"Impressive reproach as always, Little Brother," the eldest son taunted, a wicked satisfaction in his voice as he rubbed salt in the still raw wound without an ounce of remorse.
"You're not our brother," Reneal countered, his frown deepening as he eyed the boy who was barely a year older.
Ignoring him entirely, Stynx shifted his focus to Lumielle who still had her head lowered, her eyes concealed beneath the shadow of her bangs. "I'm not your brother, huh? Tell that to the masses whose favor I've already won."
A muscle twitched in Reneal's jaw.
"If you two don't see me as your legitimate brother, that actually works to my advantage," he murmured with a dark grin, his voice dripping with malice. Reaching out, he tilted Lumielle's chin upward, forcing her to meet his gaze. Then he slowly brushed his thumb across her lower lip, the smile on his face twisted with cruel satisfaction.
SLAP!
The princess's hand shot forward in a sudden motion, delivering a sound blow to his face.
"You disgust me!" she spat, spinning on her heels and storming off.
"L-Lumielle!" Reneal called out, rushing after her. "Wait! Please wait for me!"
Stynx, his fingers lightly brushing his cheek, watched with a cold, amused expression as the girl's coral pink hair swayed with each determined step she took down the corridor. Yet, on his face was not the fury or thirst for vengeance one might expect, but something far more unsettling—a quiet, predatory desire.
***
"Forget the possibility of being invaded and butchered by the enemy," grumbled an elder in tattered clothes, his toned frame marking him as a man of trade. "At this rate, we'll starve long before the war even begins!"
Grand Chancellor Cassius and several court officials had convened in the audience chamber at the behest of the kingdom's citizens. Disgruntled farmers, artisans, medical practitioners, and business owners had demanded an audience with the king.
The kingdom, already on the brink due to the looming war, was reeling from a crippling economic collapse. Tourism had dwindled to a trickle, explorers and adventurers kept their distance, and taxes had soared to unbearable heights—an unprecedented burden for the people. Farmers, unable to pay the exorbitant taxes in gold, were forced to surrender their crops, while apothecaries parted with their precious potions, and blacksmiths sacrificed weapons and armor.
"We're barely seeing any business and taxes are through the roof," another man argued, his frustration evident. "How do you expect us to survive?"
"If that wasn't bad enough," a vendor added, clutching her wailing child, "the crime rate is rising steadily, especially theft among the slum dwellers."
"Your struggles have been heard," one of the nobles responded smoothly, "and I promise we will do our utmost to alleviate—"
"Hogwash!" a farmer cut in, his voice rough with anger.
"While the aristocrats and their servants are well-fed, the rest of us are left to starve!"
"Don't act like you understand what we're going through," added another, his voice bitter and rising. "Even your precious hounds and horses are properly fed while we go without!"
The noble ground his teeth in fury, casting a fleeting glance at the chancellor who slowly shook his head in a subtle warning. Under normal circumstances, the three peasants would've been flogged and cast into the dungeon without a second thought. Yet, with the looming threat of war on the horizon, such measures were no longer viable. Aggravating the populace at this fragile moment could spark unrest, and the last thing they could afford was the risk of a civil uprising.
"I've heard through the grapevine that the kingdom is struggling with an overabundance of slaves right now," a man stated as he stepped forward, sharing the information with both the courtiers and his fellow citizens. "Why should we have to share our food with the likes of them?"
A ripple of discontent spread through the crowd, punctuated by murmurs and angry glares.
"From what I've heard," a well-dressed merchant chimed in, "sea travel in Wavecrest Port has been suspended due to a giant sea serpent that's been terrorizing sailors and sinking their ships."
"What?!"
"A sea serpent?"
Alarmed gasps echoed through the crowd.
"As a result," the merchant continued, his tone grim, "all trade has been put on hold. Due to this crisis, slaves can no longer be transported or traded overseas, and consumers can't even travel to Lunarel to acquire them.
Naturally, the import of goods has also come to a standstill, causing a severe shortage of food—and the local industries are insufficient to sustain the population. To make matters worse, the demihumans are turning to theft, and the slaves still need to be fed."
