Chapter: 671
While I was explaining to the Emperor how I managed to capture Ziz during my search for it, a report came in from the local governor overseeing Kroita and the surrounding region.
“They say Behemoth has emerged from its pit. There are only three beings left who remember Trika, including itself, and it has declared that it will live honoring Trika until its final breath.”
‘Oh.’
I couldn’t help but admire the Emperor’s reaction as he read the local governor’s report.
I wasn’t sure what exactly Ziz had said, but it seemed that Behemoth, which had previously wept in its pit, had regained its motivation.
Of course, just because it found its motivation doesn’t mean a drastic change was imminent. Despite its gentle nature, Behemoth had always quietly tended to livestock even during the heyday of the Trika Empire. Back then, the very authority of Trika was too solid for external enemies to dare approach.
And now, the power and prestige of the current Kefellofen Empire far exceeded that of the Trika from back then. Behemoth’s role would be reduced to merely playing with livestock day in and day out.
“It has remained a loyal subject of a fallen nation, not a martyr.”
“Well, it says it will do its duty as a guest of the Empire while it lives. It’s sufficient to think of it as another being like a dragon or a foreign race.”
The Emperor seemed satisfied as he raised his teacup to his lips.
Unfortunately, while Behemoth hadn’t fully become a servant of Kefellofen and Livnoman, it also didn’t shout for the revival of Trika or the overthrow of Kefellofen. It had accepted the overlordship of Kefellofen and chose to remain quietly. From both Behemoth’s and the Empire’s perspective, this was a reasonably decent compromise.
Moreover, as the Emperor mentioned, the Empire already had many beings with ambiguous positions. Dragons living alone in caves and foreign races that never leave their protected areas. Coexisting with beings that may not be subjects but can still be called friends is a specialty of the Empire.
“Well, now that this has happened, I’m considering gradually lifting the access restrictions. While we can’t let just anyone approach, having a massive cow appear near the capital of the Trika Empire would be quite a sight to behold. If we spread the word, money will roll in from all over the continent.”
I nodded at the Emperor, who let out a chuckle.
Kroita was already an historically significant city attracting many scholars and tourists. And now, if there was a bustling cow ambling around near that archaeological site? A creature created during the era of the Trika Empire?
That’s a tourism jackpot with both intrigue and storytelling! If anyone has even a smidge of interest in history, skipping out on seeing it would be a disgrace.
“However, might Behemoth not take kindly to that? It might become annoyed if it receives too much attention right after waking up.”
“Don’t worry about that. Wasn’t it the guardian protecting the imperial palace during the Trika period? It was a being that showcased the majesty of the royal family, so it should be accustomed to the attention.”
The Emperor’s compelling words hit the nail on the head.
You’re right about that. If a cow sits right beside the imperial palace, it could pose a threat to the Empire’s enemies. At the same time, it enhances the dignity of the royal family that commands such a beast. If I were in charge, I’d have made a grand display out of it too.
…
“I wonder how it ended up being scrubbed from the records, being the majestic creature it is by the imperial palace.”
At my question, the Emperor fell silent.
Leviathan had become the friend of the Gold Duke and a multi-purpose aircraft carrier, Ziz had transformed into the aerial battleship under the Krasius family, and now Behemoth had essentially become the esteemed guest of the Livnoman royal family. It was a positive outcome for these long-forgotten ancient beasts to now be embraced by the Empire.
Yet despite the outcomes being cheerful, the path leading up to them remained riddled with questions. How on earth did Trika create these artificial life forms? Why hadn’t they awakened until the moment of the Empire’s demise? And how did such gargantuan beings just vanish from the records? None of it had been clarified.
“We’ll take our time to explore these peculiarities. For now, it’s enough to rejoice that they have become friends of the Empire.”
“Truly wise judgment, Your Majesty.”
My comment was pretty much a generic response, yet also a kind of traditional wisdom.
Well, after all, there’s no rush. There could be nothing worse than those three being hostile to the Empire or defecting to another nation. If they remain quietly within the Empire’s embrace, then taking our time to unravel the process is more than feasible.
So it’s best to follow the Emperor’s lead and take things slow. As Leviathan, Behemoth, and Ziz become more familiar with the Empire, we can gather more detailed information then.
“By the way, Minister.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. Speak.”
“I’ve heard that while Ziz was convincing Behemoth, it almost got into a dispute when it tried to eat the livestock Behemoth was tending. Thankfully, it turned back, so it didn’t escalate into a serious conflict.”
“…That was likely a prank intended to soothe an idle friend who had lost motivation.”
“Hm, perhaps?”
The Emperor nodded, seeming to accept my words.
In truth, that’s a lie. Looking at Ziz’s character based on my experiences, it’s more likely it genuinely got hungry and attempted a meal but failed and left.
