Chapter 26

The Third Princess, Antimishka Antelope Grouga.

She introduced herself and bluntly said,

"Hand over this land."

I glanced sideways at Orkhidea and Fressa, who were trembling at the sight of the royal army she led.

They were the invaders who had taken over and plundered the home of the Alraune.

The conquerors had come to claim this village and the profits it generated.

"It would be a waste to hand over a place that brings in so much profit to the beastmen."

Antimishka took out a luxurious fan... an iron fan from her sleeve, unfolded it, and said elegantly while looking up.

"Can't you understand that we humans are saying we will make good use of it?"

"...Yes."

I stepped forward.

I stood a step ahead of the villagers, ready to represent the place and deal with her.

For some reason, I thought it would be better to do so.

Considering the heavy aura of hatred emanating from the Beowulfs at the moment.

"I understand what you're saying, but I have a slight concern about the effective utilization."

"What, you?"

Antimishka narrowed her eyes.

Well, a human woman standing alone in a beastman village is an unusual sight, even now.

Moreover, if that human acts as if she represents the village, it's only natural to be suspicious.

"I apologize for not introducing myself earlier. I am Mako, a human who lives in this village for a reason."

"Oh, I see. So? What? Do you have a complaint?"

She continued as if she wasn't particularly interested.

"Not a complaint, but a suggestion."

"A suggestion?"

"Earlier, you mentioned that this village is a profitable land and that humans will make good use of it. However, if you drive us out and have others come in to do the same industry, I must inform you that it is impossible."

At my words, Antimishka frowned and looked flustered.

"The crops in this village are the result of everyone here."

I used "Soil Survey" and "Liquid Fertilizer" to revive the land.

The Beowulfs worked hard to grow vegetables.

Orkhidea and Fressa gave strength to the plants.

The potted plants and wooden carvings are special products infused with the sincere efforts of Mawr, Meala, and Garai.

"Handing over just the land is meaningless."

"...Haha, you seem to be misunderstanding something."

At that, Antimishka laughed.

"It doesn't really matter to me. Whether we get it or not, it's a right that doesn't matter much to me. What's important to me is that this land is still 'alive.'"

"...?"

Alive? What does that mean?

"Until now, the royal army I lead has 'provided' the land where various races lived and utilized the power of the earth. Not just the simple profits you mentioned earlier... but when the land's power is no longer worth utilizing or shows signs of depletion, we have taken the earth's power."

"Earth's... power"

"Basically, it's magic. I doubt you, who have no connection to magic, would understand."

...No, I have a lot of connections to magic.

Anyway, Antimishka continued.

"Magic is a force that exists in nature. The chosen bloodline that can harbor and control this great power is the royal family. Through the research of magic by those connected to the royal family, methods to steal and utilize the magic in nature are now being smoothly implemented."

As if praising their own achievements.

"The stolen magic is used to enrich human life or to operate magical weapons in conflicts with other countries. Our country's soldiers and knights, who should not have magic, can use magic-infused weapons abundantly, showing overwhelming military power to other countries. Isn't that exhilarating?"

The image in my mind was of magic being released like bullets or explosives, wiping out the villages and towns of enemy countries.

"All of this is for the sake of this country... the Kingdom of Grouga. To spread the dominance of my father, the King of Grouga, to the world, a great contribution."

Spreading her arms dramatically, Antimishka declared loudly.

"And I... no one else but I, Antimishka, will inherit my father's will and become the next king. This is a great activity for that."

"I understand what you're saying."

I bowed my head.

Internally, I was calm... no, cold and mechanical in my words.

"However, I must apologize. Your ideology is somewhat difficult for us to accept."

"Right! Bullshit!"

At that, the Beowulfs, who had been listening silently, started to protest.

Honestly, I was impressed they had held back this long.

"The wild animals in the mountains are becoming more aggressive because you're polluting the land, aren't they!"

"Boss, the strange fruit I ate before that made me sick. Wasn't that because these people are stealing the earth's power?"

Entia, who had arrived at some point, shouted at me.

Indeed... it's possible.

The land has been polluted, and normal plants can no longer grow, leading to the emergence of mutants and strange species.

Entia survived, but wild animals living in such an environment, eating such food, are going crazy, leading to the collapse of the ecosystem.

Most likely, the selfish ideology of humans... no, this Antimishka, is causing such disasters.

"...Sigh"

However, Antimishka sighed as if their claims were trivial.

"Exactly, that's why invading other countries is necessary. We can replenish what we've lost. It's a two-for-one deal to gain more profits."

And—she smiled.

"I have also carefully considered your grievances."

At her words, the Beowulfs murmured.

"Indeed, while humans are prospering, beastmen, sub-humans, and other races are being pushed to the periphery. But there are valuable races with production capabilities among them."

Antimishka said.

"So, I have a wonderful plan. The establishment of a zone for the 'protection' of beastmen and non-human races. Humans will supervise, limit their ideology and reproduction, and prevent the unchecked expansion of their species."

