Chapter 102

The next day, the birdfolk patrolled the area from up high . But they did not see any pursuers .

Indeed, no one had seen them enter the villa . The birdfolk and dogfolk had insisted that they were just sightseeing . And the merfolk left by themselves .

Even if they had been pursued, on what grounds could they be caught? While Chiharu’s wig had come off, they could just insist that the Saintesses were not there .

“We must return to make a report to Arthur . Though, I wish we could escort you back to Lowland . ”

“We’re fine . Besides, this is probably the fastest way . ”

Maki said with a laugh to the worried Zynis . According to their plan, Maki and Chiharu were going to be carried to Lowland by the birdfolk .

“We’re not in a hurry this time . And we plan to stay at an inn on the way . ”

Maki said as she looked towards Aaron and Edwy . They nodded silently . Then Zynis turned to the birdfolk .

“Are you fine with this, Sauro and Saikania?”

“We’re not . But there’s something that we have to do now . We’ll tell you once we see Maki and Chiharu off . ”

Sauro said with a longing look towards Maki and Chiharu . Maki and Chiharu would have also felt better if Sauro and Saikania were with them . They wanted them to accompany them to Lowland, but this could not be helped .

“There will be a worrywart elf waiting when you return to Lowland . There won’t be any problem if you just say that Maki and Chiharu were in the elf lands . I will try to catch up with you as quickly as possible . But you must hurry . ”

Sauro said . It was unusual for him to be so serious .

“I understand . Sauro . ”

“What?”

“Thank you . Be careful . ”

“I know . ”

The corner of Sauro’s mouth rose just a little, and then he signaled to the other birdfolk .

And like that, the Saintess’s group flew off into the distance all at once .

“Sauro . What are you planning to do?”

Zynis asked him as they watched the sky in which Maki and Chiharu had disappeared .

“I’m going to ask the chief to send birdfolk to the inlands . ”

“What! I thought that the birdfolk didn’t want to go inland . Don’t you say that it’s too formal?”

“Well, I think that it’s more because they just treat us as carriers . If it’s boring, then we have no reason to go . ”

“But…”

“Zynis . ”

Sauro looked him straight in the eyes .

“While people say that we birdfolk are free, it is especially true with our generation . The chief is often troubled because of us . But I am not like that . If we are free, then we should act like it . ”

“I see . Yes, you all seem so relaxed . ”

Even when the Saintesses were gone, the remaining birdfolk were loud and seemed to be enjoying themselves . Zynis watched them with a look of exasperation .

“And so I won’t be so strict . I will send out whoever wants to go . Even if there are dozens of them . ”

“Are you serious!”

Dilon interrupted .

“I am . There is strength in numbers . To be honest, you are most worried about the area around the inland capital, aren’t you, Zynis?”

“Hmm . ”

“They will likely reject an offer to send birdfolk . And so I will send many of us before they can reject us . That would allow us to scout out the area in advance . It will also serve to make an impression on the inland commoners . ”

“I didn’t realize you were thinking so far ahead . ”

Zynis sounded impressed .

“Half of it was my idea, Zynis . ”

“Well, that’s true . ”

Sauro nodded at Saikania’s words .

“After all, the inland upward current is so amusing . ”

“That’s what you care about!”

“Besides, we have to go to Lowland anyway . The children are waiting . ”

“You only care about playing . ”

Dilon shook his head with exasperation .

“And what’s wrong with playing? I don’t know about you, Dilon, but Ortha and Corete enter dungeons because they enjoy the fighting . ”

It was true that the dungeons weren’t an obligation . The beastlands generally did not need any human Adventurers . It was because they had enough beastkin fighters . Why did they have enough? Because a lot of them enjoyed fighting .

“It’s true that we enjoy fighting . But if you say that you birdfolk get a similar enjoyment out of sightseeing in the human territories, well, I can only object . ”

“Wait . You can only object?”

Ortha did not agree with Dilon’s words .

“Even if the birdfolk are free, they are still part of the beastkin territories . Their actions will affect the reputation of all of us . We are used to the birdfolk behaving like this, but it is different inland . It is quite possible that they will lump all of us beastkin together . Why do you think Arthur sent us out in secret?”

Ortha and Saikania glared at each other .

“I will tell not just Mira, but the other beastkin through Mira . Is that enough?”

Sauro said . Ortha and Saikania turned their noses away from each other .

“But still…”

Sauro muttered .

“Out of everyone here, it was just me and my sister who saw the Saintesses at Gromble . ”

“What do you mean?”

Zynis asked .

“There were so many monsters that you couldn’t see anything else . And yet they were all turned into magic stones . At the time, I was sick with worry for Maki and Chiharu . But thinking back, it was quite incredible . But that’s not what I was trying to say . ”

Sauro turned to Zynis .

“The monsters were obeying Chiharu . ”

Zynis looked at him questioningly . They had seen what they did two nights ago . Sauro continued in an annoyed voice .

“I knew that they could understand each others’ will . However, I didn’t know that they would obey orders . ”

Sauro recalled when Chiharu had shouted for them to stay in the air . It was nice seeing that side of Chiharu as well . But that wasn’t what he should be thinking about now .

“What would happen if Chiharu ordered the monsters to attack?”

Sauro was imagining all of the monsters gathering around the Saintesses . What if Chiharu could control all of them?

“As if Maki and Chiharu would do such a thing . ”

Saikania said as she made a fist and hit Sauro lightly on the shoulder

“You’re not very smart, older brother . So there is no point in thinking about it now . ”

“Saikania, that’s no way to talk to your older brother…”

“What? If such a thing were to happen…”

“Were to happen?”

“It would be if Maki and Chiharu were in danger . Then what is it that we should do?”

“Keep them out of danger . ”

“Exactly . ”

Saikania smiled . What? It was that simple? Sauro felt much better .

“I see . I guess I really am not suited for thinking . Well then, we must rush back to Mira in the beastlands . ”

“Hmm . Ultimately, you did help us . As for Mira… No, nevermind . Be careful!”

As Zynis said his farewell, the birdfolk took off into the sky .

“Except for Sauro and Saiknania, the other birdfolk have returned inland . ”

“Were they even listening to what was being said?”

Corete and Ortha muttered as they watched . However, Dilon only seemed to be lost in thought .

“What is it, Dilon?”

“Hmm, nothing . I was just thinking about how Sauro and I are practically the same age . ”

“Really . Young people are so much trouble . ”

Ortha said with a snort .

“Our chief is still in good health . Mother will probably be next . After that is undecided . ”

“What? Don’t tell me you’re going to be a candidate?”

“Of course, not . But Sauro’s so free in spite of being next in line . ”

“So?”

“So I think that I should be more free too . ”

Dilon said as he looked up at the sky .

“You’re so arrogant . ”

But he ignored his sister . Zynis chuckled . His son was not very flexible about such things .

“You are the one who binds yourself . It’s up to you to be free or not . ”

Dilon looked to his father .

“Yes . The person who is the most free amongst us dogfolk . That’s you, father . ”

“You should live as you see fit . ”

They stood side by side and looked at the sky .

“For now, let’s return to Arthur . Damn it . Cleo and Kaela seemed to have gone off somewhere . ”

It was fine to dream, but reality was here now . They nodded at Ortha’s words, and the four of them changed forms and then hurried off towards Midland .

With the information that there were several dungeons inland .