243 Make the most of the system, please! part “You are the beastkin girl!” Ryu exclaimed in surprise. “Yes, I am. My name is Samoat. I’m currently the queen of the beastkin clans. You saved my life and for that you have my eternal gratitude.”
Her words were loud enough for everyone to hear, but Ryu caught a glimpse of shyness in her manner of speech. Although she was supposedly a queen, there wasn’t a hint of nobility in her manners, even compared to a minor noble like Athela she lacked in both manners and gracefulness.
“I just did what anyone in my position would have done.” He replied, but Samoat shook her head. “Not really, most humans will attack us on sight, and if we’re prisoners they wouldn’t hesitate to turn us into slaves. I suffered through that on my own flesh.” At her last remark, several beastkin emitted a low growl and Ryu was even able to sense the killing intent in the room. It was so dense, yet it wasn’t directed towards him.
“Why am I here? are we in the goblin village?” Ryu asked, still confused about his current situation.
“That’s a long story, but first we need to celebrate this occasion. Let’s have a feast in honor to our guest! Ask the cooks to prepare the best human course they know.” She turned towards a soldier looking woman right next to her.
The hall and everything about it was both rustic and luxurious, Ryu didn’t attempt to mingle with the crowd and simply sat on the spot they led him to, which was right next to Samoat.
Although she was a queen, beastkin didn’t have the same rigid etiquette the kingdom of Loudeac had, but even if it didn’t have the first clue on how to deal with nobles, let alone with the royalty. He spoke with the queen with the same familiarity he did back when he saved her from the beast hunters, and people nearby didn’t like that one bit.
Not because it was a breach of etiquette, but because they were envious of their apparent close relationship.
“After you were hurt and poisoned, the goblins treated you to their best efforts. They sent their best goblin doctor, but even after the poison was out of your body and your injuries fully healed, you showed no signs of waking up. Your body was completely healed, but you remained unconscious. After a few months I asked Bardun to let me take care of you, he had a lot on his plate and they had run out of options for a while, so he agreed with the condition that we take good care of you and that we inform him the minute you regain your consciousness. How could I disagree when it was only because of me that you ended up almost dying.” Samoat smiled as she recounted the past events that led her to take him to the beastkin kingdom.
.....
He remembered the way in which he met the girl, but he also remembered how she behaved when they were attacked. If it wasn’t for her climbing a tree and pulling him above the red cobra, he wouldn’t have been able to defeat it but at the same time, it was because of her that he ended up being poisoned.
“Please, don’t worry about it. If it wasn’t for you I would have probably lost my friends.”
“About that... This is difficult to say but, things are not the same as they were when you fell unconscious. I don’t know much myself, but I think it would be wise for you to remain in the beast kingdom until we contact Bardun.” Samoat said as she placed a hand on top of Ryu’s making him feel uncomfortable.
“I have a question, were you able to speak all along? if so, why didn’t you?”
“It’s complicated. I wasn’t myself when you found me, if it wasn’t for miss Risa who brought me to the goblin city when the mana season ended, I would still be living in the wilderness.”
“Miss Risa!? is she here?” Ryu asked excitedly, only to be disappointed by Samoat answer.
“I don’t know her whereabouts, after bringing you here she went back to the kingdom of Loudeac to find a cure for her hands.”
“To the kingdom? why didn’t she go to the sacred empire? A friend of mine told me they can cure almost anything, they can even regrow lost limbs.” Ryu said thinking back on Helena’s words.
“That’s mostly true. They can regrow limbs, but the cost is too high. Only third class priests and above can do it and they also need expensive crystals. By the way, I know you’re somehow related or acquainted with an arch priestess from the empire, but I really don’t recommend you heading over there. After the chaotic mana season we experienced things have been dire for everyone.”
“How so?” Ryu’s curiosity was piqued. He knew about the strange phenomenon that occurred where the lights in the sky showed up early, but he needed to catch up with any news he could get.
“The reason why that happened remains a mystery, but we do know a few things. First, mana seasons may occur at any place and any time now. They can last for as little as a couple hours and as long as months, it’s happening all over the continent and many settlements have been destroyed. As if that wasn’t enough, the effects of the mana season have varied greatly. The beast kingdom used to experience elevated temperatures and a drought that affected the soil, turning most of our land into wasteland, but right now the effects can vary from place to place. Last time, this place was hit by heavy hail that caused many deaths in our ranks because we weren’t prepared for something like that.
Second, most beasts evolved into magical beasts, fighting against them is difficult enough, but it also lead to a scarcity of food and resources. There’s also so many new species that we can’t keep up anymore. To add insult to injury, humans declared war on us because they deem us guilty of everything.” Queen Samoat then proceeded to explain in detail some of the events that transcurred in the beast kingdom, but Ryu’s mind was busy thinking about his friends.
If what she told him is true, even the people that were supposedly safe in Ironwoods could be in danger. Despite being unconscious for a long time, he remembered his resolve of getting back together with all of his friends but those news changed his plans.
Although he still considered humans to be worthless and the world itself could sink into chaos for all he cared, he had to admit that whatever was happening could affect everyone he knew and even himself.
He pondered for a few minutes if he should really dedicate himself to the task of finding out the truth about the chaotic mana season, but he was interrupted by the pleasant smell of food that invaded his nose.
Four young women dressed as maids carried out plates towards them. Ryu was ready to grab a bite of whatever they placed in front of him, but something on the dish in front of him intrigued him.
The meat looked nothing like anything he knew. As a cook himself his knowledge on food ingredients was outstanding. It looked like regular meat, but there was something off, so he used his analyze skill on the plate.
>Human meat beef (normal)
“This is human meat!!!” Ryu had a hard time not falling from his chair as he backed down.
“Who is responsible for this? bring the cook immediately!” The queen demanded, soon after they brought a beastkin man. He was part human and part wolf.
“Is there any problem with the course, your majesty?” he asked with a stern face, much more wolfish than human.
“How dare you cook human meat for a meal we’re going to share with a human!? are you stupid or what?”
“But, I was told I had to cook a human meal, I didn’t know we had a human guest.” He seemed innocent enough, but it only made things more difficult for the queen.
On one hand, she had extended her hospitality towards Ryu and feeding him flesh from his own race was a terrible offense. Although beastkin had no qualms eating human flesh, the same cannot be said about eating beastkin meat, cannibalism was taboo even in their society so she couldn’t feign ignorance. On the other hand, by beastkin traditions, no matter what the situation was, if the guest didn’t eat their food it was the same as rejecting said hospitality and she would be forced to kick him out of the settlement.
Ryu was oblivious to all this, but it didn’t matter how hungry he was, he wouldn’t dare eating human flesh.
Queen Samoat fell silent for a minute, trying to find a solution. She racked up her brain, but no matter her title of queen, even she had to respect the ancient traditions of her people.
“Saser, escort him out of the settlement. Make sure no one harms him or follows him, at least until he reaches th
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