Chapter 87

“…I see.”

So it was as I thought.

When I glance at Leila sitting next to me, I notice a pained expression on her face. Ah, I understand.

Leila, who is close to the beastman named Mimi, probably understands the situation best. While there may indeed be differences in physical and magical abilities, they can still communicate and work together.

As for why the Arieist  Church attacked the beastmen, there are many possible reasons that come to mind, but for now, it’s more important to hear about the beastmen’s history after that point.

“Our ancestors resisted by allying with other beastmen…”

“With aura and magic, I suppose?”

Alte nods with a look that says, “Exactly.”

Indeed, they do have extraordinary physical abilities, but the humans of this world, like the knights who can slice through bullets, are much stronger than anything from past lives.

Of course, not all humans possess the strength of knights, but for the beastmen, who lack the ability to use aura or magic, they would be formidable enemies.

“After that, some accepted human rule, while others fled in search of new lands. Some species fought to the end and perished. Many races were swallowed by the tide of change.”

Well, from what I’ve heard, I expected that this would happen.

It seems that the beastmen were never fully united as a single group. On the other hand, humans formed a single entity under the guise of religion, united. And with the added disparity in abilities, it seems unlikely that the beastmen would have won.

“So, the ones who survived are the races like Alte’s?”

“…Yes. It’s not impossible that some beastmen are still keeping their bloodlines alive in hidden villages, but at least I don’t know of any.”

I rest my chin on my hand and think.

I’m glad to have learned about their circumstances and the history surrounding them. Perhaps the ambition that Wolf once spoke of stemmed from this background.

But… it’s a difficult issue. If it’s about freeing them from being slaves in the Duke’s domain, I could do it. But based on the values from my past life, freeing them doesn’t necessarily solve everything.

There are many problems, such as the feelings of those who had their property—the slaves—taken from them, and finding a new place for the freed beastmen to live. Those are things that might still be manageable.

But the biggest problem is that even if they’re freed, it doesn’t mean the persecution will end.

“Ainzich-sama…”

Ah. I can feel Leila’s pain all too clearly.

While I want to deepen my understanding of the beastmen’s usefulness and their situation, the fact that they’re often entrusted with infiltration and information gathering means that they have to remain exposed, which isn’t ideal.

“I promise that within our territory, Alte and the others won’t be treated poorly.”

This is the best I can do.

While things might still be manageable with Alte and the others, it’s more difficult when it comes to the other beastmen slaves within the territory. As a noble, I have the privilege to act, but doing so could provoke the resentment of the common people. There’s a risk that the newly stable system of governance could be destabilized.

Though, for religious leaders, the presence of beastmen who aren’t slaves might pose a problem…

“I’m sorry… I didn’t intend for things to get so heavy.”

I regret asking, even though I knew the conversation could go this way. I should have timed it better.

An uncomfortable silence settles over the room, and as I’m wondering how to handle it, a maid approaches.

“Archbishop Heinemann is requesting an audience.”

Why… why now, of all times…