novelraw Chapter 424: Self-Blame (6k)
Chapter 424: Self-Blame (6k)
"Well danced! Well danced! Very much to my liking, reward!"
Looking at those Demi-human Races dancing gracefully in the center whose appearances were somewhat difficult to accept even by Fisher's aesthetic standards, that Hiiragi whose face still displayed a somewhat youthful hue actually grew excited watching. His alcohol tolerance seemingly wasn't too good. With the alcohol in his cup being far inferior to the alcohol content of later generations' Naris Black Mamba Wine, it was relatively difficult to get a person drunk, let alone an Elf standing as a Mythical Species.
Below, the aged Kuin wiped the sweat from his wrinkled forehead, subsequently guiding Helaire, Fisher's group to take their seats, directly opposite the Tsubaki Earl. He incidentally additionally shot a glance at the helpless expression on the face of the Tsubaki Earl opposite him. That emotion seemingly could spread, dying the expressions of their monarch and minister duo identical.
"Tsubaki Earl, please definitely gift these beautiful concubines to me. I simply love them so much. Raise any demands you have; I will definitely agree to all."
Following the conclusion of a dance, as Fisher and the others sequentially took their seats, Hiiragi, highly unsatisfied, looked at the retreating Demi-human Races below, turning his head to beseech the Tsubaki Earl thus. Hearing Hiiragi's words, those several female Demi-human Races below who were about to retreat also didn't dare budge an inch, standing rooted in place, cautiously looking at the Tsubaki Earl seated on the side.
Hearing this, he smiled slightly, gesturing to the attendants behind Hiiragi to pour him wine, subsequently replying,
"I don't have slaves here. If you want them to leave with you, please ask them what demands they have... but there's no rush for this matter. Right now, emissaries from the Sanctuary have arrived to celebrate the King's longevity. How about we discuss this matter first?"
Yet unexpectedly, Marquis Hiiragi merely casually swept a glance at Helaire, as if treating others like air, subsequently stating without much care,
"Who doesn't know that Angels coming here to celebrate longevity is merely Going Through the Motions. In the past, it was merely sending some items and reciting a congratulatory speech. Both sides don't care, so why should the Tsubaki Earl care? Reporting this matter to the King and the others is fine, what's there to discuss... Hey, what do you all want, I'll give whatever you want. Shall we share a bed tonight?"
Hiiragi didn't look at the faces of those female Demi-humans, solely staring at the moth-dust wings and tapir trunks on their bodies. With a wave of his sleeve, accompanying a gust of breeze, he retrieved a petit branch of some sort of wood from his embrace. That branch emitted blue light. With a gentle toss, he tossed that wood among the group of female Demi-human Races. Within their terrified gazes, that wood emanated a terrifying aura, taking root and sprouting, bursting forth with the glittering sound of metal...Subsequently, that branch sprouted bit by bit, but what it bore wasn't any emerald green leaves, but rather assorted accessories crafted from precious metals. Among them didn't lack weapons of war, exuding a cold gleam aimed at those Demi-human Races.
Tsubaki Earl inhaled a deep breath. He clearly knew in his heart the other party was merely joking, possibly not even harboring true malice, but it was just incredibly uncomfortable. He sat up slightly straighter, looking at the several people opposite him, opening his mouth,
"Marquis Hiiragi, watch your words."
Helaire was like she turned into a wooden puppet, Motionless, solely smiling and playing dead. Below, Kuin also looked at Hiiragi. The music continued continually to sound, but the atmosphere wasn't as relaxed as the music conveyed.
Seated behind Helaire, Asuka Karasawa watched that Marquis Hiiragi whose exterior still apperaed somewhat youthful, but seemingly couldn't compare him to a human child no matter what. Hence, she softly inquired to Fisher and Gou Wen,
"Marquis Hiiragi... didn't he already Reincarnate? Why does it feel like he's lived for a very long time? Also harboring this kind of hobby?"
Gou Wen helplessly turned his head, identically replying softly,
"This is Reincarnation ah. Fundamentally speaking, before and after Reincarnating they are the same person. Although lacking memories, the things their Previous Incarnation did will continuously surface. Moreover, Elves passionately love compiling histories to record the deeds they accomplished. Following Reincarnation, Elves love reading them, allowing themselves to judge whether they approve or disapprove of the deeds done by their Previous Incarnation."