Is she joking?

What kind of dystopia is this?

It's like a zoo... no, a slave factory.

She's just using a nice-sounding word to ultimately use them for human convenience.

"Only the excellent species will be preserved, and they will be educated to work for human benefit. How about it? Isn't it a good idea?"

"I understand."

I said.

"Please leave."

I couldn't bear to listen anymore.

"I don't think we can have a calm discussion today. We need time to digest and understand your claims, so let's meet again on another day—"

"Haaaaa..."

A deep, unpleasant sigh.

Pressing the tip of her folded iron fan against the top of my bowed head, Antimishka said,

"Are you 'okay' here?"

"..."

"I'm not listening to your opinions. You said your name, right? The ones behind me are the royal army."

The knights in black armor, armed with spears, swords, and weapons, took a combat stance.

Their presence alone made the air vibrate.

"Just be quiet and comply."

Suddenly, Antimishka grabbed my hair.

I felt my scalp being pulled and heard her angry whisper in my ear.

"Why do you think I need to have a leisurely dialogue with you, a lowly creature like you?"

"..."

I had to endure.

I whispered to myself.

In the service industry, being grabbed by an angry customer was a daily occurrence.

That wasn't the problem. The problem was that the current opponent was royalty.

I couldn't afford to make a mistake.

"Mako! ..."

Mawr ran to my feet.

He must have been worried and couldn't stand it anymore.

Holding the flower arrangement he had been making, he grabbed the hem of my dress.

"...Oh?"

Antimishka noticed Mawr and the flower arrangement in his hand.

"Oh? You made this? Actually, before I came here, I saw one in the city. It was cute, and I wanted one too."

"Uh? ...Ah, that..."

Unable to understand her intention, Mawr offered the flower arrangement to Antimishka.

Antimishka kicked Mawr's hand, sending the flower arrangement to the ground, scattering the flowers and soil.

Mawr screamed and fell to the ground.

"But I suddenly lost interest. I don't want something made by a dirty little beast."

—Snap.

—Was it the wiring in my head or the hair she was holding that snapped?

"...Huh?"

I grabbed the wrist of the hand that was holding my hair.

"What—"

Antimishka, who tried to react, winced at my grip and hurriedly pulled her arm away.

"Please leave."

I said.

I helped Mawr up and instructed him to step back.

"We have no intention of changing our stance."

"..."

Holding her wrist, which I had grabbed, Antimishka frowned.

"Also... I know I'm not in a position to say this, but... as someone who stands above the people, leads the country, and should bring happiness to the people, please don't use violence against a small child."

I looked Antimishka straight in the eye from close range.

"It doesn't matter if they're beastmen. Didn't your great father teach you such basic things?"

"!"

In an instant, the enraged Antimishka struck my cheek with her iron fan.

Sparks flew before my eyes.

"How dare you speak so casually about my father, you lowly scum!"

My fist was already in her stomach.

"Ugh—"

"Don't talk big when you kick a child with a smile on your face!"

At that moment, everything moved.

Antimishka, holding her stomach where I had punched her, crouched down.

Behind her, the knights, who had judged that their master had been attacked, moved.

Several knights with spears lunged at me with their spear tips.

I immediately activated "Alchemy."

What I synthesized was a thin, long, and rugged iron rod—about 10mm in diameter and 5 meters long—called "rebar."

Unlike the "pipe" I had synthesized before, this building material would bend when swung.

It was hard and had a sharp cross-section.

On construction sites, it could lead to serious accidents, such as cutting the skin or even piercing the body, if handled carelessly.

Swung horizontally, the "rebar" whipped through the air like a whip, deflecting the approaching spears.

"Kill her!"

Antimishka, who had instantly stood up, shouted like a battle cry.

One of the knights, surprised by the sudden phenomenon, raised his sword and swung at me.

Fine, come on, I'm ready, let's go all the way.

With my brain heated up, I thought that.

A large black shadow stood in front of me.

"!"

The shadow grabbed the approaching knight's sword with his hand.

Then, with his other hand, he punched the knight's face, which was covered by a helmet.

With a deep sound, the knight flew backward, taking out his comrades.

"Garai..."

It was Garai.

He stood in front of me, stretching out his arms as if to protect me, glaring at the knights.

"...Sorry, I lost my cool."

"No, it's fine."

Garai said to me, who was ashamed of my actions.

"You just acted before us Beowulfs."

"..."

I turned around and saw Fressa and Orkhidea tending to Mawr.

"What is he?"

On the other hand, Antimishka glared at the suddenly appearing Garai.

"He is... could it be?"

One of the knights muttered.

He was one of the knights who had been standing behind Antimishka.

"Do you know him?"

"...That man was a member of the 'Shadow Corps.'"

"Shadow Corps"?

Antimishka frowned at the word.

"Once, there was a dark guild that took on all kinds of dirty jobs that even the upper echelons of the country found difficult to handle."

The knight pointed at Garai.

"He was one of its members."