Chapter 333: Princess Shea 1
A streak of light had appeared out of the blue, stretching up high before making a sharp turn and advancing horizontally, connecting to a floating island.
From high above, next to the streak of light, what looked like a procession of ants moving through the wetlands was visible.
The small dots lined up for as far as the eye could see.
They looked like ants from that height, but from nearby they were actually carriages pulled by water buffaloes, with people and children riding in them.
They were not humans, their ears looking like fins.
Their hair was blue, cyan hair, and their foreheads, chins, and limbs were covered in patches of scales.
A thin membrane joined their fingers and toes, like webbed feet.
They were mermaids, though they walked on two feet.
Their clothing and appearance made it look like there were both city and townsfolk there.
Other mermaids in armor, soldiers, marched next to the convoy of carriages to defend it.
It looked like a thin line from afar, but it was actually more than ten people wide.
There were easily hundreds of thousands of people there, maybe even millions.
They had all left their homes, as if something was chasing them, running away towards the west.
A group of beastmen followed at the end of that long convoy, the eastern extreme.
Their leader was a tiger beastman, wearing an overcoat with red and golden accents that stood out.
She looked like a young adult, her facial features having reached maturity only recently.
Underneath the overcoat she wore light leather armor, made mainly for mobility. Her hair was blonde with black stripes, and her eyes were brown with a yellow accent.
A soldier with an enormous hammer and heavy armor rode next to her, talking with her.
He was a rhinoceros beastman, a magnificent horn growing from his head, and even while atop his horse it was clear he was at least twice as large as the tiger beastman.
"Lady Shea, we lost 42 men last night. We won't be able to hold out at this rate."
The tiger beastman he was talking to was Princess Shea.
It could be gleaned from his conversation that they had been attacked the night before, and were resuming their evacuation this morning.
After that fight, the rhinoceros beastman seemed keen on establishing a new strategy.
Princess Shea also made many questions back, trying to understand the situation better.
"I see, they perished while upholding their orders. We shall mourn them as heroes."
"Yes, of course."
"Those fiends never seem to rest, attacking under daylight or moonlight all the same. Are there any wounded, Commander Lud?"
Shea said that while looking at the streak of light above them in annoyance.
"That should be no issue. I've ordered that anyone who gets bitten reports to me directly. And we have plenty of resources from Clebeur's royal house now."
After informing her of how they were dealing with the monsters, Commander Lud spoke about the country's government.
"Oh, we sent the request last night and it already arrived. They truly work fast here. Though well, they are pressed for time, so it makes sense."
"Yes. His Majesty also wanted to talk with you, milady."
Clebeur's king wanted to talk with Princess Shea.
Shea expressed how the spilled blood of her men or Clebeur was nothing cheap.
"B-But I'm sure you must be aware that my country can't form such alliances with other countries so willfully. We don't have the authority from the Empire..."
"I realize you have different rules as a different country, and I'm ignorant of many customs. But we didn't need the Prostia Empire's permission to see you as an ally. And I don't see where in the treaty tying you two it's stated that we'd need such permission."
Shea knew the details of the treaty appending Clebeur to the Prostia Empire.
"Wha-?!"
"It's alright, I'm sure the Prostia Empire can wait a bit before they hear about it."
Princess Shea's voice whispered casually, almost like they were talking about introducing her to a friend.
"The Prostia Empire has never offered such an offer to any other country. I won't betray their trust now."
The king did not want to sour relations with the Prostia Empire by one-sidedly forming alliances with other countries, or introducing them to the empire without consulting first.
"There are exceptions to everything. Aren't things a bit complicated between you two already? In the Holy Land I kept hearing rumors that there was a lot of internal conflict here, but that the empire kept the connection since they have no other trade routes with the continent."
"W-who would spread such lies!! M-my country would never betray the Prostia Empire!!"
Hearing that angered the king in great measure, pushing him to raise his voice.
His servants reacted quickly and brought him some water to drink.
"Rest assured, I'm aware that's likely a ploy by the Evil Cult. I knew handing their leader over alive was a mistake. A priest advised me to let them judge him first, maybe that was yet another ploy though."
Shea's gaze was fierce like a wild animal's.
She left her prey alive once, and now countless innocent victims paid the price.
Now she suspected the priest that advised her was also part of the Evil Cult.
"So it really is the Evil Cult and its followers that are attacking us now."
"I believe that might be so. While they've changed appearance-wise, many of our assailants were residents of Clebeur. Your Majesty might not be aware of its extent, but many people seemed to be dissatisfied with the country."
The Evil Cult had fanned the flames of insecurity in the country, making people believe the king was trying to rebel against the empire.
That was mainly a ploy by them, but some of the residents were taking radical sides.
Then the cultists transformed somehow, and began attacking indiscriminately.
"I-is that so..."
Everyone had fallen for their traps in one way or another, and now whoever remained was desperately trying to escape the country.
The king looked disappointed in himself for letting things get that way.
The queen and princess sitting next to him looked worried as well.
"U-umm, Princess Shea."
While the king fell silent, the princess raised her voice.
"Hahah, you can just call me Shea, Princess Carmin."
They were both princesses after all.
"I truly regret the blood your men spilled for my country. Please let me express my gratitude, and that of all Clebeur by extension."
As she spoke, what looked like a purple gem on Carmin's right arm began to glow.
"Don't worry about that. The Beast King and your honored father will discuss such matters at a later time. I'm in no position to accept such a gift."
Shea smiled, saying there was no need to thank her yet, and instead they should try to relax and wait things out.
"The enemy is here! Monsters are attacking again! A large army of them!!"
Shea heard someone shouting outside the carriage, announcing the attack from another wave of monsters.