Chapter 9

Sōma woke up to the sunlight on his face. He shielded his eyes from the brightness with his right hand and opened them slightly. He found himself inside a tent he had never seen before. It wasn't the triangular tent he was familiar with; instead, it resembled an overturned bowl with a hole at the top, similar to the shape of a nomadic tent. The ground was covered with thick furs and cloths, and Sōma was lying there, covered with a woven fabric.

"Hmm? Did I wake you up?"

It was a beastman who was about to enter the tent by lifting the covering at the entrance. Surprised, Sōma hastily tried to move away from the beastman, sitting on his buttocks and backing away. The beastman frowned, apparently with a wry smile.

"I'm not going to eat you. Relax."

The beastman placed some dried leaves in a stone hearth in the center of the tent, blew on them, and started a fire. He then laid out some thick strips of dried meat on the nearby stones and began to roast some dumpling-like objects on a stick.

After a while, the tent was filled with the fragrant smell of roasting meat. Sōma's throat made a gulping sound.

Embarrassed, Sōma's face turned red, and the beastman smiled at him, placing the well-cooked meat and dumplings on a large leaf and pushing it towards him.

"Go ahead, eat. We have a lot to talk about, but let's do that after you've had something to eat."

It seemed the beastman had no hostile intentions. Sōma pulled the leaf closer and tentatively took a bite of the meat.

"…Delicious!?"

It was so good that he couldn't help but say it out loud. The concentrated flavor of the dried meat, seasoned with salt and spicy herbs, spread throughout his mouth. The dumplings, which were different in color and texture from what Sōma knew, had a unique sweetness when chewed, and they were also delicious.

Watching Sōma eat greedily, the beastman smiled happily.

"That's good."

The beastman squatted down and started eating the meat and dumplings himself. While eating, Sōma observed the beastman.

The beastman's body was covered in bright chestnut fur, with the fur around his mouth and the inside of his body, like a tiger or leopard, being white. He wore a vest made of brightly colored vines woven into a beautiful lattice pattern, and a loincloth-like garment made of several wooden boards and small leather pouches, also woven from vines. The vest was slightly raised at the chest, suggesting that the beastman was probably female, though Sōma had no way to be certain since he had no experience comparing the genders of beastmen.

After finishing his meal, the beastman put some dried leaves into a pot of boiling water over the hearth, let it boil for a while, and then ladled it out into a bowl.

"Drink this. It will warm you up."

Sōma drank it as instructed, and the astringent taste of something like oolong tea spread in his mouth. After a while, as the beastman had said, he felt a warm sensation spreading from within his body.

After finishing the tea, Sōma pushed the bowl and the leaf plate towards the beastman and bowed with his hands together.

"Thank you for the meal."

"Thank you for the meal? What does that mean?"

"Well… It means that the food was very delicious, and I'm grateful to you for making it. I'm also thanking the food itself."

"I see. You even thank the food. Thank you for the meal, then."

The beastman mimicked Sōma, putting her hands together and bowing.

"Um… If I got it wrong, I'm sorry. Were you the one in that hole…?"

"What? You didn't know who I was?"

"Sorry. It was dark, so I couldn't see the color of your fur well… and the language too."

"Hmm. Well, I can't blame you. I can't tell human faces well either. Humans have poor noses, so they can't smell either. According to the old lady, I can understand your language because we are 'connected,' but I don't really understand it myself."

The beastman then faced Sōma, placed her fists on the ground, and bowed slightly.

"I am Fagur Garguz Shemul, the Noble Fang."

"Fagur…?"

"Fagur is my clan name. It means one of the twelve clans of Zoan, the Fang Clan. Garguz is my father's name, and Shemul is my personal name. 'Noble Fang' is my title."

"So, I should call you Shemul…?"

"Yes. You don't need to use 'san.'"

"My name is Kizaki Sōma."

"Kizaki Sōma. Is Kizaki your name?"

"No, no. Kizaki is my last name, and Sōma is my first name."

