178 - - CHAPTER XXI -- SEARCH AND REQUEST FOR INVESTIGATION

I was having a mock battle with Aoyuki at the training ground in the lowest level of the "Nadu" so that my competitive instincts would not be dulled.

When the game was over, Mei showed up at the right moment, as if she was waiting for me, and I received a report from her.

The content of the report is - 'I have just received an urgent reminder that Miss Miya has been kidnapped by the beast race. What should we do?" The story is as follows.

At first I was surprised to hear that Miya had been abducted by beastmen, but I moved to a different location to hear more details.

The plan was to take a bath to wash off the sweat, but due to the circumstances, the sweat and dirt were removed with the "Infinite Gacha" card, "R, Wash".

After taking Mei and Aoyuki to the office and taking a seat, he heard a detailed report.

Mei utters what she received from Mohawk and the others.

In a town near the Sixth Duchy, Mistress Miyah became friends with Mistress Quone, a human of the same gender and a fourth-grade magician at the Sixth Duchy Magic Academy, and the two of them left the town and headed for the forest behind it to show each other their skills. --"

Her brother Erio, who had accompanied Mya and her family to the city, was worried when they did not return at the appointed time, so he left the city alone and headed for the forest behind the city.

He discovers a tree that has been magically targeted, but Mya and her friends are nowhere to be found.

Upon further investigation, Erio notices that there are signs of a struggle between several people, and he rushes back to the town.

He did not return to the merchant house of Quone's parents, and Erio thought that Mya and the others were most likely involved in some kind of trouble.

Leaving the investigation of the city and the streets to the Quone family, Elio decided to go into the forest with his equipment to search for Mya and Quone.

He met up with the Mohicans, whom he had just met on guard duty, and explained the situation to them.

The Mohicans also agreed to help in the search for the two.

Aoyuki leaves the small blue bird she is following with the Mohicans for communication.

The little blue bird talks to the birds perched in the trees, and he learns that ...... a red-haired and golden-haired man had a fight with a two-legged beast and was taken deep into the forest.

I can't talk to Elio about that, but "red hair and golden hair" refers to Mya and Quone, who were most likely kidnapped by a two-legged beast - in other words, a beast race.

Aside from Quone, Mya is someone who is related to Wright.

Since they understand that Wright likes them, the Mohicans use "SR, telepathy," one of their cards for "in case of emergency," as an emergency case.

They informed Mei, the head maid, so that the information would be conveyed to Wright immediately.

The Mohicans will continue to investigate the forest with Mr. Erio, and as soon as they find any clues that may lead to the kidnapping of the two men, they will report back to you via Aoyuki.

From the report, it seems certain that the beast race kidnapped Mya and Miss Quone, who became friends in the city. If their goal was to kill them, they would have just cut off their heads on the spot, so they must have some other goal in mind. Even though ......, why would they, the beast race, go to the trouble of kidnapping Mya and her friends?"

Races that can use magic are rare, but not rare enough to bother kidnapping.

Is the beast race trying to create something that requires sacrifice, such as a "forbidden sword" as was the case with the Dwarf species Nano?　No, the beast race is more physical and cerebral. It is highly unlikely.

May reports further.

We are not sure if this is related to the case of Miss Mya, but recently there have been a number of incidents of racial groups being attacked and disappearing while traveling along the city streets. This has led to a deterioration in the security of the racial kingdom streets and an increase in the demand for adventurers. Also, according to witnesses who were partially safe, they are reporting that they were 'attacked by a beast race.'"

In light of Mya's case, it's hard to believe it's a coincidence. ......

In other words, it seems that the beast race is targeting the race, attacking and kidnapping them.

But if the beast race is abducting people of their own race in conspicuous places, shouldn't they be more likely to be discovered at checkpoints during migration, etc.?　Aoyuki, that kind of information hasn't increased that much, has it?"

--There have certainly been reports of races being victimized by the beast race, but there have been only a few sightings at checkpoints.

It seems that the beast race is kidnapping the race for some unknown reason.

However, it is also noticeable that they only kidnap one person.

Even if they were to put them in barrels and move them around in horse-drawn wagons, they would be checked in town after town, and it is hard to imagine that there would be zero detection. It is impossible that Aoyuki, who collects information on the ground, has not heard of the kidnappings.

............

I lean back in my office chair, close my eyes, pull up the map in my brain, and ponder.

(Assuming that the beast race is kidnapping the race for some reason, how are they moving around discreetly and without leaking?)

It hits me, and I come to an answer.

"!　Oh yeah, they're using the rivers!"

I see. ...... One of the main industries of the beast race was the shipping business."

May nodded her head in admiration at the sound of my voice.

One of the main industries of the United Federation of Beastmen is the shipping business.

They are engaged in shipbuilding, transportation, crewing, and anything related to ships.

In particular, they have a near monopoly on "rowers" who row boats.

This is because the beast race has superior physical and muscular strength, which makes them suitable for "rowers.

Rowers lack physical strength and muscular power, and other races are too proud to be rowers.

The beastmen who attacked Mya and her family probably used the forest as a cover to get to the river and then rowed down from there. If so, is it likely that the girls were taken to the port of the Six Principality or the Beastmen's Alliance?"

The Queen Elf Nation is forbidden to have racial slaves due to its "absolute racial (human) independence principle".

Therefore, the only countries left in the path of the river are the Six Principality and the Beastmen's Federation.

Aoyuki, could you immediately use a small monster to search for Mya and her family?　If it is the Principality of Six, the ship entered the port today. If it's the United Kingdom of Beastmen, we should be able to find them quickly by focusing on ships that arrive at the port in the next few days. You will be allowed to use your transfer card when you retreat."

Are you sure?"

May can't help but ask back.

The "SSR, Transition" card is an item that the "Witch of the Giant Tower" and we use a lot, but it's a rare item in the world.

If we use it for Mya and Quone, there is no possibility that someone will want it, or that it will become troublesome.

Even so, I allowed them to use it.

I don't care about the girl named Kuone, but I was indebted to Mya and her family, so of course I don't have a problem with that. I would also like you to search for and rescue them, as well as gather information on why the beast race is abducting people. The first priority is to rescue the two, and the second is to gather information. Can you do that, Aoyuki?

Nya!"

Aoyuki cheerfully replies to my question.

Aoyuki cheerfully replies to my question: "Well then, please. I'm also wondering if there might be a "Master" behind the scenes, a being like "Hisomi". Please be as careful as possible in your investigation and information gathering.

Nya~"

I nodded in satisfaction at Aoyuki's reply.

I felt confident that if I left it in her hands, she would be able to successfully investigate and gather information on Miya and the others.

☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

--A few days after I gave instructions to Aoyuki.

She also succeeds in obtaining the location where Miya and the others are being held captive and the reason why the beast race is actively kidnapping the race.

However, the reason why the beast race is actively kidnapping the race was easily obtained because the warehouse guards where Miya and the others are being held were talking like a chat.

The reason for this is--.