CH 18

This is the story of a poor Half-beastkin girl Miike who lives on the Ieneko Island and is unable to become either a Human or a Beastkin. 

Ie Catvania, a city on the north coast of Ieneko Island. 

It is the only city on Ieneko Island, an island inhabited by the Ieneko people, a group of Cat-type Beastkin. It is a small fishing town with a population of about 1,000, where the only industry is fishing. 

In the center of such a city, there is a building that is a little more luxurious than the others. 

It is the residence of Chief Decacat XII, the old cat who unites the Ieneko tribe. 

A fat old cat Beastkin covered in long fur walks heavily down the corridor of the mansion. 

With his hideous appearance, he is the Decacat XII. 

“Oi you bastard.” 

“H-Hieek! H-How may I help you?” 

The shrill, angry voice of Decacat XII echoes through the mansion. 

The brunt of it was a Half-beastkin slave, Miike, who was sweeping the hallway. She who had cat ears was startled and stiffened up. 

Did I do something wrong?　

I was just cleaning up as ordered? 

Miike, who was surprised and stiffened, quietly walked up to the Decacat XII. Then he strikes her as hard as he can on the cheek with the hard oak cane in his hand. 

“You filthy half-human, you walked on two legs in front of me! Your head is too high, now crawl down.” 

“M-my apologies…” 

Unreasonable beatings. 

Yes, the only reason he was angry was that “a slave dared to stand in front of him” that’s all. 

Miike falls down on her knees and desperately begs for forgiveness. 

Decacat XII kicked the girl mercilessly and spat at her, saying, “Hmph, you disgusting half furless monkey!” and left the scene. 

He is the arrogant ruler of Ieneko Island who looks down on all beings except himself. That is Decacat XII. 

No, this is just not limited to him. 

All the Beastkin have the same attitude toward the slaves. 

They do not recognize any kind of human rights except for their own beastly rights. Any being that differs even slightly from themselves is immediately attacked and enslaved. That is the kind of creature known as the Beastkin. 

They serve those Beastkin as slaves. 

That was the life of a girl named Miike who was born as a Half-beastkin. 

―Beastkin. 

To put it simply, there are a number of different types of them in this world. 

For example, each animal species. 

It could be a dog-type beastkin, a cat-type beastkin, a lion-type beastkin, or an elephant-type beastkin. 

Anyway, there are many kinds of creatures that are considered as beastkin. It is safe to assume that there are as many types of Beastkin as there are large mammal species that exist in this world. 

With that many varieties, one would think that there would be a discrimination or two, but so far there seems to be none. 

This is probably because there are many races in this world, such as Elves and Humans, who are not even Beastkin, to begin with. 

A Beastkin is a Beastkin, even if they look a little different. 

In front of so many powerful enemies, like Elves and Humans, there is no room for discrimination between people of the same race. 

However, that is only if it is within the scope of ‘Beastkin’. 

Although they are classified as Beastkin in one way or another, they are also discriminated against as a slave class among the Beastkin. 

These are the so-called ‘Half-beastkin’ such as Miike. 

Unlike beastkin, who look like bipedal beasts, Half-beastkin is what you called an animal-eared race. 

Unlike the Beastkin, whose appearance is so close to that of beasts if they walk on all four legs, people will say, “Oh, they are animals,” but they are almost identical to humans in appearance, except for their ears and tails. 

At a quick glance, the figure would seem more akin to a human being than a Beastkin. 

In fact, they are genetically distant creatures from normal Beastkins and cannot interbreed. Despite having the name ‘Half-beastkin’, they are completely different species. 

Having an appearance similar to Humans, and the fact that they can’t interbreed with Beastkin. 

With all these conditions, there is no way to survive without being discriminated against in this exclusivist world. 

The Half-beastkin have been called “Half-human,” “Furless Ape Interbreed,” and “Beastkin Bastard” by the Beastkin, and have been despised and treated as slaves like other different races. 

And sadly, they could not escape from this situation. 

