Thank you to everyone who gave comments and coupons. Episode 227
70. The End of Conflict with the Magical Beasts Part 5
━ The King of Beasts, Behemoth?
━ What’s that?
At Neptune’s words, Minerva from the dove faction and Mars from the hawk faction tilted their heads. Neptune, realizing everyone’s eyes were on him, slowly opened his mouth again.
━ Everyone knows that the black sheep, Satan, from the Eastern Magical Nest is trapped in the underworld prison of Tartarus on Olympus. This particular twelve mythical creatures group is a truly dreadful bunch, with individual powers said to match that of our very own Jupiter or that terrifying Fire Dragon, Azidahaka.
The twelve mythical creatures.
Fire Dragon Azidahaka.
A small stir spread among the elder griffons who were well aware of this terror.
━ I heard that it was that white beast, the White One, who took down that black sheep, Satan, and the pyramid-dweller, Ojimann Dias. This is confirmed information I got from my informant. The enormous explosion felt back at the pyramid, and the subsequent transformation of beasts into humans… it’s all said to be due to that white beast’s actions, which also affected our lovely princess Chino.
At that moment, someone interrupted Neptune.
━ Old man, Ojimann Dias? Are you reading too many novels? The ancient king is already a mummy and has long gone!
━ I used to think that way too. But that Ojimann Dias was defeated by the White Beast. The ancient immortal, blessed by the gods, fell to that White Beast. It’s an undeniable fact we can’t hide. That white beast might be the monster that brings about great ruin to Cairo… no, the Western Desert, and possibly even this world.
Mars snorted, unimpressed.
━ Come on, isn’t that a bit exaggerated? Have you seen that thing’s face? That fluffy white fur may not have feathers, but it’s as cute as a freshly hatched baby griffon. People are buying plushies of it like hotcakes, and it’s supposed to be a world-ending monster? Neptune, are you exaggerating again?
Listening quietly, Minerva, the female griffon, nodded in agreement.
━ It does look quite adorable. But the creature it carries, that Cloudring, is also incredibly cute. I just want to pet it once…
━ Ah, I saw that thing from a distance. It looked adorable. Gweeing, gweeing.
━ When I petted it, it made a sound like “yeng-yeng.” We saw it at the Olympus feast the other day. It was so soft and squishy.
The hawk faction and the dove faction joined together, mimicking the strange sounds of the beast.
Even as the topic strayed far off into whimsical realms, no one noticed this situation. Jupiter cleared his throat with a “hem” to grab everyone’s attention.
“Cough cough. So, Neptune, tell us more about this white beast. Is it really strong enough to put this world in danger?”
━ Yes, indeed. It might grow even stronger. The real issue is that there are followers of such a beast spreading throughout Cairo… no, across the entire desert. I’m sure you’ve all heard about the worshipers of the White One, made up of those black jackals and dark fairies. They’re a fanatic group that follows the ten commandments given by the White Beast.
Neptune stood up from his chair and faced everyone. Carefully scanning the faces of the council members, he continued speaking.
━ The white beast also accomplished the unbelievable feat of subduing the notorious Four Beasts, which has plagued the Western Desert for ages. The Fire Dragon was also brought to Cairo by that beast’s persuasion… if that’s true or not is yet to be seen, but the important thing is that the beast’s approval ratings have surpassed our ‘Hawk and Dove’ council. There’s something mysterious, almost magical, in what that creature says. It has the ability to captivate crowds and ignite a spark in their hearts…
━ Are you saying that angry crowds might start a riot?
Mars asked, and Neptune shook his head.
━ Not necessarily, but we might soon be serving a new king. Elections and popularity are directly connected, after all.
━ Hooray!
The griffons stirred restlessly at Neptune’s statement. They nervously glanced at Jupiter, clad in silver armor, twitching their lips.
“Old man, are you saying that this Jupiter might lose his throne because of that white beast?”
━ No, it’s not because of the white beast. It might be because of you, Jupiter, and the things you’ve done.
“What do you mean by that?”
━ Surely, wise Jupiter wouldn’t claim ignorance of the controversies surrounding the beasts and Lord Pluto?
