She Who Became Immortal

I've wondered about the state of this world.

I'm not trying to emulate ancient philosophers. It's just a simple question from me—Euphemia Grimwood—who possesses memories of a different world in my past life.

Here, a world with magic and there, none.

If that's the case, then the laws of physics should be different here. It's possible that magic exists on Earth too, and I just didn't know about it, but that's probably not the case. If so, civilizations utilizing magic should have developed.

However—emotionally, I feel like this.

It's mostly the same.

For instance, gravity.

Apples fall, and people stand.

I fell too. In a physical sense.

From above, probably about ten to thirteen meters. As a result of the rope I had the harpies hold onto being released, I became Euphemia  Grimwood the Fallen Angel of Cuteness.

*Thunk.

Serious physical damage. The ground was grassy, so there wasn't a tragedy like when falling onto concrete, but since I landed on my head, my neck probably snapped, and maybe my collarbone and surrounding areas were messed up too.

However, those injuries regenerate in about the time it takes to take a deep breath.

I've gotten used to it.

It feels like I've been injury-free for over a year, but maybe that's just my imagination.

"Euphemia! She fell! Euphemia!"

"Euphemia fell, Euphemia is alive!"

"Why are you alive? Euphemia is alive?"

The harpies descending from above spoke in a sing-song manner.

Their arms are wings, and they don't serve much of a hand's function. Especially when flying, it seems they can't hold onto things. Their legs have human-like thighs and knees, but from the shins down, they're like a bird's. When flying, they grab onto things with their toes.

Uniformly short, slender, and carefree.

Whether it's a racial trait or not, none of them seem to think deeply about things.

So, even if asked to carry me tied up with a rope, they would execute it, and if they got tired on the way, they'd let go of the rope. Why not just set me down if it seems dangerous halfway through?

"It seems carrying a person is impossible after all."

"It's impossible. Euphemia, impossible."

"Heavy. Euphemia, heavy."

"Tiring. Can't hold on forever."

Flapping their arms vigorously, the harpies expressed their individual thoughts. Aerial transportation seemed interesting, but if they couldn't carry someone as diminutive as me, it seemed they couldn't transport much of anything significant.

Hmm… in that case, what about letters?

But considering the literacy rate among the beastmen, that might be difficult. Well, maybe simple symbols could be conveyed.

"What exactly are you doing?"

Near the landing point—or should I say, the crash site—stood the large eagleman person, Bruno, with a grim expression.

"It's an experiment, an experiment."

I replied lightly as I stood up. This time, there was surprisingly no damage to my clothes, so I was spared the dazzling display of nudity, but upon reflection, I didn't know if that would be appealing to the beastmen. Well, if it's my cuteness, it should work.

"It's strange! Strange, strange!"

"Bruno! Bruno!"

"Euphemia! Bruno! Want to chat?"

"Oh, right. Let's talk. Scatter, scatter."

With a concise remark, Bruno waved his right hand.

Yes, unlike harpies, this large avian person had arms similar to a human's. On closer inspection, the claws resembled those of an eagle, but still, they were arms and hands.

Their majestic wings sprouted from their backs.

Facially, he seemed like a skilled knight past his middle age, with eyes that resembled those of a bird of prey, but generally speaking, he could be described as a "human with wings."

A defector from the Brandon Kruger, serving the Randall Guards. Since our last meeting, I hadn't seen him at all, but he must have gone somewhere. Where and what he was doing, I didn't know since no one had told me.

"Euphemia Grimwood—what are you doing?"

With a displeased look, the large avian person narrowed his eyes and glared at me.

A normal young lady might be trembling in fear and on the verge of wetting herself, but for me, it was too late for that. Whether being glared at or scolded, it wasn't a big deal.

"Just what you see. I was playing with the harpies. They're lucky. Maybe it's a racial trait, but they're much further from being human than they appear."

For example, kobolds have the appearance of stuffed animals, but when you converse with them, there's clear intelligence and emotion present.

However, the harpies, whose facial features resemble those of beautiful women, have a rather thin sense of humanity. They didn't even seem concerned about dropping me. Even if I were to die, their reaction probably would have been similar.

