WOSE Chapter 40

'Hazr,' where the beastfolk resided, was Yotunheim's only nation, located beneath the Great Veil.

Unlike having to travel for days through a long desert to reach Smidrhame, passing through a tunnel filled with hazy fog, they reached the gate leading to 'Hazr' before even half a day had passed.

Before the simple gate, a deer beastfolk wearing large, branching antlers blocked their path.

"Please verify your identity."

When Odynne at the front showed the guard his emblem, the wariness toward outsiders instantly transformed into surprise.

"The Savior and her party! It's an honor to meet you! Please enter through this door."

The guard readily opened the gate.

Beyond the iron gate, barely large enough for a single carriage to pass through, everything looked cloudy as if inside fog.

Iyu dismounted from the carriage and passed through slowly. In the past, she'd suffered terrible motion sickness after traveling inside the carriage.

After slight nausea, the bundle of smoke surrounding her disappeared and the scenery completely changed.

Iyu tilted her head back. Above, a veil painted with a bright blue sky stretched endlessly.

They had entered 'Hazr.'

Though they hadn't even announced their expected arrival time, measures had apparently been taken to send word when the Savior's party entered the country, as a small group was already waiting for them.

"Welcome to Hazr, Savior."

A white ermine beastfolk wearing a draped robe over smooth white fur greeted them politely.

"I have come at the king's command to escort you. My name is Aevir Skaldryn."

A familiar face she'd encountered before.

'Definitely one of Tigrevald's closest aides.'

She remembered a sleek back line and a softly swaying fluffy white tail, round black eyes, and a personality that was quite static and businesslike, incongruous with the appearance.

"If you permit, I will guide you to the palace."

Indeed, the guide was no different from memory. Adjusting his monocle, he began guiding them immediately without much small talk.

But contrary to Aevir's intentions, swift and quiet movement proved impossible. Though the area had been deserted until just moments ago, as they exchanged greetings, the presence of people gradually increased, and soon many gazes followed them.

They saw through the identity of this strange group of mixed races at a glance and burst into cheers.

"Savior! You've finally come to Yotunheim!"

"Welcome! We've been waiting!"

"Please look this way!"

Flustered by reactions far more favorable than in Smidrhame, Iyu flinched and hunched her shoulders.

Previously, after eliminating the darkness in the mine, she'd holed up in the carriage due to lingering aftereffects.

'I thought they welcomed me afterward because I'd removed the darkness, but they were this welcoming from the start.'

Of course, since she knew what they wanted, this hospitality was neither particularly welcome nor pleasant.

She waved with a deliberately kind face, then eventually slipped to the back of the group.

Positive attention was as burdensome as negative attention.

'I should get back in the carriage.'

The decision came quickly. But if there was one thing that weighed on her mind, it was 'Tamia.' Perhaps because she'd returned to where she'd lived, her plump cheeks looked more flushed than usual.

"I'm going to ride in the carriage, but do you want to ride a horse, Tamia?"

[I'll ride in the carriage with you too, Lady Iyu.]

"Don't do that. You're in your hometown—at least take a leisurely look around."

To be precise, Tamia's hometown wasn't the capital where the king resided but a very small village on Hazr's outskirts.

Tamia seemed to ponder, cutely narrowing her brow, then nodded slightly.

[Then I'll be back shortly!]

The child, who'd presented her notebook resolutely, scurried toward the holy knights. When she gestured to Odynne, he let her ride in front of him as he had when crossing the desert.

With the child's bright smile and the man gently holding the child secure, Iyu also boarded the carriage.

Without Tamia, she felt quite empty, but separately from that, the ride quality improved greatly. The capital of Hazr, famous for active trade, had especially well-maintained roads.

How long had she dozed off inside the carriage? By the time she woke, they'd already reached their destination.

"We've arrived."

Iyu groggily raised her body from where she'd been lying on the sofa. Through the window she looked out blankly, a milky-white palace lay like a painting.

The palace, not faded at all compared to memory, emitted a subtle luster as if made of pearl, and atop the dome-shaped roof with its prominent smooth curves, a flag bearing the royal crest fluttered.

Before memories of this unforgettable place could crawl up, a knight opened the carriage door.

Iyu rubbed her sleepy eyes and descended from the carriage. At that moment, a resounding welcome poured out.

"We greet the Savior!"

The greeting party, which had definitely been small, had multiplied several times over. Standing dumbly among dozens of beastfolk, the beastfolk suddenly parted left and right like the Red Sea.

"I heard you nearly died, and your complexion really is terrible."

A voice that flowed along the ground stabbed roughly into her ear.

Beyond an arched doorway, a man with a towering frame was striding forward.

"Tigrevald..."

For a king, Tigrevald wore rather casual clothing—deep navy cloth flowed from his broad shoulders down to the floor.

Especially his upper garment, with its front unseamed and only loosely tied at the waist with a leather cord, revealed golden striped fur completely.

He passed the bowing beastfolk and approached Iyu directly.

Yellow eyes swept from the top of her head to her toes.

"Are you all right?"

It was a question closer to confirmation than concern.

Her condition was perfectly normal compared to the past, but externally she was supposed to be in great shock, so she answered deliberately weakly.

"Not particularly good."

"See, I told you to be careful because those dwarf bastards are unbearably gloomy, didn't I? I knew she weren't in her right mind, but I didn't expect that son of hers to be the same."

Tsk. Instead of offering empty comfort, Tigrevald abruptly extended his large hand.

"Anyway, welcome to Yotunheim. Been waiting with my neck stretched out."

Ignoring the exposed fangs, she grasped the thick hand. Though she thought she'd gripped tightly, a pitying gaze returned, as if he felt nothing.

"Looking at how you've got no meat on you, that woman must've starved you too."

Having reached his own conclusion, he offered unwelcome consideration.

"I knew this would happen, so I prepared a banquet."

"...A banquet? Today?"

A banquet immediately upon arrival. Since it was the first occasion to introduce the Savior and exchange greetings, wouldn't many high-ranking or high-positioned beastfolk gather?

It was a harsh schedule for her, having just crossed worlds, but the king nodded regardless.

"Right. Hmm, looks like time's tighter than I thought."

Glancing at the darkening sky, he ordered his aide.

"Aevir! No time, so get the guests to their rooms quickly."

"Wait, what about greeting the queen or others?"

"Do that at the banquet. See you in a bit then."

"W-wait!"

Waving his hand, Tigrevald ambled away not into the palace but outside.

'What is with him...'

Iyu glared resentfully at his retreating back.

"Shall we move then?"

Though frustration must clearly show on her face, Aevir began moving like clockwork.

Iyu trudged after Aevir, crossing the palace. The large fountain in the palace center, the floor laid with red silk, the lamps burning with blue flames—none of it registered in her eyes.

The place they arrived at, with Tamia tucked under her arm and sparkling continuously on her behalf, was an annex right next to the main palace.

The palace where she'd stayed before was more modest than the main palace, but its garden and rear garden were very well maintained, making the view from the window quite pretty.

"Savior, you may use this room. It has the best view of the garden."

"Thank you."

The assigned room was also the same as before. Through the slightly open window, the sweet scent of flowers rushed in.

"The attendant child you brought will use the room right next door. And since one attendant might make life uncomfortable, I've arranged additional maids to help."

"Ah, Tamia alone is sufficient..."

"If they don't suit you, please inform me later. I'll replace them with different attendants immediately. Then, I'll take my leave. I'll come to escort you again in the evening."

Having finished his role, Aevir withdrew without footsteps. And immediately, a rabbit beastfolk with drooping long ears entered the room.