I climbed into the carriage bound for the Northern Region. Eve and Elsi wanted to follow me, but I couldn't take them. Considering the attitude the Northern Grand Duke had toward mermaids and beastfolk, it was reasonable to assume that was the average sentiment of the northern residents. Plus, it would have been a shitty thing to do, bringing a beastfolk and a mermaid before guys who were already suffering because of demi-humans.
My image in the North was probably already fucked, and I had no desire to do anything that would earn me more scorn. The only place in this kingdom where Eve, Cellu, and Elsi could be at ease was my territory. I felt this keenly even as I was handing over my duties to Erina, because the two elf soldiers who had come as her escorts got into a quarrel with Elsi.
Thanks to Erina, who strictly separates public and private affairs, sternly warning them not to pick a fight with Elsi, Eve, or Cellu, the incident didn't escalate. But it was an opportunity to once again confirm what this society thought of beastfolk and mermaids.
Once I solve this, I'm really going to live quietly for a while. Even Evangeline is lying low, so is there any need for me to be so active?
I didn't think the Hero had been taken down by the demi-humans. Because the demi-humans were true cripples.
They might be called 'demi'-humans, but it was hard to see them as human at all. If beastfolk and mermaids at least had a human form, these guys were truly pseudo-humans. There was a reason they were classified separately from beastfolk and mermaids and just called demi-humans.
Other than the fact that they could speak human language, they had nothing in common with humans. Strictly speaking, they were bastards closer to reptilian monsters like the 'Lizard Man'. They were only included in the demi-human classification because they could communicate. If they couldn't even speak, they would have just been classified as monsters. It was so bad that there wasn't even a demi-human type heroine among the heroines, and the only time you conversed with these bastards in-game was during combat event scenes.
So were they a threat in terms of power? The demi-humans had high intelligence and combat power, but their race had a strange pride in their own combat ability, so they didn't use weapons or wear armor. They believed only in their claws and scales. Those bastards.
Of course, their skin, claws, and teeth were fucking tough enough to warrant that pride. The problem was that these bastards were pseudo-lizards, not dragons, so they were only tough 'for their size'.
Thanks to this, the demi-humans in the game were just fucking cripples. They were tough because of their scales, but their agility was low and their claw damage was pathetic, making them living sandbags whose turns came late. On top of that, due to the lore that demi-humans had small numbers, once you massacred the demi-humans in a region, they didn't even respawn. There was even an achievement for massacring them, so guys on multiple playthroughs always made sure to stop by the North and slaughter all the demi-humans.
Of course, from what I'd seen so far, the game and reality were subtly different, so it wasn't entirely impossible. Just look at Eve, who was armed with ridiculously OP specs and almost took down both me and the Hero at sea. And the current Northern Grand Duke, despite having the specs to single-handedly split open demi-human heads and then some, still hadn't managed to wipe them out from the North.
What if I get there and find out the demi-humans have some OP skill like 'double all stats on rocks'?
But despite all that, I was certain the Hero wasn't dead. The moment he surpassed Level 50, the Hero was already a superhuman among superhumans. It meant that whether the demi-human stats were doubled or whatever, if they messed with the Hero, they'd all die. And if they had killed such a Hero, the demi-human bastards would have paraded his neck around everywhere to brag, not act quietly like they were now.
Even if they had captured the Hero, the demi-humans were guys with heads smart enough to negotiate. Since the letter didn't mention him being killed by demi-humans or any demands for negotiation, unless he rolled off a mountain and died by accidental fall, the Hero had to be living just fine in the mountains. Or maybe he was dead.
What the hell is that bastard doing?
The thought of having to find the Hero in that vast Dragon Mountains already made my chest feel tight.
To get to the Northern Grand Duke's territory from my own, I inevitably had to pass through the capital city. I couldn't pack a month's worth of food from the start, so I needed to get some supplies in the capital.
The streets of the capital were bustling as usual. People were crowded on the streets, and the shop owners were enjoying a boom. People were all stuffing food into their mouths and running off to find the next spectacle. What on earth were they watching? I pushed through the crowd and was able to see what it was.
"Now, a show! A show! A show! Everyone! A showdown between a mermaid, the apex predator of the sea! And a beastfolk, the apex predator of the eastern plains! Aren't you curious to see who will win?"
It was a gladiatorial show. It seemed they held shitty shows like this right in the middle of the street in the capital. Was this sort of thing legal? It was probably permitted because the ones fighting weren't human, but a mermaid and a beastfolk. Even the guards had stopped on their patrol to watch this show.
The host took off his fedora and shouted to the crowd.
"Now, everyone! Please place your bets with the collector over there! If you think the mermaid will win, buy a red ticket! If you think the beastfolk will win, buy a blue ticket!"
The mermaid was trembling uncontrollably. In the sea, maybe, but above water, a mermaid was just a talking fish with breasts. Her face was quite pretty, but she was somewhat lacking to be my wife. She seemed to have already lost all her morale, tucking her tail and slowly backing away.
But her physical strength wasn't enough to jump over the makeshift wire mesh.
