Chapter 269: A New Land - A New Mystery!
Magnificent trees, colourful and vibrant flora surrounding winding dirt paths and untouched mountains and hilltops. A collection of various climates suited to different clans and races, a beautiful group of untamed beauty.
The beauty of the Beast Kingdoms was their choice to live in certain areas while leaving the rest to nature out of respect for the goddess of Nature. A fair and neutral goddess blessed all races who knew how to appreciate the world and her beautiful nature.
The goddess was mainly linked with the elves, who loved the forests, but she once made a deal with the first empress of the beast Empire that fractured upon her death.
However, even now, she is considered the goddess of all half beasts, beasts and their kin.
Asmodeus and his large group of knights and ladies reached the border after three days of travel—along the way, they met with bandits, monsters and various adventurers curious about their goal. He did not feel like revealing his purpose, so he had everyone give vague answers and ignore their probing.
'Well, some of them seemed to be strange, following us from the moment we left Baltimore... So I killed them after having Liana help me torture them.' He thought to himself, looking out the window of his carriage while sipping on some tea that Erika poured for him.
'Spies for the Kingdom's nobles... The Lord of Baltimore was curious about our plans, then even cultists killed themselves the moment they were caught. It seems that many people were interested in our group, but now they will never know...'
"It's been five days. Are we going to reach the first tribe soon...?" Asmodeus wondered out loud while Yumiko leaned against him with a warm smile. "Mmm, I believe that we should reach the eastern clans soon."
"Eastern clans?"
.net
Asmodeus knew little about the beast kingdoms other than they had an emperor born from one of the clans and four main clans that took a role similar to the kingdom's Dukes. Pillars of the kingdoms.
Yumiko's ears fluttered as she glanced up towards Asmodeus. "Do you want to know more?"
'Although I know her look is quite adorable, so let's listen to her explanation.'n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om
"I would love to, Yumi." Asmodeus smiled warmly down at her.
'Our master has quite the soft spot for the mistress...' Erika thought to herself when Yumiko smiled brightly while her five tails danced in the air, slapping the soft leather cushions.
"The main clans control the lands of the north, south, east and west, while there is a vast island in the centre of the kingdoms that are ruled by the reigning emperor's clan."
"The Milduke family of Lion and cat type beastmen in the West."
"The Varmen family of aviation and bird-type beastmen in the south."
"The Luca family of aquatic-type basement in the North touching the great sea between the Beast kingdom and the elven empire."
"The Inukami family of the fox-type beastman in the east."
Asmodeus listened to the four large families and wondered why there weren't any wolves, who were usually the biggest competitors against the lions in stories.
'I wonder where the wolves are...?'
"Oh...?" Then, his mind suddenly made him remember something, and he asked. "By chance, are the current clan occupying the emperor's seat wolves?"
Yumiko's face brightened as she looked excited. Although she was once a woman from Earth, she abandoned and accepted her second life as a woman born in the Inukami family—the reason she began to research this was because of meeting a travelling fox beastkin who mentioned something that shocked Yumiko.
"Only the purest royal bloodline of the Inukami can grow multiple tails... Miss, please allow me to worship your beautiful tails."
This happened when Asmodeus was on a quest with Liana, and she was a little embarrassed to mention it, but after meeting that woman, Yumiko began to look into her past and wanted to discover why she was sold to a slave trader and if her bloodline wasn't because of becoming a demon but something form her original bodies blood.
Then, she wanted to use it to help Asmodeus in his current effort to stop a war between the nations surrounding Grigor. She loved her new family and couldn't imagine seeing them all fight a war where they might be injured or even killed.
That would be her worst nightmare.
"Yes, the current Empress is from the Divine Wolf tribe named after a divine beast of ancient lore, the Fenrir family, which used to be one of many wolf tribes, but it's now the strongest and one of the last surviving wolf tribes, but I've only heard of how strong they are from books..."
"Is the Fenrir family friendly with the Inukami?"
Yumiko shook her head before continuing her explanation. "Although they are quite powerful in terms of military, I do not believe that they have an Inugami on their side. The two families were once at war—according to history, a thousand years ago, the first Inukami Empress was born.
She grew three tails before turning twenty and became a threat to Fenrir's authority in the east, but then, she died under mysterious circumstances."
"She was the same type of beast as the Fox tribe's Goddess?"
Yumiko looked a little troubled for a moment before she answered Asmodeus. "Well, the Inukami clan and most fox beastkin worship the goddess of darkness, Serena... Since we were born in her image."
'She doesn't look very happy about that. Is it because I told her about me and Serena and our first meeting?'
