A Meeting With the Chieftain

After instructing Dimsaul to make camp, Paul, accompanied by Ganyu, Ei, and Yae, headed deeper into the Great Forest with Ghislaine as a guide.

Though it had been nearly a decade since Gal abducted her, Ghislaine had no trouble leading Paul and company to her former home. She didn't actually recall the route, but the scent of her kin was something she could never forget. Thus, by moving in the direction where the scents gathered, it wasn't long before the group found themselves near the outskirts of one of the Beast Race's largest villages, a series of tree houses built into giant oaks that were upwards of 300m in height and 50m in diameter.

While marveling at the massive trees, a wonder that could only be found in a fantasy setting, Paul sensed several presences fast approaching their location. Moments later, a middle-aged man with bronzed skin and ashen-grey hair, accompanied by several others, surrounded him and his group. Not all of them had grey hair, but those that did possessed cat ears and a tail.

Before Paul could greet the group, an ashen-haired youth around his true age stepped forward to ask, "Why have you returned? The Dedoldia Tribe no longer welcomes you."

Recognizing the youth as her younger brother, Gyes, Ghislaine crossed her arms in defiance, frowning as she asserted, "That isn't your decision to make..."

Gritting his teeth, Gyes looked like he was about to attack before the middle-aged man at the front of the group said, "Stand down. Even if we were to attack together, we would not be her match..."

Surprised by the man's words, Gyes's mouth briefly hung open before he flared up, shouting, "We can't know that without trying...!"

Adopting a mocking grin, Ghislaine raised her chin and mused, "Hoooo~? You want to go, little man...?"

Without waiting for permission, Gyes bared his fangs and charged toward Ghislaine with surprising swiftness.

Though Gyes was much stronger and faster than the average Beast Person, possessing physicality on par with an Intermediate Swordsman, he was nowhere near the level of Ghislaine. She allowed him to get close, but the moment he was in range, she utilized one of the unarmed skills of the Water God Style, grabbing his wrist, flipping him over, and slamming him into the ground before sitting on his back and asking, "Had enough?"

Despite having his face planted in the dirt, Gyes wasn't willing to admit defeat after a single exchange. In response to Ghislaine's taunting, he pushed against the ground with more than enough force to propel both himself and his elder sister into the air. He then attempted to twist around and kick Ghislaine mid-air, but the moment he did so, he found his view obstructed by her fist, connecting with his face and sending him crashing back into the ground.

Demonstrating that Ghislaine wasn't the only one to inherit their great ancestor's strength, Gyes flipped back to his feet and launched himself at his sister despite his waning consciousness. This time, however, it wasn't Ghislaine who smacked him down. Instead, it was the middle-aged man, Ghislaine's and Gyes's father, Gustav Dedoldia.

Seeing his son on the verge of going berserk, Gustav decided to intervene before the situation could deteriorate any further. He was no longer in his prime, but he was still the Chieftain and representative of all Beast People within the Great Forest. His peak strength and agility were comparable to a Saint on the verge of becoming a King, so stepping in and knocking out his son was a simple feat.

Throwing Gyes over his shoulder, Gustav turned to Paul's group, meeting the aforementioned's gaze as he said, "You must be Paul Greyrat. Rumors of your skill and achievements have reached even the depths of the Great Forest. We don't have much, but the Dedoldia Tribe welcomes you..."

Adopting a light-hearted smile, Paul responded, "It's an honor to meet the Chief Warrior and Chieftain of the Dedoldia Tribe."

Though he could tell Paul wasn't simply paying him lip service, a frown marred Gustav's face. He couldn't get a good sense of Paul's strength, but he 'knew' there was a vast disparity between them. Being honored by someone younger and stronger than himself was as perplexing as it was uncomfortable.

Turning his attention to the group of warriors that had accompanied him, Gustav said, "Show our guests to my home. I will take Gyes to the prison and see that he receives a suitable punishment..."

Without waiting for a response, Gustav turned around and carried off Gyes like a sack of potatoes. In his wake, one of the warriors stepped forward, addressing Paul but avoiding eye contact as he said, "Follow me." in a curt yet subdued tone.

Nodding his head, Paul maintained a cordial smile and demeanor as he replied, "Lead the way."

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Though the Beast People had occupied the Great Forest for more than ten thousand years, their culture hadn't developed beyond tribalism. Most of the men walked around bare-chested, showing off their muscular bodies, while the woman wore simple yet form-fitting garments made from animal skin and fur.

As someone with a deep fondness for breasts, the smile on Paul's face became more prominent as they made their way through the village of Doldia. The average female Beast Person had C-Cup breasts, and their outfits barely covered more than a traditional two-piece swimsuit. As a result, their breasts bounced and jiggled as they walked. Combined with their 'exotic' features, it was quite a sight to behold.

After guiding Paul's group up a wooden staircase that spiraled around a massive tree, the cat-eared person leading them said, "This is the Chief's house," while gesturing to a thatch-roofed cabin built into the side of the tree. The outer walls and support beams were logs that had been stacked up and wedged together without the use of nails, and the floor was made from worn planks. Simple wooden furniture decorated the interior, but the cabin's most prominent features were the lack of a front door and the fact the outer walls barely came up to Paul's waist. Two beds formed from hay could be seen within, so it wasn't an exaggeration to say the people living within had no privacy.

