(Author's Note: As for why I hadn't finished this earlier, I binge watched F/GO Absolute Demonic Front and loved it. Don't blame me if I end up using some of the things I saw in that awesome Anime~)
It was a sudden occurrence. Somehow, spacetime had become distorted without my knowledge. My serpentine eyes opened to look at the kingdom of Beasts I had built myself in shock with doubt.
Surely, I must be mistaken...
"Your Majesty, is there anything wrong? You look a little pale." My close advisor, a Catkin, asked worriedly, which made me feel more at home. It was as if the stress on my shoulders were lifted.
"It's nothing..." Even though I said that, there was no way I could keep my heart calm after sensing the irregularity in spacetime. As a member of the Beast Race's Royal Family who has ruled over our Sacred Lands since the beginning, I mustn't panic.
Ever since the deterioration of our Mana's purity, a large amount of Beasts from various species 'had' and 'still are' being hunted needlessly on a daily basis. If it wasn't for a great Crown Princess like me being born into the line of Royalty then perhaps us Beasts might have already been slain or even worse, enslaved and humiliated, by Humans.
From what my 'Interpreters' who had been able to learn Human Tongue were saying, the oppression on our Mystic Race has become real extreme over time. It's to the point that our former intelligent counterparts now don't even differentiate Beasts between the levels of sentience. They don't even try communicating with us in this current era...
Why is that exactly...?
"Advisor." I called the cat-eared old man by the role that became his 'name'. Unlike Humans, there was little differentiation between Beasts and the kind of relationships each had was personal to them.
For example: Everyone of the Beast Race called me their Empress, but only my departed father could call me 3rd Daughter. There was no 'small talk' like those done by those strange Humans of Sphera.
"Yes, Your Majesty." The Catkin answered while twirling his whiskers, his human-like face made me think of the similarities Humans and Beasts had. I had not been able to check on cultural problems of my nation after taking the throne of my father.
Honourable Father had left behind a mess, and it took many years for me to unify the species after my 'dearest father' had gone mad and started accepting concubines from all species. It was to the point I had several different mothers now...
"How exactly do Humans treat Beasts in this day and age?" This question made him avert his eyes.
"Don't try hiding it. Humans might be physically unable to enter our Sacred Lands, and our great empire might be far from human civilisation, but no matter what, I could just ask someone else if you aren't going to talk." I continued with a snort.
"You may feel angered." He scratched his ear as the tiger skin leather clothes his his redness. It seems my Advisor is so embarrassed about our situation that he can't even control himself.
This display was a lot different from the sharp wit he normally displayed when dealing with the little Tribal Chiefs under my divine right. Although having the 'Spacial Attribute' gave me authority over those meatheads, I wasn't exactly the silver tongued type- No, it would be more accurate to say that I wasn't good at explaining myself.
No matter, he'll always be by my side anyway.
"Do I look immature enough to not be able to control my temper?" He should already know that I was a patient person who wasn't subjective whenever I made a decision. A wise ruler mustn't be pulled around by their emotions and sympathy.
I give all those under my rule the same amount of compassion, as too much would spoil them.
"...It isn't pleasant to hear."
"Just tell me already." My eyes glowed as I put pressure on this worrywart of an Advisor of mine.
"Ahem, well... From experience, the species of Humans who call themselves 'Nobility' treat members of my Blackcat Tribe as 'pets'. They aren't given clothes and are enslaved like lower sentient Beasts. The only difference is that they... like to play games with Tribal Beasts. Even intelligent Monsters aren't free from discrimination." Though I expected as much, hearing it made things worse.
Unlike others, it was my responsibility as an Empress to do the national-level work those little beasties were unaware of. If someone could change this situation, it would be me.
"You aren't going to start a war, right?"
"What kind of person do you see me as?" This Advisor of mine was bold for one of my subjects.
Does he not fear death?
"Rational and cold-blooded, Your Majesty."
"You know how to praise~" I should give him a raise. More meat and farmed vegetables.
"Aren't you angry at Humans?" He asked after coughing a few times from hearing my response.
"We also kill fellow Beasts and Humans alike."
"But we don't enslave or humiliate them."
"It's better than death in my opinion." I lied as he would be worried if I spoke my thoughts.
Those pompous twats really don't see our Mystic Race as anything more than savages, don't they? I don't even understand why the ruler of humans had given these 'Nobility' such authority.
Royals of any Mystic Race were on a completely different level from common people. They were chosen by their Gods to be absolute monarchs and were respected regardless of their actions. It's to the point that I realised something about them.
"Anyway, have they forgotten the true 'role' of a Royal?" This actually sounds a little interesting.
"From what the Chameleon Tribe said. It seems like internal conflicts have risen from splitting their authority with other Royal Families." This was an unexpected answer as I opened my eyes wide.
"Do they have multiple Royal Bloodlines?"
"That's not the case. Other than the one called Drakeyol Kingdom in the human territory, the other kingdoms are in name only. They don't have the Royal Bloodlines necessary to be a threat. If it wasn't for the Peace Treaty stopping large-scale wars between our Mystic Races, we would've already destroyed them by banding together."
"Calm yourself." Seeing that he had become over-excited by his own words, I spoke out before he gave himself a heart attack. My Advisor didn't seem to be done as he continued to rant.
"I can't believe there are females of my tribe who are willing to sell themselves into human brothels or becomes 'pets' of Nobility due to the sheer difference between our medical knowledge and engineering. Some allow themselves to be sold and end up 'domesticated' by those filthy hairless monkeys...!" His face turned red once again.
"You are insulting Monkeykin."
