Call For Liberation

"I'm sorry, I have no idea what computers and television are, but I guess Beastmen do exist in your world." The lady spoke, following a nod of approval. "Your wound's okay, at least it didn't open up while you're working out."

The lady Beastman puts Lyrica's shirt back in place before standing back up herself. Meanwhile, Lyrica is lost in thought.

'Now that I think about it, it's almost a week since I got transported here.'

Talking about her past life on Earth reminded Lyrica of one of her goals—to get Erika in Alteria.

'I can't afford to waste another week after this. I need to give Mousai the proof that I'm following through with what we agreed on. And that proof is by liberating Kruule from the Hari.'

"Lyrica, was it? I cleaned and fixed the hole in your shirt, though I apologize because I couldn't find such a fine fabric similar to it." Said the Beastman. "I'll go get it for you."

"Hey, before you leave, can I ask where that guy went?"

"You mean Kael?" The Beastman halted, following Lyrica's question. "Kael should be in the barracks in the inner district."

"Inner district?"

"I heard Reilaea is planning to launch an attack against Kruule, that's why a large number of soldiers are present in the inner district. Both Reilaea and Kruule used to be on good terms until now, I wonder what reason is behind this sudden plan to attack..."

Without saying a word, Lyrica walked past the Beastman straight to the door.

"Lyrica? Where are you going?"

"To the inner district. I need to talk to him." Lyrica answered as the sound of the door being opened resonated. "I'll get my uniform later. Also, thank you for taking care of me."

With that Lyrica leaves the room.

"Inner district... It should be at the center of this town, but..."

Lyrica's eyes wandered, however, it seems like looking around isn't enough to explore even the area around her.

"Compared to Takkot and Kabba this place's a lot bigger." Said Lyrica to herself as she kept panning her view. "I should just ask someone to direct me to the inner district."

"Ate ate!"

"Huh? You?"

Just then, the little Beastman appeared behind her, still wearing her bright smile.

"Let me take you to the inner district! Let me!"

An unexpected offer came out of the blue, but it was something Lyrica needed right now.

"Okay."

Lyrica expressed her gratitude to the little Beastman in advance with a smile.

"Let's go let's go!"

Following the little Beastman and her little feet, the two started making their way towards the inner district.

"It's indeed a shocker."

"Yeah, who would have thought Kruule would become Reilaea's enemy..."

"But why is it all of a sudden?"

"Who knows..."

It hasn't been that long since Lyrica and the little Beastman departed from the place where she was treated overnight, but she could already hear gossips about Reilaea's plan to raid Kruule.

Of course, it's not surprising for her that they'd take actions against the kingdom, after all, Kruule, or rather Uruk, have imprisoned the heroes and even killed one of them.

'The one thing that concerns me is the fact that the heroes' existence seemed to be a kept secret. I can't think of any other reason why they'd keep it a secret other than preventing to cause chaos among their people.'

Finding out why Reilaea needed the heroes is an important matter, but she has decided to put it aside for now. Lyrica set her sights on her current goal.

'Whether killing him is necessary or not, I have to get rid of Uruk right on this very same day. And to do that, I'm gonna need him. No, I'm going to need them.'

"I am Bagel! I am!"

"Huh?"

Amid her serious thoughts, the little Beastman who named herself Bagel caught Lyrica by surprise.

"I see. Bagel, huh."

"Hey, where did you get your hole? Where?"

"What hole?"

Bagel pointed her tiny little finger onto Lyrica's belly.

"T-This? I got myself into an accident. That was stupid of me..."

A burst of totally not awkward laughter exited Lyrica's mouth. Lyrica knew Bagel is a curious child, but she can't just tell her that she almost died at the hands of an assassin for reasons.

"You know, I also got a hole in my belly, you know!"

"Huh?"

Lyrica stopped all of a sudden.

"Do you want to see it? Do you?"

"C-Can I?"

