Chapter 243: Country of the Mazoku


    The day after gathering information in the Beastkin country 「Atropolis」 governed by Beast King Ryvar, we snuck into the only nation with a port, 「uros」, at the north of the Devil Continent.


    The ruler of the Mazoku-governed uros is Queen Fraal of the Subus n. A queen proficient in both magic and internal administration. Unlike in the Beastkin countries, the sovereignty here is hereditary. Queen Fraal is the 8th generation queen, but the lifespan of the Mazoku is long, so the foundation of uros is far earlier than Atropolis.


    「Takumi-sama, you’re looking too much.」


    「She’s right, Master (Husband). Your face is cking[1].」


    「Umm, uhh, I’m sorry.」


    The Devil Continent located south of the continent we live in was much warmer.


    Perhaps a racial thing? That’s how it was for the Beastkin, but it seems many prefer to wear revealing clothes regardless of their gender. On top of which, the Mazoku are even morescivious, and most of the women were wearing swimsuit-like clothing that covered an extremely small surface area.


    Beastkin women in miniskirts and tube tops was the default, but it was like the Mazoku women’s clothing jumped out of a manga or anime.


    「Beastkin prefer clothing that are easy to move in, so it is suitable for this hot region, but seeing the Mazoku for the first time…… I’m afraid this is a difference in values.」


    「……ha, ha, you’re right.」


    While throwing in the appropriate response to Marnie, my gaze wandered.


    「(It’s impossible, my eyes follow no matter what I do.)」


    I tried to not let Sophia and Marnie notice, but I knew they found out I was pretending to be calm.


    「Even so,……… it’s the same for the Beastkin of Atropolis, but the people of the Devil Continent are strong.」


    「They are not inferior to the knights and soldiers of Valkyra Kingdom. Average people walking in town are like this, which means the soldiers and knights of this country are likely much stronger.」


    This harsh continent was probably the reason. The general public’s fighting strength was remarkably high. Even so, the area they live in doesn’t just expand.


    A Subus passed right in front of me. Her strength was clear even without the need to use Appraisal. Had I used Appraisal, someone that excels in magic perception might’ve suspected us.


    「(The Devil Continent is the real deal. That very sexy faced Onee-san seems absurdly strong)」


    「Takumi-sama, let’s move.」


    「Y, yeah.」


    Urged by Sophia to continue gathering information, we mixed in with the busy city.


    ◇ 「Fraal-sama, is something the matter?」


    A woman with two horns on her forehead and a muscr red body, which was characteristic to the Oni tribe, began talking to the Subus walking ahead of her.


    「……hmm, no, it’s nothing.」


    The Subi were a long-living race, so not knowing her actual age, she gave off the impression of a beautiful woman in her mid-twenties in human years.


    The woman who had a petite bombshell figure with sharp contours and porcin-like white skin was wearing clothing with very little surface area. The Oni woman was likely herdy attendant or escort. She always walked diagonally behind the Subus, guarding her.


    The Subus is called Fraal. She is the 8th ruler of uros, Queen Fraal.


    Today, she came to inspect the city incognito. d in an illusory spell, she walked around looking like a normal subus.


    「(……If they mean harm to our country, I must stop them even if it means risking my life……)」


    It was during one of Fraal’s irregr trips to the city.


    She happened to notice a weak presence. Truly, it was a coincidence that she noticed. And when she did, her back grew cold from the bizarreness of that existence.


    「(Was there such a strong individual in this continent?)」


    The Magic Eyes that Fraal possesses was repelled. That meant that the target was clearly a higher being than herself.


    The citizens of uros, who reside in a region which had almost transformed into a monster nest, are capable of fighting against monsters despite being ordinary people. The knights and soldiers are proud that they are far stronger than the continent of the humans. Queen Fraal reigned at the top of these strong individuals.


    Unlike Beastkin countries, the Mazoku countries have royalty and nobility simr to the Human countries. Even so, the royalty of this country continue to be the absolute strongest themselves. In this continent, high levels of fighting strength is desired by those in power, after all. This tendency to revere pure strength is deeply rooted in the Mazoku.


    A being made that Fraal have cold sweats. She tried to check again, but it disappeared like a mist.


    Fraal, who wouldn’t even hesitate to stand up and subjugate a gigantic monster, was terrified by that being.


    「Fraal-sama?」


    「Ah, yes, sorry. I was lost in thought. Pardon me, Ryuka.」


    「Not at all, let us inspect the next district.」


    Urged by the Oni woman called Ryuka, Fraal looked around for that presence once more. She then shook her head and began walking as if she had given up.


    ***


    <strong>Footnotes:</strong>


    1. The expression is actually 鼻の下が伸びて which, when tranted literally, means that the upper lip is stretching. It is said to a man who is allured by a woman.