Chapter 196: Kiara’s After Story

Chapter 196: Kiara’s After Story

「Hold on kid. Hey, you assholes. When you said Kiara, did you mean the old lady? You know, Grandma Kiara?」

The Beast Lord’s inquiry caused Sennec to respond in a bit of a suspicious tone.

「Grandma Kiara?」

「She’s taciturn, blunt, and proud, but a ridiculously skilled Black Catkin swordsman nonetheless. I know she’s an old lady, but I can’t remember how old. You happen to know off the top of your head, Royce?」

「Lord Rig, asking for our master’s age is no different from tying yourself a noose.」

「How ’bout you, Gold?」

「I’m pretty sure she’s in her late 60’s.」

Goldalfa’s response seemed to match with what we knew about Kiara. She was 15 years old 53 years ago, so she should currently be around 68.

「Based on what we’ve heard, I’d say the Kiara you guys are talking about is our master.」

It seemed that, unless I was misunderstanding things, Kiara was actually the person that’d taught Beast Lord to fight. Fran had come to the same conclusion, so she ended up closing in on him in order to demand a clearer answer.

「Explain circumstances.」

「You do know I’m the Beast Lord, right? How about ’bout you reword that a bit so it’s more polite.」

「Explain.」

「Oh god damn it. Fine!」

The Beast Lord began fondly speaking of his memories shortly after one last expression of indignance.

Apparently, the first time Rigdis met Kiara was in the earlier days of his youth. Back then, she’d been a slave that served the imperial court. Her duties mostly focused around garbage disposal. At the time, he’d still been like any other young, mischievous Beastkin. That is, he thought the Black Catkin to be inferior, as per his father’s wishes.

But that all came to change. His opinion of the race took a complete 180 degree turn not too long after he turned seven.

An incident occured.

A summoner from a hostile nation managed to summon a magic beast in the royal palace. Back then, the Beast Kingdom had been at war with a neighbouring country, hence, most of the palace’s more competent fighters had been sent to the battlefield. As the guards and soldiers responsible for the palace were relatively weak, the place was basically instantly overrun. Both Goldalfa, who’d just enlisted, and Royce, who’d only just started learning magic, had been dealt serious wounds.

The situation looked grim. None of the troops left within the palace’s confines were capable of dealing with the Tyrant Saber Tiger that’d invaded it. To Rigdis, it had seemed like he was left no choice but to abandon the palace.

Or at least that was how he felt until she took action.

A Black Catkin slave ended up doing what none of the soldiers could and took down the Magic Beast. The Tyrant Saber Tiger itself wasn’t a particularly strong one, it was still young, and yet to reach maturity, but it was still a C rank threat regardless.

Thus, he simply failed to process the fact that she’d easily slain it while armed with only a mop.

Bearing witness to the Black Catkin slave’s technique had caused Rigdis to take interest in her. He snuck around and eventually managed to speak to her, only to find that she was named Kiara, and that she had a blunt, straightforward personality. At the time, Rigdis hadn’t had any friends, so he immediately grew attached to her.

「Other people? Whaddya mean other people?」

「Dias and Aurel, Kiara’s acquaintances. Worried about her since didn’t know what happened to her after she was taken away by Beast Lord.」

Hearing Fran’s question caused the Beast Lord to nod as if he had come to a sudden understanding.

「Huh. I guess that’s why they’ve been treating me with that hostile ass attitude. That explains that. Yeah, I don’t mind at all, go right the hell ahead. In fact, how ’bout I tell them myself right after we’re done here. Was planning to pay the both of them a few visits anyway.」

「Nn. Do tell」

「I’m pretty sure you have lots to ask me, but I’m too busy for it right now. I’ll answer all your questions after the tournament’s over, so check in with me once it’s done.」

「Got it.」

「Aight. I’ll be looking forward to seeing how you do. Show me that you’ll at least be capable of getting to the fourth round. There won’t really be a point in me telling you anything unless you can.」

The Beast Lord grinned at Fran in an intimidating manner, but this time, she didn’t freak out. In fact, she responded to him by speaking in a motivated sounding tone.

「Planned to win from start.」

「Hahahahahahah! You hear that, Gold? Royce?」

「It sure is nice seeing a young fighter all pumped up and motivated.」

「Indeed, but I won’t show her even the slightest shred of mercy should we meet in the ring.」

「Bring it on.」

「Buhahahaha! I like the way you talk smack, even to Gold and Royce. Fine then Fran, come visit me after you’ve won the tournament. I’ll look forward to seeing you then.」

The Beast Lord let loose a hearty laugh before entering the tent in which the remaining Blue Catkin were being kept.

This caused Fran’s expression to change to one of worry, so Royce ended up ushering her off.

「What happens from this point onwards is the Beast Kingdom’s business, so how about you head home for now?」

「What do to Zefmate?」

「Disobeying the Beast Lord is a crime, but I doubt Rig will do too much to harm Zefmate. He’s taken a liking to him, after all.」

「...Got it.」

The Beast Lord was the kind of guy that tended to be a bit rough around the edges, but the fact that he liked Zefmate meant that he probably wouldn’t execute him or shove him in some sort of prison.

Royce’s words seemed to have offered Fran enough to allow her to relax, so she bowed to him before finally turning around and leaving the area.

『Welp. Looks like we’re going to have to at least win ourselves three rounds if we want his approval.』

「Nn! Master. Will try hardest from now on.」

『Sure thing.』

「Nn! Will win for sure!」