
matter-of-factly stated what he would do.
"Until the contest for supremacy, I will raise your abilities as much as possible."
A paltry dirty trick? What did it matter if one possessed overwhelming martial power?
Vark's eyes widened involuntarily as she understood the Empire's intention.
'Arcam Bellos? The Grand General? Then is the man before me a Grand Master?'
They were sending the Grand General to ensure victory in the contest for supremacy?
How peaceful the Empire's shadow was.
And how far the Empire was willing to go to maintain that shadow.
This was the moment Vark indirectly felt it.
At the same time.
"I heard from the Grand General that you've been behaving yourself lately, Bedin."
"Y-yes, yes... That's right, Your Highness the Crown Prince."
"You don't even call me 'Brother' anymore. In private, you may call me Brother."
"...Okay, Brother... But what brings you here?"
Bellon was speaking with the Second Prince, Bedin.
"Are you still in contact with Mirne these days?"
The subject was naturally Mirne,
and at that point, Bellon
"...Brother, even so, I don't contact that promiscuous woman anymore."
received an extremely shocking answer.