Lyrica doesn't mind if Bagel wants to keep it to herself, but the little Beastman herself gave the girl permission to see it. Since it got her interest, Lyrica crouched down as Bagel lifted her sleeveless shirt. And there, an old scar that seemed like it came from a sword that pierced her gut presented itself for Lyrica.

'You see, it used to have stitches keeping it closed like yours. It used to."

'It's already healed, but I could imagine how deep and painful it must have been.'

"Oh, right! I also got the same marks around my arms and feet."

"What?"

"Look! look!"

Voluntarily showing the brutal marks left on her limbs, all Lyrica could do is nothing but feel horrible. And just when she thought it couldn't get worse...

"I used to have a tail, too, but the people who used to take care of me, my Ina, and the others have them all cut off." Said the innocent Beastman.

"What?"

"I don't get why they do it, but every time they cut our limbs with those sharp-looking things, they all looked like they were having fun," Bagel added as she let her arms rest. "It was painful for me though. It was."

Although Lyrica didn't want to imagine it, she could not help but picture Bagel suffering in the hands of those she mentioned. All of a sudden, a pool of tears started forming around her eyes.

"Ate? Are you crying? Are you okay?"

"S-Sorry, I'm all right. Some dirt just got into my eyes."

"Ah..."

Thinking about an innocent little girl having to endure such a horrible experience made Lyrica think of a hypothetical scenario where she was present during Bagel's torture. A scenario in which she was helplessly watching the little Beastman cruelly being tortured and all she could do is cry and nothing else.

"That must have been rough, huh."

"That's right! That's right!"

Lyrica tried to sugarcoat her statement for as much as she could, but deep down she knew, it's not just rough, it's hell.

"But you know, thanks to Kuya Kael who took us in here, that painful thing is finally over. Finally!"

"So Kael saved you and your Ina, huh."

"Yes yes! He saved us!"

Erasing the thoughts that shrouded her mind earlier, Lyrica felt relieved that Bagel seemed lively and cheerful just like a normal child should.

"Kuya Kael and everyone else in Reilaea is kind." Bagel spoke while the sparkle in her emerald eyes made it seem like she's reminiscing the peaceful and painless days since she and her mother came to Reilaea and started living along with kind people. "Oh! Oh!"

"Hm? What is it?"

"I have to take my words back. I have to."

"Eh? Why?"

"Kuya Kael and the others are kind, but Prinsepe Aran is a little bit different. He is."

"Aran?"

Lyrica heard Kael mention the name Aran before.

'If I recall correctly, Kael is the Prinsepe's guard or something.'

"You see, Prinsepe Aran is kind just like everyone else, but he always looks scarily serious."

"You don't say."

Bagel nodded twice. "He's also straightforward and acts brash at times."

'He sounds like a troublesome guy to deal with.'

"But deep down, he's actually a kind person!"

"Is that right?"

"Yes yes!"

Unlike most people in Kruule, Lyrica could tell that Bagel is telling her the truth, and not something she's forced to say to avoid getting killed. The conversation just helped her determine what kind of kingdom Reilaea is.

'Based on what Bagel stated, which came with eagerness and innocence, Reilaea seems like a nice place to live. They're not being restricted to express their thoughts and emotions. They are free.'

Before long, Lyrica and Bagel arrived in the inner district. More precisely, the outside of the barracks where hundreds of soldiers have gathered.

'Rona, Nela, Riko, and the others...'

Lyrica started calling for Kael's name, to which every single soldier immediately took notice. Alas, her call eventually reached the person of interest.

'They all deserve to live in the same environment as Reilaea. It's their right to live without fear and pain shackling their freedom. That's why...'

"Lady Lyrica? What are you doing here?"

She wordlessly grabbed the knight by the hand and did the same with Bagel.

"Ate? Oh!"

She pulled the two and went on top of a wooden platform where she could see the soldiers' faces even in the far back. With everyone's attention now on her, Lyrica speaks.

"Everyone, please, help me liberate the people of Kruule from their Hari–Uruk!"