Ch.402Chapter 402 – Before Heading to the Snowy Field (2)

Right after answering that I would think about Baren’s proposal a bit.

We were gathered in the lodging prepared for us by the bear beastmen.

Unlike Baren’s residence where we had just been, or the large tent-like structures other bear beastmen were building, our lodging was a stone building similar to many we had seen during our travels.

“This is unexpected. I didn’t think there would be buildings similar to the Mikea Kingdom within their territory.”

“There’s even a stable. Moo will like that.”

Eve said with a smile.

We had hidden Moo along with the carriage a bit far away for now, but we planned to go get him right after unpacking.

“Let’s feed him something he likes after we bring him back.”

“Yes. Moo always works hard for us.”

Eve, Moo’s owner, said with a smile.

Though he’s a beast that can’t speak, he’s a precious companion who has been with us all this time.

Despite making him work hard by pulling us through cold and rough places, he follows along silently, so we should let him rest well when he can.

“By the way, the building itself seems quite well-built?”

“I heard that Lady Jusha eagerly adopts foreign technologies. This might be the result of that.”

Incidentally, the reason our lodging was decided to be this place was apparently because Jusha had been considerate, thinking that since we were foreigners, this style would better suit our lifestyle.

Beatrice looked around the building and smiled.

“It’s not without some rough spots, but this is more than sufficient. I think it’s well-made.”

“Really?”

“Yes. The soundproofing between rooms seems good too.”

Beatrice said while knocking on the wall.

At those words, I noticed about three women flinch slightly, then exchange glances with each other.

‘Looks like there’ll be no early sleep tonight.’

While I was having this somewhat frivolous thought, Beatrice smiled and spoke.

“Well, we’re only staying for about three days, so it wouldn’t make sense to give us a place with poor facilities.”

I nodded at Beatrice’s words.

Though Baren had agreed to listen to everything we said, he had requested about three days to prepare for the snow field journey and gather supplies.

It was precious time lost, but regrettably, we had decided to accept his request.

‘…I need to stabilize my body a bit.’

Perhaps it was time for my condition to worsen, as I had been feeling occasional pain in my heart since the fight with the bear tribe.

I needed to recover using Chris’s divine magic and the tools in the carriage.

So we too needed a safe place and rest time, which is why we accepted the three-day timeframe.

“…It’s not as nice as the lodging we stayed at in Albheim, but it really has everything we need. Looks like there’s even a bath.”

Chris said, apparently having already checked out the rooms.

“With more development and refinement, they could eventually build structures that wouldn’t be embarrassing anywhere. I wonder how they managed to create facilities of this quality.”

“Simple. They must have diligently learned techniques from slaves.”

Noah responded to Eve’s question while curiously examining the lodgings.

“Considering Jusha’s reputation, she probably learned respectfully rather than forcing it out of them. …I’m just impressed by how well they learned.”

Noah remarked with curiosity, saying he had rarely seen facilities of this quality before.

Looking at him, Sia quietly spoke.

“Between this and how she evacuated the slaves to places out of sight in advance because we might be uncomfortable, that child is truly clever.”

“She’s not called the future of the bear tribe for nothing.”

Noah added to Sia’s comment.

“It’s a bit sad though.”

When I responded to Noah’s words, Sia slightly furrowed her eyebrows.

“Why is it sad?”

“No matter what, she’s still a child. …She should be playing happily by her parents’ side at this age, but it seems like she’s working too hard.”

“I see what you mean.”

Sia nodded at my words.

I thought she might just let it pass since my thinking would differ from the people here, but surprisingly, Sia seemed to empathize.

Then Eve and Beatrice quietly spoke up.

“…She’s the daughter of someone important. She can’t just play around carefree.”

“She’ll eventually be in a position to lead people. We can’t let her play freely just because she’s young.”

These were the words of a former noble daughter and an actual princess.

And they were right.

The burden that Jusha would have to shoulder in the future was too heavy to let her be carefree just because she was young.

From the perspective that she needed to learn and experience in advance how to bear that burden with less weight, their words were the orthodox view.

They were correct words, just from a slightly different perspective.

“Don’t think too deeply about it, Togu. Your point isn’t wrong either. …Time spent with family should be as long as possible.”

“I agree with Kei’s opinion that Lady Jusha should relax her shoulders a bit and live more like a child.”

Eve and Beatrice added with a smile.

They weren’t just trying to be considerate of me; they probably said that because they partly agreed with my view as well.

I appreciated their sincere response.

“Does Kei-nim like children?”

“I don’t dislike them.”

I answered Chris quietly.

Soon Noah smiled and said.

“So that’s why you don’t like seeing the still-young Jusha working too much like an adult.”

“I think children should grow up brightly by their parents’ side, as children should.”

After I quietly expressed my thoughts, Noah smiled and said.

“You’re more innocent and kind than I expected.”

“Is that bad?”

“No. I think it’s good.”

Noah said.

Then he narrowed his eyes and asked.

“This is a personal question, but were you bothered when Jusha came out to stop you during the fight with Baren?”

“I can’t say I wasn’t.”

I honestly affirmed Noah’s question.

“Seeing a young child looking at me with fear, thinking I might kill her father, was honestly shocking.”

Of course, I could dismiss it to some extent by saying the child misunderstood. I didn’t particularly intend to kill her opponent.

Still, it must have been shocking and frightening for the child.

I honestly felt sorry for Jusha.

“Kei…”

Sera called me with concern.

I smiled slightly at Sera, then looked back at the group and said.

“Let’s stop this conversation here. Since we’ve started talking, let’s unpack our luggage a bit later and discuss our future plans first, what do you think?”

“Let’s do that.”

