Ch.391Chapter 391 – The Prophecy of the Lizardmen

Fortunately, our entry wasn’t denied.

And surprisingly, the beastkin began to watch us cautiously.

Some tried to block our carriage as if looking for trouble, but upon seeing my face or the shape of our carriage, they quickly moved away. Even broad-shouldered beastkin who were clearly slave hunters approached leisurely, but after checking our carriage, they naturally turned around and disappeared.

There were even some beastkin who gave us friendly looks.

Mostly beastkin children.

“Wow, those are the humans!”

“Really? Wow! How strong must they be!”

They were beastkin children chattering about how strong we were, as if strength was all that mattered.

As we moved the carriage forward, receiving those mixed gazes of fear and respect from the beastkin, Eve quietly said,

“It seems the news about the slave hunters and those lizardmen has spread, hasn’t it?”

“News travels fast here.”

It had been only a few hours since those incidents.

I found it quite fascinating how quickly information spread here.

“I wonder if the news is spreading through some special information network built for slave hunting?”

“That’s possible. Beastkin have better eyes and ears than humans, and they’re physically stronger too.”

Eve quietly suggested that those who had been watching us from afar might have quickly spread the news everywhere.

But even considering that, it seemed a bit excessive.

“…It seems strange that they’re being this cautious just because we defeated some slave hunters.”

“I agree.”

“The way they look at us seems odd for people who are just being careful of newcomers who broke through border guards and defeated slave hunters.”

I would expect some to back off after sizing us up, but I’d also expect others with competitive spirits to think, ‘I’m stronger than those slave hunters!’ and try to challenge us.

But the slave hunters I’d occasionally spotted were trying to stay completely out of our sight rather than showing any competitive spirit.

“We’ll need to gather more information.”

“…Yes, if we can trust the beastkin here.”

Eve looked around, slightly furrowing her brow as she spoke.

“I’m worried about where we’ll rest, too. We can’t trust the security here. I think it might be better to park the carriage somewhere suitable and keep watch.”

“I agree.”

After being constantly attacked by slave hunters on our way here, it was hard to trust the beastkin.

I had a feeling that if we stayed at an inn, the innkeeper might open the door in the middle of the night to let attackers in.

Though everyone would be tired, we were seriously considering parking the carriage somewhere defensible to rest.

“What should we do?”

“Well, don’t overthink it.”

Sia’s voice came from the magic stone installed in the driver’s seat, as if she was bored. It was a device installed to transmit voices in and out of the carriage, and Sia seemed to find it fascinating, often using it to talk to us when she was bored.

“If worse comes to worst, we can sleep under the sky. I’m used to that.”

“I could do it if necessary, but honestly, I’d rather not.”

When Eve sent her voice into the carriage, Sia chuckled and said,

“Wouldn’t it be fine if you’re with Kei?”

“Well, if that happens, I might suddenly develop a habit of sleeping soundly only if I’m hugging Kei.”

I laughed at Eve’s words, thinking she was incorrigible.

Then Sia’s voice continued,

“By the way, what’s the situation outside? I was thinking of coming out to the driver’s seat to take a look, but I haven’t had the chance.”

“I’ll stop the carriage for a moment.”

At my words, Eve stopped the carriage, looking slightly disappointed.

Soon Sia came out and quickly climbed up to the driver’s seat, and we started moving again.

When the same gazes and slave hunters avoiding us happened again, Sia laughed leisurely and said,

“Ho. It seems they completely recognize us as superiors.”

“Superiors?”

“Didn’t they say this country values strength above all? It seems they clearly know we’re strong.”

“It seems excessive for just having dealt with slave hunters so far.”

As I took the reins to let Eve rest, Sia nodded at my words.

“Indeed. This reaction seems too extreme for just that.”

After saying that, Sia quietly added,

“I suspect we might have defeated a renowned warrior of this country.”

“A renowned warrior…”

It was at that moment that I had an inkling.

“Is that the man? The one who handled Rizanis like a child…!”

“The guards really saw it. They say Rizanis couldn’t overwhelm him even once, and he was actually going easy on her!”

“Isn’t Rizanis one of only three great warriors in Bestia? I heard she’s a woman who laughs heartily and crushes over a hundred bear tribe warriors even when confronted alone!”

“Isn’t that an exaggeration?”

“No! Today when the lizardmen fought with those buffalo guys, the lizardmen were at a disadvantage because of magic, so Rizanis personally stepped in and completely destroyed all the buffalo guys without leaving a single one. I heard her strength is the real deal.”

A group of beastkin—one with a bird’s head and the other with just feathers—passed by, talking loudly while looking at us.

I learned some unwanted information about the lizardwoman, but at least I could understand the current situation.

“…So that lizardwoman was treated like a strategic weapon here.”

I had thought she was just a strong, strange, and unpleasant woman, but it seemed she was quite a big shot.

From the perspective of the beastkin who value strength above all, she was truly a powerful figure in a high position.

No wonder she had performed that display of throwing the buffalo beastkin’s head at us yesterday. It seemed she had completely annihilated the buffalo beastkin who had pursued us then.

‘…Then was the buffalo head she threw actually from a beastkin of quite high status?’

I was mildly curious, but at least I could understand the current situation.

The title of “great warrior” that only three people in Bestia possessed.

They were deferring to us because I had easily defeated someone with such a title.

It’s possible that the border guards were terrified not just of the lizardmen, but of us who had defeated them without a scratch.

“Kei. Was she that strong? That lizardwoman?”

“She was pretty strong.”

