It isn't a matter of being evil or inconsiderate. They simply live in a different world. To say their common sense is twisted... well, there are quite a few who think that way. At this level, it's not even a matter of right or wrong to begin with.
They are simply different. Stacking a tower with those different blocks only maintains a precarious balance; a mere touch will send it tumbling down. Just like now.
"Why is someone so superior doing this out here?"
"Because a beast bit me. But this is the end of it. Even if the home country turns a blind eye to Ende, they will not tolerate a rebellion. Once I inform the suzerain state, they will show the power of humanity."
Well, I doubt the suzerain state wants to invest heavily in this chicken rib of a land, either. They have higher priorities, don't they?
"If you fail to inform them, it all ends right there, no?"
"What?"
"If I, who worries about the human rights of the pig beastmen, were to block you right now and sell you out to Orcma... then this human superiority you speak of, and the power of the suzerain state, would all be meaningless, wouldn't it?"
As I smiled subtly, Welsh flinched and stepped forward. She seemed extremely tense, her ears and tail standing stiff. Duke Erectus spoke in disbelief.
"Y-You're going to sell me out? Are you planning to side with the beasts?"
"Perhaps, perhaps not. I am simply curious about this human superiority you speak of. Because right now, you look more wretched than anyone else."
"Me?"
"Indeed. The very noble who boasts of superiority is running around in a bedraggled state. If not for the capable watchdog guarding your side, you would have been caught ages ago. Look. Even now, you are relying on Welsh."
The way Welsh is sticking close behind him looks more like a mother and son than a servant and master. Had he looked in a mirror, he wouldn't have been able to argue against my words, but Duke Erectus easily retorted.
"Welsh is my servant, and at the same time, a beastman. It is only natural for her to protect me."
"Nothing in this world is a given. Just as your reign, which you took for granted, has ended."
"That was only possible because those pig brats incited the ignorant beastmen and launched a surprise attack!"
"You are human, yet you can't even incite as well as they do? On top of that, you get overturned by a surprise attack? Can you call yourself great or noble with such a meager gap? If you cannot win with words, cannot win with strength, and cannot win with politics, what exactly is left for you? Empty arrogance?"
"Grr...!"
"I don't know whether humans are superior or not, but I do know one thing. If that were the case, then you, defeated by orcs, must be bordering on beasthood yourself. Looking at your current state, that certainly seems to be true."
Duke Erectus shouted, pointing his finger and cursing at me, but I brushed it off effortlessly and returned to the main topic.
"Ah. Truth be told, I have no interest in you, Lord Erectus. You're a bit trite. I came here because I was more interested in Welsh."
It seemed the mention of my disinterest struck a nerve. Pushing her now even louder master behind her, Welsh stepped forward.
"...If I satisfy that interest, will you let my master go?"
"Huh? I had no intention of capturing him to begin with. Why would I capture him?"
"You're on Orcma's side, aren't you?"
"No. I am on humanity's side. And that man is a fellow human. Just as I help the orcs, I will help him as well."
"Help him?"
"Yes. You might inwardly agree, but this is helping him. It's a good experience, isn't it?"
As a loyal retainer, Welsh couldn't bring herself to deny it. However, she wasn't naive enough to take my words at face value. Still wary of me and her surroundings, and desperately trying to ignore Aji panting nearby, she took up the conversation.
"What is this interest you have in me?"
"I understand that the pig beastmen want to reclaim their rights. It's only natural. It's also natural to believe that all beastmen are equal—if you are a beastman. But what about you? Why are you, a beastman, protecting a noble?"
"...Is that a question?"
"If your answer is 'Because he is my master,' then that is not the question I asked. I want to know what you are expecting from him."
She was born a servant, and received the education required to become one. Through education bordering on brainwashing, Welsh became a servant who could lay down her life for her master.
But Welsh is human too. She wouldn't protect and follow him out of sheer, blind faith with absolutely nothing in return. Among the races I know, the only one that succeeded in such brainwashing is the Holy Empire. Even that was only achieved through the immense divine power of foresight, so comparing him to Duke Erectus is an insult.
"There is no reason for me to follow my master."
"I told you I'm not asking for a reason. It's obvious at a glance that a foolish master like him isn't worth serving. But you still follow him because there is something you expect from him."
"You bastard! What did you just say..."
It seemed Duke Erectus found it even more unbearable not being the center of the conversation. However, he was powerless. He could neither stop me nor seal Welsh's mouth.