"I see. Unlike the humans here, your first name comes last. Got it. I'll call you Sōma."

Shemul repeated "Sōma" a few times to memorize it.

"Um… This might be a strange question… but… is the fur real?"

"Hmm? You don't know about Zoan?"

"Zoan?"

"Yes. We Zoan are a race born from beasts by the great beast god. There were no Zoan in the world you came from, right?"

"…Probably. Maybe in myths or legends, but not in reality."

"Then I'll have to explain from the beginning."

Shemul thought about where to start and crossed her arms.

"First, you need to know that you are a 'fallen child.'"

"Fallen child?"

"Yes. We are on a continent called Seldias. Have you heard of it?"

Sōma shook his head. Shemul picked up a stick that had been used to roast the dumplings and drew an ellipse in the ashes of the hearth.

"The size and shape of the Seldias continent are not well known. No one has ever surveyed it. Even if someone wanted to, there are many countries on the continent, and they don't want others to investigate their own countries, so it's impossible. However, from the stories of travelers, we know that it is surrounded by the sea."

She drew several wavy lines around the ellipse.

"On this continent, there are seven races that worship the seven pillars of the gods: Dinosaurians, Mermen, Dwarves, Elves, Zoan, Harpyans, and humans."

"Mermen? Like mermaids? With a fish tail and a human upper body?"

"Ah. You know about Mermen?"

"And if Dwarves are short with beards, and Elves have pointed ears and are beautiful…"

"Dwarves do have beards. Elves… I don't know if they are beautiful, but humans say they are all beautiful."

"They are all just legends in my world."

"I see. But the coincidence is too perfect. Maybe someone from here fell into your world."

Shemul pointed to the continent she had drawn in the ashes with the stick she was holding.

"Anyway, this is our world. There might be other continents across the sea, but for us, this is the world."

She picked up a small stone from the side of the hearth and dropped it onto the continent she had drawn in the ashes.

"And you fell here from somewhere, making you a 'fallen child.'"

Sōma realized that the word "fallen" in "fallen child" matched the term "otogiko" that Shemul had used earlier.

"So, this is another world after all…"

He had been in a daze, but he vaguely remembered the events leading up to this point.

The mysterious religious ceremony in the cave, the large lizard-like creatures, the torch-lit fort and its basement.

And most of all, Shemul, the beastman he had met there and who was now in front of him.

None of these things could exist in modern Japan, the world Sōma had lived in.

"You're taking this more easily than I thought."

Shemul had expected Sōma to have a hard time believing he had fallen into another world. She had even worried that he might panic and start causing trouble.

However, Sōma seemed to accept the situation calmly, though he was certainly surprised.

Shemul didn't know that in manga and anime, stories where the protagonist falls into or is summoned to another world are quite common. Sōma, a typical Japanese boy who had grown up with such subcultures, had the background to understand this extraordinary situation.

Additionally, the fact that he had been in a daze since falling into this world might have been a good thing. During that time, he had gradually accepted the extraordinary situation, so when Shemul explained it to him again, he didn't feel a great shock or panic.

Understanding his situation, Sōma asked the first question that came to mind.

"Can I return to my original world? If you know how, please tell me."

Shemul had anticipated this question but looked apologetic.

"I'm sorry. I don't know. Everything I told you is secondhand information."

"I see…"

Seeing Sōma's disappointment, Shemul quickly continued.

"The old lady knows more. I'll introduce you to her later, so don't be so down."

"Thank you."

Shemul's unusual concern made Sōma smile awkwardly.

"But why are you being so kind to me?"

It was a difficult question, but one he had to ask early on.

If this was another world, Sōma had no reliable acquaintances or country to rely on. He had no money, and he lacked the knowledge and common sense needed to survive here.

If Shemul suddenly changed her mind and abandoned him, Sōma would have no way to survive.

If Shemul had some ulterior motive for helping him, he needed to understand it quickly and work to maintain her protection. At least until he could figure out how to return to his original world or become self-sufficient, he couldn't afford to lose Shemul's protection.

