The beastkin were fundamentally a nomadic and hunting people.
They had no farmable land, so they were forced to raise sheep, cows, and goats across wide grasslands.
With barren soil and almost nonexistent annual rainfall, such a lifestyle was inevitable.
Because of that, their architectural style naturally favored convenience over permanence.
Normally, they build makeshift tents from bison hide...
That was the extent of “architecture” as far as Ludger knew.
At least, that was what he thought, until he saw the settlement rising in the distance.
Calling it a village doesn’t seem right. At that size, it’s practically a city.
There were still tents of the traditional type, but that wasn’t what drew his eye.
It was the buildings—structures of brick rising firmly from the ground.
They were nothing like the traditional tents beastkin tribes supposedly used.
If it were only the exteriors, one might overlook it—but when they arrived, he realized the change ran far deeper.
This city is more developed than I expected.
Districts were neatly divided, shops lined the streets, and although most pedestrians had animal ears and tails, he also spotted humans, dwarves, and others among them.
“Pretty fascinating, right?”
Aidan asked with a broad grin when he saw Ludger staring.
Ludger nodded.
“Yes. This feels less like a tribal union and more like an actual nation.”
“I figured you’d think that. Most people only know the beastkin through stereotypes—nomadic tribes with tents, and that’s it. But as you can see, things have changed a lot.”
The wandering tribes had settled.
They built a city.
And now they had formed a nation.
“Hmph. I doubt most humans know. We, too, have faced great change, and we are adapting to this new world.”
Loina, guiding them, spoke with unmistakable pride.
“In the past, most tribes were closed off. But now, we understand—how important it is to unite.”
“Surprising. I heard beastkin place great value on tradition.”
“We did. Many still do. But even they cannot deny the truth: tradition alone cannot keep us alive.”
The beastkin had suffered more than any other non-human race during the Species War a century ago.
Their vast plains were rich with underground resources, and humans had invaded en masse to take them.
Facing guns and gunpowder, the beastkin had no chance.
Their homeland had no mountains, cliffs, or forests to hide behind.
On such open terrain, battle could only be a direct clash—strength versus strength.
And in direct war, no race could surpass humanity, veterans of countless wars.
Dwarves had their mountains.
Elves had their forests.
But the beastkin had nothing to cover them.
They were born warriors, yes—and naturally attuned to the Spirit.
But—
Humanity had not only guns and gunpowder they had magic and aura.
Especially in exposed terrain, the side with mages held overwhelming advantage.
Thus the beastkin suffered catastrophic losses.
Their hatred for humans was entirely justified.
But that was one hundred years ago.
Elves remembered everything due to long lifespans.
Beastkin, like humans, did not—and generations had passed.
In time, the beastkin learned from the humans who defeated them.
“I never experienced that war. I only know from written accounts how terrible it was. But from that war, we beastkin learned something essential.”
“What is that?”
“Learning from defeat.”
Loina spoke without hesitation.
“We are born warriors. And a warrior does not fear defeat. Do you know why?”
“Because they accept defeat as part of the path,” Aidan answered smoothly.
Loina’s eyes curved like crescent moons.
“Exactly. A true warrior isn't one who has never lost. A true warrior is one who loses and still stands again, using that loss as nourishment.”
According to Loina, the beastkin studied humans deeply after the war their weapons, their tactics, even their lifestyle.
They couldn’t adopt everything wholesale, of course.
But they learned patiently, absorbing the strengths of the race that defeated them.
“Still, I imagine there was plenty of resistance.”
Tradition was called tradition for a reason.
Sometimes it became a chain that shackled progress.
And as far as Ludger knew, the beastkin were fiercely traditional.
“You’re right. Many opposed it. Not much changed at first. But then... a decisive event happened.”
“A decisive event?”
“Yes. It began when the one meant to become the next chieftain suddenly stepped down.”
Ludger immediately thought of the Iron Mask—Roteron.
The 6th-Circle Lexerra-class mage Roteron.
No—Tenaron Ovalley.
Iona’s half-brother, and the man who should have become the next Great Chieftain in the original flow of events.
“When Tenaron vanished, the tribe fell into chaos. The successor disappeared overnight, without a trace. Some even suspected assassination.”
It was inevitable.
Tenaron had lived quietly until then, and suddenly—gone.
But Ludger, who knew the truth of Tenaron’s departure, felt a strange mix of emotions.
“Still, that wasn’t the true catalyst. The ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) real turning point came three years ago.”
Three years ago—not at the end of the Holy War, but before that.
“Oh! During summer break,” Aidan said.
The greatest shift began then.
It was the incident where Victor Dreadpool’s plans were foiled, ending the human–beastkin conflict.