‘What’s the first thing you do after seeing a friend after two thousand years? You try to raid it…’
How fascinating. If you think positively, it’s a divine move that rekindled both Behemoth’s survival instinct and work ethic, but I doubt Ziz intended it and tried to raid.
What a unscrupulous little bird. How can it think of eating the pets of a friend who had lost the will to live? Behemoth had only managed to leave its pit when it tended to those livestock.
‘It should have been getting by just fine off of mana, after all.’
Once I return to the North, I’ll have to have a talk.
Behemoth isn’t raising food; it’s caring for pets.
No, wait, it should just learn not to go around eating other people’s stuff.
Rumors about the three colossal beasts quickly spread across the continent.
Leviathan was leisurely drifting above Jerano, now residing in the waters off Boyar, while Behemoth was tending hundreds of cows and sheep near Kroita. Ziz was traversing the continent to meet the two.
No matter how the Empire exerted all its efforts to control the information, it was an impossible feat now that conditions had become so ostentatious. Thanks to this, the Empire’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Education were in chaos dealing with unsolicited visits from foreign delegations and joint research requests from scholars across the continent.
And if the entire continent was in turmoil, it naturally implied that things were also chaotic in the royal palace.
“That’s not fair! How mean!”
This meant that the Crown Princess had also caught wind of the Big Trio.
“I want to see the whale, cow, and bird too!”
I couldn’t help but grin at the sight of the Crown Princess rolling on the floor, writhing in indignation.
With her innate curiosity, the Crown Princess grew up in an environment where she had plenty of interaction with animals. The palace had animals nurtured by the royal family, and in our mansion, Titi and the sacred beasts were present. So, compared to other children, her interest and affection for animals were quite prominent.
And now, the Crown Princess was missing out on seeing gigantic animals, including Atelius, surpassing her in size. Naturally, her frustration must be sky-high.
“I’ve never seen a whale!”
And among the three, Leviathan was the whale.
While the cow was with the royal family and the eagle was at our mansion, the Crown Princess had never laid eyes on a whale. Not only had she never gone to the sea, but she hadn’t even stepped off the island, making this completely understandable.
“Your Highness, do you know what a whale is already?”
To console the upset Crown Princess, I poured on the compliments.
Our Maria was still at the stage where she knew nothing about whales or the sea. For kids raised only in the landlocked regions, this ignorance is kind of the average.
Yet the Crown Princess looked as if she might know what a whale was. If I helped her out a bit by praising her knowledge, it might ease her sadness.
“Yeah! I know! It’s a super-duper huge fish, right?!”
As I expressed my admiration, the Crown Princess, who had been lying on the floor, gradually got up.
“It’s blue and sprays water from its back! Anyway, it’s a super big fish!”
“Impressive! Truly, Your Highness is so clever!”
Technically, it’s not a fish but a marine mammal, but I didn’t have the confidence to explain the difference between fish and mammals to a child.
Let’s just call it a fish from today. If the next Emperor says it’s a fish, it’s a fish!
“So I was looking forward to it! But all I saw was the silly cow!”
‘Oh.’
Amidst everything, the Crown Princess’s resentment erupted again.
I messed up. I got too caught up in the compliments and failed to steer the focus away from the whale.
“…Your Highness, how about this?”
Seeing the Crown Princess getting ready to flop back down on the floor, I swiftly knelt down to match her eye level.
If I missed the chance to change the subject, so be it. If I couldn’t go against it, it would be wise to flow with it.
“Would you like to go see the big kids along with this esteemed master?”
At my words, the Crown Princess, who had been preparing to sprawl back down, suddenly froze in place.
“Really?”
“Of course. How could I lie?”
“Whales and cows and birds, all of them?”
“Certainly! Would you like to ride a bird there?”
“Yeah!”
Seeing the Crown Princess nod gleefully, I couldn’t help but smile back.
If the Emperor finds out about this, he’ll probably freak out. Taking the Crown Princess on a flight with beasts, plus venturing to the northern regions, Kroita, and the Boyar Principality would surely be strictly forbidden by him.
But what are you going to do if you don’t like it? You can’t really stop the Crown Princess once she gets fascinated by those giant beasts, can you?
You’re going to erect the imperial stature to stop it? While ready to bear the Crown Princess’s grievances and resentments?
‘No way that’s happening.’
Once a child’s interest is ignited, parents can never stop them. The Emperor’s only option is to find solace in the fact that I’m accompanying the Crown Princess and pray it goes well.
Moreover, it would also be beneficial for Livnoman if the Crown Princess gets to know the three colossal beasts. While the Emperor currently enjoys a vested interest with the three beasts, the future Empress, the Crown Princess, will build her relationship with them based on the friendship developed from childhood.
‘Besides, I have to take our kids along too.’
Most importantly, our children, including Pedi, also want to see the giant beasts.
Since we’re going on a tour to see the beasts anyway, it’s more convenient to take the Crown Princess along, with everyone going together.
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