Thanks for reading~

The sea is wide. I thought the sun was still rising, but before I knew it, it had gone down.
However, the waves are still gentle, and the ship is advancing without a problem.

The problem was inside the ship.

"A wooden sword, huh. That"s nostalgic." (Velt)

I"ve touched a wooden sword a lot, and no matter how you look at it, this is one.
They were used a lot in fights during Asakura Ryuuma"s age, but I haven"t seen one ever since I became Velt Jeeha.
I tried asking Farga and Ura about it, but they don"t seem to know.
In that case, who invented this wooden sword and that j.a.panese sword-like katana? The answer was mostly out already.

"Uu~, nn~, grandfather~, guh~, guh~." (Musashi)

That being said, even though she easily killed humans, what"s up with this carefree sleeping face?

"Ha, haha, how adorable." (Ura)
"This d.a.m.n cat." (Farga)
"Is, is this the person that almost killed me before?" (Velt)

Is she a cat curling up in a kotatsu? Although she seems to be the same age as I am, 15 years old, when she relaxes, she completely turns into a brat.
She had fainted, but seeing Musashi curl herself up while being fast asleep, gives my heart mixed feelings.

"Tch, wake up already, you tiger girl." (Velt)
"Agyah!" (Musashi)

We restrained both her hands and feet with a lock and left her in a pen, but since she isn"t waking up at all, I nudged her head with a wooden sword.

"You, you b.a.s.t.a.r.d, die die die die die! Of all people, you"re hitting onee!" (Jubei)
"How cruel of you to poke Musashi-sama"s head!" (Ushiwaka)
"As long as she just gets her katana back, she can easily kill you humans!" (Benkei)

With all three of them together, the brats became unnecessarily loud.
Although Ura put on clothes for Jubei, who was naked, we confiscated their katanas and put them all in a pen.
By the way, the people inside the pen with her, is Ushiwaka from the cat race, and Benkei from the fox race. Both of them are 13 years old, and are Musashi"s juniors, while also being people she treats as younger sisters.

"Uu, this, this place is? Nn~, is the meal ready yet?" (Musashi)

I thought she finally woke up, and yet, why is she saying such carefree things.

"Oi." (Velt)

A cat that just woke up? With a yawn, her ear and tail fur slightly bristled up.

"Nn? Oh~, e~h&h.e.l.lip;&h.e.l.lip;&h.e.l.lip;&h.e.l.lip; hah!" (Musashi)

However, she gradually regained her awareness, maybe because of the pain from the lump on the back of her head, as she seemed to remember the current situation, and the moment she saw me, she suddenly started screaming from inside the pen.

"You bastaaard! How dare you, how dare you do that to me!" (Musashi)
"Shut up. That was all caused because you guys a.s.saulted us. Rather, didn"t this happen because you demi-humans poached on the human"s territory?" (Velt)
"What are you saying! An inhumane human who stole our territory in the war and treated my brethren below livestock, should not use reason in an argument!" (Musashi)

Ah~, I"m glad she"s in the pen. The conversation isn"t progressing at all.

"How stupid. Go lecture morals and problems between humans and demi-humans or whatever in your own time. I"m not interested in it." (Velt)
"What are you~! You, because humans like you exist, us demi-humans get persecuted!" (Musashi)

Eyes of resentment towards humans. It kinda seems like she has some special circ.u.mstances.
I"m not interested in them though.
Then, while trembling as they saw our exchange, the panicking demi-human prisoners interposed.

"He, hey, is it true that you, you guys aren"t slave traders?"
"Um, are you not comrades with Jeed and the Sea Thieves?"

Well, of course they would be concerned about that. After all, since Jeed and the Sea Thieves died, we have the power of their life and death.

"Eh! Were these people not slave traders?" (Musashi)
"No way! Even though these people have such evil looks that are enough to die?" (Jubei)
"That"s a lie! These guys are their comrades!" (Ushiwaka)
"What do you plan to do to us!" (Benkei)

So they realized that now, huh. They jumped to the wrong conclusion first after all.
That being said, things aren"t so simple that their hearts would forgive us because of that.