"It's true. I expect nothing from my master."
"I know how futile the hope for change can be. Still, there is something you desire, isn't there? Like compensation, gifts, rewards, or praise."
"Those kinds of things... I no longer expect them, but."
Even if she no longer expects them, she still desires something. The more unattainable that desire, the wider the rift grows. Welsh clenched her fists tightly and spoke.
"My master is not a kind person. But, even he has been gentle before."
"When?"
"A long time ago, when we were young. The children chosen to be servants are educated right by their master's side..."
The watchdog clan remains by their master's side from the moment they are born. It is to instill the recognition of their master from infancy and cultivate their loyalty. After all, raising a well-bred hound from a pup is better than bringing in a full-grown dog that has tasted the outside world.
"He was quite mischievous even back then. When I learned qigong and my body grew sturdy, he came at me with a whip; when I dressed up in clean clothes, he splashed muddy water all over me. He would cackle at the sight of me standing there, bewildered. My master was always the one tormenting me."
Wow. What absolute trash. He was rotten to the core from the very start.
"But, still, there were times my master was kind. When I was exhausted, sitting in a corner crying, he wiped my face with his own handkerchief. When I lost a precious gift, he dug through the dirt to help me find it. Back then, I was truly so happy and joyful..."
Recalling a time before his twisted personality had set in, when he was younger and more innocent, Welsh lowered her eyes with a touch of sorrow.
"Looking back, it only happened a handful of times over all those long years. But still, there were good times... I don't expect him to treat me like that again. But still..."
She still has lingering attachments.
It's classic gaslighting. She was exploited and tormented, but having endured it from such a young age, she accepted it as the norm and became overly conscious of the occasional drop of kindness. It's like how a single good deed shines brightly against a backdrop of a hundred evil acts.
Then again, looking at it from another angle, it means even such a vile human once had his innocent days. She's probably inwardly hoping he'll treat her like that again.
What a sorrowful hope. How could I possibly fulfill that? I'd have to turn that vile man into a decent human being. Changing someone is not something I can do.
Just as I was about to express my pity, Aji suddenly sprang up and barked.
"Same as me!"
"...King?"
"Me too!"
Aji smiled brightly and rubbed his face against Welsh.
"Humans fight each other. But make human, bite! Order to! But, promise, not keep."
He probably meant that the humans he likes fight amongst themselves, they try to use Aji as a weapon to harm other humans, and yet they don't even try to honor their promise to fight the Wolf King...
Wow, that's truly awful. Who was it? For the record, it wasn't me. The King of Humanity, having lost all his power, is an outlier compared to the human average.
While I was cutting ties with humanity, Aji flashed a radiant smile at Welsh.
"Woof! I'll keep my promise someday! Because it's a promise!"
"King..."
They were in the same boat. No, Aji's situation was on a much larger scale. Welsh only felt that way toward her master, but Aji was affectionate toward all humans.
People are social creatures. Seeing Aji, who was far worse off than her, Welsh found a small measure of comfort. Then, feeling a brief pang of guilt for taking solace in the King's misfortune, Welsh asked.
"What if they never keep their promise?"
"They will keep it!"
"And if they don't? What if the King's friends change their minds, or an emergency comes up and they can't fulfill it?"
"I'll wait!"
"Until when?"
"When?"
Looking at Aji tilting his head in confusion, one could truly grasp the cruelty of a promise without a deadline. It wouldn't even end with death. He would wander the world, starting over and over, until it was fulfilled.
It was unfathomable. But then again, that was only possible because he was the King of Beasts. Welsh hugged Aji tightly and whispered.
"...I'm sorry, King."
"Woof? Why?"
"Nothing. Just... It would be nice if I could help you fight the wolves too..."
She had someone she must protect above all else, even before Aji. Of course, the same was true for Aji. Promises were important, but Aji protected humans regardless of them.
"It's okay! Human, protect!"
"Thank you, King. My master is Duke Erectus, but my king is you."
The dog and the dog beastman touched noses, concluding their brief reunion. Though they shared the same affliction, Welsh, who was relatively better off, felt even more heartache than Aji, who couldn't comprehend her own circumstances.
"That looks really nice. I wish I had a servant like that too."
Startled by my approach, Duke Erectus nearly fell over backwards. I graciously caught him and said.