"Before I answer that, I have a question for you."

Shemul looked deeply into Sōma's eyes.

It was as if she was trying to see into the depths of his soul, not missing even the slightest movement of his eyes.

"Why did you try to help me back then?"

Sōma, expecting a more difficult question, was taken aback.

So, he answered honestly without hesitation.

"It was the right thing to do."

"The right thing to do?!"

"Yes. I was taught that we should help each other when we're in trouble, and I thought it was the right thing to do…"

Shemul was speechless.

Where did this guy come from? A world where helping others in trouble is the norm? That sounds like a paradise. It's hard to believe such a world of only good people or fools exists.

But, thinking about it, it might be normal. In Zoan villages, it's not uncommon for the whole village to take care of someone who can no longer hunt due to injury or illness. However, extending that to other races is a different story.

So, Shemul thought.

Sōma's world didn't have Zoan. Therefore, he wasn't influenced by the common belief that Zoan were inferior and should be eliminated. To him, the first Zoan he saw was just another living being, and helping it was the right thing to do.

In this world, humans and Zoan have been in conflict for as long as anyone can remember. This enmity is deeply rooted in both races and has reached a point where it can't be resolved by individuals or small groups.

However, if there is a world where humans and Zoan can help each other without discrimination, wouldn't that be a wonderful place?

Shemul knew it was unrealistic, but that made Sōma even more precious to her.

Shemul straightened her posture, placed her fists on the ground, and bowed deeply.

"Sōma, I will never forget your kindness. Fagur Garguz Shemul, by my father's name and my pride, I swear to repay your kindness. Stay here as long as you like and enjoy my hospitality without hesitation."

"Wait, wait. Get up, Shemul! It's not a big deal!"

Shemul laughed at Sōma's flustered reaction.

This 'fallen child' had no idea how extraordinary his "it's not a big deal" was in this world.

After laughing for a while, Shemul stopped when she heard someone approaching the tent.

"Sōma, put this on your forehead."

It wasn't the right time for others to know that he was the child of Aura. Shemul threw a headband with embroidery to Sōma.

A cough was heard from the other side of the tent's entrance. It's a custom to announce one's presence with a cough before speaking when visiting someone else's tent.

"Who is it? What do you want?"

"Shemul, it's me. I need to talk. Is it okay?"

After confirming that Sōma had put on the headband, Shemul lifted the covering and saw a large Zoan with black fur standing there. The Zoan, who had a vivid scar running from his forehead down his nose to his right cheek, glanced at Sōma and frowned.

"What's up? Fierce Fang?"

"It's hard to talk here. Can you come with me for a bit?"

It was probably something he didn't want to discuss in front of Sōma. Shemul agreed and told him to go ahead while she would follow.

"Sōma, I have to go out for a bit. Don't leave the tent until I return."

"Got it. But, are you okay?"

Shemul understood what Sōma was worried about. He was concerned that he was causing her trouble.

"Don't worry, Sōma. He's Fierce Fang Fagur Garguz Garam. He's not a bad guy."

The name Shemul mentioned made Sōma think, "Huh?"

If the first part is the clan name, then Garam is from the same clan as Shemul. But Shemul said the second part is the father's name.

So, Shemul and the Zoan from earlier are…

"Ah, you figured it out. Yes, Garam is my brother."

Zoan tents are made by covering a wooden frame with waterproofed furs or woven fabrics. Inside, they are lined with thick furs and cloths, and equipped with ovens or hearths to make them fully functional living spaces.

Typically, an entire family lives in one tent.

Shemul and Garam are siblings, but Shemul is a child of Aura, and Garam is the clan leader, so they each have their own tent.

Other people's tents are completely private spaces, so it's polite to announce one's presence with a cough before speaking when visiting. Breaking this rule can lead to conflicts.

However, if the entrance covering is lifted, close friends are allowed to speak without coughing.

2/2 Corrected part of Fagur to Fangur

10/23, 11/11 Spelling corrections