Kays Translations

Chapter 63: The Beastmen’s Connection and Ryo-chan

“Horizontal connections that transcend race, huh?”

　 Karin’s face was clearly troubled.

“If it’s something you can’t say, I won’t force you to say it.”

“It’s something that has to be kept secret from the public, so it depends on how It is  connected to Dion.”

“I heard that Dion’s workplace was vandalized. I had dinner near his workplace the night it was vandalized. I think it was a little before ten o’clock when we left the restaurant. At that time, the person I was with said he saw a figure running across the roof.”

　Karin-san seemed to have read the story.

“I don’t want to blame everything on the beastmen, but it is a five-story building with a steeply sloping roof. I thought that if someone could run across it in the pitch black, it might not have been a human, but a beastman. It seems they saw a human figure, so I thought it might not have been a person, but a monkey-type beastman.”

“Did your companion say that he saw a human figure? On a rooftop late at night?”

“He said that he saw a shadow of like a person.”

“I won’t tell anyone, so please tell me. Was it that man, the cat-type beastman, who saw the shadow?”

“Yes, …… that’s right.”

　Mr. Henry is a half-breed, but I left that part out because I couldn’t  really give her an explanation. Karin-san thought for a moment, then said, “I’ll ask my acquaintances. If I find out anything, I’ll contact you, Mai-san,”  pulling Sophia-chan by the hand and leaving.

　Around eight o’clock that night. Karin and Victor came to the store. I had a hunch that they would be here. As soon as we sat down in the chairs, Viktor started talking.

“What your acquaintance saw, Mai-san, was indeed a monkey-type beastman.”

“I talked to him about it, and he said he had an idea.”

　Viktor spoke with a bitter look on his face.

“I had heard rumors that a young group of monkey-type beastmen were causing trouble. Before I came here, I met with their elder. When I talked to him, he said, ‘It might be the work of our young ones.’ When I told him that it was our son’s workplace that had been vandalized, he apologized,  but it seems that their young ones are giving them a hard time. I heard that these young people are insisting that ‘beastmen should live as their natural form.”

“If it gets out that it was the work of the beastmen, it will be a problem for all of you who are going about your lives, like Mr. Dion and the others. ……”

　When I said that, Karin-san nodded regretfully, while Victor got angry.

“All the beastmen of each race have taken a long time integrating themselves into this country. There is no way they can live in their original form anymore. There is no way they can live as their original selves anymore. What will they eat, where will they sleep, and how will they raise their children? If they want to live as their original selves so badly, they should give up all the conveniences of human life and live in the mountains.”

“I want to eat good food, I want to live in a warm house, but I also want to live my natural life. It’s all a mess.”

“Do you know where these young people gather?”

　Victor looks at me suspiciously.

“You’re not going to go to them, are you? 　No. They are a bunch of rowdy young men.”

“I’m not going to go directly to them. I have a few thoughts on the matter.”

“I see. Then I will contact you once I find out where they are hanging out, but please don’t go there alone, okay?”

“I promise.”

　After Karin-san and her husband left, I cast a message spell.

“Henry?　Is it okay if I talk to you now?”

“It’s all right. There is no one around. What’s wrong?”

“The figures you saw running on the rooftops may have been young monkey-type beastmen. Sophia’s grandparents spoke to an elder of the monkey-type beastmen. They said they would let me know when they find out where the Monkey-Type Beastmen hang out.  Also, they think you’re a cat-type beastman, but I didn’t deny it.”

“I don’t mind if people continue to mistake me for a beastman. When you find out where the hangout is, be sure to contact me.”

“Got it.”

“Mai-san, this is the best magic I know. Well, good night.”

“Good night.”

　Henry’s voice is much sweeter than when we are face to face. I wonder if he’s shy when we’re face to face.

　The next morning, while chatting with Sophia, I learned something unexpected. She told me that Viktor was a member of the guard

“There are many different jobs in the security force, but what kind of work does he do?”

“I don’t know. Grandpa, Guard.”

“I see. Then I’ll ask Grandma.”

　We had this conversation while preparing the day’s daily special. Today’s daily special is a hamburger, warm vegetable salad, and french fries. Sophia, who was sitting in a chair looking at a picture book, looked up and her nose twitched. Then, drool started dripping from the corner of her mouth, and she quickly wiped it off with the back of her hand.

　Illustration (By Mitemin)

“Are you hungry?”

“Fee-chan, I’m hungry!”

“Wait a little longer. Take this home and eat it with grandma.”

“Okay! I’ll eat with grandma!”

　Karin-san came to pick me up so I asked her to look at the hamburgers.

“Here, please try this. I’ve got a warm vegetable salad and fried potatoes, so I think it would make a good lunch. I wonder if it will be enough for men?”

“No. There’s also some fried food, so I think that will be enough. Let me pay for this.”

