As an arrow shot through the skull of one of the guards I had already begun walking back to the wagon the girls were resting in. I would have put it in some sort of barrier but the thing is I had already replaced the cloth which was previously covering it with my own voidcloth so none of the arrows would be able to get through. It was the only reinforced wagon. And the only wagon without any cages in it.

A few arrows also shot out towards me but I burned them out of the air with a black flame. They would have passed through me completely harmlessly anyway but I decided not to freak the ones behind this ambush out TOO much. I wanted to assert myself as someone they do not want to mess with but I also didn’t want them finding out I’m not human. After all in negotiations having a few hidden cards up your sleeves is best. And I have plenty.

Opening the curtain to the back inside were Lily and Cel as well as the caravan master who must have hidden here quickly enough to not get shot.

“S-sir Kenos! What is the situation outside?” (Caravan Master)

All of the guards as well as the caravan master himself had started admiring me quite a bit during the journey. I had saved them more than a few times and they had come to even calling me sir as if I was the leader. How unnecessary. I don’t want fucking slave traders to admire me goddamnit!

“It is hopeless. The guards won’t hold out. I advise surrender.” (Kenos)

“B-but who knows what they will do to us if they capture us! For starters I don’t believe they will let us leave here alive.” (Caravan master)

“Just surrender and leave the rest to me.” (Kenos)

He nodded hesitantly. He trusted me quite a bit and I decided to make use of it. The outside was already quiet. The slave traders were probably all dead already. They were way too ill-equipped to handle an ambush by a large armed group. The only reason they had gotten this far was because of my help… and I wasn’t helping any longer.

As we got out of the wagon the caravan master went first and taking advantage of it Lily whispered something to me.

“Are you sure this is gonna be okay?” (Lily)

“Hey. If they refuse to be diplomatic about stuff then I’ll just play at their game. But I’ll try to handle it peacefully as promised.” (Kenos)

“What about the caravan master?” (Cel)

“He’s just a dirty slave trader anyway. He sells off humans and their rights to others as if they’re merchandise. No need to keep him alive.” (Kenos)

Both of them nodded. We were going to deal with the caravan soon anyway. These ambushers just did our job for us. Now then how to take advantage of this situation? I judged that we had talked enough and just jumped down from the wagon.

There was a vast number of beastkin surrounding us and pointing their spears and swords in our direction. Judging from their ears and tails there were cats, dogs, rabbits, even bears. It was a collection of all kinds of different beastkin. Much different from what I read about how they worked. They weren’t in formation because they didn’t feel the need to be in one to handle a fat caravan master, one scrawny-looking guy with a seeming fetish for black and white and two girls who didn’t even look like they’d gotten out of their teen years... especially Cel.

Or so I thought but one of the beastkin went over to someone who seemed to be the commander and whispered something to him. The commander had black hair and a stern face. He was slightly bigger than normal in size and judging by his tail and ears was a cat. I inwardly decided that he was a black panther. That’s the image I got from the man. While I was analyzing him the man whispering something to him ran back and the commander shouted.

“Be careful! The one in black is dangerous. Probably a mage of significant strength!” (Commander)

Smart. Smarter than most people I’ve met in this world. I unconsciously smiled. Finally someone who seemed to be of sufficient intelligence. I met a few people which weren’t garbage in Astrain like Brul and the guys at the Inn in Karpas but I feel like this is the first intelligent person I’ve met with actual authority. Not counting the previous… well current lord of Karpas as he was a slave before I freed him.

The beastkin got into an actual formation with the spearmen at the front with the swordmen around two meters behind them and the archers even further away. It was obvious that they were well trained as it took only one simple warning of their commander to have them in formation in mere seconds. Even if it was a simple one.

The commander raised his hand and the archers readied their bows. Not this again…

“I advise you to stop.” (Kenos)

The commander who was readying to lower his arm signaling his bowmen to release the arrows suddenly stopped. I took advantage of the fact that the caravan master could not speak the beastkin language. Lily and Cel were getting there but at this point they would only understand bits and pieces of a conversation. At this point it would only be enough for them to understand the general gist of the conversation. Not that I needed to hide this one from them.

“I don’t care about the fatass slave trader. You can do whatever the hell you want with him. But if you dare try and hurt one of the girls behind me…” (Kenos)

I took a slight pause to look at their reactions. Most of them had none. They were just waiting for orders to attack. The archers were still keeping their bows at the ready. The commander though seemed to understand that I am not to be trifled with and that it would be better to talk now than to fight.

