Chapter 247: Wisdom ? Intelligence ? Courage


    「How rare this is. For the Devil King and the Intelligent Beast King to visit so expressly.」


    「Quit the teasing, Fraal. The fact that I hade has that much meaning.」


    「……let’s hear it, Gandalf.」


    In a low voice, the 3 meter tall, bulky Bearkin Beast King Guzhr asked Gandalf for the reason why they were called here today.


    This ce is the city-state that possess the sole port located at the north of the Demon Continent, uros. This nation’s ruler, Subus Queen Fraal, the King Gandalf of the Devil n, and the Bearkin Beast King Guzhr. These three rulers surrounded a table. In the Devil Continent where monsters run rampant, there wasn’t much traveling between countries. Simply to the degree of conducting trade. Among such travels, the rulers of those countries visiting personally was even rarer.


    Behind each of the three rulers sitting regally in a round table stood one of their respective knight escorts.


    「If it is Fraal the Wise and Guzhr the Astute, you must already understand, the number of monsters has been increasing recently. It may still be within the margins of errors, but the types of Goblins, Kobolds, Ogres, and Orcs have been increasing in particr.」


    「……Orcs aside, it’s been nothing but inedible monsters.」


    「Hold on, Guzhr. That is what you care about? Well, even my side had grasped such information. Nevertheless, whether that is the influence of the miasma or if the reason is entirely different is unknown.」


    By nature, the entire continent was of a monster nest-like environment, so the increase of monsters would not carry a sense of impending danger. But Gandalf, who felt an air of mise within it, had proposed a conference with the rulers of other nation. And it was likely the same for Fraal and Guzhr who had epted the proposition.


    「I do not believe any of the ruling species have emerged.」


    「Even if they are ruling species, those at the level of Goblin Kings and Orc Kings are no issue.」


    「……Goblins stink and are inedible.」


    「I am of the same opinion, but drop the eating part, Guzhr.」


    Humanoid monsters were monsters that the people living in this continent weren’t all too happy about. Goblins were things that were inedible and stank, Ogres had hard muscles that take a long time to be edible. Kobolds also had a strong stench, and it would need herbs and precious spices so it could be eaten. The Orcs were the only ones that were delicious no matter the type. Especially since the taste improves the higher the species is, just by hearing “Orc King”, those like Guzhr would spontaneously salivate enough to fill their mouths.


    「……were Ryvar and the other rulers called?」


    「Do you think those guys would cooperate with us?」


    「…………my bad.」


    「The Oni Tribe, Lionkin tribe, Tigerkin Tribe are the purely muscles for brains trio, aren’t they? It would be impossible to do anything together with them.」


    「Yeah, I can’t say much about other countries, but those guys ーsubordinates soldiers and citizens includedー think only of fighting.」


    Gandalf sighed, remembering the rulers and vassals of the three nations absent here. Just in case, Gandalf had approached them about today’s gathering, but as if a matter of course, no good responses came. The king of Schmihazaar, the Oni Tribe’s Jairu may be a meathead but he is person of 「Compassion」 , so he was more open to talkingpared to Ryvar and Deega. However, he had given notice that he would be out on an expedition to suppress the monsters in the vicinity of his country.


    「Nheless, it is not ideal that monsters unfit for consumption are increasing, now is it?」


    「Yes, it is for that reason that it is difficult for us to speak of investigating the cause.」


    「……we’re short of hands.」


    「Indeed. Countries aside from uros require personnel allocated for hunting.」


    「Then could we not entrust the investigation of the cause to uros?」


    「Stop it. uros is at the northern edge of the continent. To investigate the entire continent from here… such a thing is impossible even for our elite soldiers. It would be fine if it’s around uros, but I must decline if it’s the entire continent.」


    「……reasonable.」


    The meeting could be called a sess despite the three rulers having no more than a shared awareness of the strange phenomenon regarding the monsters inhabiting the Demon Continent. And so the conference concluded with the promise of sharing any information that is discovered.


    「Let us conduct investigations while subjugating the monsters surrounding our respective countries.」


    「……very well.」


    「……I am fine with that as well. uros has merchants from the Northern Continent thate to trade, so it would not do well for the surroundings of our nation to have a chaotic image.」


    The three rulers decided to hold another conference and returned to their respective countries.


    「Ryuka. Are you there, Ryuka?」


    「You called, Your Majesty?」


    When Fraal, who was in her own room after the conference, called out, the Oni woman waiting in the adjoining room came in.


    Ryuka was a woman brimming with intelligence that was rare for the Oni Tribe, and she was Queen Fraal’s trusted right hand person.


    「Do you remember the three people wearing cloaks the other day?」


    「Yes. Though I could not perceive them myself, I presume the three were using advanced perception inhibiting magic and high level stealth-type skills.」


    As she said so, Ryuka’s usual cool expression crumbled, showing her frustration.


    「It’s inevitable, Ryuka. I am from the Subus n, so I perceived them because of a slight feeling of mise. However, it was still a coincidence that I did.」


    「However, if I had realized, I could have detained them immediately……」


    「Ah, no way, that’s impossible. Two of those three were definitely stronger than myself. I believe I can match one of them equally, but the remaining two must not bepeted with.」


    「Wha!?」


    Ryuka’s shock was justified. Fraal was this queen of this nation, as well as its greatest power.


    「Ryuka,pose yourself. I did not feel any danger, so perhaps all will be well.」


    「……is that so?」


    Fraal, the Queen of the Subus n, has the ability to see through the true nature of a person. Since Ryuka had settled down, Fraal continued to speak.


    「I want it arranged so that I would be informed if the pce guards or the soldiers in thend near the castlee across those three. I sincerely ask that they not beid a hand on.」


    「……very well.」


    Ryuka wanted to say something but she held back, bowed her head, and left the room.


    ***