To the Beast Kingdom

"Haah... haah... D-Dammit! Why are we being made to run!?"

Lark, who hadn’t been able to fit inside the carriage, spat out curses at Gale as they sprinted side-by-side.

"It can’t be helped. More to the point, aren't you a bit slow? To think you can’t even keep up with me."

"Haah... haah... It’s because you’re a total physical freak, aren’t you!?" Lark barked back, his voice thick with exasperation.

"Your training is insufficient," Gale replied coolly. "To think you dared to call yourself one of the Single Digits with that level of stamina."

"Kh... I’ll take you down someday, just you wait."

"I’ll take you on whenever you like."

It was incredibly noisy outside, but I decided to ignore it. Instead, I focused on enjoying the leisurely pace of our carriage journey.

"Yuri-sama, would you mind telling us more about that girl soon?"

"Is she... perhaps a fiancée?"

I looked at the two girls questioning me. "Listen... do you really think I’d have a fiancée that small?"

"...Isn't she just the right age, though?"

"To begin with, Yuri-sama, you’re always surrounded by little girls."

"Wait, don't tell me Luna intends to be one too?"

"I told you, Luna said she was following us of her own accord!" I snapped back.

Still, looking around the carriage, I couldn't deny they had a point. For some reason, it was nothing but children in here right now. There was Fee, my attendant; Elu, the princess of the Beast Kingdom; and then there was Luna.

Even if I excluded Emilina—who was large in a variety of aspects—three out of the four people around me were little girls. I suppose I could understand why they’d jump to that conclusion. It was a pain, regardless.

"Stop saying stupid things. I’ll give her a proper introduction. Anyway, this is Luna. Apparently, she’s one of the Empire's Ninth."

The moment those words left my mouth, the smiles on Emilina and Elu’s faces froze solid.

Without a word, the two of them grabbed me and dragged me to the front of the carriage, right up to where Fritz was sitting as the coachman.

"W-What!? Did something happen!?" Fritz yelped.

"No, don’t mind it. It’s just Emilina and the others..."

"It is most certainly not 'just' anything!" Emilina hissed. "Why is someone from the Empire sitting here like it’s the most natural thing in the world!?"

"T-That’s right! What happened to maintaining the peace!?" Elu added.

Both of them pressed in on me, their eyes burning with intensity. Honestly, I had no idea what they were so worked up about.

"Even if you ask why, all I can say is that it's because Ram tried to eat her."

"I got scolded for eating her, mee," the sheep-demon added from nearby.

"The usual, then. I see. I understand," Emilina said, her voice dropping an octave. "I believe a slight change in policy is in order..."

Emilina and Elu began whispering feverishly to one each other. I didn't like the look of it. What did she mean by "policy"? I had a nagging suspicion that Emilina was moving pieces on a board I couldn't even see yet.

"Does this involve the Lousouth House?" I asked.

"Indeed. If you want to put it that way, then yes, it certainly does."

Based on those words, I could vaguely guess what Emilina was planning. She was the Saint, a main character. It wouldn't be out of character for her to play nice on the surface while working behind the scenes to expose the Lousouth House and their corruption. I wasn't entirely sure why Elu was so involved in the scheme, though.

In the Original Game, the Empire hadn't been an ally during the previous attack; they had actually been backing Balan. Of course, they ended up being betrayed in the end. They likely had their strings pulled because someone had seized some kind of leverage over them.

If anything, if I’m the one who seizes that weakness first, I might be able to keep the Empire from becoming an enemy in the future.

If that was the case, the key to making contact was definitely a member of the Ninth.

"Yuri-sama, do you intend to maintain contact with the Empire from here on out?" Emilina asked.

"Luna said she wanted to show her gratitude, so she asked me to visit at least once."

"I see." Emilina’s expression shifted, a glint of calculation entering her eyes. (If it’s Luna-sama, her status won't conflict with Elu-sama's, and we can deepen our ties with the Empire. Their power is concerning, but if everything can be settled smoothly, we could see the birth of a truly great nation.) "I shall also do my very best to ensure things go well, Yuri-sama."

"Your best... what, are you going to prepare a gift or something?"

She had mentioned gratitude, and it would be rude to show up empty-handed. Since it was my first time visiting their territory, I wanted to maintain at least a minimum level of courtesy. If I left the etiquette to a Saint like Emilina, things would probably go fine. I just had to make sure I kept a close eye on her to ensure she didn't hatch any unnecessary schemes.

"Yes. If you want to call it a gift, then it’s a gift. Or perhaps a 'gift' of information? Please, leave those details to me."

"Is it just me," Fritz whispered with a wry smile, "or does it look like you two are having two completely different conversations while pretending to be in sync?"

"It’s just your imagination," Emilina said, smiling brightly at Fritz while her hand clamped down on his shoulder.

"O-Ow-ow-ow! It’s crushing! My shoulder is being crushed!"

Emilina didn't look like she was applying any pressure at all, yet Fritz looked like he was in absolute agony.

"Fufu. Whatever is the matter, Fritz-san?"

"Let go already! It’s gonna break! It’s gonna pop out of the socket!"

Watching them, it almost felt like they were just playing around. Maybe this was just their idea of a joke.

"Are we done talking? If so, Elu and I are going back inside. You two enjoy yourselves out here."

"Hey, Yuri! Don't go! Don't leave me! Don't leave me alone with this Saintly Devil!"

"Fufufu. Now, who are you calling a demon? I think some thorough 'education' is required."

"Well, keep it moderate," I called back. "It’ll be a bad influence on the kids in the back."

"Leave it to me."

"Gyaaaaaaaa!!"

I retreated to the back of the carriage, leaving Fritz and Emilina to their "playtime."

"Is the talk over?" Fee asked worriedly as I climbed back in.

"Yeah. Everything wrapped up without any real issues."

"That’s good to hear, no."

"The schedule for the yakiniku party?" Luna asked, tilting her head.

"No, that's for another time."

"...Unfortunate."

"More importantly," I said, looking toward the horizon, "how much longer until we reach the Beast Kingdom's Royal Capital? If we're in a hurry, I can have Ram pick up the pace."

The moment I said that, a deathly wheeze drifted in from outside the carriage.

"Haah... haah... Y-You're going even faster? Seriously, any more than this and I’m..."

I had suggested they just ride on Ram's back, but the moment the offer left my lips, Lark had started shouting that he'd rather run than ride on the White Devil. He’d gone off on his own after that. I figured it was just part of his training. Since Luna didn't seem inclined to stop him, I assumed it wasn't a problem. If they collapsed, I’d just have Ram pick them up then.

"There is still quite a distance to cover," Elu answered. "But I expect we should arrive in about half a month."

"Alright. Ram! You can increase our speed!"

"Going any faster is tiring, mee."

"I'll buy you your fill of food once we hit the Royal Capital."

"Going at explosive speed, mee!! Don't get thrown off, mee!!"

Ram accelerated instantly. Lark and Gale were left in the dust within seconds, and ultimately, they ended up being hauled onto Ram's back anyway.

"You smell delicious, mee."

"Hiee!?"

In exchange for being spared the run, the journey became a high-tension survival exercise where they were constantly in fear for their lives. By the time the Royal Capital finally came into view, the two of them were completely burnt out.