[…You really have a knack for doing outrageous things, don't you?]
Elric slightly turned his head at the sudden voice while he was following Tiger King Yul to another location.
Before he knew it, the God of Camellias, who had perched on his shoulder, was shaking her head in disbelief.
She had just finished a short conversation with Otto Han and came straight here.
[Is it alright for you to appear like this? I haven't even planted the seeds yet.]
[It's fine to drop by briefly. Oh, by the way, I won't be visible to anyone but you. I don't want to be seen by others, especially by King Velence who only has the same head as you.]
Is that even possible?
Considering Tiger King Yul's abilities, his senses should be very keen.
[Making myself invisible is very easy for me. And if a mere creature could perceive me, I would lose my divine status, wouldn't I?]
She really must be a god.
If she can read my thoughts so accurately.
On the surface, she just looks like an unemployed woman from the neighborhood with a penchant for throwing hysterics and a sharp personality.
[…You seem to be having some very unpleasant thoughts right now, don't you?]
No way, that's impossible.
How could I possibly utter something blasphemous?
[Hmph! It seems like you're thinking something strange again, but I'll let it go.]
The God of Camellias snorted arrogantly with her arms crossed.
[More importantly, what are you going to do?]
[What do you mean?]
[What else could it be? Of course, I'm talking about that king Velence. Do you really believe that a suspicious guy will accept you as a 'companion'?]
So that's what this is about.
Elric let out a small laugh, sensing he understood why the God of Camellias had appeared out of the blue.
It seemed she couldn't just sit back and watch the current situation unfold any longer and had come suddenly.
It was like a dedicated reader who, too curious about the next part of a story, directly sought out the author.
Somehow, Elric found the haughty queen of winter flowers to be much cuter than he initially thought.
[Of course, he won't trust me.]
Elric had easily accepted Tiger King Yul's proposal to join him.
And now, they were on their way to the place where his tribe was located.
[Then...!]
[But he will keep me by his side.]
The God of Camellias tilted her head in puzzlement.
[Why do you think that?]
[No matter how much the beastmen hate humans, the current system is at its peak in terms of tribal conflicts. They didn't call this period the 'Warring States' for no reason.]
[Oh?]
[In the end, regardless of the tribe, they must utilize any 'talent' that can be a valuable asset, regardless of origin. Especially someone as ambitious as Tiger King Yul. I'm useful for surveillance, if nothing else.]
[Indeed. That makes sense.]
The God of Camellias finally looked relieved, as if her curiosity had been satisfied.
Still, she seemed a bit annoyed and asked a slightly mischievous question.
[But the beastmen's hatred for humans is immense, both now and in the past. Even if Tiger King Yul is fine with it, what will you do if the tribe members aren't?]
It seemed she was asking for a spoiler.
Elric calmly shook his head.
[They will still understand.]
[Why is that?]
[Because of the characteristics of their tribe.]
[...?]
What could this mean?
The God of Camellias tilted her head in confusion before realizing it.
[Ah, that's right. The Anthromorph tribe was originally a gathering of outcasts.]
[And also.]
[There's more?]
[It doesn't actually matter if they don't accept me.]
[...?]
[As long as I can keep rewinding time until I figure out how to win Tiger King Yul's favor, right?]
The God of Camellias looked astonished.
Then her expression hardened.
[Isn't that taking death too lightly? Even if you can rewind time, repeating it endlessly can't be good for a human.]
[No, it's because I understand it well.]
[What...!]
[Truly, I know it well.]
Elric recalled his first experience with arrangements.
The fight with the Snow Mountain King, where he had to die over and over again.
It wore down his mind to the point of insanity, but in the end, he came to understand the Snow Mountain King and strengthened his resolve.
He had never once taken death lightly.
[So when I heard you were 'withered,' it worried me. Because I know how dreadful experiencing death can be.]
[...]
Elric spoke calmly, but when he noticed no response from the God of Camellias, he glanced her way.
The God of Camellias was avoiding his gaze, her face redder than her petals.
[God of Camellias?]
[Oh, why are you acting like that?]
[Why is your face suddenly like that... Ah, I see.]
[Wh-What!]
The God of Camellias yelled and pointed at Elric, seeing one corner of his mouth twitch.
But that only made Elric's smile widen.
[It seems even gods can feel embarrassed?]
[...No.]
[Yes, you're embarrassed.]
[I said no!]
[Alright, alright. I understand.]
[Hey!]
The more the God of Camellias flared up, the more Elric's smile.
'I think I understand why my ancestor kept teasing the God of Camellias... Did my grandfather do this too?'
The God of Camellias realized that Elric was irreverently thinking blasphemous thoughts but had no way to punish him, which only added to her frustration.
'How is it that both the ancestors and descendants of the Melvinger family are all like this!'
Of course, even if she lamented inwardly, there was no one to listen.
The God of Camellias seriously considered that the worst decision she ever made was getting involved with the Melvinger family.
***
"Ugh! Chieftain! Please stop doing such reckless things! You're going to give us all heart attacks!"
The 'Anthromorph' tribe that Elric and Tiger King Yul arrived at was characterized by a very peaceful atmosphere.
Like wandering nomads, they had arranged several tents in a circle, cooking food and training together in the central open space.
The only problem seemed to be the ever-troublesome Chieftain.
The fighters, who were on standby for battle, rushed over upon hearing that Tiger King Yul had returned.
"What's going on? What happened?"
"They say there's a human using Body Strengthening Art? What's going on...!"
"Is that person next to him...?"
"A human! It's a human!"
The tribe members stopped what they were doing and hastily transformed into their beast forms.
