Chapter 9

Maki and Chiharu looked in the direction of the sound and saw people who had neatly folded their wings. They were bird people! Maki looked at Chiharu with an excited face. "There really are others besides the canine people, aren't there?"

The two appeared to be a male and female pair, and their folded wings were as white as swans. Apart from the wings, their bodies were the same as humans, just larger. However, both of them had hair as white as their wings. Their eyes were yellow.

"Why are you here?"

Zainus said this in a stern voice.

"Moreover, this is the king's office. There is a designated landing place for bird people. Where are your manners?"

"We are deeply respectful, Zainus. But what manners are due to a human king who hides the Holy Maiden?"

"Hide? Arthur sighed.

"There's nothing to hide. The Holy Maiden arrived the night before last. It's not the human king who has been holding back communication, but me, because of the reckless fools like you."

Zainus said this.

Maki, who had been a bit excited by the bird people, realized the atmosphere was not as light as she thought.

"First of all, how did you know?"

"The miasma has lightened."

"What?!"

"Most likely, it was at a level that most people wouldn't notice. However, we bird people are the closest to the atmosphere among the beast people. The only one who could have caused this change was the Holy Maiden."

Then, the two people looked at Maki and Chiharu.

"Upon arriving, it was evident that the amount of miasma in the human territory was different from the last time. Zainus said the night before last, but it's impossible for it to be purified so quickly. The king must have been hiding the Holy Maiden."

"I'm telling you, it's not true. Is the leader of the bird people aware of this?"

"Of course, I have been entrusted with everything."

With that, the two bird people entered the office.

"Two? Which one is the Holy Maiden?"

As he murmured this, the female lightly flapped her wings.

"Kyaa!"

Maki and Chiharu instinctively closed their eyes, but they were a bit pleased with the cute sound they made.

However, this was not the time for that.

"What are you doing! Maki and Chiharu are surprised!"

Eris, who had instinctively protected the two, was angry. This person always protects them, and for some reason, Chiharu didn't mind.

"Sister, which one is it?"

"Brother, both have the mark."

Maki and Chiharu suddenly pressed their foreheads. The flapping was to mess up their bangs. They should have just listened. These people are dangerous. Maki instinctively braced herself.

Then, the sister tried to spread her wings again. Everyone's attention was drawn to her in that moment.

"Chiharu!"

Chiharu was grabbed by the brother. She was almost pulled over and fell forward, but he caught her. Now, Chiharu was held under the arms from behind by a 2-meter-tall bird person. She felt like a kitten and started to struggle frantically. But what could she do while hanging in the air? Her struggles against the arms holding her were futile.

"Stop struggling, Holy Maiden. We are about to fly. Do you want to fall?"

Whispered in her ear, she shuddered. She's afraid of heights!

The brother, spreading his wings to intimidate, backed up to the balcony. Wait, wait! Are they really going to take off from the balcony?

"Then we will take the Holy Maiden to the beast people's territory. We will return her when the territory is calm. We swear to treat her with respect until then."

It's already disrespectful! This isn't something to be lent or borrowed! What about the sea? As Chiharu thought this in vain, Maki's voice rang out.

"Chiharu, relax!"

Chiharu immediately relaxed and went limp. Here it comes. The brother looked at Chiharu in surprise.

Maki's roundhouse kick flew. Maki had practiced karate. When testing how high she could kick while drunk, she said she could reach a 170 cm person. But these people were 2 meters tall. Chiharu lowered her head to avoid getting in the way.

Thud. It hit the shoulder, and the brother staggered and lost his grip. Now! However, Chiharu was a bit slow. Before she could struggle, she was about to be firmly held again. In that case!

Chiharu grabbed the brother's arm and relaxed even more. As the brother firmly held her again, she leaned back with all her might. Bang!

"Kyaa!"

A world-shattering sound came from behind, and Chiharu's back of the head hurt. The grip on her loosened, and she struggled and slipped out. Yes! Eris quickly caught her.

"Brother!"

The sister ran to the brother, who was staggering and holding his face. Zainus and the prince protected Maki and Chiharu, who were supported by Eris.

"Calm down!"

The king's voice rang out. The office was in a mess. Papers were scattered, the bird people were groaning, the Holy Maidens were huddled against the wall, and the guards were about to pounce.

Thinking about it, they should have left it to the guards. Maki rubbed her sore leg, and Chiharu rubbed her sore head.

"Are you trying to start a fight?"

"Indeed, it was the humans who—"

The king calmly said to the protesting sister.

"Indeed, the Holy Maiden has not gone to the beast people's territory. But that was a decision made by the previous Holy Maidens. If we forcibly take her, the territory will indeed be purified faster. But what about the Holy Maiden's heart? She came to this world, leaving her family. How can you treat her like an object? The Holy Maiden is not a thing to be lent or borrowed."

"Give the Holy Maiden who just arrived the night before last some time to settle in."

Zainus also said this.

"But the purification speed doesn't match."

"Perhaps it's because there are two."

"Two..."

Maki thought. They both have the mark, so why was Chiharu taken? She didn't want to be taken, but not being chosen was a bit of a blow to her confidence. When she later heard that they chose the one who was easier to carry, Chiharu pouted, which was amusing.

"We were just discussing bringing her to the beast people's territory, but because of you, she might not come now."

Zainus muttered. The two bird people looked at Maki and Chiharu in surprise.

"Is this generation willing to come?"

"That's what I'm saying."

Maki realized.

"Could it be that the cage is box-shaped?"

"Yes, because this impulsive and short-sighted race would immediately try to take her."

Maki and Chiharu experienced this firsthand. In the beast people's territory, they obediently got into the cage.