As we walked toward the giant tree, monsters attacked us repeatedly. However, truth be told, none of these enemies were particularly strong. They were on par with the Rock Ptarmigans that had attacked us while we were climbing the wall, or even weaker.
“Kyu Kyu~!”
So, I’ll spare you the details and just say that they became snacks for Karl. I’m well aware of my rough treatment, but I have no intention of holding back. Forgive me, you creatures of the wild.
Though it was a small amount of enemies that we faced, we could earn experience points, and besides, they looked delicious to Karl as he devoured them as snacks, so I let him indulge freely. Was I spoiling him a bit too much?
“Just as Isam predicted.”
“Whoa! That’s amazing!”
With all these happenings, we had come quite close to the giant tree. The towering tree appeared to be the town of the Birdians, just as I had anticipated. Treehouses lined the thick branches, and numerous Birdians were soaring amidst them. It seemed to be quite lively.
“Hmm? Looks like some of them are coming this way.”
“Well, if a group of unknown monsters showed up, anyone would be cautious, right?”
Indeed. If we can see them from here, it means they can see us from there. It’s only natural for them to be cautious of us; after all, all of us looked strange and suspicious.
As five Birdians hovered about 10 meters away from us, a Birdian who seemed to be their leader stepped forward. The remaining four aimed their bows at us. They’re being incredibly vigilant.
“Halt, you there!”
“Kyu-rururururu!”
We decided to comply willingly. There’s no point in starting unnecessary conflicts. However, Karl, who didn’t seem to grasp the concept of improving the other party’s impression of us, instinctively growled at the Birdians as a form of intimidation. Hey now, cut it out.
“…Can you understand our words?”
“And is this one truly the offspring of a true dragon?”
Oh? There was some agitation among the Birdians. They seemed to recognize us as rational beings who understood their words, and at the same time, they were taken aback by Karl. Could this be heading in a positive direction?
Moreover, a word caught my attention that was used by one of the Birdians: “True Dragon”. What could this word possibly mean? It almost implies the presence of a “false dragon.”
“…Who among you is the leader? We wish to talk.”
The leader of the Birdians inquired while surveying us. Naturally, I should step forward in this situation. I removed my mask and stepped forward.
“I am the leader of this group. First, allow me to introduce myself. I am Isam, a Chimera Abyss Dragonbone Lich. I’ve heard of a city of Birdians here through a certain connection, and I’ve come as a wanderer after climbing the cliff.”
“The Chimera Abyss… I’ve never heard of such a race. And a wanderer, you say? I’ve never seen someone like you before. Are all of you as fearless as you seem?”
“Fearless? How so?”
“Is it not fearless to attempt such a journey without wings, all the way to this point?”
Now that he’s mentioned it, that’s indeed true. We players could respawn even if we died, unlike the NPCs who would disappear upon death, so we could undertake quite reckless endeavors. Our actions must appear fearless to them.
“We are still among the more cautious ones. Among the wanderers in the world, many challenge danger, considering they can be resurrected anyway.”
“…I see. Leaving that aside, let’s get to the main point. I’ll ask directly. What is your purpose?”
Purpose? Such a thing had been determined from the beginning.
“We are seeking a safe haven. If possible, could we be allowed to stay in this city? Of course, we’ll offer compensation. Unfortunately, we don’t possess the currency used by humans…”
“Permission to stay, huh? It’s not something I can decide on my own. I ask for your patience for a moment.”
“Not a problem.”
Saying this, the Birdian who appeared to be the leader exchanged a few words in hushed tones with his subordinates and then flew off to the town alone. He must have gone to seek his superior’s decision.
“Now then, it seems we’ll have some free time. I’ll take a seat.”
After speaking loudly for the remaining subordinates who were left to monitor us, I settled down where I stood. It’s foolish to just stand around like a statue.
“Karl, come here.”
“Kyu♪”
I sat down cross-legged and called for Karl. He cried happily and landed between my legs, rubbing his face against mine. Hehe, what an affectionate little guy.