'Wow. Quite diverse, aren't they?'
In those times, it was traditional for beastmen tribes to stick to their specific tribes and bloodlines, like the tiger tribe with the tiger tribe, the western rat tribe with the western rat tribe, and so on.
But now, the variety of tribes here was astonishing.
"Everyone stop! This man is our brother!"
At Tiger King Yul's shout, the tribe members openly displayed their hostility towards Elric.
"Brother?"
"How can a human be our brother!"
'What did the empire do in the past to make everyone feel this way?'
Elric sighed involuntarily, but Tiger King Yul interpreted it as a sign of tension and quickly stepped forward to persuade the tribe members.
He repeated the exact words that Elric had said.
And then.
'...Are they crying?'
Tiger King Yul's explanation was so convincing that the tribe members were reduced to tears in an instant.
"...So, this brother's teacher said just before closing his eyes for the last time, 'Although our bond faced the insurmountable barrier of being human and beastman, I am grateful that we could cast aside such things and remain simply as teacher and disciple in the end.' He also said, 'Let's meet again like this in the next life!'"
'...Did I really say that much?'
Elric chuckled internally at the heavily altered story but couldn't show it outwardly.
"Waahhh!"
"Oh, teacher!"
"I don't know who this teacher is, but you are truly blessed to have served such a person."
"Ah, yes. Yes..."
Elric found himself sweating profusely as he looked at the beastmen who now accepted him as a 'brother.' The sight of their fierce faces, now tear-streaked, looking at him with such emotion... felt a bit intimidating.
Tiger King Yul approached Elric and whispered.
"Just go along with it. These guys are all fools and will believe whatever you say."
Elric, seeing his nonchalant expression, awkwardly nodded.
He thought the beastmen were quite naive even in his time, but it seemed it was even more pronounced 400 years ago.
[Now it seems like I'll have to invent a real teacher.]
The God of Camellias, who hadn't left, looked astonished.
Then she clicked her tongue and mischievously asked Elric.
[Lies tend to snowball. How do you feel? As a human, don't you feel a bit guilty...?]
But Elric's eyes sparkled.
[If this goes well, I might be able to exploit this to the fullest.]
[You're not human, are you!]
Elric chuckled.
[I'm kidding. No matter how reckless I am, I wouldn't torment those who are kind to me. I know my limits.]
If Sean had heard, he would have been foaming at the mouth, but Elric calmly continued speaking.
[Just a little. I'll just take a tiny bit.]
[...Why is it that when you say it, even jokes don't sound like jokes?]
[Who knows? Haha.]
The God of Camellias looked like she didn't want to think about it any further.
[But they would really be fools if they easily accept you as a member just because of this.]
Elric didn't miss the fact that there were still members who looked at him with fierce eyes.
"We oppose this."
Men with long black hair like manes were glaring at him. The long tails near their tailbones revealed their identity.
The Black Wolf Tribe.
[Direct ancestors of Prime Minister Norus. I remember them. They were very zealous and loyal to Tiger King Yul. In fact, calling them hunting dogs might be more accurate.]
They were the ones with the most significant influence in the Anthromorph tribe, next to Tiger King Yul.
Especially the man with the fiercest expression among them, who looked like he would tear Elric apart any moment, growled.
"Ralph. Are you defying your Chieftain's command?"
Grrr!
Tiger King Yul's aura was so intense that it emitted a low growl, like a tiger facing an enemy.
Not only Ralph, but other tribe members were also startled.
"C-Chieftain! That's not what we meant...!"
"If not, then what are you saying?"
"That is...!"
"Have you forgotten what the identity of our Anthromorph is? If so, I will personally twist your neck."
Ralph's face turned pale.
The identity of Anthromorph. It was the ideal that bound them together despite their different tribes and bloodlines...!
If they were branded as denying that ideal, their lives were as good as over.
Just as Ralph was about to argue back.
"I've heard that Anthromorph is a haven for those who were rejected or cast out by all tribes. It calls itself a tribe, but its goal is to break down tribal boundaries and unite all beastmen."
Suddenly, Elric, who had been quietly listening to their conversation, spoke up.
Tiger King Yul, Ralph, and all the tribe members naturally turned their gazes towards him.
Tiger King Yul looked a bit surprised.
"You knew our creed?"
"I've picked up bits and pieces while wandering the snowfields. I heard there's a group of rebels and outlaws who had to leave their tribes for various reasons. They are treated as outcasts by many tribes, but their influence is growing day by day."
A smile spread across Tiger King Yul's face.
Who wouldn't like to hear their lifelong work praised?
Moreover, Elric was a human who, despite that, understood exactly what he was striving for.
"I was abandoned by humans, and thanks to an unknown teacher, I learned the Body Strengthening Art. The Chieftain pitied me and accepted me as a brother, which I believe is an extension of the ideals he has always pursued."
[Hmph! As expected of a Melvinger, you sure know how to spin words.]
"Therefore, I think it's only right that I prove myself worthy and align with those ideals."
Tiger King Yul stepped back with a look of interest. He figured that things would go well without his further involvement.
Ralph, seeing that Tiger King Yul would not intervene any longer, radiated even more hostility.
His lips parted to reveal his sharp fangs.
"Prove yourself? How do you plan to do that?"
"Isn't the hierarchy among beastmen determined by strength? So let's fight. If I win, I will become a member of the tribe. If I lose, I'll leave on my own. How about it? Deal?"
"How dare a mere human challenge me, a fighter...!"
"Your tongue sure is long."
Elric threw a mocking smile.
"What? Are you scared?"
[T/L: You can read more chapters and support me here: https://ko-fi.com/revengerscans ]