Outraged, everyone started arguing all at once, plunging the civilized exchange into that of chaos. But the chamber instantly became quiet the moment the chancellor raised his hand in a telling gesture.
"…I recognize the frustration that grips us all in light of recent events," he said smoothly, his gaze sweeping over the room. "But we will never find common ground through endless bickering. Let us all take a moment to collect ourselves and approach this with a calmer perspective."
Someone raised their hand, and Cassius nodded in approval.
"Why not send our soldiers to Wavecrest to aid with the slaying of the beast?"
Several of the nobles regarded the man with ridicule, some with disbelief or pity, and others with barely-contained amusement.
"It would be foolhardy to dispatch troops to a territory that we're currently at odds with," one of the more seasoned and battle-hardened nobles interjected sharply. "At worst, it would be interpreted as a declaration to commence the war."
"Lord Grayson speaks the truth," another noble remarked. "Regrettably, the supply chain issue cannot be resolved until the war has concluded."
"We'll all starve to death by then!"
At that harsh reality, the people descended into chaos again. But, this time, instead of raising a hand, the chancellor stood to his feet, the intensity of his eyes silencing all those who regarded him.
"My esteemed citizens, take solace in knowing that your voices have been heard, and your concerns shall be thoroughly remedied. My will reflects that of His Majesty, and the king's desire is to see his people at peace and prosperous.
For the time being, we have a solution to address your concerns regarding the people of the slums. As for the majority of the slaves, we will promptly make arrangements to put them to work."
Astonished murmurs filled the air.
"They will be tasked with hunting monsters to supply food, working alongside local farmers to cultivate the land, and the majority will be conscripted into the military to reinforce our ranks in the war that looms ahead."
The crowd murmured amongst themselves, exchanging wary glances as they processed the man's words and weighed them against feasibility. Many seemed willing to accept the idea that the food shortage might be alleviated by the influx of additional labor, while others took grim satisfaction in the thought that the war would soon reduce the number of slaves.
While the court officials addressed the other concerns of the people, Cassius beckoned to one of his attendants who swiftly approached and dropped his head into a meek bow. "Send word to the Zepharion church," he instructed in a hushed but firm tone. "Inform the bishop that I request an audience at his earliest convenience."
"Your Excellency," the man uttered with a bow before quickly disposing himself to the deed.
***
ROOOAARRRR!
The beast's massive foreleg swept low in a deadly arc, its nine-inch claws slicing through the air mere inches from Daisuke's legs. Using the creature's face as a springboard, he launched himself into a seamless backflip.
Enraged by its miss, the Owlbear roared and lunged forward the moment its prey's feet touched the ground, its colossal frame hurtling forward with unrestrained fury. But instead of feeling flesh and bone give way, a sharp crack echoed through the forest as it collided headlong with a towering pine, splintering the trunk and sending the tree crashing to the ground in a cacophony of snapping wood and groaning branches.
Ignoring the destruction, the beast's predatory eyes found and locked onto its target with unyielding focus. The feathers along its back quivered, bristling with energy before launching forward like bolts fired from a crossbow, each one whistling through the air with lethal purpose.
WOOOOSHHH!
Zephyr's Emberstorm incinerated the volley of projectiles heading his way while Daisuke made a tight beeline to outrun the flurry that were hot on his heels. Suddenly, time slowed to a crawl as he bent his knees and leaned back, his pupils reflecting the massive tree passing over him, the Salamander's Claw slicing through and burning the branches that threatened to rip him apart.
The Owlbear let out a thunderous roar of frustration, its fiery orange eyes locking onto its elusive prey with murderous intent. With a single motion, the fearsome fusion of owl and bear hurled the massive tree aside, the trunk splintering as it crashed into the earth.
The beast's powerful claws dug into the ground as it reared its head, and its feathers bristled, making it appear even more imposing. Every muscle in its hulking frame coiled with fury, and its hooked beak snapped in challenge.
DING!
[Owlbear | Lvl 55 | General | HP: 4986/6084]