A man's voice echoes through the city of Agartha. Everyone stops what they are doing and listens to the voice.
"Well... I am Linos, King of Agartha. I'm sorry for interrupting your busy schedule. I am doing this because I have something to say to you today. Please bear with me for a moment as I chat."
Then Linos clears his throat, ahem, ahem, ahem.
"Let's see. Where should I start? Well, a little while ago, a messenger came from the Church of Crimiana. They say that beastmen are the cause of the incurable diseases Cirithrae, Gaischer, and Leroyance. So they want us to exterminate them. They also told me that the cure for these diseases is the sheep beastmen. I was confused. In the land of Agartha it's a promise not to cause trouble. If they're right, the beasts will cause trouble. But I couldn't help but think otherwise. I didn't think so, but I wasn't sure. Moreover, the best doctor in the world is the one who says that beastmen are the source of the disease. I wasn't sure of my intuition. That's why I was lost. I kept wondering..."
Linos's voice breaks for a moment. The city of Agartha is silent.
"Besides, the Klimiana religion has followers all over the world. If we make enemies of this cult, won't its followers cause mayhem here in Agartha? I was so confused because I thought about the trouble I would cause to the people of this country. But I finally made up my mind. That's why I'm asking you all to listen to my decision."
Linos breaks off and takes a deep breath.
"I don't think the beasts are the cause of the incurable disease. I don't think they are the cause of the incurable disease, because I doubt that Klimiana's theory has been properly proven. Many beasts live with us. Some of them are married. I have never heard of any disease developing among them. That's why I don't believe in Klimiana's theory. Besides, if we expel or capture the beastmen, many people will be hurt and suffer. This is against the stance of Agartha. They even tried to capture his wife Meirias, the daughter of a Seelenguter and a Dwarf. It is a mess, to say the least. Now the beastmen are being hunted by the nations of the world, even though they have done nothing wrong. I will welcome them into my country. And I will protect them. I will try to cause you as little trouble as possible. And I will try to prove that they are not the source of the disease. People of Agartha, please give a warm welcome to the beasts who are evacuating. Let us all lend a helping hand to them in their time of need. Thank you very much. It was Rinos.
. ..I'm going to deactivate the warding. And I exhale loudly. I think I'm talking nonsense. People in the city will probably say, "What? Welcoming in beastmen suspected of being the source of an incurable disease? You've got to be kidding me!" You might be thinking. But I decided to believe May and Roni's words "Klimiana's theory is not confirmed" and to trust my instincts as well.
In my office in the guest house in the capital of Agartha, I thought about the future. How many beastmen would be evacuated.... The sheep beastmen would have to be protected first. If so...
Just as I'm thinking about this, there is a knock at the door of my office. It's Ferris.
"Master..."
"Ferris, I'm sorry. I'm going to be busy again."
"...people are gathering outside the guest house one after another."
"What?"
I look out the window in a panic. I see people lined up along the wall of the guest house. Then I go out of the room and look around the main gate of the guest house. There was a huge crowd of people.
I go outside without hearing Ferris stop me and head for the main gate. There, soldiers of the city's defense force are guarding the gate, and they are on high alert. The people gathered there are very quiet. They are not throwing stones, nor are they rushing into the guest house. It was just quiet.
I slowly stand in front of the main gate. There is a buzz in the crowd when they see me.
A loud voice came out of the crowd, and then Gen-san, a carpenter, appeared. Behind him, the wife can be seen.
"Did you hear that, General?"
"...Oh, that's too much to ask, Gen-san."
I have one question for you.
What is it?
Did those beastmen really bring the disease? Did you see it with your own eyes?"
No, I didn't. I did a lot of research, but I couldn't confirm that fact.
Well, that's easy for you to say!
Gen-san shouted louder than usual.
"The beastmen haven't done anything yet! Banishments for something you haven't done are a terrible thing, you know? I'm on board with your idea, right, General? Let's take care of the beasts!"
"Yes, General! I'm sure he's right! We believe in you!"
Mrs....
"Oh king. You are the one who rebuilt this city! I believe in you!"
"Mr. Linos! The Crimiana are the ones who fled during the civil war. You can't trust anything they say! I believe you, Mr. Linos!"
"Master Linos!"
King!
"It's okay! We're with you!"
The crowd gathered around me was calling out my name. Unable to stop the tears from flowing, I just kept bowing my head.
When I returned to the house at night, everyone seemed to have heard about Miyako's story, and Mei was the first to approach me.
"Master..."
"Mei, it's okay. The people of Agartha understand. Thank God for that."
"Really..."
Mei's eyes are brimming with tears, too.
"I'm going to visit the houses of the lords of Agartha tomorrow. I must tell them what has happened.
Then I will accompany you.
"Well, Mato, can you help me?"
"Master Linos, I will go with you."
"Yes, Soleil should be there too."
Leave it to me!
Then we all talked about the preparations for welcoming the beasts.
I took a bath and went into the bedroom to find Rico. Eryl was already sleeping on the floor. He is a very noisy boy when he cries, but he is a good sleeper. I am sure he will grow up to be a good boy.
While I am looking at his sleeping face, Rico comes to me from behind and hugs me. I gently take her hand in mine.
"...You told the people of Agartha about the Church of Crimiana, didn't you?
"Yeah."
"I was happy to see Linos this time."
"Glad? Why?"
I'm going to pull myself away from Rico.
"I'm really glad that you didn't get distracted by Klimiana, and that you thought about the beastmen properly, and also that you protected ...... May."
"Rico,...... you're not angry?"
"Angry? Why is that?"
"Oh. I've been so focused on May that I haven't been able to spend much time with Rico this ...... time."
"Linos, May is my family. She is not like other women.
I am relieved to hear you say so. I learned a lot this time. I never thought my head would be so messed up. After all, the most frightening thing about religion is that it can kill people in the name of God with impunity, and above all, it takes away the sense of guilt and the fear of death. I felt that kind of madness from the Klimianists. Imagine a man who kills with a smile, or a soldier who is willing to die. Even the strongest of men can't win, can they? And no matter how many of them you beat, they won't be eradicated. It's a real pain in the ass."
Have you settled your thoughts yet?
"Yes, thanks to May's unexpected action, I know what I have to protect and whom I have to fight. Even the beastmen are from the land of Agartha. Who the hell do you think you are to tell us to expel the beastmen or give us sheep-beastmen without any proof, just information that they'll get sick? I've decided not to listen to Crimiana until I hear an explanation that makes sense to me."
"Good... It's always Linos. I was also very upset about the Klimiana cult. I'm glad that Llinos told me what he did. But it's not right that you wept in front of the people of the city.
"Uh-huh. Maybe Rico's right. I'm... not cut out to be king."
"Linos is weak, too weak in some ways."
Rico gets up slowly. He cupped my face gently.
"But that weakness of Llinos is also his charm."
"Not cool, right?"
"No. What is it about the perfect gentleman that attracts you? It is this weakness that allows me to be with Linos."
"Rico... You're starting to sound like your mother."
"From now on, I will be your lover, Linos..."
Rico hugged me again.
Linos is unaware. He does not realize that he has risen one level as a warding master. It will be a little while before he realizes it.