Chapter 198 Part 3
「The problem is that, most of the deserters are of the beast people.」
Rubanof waited until all the objections were voiced out from the people gathered there.
「Stop. Is there really nothing that we can do about the beastmen deserters?」
「Yes. Most of the beastmen are still fertile. There are still many who are able to give birth to babies.」
「There are over two thousand beastmen, but even if you count the number of recent additions of the demons, it still does not add up to 300 people.」
While the others were making excuses and reasons, Rubanof's words made everyone shut up.
「Among the Demon tribe, there is not even a single deserter. There are not even 10 people who deserted. On the other hand, the beastmen tribe had over a hundred of them.」
The inside of the room instantly got quiet.
In fact, everyone knew this to be true.
Since there were a lot of people, they were trying to find excuses to quantify that.
「I don't wish for you to misunderstand, I am not really blaming you.
But if this goes on, the King's trust in the beastmen will continue to plummet to the ground.
In fact, the Demons have tied themselves close to the king through Namari, the demons have even sent people to learn from Uzzu-dono who was brought over by the king, they are slowly deepening their relationship with the king.
There are even rumours that the fallen demon tribe are even offering decorations and other things to Russ-dono to deepen their relationship.
The beastmen are the only ones who are not trying to deepen their relationship with the king.
I sent some clever women to work in the Mountain Castle to gather information all the time.
It is more than likely that Marifdono has noticed this and has already incorporated them with some methods.」
[TL: Basically turned them ]
There were no response to Rubanof's words.
If there was way to measure frustration, then his face right now could be used to measure it.
「Fumu. In the worst case scenario, Russ-dono might have speculated and looked into this matter and had them all turned into undead.」
「There is no way that the king could have allowed this to happen!」
「That's right! No matter how far things took for the turn...」
「That's exactly why I think there might be a chance for it not happening right? That's the reason why I had sent someone to go to the Mountain Castle today. Impika, please come in.」
As soon as Rubanof said those words, the door opened swiftly and Impika rushed in.
「Hello there! It's me Impika dayo~」
Impika lowered her head and greeted everyone. There was just too much momentum with her entrance that she ended up rolling again.
「Hmm? It seems like I tripped againnnn~」
She then looked on with her head tilted while everyone laughed.
Although it was simple trip, the effect seemed to have been maximized for the elderly, who could be seen having rugged faces all over, but right now they were watching over Impika with a smile and a loving gaze in their eyes.
「Ahem. Impika, please tell us what happened in the Mountain Castle with the king.」
「Alright yo~」
Impika lowered her bag and took out a few objects which were wrapped in clothes from the inside. And then she spread the cloth and turned and smiled at the elderly people who were looking on eagerly.
「Hmm? What is that? That is a spoon and this is a knife---」
「Don't touch it!」
The elder who was from the boar tribe unintentionally withdrew the hand that's reaching out when Impika screamed.
「This is you know. This was something that the king created just for me. That's why no one else can touch it.」
「Impika, nobody wants to steal it from you, so why don't you continue?」
「Yes. But before that.」
Impika removes the string that was on her neck and drew out a plate which had a rectangular mesh engraved on it, and then offered it to Rubanof.
「Muu. Is this fine?」
「This is umm.... Pre, pre pay? Ya know. Let's do this later ok.」
「Prepay is it. Quite shrewd you are.」
「Rubanof-dono, what is that?」
「This is something like a stamp from the king.
When the children do a good job at helping adults or parents, this would be awarded according to their contribution. Um, Impika.」
「That's right yo. Umm..
If you get 10 of them, then you get a snack from the king and so on.
You get a knife when you make 50. Even so, there are so many kids so it's usually sequentially awarded. Right now it's Paiiruka, and then it will be Yunbanmachina dayo.
Also, those who don't have parents are going to be first and then it's going to be the others' turn.」
This stamp system was something that Yuu had thought of. It was introduced because children could also help in the day to day things and these stamps would urge the children to help the adults voluntarily.