“Fufu, Karl really loves Papa, huh~”
“Kyuu!”
Naturally! Karl replied as if to say “yes.”. His cuteness made Iris instinctively reach out and pat his head. Karl seemed to be quite delighted as well.
“It’s heartwarming~,” Ruby said.
“Indeed,” Genjuro added.
“Well, we’ve got some free time… Should I do some exercise?” Jigoro said
Just like me, Ruby and Genjuro seemed to be spending their waiting time leisurely. However, Jigoro was different. He seemed unable to stay still, as if he’d perish if he stopped moving. Are you some kind of tuna that dies if it stops swimming?
“Alright then… 1, 2, 3, 4, 5…”
Jigoro effortlessly went into a handstand, lifting his palms off the ground and balancing on just his fingertips—or rather, he switched to a one-finger handstand using only his index finger. Furthermore, he continued to raise and lower his body as if doing push-ups.
What kind of muscle wizard are you! Look! Even the Birdian guards are baffled by this!
…Actually, it might be that all of us are bewildering them. A skeleton and a monster with tentacles doting on a dragon’s offspring, a slimy entity quivering on an insect-like person, and now an ogre who’s begun his training. From an outsider’s perspective, they probably wouldn’t know what to make of us.
I had no intention of confusing them, so I’ll apologize silently in my mind. However, for now, Iris and I were focused on patting Karl. There there, good boy.
◆◇◆◇◆◇
“Kyuu!”
“Muu.”
Karl let out a sound, devoid of the previous sweetness and instead tinged with caution. Intrigued, I followed his gaze to find that the Birdian leader who had departed earlier was returning. Well then, it seems like our rest time is over.
“I’ve kept you waiting. The elders are interested in meeting you.”
“Oh? That’s an honor.”
Meeting with the people in charge from the start was quite convenient. It would quickly clarify whether we could stay or not.
However, I couldn’t completely discard the possibility that they might take advantage of this opportunity to eliminate any potential dangers. Caution was still necessary.
“Follow me. This way.”
◆◇◆◇◆◇
Guided by the Birdian leader, we entered the town of the Birdians, called “Birdy Perch”. It was a three-dimensional town built on the thick branches of massive trees, with treehouses constructed from thinner branches. Especially where the branches were thickest, there was a wide central path, surrounded by a bustling shopping district with various shops lining both sides.
“Spectacular, isn’t it?”
“So beautiful!”
It was a stunning and fantastical city that would never exist in reality. I wonder how many Birdians live here.
“It feels like we’re being observed quite intensely,” Jigoro said.
“It’s probably because we’re something new and unusual to them,” Genjuro added.
The people living in Birdy Perch were observing us as if studying something intriguing. It felt like the sensation foreigners might have experienced when they arrived in Japan during the Edo period. Or perhaps not?
“Your destination is over there.”
Bringing me back to reality from my idle thoughts, the Birdian leader pointed ahead to a particularly large building positioned directly in our path.
It’s likely that the council of their elders is over there. Now, which direction will the conversation take? I’m starting to feel a bit nervous.
The building ahead seems to be the gathering place of the Birdian community. Those who have evolved more than once gather here regularly to discuss and determine the town’s policies.
The power of one’s speech during these discussions apparently depends on the number of times one has evolved. The idea of evolution becoming a societal status seemed exclusive to monsters.
The building had two floors, with an open space in the center extending all the way to the ceiling. Whether it was recently constructed or not, there was a fresh scent of wood lingering in the air. Oh, the ambiance was quite open and inviting.
“The elders await inside. Make sure not to make any blunders.”
“Yes, I appreciate the advice.”
We were led to a place on the second floor that resembled a conference room. In the center, there was a wooden round table, and on the opposite side of it sat five Birdian elders.
“Oh? They seem quite strong, don’t they?”
Jigoro muttered such things under his breath. It was fine to assess the opponent’s strength, but could he please drop that aggressive grin? We weren’t here to pick fights or provoke anyone, right?
