Tilea's Worries
Chapter 1
TL note: We released all chapters so go have one last blast. :D.
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Author Notes:
A new chapter begins. The new character Shiro makes his appearance.
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"That's it for today."
I ladled the bubbling stew from the large pot and finished serving it into bowls.
Meal preparation complete.
I wiped the sweat from my forehead and let out a relieved sigh.
Today was a good day.
I was only hit and cursed at five times.
"...Haha."
A dry laugh.
I rubbed my head where bumps had formed from being struck, mocking myself.
I am Shiro, a beastman from Vegeta Village.
Everyone calls me "Coward Shiro." I'm short, weak, a crybaby, and a good-for-nothing whose only talent is cooking.
Vegeta Village is one of the wolf tribe settlements. Though few in number, the wolf tribe is a warrior race. They have a history of attacking and destroying countless settlements.
Particularly during the era of the seventh clan leader, Zaiya-sama, they commanded all beastman tribes and were praised as the Beastman King. It's said that even the human king, who was sweeping the world with massive military power at the time, couldn't oppose Zaiya-sama.
The wolf tribe's law is that might makes right.
The strong stand above.
For example, there's Yaruashi-sama of Kiroro Village and Saiuikuu-sama of Yariawa Township. Both came from humble origins but became leaders of wolf tribe settlements through their own strength.
Of course, Vegeta Village also has many strong warriors.
Yam-sama, who single-handedly destroyed a goblin settlement, Gigant-sama, who took down a giant orc in one blow - the list goes on.
They are exceptional even among the strong wolf tribe. They form the core of the elite wolf unit. And leading that elite wolf unit is our current clan leader, Vegetable-sama.
The man said to be closest to the legendary Zaiya-sama.
When Vegetable-sama says something is black, even white things become black. When Vegetable-sama passes by, everyone trembles in fear and awe.
All of them are warriors worthy of the name "warrior race."
But...
I clench my fist.
I hate it!
They may be strong, but they're crude and arrogant. They bully the weak.
Especially Gau and Giu!
Those guys take gleeful pleasure in tormenting the weak.
If it were just me, that would be fine. I'm a coward and useless. But they even target elderly people who've grown weak and children whose strength is still developing.
Kind old Tokio-san,
Mada-kun, who wasn't strong but was studious and devoted to his parents,
And my beloved grandmother...
D-damn it!
In my anger, I almost slammed the ladle I was holding onto the ground.
"Hah, hah, hah."
I steady my ragged breathing.
Calm down. Stay cool.
Getting emotional will only get a weakling killed.
Gau and Giu are strong enough to lift boulders over a meter in diameter. So no matter how nasty their personalities, they're respected.
No matter how unreasonable Gau and the others are, if their opponent is weak, it's allowed. Logic doesn't apply there.
The weak are evil.
The weak must walk with their heads down.
This can't be helped. It's something that can't be helped. It can't be helped!
I put a lid on my emotions as usual.
The world is full of injustice. But just being alive is fortunate.
I am weak.
My physical strength is below that of the village girls. I might even be inferior to a trained human.
It's easy to imagine how such a man would be treated in the village.
Being beaten and kicked around is an everyday occurrence.
Once I upset Gau and suffered serious injuries.
Living at the bottom of the hierarchy, I eke out an existence in the abandoned lands at the very back of the village, in the most remote area.
Incidentally, the clan leader lives in the village center, with the [Executive Warriors] living around him. And further around them live the [Strong Warriors], preparing for hunts and raids from other tribes.
The closer you live to the clan leader, the higher your rank.
Also, even those who don't fight are valued if they're blacksmiths who make the village's weapons.
Being weaker than the village girls, I'm naturally excluded from hunting and raiding parties. There's no way I could do blacksmithing either.
I'm the same as the village's small children. No, I'm just a burden since I have no future potential.
Such burdens are normally disposed of. But even someone like me had one redeeming quality.
That was cooking.
I can cook any ingredient deliciously. Even rotten things, things with a putrid smell that absolutely no one would eat - no problem.
No matter how poor the harvest, I gather ingredients and cook.
I'm kept alive solely for my cooking skills.
Every day I must cook for the hungry warriors. If I upset the village warriors, I'll be killed on the spot.
If I become unable to cook...
Grandmother...
Ugh, ugh.
Before I knew it, tears were flowing.
They dripped down, staining my shirt.
This is bad. If they see my face all messy with tears like this, Gau and the others will pick a fight with me.
Today was supposed to be a day with little harassment...
I roughly wipe away the tears with my shirt sleeve.
I put on my usual face.
I paste on a grinning smile, showing that I have no hostile intent.
Grandmother, I'll do my best today too.
I'll keep my promise.
I cannot die.