Chapter 71 The Beastmen's Conference
The Divine Beast Euphemia, is a country born from clans of beastmen──humans who possess animal traits──gathering together and supporting each other.
Therefore, from the very early stages of its founding, there was no "king" in the nation; instead, representatives from each clan gathered to hold conferences to decide the country's policies, taking the form of parliamentary politics.
There is a position called "chairperson" who organizes the meetings, but this role rotates among the clans and doesn't hold any special powers, mainly serving as a facilitator of the discussions.
Its name is the "Council of Beasts."
It is the highest decision-making body of Euphemia.
Euphemia has an advanced political system that is still rare in this world, but, of course, it also bears the drawbacks that come with that system.
In other words──once opinions start to diverge, it's difficult to make any progress in the discussions.
"A delegation from a country that treats our fellow beings as slaves? You've got to be kidding!! How can we continue such friendly discussions with them? Above all else, we must hold them accountable for the harm done to our kin!!"
He slammed his fist on the table, Bang!!
The dull sound echoed through the venue.
The one shouting in a rough tone is Lygar, a young representative of the Red Tiger clan, still quite young.
True to his hot-blooded nature as a young man, his extreme opinions elicited exasperated sighs from those facing him.
"Don't say stupid things. Sure, it's infuriating that our kin were treated as slaves, but Ortria is honestly admitting it and trying to send our kin back without hiding it. The Nobles who messed up have already been purged along with their family, and provoking someone who has at least fulfilled their duty is something that would lower our dignity."
Calmly reprimanding Lygar is the old woman Jamielee, the representative of the White Ape clan.
She is the oldest woman in the current Council of Beast and has extensive political experience.
Because of that, her opinions are logical.
However, Lygar's claims were by no means just personal feelings.
"Shut up, old hag!! If we, the top leaders, waver, the ones below us will be too scared to follow!! If we don't show our pride as beastmen here, then when will we?!"
I've said it many times, but Euphemia was born from multiple beastman clans gathering and supporting each other.
Their bond with each other is paramount, and they are united with that trust and pride in their hearts.
If the Council of Beasta, the top of Euphemia, prioritizes relationships with foreign nations over their own kin, distrust will rise ── soon enough, this nation will fall apart.
Lygar is concerned about that.
However, even Jamielee understands that much.
"But that doesn't justify hitting other countries. To begin with, it was because of our own people that the Blue Wolf fell into slavery."
"Dammit!!"
At Jamielee's remark, Lygar spat it out forcefully.
If you say you can't forgive the treatment of the Blue Wolf clan as slaves, then you must realize that it was the other beastman who created the conditions for the Blue Wolf clan to become slaves in the first place.
The fact that the Golden Fox clan profited by deceiving the Blue Wolf clan, who possessed especially superior physical abilities among beastman, and selling them into slavery while secretly dealing with dark merchants.
By the time they noticed, all the Golden Fox clan members had already fled to the empire, resulting in nothing but the shameful loss of innocent kin.
With Lygar in a panic, claiming the country can't survive unless they regain the trust lost due to that blunder, and Jamielee advising him that because of that blunder, they can't blame Ortria.
The "boy" sitting in the chairman's seat was looking on with a troubled expression at the chaotic meeting room, now filled with numerous supporters debating loudly.
(Well, what to do about this? It doesn't seem like it's going to settle down at all.)
From appearance alone, he looks younger than Lygar and seems like a child.
However, in terms of actual age, he is quite old among this assembly, second only to Jamielee; this peculiar individual is called Seius.
He was reluctantly made to sit in the chairman's seat as the representative of the Suibyou clan due to Euphemia's rotating political system.
(It's all because my grandchild won't hurry up and take over the representative position, such a hassle!)
Ah, Seius let out a sigh in secret.
Beastmen basically cannot use magic.
The magical power within them is used to manifest their high physical abilities.
Among such beastmen, there was a clan that exhibited an exceptional ability similar to magic.
One of them is the Emerald Cat clan.
The fact that he maintains a childlike appearance despite being of an age that should be called an old man is due to that ability.
Moreover, when the Emerald Cat clan decides on a representative, they would choose the one with the strongest ability.
As a result, Seius, contrary to his wishes, had already been participating in the Council of Beast as the representative of the Emerald Cat clan for over 60 years.
He often says he wants to retire soon, which has been his catchphrase for the last 20 years.
(Honestly, what is the point of this meeting... The things we should be doing have long been decided.)
He feels bad for Lygar and Jamiri, who are arguing endlessly, but to Seius, this meeting is a waste of time with predetermined outcomes.
Considering the characteristics of a country called Euphemia and the current political situation, there's only one answer.
(How the envoys from Ortria treated the child of the blue wolf who was enslaved, and what that child wishes... It all depends on that.)
If the Kingdom of Ortria truly put their heart into fulfilling their obligations to Euphemia, the blue wolf's child would likely dislike an attack on Ortria.
If the words of the child who was actually oppressed are heartfelt, it becomes far more likely that the citizens will accept the explanation.
However, on the contrary, if that child isn't receiving enough mental care and is so exhausted that they can't even explain things to the people... no matter what decision the Council of Beast makes, anger towards Ortria among the populace could erupt.
In the first place... there's even a suspicion that the merchant connected to the Golden Fox clan might be an agent of Ortria.
(I really don't think such a thing is likely... but people tend to believe what they want to believe.)
After all, suspicion is just suspicion, and currently the likelihood of that is low.
However, if Ortria's response is too poor, we would have no choice but to start doubting that.
Furthermore, it's a clear fact that a Noble of Ortria possessed slaves flowing from the dark merchants, and using that as a justification to start a war is by no means the outrageous act that Jamiri claims.
And if such a situation were to occur... Seius had no intention of lying down quietly.
(As for myself, when I hear that the children of my kin have been treated harshly, I can't remain calm.)
Though they have let a traitor from the Golden Fox clan slip through, Euphemia's... pride as beastpeople still resides in the hearts of everyone present here.
That's precisely why, even in a meeting where the outcome is predictable, everyone is seriously discussing it.
For the sake of the one comrade who will soon return.
To determine what they should do as those who accept it.
"Lygar, I too have already made up my mind a long time ago. If necessary... no matter who the opponent is, I will bare my fangs for my kin."
"Hmph... You sure say that, old hag."
In the midst of all this, it seems that they have finally started to come to an agreement.
As for the facility and personnel to heal the returning compatriots, that was decided long ago, so once we sort out how to deal with the Ortria Kingdom, we can finally disband the council.
Seius stood up dramatically, not wanting to miss this opportunity.
"It's settled then. As for the response to the Ortria Kingdom, we'll evaluate the condition of the compatriots they have rescued with our own eyes and make a decision afterward. If, by any chance, that child comes back here still wishing for revenge against Ortria──then at that time, I won't hesitate to start a war."
Though he said that out loud, Seius thought to himself.
If possible, he hopes it doesn't come to that.
"Everyone, prepare with that in mind. 'My soul is for my compatriots'"
""""My power is for my friends!!""""
The beastmen struck their chests and exchanged the unique oath words of Euphemia.
However, even the fiery representatives and Seius, who was neatly bringing them all together, still did not know.
That the compatriot protected in Ortria, Thea of the Blue Wolf clan, had already been saved by a single girl at this time.
That she no longer held even a fragment of revenge against Ortria and had long since fallen head over heels, both body and soul....
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