Ten stamps would mean one snack while twenty would mean a lunch, 50 stamps would mean homemade article and knives that Yuu made, and hundred stamps would mean for them to stay in the Mountain Castle for a day.
Also, stamps were made so that if only one kid helps out, then they would receive less stamps. But if there were multiple kids doing something together, then they would get more stamps. This was done so that the kids would gather, make friends, and support each other while helping out and so on.
Impika then wraps the knife and spoon carefully with a cloth and then once again puts it in her bag on her back. The old men finally understood,「Ahh so she was showing it off.」, why she did that.
「The king's lunch was really tasty!」
「What's with that... so suddenly.」
「...」
「Before coming here, we ate meat together with the king and everyone.」
「Even if it is meat, don't you eat it every day?」
「That's right, that's right.」said the old men collectively, but Impika responded with 「Chichichi」as if refusing that it was not the case.
Rubanof was amazed at what he heard.
「Is it different from the meat that you eat in the village? Ya know.Even the meat in the King's Castle is much more delicious.It's meat from cows! It was like really tasty ya know!!」
「What kind of meat is Tan?」
「Is it maybe a cow's thigh? Or maybe a bird's breast?」
「Nope - Tan is what Cow elder said.」
「It really was something that I said!? I have never heard of a cow that was that delicious.」
「Aa, I don't know. It is as Cow elder said, it was really really delicious.
Tan was just really delicious there. I was just chewing and the taste on the tongue was delicious. Food kept on coming and I was eating nonstop.」
Impika was using all of her tiny little body to explain how delicious the beef meat was, she even went as far as using her eyes. Although she was still young and has poor expressions, but the emphasizing figure was really convincing.
「Aa, I remembered, I also remembered.」
Even the mouths of the elders present over there, saliva was overflowing.
「Fuu. Ridiculous. Anyways, it seems that it is something that only children can eat.」
「Eh? Even the adults ate it though.」
「Wh-what did you say!?」
The lion tribe elder looked at Rubanof, while Rubanof denied it by saying 「No, I have not eaten it.」.
「Ummm. Before this, Machupi and even Byarune-ojiichan had also eaten it in dinner.」
「Isn't that the Chieftain and the Leader of the fallen demon tribe?」
「What could this be about?」
「Impika~! Explain what it was about!」
When the elder shouted, he unintentionally grabbed onto Impika who was struggling to get out of the elder's grip.
「Mou! How could you even grab onto such a cute woman like me - Let me go right this instant! 」
「So-sorry. My bad.」
「Well then, I don't know about Byarune-ojiichan, but Machupi was talking about techniques and grapples and so on.」
「Is that really true?」
「Yes. Since the king who was already there, could fight, they started talking about that.」
Rubanof continues to ask questions while chaos was ensuing.
「Impika, what about the girls that were working at the Castle?」
「Sisters? The sisters are-- they are all under Marifoneechan.
Like they are really amazing! But Marifoneechan said that they are still in progress.」
「Did you hear? Machupi was trying to pledge allegiance to the king and was trying to abandon his current position. It was probably the same for Byarune-dono.
And as expected, they are currently under the hands of Marifdono.
While we are trying to move slowly, the other races are already one to two steps ahead! I don't know why this is happening, but let me tell you all something if this keeps on.
What do you think will happen to the future of the beastmen?」
「Then, what should we do? What we did until now has not yielded us any results yet, so what now?」
「That's what we will be discussing from now on.」
「All of you, listen here! We shall do as Rubanof says!」
「Wh-? Are you trying to pick a fight here?」
「Stop. At least behave yourself in front of children.」
「It's all because of you!」
「Oh? I am ready anytime!」
And again, the Chiefs began to quarrel.
Looking at this, Rubanof sighed greatly.
Impika was looking inquisitively at the battle of the adults.
「It would be fine if all of you worked together. Well I guess you will all understand soon enough~」
Murmuring so, she left the room.