Hearing this, Marquis Hiiragi's expression faded. He gently tossed his wine cup, still half-filled with alcohol, onto the table, emitting a crisp sound. He shook his head somewhat regrettably, lamenting,
"Tsubaki Earl, Tsubaki Earl, sometimes I genuinely can't figure out what you are thinking. You abolished the distinction between slaves and nobles, even scoffing at the rules established by the King; now the King is about to Reincarnate, I fear the old Li is about to become invalid, isn't this what you hoped for? Now you're sitting on pins and needles, what are you pretending... Forget it, since you want to discuss celebrating the King's longevity, I won't stop you. I came here today for proper business."
Hiiragi sat in his seat, looking somewhat regrettably at the several non-human dancers trembling below, unwilling to avert his gaze for a long time. Beside him, the Tsubaki Earl appeared somewhat antsy, glancing left and right, seemingly somewhat nervous, rendering Fisher, who had been silently observing them, somewhat puzzled...
Hiiragi supported his body and waved his hand. The branch blooming with metal on the distant ground shrank bit by bit, swallowing those precious items back into its trunk bit by bit,
"In these years since I Reincarnated, I've invariably been busy with other matters, neglecting the mess left by my Previous Incarnation. Now that everything is done, I finally recalled some matters... within the four years following my Previous Incarnation's death and the three years following my Reincarnation, one thousand six hundred and twenty-two slaves from our Hiiragi Fiefdom secretly fled to the Tsubaki Fiefdom. If I remember correctly, the Tsubaki Earl seemingly had an agreement with my Previous Incarnation: one slave exchanged for one zhang [approx 3.3 meters] of land?"
"Originally, I didn't plan on settling this account with the Tsubaki Earl, treating it as a greeting gift for the Tsubaki Earl upon my new birth, extending a Favor Done at No Cost. But I'm not too satisfied this time, very irritated... however, allocating over a thousand more zhang of land to me, I also couldn't bear it. How about this, I heard Tsubaki Earl's Upper Minister Kuin intends to adopt the Deer Species Guest Minister Lu An as his godson. Spoken asheadly, since my birth I've yet to see a Deer Species. How about we make a trade, Tsubaki Earl?"
Hiiragi smilingly waved his hand. That branch on the distant ground spread apart bit by bit, transforming into the standing tips of sabers, spears, swords, and halberds, densely paving the entire ground. He rubbed his hands together, seemingly already crystal clear on Kuin and Lu An's situation. He merely opened his mouth, stating,
"Bring Lu An's daughter over to dance a piece for me, and I will write off this matter completely. Deer Species ah... hehe, look, the hooves and tail of a little deer, furry, exceedingly beautiful. Tumbling through a dance... dodging these dangerous bladed weapons, how nimble, how beautiful... Hurry and have her come up, I am Unable to Wait."
Hiiragi's Seventeenth-Tier life level was basically unmatched by anyone present. Helaire, the sole individual whose tier matched his, was AFK, appearing even more like Asuka Karasawa than Asuka Karasawa beside her, adopting a weak, pitiful, and helpless appearance.
The complexions of both Kuin and Tsubaki altered slightly. But differing from Kuin, who dared not speak but dared to be angry, Tsubaki seemingly only just recovered his wits and began chewing over the other party's words.
Cede another thousand zhang of land?
Even without Tsubaki Earl deciding, Kuin couldn't possibly agree. He instantly stood up, preparing to go find Lu An and have him bring Lu Ming over. But evidently, given Lu Ming's timid and shy personality, it was impossible for her to dance upon bladed weapons beneath the gaze of Mythical Species...
Tsubaki Earl heaved a sigh, looking at Marquis Hiiragi, retorting,
"Why must it be like this, Marquis Hiiragi?"
"Do you want land or slaves... oh no, the descendants of slaves?"
Yet Hiiragi remained invariably unrelenting, pouring wine for himself. That extremely youthful yet extremely punch-able appearance made Asuka Karasawa grit her teeth watching. For a Deer Species who couldn't even endure her gaze and had to run away, how could she possibly dance on blades?
"Pervert..."
She cursed. In the distance, the alcohol-drinking Hiiragi's ears twitched slightly. Evidently, he heard the little girl's soft cursing. That terrifying pressure instantly crept over. Mikhail's Prosthetic Body clenched tighter slightly. Gou Wen also hurriedly sat straight and looked at Helaire, but she remained Motionless, maintaining her AFK fake smile like a statue, nearly giving Gou Wen a stroke watching.
Right as Hiiragi looked over carrying terrifying pressure, Fisher, seated to the front-left of Asuka Karasawa, suddenly sighed forcefully,
"Sigh."