Asmodeus pulled his eyes off the passing trees and wilderness that stretched to the east and gazed at the fox demon, who looked uncomfortable. However, she kept explaining the history behind the four large clans of the Beast Kingdoms.
"Before I explain more about the first Empress of the Inukami family, I'll mention the other two major clans so you know what their stances might be. The Varmen and Luca families are a very peaceful and neutral pair of clans who have few scandals or trouble regarding history."
Yumiko paused before taking a drink of tea and looking at Erika. "Thanks, Eri. Do you want to sit with us? I know you love darling just as much as me."
Erika was shocked and began to blush a little, but she did not deny it—instead, she sat next to Asmodeus and Yumiko while he put his arm around her waist, keeping her close.
He didn't care what she felt for him as long as she understood he loved her—even though Yumiko had the number one seat. The difference between each woman was no longer as big compared to the past.
"Well, they're also quite a large pair of clans and families... and not everyone bows to the leading families."
"I see..." Asmodeus pondered her words. It wasn't easy to control a large family with many members. After all, many were born of different races and breeds.
He thought humans were all one race, and they struggled to work together. 'How do different beasts live together without constant conflict?'
As if sensing Asmodeus's question, Yumiko continued. "It is because of the Emperor or Empress of the beast kingdoms and their respect towards them and their family—because of the divine blessing, it becomes difficult for two races under their protection to shed each other's blood because their entire bloodline will become cursed."
Erika and Asmodeus looked at her in surprise.
'How powerful is a god's or goddess's blessing on these four families?'
Asmodeus was curious, wondering how a curse that strong could be cast and maintained by something.
Then he remembered the curse on the Grigor Royal family, then it made him realise it was the same thing, but instead of the royalty being cursed, it was the people.
'Such power and authority could only be given through divine intervention. I wonder if that first Empress could do something similar. Or maybe they were the Apostle of the Goddess of beastkin or Nature?'
"It seems I will need to read up a lot more on these Beast clans while we are here," Erika whispered while hugging Asmodeus.
"Enemy attack!" A female knight yelled from outside. The sound of clashing swords and the neigh of horses echoed as Erika and Yumiko rushed to see what was happening through the windows.
Hundreds of beautiful females with spears, their bodies wore soft, silken robes of a familiar style to Erika, Yumiko and Asmodeus. It was the style of their country back on earth, shrine maiden style outfits, kimonos and old-fashioned clothes.
However, what caused Asmodeus to feel slightly shocked was their beauty. They looked just like Yumiko and Serena, but not quite at the same level. But their faces were smooth, with juicy, full lips and dazzling eyes. Each one appeared to have a few unique features, but they were all charming.
"Put down your weapons, state your business in the Inukai domain!" One female, slightly taller and older than the others, said to the knights. Her voice was sweet, yet her aura was threatening as the rest of the women stood by her side with their spears ready to attack at any time.
"Asmodeus... let's go outside." Yumiko's voice sounded a little strange, but Asmodeus also felt confused. The tall female looked identical to Yumiko, only her hair was golden, while Yumiko's was snow white now... she once had golden hair when he met her with blue eyes, the spitting image of the leading female.
Erika held Yumiko's hand as she and Asmodeus left their carriage.
'I wonder if this is fate rather than an accidental happening. Maybe it was Serena that made this happen...'
As he walked out of his carriage, dozens of narrow eyes gazed upon them, almost like they pierced his soul. The tall female was still watching his knights when she finally noticed him before looking at Yumiko, and her aura and expression collapsed before her eyes widened in disbelief.
"Y....Yumiko? It cannot be... you were.... they said you.... were dead?!"
"Princess, you must not!"
"Princess!"
The tall woman stepped forward, her weapon dropping to the floor as she began to increase her pace. Masterful and perfectly measured strides as she dashed to Yumiko—Asmodeus stopped the knights from attacking because he could feel no aggression or danger.
Only sorrow, joy, delight and hope... emitted from the woman.
"Yumiko!"
However, the woman who stood beside Asmodeus looked shocked—like a stone. She froze solid and looked pale as her face began to fill with thick sweat.
Erika whispered in Asmodeus' ears: "This must be her sister... What should we do?"
"... I'll speak with her later."
Yumiko was suddenly embraced by the flying woman, her arms wrapped around her back. The difference was that there were only two blonde tails, while Yumiko had five snow-white tails that were longer and thicker than the woman who knew her name.
"I thought you were dead... For so many years...."
However... Yumiko's voice caused the entire area to freeze.
"Forgive me, but who are you...?"
"Hueh?!"
"I do not remember you."