Aidan and his friends played major roles, but they weren’t the only ones.
There was Phantos, the masked beastkin warrior.
And more importantly the Iron Masked Roteron himself had been present.
“No one expected Tenaron to return alive—much less that he had learned magic, a human art.”
And surprisingly, the entire beastkin nation knew this now.
According to Loina, after revealing his identity, Tenaron personally petitioned the Great Chieftain to begin a sweeping reform.
He even pledged full support for Iona as the next chieftain.
Iona, too, having studied magic at Seorn, believed the beastkin needed to change.
With both siblings working together, change was inevitable.
Of course... I’m sure they faced endless opposition. Countless difficulties along the way.
But the sight before him now proved that their efforts were not in vain.
Compared to human cities, it was still lacking smaller, simpler, less tall.
Yet the beastkin had changed.
They had chosen progress.
They had embraced the flow of time.
And still, they did not abandon tradition.
Instead, they harmonized old and new.
A people moving toward the future.
“I see. Thank you for the history lesson.”
Perhaps this change, too, was the result of the shattered cage the world breaking open and its inhabitants forced to evolve.
Elves had changed.
Beastkin had changed.
Humans had changed.
Everything changed.
It was an undeniable truth.
Several sturdy beastkin approached to take away the captured raiders.
They would be punished according to the tribe’s strict rules.
“Aidan. Is Leo here as well?”
“Iona too. We’re on our way to see them. Come to think of it, you haven’t seen them since that day, have you?”
“Hm. I wonder how much they’ve grown.”
“But we can’t meet them right away. Given where they are, it takes time to prepare. Until then, why don’t you look around? This is your first time here, right?”
“It is.”
“In that case, I’ll show you around.”
Loina volunteered as guide after all, capturing the region’s most troublesome raiders meant her workday was effectively over.
“Are you sure, Loina? Shouldn’t you rest?”
“If I can help a friend, why would that bother me?”
The warmth in her eyes as she looked at Aidan was unmistakable.
Anyone could tell it was affection—not the friendly kind.
Yet Aidan interpreted it as simple camaraderie.
“Thanks, Loina!”
“Hehe. If you're grateful, repay me properly later.”
Ludger quietly watched the two.
Aidan, you idiot.
Every time he saw this, he felt a vague sense of dread.
He had sworn not to meddle earlier, but something about this situation screamed impending disaster.
They toured the city under Loina's lavish guidance.
“We didn’t have a name before, but once we became a city, we chose one. This place is now called Kiuwa.”
“In the beastkin tongue... it means ‘origin.’ A fitting name for the capital.”
Loina blinked in surprise.
“You know our language?”
“Well, enough for basic communication.”
During his time traveling the southern continent, Ludger had studied the beastkin’s language and culture, just in case.
“Incredible.”
Loina seemed genuinely impressed.
“Ahem, my teacher is amazing,” Aidan boasted on Ludger’s behalf.
“I don’t know why you’re acting proud,” Ludger muttered.
“In any case, the capital is divided into several districts. This one is the busiest—our marketplace.”
The moment they entered the market, they were hit with lively noise and motion.
Most were beastkin, but as earlier, humans were plentiful too.
“There are quite a lot of people.”
“Right? Most of them are company workers coming to trade for the resources found here.”
The plains were rich in underground resources.
Only after embracing change did the beastkin begin mining them and trading actively with humans.
Looking at all this activity, Ludger felt a quiet satisfaction the world truly had regained its peace.
But at that moment—
“Oh! Aidan!”
“Aidan! Long time no see!”
Several beastkin women recognized him as they passed.
Every one of them was beautiful.
“Mm~ such a good scent. Hey, Aidan, want to marry me?”
“Back off. Aidan’s mine.”
They openly flirted with him.
Naturally, Loina's eyes blazed.
“What’s wrong with you idiots?”
Ludger felt a headache forming as the women lifted their ears and tails, snarling at each other.
But even more astonishing—
Aidan didn’t realize they were flirting.
He still doesn’t get it? Even when they’re that obvious?
Knowing his personality, he must have genuinely believed they were expressing friendly affection.
Thank goodness Taishy Friad isn’t here. If she were, this place would turn into a battlefield.
Just as Ludger thought that—
A chill ran down his spine.
A coldness sharp enough to frost over even midsummer air.
Ludger turned toward the source.
And he saw her.
A red-haired woman staring at Aidan with a terrifying expression.
Three years had passed, and she had changed a lot—yet Ludger recognized her instantly.
Taishy Friad.
The head of House Friad, who rebuilt her noble family after graduation, had arrived in the beastkin capital, Kiuwa.