My Status as an Assassin Obviously Exceeds the Hero's

After the myths, the topic shifted to the continents.

Noah really intended to teach us about this world. When we boarded the ship he cared more about Crow than us, and since he never said much even when he knew things, I’d thought he didn’t care what happened to us. Did Aitel tell him something? What changed his mind?

“First, in this world there are four races — the Human race, the Elf race, the Beastmen, and the Demon Clan — and they live across four separate continents. That said, many Humans go to work among the Beastmen, and those borders have blurred in recent times; aside from the Demon Clan, people travel freely between continents. These four races are collectively called humans. The Elves are those who evolved toward the fairy side, the Beastmen evolved more toward the beast side, and the Demon Clan evolved toward the demonic-beast side.”

Oh — that was something Commander Saran hadn’t taught me.

I snapped my attention back from the drifting scenery.

I’d never heard a human evolution theory before. And fairies exist here too?

“You said in the myth the races clearly split and then the continents separated, but modern research suggests they may have evolved differently according to each continent’s characteristics. That theory explains a lot better.”

Saran’s explanations aren’t bad, but Noah’s style — like presenting research findings — is interesting and fun.

If Saran had traveled the continents instead of taking high positions like knight commander, he’d have satisfied his thirst for knowledge.

“The continent where Humans mainly live is called Continent. As the myth said, it’s vast and fertile, and it has the largest population. Besides the Kingdom of Reytis, where you were summoned, the other major nation is ‘Yamato Country.’”

I’d heard the heroes visited Yamato Country. Kyousuke told me they ate delicious seafood rice bowls there.

I’m so jealous. When I was alone I survived on preserved rations Saran prepared; after meeting Amelia I often ate monster meat. Even in the Elf territory the hospitality consisted mostly of vegetables and hunted meat — no rice. In the Beastmen lands I mostly ate street food from stalls, so still no rice. In short, since coming to this world I haven’t had my soul food — rice — even once. …I’m about to lose it. I want to go to Yamato Country more than anything.

“You probably know more about the Kingdom of Reytis than I do. The current king was the previous king’s third son and had aspired to be a painter, but he ascended the throne after his two older brothers died in an epidemic. There were many of his paintings in the castle. Reytis is a major power and other nations call it ‘the nation of art.’ I’d like to visit sometime. I hear their technology is quite advanced.”

That was new to me. Back then I was fighting to survive and didn’t notice the castle’s paintings. Technology — I guess things like street lamps and camera-like devices come to mind.

The heroes were whispering among themselves about those paintings, too.

“Next, the Beastmen mainly live on Brute. It’s not vast, but they’re the most advanced at clearing the labyrinths that appear across continents, and they have abundant water and other resources.”

Noah glanced at Ria beside Crow as he spoke.

“I’ll say this in front of you, though: there are dark rumors that the Uruk king is connected to the Demon King. A royal was recently assassinated; it’s not recommended to get involved.”

Crow and I, who knew all too well, quietly averted our gazes.

Ria, however, smiled as if she weren’t bothered.

“I was adopted for rare-class jobs, and now I come from royalty, so you can speak freely. I also think my stepfather’s position was undeserved. If not for ‘adrea’s nightmare,’ some relative might have seized the throne. Even now, the Uruk royal family could reclaim it for the pre-adrea kingdom.”

Night shifted her gaze away in an odd direction.

Adrea had once been the Beastmen’s main nation. It was a port city, the hub of trade, royalty, and administration. But after Night ruined it, the Beastmen king of the time abandoned the devastated Adrea and scattered trade to Uru and the royal residences and administration to Uruk. The king back then was apparently the father of the current Uruk king, Igusam. Igusam’s father expelled the Uruk royal family, which was then not flourishing, and built the current Uruk state. The expelled Uruk royal family still retains blood ties and has been lurking, waiting to seize the throne. Given Gram’s scandals and assassinations, now would be a good time to strike.