"I'm sorry, Your Majesty. That wasn't right of me to say. Monkeykin are more virtuous than Humans."
"As long as you understand your mistake." There's no need to speak further about this. We are not a Mystic Race that knows how to insult anyway. If we want to attack someone, we hunt and kill them.
What's the point of insulting another? It's better to keep faults in mind before reporting them, and act based on their attitude afterwards. There's no reason for a Beast to hide his fangs whatsoever.
Understandably, hearing that there were actually Beasts that would sell themselves to Humans, I felt like the greatness of our Mystic Race had fallen, to the point even our ancestors would scoff at us...
Those dreadful 'Fiendish Ones', our ancestors who had the blessings of the Moon Goddess. Is it only me who misses the glory days of our Mystic Race where all Beasts held their heads up high?
Just as I was lost in thought, a few Royal Guards of the Wolfkin barged in front of my presence and started informing me of a certain 'guest'. It was only after thinking about the disturbing feeling I got earlier did it feel okay to meet that specific person.
One nod at the Wolfkin guard allowed him to make way for the 'guest' and his followers who arrogantly arrived in my throne room. Their heads were held high even though this was probably their first time meeting the absolute ruler of the Beast Race.
The one leading these mongrel Demonic Beasts who had some slight imperfections in their looks was a man everyone in my Mystic Race knew as the 'Ancient One'. His origins were unknown, but it IS known that he is the oldest Beast who had lived even further back from before our God had fallen before completely abandoned us centuries later.
Many respected him as some kind of saintly figure to the point of worshiping him. His powers couldn't be described of those relating to the Dark Attribute or Moon Attribute. That's why, instead of being called a Fiendish One, he is called a 'Djinn', as his appearance itself was too creepy. There aren't even many Monsters with spoke-like legs such as his. He looked too 'Human' for my tastes.
Not to say smoke-like legs were common, but the Human Form of other Beasts at least had features that made them look beastly. There wasn't anyone else like him who had a totally human face.
Seeing how these mongrels didn't show any respect to their Empress, my eyes squinted at them. The way they seemed to defy my authority really made me feel like putting them in their place.
"Kneel." I spoke with glowing eyes.
[Spacial Art- Imperial Suppression!]
Those idiotic meatheads that actually thought they could stay standing without giving their Empress a bow kneeled painfully. The pressure I put on their shoulders was a little like gravity but the difference was that it actually did more damage than 'forces'.
If I wanted to, one wave of my hand could turn these A Rank Demonic Beasts into meat paste that I could share with other tribes. If it wasn't for the fact that I didn't look kindly on genocide, the only thing that would be left of them is just a stain.
Even outcast Demonic Beast, who had minds that had been a little 'corrupted', we're still part of my Mystic Race, no matter how foolish. They just chose the wrong leader follow this time...
"Did the 'Ancient One' come for my throne~? Are you ready to try taking it?" I asked with killing intent arising in my eyes. There was no way I was going to hand over my authority of my family...!
"That is a misunderstanding." The deep-voices Djinn shook his head in my Advisor's presence.
Just one glance at that feline was enough to understand that the Ancient One wasn't hostile. It wasn't like I forgave their impertinence though as there was thoughts of erasing them in my head.
My Spacial Attribute was absolute! No other Attribute except humanity's Time Attribute could resist it. As spacetime was a concept higher than even life and death. This was adding to the fact that I was a prodigy compared to other Royals.
"We came to submit to your rule, and to introduce a loophole in the Peace Treaty between Humans and Beasts. If you'd allow me, I can commence a war with them which will not affect the magic contract those Royalty had made in the past." The sly Djinn didn't seem to be a man who valued his followers as he ignored the pain of his subjects and introduced the main subject of what he came for.
At first, I'd left him for last because I wanted to fill him with fear. However, it looks like my choice was right. Forgetting how this 'Ancient One' and his followers had made their first impression, I stopped my suppression and looked at him curiously.
"I'm listening." There was no way I was going to let this chance slip from my fingers if it was true.
We discussed many things together along with my Advisor. From the specifics of why he chose to meet me today to how he planned to make a great impact on the Mystic Race that had been dominating and humiliating us recently.
They can't expect no retaliation from me, right?
"Your plans are nice, but your methods are too cruel. I see no reason to sacrifice lives to create those 'soldiers' you'll use to fight Humans." Was the first thing I said after hearing of 'big plan'.
The Peace Treaty worked on Beasts, but it was unable to work on those who were no longer part of the Beast Race. Like those who had turned fully into 'Demons' using the corruption of the Evil Attribute. Pure Demons were their own 'race'.
Who they were or what Mystic Race they were from didn't matter after they fully transformed into Demons. Only us Beasts knew of the strength and production methods of creating these weapons.
"I'm not planning to sacrifice our own. Humans are enough to refill numbers. Actually, our number of Demonic Monsters have grown recently in the realm of hundreds." Realising I was giving him a disbelieving look, he pointed outside carefully.
When I got up to look at whether he was telling the truth or not. The sight I saw shocked me.
It was at this point did I realise my senses hadn't been playing with me. The balance truly DID break.
I'm not sure what's going to happen now since the Ancient One was offering to fight a war for me, but I gladly accepted these cannon fodder. There's no better way to test the limits of humanity than this.
Demonic Beasts could mostly ignore the Peace Treaty thanks to their attribute and wreak havoc as much as they want. There was a fake yet genuine-looking smile on my face as I responded positively.
I'm curious. How far can they go? And cards will reveal themselves before the Holy War starts?
If humanity happens to have more than just their Royals, then I might need to take drastic actions...