I don't consider that to be "bad."

They're just neighbors with a slightly different sensibility. It's fine as long as we maintain an appropriate distance, and if we can't, then we simply don't have to associate.

For now, I'm quite pleased that the harpies show no malice. It seems they have no intentions of causing harm to others or asserting dominance over them.

"That's not it. You've been recognized by King Beast Randall, granted freedom of behavior in this land, it's been ten days already. During that time, I've heard you've been interacting with the city's populace."

A sigh escaped with every word.

Well, indeed, these past ten days—or it feels like over a year—I've been mingling with the beastmen in the King's city, under his protection.

But of course, I'm not just idly playing around.

While it wasn't particularly enjoyable, there was intent behind it.

Firstly, I needed to understand.

What kind of beings they are as neighbors.

Whether to become close neighbors or refrain from deep involvement. Like harpies, there's a significant cultural difference between humans and beastmen. It's a matter of values. Even among humans, such differences are expected, but it's unreasonable to expect values to align conveniently between different species with inherently different ways of life.

There's no need to force such things together— that's what I believe. However, I also have a conviction that there should be overlapping aspects.

As with the orcs. Serena the fox spirit, and even the wolf tribe, kobolds, and minotaurs— all living beings, all capable of dying.

So.

The joy of living, the aversion to death, such sentiments should generally be shared. Threats are threats, and delicious things are delicious. The sun sets, and the night falls.

During my interactions in the King's city, it wasn't just the harpies I encountered. There were also tanuki beastmen, and though few in number, even elephant beastmen. The most numerous were the dog and cat beastmen, but I didn't see any kobolds. I attempted interactions with various other beastmen, but among them, there seemed to be none with whom communication was impossible.

Words are understood, and so are intentions and meanings.

"Hey, Bruno."

I shrugged deliberately and smiled smugly.

It's been a while since I've felt like showing my Euphemia Smile.

"Maybe you, Brandon, and even Lex might be misunderstanding, but I didn't join your ranks. I'm willing to cooperate. However, I haven't pledged allegiance to your cause, nor have I become one with you."

"Always have an escape route, huh?"

"In a sense, yes. But why would I bother coming to a place like this if I were just going to run away? What I'm saying is, 'you' and 'us' are not the same."

"I don't get it."

While stroking his narrow chin with his claws, Bruno tilted his head.

"What don't you get?"

"Why you're saying such things. There's no reason for us to hear that. Whether betraying or cooperating, it would be better to make us believe."

"What, it's that simple, old man with wings."

As a gesture, I offered my trademark, the Euphemia Smile once again.

To Bruno, who seemed taken aback, I said,

"It's out of respect. It's because I hope you'll be sincere. Because, first, we have to be honest. Smooth, beautiful pom-poms."

"...You're a confusing little miss."

With a definitive sigh, Bruno averted his gaze from me, his avian eyes directed slightly past me. About fifteen meters behind me.

There stood a rabbit beastman with a sword at his waist.

A member of the Randall Guards and a defector. A supporter of Lex Asuka's scheme to elevate Brandon Kruger to kingship.

Luche Rubia.

"Do you know she's been monitoring you?"

"Well, with her staring at me from that distance all the time, it'd be hard not to notice. Not just today, but since our first encounter, she's been tailing me. Thanks to that, Serena, my guard, has been left idle."

Thanks.

For some reason, because Luche has been monitoring me, Serena has been able to make contact with the city's residents. Of course, Serena is likely being watched as well, but that's not a concern.

"She seems to be interested in you."

"Then why not just tell her to come talk normally?"

"Why did you send the kobold away?"

It was an unexpected question.

He was referring to Pookie Shamal, whom I had taken along as my caretaker. Just this morning, I had sent him back to our village to fetch Junos and the others.

Why?

It's obvious.

Because I deemed it necessary.

Yes— for "us" to have more fighting power.

And thus, while I wanted to say it proudly and show off, I haven't informed Lex yet, so I simply smiled for now.

It's the third time I've flashed my Euphemia Smile.

But in return, I was met with a stern expression.