She Who Became Immortal

"You're demon kin, aren't you? Are you the guests of Euphemia?"

Randall approached us as we were having our emotional reunion, frowning suspiciously at Junos. He probably instinctively realized that Junos Grimoire was their leader. Well, it wasn't exactly a feat that required the intuition of a Beast King; anyone with a bit of insight could tell.

"No, we're neither demon kin nor guests of Euphemia. We are with Euphemia. We do what she wants and we don't force her to do what she doesn't want."

Junos didn't back down in the face of the Beast King's pressure. Instead, he boldly stepped forward and placed his hand on my head.

"Ha? So, you're saying you're all coming along too? With kids and a weak-looking kobold, and you think you'll be useful? Huh?"

"Do we need to be useful to you? We only need to be useful to her. If she tells us to do something, we will, but we don't feel any need to follow your orders. You're the Lion King Randall, right? The one you recognized is Euphemia Grimwood."

"Huh?"

"Then talk to her, the one you recognized. We're just her limbs."

Junos continued to pat my head with a smug look on his face, but since I often did similar things to the orc Montego, I didn't complain. Honestly, I didn't really have the right to.

"Her limbs, huh? It's surprising that demon kin would be so devoted to someone... Hahaha, fine. Do as you like. Do whatever you want, Euphemia."

For some reason, Randall seemed to be in a good mood as he waved his hand lightly and turned to leave. Junos, still with his hand on my head, slightly raised the corner of his lips.

---

"So, that's Beast King Randall. Lex Asuka plans to kill him and establish a new king?"

After boarding the carriage Junos and his group had been using, I, flanked by the demon girl Katarina and the fox girl Kirina, began to explain the situation.

"Yes, that's right. Randall isn't sufficient as a 'king'. If we leave things as they are, it's going to be a problem."

"What kind of problem?"

Serena, who had been separated from us often during the trip to the Beast King's capital and thus felt oddly distant, looked at Kirina clinging to me and asked with a slightly exasperated expression.

"In simple terms, there's no development."

"You mean for the entire beastman territory. What happens if they don't develop?"

"It's simple. Katarina, what do you think?"

I turned to the demon girl clinging to my left arm. Katarina, who had been looking as if she were sunbathing like a cat, quickly shifted to a more serious demeanor, nodding with a clear-eyed look.

"Well, the human territories will continue to change and evolve while the beastman territories stay the same. Right now, the humans can already fend off the attacks of the Yunofeliza tribe. If they develop further, they might even be able to conquer the beastman territories."

"That's a good perspective. Kirina, what do you think?"

When I asked the fox girl clinging to my right arm, she nodded without hesitation, as if she had already thought it through.

"Preparing for threats is one reason. Also, I think it's because it hinders cultural and various other developments."

Currently, the beastmen are scattered. As far as I know, ironically, the Beast King's capital is the most diverse in terms of beastman species living together. In other places, there are only small settlements with one or at most two species scattered across the land.

Each group lives by their own values and customs. With almost no trade, culture cannot thrive. They say necessity is the mother of invention, but there's no need to blend.

"Yes, the key is 'development' or evolution, if you will. Lion King Randall is hindering that. Lex Asuka finds it very bothersome... that's how it seemed to me."

"So, she has a 'true king' in mind, and Randall is not that 'king'. I understand what you're saying."

I happened to please Randall, but if I hadn't, no matter what Euphemia Grimwood said, Randall wouldn't have listened. Even if the right path was explained to him, if he found it annoying, he would dismiss it, and possibly strangle the speaker to death.

"From the land of beasts to the land of beastmen..."

Junos summarized. That's pretty much it. Despite our short interaction, living together for a while made me think, "It's impressive they've endured ten years like this."

Another twenty days might be bearable, but if I were asked to live here for another year, I'd definitely refuse.

"So, Euphemia, you plan to retake the village of dog beastmen attacked by humans, then pass through the forest to Spade territory and attack the lord’s residence?"

Junos’s words, though meant for confirmation, sounded like he didn’t believe a word he was saying. His expression said, "No way, right?"

So I smiled broadly and nodded.

"First, we retake the village. Soon, Brunoa of the giant eagles will inform us of the situation. Depending on the village's condition, our actions might change, but for now, I want a human captive. Preferably someone who can communicate."

"A captive, you say?"

"You need a human captive?"

The stereo voices from either side were honestly a bit annoying, but I endured it. They were still girls and seemed to be attached to me for some reason, probably feeling lonely.

"We need information," I said.

Apparently, only Junos grasped this immediately. Serena, Katarina, and Kirina all tilted their heads in unison.

"I see, that makes sense... It’s easy to miss when focusing on the situation," Junos mused.

"What do you mean?" Serena asked.

"The initial question is being overlooked. Why did the humans attack the village?"

Exactly.

Until now, humans hadn’t invaded beastman territory. Just as the beastmen didn’t take land from Spade territory, it was because they couldn’t maintain it.

So why—before thinking about that, there’s one thing to recall about Spade territory. It feels like a story from long ago, so let’s revisit it.

---

I had met several times with an envoy from the noble family known as Spade. They were displeased that Randall controlled the beastman territory.

Zamba Broad, the werewolf tribe member who attacked Sutin Village and Kirina’s biological father, was part of the Anti-Lion Coalition. After extracting information, I ensured he was thoroughly incinerated and buried... but that’s beside the point.

If we take Zamba’s story at face value, someone from Spade territory is connected to the Anti-Lion Coalition. Back then, I dismissed it, saying humans would inevitably betray them. I still think that, but contact must have been made. Otherwise, the specific name "Spade" wouldn’t have come up.

"There’s an ulterior motive, isn’t there?"

Thinking about what that might be, I probably don’t have enough information. So, I need to gather more.

I addressed them.

"Listen, Junos. Serena, Katarina, Kirina. And inform the others later. We’re currently going along with the Beast King. We’re following Lex Asuka’s plan for now. But we are not their subordinates or allies."

"Agreed."

"Yes, that’s right."

"Of course, Lady Euphemia. We are—"

"—the Grimoire Tribe."

As Junos and the others smiled at me, I smiled back at them.

Well, it couldn’t be helped. Feeling a bit of responsibility for these guys wasn’t such a bad feeling.