I was going to finish my sentence but decided against it. The panther seemed to understand my implications anyway even without the threat. He signaled the bowmen to lower his bows. They looked slightly surprised but followed the order anyway.

“Very well. If what you say is true then I want proof. If you truly do not care for the man then slay him. If you do that then I will trust you.” (Commander)

I hope this isn’t one of those stupid. Actually I can’t trust someone who would betray his employer so easily situations. If it is then holy shit am I done with diplomacy. I looked towards Lily who seemed to have gotten the gist of the conversation and she just nodded towards me, taking the sword which is also myself off her waist and throwing it to me. The slave trader looked confused but not for long as I had already drawn and plunged the sword in his throat.

“How’s that?” (Kenos)

The commander nodded and had his soldiers open a way for him to move forward. He wasn’t afraid of retaliation. That’s only because he didn’t know what I was capable of and thought that I would not do something foolish like attack his men while I’m surrounded. H walked up to us but his men still kept their weapons at the ready. Two swordsmen that looked stronger than the rest followed behind him. Maybe they were his lieutenants or something.

“Since you have proven that you at least care little for the life of this man I will at least listen to you. Why have you come to the Beastlands?” (Commander)

What kind of question was that? Well I guess it’s fair for me to tell him my reason for being here. For now I will comply to his questions. I will make him believe he has the advantage and try to make a reasonable deal like that. If it doesn’t work I can always turn that belief on its head

“We're onlý passing through. Our real goal is the elven country. AS for why we're going htere. Because we don't want to be in the human countries any more is all I'll say.” (Kenos)

“How do I know you are not a human spy then?” (Commander)

Oh now there’s a good question to ask. You can never be too careful after all.

“What kind of human spy works together with a woman who isn’t even a proper swordswoman yet and a vampire mage?” (Kenos)

“Vampire?” (Commander)

The beatskin looked at Cel and seeing her deep crimson red eyes seemed to realize what she was and was convinced of it.

“... Can these two speak beastkin as well?” (Commander)

“Not really. They can only understand bits and pieces of a conversation but speaking it themselves or understanding long, complicated sentences is still beyond them.” (Kenos)

Lily seemed a bit grumpy at my statement but she didn’t rebuke it as it was the truth. Cel didn’t seem to care. She was a genius mage but it seems that she was only average at learning a new language. As was Lily.

“… I’ll need you to come to our camp. The chief will decide what to do with you.” (Commander?)

Wait so this guy wasn’t the commander after all? Or maybe chief was just a rank above him? Damn it I’ve been calling him that in my head the whole time and I have no damn intention of stopping now! In fact I’ll call him Com! That’s your nickname Com! Enjoy it!

I nodded my head, my serious face not letting even a hint of the silly thoughts I was having out into the open.He barked a few orders to his soldiers. Half of them were to stay her in case of further intrusions while the other half formed a square formation with us in the middle.

“I’m sure you don’t mind. It’s just safety precautions.” (Com)

I nodded once again and signaled for the girls to come closer to me so that I would be able to instantly protect them if anything happened. Well I would be able to even without that but I wanted them to feel safe and the safest place right now was as close to me as possible.

Lily actually looked a bit glad, no doubt at the fact that I didn’t outright murder all of them. And I might have too if it hadn’t been for Lily’s request. Then again Cm was the first intelligent being I’ve met in this world with actual authority so maybe I would have thought it a waste to murder him? Who knows? I don’t. I have no idea what I would have done. I am unpredictable even to myself… no maybe I am unpredictable especially to myself.

A few times we got attacked by monster. After the third time I offered my help but Com refused saying they would handle it. Well I guess it was hard to trust me yet. Other than the occasional monster attack I felt gazes of scorn or hate sometimes as we walked but I didn’t really care. A lot of people have hated me. Do you think that a few soldiers’ hate can equal that of the collective hate of billions of humans? I don’t.

There were a few injured in the fourth battle. They were facing a pack of aqua wolves which were pretty formidable beasts. Still the teamwork and strength of the soldiers were nothing to joke about so there were no casualties. An hour had passed already since we’d started walking. I didn’t offer my assistance again. I had offered it once and it was refused so I decided not to do so again. I could probably heal them but trying to earn someone’s trust at this point would honestly be more suspicious than just not doing anything and minding my own business.

The attacks stopped happening as often after the fourth one. It was because the area around the camp was better cleared out than the rest of the forest and was avoided by monsters.

“We’re finally here.” (Com)

It took only an hour and a half to get here. The camp was basically an encampment surrounded by walls made out of thick wood logs. Com stepped forward to the gate and signaled for it to be opened. Walking through the gate the inside had a bunch of tents set up in a seemingly organized fashion. I wonder how long ago they started this. I silently hoped that it would have been less than five years.