“I don’t get paid for tastings. You brought a lot of vegetables today, too. Besides, I enjoy playing with Sophia.”

“But…”

“Thanks for always playing with me, Sophia-chan!”

“You’re welcome!”

　Sophia said as she bowed. You shoot me right through the heart every day.

　I asked Karin-san what kind of work Victor does in the Guard.

“Victor is an outside patrolman for the guard, in other words, he is an arresting officer. He keeps it a secret that he is a beastman, of course, but he has better hearing, Sense of smell, night vision, and running skills than most people, so he’s very useful.”

“I see. So isn’t there anywhere for monkey-type beastmen to shine in that way?”

“Well. I don’t know. No one, normal person or beastman, has an easy job. Even if things go wrong, that’s no excuse for ransacking someone’s house.”

“I agree. But I’d like to hear what they have to say.”

　Karin-san probably because her son Dion is a victim of this, says, “I’m sure it’s just a selfish excuse,”. But as for me, this kind of thing reminds me of something.

　A  childhood friend of mine, Ryo-chan, suddenly changed when he was in his second year in high school. He started skipping school more often and wandering around downtown late at night. He was even arrested late at night. Ryo-chan’s aunt said she had no idea what was going on, but I knew the reason for Ryo-chan’s wild behavior.

　Although we were the same age, Ryo-chan was like a younger brother to me, so when I noticed that Ryo-chan’s expression was getting gloomier day by day, I confronted him. At first, he said, “Shut up. It’s none of your business ,” but after I kept persisting him about it, he only told me.

　Ryo-chan was being bullied by Kitagawa-sensei, our Homeroom  teacher and math teacher.

　He would tell Ryo-chan to do a lot of things that had nothing to do with him, and even though Ryo-chan’s handwriting was much more neater than mine, he would make him rewrite his homework over and over, saying “ Your handwriting was so messy, I couldn’t read it.” He also made indirect insults about Ryo-chan’s parents. He was making unbelievably discriminatory  remarks about my occupations.

　What made it even more sinister was that he didn’t hit him or use force, but instead used force in a place where no one could see that appeared to be part of correcting him.* Lit. Translation: part of a training exercise.

　Kitagawa-sensei’s bullying began when Ryo-chan pointed out his mistake to the teacher, even though he did so during recess so as not to embarrass him in front of the other students.

“Let’s go tell the principal. I’ll come with you.”

“I’ve already told the principal. Since then, I’ve been bullied even more. The principal didn’t help me. I’m taking the exam next year, and I don’t want to get into trouble. Enough already. Even you’ll  get bullied.”

“We can’t let this continue like this. Haven’t you told your uncle and auntie?”

“I can’t tell them. I don’t want them to hear those horrible words.”

“Then ……”

　From there, I acted on my own. I called the bullying counseling center. I was told to “keep records,” so I diligently recorded everything Ryo-chan said in a notebook. I kept recording everything that Kitagawa-sensei said and did, including the date, time, and place.

　The counselor at the consultation center told me, “That’s all you need.” Send it to the Board of Education and demand improvements. If nothing changes, be sure to call here again. I’ll help you.”

“I cannot forgive the actions of our  homeroom teacher. If the situation does not improve even after reading this, I will send the same thing to the appropriate place and ask for a new decision,” I wrote in my own name and mailed it to the Board of Education. I was driven by the desire to protect Ryo-chan, who was like a younger brother to me.

　Before mailing the letter, I showed the note to Ryo-chan to get his consent. Ryo-chan was surprised, saying, “Why would you go to such lengths?” Then he said, “Thanks, man,” and cried a little.

　As a result, Kitagawa-sensei stopped doing anything to Ryo-chan. When we moved on to the third year, the teacher was transferred out and the assistant homeroom teacher became the homeroom teacher. Ryo-chan successfully went on to the university of his choice.

　The young monkey-type beastmen may have a similar background, or they may not. Before I assume they are evil, I would like to ask them.

　That day I was told, “If things still don’t improve, be sure to call here again. I’ll help you,” I felt so relieved that I wanted to cry, knowing that “there are adults on our side, too.” I will never forget that feeling.

　If they have something to say, then I want to listen and help them. I want to stop them from doing bad things.

　Somehow, I feel that this incident will lead to people finding out that there are a lot of beastmen in the Royal Capital.  If it becomes known that beastmen are causing trouble, I can’t help but feel like it will lead to a mass hysteria and a movement to expel beastmen.

　At night, I cast the message spell on Mr. Henry and told him, “There’s something I want to talk to you about,” and he came to the store after work. I told Mr. Henry about the monkey-type beastmen and why I wanted to hear their story. When I told him about Ryo-chan, he listened to the counselor’s story with great interest.

“I understand. I don’t know if they will be honest with me, but let’s listen to what these young people have to say.”

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