"Here"

I was led to the inner part of the castle. The room is probably the King's office.

Although I found it strange it wasn't the audience room, I nodded.

"Enter. I'm not allowed to go beyond this point"

"I understand"

No matter the country, royalty is absolute. Urged by the soldier saying it's the King's order, I softly knocked on the door.

"Enter"

Hearing the low voice, I opened the door and went inside.

Unlike the castle's exterior appearance, it's a golden room with luxurious furniture suitable for the King. Even the carpet was tastelessly golden.

"Are you the wise man who restored Girim's fields and the mage who used a severe magic n.o.body has seen before?"

Staring fixedly at me with an intense gaze was a man in his mid-thirties sitting at the desk. The large forehead scar - apparently from a ritual peculiar to Tarim - seems to have an extreme impact to it. The man with black hair and black beard has a sharp glint in his eyes, it's an appropriate figure for the lord of a castle who unities the whole country.

I bent my knees, and slowly denied.

"I am glad to meet you. My name is Sion… Unfortunately, while I am a scholar, I am not a splendid mage like the rumors say"

"I wonder. I've received a report you killed guys from Girim with a strange magic. You better not hide it"

"Even if that was said… I am weak at magic and magical arts"

"Hmph…"

He directed a knowing gaze at me, but I only smiled and didn't say anything else.

The King must've been dissatisfied by my response as he snorted.

"Well, fine. I've had a purpose in calling for you today. I have an earnest request for you"

"A request, is it?"

That's right, when the King nodded, I only felt an unpleasant premonition.

Still, as I listened to the continuation in silence, the King unreservedly said while laughing.

"You, from today become my soldier - Tarim tactician"

"Ha…?"

I knew it's a rude reaction, but I couldn't reply at once to those unexpected words.

While I was flabbergasted, unable to understand their meaning, the King continued talking.

"Your achievements in the report I received were truly wonderful. Those techniques had never yet been seen in this country… no, perhaps in this world. I want your brains for that. At first, I indented to ignore you as a suspicious mage. But, I can't disregard the techniques you showed in Girim. I summoned you here to ascertain that"

I was under the impression that I was summoned here immediately after he received the report, but apparently it's different.

It was the techniques I showed later that caught his eyes. That is to say, the soldiers were sent precisely because I showed splendid results.

"Our soldiers are strong and brave, but unfortunately their brains are weak. I don't want to admit it, but it's a big difference from disciplined soldiers of our longtime enemy Wilhelm. No matter how I look at it, they lack brains to become the tactician"

Biting his lip, the King fixed his gaze on me.

"… Originally, it would be impossible to accept a foreigner like you as the tactician, but… recently our country has suffered a string of defeats. Our back is already to the wall. Sacrifices need to be made. Lead my army to victory using your brains and all techniques you know. You seem to have come from Irvine, but your skin color is good, so it doesn't seem that way. It was a lie, right? I don't care about your origin, you'll receive favorable treatment if you show results. Whatever you wish for will be granted"

"… I would like to refuse"

Somehow, I told him that much.

Me standing on the battlefield as the tactician? Unthinkable.

Although it was unconscious, I'm already a killer, but I don't want to stand on the battlefield giving others orders to kill.

"I suppose so. But even if you insist that you aren't that mage, the crime of killing Girim's people won't disappear. If you refuse to talk with me… what awaits you is an immediate death penalty for murder. If you accept being the tactician, I will cross out your name. I will give you time. Think about it well"

"… Please kill me immediately. There is no meaning in me living in this world"

"Now, don't be so hasty… Somebody!"

When the King raised his voice, several soldiers immediately appeared from behind a thick curtain.

They're probably guards under the King's direct control. It's a natural arrangement, still I was startled for an instant.

"Take this man to the prepared room"

"Yes!"

Dragged by them, I was taken to a room in the Royal Palace.

"Haa…"

The room I was thrown in was a surprisingly ordinary guest room.

I thought I might get thrown in a jail until I change my mind, but it seems I was wrong. While relieved by that, a sigh escaped me.

I don't wish for time to pointlessly think like this.

I'd rather be killed immediately.

Phew, as I breathed out again while sitting on the bed, the door to the room was knocked on reservedly.

"Yes?"

There should be several soldiers stationed in front of the door.