"...What are you sighing about, human?"
Hiiragi glanced at the seated Fisher. The original thought of settling scores with that human little girl couldn't help but stall upon witnessing the contempt "inadvertently" revealed at the corner of that human man's eyes. He furrowed his brows, querying thus.
Fisher looked at him, then looked at the several Demi-human Races in the distance, subsequently shaking his head and sighing,
"Nothing much. I merely initially felt I met a fellow enthusiast when I just entered, originally wishing to converse a bit. Yet I didn't expect Marquis Hiiragi completely lacks the ability to appreciate, hence feeling it's somewhat a pity, that's all. In my view, Marquis Hiiragi shouldn't invite the Deer Species to come up and dance first; it wouldn't be too late to first clarify the concept of loving Demi-human Races before inviting."
Marquis Hiiragi stared blankly slightly, identically turning his head. He very swiftly also understood what Fisher's "lacks the ability to appreciate" meant. Subsequently, he stood up quite angrily, glaring at Fisher,"
"You say I lack the ability to appreciate? Who the hell do you think you are? Since my Reincarnation, I have seen and understood any race within my nation. Even during this trip to the Tsubaki Fiefdom, I additionally made advance preparations regarding the unique Demi-human Races of this land, understanding them quite deeply. You say I lack the ability to appreciate?"
Fisher remained unhurried, retorting,
"Marquis Hiiragi understands the three Demi-humans below the stage quite well?"
"That's natural!"
Fisher stood up, walking to the table beneath Marquis Hiiragi's terrifying pressure of anger. Of course, in the eyes of Asuka Karasawa, Gou Wen, or even Mikhail, all these actions seemingly resembled bearing the consequences for a momentary slip of the tongue committed by Asuka Karasawa, solely to prevent Marquis Hiiragi from making trouble for her.
Asuka Karasawa pursed her lips, temporarily feeling somewhat self-blame in her heart. Her fingers also tightly clenched the white robe upon her thighs. Gou Wen and Mikhail identically maintained their gaze on Fisher, who bravely confronted Hiiragi at the table, feeling somewhat admiring of his courage in their hearts... Only Helaire on the side smiled slightly, escaping from AFK mode, looking at Fisher before the table, unfathomable what she was thinking.
Opposite them, Kuin frantically raised his hand. Tsubaki Earl additionally looked at him with an odd look in his eyes.
Of course, unbeknownst to anyone, following the Hiiragi Marquis's answer before his eyes, the illusory subtitles before Fisher's eyes lit up bit by bit. The Demi-Human Completion Handbook within his embrace also grew hot bit by bit. In an invisible location, three new sections very swiftly appeared,
【Tapir-kin】
【Mantis-kin】
【Moth-kin】
【Bindable research attempts: 0/1】
【Bindable targets: ...】
Below, several names of bindable female Demi-human Races instantly popped up. Fisher casually selected three targets to bind without even looking, completely filling the quota for the three Demi-human Races. Before that pain arrived, he spoke to the Hiiragi before his eyes,
"I'm all ears."
That contemptuous gaze carrying an examinig implication instantly caused Hiiragi to freeze in place. Although the human man before his eyes merely resided around the Thirteenth-Tier, seemingly at this moment, within the domain of the female Demi-human Races he was interested in, the man before his eyes seemingly was an authority, seemingly possessing unquestionable status.
He still remembered when Hiiragi just stepped out from the giant tree of Reincarnation, what he saw was a chaotic fiefdom. Many slaves he previously oppressed had frantically fled, many nobles had additionally identically franticly fled, abandoning him; when he was just born in this life, it was a bizarre Demi-human Race he never paid attention to in his Previous Incarnation—a Butterfly-kin—who helped him, leading him out of the holy tree of Reincarnation.
Incidentally, Butterfly-kin were responsible for compiling histories in the Hiiragi Fiefdom.
The appearance of the Butterfly-kin Demi-human Race was bizarre. The wings behind their backs, large antennae on their heads, and large eyes upon their eyes made other Demi-human Races keep a respectful distance, contrasting vastly with Elven aesthetics. Yet, for some unknown reason, it left a profound memory within the Reincarnated Hiiragi.
Consequently, facing the admonishment of the historian Butterfly-kin, he surprisingly broke precedent and accepted it. He indeed became an Elf distinct from his brutal Previous Incarnation, but because of this, he additionally acquired an incredibly bizarre fetish.