Seeing the disbelief on Paul's face, a slight frown marred Ghislaine's as she said, "The standards of Humans and Beast People are different. Here, in the Great Forest, the Beast Tribes choose to live alongside nature as a singular community. Those who seclude themselves or behave selfishly are viewed as outcasts and eventually kicked out of the village..."

Though he couldn't agree with such an extreme response, Paul just gave a curt nod and accepted Ghislaine's explanation at face value. Dissidence and seclusion were poisonous to any community, but they were especially cancerous in a society where everyone was expected to work together to survive...

Seizing the initiative, Ghislaine was the first to enter her former home, picking up a tiny bone sculpture that vaguely resembled a woman with cat ears. It was assembled from the remains of Ghislaine's deceased mother, so it carried a nostalgic aroma that brought a rare smile to her face as she brought it up to her nose and gave it a whiff.

Interrupting Ghislaine's reminiscence, Gustav appeared next to Paul and company, having leaped up nearly seventy meters from the ground below. The action placed a tremendous strain on his aging body, but he managed to appear composed as he said, "I apologize for the delay. Now, please enter and make yourselves comfortable. I sent some of our tribe's women to fetch meat and wine, so you can tell me the reason for your visit while they prepare a feast..."

Nodding his head, Paul entered Gustav's cottage before taking a seat on one of the wooden platforms he assumed functioned as cushions. Four of them surrounded a small circular table, so it made the most sense.

Following Paul, Ei and Yae made themselves comfortable at his flanks while Ganyu, still in her Qilin form, sat behind them to serve as a kind of cushion. The latter's presence inspired a sense of awe in every Beast Person who saw her, but Gustav managed to conceal it as he sat across from the group, his eyes briefly shifting to Ghislaine before returning to Paul and awaiting an explanation.

Earning the attention of his ashen-haired companion, Paul started things off by saying, "If you've heard about me, you've doubtlessly heard about Ghislaine as well, correct? She has yet to receive the title, but she is one of the youngest Sword Kings in history. I would like you to reinstate her as a member of the Dedoldia and permit her to serve as a representative between the Great Forest and the outside..."

Surprising the stunned Ghislaine even further, Gustav closed his eyes and gave a curt nod, responding, "I understand. Such a responsibility typically falls to the Chieftain, but my knowledge of the outside world is shallow. It would benefit our people to have someone more experienced serve as the bridge between our communities..."

Nodding in affirmation, Paul remarked, "Wise decision. Ghislaine may not be the most intelligent among the Beast Peoples, but she has connections to some of the most powerful and influential people in the entire world. If you're willing, I'd like to discuss the possibility of an alliance between the tribes of the Great Forest and the burgeoning nation of Teyvat. Its ruler is willing to provide you with food, resources, and-"

Interrupting Paul's pitch, Gustav stated, "I am familiar with the 'Tianquan' of Teyvat. Her representatives have reached out to us several times, but we refused their offers as they were too good to be true..."

Exhaling a tired sigh, Gustav went on to explain, "We have since come to see the error of our ways after witnessing the explosive growth of the Elf, Dwarf, and Hobbit races. They have benefitted greatly from cooperation with Teyvat, so we have been waiting for someone like yourself to appear. Though, I never anticipated someone of your status to appear, much less accompanied by my daughter..."

Shifting his gaze to Ghislaine, a glimmer of affection tinged Gustav's gruff and hardened exterior as he said, "You've grown..."

Furrowing her brows, Ghislaine crossed her arms and looked away from her father without saying anything. She had stated several times that she didn't care for her people or returning to the Great Forest, but the swaying of her tail told a different story.

While Yae narrowed her eyes in amusement at his side, Paul contained a soft chuckle, suppressing the urge to tease the muscular cat woman as he said, "I'm not certain what changes Teyvat's influence has brought about in the other races, but I can assure you the sanctity of the Great Forest will be respected. In exchange, I ask that you cease abandoning your unwanted children and allowing them to be taken advantage of by slavers. Teyvat may be a burgeoning nation, but it promises freedom and opportunity to all who dwell within..."

Nodding his head, Gustav replied, "I have heard tale that the previously barren Strife Zone is gradually becoming a vast and fertile plain. You also have a reputation for emancipating slaves, so I will trust in your promise and pass your message to each of the tribes inhabiting the Great Forest. It will take some time, but we'll do our best to meet your expectations..."

Shaking his head, Paul said, "Don't do it for me, but for the future of the Beast Race. The world is changing rapidly, so the Beast Race would have been imperiled if you attempted to remain isolated. My ideal world is one where everyone can coexist without divisions based on race. To that end, I intend to do away with slavery for profit, starting with the trafficking of non-human species..."

Adopting a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes, Gustav responded, "A truly noble goal. I pray that one day you can achieve it."

As slavery had been commonplace for thousands of years, the notion it could be abolished was something only romantic scholars and idealists took seriously. Gustav was sincere when he said he would pray for Paul's success, but he didn't honestly believe it was achievable, at least not in his lifetime.

Though he could see through Gustav's thoughts, Paul didn't press the matter further. He had already fulfilled the primary purpose of his visit, so he decided to make small talk until the feast was ready...

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(A/N: Gyes? More like gyet rekt...)