"How, however, either way, they are humans! There"s no difference to the fact that they are filthy humans!" (Musashi)
"Fu~nn, so that"s how it is. Ei." (Velt)

Things aren"t so simple. That being said, it kinda annoyed me, so I lightly hit her head with the wooden sword.

"Nu, don"t, don"t poke me! With my dear sword, to my head, ouch, ouch, ouch, what humiliation! Just because I am unable to move, learn some shame! This is why humans are atrocious!" (Musashi)
"Fu~nn, then, cochocochocochococho." (Velt) (TL Note: Tickling sound)
"Ny, nyaaaa, sto, stop it nya, no, not my sides pleaje nyaa!" (Musashi)
"Kuhahahahahaha, see, this is what you get for cheekily running your mouth at a filthy, great human." (Velt)

O, ooh, it"s kinda funny. She"s laughing while rolling around as I twist up the wooden sword into her side.

"Dieee, b.a.s.t.a.r.d, what"s with that face! Don"t play with Musashi-onee!" (Jubei)
"So cruel! Stop it! If, if you"re going to violate Musashi-sama, then violate me instead!" (Ushiwaka)
"Don"t touch neesama"s body! You filthy human!" (Benkei)
"Velt, you, can"t you do something about how villain-like you are?" (Ura)
"So d.a.m.n worthless." (Farga)

In the first place~, I don"t plan to call myself a clean human, but I don"t have a single memory of causing troubles for demi-humans in these fifteen years.
Rather, I"m the one that got hates demi-humans.
And yet, these guys are just saying whatever they want, lumping us humans all together.

"Ora ora ora, stop crying out nyaa nyaa, it"s so noisy nyaa! Kuhahahahaha!" (Velt)
"Guh, guh, m, my, heart, will definitely not break, from just this much, humiliation nyaaaa, it is ticklish~!" (Musashi)
"A tiger should be roaring, right? Ah~, so funny. Are there any cat teasers around?" (Velt)
"Kuuuu, what humiliation! A human is, a human is!" (Musashi)
"Good grief, you really hate humans don"t you~, did they kill your family or something?" (Velt)
"!" (Musashi)

Oh, her eyes changed.
This is rage.
It seems the words I loosely said touched a part that she really doesn"t want to touch.
No, it"s the same for the midget trio too. They"re glaring at me with quite anger filled eyes.
Well, I"m not interested in that though.

"As if you, as if you would understand!" (Musashi)
"Ahh? What, did something happen?" (Velt)
"Shut it, someone like you, I won"t tell someone like you even if I die! The humiliation we demi-humans received, tragedy, and this anger! Who would tell you! You ask if my family was killed? Don"t just spit that out so easily! Far from being killed, they were s.n.a.t.c.hed away! By those d.a.m.n humans!" (Musashi)

You just said it though.
Even though you that you wouldn"t tell me even if you died.

"She"s serious, but she"s an idiot." (Velt)
"Hey." (Ura)

From my blind spot, Ura poked my side, telling me to read the atmosphere.

"Do you guys know? The mythical beast races that we demi-humans hold most sacredness to!" (Musashi)

I don"t know. Rather, she just started telling us normally.
This is a troublesome pattern.

"They are not general demi-humans like us, but they are the highest cla.s.s existences among us demi-humans, that they are even called the descendants of the former perished divine beings. The mermaid race with magical singing voices, the elf race that made the Demi-human Continent lushly green. As a swordswomen who studied Miyamoto Kendo, once I become of age, I will be by the side of someone like them, and spend my entire life protecting them, respecting them as a『lord』. That is our pride!" (Musashi)

Ah, this is a bad development.
After this, she"s probably going to burst into tears, and talk about her trauma from when she was young, isn"t she?

"Uu, uuuu, however, humans, humans! They said something about how mermaid meat has the effect of giving immortality, so they over hunted the sacred mermaids without hesitation, and because elf women have mystical beauty, those d.a.m.n humans with s.e.xual desire even sold young girls at high prices&h.e.l.lip;&h.e.l.lip;&h.e.l.lip;&h.e.l.lip; uu, uuuu." (Musashi)

See look, she cried.