"To think he treated you well for just a brief moment in the past, and you care for him so devotedly. That's a loyalty you could never expect from Aji. Aji bares his teeth and growls if you don't give him a scrap of meat."
"And yet you are commanding the King of Dogs."
"Aji? Commanding? Haha, you say the strangest things. Aji is my friend, you see? Friends can ask favors of each other and help each other out. But that doesn't change the fact that we are friends."
"Friends? With the King of Dogs?"
"What's so strange about that?"
"The King of Dogs is a beast in human form."
Oh. It's been a while since I've heard that perspective. Unlike the regressor, he treats Aji as a special dog. Then again, he doesn't even consider other beastmen as humans, so it would be weirder if he treated Aji as one. I'll give him that. You are truly consistent.
"I am the same beast. Is there a reason we cannot be friends?"
"...."
If it were a moment ago, he might have argued back. But after listening to my conversation with Welsh, he seemed to be deep in thought.
"Even among humans who aren't beastmen, there is no equality. Just as you and I are different. However, even if we aren't equal, we can still offer comfort or praise, can't we?"
"...So. What is it you want from me? For me to view beastmen as equals to humans?"
What nonsense. Why would I? Whatever you think is none of my business. Since I, the King of Humanity, can read the thoughts of beastmen, they fall into the category of humanity as far as I'm concerned. Of course, that only applies to me; if you believe otherwise, then so be it.
"No? Why would I try to change your mind? I have absolutely no interest in what you think or desire."
"What?"
"None at all. Your desires are so simple that I don't even feel like listening to them."
It wasn't that Duke Erectus was exceptionally wicked or cruel.
It was simply that, from his perspective, beastmen were not human. Since they were fundamentally unequal, whatever he did held little meaning. There's no joy in being revered by livestock and pets, is there?
Perhaps that was why. Duke Erectus desired an achievement he could boast about a little more. Like raising the King of Dogs, or defeating the King of Wolves. A grand deed that other humans would acknowledge.
Ah. He seemed to have given up now, but reclaiming Ende from the pig beastmen was also added to the list.
Duke Erectus merely possessed the same ordinary desire for recognition as anyone else. It was just that there were no 'humans' around him qualified to acknowledge him.
If that was the case, did he need achievements? Or did he need a 'human' to watch over and acknowledge him?
"There is someone who praises so deeply the mere kindness you showed when you were young. But you are not the kind of man to be satisfied with that. Whether you even have the ability to achieve more is a secondary issue."
If one were to shift their perspective, Duke Erectus already possessed both. A small good deed, and the servant who cherished it. It was merely an achievement too small for him to accept, and from a beastman he deemed unqualified.
If he cannot be satisfied with the present and yearns for greater heights, there is nothing I can do about it. I can only pray he does his best.
Capturing them and preventing any communication with the suzerain state was the orcs' job. I took Aji, who was bidding farewell to Welsh, and slipped out of the dark alleyway. I didn't bother reading where the two were headed. There was no need.
Not long after, I ran into the orcs who were restricting passage. I saw Gulta at the very front, building a barricade out of carts, and approached him casually.
"Still haven't found them?"
"We're tracking them by scent now! We'll find them soon!"
Oho. Tracking by scent using a beastman's olfaction. Only now...?
I tilted my head and asked.
"Excuse me? Then what were you doing up until now?"
"...We were looking for that method!"
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"Ah. Yes. Just add it to the manual. Keep up the good work."
Did it vanish along with the response manual? Even with Mayor Triver's help, there are errors in such trivial areas.
Just as I was about to walk past them, Gulta urgently called out to me.
"Wait. Magician! Is there no way to find him?"
"You mean where they are right now? If it were me, I'd hire a beastman with a keen sense of smell to track them down."
It was a rather stinging sarcasm, but perhaps it was too highbrow a joke for the orcs. Gulta brightened and asked back.
"Oh! There's a beastman with a good sense of smell! If there is, introduce me!"
"...It's too late for that now. It'll be much faster if you do it yourselves."
"Tch. Tell me sooner next time!"
Hmm. What a commotion, even at night. At this rate, I wonder if they can properly rule Ende and seize power.
But those are their ideals and hopes. What is being tested is their capability. Let's watch a little longer.
As I was about to return to the mansion, Aji sniffed the scent clinging to his body and asked.
"Woof? Smell, find?"
"No, don't find it."
If the wolves were to reach my doorstep, I couldn't just stand by and watch. But my promise with Aji comes before their hopes, doesn't it?