Being called “Half-human” and ostracized by the Beastkin, and if they flee to the Human realm they will be called “Half-beastkin” and will be discriminated against as Beastkin. 

And if they flee to the Elven realm, they are enslaved because they are not Elf in the first place. 

Moreover, they were a minority. 

Too small a minority to form a country independent of the Beastkin, with a population ratio of 10 to 1. 

If they fought a war of independence against Beastkin, with the number of their population they would have no chance and will get ethnically cleansed immediately. 

The only way to survive is to be a slave to the Beastkin. 

The orders of the Beastkin, who consider themselves a superior species, are absolute, and if they are ordered to die, they must die. If you disobey orders, you will be executed. 

Walking on two legs is not allowed in front of the Beastkin. It is because their heads are too high when they are walking on two legs. They demand that us crawl on the ground like beasts. 

If you don’t, at the very least you will be beaten up. And depending on the mood of the Beastkin, we may even be killed. 

We are not even allowed to wear clothes. 

For the Beastkins, the Half-beastkin wears clothes is like that of an ugly furless ape who has stripped off his fur trying to imitate their beastkin master. 

Naked and crawling on the ground like beasts, they spend their lives as slaves of the Beastkins. 

That is all the life the Half-beastkin has been given. 

A few minutes after Decacat XII leaves, Miike’s cat ears twitch as she lies on the ground in a down-on-earth position. 

She is checking to make sure there is no one around. 

“Good, the Chief has gone somewhere…” 

Then, when she determines that no one is around, she stands up with a broom in her hand. 

The girl’s stomach growls, it’s time for lunch. 

The meal given to the Half-beastkin slaves is once every three days, which is basically leftovers. And today is the day of the meal. 

First meal in three days. 

The morning work is over. 

Miike walks to the food storage area of the slave hut attached to the mansion. Now, with some anticipation, I wondered what the meal would be like today. 

“Uegg, it stinks…” 

But those expectations are betrayed. 

Miike returned to the slave quarters, which looked like a cattle pen, to find a terrible meal awaiting her. 

Moldy bread, rotten fish heads, and grass soup. A messy mixture of foul-smelling filth that looked like it might be full of maggots was placed on a small bait plate. 

This is not something you can eat. but you cannot live without eating. 

Besides, if you’re unlucky, there are times when it’s mixed with manure, so today’s still better. 

“Yikes, half-beastkin are so disgusting and filthy… Their fur is all shaggy, what an ugly breed they are…” 

The walls broke down long ago, and the broken slave hut was never repaired. 

This hut faces the main street and It is something like a freak show. 

“Hey, look! They’re eating leftovers! You bastard half-beastkin!” 

“Throw her a stone! There!” 

While being scrutinized by the passing Cat Beastkin who looked at her like garbage and threw stones at her, Miike forces the meal that doesn’t even taste good into her stomach. 

Naturally, since I am a Half-beastkin, I was completely naked. 

After a short time, my fellow Half-beastkin would gather in the Slave Hut. And they all frowned and endured scornful stares as they ate their meals, which were not even edible. 

It’s miserable and sad, but I won’t die. 

The primitive desire to live, and the feeling of not wanting to die miserably, were the few driving forces that kept Miike and the others alive. 

Mike prays. 

God, please save us the half-beastkin. 

I wouldn’t ask for luxuries. It is fine if the beds are just straw, and the house doesn’t even have to have walls. 

Even if it’s just shabby rags, I’ll wear clothes and eat something that doesn’t rot, even if it doesn’t taste good… That’s enough. 

And that wish will soon come true. 

From far out at sea, steel warships are coming to Ieneko Island right now. 

On the bridge of the Fugaku, which has been transformed into an impromptu landing command ship, the Führer, dressed in military uniform gives an order. 

“Marine Corps prepares to land, Navy supports with artillery fire. Let’s end the war quickly and go home by Christmas.” 

Under Führer’s orders, the Army begins its assault. For the capture of Ieneko Island.