Otome Game Mob Villain

Chapter 747

"I don't know much about the **Guardian Ten Wings [Brutritter]** either, but I've heard the Padgry family has eleven branch families."

"Eleven... That's the same as the number of beastman tribes, isn't it?"

When I echoed this, Aria nodded, saying, "Mhm."

"The branch families... it's said they've been marrying Avian tribespeople with members of other tribes for generations. However, Ibi-nee... and then me and Ilia, both our parents are Avian tribespeople. We're from branch families meant to preserve the direct bloodline, they say."

"So, branch families that preserve the direct line, and branch families that continue mixing with other tribes... I feel a rather extraordinary obsession with strengthening bloodlines from the Padgry family..."

If mixing with other tribes continues, the Avian blood should thin out. They're probably having them marry within the Avian branch families on a certain cycle as well.

"Yes, that's likely so. However, personally, it's not a very pleasant thing to hear about."

Tink sighed, and Capella, sitting across the aisle, gave a small shake of his head.

"...The thinking of those enthralled by power sometimes strays far from the norm. Their reasoning is something we likely cannot comprehend. No, rather, it's better if Lord Ridd and we do *not* understand it."

His matter-of-fact tone sounded deeply sincere. Since Capella belonged to the covert operations division back in Renarute, he might have witnessed the desires of the powerful up close and knows them far better than we do.

"That's true. I guess it's that human desire is inexhaustible, no matter the era or country."

Capella nodded, but then changed the topic with a "That said..."

"Even considering the unique cultural presence of the Beast King in Zubera, the Padgry family's actions feel excessive. What do you think about that point, Lord Amon?"

"That's something I've been wondering about, too."

Amon, who was in the same carriage, stood up and came over, sitting down in an empty seat.

"The Guardian Ten Wings... their appearances bore the characteristics of various tribes. Probably the result of long-term bloodline strengthening, but it was my first time seeing beastmen with appearances like that."

"So they're different from typical mixed-blood?"

Tilting my head, Amon nodded with a serious expression.

"When beastmen of different tribes marry and have children, the tribal characteristics are strongly inherited from the mother's side."

"Wow, is that so?"

So in cross-tribal marriages, the characteristics are strongly inherited from the mother's side.

But then, what's strongly inherited from the father's side?

A question flickered in my mind, but Amon glanced sideways at Aria and continued, "For example..."

"If a Foxman male and an Avian female have a child, the child will strongly inherit Avian characteristics. If the genders of the parents are reversed, they strongly inherit Foxman traits. Because of this, when marrying outside the tribe, they almost always move to the tribal territory of the mother, who they resemble."

"I see. So that's why we saw men from other tribes here and there in every territory."

From the Tanuki territory to the Rabbit territory, in the flow of people, I occasionally saw couples that seemed to be a man from another tribe and a local tribeswoman.

They probably got married and the man moved here.

"Yeah, that's right. But..."

"But...?"

At his suggestive tone, I tilted my head. Amon let out a sigh.

"It's embarrassing to say, but cross-tribal marriages and mixed-blood children tend to be strongly shunned within Zubera. If the appearance is different and they're mixed-blood, the parents and child face even harsher scrutiny. So, it's also about going to a territory that might accept them a little more easily."

"I-I see. It's kind of like being driven out of the herd, isn't it?"

"Haha, well put. I think it's fine to see it that way."

Amon chuckled and nodded, but immediately went "Ah...!?" and blinked, hurriedly adding,

"But, a marriage with the Baldia family wouldn't be shunned like that. So, my engagement to Lady Tis won't be viewed as a problem, rest assured."

"It's fine. Amon and Tis's union is also about ties between nations, and you had the formal meeting in the Foxman territory, after all."

I nodded and looked at Tink, who also nodded in agreement.

Amon looked relieved, his expression softening as he patted his chest, then seemed to remember himself and cleared his throat.

"Sorry, I digressed a bit. Let me get back on track."

"Yeah, please do."

His expression turned serious again, and he glanced briefly out the window at the sky.

"About beastman mixed blood, it's as I said earlier. But the members of the Guardian Ten Wings we saw at the checkpoint were different. They had the Avian characteristic of wings, while also having tails or ears, characteristics of other tribes. That's clearly abnormal. I think it's the result of continuing bloodline strengthening with an obsession that truly strays from the norm. And..."

Amon furrowed his brow, placing a hand over his mouth.

"And...? What is it?"

"I have a feeling... there wasn't anyone among the Guardian Ten Wings who had Foxman characteristics."

"...Now that you mention it, you're right."

Recalling when they were all assembled at the checkpoint, there was no one with fox ears or a tail like Amon or Rapha.

"Aria, do you have any idea about this?"

When I asked gently, she gave a small shake of her head.

"I'm sorry, Onii-chan. All I know is that the Padgry family has eleven branch families. About the Guardian Ten Wings, I only know they're a unit directly under the Clan Chief that Ibi-nee belongs to..."

Aria's shoulders drooped dejectedly.

As the atmosphere in the carriage grew somewhat heavy, I gave a soft smile.

"I see. Then, could you tell me what you know about Ibi Padgry? It might give us a clue about the Guardian Ten Wings."

"About Ibi-nee? Yeah, I can talk about that."

Saying this, Aria began speaking nostalgically.

According to her, Ibi was one of the instructors in charge of training Aria and her sisters.

During training, she was cold and strict, but after training was over, she truly doted on Aria and the others like little sisters.

"And then... when someone was having a hard time and crying, Ibi-nee would gently sing to cheer them up. We all loved that song."

"Is that so? But, the way you said that... the other instructors weren't kind?"

"...Yeah."

While talking about Ibi, her eyes had been shining, but at Tink's question, Aria shrank back.

"The others... they called us 'failures' or 'disappointments.' But... I still desperately worked hard, wanting to be recognized by them too. In the end, they said as long as they had Ilia, it was fine... and they sold us off like we were trash."

In the silent carriage, Aria looked up and smiled, saying, "...But, it's okay."

"Because of that, I got to meet Onii-chan and everyone in Baldia, who look at me with kind eyes."

"...I'm sorry, Aria. I made you remember something painful."

When I said this gently, she shook her head vigorously.

"I'm not bothered by it anymore, I'm really okay. But..."

"But...?"

Tilting my head, she glanced out the window.

"I'm worried... that Ibi-nee and Ilia might be having a hard time. That's the only thing."

"I see. You're so kind, Aria."

Just as I patted the head of the dejected girl, the steam carriage came to a sudden stop, causing the interior to lurch violently.

Instinctively hugging Aria to protect her, Tink moved in front of us defensively.

Capella was also poised, ready to protect Amon.

"What's going on!?"

Tink raised her voice, her expression tense. A light knock sounded on the carriage door.

"My apologies. This is Ibi Padgry. From the sky, I sighted what appears to be a horde of monsters overflowing from a dungeon in the distance. I requested an emergency stop."

"A horde of monsters...!?"

After quickly checking that Aria was unhurt, I hurriedly ran to the door.