The beastfolk on the other side was chained by the neck. Unlike the mermaid, who couldn't escape even if let loose, the beastfolk was muzzled and even handcuffed. The host walked around, riling up the crowd, then whispered to the beastfolk.
"Kill the mermaid, and I'll set you free."
"I dislike it if you lie."
"I promise."
Where have I heard that voice before? I was sure I'd heard that voice and seen that face somewhere, but I couldn't remember. Who was it? At the host's signal, two muscular men came in and removed the beastfolk's muzzle and handcuffs. When the beastfolk tried to charge the mermaid immediately, the giants held him tight and pushed him back to create some distance.
The mermaid was already a crying mess. The crowd laughed at the sight of her trying to escape. To be honest, it wasn't a very interesting spectacle. If the beastfolk were going to fuck the mermaid, I would have enjoyed watching too, but looking at the atmosphere, that seemed unlikely.
"Then let the match begin!"
"Wait!"
I shouted. The host stopped his actions at the shout. The crowd's attention turned to me. A bloody fight is no fun unless I'm the one doing it. Besides, wasn't this just a one-sided massacre of a beautiful girl? The beastfolk's gaze also turned to me. His eyes gradually widened, then he pointed a finger at me and shouted.
"You, you...! Priest! You bad guy!"
What's this. Does that bastard know who I am? Looking closely, he seemed familiar. The beastfolk's face was already red with shame. That fucking gay-looking face, the animal ears, and those furry arms and that wild, gay-like physique.
"Loki?"
"N-No! I am Roy! Why can't you remember!"
Roy shouted, gritting his teeth. I knew. I just threw a joke out because it was funny to meet him in a situation like this. The people were murmuring. They probably thought the show was over now that an Archdeity Church priest had intervened. The host glared at me with a face full of dissatisfaction and asked.
"Priest. I am holding this performance with official permission from the kingdom. If you ruin the mood like this..."
"That beastfolk is my acquaintance. I'd be grateful if you'd release him."
Roy's eyes widened at my words, and his body trembled. The host licked his lips, looking back and forth between the beastfolk and me. There was no way the show would end with just one mermaid being killed by a beastfolk. He surely had a few spare beastfolk or fish-men.
"And I would also appreciate it if you'd release the mermaid. I don't wish to see mermaids die."
"Are you saying you're going to ruin the pleasure of the people here with just your empty mouth?"
"Of course, I will pay the price. I just have to give you as much money as the commission you would have originally received from this match, right?"
The host was contemplating. After licking his lips for a long while, lost in thought, he opened his mouth.
"Understood. Release them. Where should I send the bill?"
"Bill it in the name of Peta Lusius of the Peta Territory."
At that name, both the host and the people were all shocked. I could hear the murmuring from here. I distinctly heard the words 'mermaid-lover'. The host looked back and forth between the mermaid and me, then cleared his throat. I hope that fucking bastard makes sure to visit my territory one day.
From a quick glance, there were still many iron cages behind the stage. But I had no intention of releasing all of them. The host handed both the mermaid and Roy over to me and prepared to proceed with the next match.
I took the mermaid and Roy to a back alley where people couldn't see.
Roy was trembling, his face flushed red. I undid Roy's collar and muzzle completely. Roy glared at me and spoke.
"I don't know what your ulterior motive is."
"Go to your hometown. I'm letting you go because you're Elsi's acquaintance."
"Humans. They can't be trusted. I don't trust you either."
I didn't care. Whether this bastard trusted humans or not. Roy seemed strangely unable to bear the fact that I had saved him. He trembled with fury, glaring at me. Roy spoke.
"You! I won't forgive you! I will definitely bring Elsi back!"
Anyone hearing that would think I'd kidnapped Elsi.
"I hope you understand what I said! Mermaid-lover!"
"You fucking bastard!"
My fist flew out reflexively. Roy, who had rolled on the ground from a single punch, clutched his swollen cheek and glared at me before shouting once more.
"I-I'll remember this!"
And so, Roy escaped. I was going to call the Royal Knight Order to give him an escort, but he just left. Fucking bastard. Then I looked at the mermaid. The mermaid was already trembling. She carefully bowed her head in greeting.
"Th-Thank you for helping me."
As expected, unlike beastfolk, mermaids knew courtesy. Why would anyone want to kill such cute creatures? I smiled and said.
"Are you alright?"
When I held out my hand, the mermaid flinched in surprise and pulled back. She trembled, covering her chest and private parts. And as soon as she realized she was in a back alley, she carefully lowered her hands, pressed her body flat against the wall, and then spread her own cunt as she spoke.
"Th-That... I... It's my f-first time... so please be gentle..."
"No, fuck, I'm not a mermaid-lover. Got it?"
"R-Really?"
The mermaid asked, her face blushing. But seeing her spreading her cunt like that was turning me on. I decided to temporarily become a mermaid-lover.
"Actually, I'm a beast who fucks both mermaids and beastfolk."
"Kkiyat....."
I covered the mermaid's mouth and began my foreplay on her cunt. I'll just get one off before I go.