"The elf race in the Kaide forest that is to west of Furyuure, in the Demi-human Continent, were the people that my father served. While being high cla.s.s, they gave my young self lots of love. However, however! The minute we learnt that the main force of the army will be dispatched to the Divine Being Continent, those d.a.m.n human Hunters suddenly appeared and marched into the Demi-human Continent, burned our beautiful forests down, abducted the elves, and cruelly killed my father, that had been resisting!" (Musashi)

And finally, she spoke about everything.
A~ah, she made me listen to a sickening story.
What"s up with this world.
Even though I don"t want to hear a single bit about it, why does every single one of them have to talk about their trauma?

"That"s a s.h.i.tty story, but it"s not wrong. Elf and mermaid females are being traded for extraordinary prices at Shiromu. Even if they know that the rumor of mermaid meat giving immortality is a superst.i.tion, the rarity value of the Mythical Beast races are d.a.m.n expensive." (Farga)
"Eh, seriously? Did someone eat one? And like, Farga, you"re a Hunter too, right? Were you not involved with stuff like that?" (Velt)
"So d.a.m.n worthless. Why would I do something like that, when I"m not even troubled for money?" (Farga)

Well, I guess so.
So that means we don"t really have to feel guilty towards her.

"I don"t really care about something like that, but." (Velt)
"! You, you bastaaaaaard! You don"t care!?" (Musashi)
"Like I said, I"m not interested in it, and it doesn"t concern me! Like, just hurry up and let me ask my actual question already!" (Velt)
"I, I will kill you, I will kill you! You heartless, worst species!" (Musashi)

Like I said, what are you telling me to do by telling me a story like that! What? Do you want me to prostrate myself and apologize?

"Stop it already, Velt." (Ura)
"Nu!" (Musashi)

At that moment, Ura grabbed the hem of my clothes.

“Ahh? Why do I have to withdraw! It doesn"t concern me!" (Velt)
"Certainly. However, although only slightly, I understand her feelings." (Ura)
"Haa?" (Velt)
"Could you leave this to me, Velt?" (Ura)

Understand her feelings? Why"s that, do you hate humans too, Ura? Ah, but it wouldn"t be weird for Ura to actually hate humans in the inside&h.e.l.lip;&h.e.l.lip;&h.e.l.lip;&h.e.l.lip;

"Alright. Do what you want." (Velt)

That"s true. I didn"t realize because we were always together, but humans made her go through something tiring after all.
It does seem like she could advance the conversation.

"You said your name is Musashi, right? I will introduce myself too." (Ura)
"Hmpf, I don"t even want to know the name of a filthy human!" (Musashi)
"No, I"m not human. I"m not a demi-human either." (Ura)

Ura talked gently and slowly, so that Musashi would calm down, and then took off the white hat she was using to cover herself.
At that moment, the demi-humans became fascinated by her beautiful face that looked like a work of art, and were speechless.
However, seeing her ear shape and pupil colour, Musashi"s whole body trembled in fear.

"Tho, those red eyes! Yo, you are a, demon! A demon!" (Musashi)
"Yeah. I am without a doubt, a demon." (Ura)
"No, no way, no way! Why, why is a demon with a human! Demons are fighting with demi-humans, but they are also fighting humans too!" (Musashi)

Well, it"s understandable for her to get surprised.
With an unable to understand expression, Musashi and the other demi-humans" agitation was clear.

"My name is Ura Vesparda. I am from the Vesparda Kingdom, that no longer exists, in the Demon Continent." (Ura)
"Ves&h.e.l.lip;&h.e.l.lip;&h.e.l.lip;&h.e.l.lip; parda? Wait, that"s Demon King Sharkryu"s country, which was once called one of the Seven Great Demon King"s countries!" (Musashi)
"That"s right. They lost to humanity"s great allied forces that was lead by a champion called the boy hero at the time, and was destroyed." (Ura)
"!" (Musashi)

It"s a story from five years ago, but it seems that incident was famous worldwide too.
Even her, a demi-human, found it jaw dropping.