When I answered not knowing who it is, the door quietly opened, and a young woman with a face covered by a veil smoothly went inside.

The woman tilted her head as she stood before me. The casual action naturally exuded amorousness.

"Nice to meet you. Let me ask you right away. Are you a lost person?"

"Ha…?"

"Looks like you don't understand what it means. It's fine, I don't really mind. You don't need to force yourself to answer"

The woman who looks like a fortuneteller spoke meaningful words.

Even though she's covered by a veil, her lips painted with deep red lipstick attract attention.

When the woman brought her face close to me who was sitting on the bed, she sweetly smiled.

"Go to Wilhelm. The hints are there"

"Ha? What are you saying out of nowhere?"

I frowned at the sudden words, but the woman only intensified her smile.

"This is all I can say. Sorry for that. Even with this I went against the rules quite a lot. This is more or less meant to be an apology. Let's meet again if there's an opportunity. I'm Meissa. If you like, please remember it"

"Umm…"

"Ara, I'm already out of time. Well then"

I had no time to ask her. In no time the women disappeared from before me. I was at a loss, not understanding what had happened.

"Eh…? That woman was?"

Wanting to ascertain whether what happen wasn't a dream, I got up from bed. When I put my hand on the door to chase the woman, suddenly the door opened from outside.

"Kya"

"Ah… Aah, I'm sorry"

Suddenly noticing the figure of a person, I hurriedly avoided it. It was by a hair's breadth. A little more and we'd collide.

Who came in was a single little girl. She was wearing old-looking oversized court lady clothes that don't fit her. Holding a tray with a meal on it with both hands, the girl looked up at me with frightened eyes.

"I, I'm sorry. I didn't knock. I was told to enter by Mister Soldier in front of the door… I, I…"

" Please don't apologize. It was me who was careless. More importantly… Before you entered this room, did a single woman come out? An adult woman wearing a veil"

The girl made a blank face at my words. Then she shook her head to deny.

"No. I was only told to bring a meal to Mister Guest…"

"Is, that so… Oh? What's the matter with your ankle?"

Did I see a daydream after all. Thinking so I hung my head a little, and accidentally the girl's feet caught my eye.

On the girl's ankle was a shackle in form of an iron ankle ring, it looked awfully distorted.

Then I noticed the girl was barefoot.

The girl hung her head in embarra.s.sment.

"… Um, it's because, I'm a slave. That's the proof. I apologize for the unseemly sight. Is this your first time seeing a slave?"

"… Slave"

I became speechless.

It's only been a few months since I came to this world that I don't understand well. I intended to obtain various knowledge, but it seems I still have some way to go.

No way, so this is a world where evil practices like slavery are rampant.

Seeing me frown, the girl made a panicked face.

"U, umm! Did I make you uncomfortable somehow. I'm sorry, I'm sorry… I apologize. So… um, could you spare me any more beatings today?"

"Beatings? Did you imply I will beat you"

What is she saying suddenly, when I thought so the girl made a serious face.

"Because I'm a failure both as a beastman and a slave. This time too, that's why I was told to go… I was told that a failure like me is adequate to look after a stranger… Ah"

"That is to say, you are a victim of everybody foisting taking care of me off on you"

"Hii… I'm sorry"

The girl holding the tray froze.

On her head bent triangular cat ears were shaking. Seeing it, I doubted my eyes… Understanding what I saw, I was astounded.

"… Beastman? Did you say beastman before?"

"Y, yes… I'm a cat beastman. As you see, my ears are bent, so I have no value as a pet… Even so, I have a use being a servant like this…"

"…"

It was then that I actually felt that this world isn't the Earth but another world.

I was quite surprised by magic, but this is even more amazing.

The ears shaking before my eyes aren't me seeing things. On a closer look, behind her something like a tail was swaying.

"… Is, is that so. However, what in the world makes you a failure?"

"Cat beastmen with pointed ears are more valuable. That's why"

"… What an awful discrimination"

"It cannot be helped. I've already grown used to it"

The girl laughed heartrendingly.

Then, saying "I'm sorry. I will prepare a meal", she began lining up the meal on the table.

"I will probably visit tomorrow as well. Thanks for putting up with me"

The girl quickly bowed her head and left. I saw her off in silence.

Too many things happened at once for me to want to think about anything.

That's why I ate the meal and fell asleep like a log.