Chapter 425: Discrimination

As they were eating in the restaurant Valdel noticed a pair of beastkin children. They were loitering at the alleyways and looking at the people eating with envy in their eyes.John also noticed those children and sighed.

"Do you know them?" Valdel asked as he heard John sighting. John quickly shook his head as he answered.

"No, I don't know them personally. I just know that they're Beastkin children most probably from one of the refugees."

"Oh right, I was meaning to ask you about that. I heard this Kingdom treats the demi-humans poorly, so why would there be any refugee that's demi-human." As Ren spoke those words, John became panicked he looked around and sighed. It was a good thing that the restaurant was noisy and no one heard him. John then looked at Ren who was waiting for his response. Remembering what Ren said a while ago, John had no choice but to answer. He once again looked around before giving out a reply.

"It seems you're pretty well informed, dear customer. To those less informed the Divine City is a place where dreams come true, but as you know that's not for all. Normal people who aren't able to get a clear picture of what the Divine City is like would be those living in a different kingdom or in some remote place of the Holy Kingdom. To those people, all they know about the Divine City are the rumors, that they would most probably hear from traveling merchants, adventurers, or some bards. So the most they would hear is that the Divine City is a paradise where all your dreams could come true. So the moment they find out the truth it would already be too late."

"Too late? Can't they just leave once they see the truth of this city?"

"Upon entering the city as refugees, the people would be registered as such. Registered Demi-Humans can't leave this city."

"Why?"

"..." John felt his body turning cold. This was one moment that could be the end for him if he doesn't make the right choice.He once again looked around and saw no one would be listening. Still, he wanted to be sure, so he gathered his courage and asked Ren.

"Are there people listening to us?"

"Oh, so that's why you were fidgety since a while ago. Don't worry since the start of this conversation I used a special trick so no one could hear our conversation. ISN'T THAT RIGHT EVERYONE!" Ren suddenly shouted which almost made John jump out of his seat. He looked around in a panic, but it was then he finally noticed that despite Ren shouting so loud, no one even bothered to look at them.

"You see." Ren smiled at John, but for some reason seeing that smile of his unnerved John. Ren did not use an item, he didn't chant a spell, then what did Ren do? Still confused as to what Ren did, John answered.

"It seems the Temple of the Goddess of Light or some of its more energetic believers which are basically high standing nobles would pin a heavy crime to whoever tries to leave. Of course, these are but rumors and there's no proof to them. If and only if this were true, even if they could leave the city were will they go? Ever since a few months ago, the monsters have become more active, stronger, and are becoming even more numerous. Even the adventurers, whose jobs are to capture dungeons and slay monsters aren't able to keep up. So there are many monsters waiting outside the walls, the demi-humans wouldn't last two days out there if they don't know how to fight."

While Ren and John were having their conversation, Lara didn't bother them as she continued to eat, as for Valdel he continued to look at the beastkin siblings outside the window. While the siblings were trying to look for some crumbs here and there, a rather fat middle-aged lady and a young eleven-year-old boy were walking past them.

When the lady saw the beastkin children, she looked at them with utter disgust on her face. She then pulled her son away as she looked like she started to complain about the demi-human refugees that were infesting the pure and clean Divine City.

It was at that moment while the lady was pulling on her son's arm, the boy dropped the toy he was holding. The boy didn't even notice it as he was looking at the yummy food in the surrounding area. One of the beastkin children saw the toy and picked it up, he started running towards the mother and son to give back the toy, when the boy suddenly started to cry.

The mother turned around saw her son crying and the toy in the hands of the beastkin child. When Valdel saw this he could already guess what was about to happen. He quickly stood up and left the restaurant.

...

"You filthy little demi-human! You dare steal from us!" The lady was about to kick the child. The beastkin child didn't understand what was happening and could only raise his arms in defense. As the kick was about to hit, someone got in between the lady and the child.

Valdel was quick enough to block the strike. The lady was shocked by the sudden appearance of Valdel, but after a while, she grew enraged.

"What are you doing protecting that filthy thief?! Oh, I understand now, you're the ringleader of these little thieves."

"I'm not a ringleader or anything. This child was just trying to give back the toy your son drop."