He began paying attention to Demi-human Races differing from Elven aesthetics. The more different, the more bizarre, the better. Of course, this difference could also be analogized to the difference from humans, because the appearances of Elves, humans, and the majority of Demi-human Races harbored similarities...
Until today, the hobby he invariably felt quite proud of was surprisingly questioned by this guest from afar. This left him quite astonished, wishing he could immediately persuade the other party, questioning how he dared say he didn't appreciate them.
Hiiragi swallowed a mouthful of saliva, pointing at the Demi-human Race dancers in the distance. First was the Tapir-kin, a type of Demi-human Race possessing relatively short stature, whose faces were covered in short fur and possessed retractable long trunks,
"The Tapir-kin, its males love speaking, its females love singing. A Demi-human Race possessing greyish-brown short trunks on their faces, their heads covered in short fur; females mature at fifteen, excelling at singing after adulthood. It's heard their voices excel at making people dream, making people forget worries. Especially their short trunks and fur, very much to my liking. They possess short tails behind them, with fine fur at the ends..."
He rattled off a massive slew. Fisher stood in place, binding three Demi-human Races at once. That agony instantly multiplied by three. Even Fisher, who was already accustomed to it, additionally found it somewhat difficult to endure, enduring the pain until his brows furrowed slightly...
Marquis Hiiragi before his eyes watched Fisher listening and listening until his brows gradually furrowed deeper. He seemingly hadn't heard what he wanted to hear whatsoever. His confidence retreated slightly, yet he still continued speaking on the characteristics of the other two Demi-human Races.
Mantis-kin love preying, their figures athletic. It's heard they exceedingly love using longspears as weapons. Following the growth of their age, they additionally sprout wings, their figures slender and fit; whereas the Moth-kin are exactly as their name implies, the bodies of female Moth-kin are a furry mass, resembling wearing a tightly knitted fur sweater. The wings behind them don't frequently move, moth dust adheres to them, used to maintain wing moisture...
The more Hiiragi spoke, the less confidence he harbored in his heart. Because he seemingly hadn't seen a speck of approval upon the face of this human man before his eyes. His face invariably maintained a slight expression of suffering, as if everything he said was polluting his ears, causing him to feel uncomfortable.
It wasn't until everyone present dazedly listened to Marquis Hiiragi speak such a massive chunk of astonishing views that they recovered a bit of their wits. It's estimated even Tsubaki Earl additionally didn't expect that this adjoining Marquis Hiiragi surprisingly understood Demi-human Races so well.
And precisely at this time, Fisher's expression, having endured the agony, additionally relaxed bit by bit. He heaved a sigh of relief, memorizing the massive chunk Hiiragi just spoke in its entirety. As the knowledge regarding these Demi-human Races from foreign lands flowed into his mind, the Demi-Human Completion Handbook at his chest additionally grew hot bit by bit, proving the increase in research progress.
But on the surface, he merely looked at Marquis Hiiragi and replied,
"Just these?"
Marquis Hiiragi opened his mouth. His mouth reeking of alcohol exhaled a breath, replying,
"...Just these."
"In my view, Marquis Hiiragi's attitude towards Demi-human Races cannot be termed appreciation. Perhaps it's better said as merely appreciating their unique parts."
"...Could it be these are incorrect?"
Marquis Hiiragi Unbelievably retorted thus, his tone filled with astonishment, yet harboring a bit of imperceptible excitement and anticipation.
Yes, the reason Fisher dared to so directly stand up to cover for Asuka Karasawa was because, through his observation just now, he discovered that this Elf-kin before his eyes surprisingly genuinely harbored a profound interest in Demi-human Races, instead of using it as a pretext to make demands from the Tsubaki Earl.
When he was making demands from the Tsubaki Earl, he invariably kept his gaze on those Demi-human Race dancing girls... of course, a certain part, and his gaze was extremely unsatisfied; moreover, everything he said when mentioning the Deer Species just now was entirely about non-human parts, sufficient to discern what his true interest was like.
"Naturally it's incorrect. Doesn't Marquis Hiiragi feel your approach is too superficial? In my view, your interest and exploration of Demi-human Races is undoubtedly picking up sesame seeds only to drop the watermelon. You merely purely love the so-called appearance of Demi-human Races, yet Turn a Blind Eye to the different inner qualities formed by their unique physiological structures. What difference does this possess from purely loving objects?"
Hiiragi opened his mouth, dazedly looking at the several Demi-human Race dancing girls in the distance. Only under the prompting of Fisher's words did he suddenly discover that, facing the tier and status pressure he exuded, the several Demi-human Races of different species in the distance surprisingly exhibited starkly contrasting reactions.
