Published: September 10, 2025
Corrected typos on 2016/12/11.
This chapter is not from Satou’s perspective.
Please be aware that there are discriminatory and cruel expressions in this story. Reader discretion is advised.
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"What’s wrong, Yuni?"
"Martha, is Seryu City really going to be okay?"
"The priest said it was the weaselfolk tribe who did the bad things, right? We have nothing to do with it."
At the inn by the city gate of Seryu City, a young maid and the innkeeper’s daughter were having such a conversation.
Right after the divine prophecy arrived, many people had gathered at the temple seeking salvation, but now everyone had returned to their usual lives.
At least, on the surface—
â—‡
“Demi-humans, get out of Seryu City!”
“Go back over there!”
At one of the vacant lots inside the city, acts that would make any reasonable person frown were taking place.
Well-dressed ruffians were throwing stones at beastmen children.
Most stones flew off wildly, but some thrown by the older kids hit their targets.
“P-please, stop it!”
“Sorry! Please stop!”
“P-please!”
The quick dog humanoids, the agile catpersons, and the clever weaselfolk couldn’t disobey their masters’ order to “stay put” and could only plead for mercy.
To any decent human, this would be a disgusting, sickening scene—but to the human tribespeople present, it seemed like an entertaining spectacle.
Of course, not all of Seryu City’s human tribe interpreted it as entertainment.
“What do you think you’re doing? Stop this at once!”
From a wagon stopped by the roadside, a beautiful girl appeared.
Her long, slender golden hair and piercing blue eyes filled with strong will and noble serenity glared at those staging this ugly revelry in the park.
“You there, you’re an official, aren’t you? Count Seryu ordered that the beastmen not be abused without reason.”
Because beastmen slaves could be exchanged as commodities with influential Viscount Pendragon, the Count had commanded all beastmen slave owners within the city to forbid abuse.
The underlying reason—that Count Seryu needed Viscount Pendragon’s cooperation to get the labyrinth operations in Seryu City on track—was apparently unknown to low-ranking officials.
“This place is unclean. It’s not where distinguished priests come.”
To the female official, aware that her own beauty was fading, this young girl with fresh youth and accompanied by a beautiful boy knight was not just enviable but a target of jealousy.
Unable to hide her jealousy, the female official raised her voice in an attempt to drive the girl away.
“You refuse to obey Count Seryu’s orders?”
“Did you hear anything else?”
The girl’s sharply arched eyebrows betrayed her anger.
Such words were tantamount to rebellion against their lord.
While ignorant commoners might get away with it, officials living off the lord’s salary must never allow it.
“Lord Marienthal, cut down this official. She’s shown clear treason against the Count.”
The girl issued a merciless command to the boy knight accompanying her.
A faint flicker of anguish crossed the boy knight’s profile, which closely resembled his sister Zena Marienthal.
“Owner, is this really okay?”
“It is. Fools who cannot obey their lord are nothing but a danger.”
The beautiful girl whispered with a cruel smile, “This is mercy.”
No one here seemed to know that “Owner” was the name of Count Seryu’s daughter.
“Besides, if we capture her, her relatives will be executed along with her.”
Knowing the girl’s merciful yet inflexible honor, the boy knight hastily drew his sword.
A faint blue glow shimmered on the blade’s surface.
“Don’t worry. It won’t hurt. Are those your companions as well? If so, they too must be dealt with.”
“N-no, they’re not.”
“Neither am I.”
“Me neither.”
The men in the vacant lot scrambled away as the boy knight watched, but when the children who had thrown stones tried to escape, he acted.
“Oops, you’re not getting off free.”
With instant movement, the boy knight appeared in front of the children and struck their fists.