I listened in silence as Caraway explained why she had called herself the Disgrace of the Species. Her expression was tinged with a faint loneliness as she began her story.
"As I mentioned before, the Cat Raids are a fragile race. If we were to encounter even a moderately powerful monster, our entire species would be at risk of extinction. Since it is nearly impossible for us to survive on our own, we gather with other similarly weak races to form small towns. We then place those settlements under the territory of a High-ranking Demon. By paying a form of tax or tribute, we receive their protection in return. That is how my people live."
"I don't know much about the geography of the Demon Realm, but is that a common arrangement?" I asked.
"It happens quite often," Acht cut in. "Species with high combat potential, like my own Ogre kin, usually stick to their own kind. But races that lack fighting strength generally find ways to coexist with others."
The number of species residing in the Demon Realm was staggering, so it was only natural that some were ill-suited for battle. In a world where monsters far more terrifying than those in the Human Realm roamed freely, seeking the shelter of the strong was likely a fundamental necessity for survival.
"Within that environment, my reaching Peerage-class was a major turning point for the Cat Raids. It was the first time any of us had done so. Naturally, life is far easier when you are under the protection of one of your own, and my rise in rank boosted our species' status within the community. Because of that, they hailed me as the Hero of the Species."
"..."
But everything had changed. Knowing what had triggered that downfall, I felt a heavy, complicated knot in my chest.
"However, I allowed myself to be consumed by greed. I received a warning from the Underworld King-sama, and my standing collapsed instantly. I no longer possessed the authority required to maintain a territory. It was entirely my own fault, but my kin began to call me the 'Disgrace of the Species' after that."
"To turn their backs on you so suddenly..." Acht muttered.
"I don't like the sound of that at all," Eva added, her brow furrowed.
Both of them looked genuinely upset. As Special Individuals who had been persecuted by their own kin and forced to abandon their homes, they clearly found the behavior of Caraway's people distasteful.
To be honest, hearing it made me feel a bit sick to my stomach as well. It sounded as if they had used her for as long as she was useful, then discarded her the second she lost her power.
Caraway, however, only offered a bitter smile and shook her head.
"It couldn't be helped. It wasn't that they wanted to say those things. After my authority vanished, my territory was immediately taken over by a Peerage-class High-ranking Demon who ruled the neighboring land. Our territories had been close, so she and I had clashed many times in the past. To survive under her protection, my people had no choice but to go along with the crowd and disparage me."
"I see..."
"They didn't have the strength to live without the shelter of a High-ranking Demon. They had to cut me loose."
Because they couldn't survive on their own, they were forced to insult Caraway regardless of their true feelings. Just as a wave of helplessness began to settle over me, Caraway spoke up again, looking a bit flustered.
"Oh, please don't misunderstand! That was only for a short time. My reputation has been restored now, and I've reconciled with my kin. When I finally went to see them, they apologized to me in tears."
"O-Oh, I see. Well, that’s a relief. But wait, if that's the case, what happened to them? Are they under your protection again?"
I asked the question even though I suspected the answer was no. Caraway lived at my mansion now, so it didn't seem like she was acting as a territorial lord. Were her people still living in that same town?
"No. That incident made me realize that I wasn't suited for leadership. Even though my reputation was restored, I had no desire to return to my old position. However, a certain individual pulled some strings behind the scenes. My kin are currently living in a city managed by that person."
"A certain individual?"
"Yes. The Underworld King-sama."
"Wait, Kuro did?"
I stared at her in shock. It was a completely unexpected name. Caraway continued her explanation with a gentle smile.
"Yes. While it was the Underworld King-sama who issued the warning to me, it seems she had already considered the impact my fall would have on my people. She kept a close watch on the town where they lived. She intended to intervene if they were ever subjected to undue persecution. Of course, she couldn't exactly step in just because they were bad-mouthing me..."
I see. Kuro might act carefree, but she’s incredibly sharp. Just like the time she took precautions regarding my dislike of green peppers, she often looks several steps ahead. It was truly impressive.
"Once my reputation was restored, she suggested the relocation. Thanks to her, it's much easier for me to visit my family now. If I had visited them frequently while they were still in their old town, it would have reflected poorly on the prestige of the High-ranking Demon who had taken over the area."
"That makes sense."
"Though, to be honest, I wasn't truly worried about them being persecuted. I knew the High-ranking Demon who seized my territory well... She’s an unpleasant woman, certainly. A persistent, sarcastic nag... but she isn't the type of monster who would ruthlessly target the weak."
Caraway clenched her fist as she spoke, looking somewhat irritated, yet I didn't sense any genuine malice. Despite her harsh words, it seemed she actually held her former rival in some regard.
The Peerage-class High-ranking Demon who took over Caraway's territory:
A Special Individual of the Hellhound race and a dog-type beastman. She shared many similarities with Caraway—both were beastmen, both were Viscount-class High-ranking Demons at the time, and they were nearly identical in height and combat ability. As such, they were rivals who frequently clashed. Immediately following Caraway’s fall, she incorporated the town into her own territory and insulted Caraway at every opportunity. However, she didn't truly despise her. She was simply furious that Caraway had been stupid enough to lose her position. She seized the territory so quickly specifically to prevent other, more ruthless High-ranking Demons from pillaging the defenseless town. Additionally, when Caraway’s former subordinates tried to instantly betray their old master and curry favor with her, she flew into a rage and crushed them herself. When Caraway’s reputation was eventually restored, the Hellhound was in a noticeably good mood, even as she grumbled, "Tch... stubborn wench." Currently, because Caraway reached Count-class first, she is training feverishly to reach that rank herself.