“First, allow me to extend our welcome. We are the council of elders who oversee the meetings here in Birdy Perch.”
“We appreciate the welcome, esteemed elders,” I said.
Disregarding my inner turmoil of apprehension, one of the elders seated at the center spoke with a serious tone. I presumed he was an Owl Birdian based on his posture. Given his central position, he might be the leader among the council of elders.
Unable to ignore the situation, I reflexively responded. Alright, let’s keep this going! It’s like a role-play at this point!
“We’ve heard that you’re rational monsters as well as wanderers.”
“You’ve also not protested against our one-sided requests.”
“Just those facts alone make us consider treating you as guests.”
Three elders began evaluating us. In succession, the crow, the swan, and finally… what kind of Birdian was the last one? With an impressive crown on his head and blue feathers atop his head, he possessed a rough demeanor combined with a muscular physique.
I wonder why, but was there a connection between my troublesome battle-maniac brother and the last Birdian? The two of them have been exchanging similar smiles for a while now… Could it be that their inner natures are also alike?
“However, it’s unheard of for anyone outside our clan to have reached this land without an invitation and come this far. Therefore, we’ll convene a meeting to decide whether to permit your stay. Inevitably, this will take some time.”
Concluded the Swan Birdian elder.
I see, so that’s the situation. The council of elders is inclined to allow our stay, but our mere arrival is such a significant event that it warrants a meeting. And if a meeting is to be held, not only the elders’ opinions but also those of other Birdians must be considered.
In that case, the meeting is likely to be prolonged. It would be odd for them, with a cultural level capable of constructing such a townscape, to be entirely unanimous. Unless, of course, they have a potent focal point of belief akin to the Lizardman village.
There’s probably a faction opposing the elders. What a troublesome situation.
“The decision to convene an emergency meeting has already spread throughout the entire town. In a few hours, those who can attend a meeting in the town will gather, and discussions about your presence will take place.”
“While we are elders, we cannot arbitrarily manipulate the outcome of the meeting. In the worst case, there might be those who suggest the immediate expulsion of your group.”
“There are individuals among us who find fault with just about everything we do or say.”
As I suspected, there seems to be a faction in opposition. Quite a troublesome situation.
“So, we intend to have you attend the meeting.”
“We want you to persuade those who won’t listen to the elders’ voice, using your own words.”
Wow! They really said it outright. I hoped they’ll cooperate with convincing the opposing faction. But thanks to that, the intentions of the Council of Elders have become clear.
Their true thoughts are like, “We do value you guys! Oh, but you’ll have to handle persuading the people who dislike us on your own! If you fail, you’ll have to leave!” or something like that.
However, they’re quite cunning. The council of elders is able to save face as long as we don’t cause a huge commotion, just by giving the ones who made it here on their own a chance for persuasion in the meeting. But for us, who are seeking a base, causing a ruckus is almost unthinkable. They’ve foreseen that.
In that case, the opposing faction might be getting manipulated too. We might be dancing in the palm of their hand as a test to determine if we have something attractive enough to convince the opposing faction.
If you look at it further, it’s possible that there might not even be an opposing faction. At this point, it’s entering the realm of mere speculation, though.
“Understood. However, there are two things I’d like to ask.”
“What are they?”
“I’d like you to tell me about the life cycle of the Birdians. And the other is to let me take a look at a typical Birdian household. Of course, with the homeowner and guards accompanying.”
“Hmm… that should be acceptable.”
Alright, we’ve obtained their commitment. With this, we can thoroughly investigate the Birdians.
Isn’t it like this, though? What we’re about to do is essentially a presentation, right? In this presentation, we just need to clearly demonstrate how we can be beneficial to the Birdians.
For that purpose, it’s crucial to ascertain what the Birdians actually need and don’t need. Hence, those were the two requests I made.
Now, let’s proceed to take a glimpse into the lifestyle of the Birdians!
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