Chapter 42…………………………………
“You have reason to be concerned.”
“Exactly! How can it make sense for non-Pegasus beastfolk to join the Pegasus Knights in the first place?”
“To think that I must see those rootless beastfolk strutting around this ancient lordly castle with their heads held high… It’s utterly lamentable.”
The elders, as members of a long-established ruling family, regarded Pegasus beastfolk as a uniquely noble bloodline, completely distinct from other herbivores.
Only other noble bloodlines of similar stature were deemed worthy of equal interaction.
Other than that, only carnivorous beastfolk were considered tolerable companions. Herbivores scattered on the streets were merely subordinates, never to be treated equally.
To question them with, “Aren’t you just herbivores too?” was tantamount to issuing a duel challenge.
Seeing the various beastfolk appointed as retainers by the Mercenary King moving freely around the hall, the elders’ eyes brimmed with frustration and anger at the perceived injustice.
The priest gently nudged these devoted believers.
“I understand your anguish.”
“Priest…!”
“Act according to what you believe is right. Surely, God will bless the faithful.”
“!”
Receiving such sturdy support, the faction of elders’ eyes gleamed with cunning ambition.
They advanced toward the center of the hall—the coveted position they sought to seize.
The precious crown that would determine the next head of the Pegasus House.
Lin Pegasus, the sole remaining direct-line descendant, and the rebels surrounding her.
Peonal, staring at them as if they were impurities on a jewel, muttered to himself:
If a jewel is stained, one must clean it.
Indeed.
Though cleaning might press a bit hard on the jewel, a little pressure isn’t a problem if it doesn’t break.
Thinking of the jewel—and the future lordship—that could be in his hands, a greedy smile spread across Peonal’s face.
His mischief-laden face was paired with an oddly genial smile as he reached Lin’s group and spoke.
“Well, well, I never thought I’d see an ability ceremony like this.”
“……”
In response, the bear’s unwavering gaze met him.
Swallowing nervously under the silent pressure, Peonal tried to shake off the dryness in his mouth before speaking.
“Well, considering this is an ability ceremony for our Pegasus beastfolk, we’ve always seen wind abilities manifested. An emitting ability? Hmm. I’ve never seen anything like it… Ah, but it was quite lovely. That is to say, it looked good.”
Lin blinked up at this “relative” with wide, questioning eyes.
Though the person shared the same coloring as her mother and grandfather in the portrait, he felt strangely distant.
Finding his roundabout speech peculiar, Lin asked directly:
“You mean my ability is good?”
“Well, suitability depends on context and situation. Not that it’s bad.”
“Bad?”
“No, I said it’s not bad. Only that… it may not be suitable for combat.”
Peonal glanced at Theodore beside Lin, raising his voice as if to make the point clear.
“What a worry. Soon, our family’s important ‘event’ will arrive. What shall we do…”
“‘Event’?”
“The monster hunt.”
The monster hunt.
A bluntly named event, yet one of deep significance to the Pegasus family.
Originating from the legend of the Pegasus family, it commemorated the first Pegasus ancestor who awakened to protect humans from monsters.
Though the event evolved over the years, its core purpose—“protect people and defeat monsters”—remained unchanged.
A guardian Pegasus.
In keeping with that name, the event memorialized the family’s origins and continued that mission through generations.
Unlike other families who held ordinary hunts as festivals, the Pegasus family held grand monster hunts every few years to perform the ritual of vanquishing monsters.
As an important family event, all able-bodied members, including those who had completed their ability ceremony, were expected to participate.
“Pointless worry.”
Theodore cut Peonal off firmly, having guessed the elder’s intentions in bringing up the monster hunt.
Raising an intimidating presence to block Peonal’s gaze toward Lin, Theodore looked down at him coldly:
“It’s been years since the head of the house excluded the Elder Council from family decisions. Are you still confused about your role?”
Snap!
Peonal’s frustration at the blatant disregard showed in his eyes as he retorted:
“It concerns the family! Isn’t it natural to hope this historically significant event proceeds smoothly?”
His gaze turned to Lin.
Looking at the family’s only successor, there was a mix of pity and condescension in his eyes.
“An ‘emitting’ ability… shining horns in front of monsters… what’s that supposed to do?”
“!”
Lin sharply sensed the negativity directed at her.
Her round deer-like eyes narrowed into points, glaring threateningly—a first warning.
However, Peonal ignored the subtle signal she sent to let him speak in front of others.
Or rather, he simply didn’t care how the child looked.
Seemingly treating it as casual conversation, Peonal turned back to Theodore, provocatively continuing the topic.
“Of course, I wouldn’t bring this up without a plan. Do you think I wish the sole successor of our family to be endangered?”
He subtly changed his tone, matching the preceding statement.
He nudged Pein, previously squeezed among the adults, forward to stand before them.
“Unfortunately, if the successor’s body is too weak to perform a crucial role in the family event… wouldn’t it be better for a close-age relative to step in?”
“……”
“Just like the Acting Head would do.”
Pein, normally lively, stiffened under the attention of so many. But Peonal dismissed concerns about his condition, instead extolling the child’s strengths as if showing off a prized steed.
“As you know, this child Pein has already manifested the wind ability and uses it well. His lineage is also flawless.”
Well, his grandfather was illegitimate, but still a ruling-class lineage, not some rootless commoner… not a major flaw.
Peonal, as if to prove his point, looked at Theodore.
Checkmate.
The Acting Head would have difficulty rejecting this alternative suggestion if he truly valued the successor.
If Theodore stubbornly refused, Peonal could then claim he was safeguarding the successor to justify challenging the Acting Head’s authority.
Bloodline trumps an unrelated bear any day—a notion Peonal found increasingly reasonable.
Once that happened, the Elder Council could boldly return to the lordly castle as the successor’s protectors.
What will you do, insolent adopted brat?
Feeling a low, crude thrill, Peonal’s eyes sparkled.
“……”
Theodore, too, clearly saw the Elder Council’s intentions in suddenly bringing up an event months away.
Yet he, too, intended not to send Lin on the monster hunt.