Eve immediately stepped forward, perhaps wanting to change the atmosphere.

Since no one raised any objections, the discussion about future plans began.

“For now, it seems like we’ll be able to get everything we want. It would be different if Baren was planning to deceive us, but…”

“He wouldn’t think of doing that.”

Noah immediately dismissed that possibility.

“He is the chief of the bear tribe. No matter what, if he says one thing and does another, it wouldn’t set a good example for his tribe members. A leader who frequently changes his words for convenience isn’t trusted, and the bear tribe is currently united by their trust in Baren.”

Noah said that if Baren did such a thing, the number of defectors within the tribe would increase.

“Besides that, Baren himself doesn’t seem like the type of man who would break his promises.”

“Do you have evidence?”

“No evidence. But a man who risked his life to cover up his family’s mistake doesn’t seem like he would plot such petty schemes.”

I nodded at Sia’s words.

“Above all, Jusha would prevent him from breaking his promise.”

“Then we can assume there will be no issues with our demands being met.”

Most of the troublesome matters in Bestia will be resolved by the bear tribe.

We can focus solely on our objective.

“Now we need to discuss one other thing.”

“That’s right. What should we do?”

In response to my words, Beatrice quietly mentioned the proposal Baren had made earlier.

“Taking his daughter to the snow field and back.”

Everyone remained silent for a moment at Beatrice’s words.

I quietly looked at Noah and asked.

“What do you think?”

“Isn’t that crazy?”

The answer came from Sonya, the wolf beastman.

She continued speaking instead of Noah.

“That place is really dangerous. Monsters that devour each other to survive yet remain hungry attack from all directions day and night. And he wants us to take his daughter to such a place? What kind of…”

“So that’s the common perception.”

Noah nodded at my words.

Soon he quietly spoke.

“First of all, I don’t disagree much with Sonya’s opinion. Skilled people like yourselves might be fine, but it’s really dangerous there.”

“But why is he asking us to take her along?”

“We’d have to ask Baren directly to be sure. However…”

Noah spoke quietly.

“Considering how devoted Baren is to his daughter, even this dangerous request might be for her sake.”

“Explain.”

“It’s just speculation, is that okay?”

Noah said with a smile.

I immediately looked at him and said.

“I don’t mind if it’s speculation, just tell me everything that comes to mind.”

“Alright.”

Noah nodded at my request.

“First, the snow field we’re trying to go to is a dangerous place. It’s so dangerous that only warriors of Great Warrior class can enter deeply and come out alive.”

Noah raised a finger as he spoke.

“But looking at it differently, if someone returns alive from there, it could be interpreted as having the experience of a seasoned warrior or having accomplished a significant feat.”

“He wants to give his daughter credentials?”

“Yes.”

Noah seemed to think further explanation was needed, so he continued with a smile.

“Bestia, and beastmen, ultimately respect the strong. The deeper you go into the snow field, the more you’re seen as strong. Of course, at such a young age, a child who can barely fight going there and coming back would be thought of as being well-protected by others, but…”

Noah grinned.

“Still, they would give her a bit more credit, thinking she must be no ordinary child to have returned safely from there.”

“…And they couldn’t just ignore it either. If she went deep in there and came back alive at that age.”

“That’s exactly what I’m trying to say, Sonya.”

Noah smiled at Sonya’s words.

“Although Jusha is said to be physically weaker compared to other bear beastmen, if she’s able to go there and come back alive, she would at least be seen as no ordinary child.”

“And that would be politically beneficial to Jusha in the future… is that it?”

“With our skills, we could certainly take care of one Jusha and return safely, so it’s a request worth considering for the sake of building her reputation.”

I fell into thought at Noah’s words.

‘It doesn’t quite resonate with me.’

Though beastmen’s thinking often took strange turns, surviving in a place where survival is difficult might not be something that could be completely dismissed. But it doesn’t seem worth risking entering a dangerous place.

“Any other thoughts?”

“Of course. Honestly, this one might make more sense.”

I urged him to continue with my gaze.

Noah smiled and spoke again.

“It might be a bit burdensome, but it’s this: perhaps he wanted to arrange for Jusha and you to become closer?”

“Me and Jusha?”

I asked in bewilderment, and Noah nodded.

“…The chief wants his daughter to make a good impression on me, an outsider?”

“Is there anything wrong with that?”

“That, it seems strange…?”

Chris answered.

Her eyes trembled slightly, as if what she heard didn’t quite make sense to her.

“But, um, she’s just a child, right? And yet…”

“She is certainly a child. Though she’ll likely become an incredible beauty in just a few years.”

“Please say that again.”

Sera’s hand was suddenly on Noah’s shoulder.

It happened so naturally that he couldn’t even sense her presence.

Noah trembled slightly and said.

“…That was a slip of the tongue. But I do think he wanted to create a connection between the bear tribe and you through Jusha.”

“Even so…”

“Don’t find it strange. In Bestia, sending one’s daughter to a strong person is also considered doing something for the daughter’s sake.”

Noah looked at me and said.

“In Bestia, strength is justice.”

Noah spoke in a resolute voice.

“It’s a bit different from you who distinguish by bloodline. Bloodline and tribe are important and valued only because they’re where one belongs. The principle that the strong are just remains unchanged. It’s a place where a warrior’s logic takes precedence.”

Was he serious?

Noah, who had lost his smile, was looking at me with narrowed eyes.

“Let me tell you clearly. If one is strong enough and that strength is recognized by everyone, anyone can sit on the throne of the Beast King, which no one has occupied since the death of the former Beast King Springheart, a member of the hero party. Even if that person…”

Noah, usually smiling, was now looking at me intently with slightly opened eyes.

“…is a human.”

Noah said with a smile.