Chapter 29: Beastmen, To What Extent Can You Go? (03)
"Are you calming down?"
"Yes."
Only after I placed the small cat-like beastman (I thought it was a kitten, but it turns out it's a munchkin cat beastman, naturally small...) on my lap to cover my genitals did I start to calm down.
'I've heard that ordinary cats are aloof and don't follow people...'
The munchkin cat beastman on my lap, kneading like making bread, was purring and about to fall asleep, which helped create a more relaxed atmosphere for us to talk.
"Huff... Huff... Huff..."
But this time, Dane couldn't calm down at all.
'This guy... is he into the Grandmother?'
Of course, the Grandmother's twisted horns, large breasts, and white hair were quite enticing to men, but I wished he wouldn't breathe hot breath down my neck from behind.
"It seems he can't calm down, but as you're the brains and he's the brawn, if you're okay, it shouldn't matter."
"Yes... You, turn your head away. I can't talk like this."
"Just in case..."
'I know you're staring at the Grandmother's naked body, so back off a bit.'
After giving Dane a direct sign, he moved a step away with a displeased expression; I could still hear his breathing, but at least his hot breath wasn't on my neck anymore.
"Let's start the discussion. Why do you want to declare independence from the kingdom?"
To ensure I didn't miss anything, I had gotten permission from the Grandmother to record the conversation.
Naomi was also creating separate documentary evidence, writing everything down as I spoke.
"It's simple. We want to return to being true beastmen."
"Aren't you already beastmen?"
"Is that what you call it?"
"Kyaa! Grandmother..."
The Grandmother, who had touched Naomi's breast, now gently caressed her lower abdomen.
"Originally, beastmen here also had nipples."
'Is she talking about two-stage beastmen?'
"But look at the children born here. Take Naomi here, for instance; she only has two nipples, right?"
"In front of guests, this is..."
"Hmph, among animals, touching each other's nipples means nothing. You still haven't shed your human ways."
"That's..."
"You should be angry about beastmen losing their ability to nurse their young, not about a reaction fit for a human girl."
Despite her words, the Grandmother eased Naomi's embarrassment.
"Continue, please."
"As you can see in our village, we are too far removed from being true beastmen."
"And so?"
"Our analysis shows that this is due to interbreeding with humans, which dilutes our lineage."
Indeed, I had heard in interspecies ecology class that the bloodlines of beastmen were thinning.
If this continues, beastmen could become a subspecies of humans, with no more animal ears, just humans with thick hair and denser coccyges.
Of course, this would only happen if interbreeding with humans continued without beastmen marrying among themselves.
"This is exactly why beastmen women seek out human men!"
"...Yes?"
"As you know, humans have larger genitals. Females instinctively seek males who can impregnate them easily."
Dane and I looked at each other.
'Really?'
"Hah! You call us animals, yet you're the ones seducing other species' females in the most lewd manner."
Mentioning beastmen made us somewhat embarrassed about our own genitals.
"Moreover, most male beastmen have a mating season, and that's the only time they are in heat. But females can go into heat with just a little stimulation from males."
"Meaning..."
Putting it all together led to this conclusion.
"So, human males are in heat all year round and have larger genitals, hence beastmen females prefer to marry them, thinning our bloodline?"
"Exactly."
This raised a curious point for me.
'It hasn't been long enough for our blood to thin to that extent...'
"This doesn't necessarily require independence..."
"You're speaking out of ignorance! Naomi!"
"Yes? What now...? Are you doing something strange again?"
"Come here! Don't look so embarrassed when I'm making an important point!"
As Naomi slowly backed away realizing the Grandmother's mood, the Grandmother angrily called her while Dane and I watched the unfolding show.
"Look here."
"Grandmother... this is a bit..."
"Beastmen!!"
We could guess what came next, and neither Dane nor I, nor even Naomi, wanted to hear it, so we just kept quiet and watched as instructed.
"Look at this perfectly smooth appearance!"
Wow, truly pristine.
"Nyah?!"
The munchkin cat beastwoman on my lap, who had been kneading like baking bread, was startled by my erection poking her stomach, and she began to knead it with her hands.
'Ugh... if she keeps stimulating me here, it's going to cause a huge problem...'
It would be a diplomatic faux pas to ejaculate on the Grandmother's face or on Naomi, who was busily writing, during such a serious discussion.
