Chapter 17: Shea's Decision

After Haulia got their due punishment by Hajime. We headed towards the hidden country where demihumans live.

It took us about an hour to reach to the entrance of 'Faea Belgane'.

It was a huge gate carved out of wood and the same goes for the wall it was attached to. We were then promptly taken towards the Elders' meeting room. 

On our way, I noticed that all the houses were built on trees, surrounded by lush greenery and teeming with nature, "The country of Demihuman has its own unique charm". I spoke in admiration. Hearing my compliments all the demihumans including the haulia tribe had prideful smiles.

Inside the elder's room, several beastmen elders were waiting for us. One of them had fox ears and a tail, another had wings, and the third by his characteristics likely a tiger beastmen.

After we entered the meeting room Alfrerick guided us to our seats. Haulia's were left standing behind us and then the discussion started. Alfrerick took the lead and asked Questions about what we found in the depths of the Orcus labyrinth. We told them about what Oscar informed us minus, about the magic. Hajime and I both agreed beforehand we do not need to give them that information.

After more than an hour of discussion. Suddenly we heard some commotion from outside.

[I remember this from anime,] just as I thought that a burly-looking bear man came kicking the door open. "ALFRERICK, YOU BASTARD… how dare you let the abominable child and humans enter our home," A burly bear beast man growled at the elf chief.

Alfrerick answered nonchalantly, "I am just following the traditional rules. You are an elder as well, you should have an idea about the situation we having".

Bear chief said in anger, "Are you telling me, these human brats have the qualification!? They are those so-called strong individual which we must not turn hostile. Don't give me that crap. Those were just some bogus myths, from the beginning of the tradition none had qualified. Now you suddenly telling me they have. Don't joke with me."

Saying that Bearman jumped to attack in my direction. [Oh, come on, between me and Hajime he really had to choose me,] I sighed mentally.

I looked at Hajime hoping he would intervene, but he didn't even look in this direction, "Sigh". I reluctantly got up from my seat and blocked his big fist with my bare hand without moving an inch.

The Bear beastman tried to pull his hand but to his dismay, I didn't lose my grip. "You know, I am trying not to crush your hand with my overwhelming strength," saying that I pulled him towards me and landed a punch in his gut using only a 10th of my raw strength. It was enough to send the bear man flying out of the elder's office.

"..."

"..."

After witnessing this human easily dispatching the bear chief in one hit, everyone except Alfrerick and Rihito's party was astonished. They thought this human might be strong. Still, we have numbers on our side we can overwhelm them. Or so they thought. But they were dead wrong. Now, they finally understood why there was a warning not to provoke them. Seeing one of their strongest elders manhandled by Rihito shocked the elders to their core.

Hajime then spoke with a cold voice, "One of you elders just tried attacking us, should I assume that you guys are our enemy". Hearing such chilling words some of the elders flinched.

I also sat back down. "Why did you only send him flying, if I were you, I would have at the very least crippled him", Hajime said.

"Then why didn't you", I retorted. In response, Hajime clicked his tongue "Tsk".

Hearing our sudden banter about crippling one of their elders, the tiger chief's face became grim.

"Nn…I have made my decision. You guys certainly have the Orcus crest ring and you people have already proven your strength by beating the bear chieftain. I have no problem with you people going to the Great Tree", fox chieftain said. 

In reaction to him. Tiger chief snorted, "Haa… I do not accept them. It is said in the traditional rules to guide them if you like them, right? Well, I don't like you all. So, I am against them guiding them to the great tree, and don't think that the Haulia tribe will be able to guide you. The council has decided them to be criminals for hiding the abominable child, their whole tribe will be executed. So, what will you do brats", the tiger chief snarled at us.

I was about to speak up, but Shea was a step ahead. "No way please, please, please at the least spare my tribe. It's not their fault please spare them." Shea said in tears.

Kam and other rabbitmen seeing his Shea crying tried to calm her, but to their dismay it did nothing. "Listen, Shea, being born with magic is not your fault, we could never resent you. We would never wish to live, for the cost of abandoning you. The Haulia tribe will always be together in any kind of situation", Kam said with a heartfelt voice, All of the Haulia tribe nodded hearing their chief words.

