I was shown a racial wall that no amount of effort could overcome.
Those who were born as beastmen must serve the elves. The beastmen who we pa.s.sed by along the city kneeled and hung their heads to her as if it were a matter of course.
Cecilia also walked briskly without paying attention to them. It was somewhat similar to Seyfert, the royal capital where I used to live.
Was it the same as the commoners who were afraid of the Holy Knightsā¦ No, the gap between races seemed to be deeper than that.
Why were the beastmen following the elves? I had no way to know now.
[Whatās wrong?]
Cecilia, who was walking ahead, turned around with a strange look on her face.
[The elvesā¦ are pretty important figures I see.]
When I said that while looking at the prostrating beastmen, Cecilia laughed at me.
[Important huhā¦ it might look like that. The elves are protecting them, butā¦]
[Protecting? From what?]
[Even if I tell you, I don't think you, a human, will understand.]
She didnāt think that I would be able to understand since Iām an outsider.
It would be nice if she could tell me. I mustāve been thinking out loud, or it showed all over my face.
Once again, Cecilia laughed at me.
[You're a strange person.]
[How come?]
[Other elves aren't interested in that, and they don't even think about it.]
[Is that normal?]
[āCause it's a smaller world than you think. Itās complicated.]
Saying that, she looked somewhere in the distance for a while. I felt that the point of her gaze was probably directed toward the outside of the Great Wall.
[Come on, let's move on. If we wait too long, the sun will set.]
[Even if you say so.]
The people who came and wentāāthe beastmen were a rare sight to me, and I couldnāt help but stare. Some with cat ears, some with dog earsā¦all sorts of things.
What was that? He had small round ears and a muscular body.
[H~m, maybe a bear beastmen?]
[Stop gawking.]
We pa.s.sed by what appeared to be bear beastmen. He bowed his head like everyone else.
Although he looked extremely strong, he seemed to be terrified by Cecilia's appearance.
The elves must be powerful figures in this part of the worldā¦ that much I know itās true. After all, one easily defeated the Fenrir that attacked me.
[You're slowing down again. Come quickly.]
[Okay, okay.]
[Just once is enough.]
[Yes.]
As we kept moving ahead, the dirt road turned into stone pavement. The surrounding buildings also changed from wooden to white brick.
The beastman were nowhere to be seen among the citizens around here.
It became only those with the same long ears as Ceciliaāāthe elves. The elf's clothes were beautifully tailored, unlike the beastman's faded clothes. As you could see, the standard of living was different. They seemed to be living a rich life.
Moreover, from the elves pa.s.sing by, I could feel that theyāre br.i.m.m.i.n.g with pride.
[Hey Cecilia.]
[What is it?]
[Am I looking out of place?]
[It's okay. You look like an elf.]
With a mischievous expression, Cecilia pointed at my ear.
[Is it because I donāt have beastmen ears?]
[Correct.]
[Isnāt that too simple? I have a bad feeling about it.]
[You're exaggerating. Even the beastmen misunderstood you as an elf.]
Just because beastmen were like that didnāt mean elves were the same.
Actually, Cecilia herself saw through that I wasn't an elf. Had she forgottenā¦.
Iām sure there will be some who think the same.
[Hey, youā¦ who are you!]
See, just as I thought. A tall and slim male elf tried to grab me on the shoulder.
Judging from his armed appearance, he must be in charge of security. Furthermore, the elf behind him, who seems to be his partner, was glaring at me.
If I acted poorly here, it could develop into a dispute. Even if I escaped, I would be like a mouse in a bag in a miniature garden surrounded by the Great Wall. Besides, it's difficult for me to reprimand an elf soldier with my current power.
I reflexively tried to grasp the hilt of the broken black sword, but I immediately calmed down.
Cecilia looked at me like that. Then, smile gently and take a step forward.
[Hold it. Heās mine.]
[Ah!?]
Whatās with that "heās mine"!? Didnāt you just make it unintentionally strange!?
I didn't understand the meaning of those words. That's why I must have looked quite stupid.
[Cecilia-sama!]
[I allow it.]
[Butā¦]
The elf soldier was still glaring at me with a bitter face. To that extent, it seems that they didnāt like other races stepping in here.
[Iāll say it again. This one is mine.]
Once she said so, the elf soldier finally stepped back. Though he still stared at me.
Immediately, his face turned startled and he left in haste.
[What was that? And why did he call you Cecilia-samaā¦]
[Iām actually a pretty big figure around here despite looking like this. Ahh, I guess one could still tell from your ears.]
[Cecilia also noticed it yourself, didnāt you? Did you forget?]
[Thatās my badā¦ sorry. But no worries. Iāll finish the procedure later.]
[Procedure?]
Cecilia walked ahead and said while looking back.
[Letās just say itāll make your life here easier.]
[Why would you go to such lengths?]
[Thatāsā¦because I feel that youāre unique. Iām sure thereās a meaning to our encounter. Letās just say itās my intuition?]
[How vague.]
Itās not really convincing. And that thought mustāve been written all over my face.
Cecilia let out a sigh.
[Well, not bad. And no matter how insensitive you are, you should have understood by watching this far.]
[A society ruled by the elves?]
[Think carefully about whose protection it would be easier to live with. Lost child, Fate-san.]
[Kuh.]
If you put it that way, thereās no way for me to refute. To be entwined with other elf soldiers like earlier would be too much to handle at present.
Having Ceciliaās help was actually rea.s.suring.
[Let me tell you one more thing.]
[Is there more?]
[Donāt cause trouble. You seem like the type that itches for battle.]
[ā¦..I know.]
[I hope you hold those words to heart.]
Cecilia's face was completely different from before, and I felt something sacred. At the same time, something that had been quiet inside of meāāI felt like the Gluttony skill was wriggling.
This feelingā¦somewhereā¦
[Come on, let's go. It's almost my house.]
[Finally. All this luggage is also heavy.]
My arms and shoulders were getting exhausted because I was carrying a bag of horned rabbits the whole time. With the benefits of status, would I be so exhausted?
Although itās a fresh experience, it felt too real. This was the real me. Maybe I should train a little more.
I put the luggage back on my shoulders and chased after Cecilia.
She must be living in a huge mansion, since the guard referred to her as Cecilia-sama.
[This is my home.]
[Eh.]
[What? Whatās with the surprised look!]
It was a cozy little brick house. The garden seems to be well taken care of, and colorful flowers were blooming vigorously in the flower bed.
[Did you think I lived in a mansion or something?]
[Because they called you "Cecilia-sama" and all.]
[Ahahaha, so gullible. Look, keeping a huge mansion clean is difficult.]
[Alright, thatās fair.]
[Iām just practical. Take the luggage to the backyard]
[Alright, alright.]
[Just once is enough.]
[Yes.]
Once again I was treated like a servant. Itās kinda nostalgic.
Because it reminded me of the past when I was working at Roxyās mansion.
Where was she now? I tried to remember what happened in His land, butā¦ I was. .h.i.t by a headache that felt like my head would split open again.