To escape this predicament, I grabbed the munchkin cat beastwoman by the scruff of her neck and sent her out of the Grandmother's house, and quietly pressed my lower body with my hands between my legs.
"Phew..."
After dispatching the munchkin beastwoman and stabilizing the situation, I felt relieved and Dane approached me.
"Hey, I didn't see it. What was it?"
"No, better you didn't see it..."
Sating Dane's curiosity would have caused him to start panting again, so I decided to keep it quiet.
"Is this the appearance of beastmen? Isn't even a human knight as unkempt as you!"
The Grandmother boldly critiqued, and Dane discreetly covered his own fur, though his bush was already quite exposed.
"Is this what you call beastmen-like behavior!"
Frankly, the Grandmother's lower body was quite sparse in fur compared to her appearance.
There was just a little down and a neatly trimmed white triangle of fur...
Dane, standing behind me, called out something, his breath heaving.
'Stop ogling the Grandmother like that.'
Traitor. Here stood a traitor of the Magic Knights.
This guy would jump into action with a mana saber for the Grandmother if she asked.
'Does he have any loyalty to the knights? As much as Naomi has fur, perhaps?'
Deciding to resolve the situation peacefully before deciding what to do with this fool, I continued the dialogue with the Grandmother.
"I understand your viewpoint. Let's discuss potential solutions."
"Just leave us be."
"However, the royal court may view this independence movement as a rebellion. Royal authority isn't maintained logically or rationally, you know."
There's no point in expanding the Royal Guard fivefold to over 200 members and downplaying the Magic Knights without the King's intention being to weaken the increasingly fragile royal power...
'Thinking this far is unnecessary for a knight...'
After all, a knight has to do what he's told.
"Can't you just leave us alone?"
"It's possible, but... the way of life here is problematic."
If beastmen wandering naked in nearby cities become a problem, wouldn't it potentially reignite debates about whether beastmen are sentient beings or just mindless monsters?
"We live decently."
"Ah, yes..."
The idea of men and women living naked and calling it decent was somewhat amusing.
"For now, males are not in their mating season. Humans, however, would be in heat 24/7 if they saw nudity."
Hearing this made me wonder if humans were more animalistic than beastmen.
"This doesn't seem like a simple matter to resolve."
"I agree."
It was expected to be a long-term issue.
If it could have been resolved in a day's talk, it would have been handled at the civil service level, not by the Magic Knights.
"It's probably better to stay inside our territory than to go out and come back."
"Understood."
"However, we'll need a place to stay... there aren't many suitable dwellings here."
Just looking around the village, beastmen were living under fallen trees or, apparently, in structures resembling dog houses.
There don't seem to be many comfortable places by human standards...
"And you'll be less uncomfortable with familiar beastmen, right? So one of you stay with me, and one follow Naomi."
"Just in case, I'll stay here. There needs to be thorough surveillance..."
Dane declared this solemnly, though filled with personal desires, but his statement lost credibility due to his erection.
'Fine, do as you wish.'
"I am fine."
After getting the Grandmother's permission, I paired Dane with her, and Naomi and I verified the records together, signing them to prevent any forgery.
"If there's a need to contact the outside, let us know. We will send a beastman to convey it."
"That's fine."
There seemed to be no need to send any messages yet, so I declined for now.
Wishing each other luck through sign language, Dane and I parted ways, with Dane staying at the Grandmother's house, and I began to follow Naomi into the dark forest.
'It's dark'
Because we had entered deep into the forest, even though the sun hadn't completely set, it was dark enough to cause visibility issues without night vision gear.
Of course, the beastmen were looking at me with their eyes shining, seemingly unbothered by the darkness.
"It's here."
Naomi, perhaps because she lived the most human-like among them, resided in a house that was old but structured like a typical human dwelling.
The only problem was...
"What's... many?"
There were several presences inside, and as I revealed myself, four pairs of vertically slit pupils, like those of cats, appeared in the darkness.
"Naomi~ Surely you're not planning to keep him all to yourself?"
"That would be unfair~ We've been so desperate for a man lately..."
"So... let's share?"
Sharp claws visible in the darkness reflected the moonlight as they appeared.
"Sir Knight... Could you step aside for a moment?"
Naomi, too, confronted the four cat beastmen who had invaded her space, drawing her claws in defense.