Neptune’s piercing gaze shifted to Jupiter. As a former leader of the hawk faction, it seemed his aggressive nature hadn’t faded.
Yet, Jupiter had ruled over the griffons for hundreds of years.
Feigning calm, Jupiter smiled.
“Pluto was torn apart by beasts after falling from Olympus. Isn’t it all settled now?”
━ Of course, it was. But the stories surrounding the beasts and Lord Pluto, as well as you, Jupiter, are beginning to change. There are whispers of Lord Pluto falling in love with a beast, and that he killed his own sister to seize the ambrosia gift to sit on the throne…
“Enough with these delusional tales. That’s a lie. Surely, you can’t believe those rumors.”
Neptune chuckled at Jupiter’s insistence.
━ Of course, it’s a lie. But the very existence of such suspicions is the real issue. Citizens love conspiracies about their rulers. Whether true or false, once a stain appears, they won’t let go of it. I suspect that the White One has set all this up intentionally.
“Ridiculous. Just looking at that thing, it’s a stupid and foolish beast. Old man, maybe old age is getting to your wisdom. When this is all done, you should take a good rest. Take it easy!”
Jupiter and Neptune exchanged glances, each wearing relaxed smiles.
Having previously shown fierce competition for the leader position of the griffons, this palpable tension weighed heavily on the council.
━ Well, I’d say it’s you who might be taking a break this time. Anyway, the dice have been cast, and it’s now up to you, Jupiter, to move and show us the response. The meeting with Fire Dragon Azidahaka has become an unavoidable matter. Whatever choice is made, it will be historically significant.
“Alright! Then we’ll decide as we always do, by vote. Whether to decline or accept the meeting, everyone, write your opinions on this scroll and submit it into the box.”
The Fire Dragon had once burned the sky, and Cairo trembled at its terrifying presence. Yet now, it seemed as if everyone was reveling in a festival, laughing and chatting joyfully.
The reason? The upper class, led by Griffin Jupiter, formally accepted the meeting with the Fire Dragon.
“To be honest, I didn’t expect Jupiter to agree to my proposal.”
Azidahaka was quite taken aback by the meeting’s success.
“Looking at that creature’s face, I have nothing to say. Let’s just hope it doesn’t throw a punch.”
━ The talking is for them.
I gazed at the four beasts lying sprawled in the square. Once considered symbols of horror, ruthlessness, and cruelty, now they were surrounded by crowds, utterly immobilized.
━ Scales! I’m taking some scales! Wow, look at this, feather scales! I can’t get this from anyone else!
Seeing them like this made them look like poor vagabonds getting robbed, but the beasts didn’t seem to mind, so it was no concern of mine.
━ White One! Please leave an impression with your front paw on my back!
A few females crowded around me, presenting inky black platters.
━ Here, on my belly!
Then one of them lifted her top to reveal her soft belly!
I pressed my front paw into the inky blackness and left a stamp-like print on her belly.
Eehehe, eehehe.
I have no idea what’s fun about that, but the crowd happily dispersed with their newfound interest in me.
“They seem delighted, huh?”
Azidahaka teased, leaving me to shrug in defense.
━ It’s all part of the plan. To take this city completely from Jupiter…
Just as I was about to say more, a little puppy boy approached me, wagging his tail wildly.
━ White One! That’s you, right?
━ Yes, that’s me.
━ Wow! I saw you fighting with Garm! It was so cool! You swiped your paw like this, whack!
━ Oh, you were there, huh?
━ Can I become a strong beast like you one day?
━ No.
His little shoulders slumped.
━ But you can become even stronger than me. But what do you want to get stronger for?
━ I, I want to be popular with the girls! I heard you’re marrying Chino, lady Jupiter’s daughter! Congratulations!
━ Cough, cough, oh, what are you talking about?
I panicked and wagged my tail left and right. Then the puppy boy’s eyes got even bigger like a chihuahua’s as he shouted.
━ Everyone knows! The reason you took down those beasts is for lady Jupiter’s daughter, Chino!