The Tapir-kin were frightened to the point of raising their trunks, their eyes spinning, seemingly on the verge of fainting... but it wasn't like this, they seemingly ordinarily looked sleepy, that appearance of seeming sleepy yet actually very awake was so conspicuous at this moment.
So lewd...
Looking at the Mantis-kin again, facing his gaze, they mostly held their heads high and chests out looking at him. Combined with their slender, sharply defined bodies, they appeared both beautiful and haughty, seemingly very fond of looking down at him from a high place, extremely sneering at the treasures and everything he offered. That feeling of disgust was so real it couldn't be faked.
So lewd...
Looking at the Moth-kin again, a furry mass, it seemed their females mostly had a bit of baby fat. The wings behind them fluttered slightly when nervous, but seemingly very fond of glowing things. Just now when seeing the wooden branch and metal he tossed out, their eyes additionally seemingly glowed, their footsteps uncontrollably inching closer over there, yet sillily controlling themselves to stand in place.
So lewd...
Merely in this trance, it was as if a brand-new door opened before him. Hiiragi finally uncontrollably retracted his gaze, immediately coming before Fisher from behind his table. Amidst everyone's astonished gazes behind him, he grabbed his hand, sincerely asking,
"May I ask, how do I address your esteemed self?"
Being grabbed by the hand by an existence of the Mythic Rank, Fisher unnaturally wanted to retract his hand, but couldn't move at all, couldn't retract it either.
"..."
That appearance of retracting his hand made Hiiragi additionally think Fisher was scorning his previously ignorant appreciation method of Demi-human Races. He immediately sincerely pulled him back to his own table, personally grabbing a wine cup and pouring wine for him,
"Listening to your esteemed self's single speech today has truly left me feeling like Empowered with Wisdom ah. Please don't mind, it was my abruptness previously. I am Hiiragi, the sovereign of the adjoining Hiiragi Fiefdom. If you have anything you want to understand regarding celebrating the King's longevity, or anything you need my help with, please speak freely, um... how do I address you?"
"Fischer Benavides."
Fisher sighed, gazing toward Gou Wen, Asuka Karasawa, and the others in the distance, somewhat worried this overly fanatic fellow would affect his reputation, yet discovering they were all looking at him with faces full of admiration.
Alternatively, in their eyes, Fisher was merely a scholar with quite an understanding of Demi-human Races. But in order to save Asuka Karasawa who momentarily misspoke just now, he had no alternative but to bravely step forward, disguising himself as possessing the same bizarre fetish as Marquis Hiiragi, wronging himself to defuse this dangerous situation...
Kuin beside them looked at Fisher with a face full of gratitude. Tsubaki Earl identically invariably looked at him, the meaning somewhat unclear.
Only Helaire behind that table clutched her stomach and snickered, practically unable to hold it in and about to go crazy with laughter, seemingly having witnessed an incredibly, incredibly amusing matter.
"Mr. Fisher, this is truly Regretting Meeting a Soulmate So Late ah. No rush, no rush. I offended previously. I haven't even understood this concept of loving Demi-human Races yet, merely superficial, exclusively understanding how to watch them Behave Coquettishly. Only now realizing late have I felt I lost so much. It's truly a pity... have you encountered other Demi-human Races previously as well? Could you exchange your thoughts and viewpoints with me?"
The corners of Fisher's mouth twitched. Beneath the worried or encouraging gazes of Asuka Karasawa and the others, beneath Kuin's grateful gaze beside him, beneath Helaire's expression of laughing so hard she was about to fly, he gently pinched the wine Hiiragi handed over. The clear liquor within stirred tiny ripples, reflecting his calm visage.
No matter, since matters had reached this point anyway, it was exactly opportunistic to wring more specific information regarding those three Demi-human Races from Hiiragi's mouth to complete the Completion Handbook's research progress.
Therefore, he opened his mouth, replying,
"I know a little."
Nobody anticipated that the atmosphere within the hall would ease up in this somewhat dramatic fashion, resulting in To Everyone's Delight because of Fisher.
Perhaps only Asuka Karasawa didn't feel this way?
In her view, Mr. Fisher was completely forced to act like this because of her momentary excitement. Therefore, while others relaxed, watching Fisher effortlessly converse with Hiiragi, she actually felt quite self-blame and uncomfortable.
This young transmigrator from another world pursed her lips again, unconsciously clutching her robe tighter, somewhat avoiding glancing at the expression of Fisher in the distance.
(End of this chapter)