You heard that, your way to go to Great Tree has been lost now. What are you gonna do? Are you going to leave it to the possibility of getting there by luck?", the tiger chief sneered.

"Sigh"

"You guys really don't take us seriously do you", I said with boredom. Hearing my words Tiger Chief scowled.

Before I began speaking my thoughts. I looked at Hajime, understanding what I wanted to do Hajime nodded at me. "Do you really believe that we care about your circumstance? If we decide to force our way, do you really think you will be able to stop us? Just because we are behaving cordially, you think we will succumb to your pressure. You are blatantly mistreating Shea, who is currently under our protection. I assume you are prepared to fight us then." I released my <Bloodlust >, feeling my point-blank bloodlust all the chieftains stiffened, and cold sweat poured down their backs.

At that moment, all the chieftains felt like there was a sharp sword on their neck ready to take their life.

Then Alfrerick the elf chief who was silent until now spoke up, "Why do you care about them, if you want a guide, we can arrange for one. They aren't even related to you, so why help them?"

This time Hajime spoke up, "As Rihito said, we don't care about your circumstances. To execute them means to get in our way. If you are going to become an obstacle in our path. Then you must prepare yourselves."

"Even if I say that a guide would be prepared from 'Faea Belganen'," the elf chief asked again.

"Don't make us repeat ourselves, we have made our decision", I chided.

Hearing that elf chieftain sighed.

"Then how about this, let's take it as the Haulia tribe is the slave of you two. In our tribe laws, there are states that if you are captured as a slave and taken outside the sea of trees. They are treated as dead". 

I frowned upon hearing Alfrerick's words, "Why do you people have this rule? Do you people not want to get your abducted family back".

Alfrerick answered with some sadness. "Of course we want to. But outside the sea of trees, there is no probability of winning against an enemy who can use magic. If we try to rescue them, we will be captured instead, that is why we made a rule to avoid the magnification of victims because of imprudently chasing after them".

I nodded with understanding "I see".

Alfrerick continued," From this point on according to the rules, I declare the haulia tribe as dead. It is impossible to execute something which is already dead".

In response to Alfrerick's decision. Tiger Chief growled, "What do you think you are doing Alfrerick, there is no way you can announce something like that without other elder's permission".

Alfrerick calmly responded. "Zell you and I both know, these humans will not retreat without Haulia's. If you still somehow manage to execute Haulia's. Then we will definitely be considered hostile and do you think we will be able to handle them? You do understand how many lives will be lost in that conflict". Zell was speechless hearing Alfrerick's conjecture. In frustration, he just growled and didn't say anything.

Alfrerick looked at us," If you don't mind, I have a request for you people. I know it is selfish of me to ask this but could you people not kill our brethren who might attack you in anger." Hearing such a request Hajime frowned.

"Are you asking us to spare your people who deliberately want to harm us? Don't joke with me, if you are hostile then you are our enemy. If you don't want your people to get hurt then keep a tighter leash on them".

"I think we had enough talk for a day", I stand up saying that. Hajime also followed along. "As for your request, we will see what we can do about it."

Alfrerick sighed knowing at least they would not be killed outright. "So, this is how things are. It pains me not to be able to welcome the qualified people of the traditional rules, but…".

"Don't worry about it, we already got what we wanted so there is no problem", saying that we started to head out.

I turned around towards the broken door. But suddenly Shea jumped at me and grabbed my clothes and started crying. "Sob… sob thank you… thank you for saving them."

Seeing her crying like this I dont know what to do. So, I patted her head, "You don't have to worry. Just like I said we have taken care of the problem you have nothing to worry about", hearing me she calmed down.

"Shea then began to rub her face on my coat, and as she did so, her tears and snot left marks on it. I noticed this and my eyebrows twitched in annoyance. I had to use a little force to pry her away from me, muttering to myself, "Damn rabbit." I then used <Cleanse > to remove the marks from my coat."

Without my knowledge, Shea looked at me with determination. She had already made up her mind to follow Rihito. She thought to herself, "I will make you look at me. But for that to happen, I must first win against Yue." With this in mind, Shea looked at Yue with fiery determination in her eyes.

Yue who noticed this just Sighed in annoyance. It's because of Rihito, that she had to deal with this troublesome rabbit.

"Chapter end"