Her technique wasn’t bad, but since it was mainly a contest of strength, her power was what stuck in my memory.

So I answered honestly.

“But I think Sera is actually stronger.”

“Kei, did you just say something strange?”

Just like Sia before, Sera’s voice flowed from the magic stone installed in the driver’s seat.

Immediately sensing danger, I quickly spoke toward the stone.

“I didn’t say anything.”

I quickly gave Eve and Sia a look asking them to cover for me.

But Eve and Sia smiled and said,

“He just said Sera is stronger than that lizardwoman.”

“He said Sera is stronger.”

“Kei, I’ll see you later.”

The two of them smiled brightly at me.

These traitors.

“I wonder if my back will survive today.”

“Though we’re not in a position to say this after teasing you, Sera isn’t the type to hold grudges. I think she’ll pretend to be angry but forgive you right away.”

Eve offered unhelpful consolation while pressing her body against mine.

When I deliberately looked away from her, Eve pressed even closer and said,

“Are you angry?”

“A little?”

“Shall I comfort you?”

“Yes.”

“You two, do that somewhere private.”

Sia narrowed her eyes and responded to Eve’s and my banter.

Eve grinned at Sia, then moved away from me.

And quietly said,

“But this might mean we can avoid most troublesome situations inside Bestia.”

“At least minor nuisances won’t bother us.”

At least we’d observed slave hunters backing off cautiously, so mediocre beastkin wouldn’t try to mess with us.

The commotion with the lizardmen had brought unexpected benefits.

“I think it’s become a bit easier to secure our safety.”

“Though we still can’t blindly trust the beastkin.”

Eve and Sia conversed with smiles.

At least it seemed we’d be a bit safer inside Bestia.

I was glad that everyone’s safety seemed a little more secure, at least to me.

Perhaps that’s why I remembered what that woman, Rizanis, had said during our fight.

“…The white dragon shall come to the land of beastkin…”

“Crossing the vast icy plains to find the star of life and save all beings. Be warned, do not let anything hinder the white dragon’s wings. After the white wings are cut, only a world of oppression will remain.”

Eve continued the latter part.

When I looked at her in surprise, Eve smiled and waved a paper with Sera’s handwriting, saying,

“Sera wrote down what she heard and passed it to me.”

“When did she do that?”

Based on the timing, it must have been during that brief moment when we were discussing entry with the guards.

Soon Eve’s smile faded, and she quietly said,

“Among other things, I’m concerned about the beginning part that seems to hint at our journey and purpose.”

“You mean the icy plains and star of life…”

The icy plains seemed to refer to the location of the fifth seal.

According to Chris’s markings, it was in a glacier region in the northern part of the continent.

Though we hadn’t gathered detailed information yet, my companions had told me it was known to be a place covered in permanent snow and ice.

And the other one.

“Star of life…”

Normally, I might have dismissed it as a joke.

But whether that expression was accurate or not, we were indeed looking for such an object.

“Do you think it refers to the Philosopher’s Stone?”

“That must be it.”

Though I didn’t know what the Philosopher’s Stone actually looked like, it was at least an object connected to my life, so the expression didn’t sound entirely ridiculous.

Eve quietly spoke.

“Looking at it positively, it seems to suggest that if we continue this way, we’ll obtain the Philosopher’s Stone.”

“…I hope so.”

While quietly answering Eve, I looked at the paper Sera had written.

‘…Do not let anything hinder the white dragon’s wings.’

At first glance, it seemed to be saying not to interfere with me.

But saying “do not let anything hinder” implied that hindrances would come.

In this situation, two figures came to mind who might interfere with me.

‘…Idea and Somnus.’

More precisely, Emiris rather than Somnus.

Both of them also needed the Philosopher’s Stone.

It seemed like a prophecy that they would come to interfere.

Then Sia quietly spoke again.

“I’m more concerned about the ‘world of oppression’ mentioned at the end.”

“Why?”

“Well, it might just be my thought…”

Sia narrowed her eyes and said,

“Basically, the term ‘oppression’ is used when someone in a higher position or stronger crushes those below them, isn’t it?”

“…”

“I wonder if this is connected to Emiris…”

Sia looked deep in thought.

Silence fell over the driver’s seat for a while.

“…It’s a bit concerning to just ignore. If possible, I think we need to meet the shaman who spoke these words…”

Sia spoke quietly, seemingly troubled by the prophecy.

I responded to her,

“Judging by what those lizardmen were doing, the prophecy might just be nonsense, Sia.”

It could just be a story they concocted by combining rumors about me from other countries because they wanted to start a war of conquest.

Sia and I exchanged such opinions.

But we couldn’t reach a conclusion.

“…Your point is valid.”

“It is concerning, though…”

Since we both had points that couldn’t be easily dismissed, it was difficult to conclude that one side was right.

Finally, unable to make a decision, Sia quietly nodded and said,

“Once our safety is secured, let’s discuss more about this so-called prophecy.”

“Agreed.”

If we can’t reach a conclusion, we should gather our companions’ opinions to decide.

Sia and I agreed on that and turned our attention back to the road.

Then, as if just remembering, Sia looked at Eve and asked,

“By the way, what do you think?”

“Could you share your thoughts, Eve?”

I also quietly questioned Eve.

Eve, who had been lost in thought, soon opened her mouth.

“…Well, we lack information to draw a conclusion.”

She answered as if she wasn’t sure.

“But.”

Eve continued.

“For some reason, I have a feeling that this shaman will find us on their own.”

Eve quietly closed her eyes as she spoke.