━ What are you saying? Here, let me give you a stamp. Now run and brag to your friends.
I left an ink print on the puppy boy’s face. He cheerfully exclaimed, “I’ll show my friends!” and dashed off, delighted.
I turned my attention to the kids gathered around the beasts, playing with Leaf and Yingyi, shivering slightly from the chilly sensation that crept over me.
“What did you just say? Marrying lady Jupiter’s daughter? You mean that little griffon? The one I saw at the feast before? That girl? Marrying her?”
━ No, that’s not it… I mean, I did win the Heart of the Stars, Ambrosia, and, well, just a bit…
“Just a bit?”
Azidahaka echoed back my words. The image of the fire dragon that had burned the sky flashed before my eyes, making me wag my tail anxiously.
━ I was thinking of refusing. I swear! Oh, Leaf, you can’t be mean to your friends! Don’t do that!
I dashed out from beside Azidahaka and ran towards Leaf, who was sliding down the tails of the beasts.
But Azidahaka’s long tail whipped around my waist, and I was thrown to the ground.
━ Ow!
“So, becoming a mediator between the griffon and the dragon meant that, huh? I see. On the right is the dragon, and on the left the griffon, intending to have both females around?”
━ No, it can’t be! Hey, let go, Leaf is calling me! Yingyi is calling me!
“No one’s calling you. Look into my eyes. I want to know what happened at the feast with Jupiter that day.”
Azidahaka removed his tiara and revealed his sharp eyes. I struggled like a man being checked by his girlfriend.
━ Whiii!
Time flew by quickly.
The historic day of the dragon and griffon’s meeting had arrived. The crowd marveled as they approached the designated location, the Colosseum.
━ Look at those beasts. They’re terrifying. They’ve got multiple heads!
━ But surprisingly, they’re quite sociable and friendly.
━ Is that the fire dragon from that day, flying in the sky? And next to it is the white beast? I’ve only heard stories; this is my first time seeing it live.
━ But why does the White One have such sparse fur? Like someone intentionally pulled it out…
“They say it’s strong enough to easily subdue the beasts. A beast that even the fire dragon has to concede to, who would dare pull at its fur? I think it’s just going bald.”
━ Oh, come on, that can’t be it. It’s probably in the middle of molting.
The crowd created a path, and as I strolled through the middle, I beheld the Cairo’s largest entertainment facility, the Colosseum, towering before us.
The colossal round arena could hold tens of thousands, and many had already settled in to eagerly await our meeting.
Flap, flap.
A massive flock of winged creatures landed on the roof. Dragons were allowed entry into Cairo today.
━ Fire Dragon Azidahaka. You’ve hidden for so long and suddenly come out to stir up such trouble; many dragons might not agree with you. This war you started is no longer just yours.
“Of course, I understand. If there are dissenters, let them challenge me as they will. I won’t hide or run.”
━ Hmm, interesting. Then I’m looking forward to today’s meeting. Since you’re here in Cairo, let’s first enjoy the dwarves’ jewels…
A herd of dragons shed their steel scales and transformed into n*ked humans. They began purchasing clothes and jewels with their scales, indulging in pleasure.
━ Hehe, give me everything from here to there! I’ll pay with the scales of my own body!
“Wow, dragons sure are generous.”
Observing them seamlessly integrating into Cairo’s economy, Azidahaka chuckled.
“Seems there won’t be any dragons against us. Dwarven jewels are loved by all dragons.”
━ Right! It’ll likely end without a hitch.
Thunder boomed from clear skies above. Looking up, I saw a yellow lightning bolt swimming through the sky like a fish and crashing down into the round arena.
━ Looks like Jupiter has arrived at the meeting spot.
━ Gweeing.
I nodded at Leaf’s remark, lifted high in her embrace.
The progress of the discussion was promising, but I had no guarantees that the cunning Jupiter hadn’t prepared some scheme against me.
But I pressed onward, confident as I approached the round arena.
“Come on in.”
Stepping into the arena, I was met with a multitude of people packed tightly together, visible as mere dots, and at the forefront was Jupiter, donned in silver armor, surrounded by a number of griffons.