"Although it was a war, my precious people were s.n.a.t.c.hed away from me. My father, mother, the people that had been close to me since I was young, my country, and everything. Of course, I resented them at the time. I can still recall my resentment towards humans." (Ura)
"No way, if so, then all the more, why are you with a human!" (Musashi)
"However, in exchange for what I lost, humans gave me many new things too. New happiness, new non blood related family, a rival that I can go against with all my power, and&h.e.l.lip;&h.e.l.lip;&h.e.l.lip;&h.e.l.lip; my first love in my life." (Ura)

! A surprise attack! She"s taking me by surprise too many times! Don"t blush there while grasping my hand! I instinctively got shocked and my face is about to get red.
Ah~, that surprised me. It almost showed on my face.

"Of course, I don"t plan to tell you to love humans, or change what you think of Velt. Just, don"t drag in Velt and Farga by lumping all humans together and resenting them." (Ura)
"Ah, yeah, that! That"s what I wanted to say!" (Velt)
"Since Jeed and the others died, we don"t plan to do anything to you guys. If you say you will no longer harm us, then we will silently release you, and return your swords. Are you fine with that?" (Ura)

Musashi and the others had a perplexed expression from hearing Ura rebuke them.
However, while still looking reluctant to say, Musashi said this.

"As I thought, no, it is not like I cannot understand what you are trying to say. However, even so, I can"t forgive humans." (Musashi)

Well, their att.i.tude won"t change so easily just because she persuaded them.
This is why overly serious people are troublesome. However, it seems Ura"s words had some effect on them.
That being said, it doesn"t matter to me what Musashi thinks of humans, as long as there"s no harm to me.
From the start, there has only been one thing I"m interested in.

"I have one thing to say, which I"m sorry about because it"s insensitive." (Velt)
"Yes, what is it?" (Musashi)
"Did you know your name "Musashi" is actually the name of a human swordsman?" (Velt)
"What!" (Musashi)
"And, samurai were originally just warriors that lived in a country of humans, you know?" (Velt)

She didn"t know. No, I knew that her and the midget trio didn"t know.
The problem is,

"Hey, who"s the guy that thought up the design of this katana, made samurai, and gave you the name "Musashi"?" (Velt)

It"s a question I wanted to ask the whole time.
No one knows my aim behind that question.
Musashi also looks like she"s wondering why she"s being asked that.

"That, that is, all, from Jubei’s and my grandfather&h.e.l.lip;&h.e.l.lip;&h.e.l.lip;&h.e.l.lip;" (Musashi)
"Your grandfather?" (Velt)
"Indeed. Around eight years ago, he was the first samurai that spread the t.i.tle of "samurai" in my country. The founder of Miyamoto Kendo,『Varnand Gabbana』." (Musashi)

Varnand. I have no idea of who that could be, but even though something happened a bit earlier, I finally realized it.
I see, I didn"t properly hear it from getting fl.u.s.tered during the fight, but these guys" kenjutsu is&h.e.l.lip;&h.e.l.lip;&h.e.l.lip;&h.e.l.lip;

"Miyamoto&h.e.l.lip;&h.e.l.lip; kendo, huh." (Velt)

There was someone like that.

"Hey, about that old man." (Velt)
"Yes?" (Musashi)
"Is he quite a slow talker and isn"t very good at talking?" (Velt)
"Wha! Tha, that is, cer, certainly, grandfather is quite a shy person, and he doesn"t speak much&h.e.l.lip;&h.e.l.lip;&h.e.l.lip;&h.e.l.lip;" (Musashi)

I see.
In that case,

"By the way, does he only say "splendid" when he praises someone, and always seems to not have much vocabulary other than that?" (Velt)
"Wa, wait a moment! Why, why do you know grandfather"s favourite phrase!" (Musashi)

Ahh, this feeling is nostalgic.
She has the same face as Ura when I talked to her about Samejima.

"Ve, Velt, what does this mean?" (Ura)
"Stupid younger brother. What are you actually searching for?" (Farga)

I found my answer. I didn"t think I would find someone this quickly.
That being said, grandfather, huh&h.e.l.lip;&h.e.l.lip;&h.e.l.lip;&h.e.l.lip; it seems I made him wait quite a long time, if he"s already become an old man.