"How do you know that he didn't steal it?"

"I saw it through the window over there." Valdel pointed at the restaurant they were eating in. When the lady heard what Valdel said she scoffed.

"You can't blame me for misunderstanding, they are demi-humans after all who knows what they're thinking."

As Valdel and the lady were talking the older sibling arrived and hugged her frightened little brother. The little brother feeling a bit better once again tried to hand the toy back to the son of the arrogant lady. As the child was about to reach for his toy, the mother pulled her son away.

"Don't take that thing. It's already been held by that filthy demi human's hand. Don't worry mommy will buy you a new one." The lady was about to leave but Valdel wouldn't allow it.

"Are you forgetting something?" Valdel asked.

"What do you mean, are you talking about the toy? The filthy demi-human can have it."

"No, not that, aren't you going to apologize to this child?"

"Huh, why should I?"

"Well for starters you keep on calling them filthy. Then you started calling him a thief even though he was just trying to return the toy, and worst of all you tried to kick him when he did nothing wrong."

"What's wrong in calling someone filthy when he is filthy? As for calling him a thief, aren't all demi-humans thieves to begin with. He might not have stolen the toy, but who knows about what he has done before. As for almost kicking him, I didn't actually hit him so why should I apologize? If that's all then goodbye, this is a waste of my time." The lady turned around and was about to leave as she continued saying hurtful things.

"I said you should apologize." The lady was going to ignore Valdel and continue to walk away with her son, but then she felt something invisible holding onto her. She couldn't help but started sweating profusely.She then fell onto her knees, her son looked at his mother worried.

"Are you going to apologize now?"

The people in the different restaurants started to notice the commotion going on outside. John who had witnessed the entire sequence of events wanted to stop Valdel from continuing what he was doing, but Ren signaled him to stop. As John listened to the entire conversation he knew that the lady was in the wrong, but the people in this city wouldn't care about that. Once they saw that it was a dispute between a human lady and a pair of demi-humans, the opinions of others would naturally side with the human lady.

"What's happening here?"

"I don't know, but I heard that guy wants the lady to apologize to the demi-human kid."

"What the heck, is he insane?"

"Is he one of those demi-human lovers? This kingdom is going down the drain because of people like him protecting those filthy demi-humans."

When Valdel heard the comments of the surrounding people, his anger grew. He wanted to beat those people up, but he restrained himself. As of now, he needed to make this lady apologize. Valdel stopped directing bloodlust at the woman and once again asked.

"Are you going to apologize now?"

Once the lady got control of her body back, instead of apologizing she got angry and pointed at Valdel.

"Everyone please help me, that person had assaulted me with a spell! He wants me to apologize to the demi-humans after I already gave them my son's toy as an apology. Someone call the guards! This man's crazy!"

"What so he did that?"

"Someone call the guards!"

"Let's surround him so that he won't be able to escape."

Seeing that the situation was escalating, John was feeling scared. He tried to slowly walk away, but then Ren held onto him.

"Please dear customer, I don't want any trouble. Here I can give you back the three white gold coins you gave me. Please just let me go."

"No, can't do that. I still need you to guide us, since you already agreed to show me the entirety that this city has to offer."

"After this, the guards will capture your friend and try to interrogate those with him. How are we going to continue the tour?"

"Don't worry about that. As long as you stand beside me those guards won't be able to capture you. Still, this does seem more troublesome than I thought, so as compensation how about I add five more white gold coins to your payment."

When John heard what Ren said he couldn't help but gulp dryly. "Did you say f-five more white gold coins?"

"Yeah, so what do you say are you going to continue to guide us? If you keep on rejecting me, I might just let you go and find a new guide."

John only hesitated for a second before he gave his answer. "There's no need to look for anyone else dear customer. I good ol' reliable John is the best guide you can find. I will continue to guide you since you already paid for it."

"Then what about the guards aren't you afraid to get caught up in our trouble?"

"This is a normal occurrence here in the Divine City, especially with foreigners. After talking with your friend and asking us some questions, the guards should let us go. The trouble of this magnitude doesn't scare me."

Ren chuckled hearing John's response, it was as he expected this guy won't betray money.