Chapter 8

The gatekeeper, who had come to greet me, covered his small hands over his mouth and chuckled.

He had an overall round and plump form, but his hands, feet, and wings were small and delicate.

... He is so cute, very cute.

Even though I know he has the power to kill me instantly with just a touch of his fingers, his manner is so endearing that it can only be described as cute.

Could he let me hold him?

When he sits still, he looks like a stuffed animal, and I secretly think this every time I meet him.

Since he is older than me, I can't say such things, so I just think it every time.

"The butler coming along is a great help. The king, Lord Leos, is waiting. I will take you to the forest where he lives. While Miss Rium is in talks with Lord Leos, the butler will wait in my hut as usual."

Fakul, who is required to conduct diplomacy alone, can only go as far as the lookout hut where the gatekeeper is stationed. Philo always says he will accompany me to the limit, so he comes with me to the lookout hut every time.

Since I spend time with the gatekeeper while meeting with Lord Leos, the king of Fakul, Philo seems to be close to the gatekeeper.

The gatekeeper, who had stopped laughing, flapped his small wings and rose, gesturing for me to get into the basket behind him.

With Philo's help, I got in, and after a moment, I felt a sense of floating.

The basket was attached to a rope held by the flying gatekeeper, and after floating about thirty centimeters off the ground, it started moving with us inside.

The speed is much faster than walking, so we should reach Fakul soon.

The wind is stronger than before due to the speed, but the basket is stable and comfortable.

Watching the gatekeeper easily lift the basket with two adults inside, I feel the difference in strength between humans and him.

However, when I see his small wings moving, his cuteness wins over.

After staring at him for a while, the gatekeeper turned his face toward me and tilted his head.

"Pretty light, aren't you? You're not carrying anything? What happened to your luggage?"

"I wasn't allowed to bring anything out. I consider it a good thing that I wasn't stripped of my clothes."

"Oh, oh, your family seems to have less affection than we monsters."

I laugh and agree with him.

They, the monsters, do not get angry if the adults among them are defeated, but they seek revenge if their newborns are attacked.

They have strong family bonds, and some species cannot fight even if they are monsters, as they are too young.

Most countries fear this retaliation, and some species can fight from birth, so no one would dare to harm a monster's child unless they were extremely foolish.

Looking at the deeper forest that is visible in the distance, I think about how the place that once made me feel the fear of death when I first went there as a child is now where I will live.

Life is unpredictable, and I think my life is already out of the ordinary since I have memories from my previous life.

While thinking about such things and talking with Philo and the gatekeeper, I realize we are already in front of Fakul's forest.

Fakul is a country where most of the land is covered by forests, rich in nature.

It is abundant in food, water, and resources, and all the monsters living there have great power.

Lord Leos lives in the deepest part of the forest, and the residences of Fakul's officials are also located there.

"The air here is always so fresh."

"Yes, it's a pleasant place."

Although the monsters are seen as objects of fear in the world, I think this country is truly beautiful.

The lush trees, the sound of flowing water, and the various colorful flowers that intertwine with the monsters' homes make every place beautiful.

After walking a little further into the beautiful forest, we reached the gatekeeper's hut, and I said goodbye to Philo.

With a worried expression, similar to when we conduct diplomacy, Philo saw me off as I walked down the path leading deeper into the forest.

At first, I was very tense walking this path, but now it is familiar.

As I get used to it, I have more time to enjoy the scenery, and walking this path is always a pleasure.

To be honest, after regaining all my memories from my previous life, I feel more relaxed in Fakul than in Aldina.

The scenery is beautiful, and no one here makes strange accusations or gives me unpleasant looks.

"Ah, Rium, welcome! Welcome to Fakul!"

"Thank you, I look forward to working with you!"

A girl lying on a high tree branch noticed me and waved with a smile.

Her beaming smile is something I never received in Aldina.

Her two-tailed and cat ears, which sway as she waves, are adorable.

The polite language I used to use has been relaxed when talking to her, as I have been trying to be friendly with her while visiting Fakul.

I have never spoken so casually with people in Aldina, so it feels strange but also nice.

"Are you going to see Lord Leos? Let's play when you settle in!"

"Yes, I look forward to it."

Her wave became more vigorous, and I could even hear the sound of the wind being cut. I waved back and continued down the dark path in the forest.

When I reached a large tree by the side of the paved dirt road, a man with bat wings, who was leaning against the tree, greeted me calmly.

His smile directed at me was as gentle as the girl's.

"Hello, Miss Rium, it seems your runaway was successful."

"Hello, I not only left home but the country as well."

"Haha, but I think this country is comfortable to live in. The water and food are delicious."

"Yes, the freshly squeezed juice here is very delicious."

"Thanks to the fertilizer you provided as part of the alliance, the production of those fruits has increased. After you greet the king, you should have some juice and relax a bit."

"Thank you."

The monsters who laughed around me during my first diplomatic visit now welcome me warmly.

They have a strong desire to fight and attack people on the roads of countries they are not contracted with, but they are very friendly to those they consider part of their group.

Since I sought refuge in this country after being expelled from my own, they have become even friendlier to me.

This is because the king of Fakul declared that he would welcome me as a citizen of this country.

Seeing the king sitting on the throne, I felt a slight tension and gently pressed my chest.

In the depths of the forest, in a clearing surrounded by trees.

The king of this country, sitting on the throne in the center, leaned on the armrest and laughed.

His long blue hair, which reached the floor, spread out under the throne, and his black skin was mostly exposed but covered by what seemed to be expensive clothing.

His left eye and nose were covered by a white mask, but his right eye and mouth were curved in a joyful arc.

He might look human, but his pointed ears, large wings, and animal-like feet reveal that he is a monster.

Today, he is in male form, but the last time I met him, he was in female form.

He can apparently take either form, but both have a lot of exposed skin and well-proportioned faces and bodies, especially when in female form, which makes it hard to know where to look.

This person, the strongest and most talented in the country, is beloved by all the citizens.

"Ah, you're here. I've been waiting."

"I apologize for the intrusion. This time—"

"Ah, stop it, stop it. There's no need to be so formal. Just talk normally."

"...Thank you for accepting us."

"You're still stiff. It's fine, you'll get used to it as you spend time here."

The king, who welcomed me with a mischievous but joyful smile, frowned at my words but then returned to his cheerful smile.

The various monsters surrounding the king, including birds, wolves, and human-like monsters, and even a human male, also laughed joyfully.

Most of them, including the human male, are the king's partners, who can also be considered the officials of Fakul.

This audience surrounded by such officials is a first for me, even though there were a few of them around the king during previous diplomatic visits.