The soldiers dispersed as Com commanded. We were left led by only Com. There were tons of scornful gazes facing our direction. Cel hung on to my hand tightly. I couldn’t pat her head because she was in an awkward position so I instead whispered to her.

“Don’t worry Cel no matter what happens I swear they won’t even touch you.” (Kenos)

It seemed that the beastkins heard that as their scorn turned into anger. Well they DO have animal ears so maybe their hearing was sharper than human. Com also seemed to have heard it as he looked back towards me over his shoulder for a second but he ignored it.

We were taken to the biggest tent in the encampment where Cam urged us to go inside. I already knew what was there as I was always confirming our surroundings and situation through the surrounding shadows but I went inside. Lily and Cel followed stuck to my back.

Inside, sitting on the floor in a cross-legged position was a giant man over two meters tall and bulging with muscles with two men standing behind him. The man looked to be in his mid-thirties with long flowing blonde hair and a majestic beard. I knew what this guy was the moment I saw him. A lion.

“Hi there. Heard about you from the messenger that came by earlier. I wonder if you’re really a strong enough mage for me to bother even meeting you. I knew what was going to follow. Two men covered in black cloth from head to toe jumped out from the shadows and aimed for the two girls with their daggers.

I don’t know what they are thinking. The shadows are my domain. Also.

“I warned you.” (Kenos)

Two void spikes rise up from the shadows and pierce the two men straight through their abdomen. If I’m going to fight I’ll show no mercy. Even as a test this guy threatened Lily and Cel and he WILL die for it.

Four shadow blades rose up from the shadow of the lion completely silently. Before I was only able to use other shadows for void magic if I touched them with my own but those limitations aren’t rules. The void is as all-powerful as magic itself. It’s just up to me to figure out how it works. The men behind him tried to warn him but they were too late. He also noticed the blades but by then he had no way to dodge them. My blades moved fast. If you don’t see them early you will be unable to dodge. The four blades all lashed out at different parts of his body ready to slice him to pieces.

“Ken!” (Lily)

The blades stop only inches away from his body. No, scratch that. They had already went into the flesh enough to at least leave a scratch. I turn to Lily to see her looking at me with a sad look on her face. Why was she like this? It wasn’t as if she was against killing. She didn’t care when I murdered Shitbag’s son and his men when they kidnapped her, she didn’t blink an eye when we were leaving the blood-coated mansion of Shitbag himself.

Lily stepped closer until she was right in front of me. I thought she would scold me again but instead she hugged me. Why? I don’t understand. I looked towards Cel only to find her holding onto my arm tightly. You too? What's wrong?

“It’s okay. Just calm down. Please…” (Lily)

… Oh I see. They were just trying to help me. *Sigh* Morons. Its not as if it's hard for me to kill people or anything you know. Still I smiled slightly. Geez. I just can't beat these too. I whispered a quiet thank you which noone in the room could pick up before returning to my poker face.

“I got it… I’m calm so you can let go now.” (Kenos)

Lily nodded her head and let me go. Cel also loosened her grip so I just took my hand completely away from her and patted heron the head instead. Yes this is indeed much better than killing people.

The lion hadn’t said anything the entire time. He had a nervous smile on as the void blades hadn’t moved away from the position they were previously in. His face sort of amused me but Lily calmed me down so the void blades removed themselves from their position and retracted back into his shadow.

“Heh.. Heheh… HAHAHAHAHA! Good! Great!” (Lion)

The man who had until now had a nervous smile on his face laughed out loud. I also retracted the two void spikes but the men that were skewered onto them were already dead. I don’t care though. They were the ones who attacked us. I felt I was getting angry again so I just shook my head to clear those thoughts away.

“Boy! I don’t know exactly what kind of magic that was but it was good! No, it was great! You killed two of our elite assassins like they were nothing and almost me as well. Thank you little missies for saving me.” (Lion)

Lily looked at him with a scowl while Cel was still just enjoyng my petting. We couldn’t honestly complain about what had happened. We fully expected something like that and were ready for it. But just because we couldn’t complain didn’t mean we had to like it.

“Oh. Looks like you didn’t really save me out of kindness or some bullshit. Good! Even better!” (Lion)

“Get to the point.” (Kenos)

I was getting annoyed at him again so I rebuked him in the coldest voice I could conjure but he only answered with another laugh.

“Hahaha! Very well. If it’s like this then maybe we can work something out.” (Lion)