Chapter 274: Chapter 18: The Unpromising Home

Beastman Country, this is a land where you can come and go as you please… Ah, saying it like that might be a bit too strange. To be more accurate: Beastmen don’t actually consider their territory as their country.

The borders of the Beastman Country were quite interesting. Not to mention the seaside areas, the west bordered the Empire, the south barely touched the Demon King Territory, the northwest was adjacent to the Duke Hazad Duchy, the northeast bordered the Dwarfs, and the east was the Silver Moon Tree Court.

One could say the Beastman Country was the center of this continent.

However, the land of the Beastman Country was basically never invaded. The areas bordering the Duchy and Empire were continuous mountain ranges… Natural barriers formed by these mountains defined the borders.

A great river separated the Beastman Country from the Dwarfs and the elves of Silver Moon Tree Court. Naturally, both sides used the river as the boundary… As for the area adjacent to the Demon King Territory, virtually no one passed through there.

Though the slave trading caravan of Caligula passed through there while transporting elf girls, coincidentally, Yila, Satan Ye, and Wolf caught them in the act.

The Beastmen of the Beastman Country didn’t care about their lands. They saw their “country” as “home,” forming one large clan composed of many tribes. This was the thing the Beastmen needed to protect.

For example, the two largest tribes–the Slippery Tribe and the Furry Tribe.

“We will wait for you at the port for two weeks, maybe longer, but no matter when Yila and the others return, we will patiently wait for fourteen days… then we will set off directly. If you want to come to the Demon King Territory later, you can find your own ship.”

To put it simply, they gave these young Beastman girls fourteen days to choose. Whether they were prepared to stay in the Demon King Territory for rigorous training, to one day fight against the slave trade of other races, or…

Or, to lay down their obsessions and return to that warm home.

The young Beastman girls here already had an answer in their hearts, so these “fourteen days” were just a deadline to visit their hometowns.

Like disembarking from a bus stop, waiting to board again from the same place… No one planned to stay here long; their hearts were no longer capable of settling down.

*If their tattered hearts couldn’t be filled with dreams, they surely couldn’t be healed by gentleness… Speaking of gentleness, a tribe without family couldn’t compare to the Demon King Territory.*

…

“Then, shall we part ways here?”

A young Beastman girl said this as she wagged her furry tail, acting together with other Beastman girls clearly resembling cats, dogs, wolves, or foxes.

Some others, looking like lizards, crocodiles, snakes, or catfish, nodded and walked to the other side… Their hometowns obviously lay in different directions.

The Furry Tribe was up in the north, while the Slippery Tribe was in the south…

Of course, there were three other Beastman girls walking along a small path, belonging to a “small tribe.” The black-cat girl–Talan, was one of them.

“Talan, is your tribe near the Slippery Tribe?”

To her companion’s question, the dazed Talan barely returned to her senses and nodded in response: “Yes, it is. How about you… are we going the same way?”

Clearly, they weren’t going the same way.

The two Beastman girls exchanged a glance. They were both cat girls and sisters from the same small tribe, but their tribe was near the Furry Tribe… Talan’s tribe seemed peculiar.

The cat-girl sister looked at Talan’s bow and arrows hidden under her cloak and asked worriedly, “Do you need us to go back to your tribe with you? Is there anything you need help with?”

Among all the young Beastman girls, only Talan carried weapons, and it seemed–she specifically brought them.

This subtly hinted at Talan’s reason for returning. *Her hatred for her tribe was extraordinary… so it wasn’t simply about going home.*

*But rather, sending the people at home–back home (to die).*

“No need. If I can’t settle things after all my efforts, I’d rather die here… Stuck in outdated thinking, resenting heaven and other people, the fighting strength of such a place is no more than a group of infants gathered together.”

Talan said, her voice so low it seemed to emanate a dark aura.

“Then, good luck… May you return safely.”

“Same to you.”

“…”

*Return safely?*

Talan watched her two Beastman companions part ways as she walked alone down this familiar road… Although it filled her with nostalgia, there was no urgency this time.

*The sister who used to urge her, “Hurry up, Talan! Faster! Or else the Great Elder will scold us again!” had already returned to the World Tree… So now, Talan was very relaxed.*

*As she walked, she was mentally preparing…*

*A ridiculous family, ridiculous tribe, ridiculous home, weak and cowardly, soft on the outside but tough within… For the Great Elder, was the taste of power really that good?*

Talan mused, looking up at the canopy overhead, walking along the small path… *In the Demon King Territory, she had never seen a leader so obsessed with power.*

*Though the Demon King Territory was probably unique across the world…*

“Who’s there?!”

As Talan walked, a Beastman on guard cried out, shaking the alarm. Upon seeing the finely dressed Talan, a look of greed instantly flashed across his eyes.

When he recognized Talan, that greed became tangible.

“Talan! You’re finally back! Because of your mistake, your parents were killed by those humans! Prepare to face the Great Elder’s punishment! Great Elder!! Great Elder!! Talan is back, and she’s wearing such nice clothes!!!”

Watching the guard shout, Talan calmly lifted her head to look at him. She glanced down at the clothes given to everyone by the Demon King Territory… With unique modifications according to different Beastman traits.

Like tails, ears, horns…

Thinking of those little fairies asking enthusiastically about how to modify the clothes, Talan looked at the large gate resembling a “fortress” not far away… Some familiar tribesmen were walking out.

They appeared aggressive, as if she had committed a heinous crime.

“I am back.”

Talan’s voice, only audible to herself, was filled with icy resolve.