Demi-human Girls Completion Manual-Chapter 34 - 32
34: 32.
The Theory of Weakness
34: 32.
The Theory of Weakness
Fisher’s carriage followed behind the luxurious-looking troop of soldiers, with several personal guards beside their captain cradling the shivering goblin children, protected amidst the ranks.
He scrutinized the soldiers’ attire and weapons thoroughly, noting not only that the guns were Narituqi Armament Company’s latest model but also the presence of military mortars.
In the corner of his eye, Fisher caught a glimpse of the belt adorned with Magic Radiance worn by Chief Harry.
This kind of equipment, Fisher would believe it if said to belong to the King of Nali’s Royal Guard.
If Philone City could equip its army like this, there were two possibilities.
Either the City Lord of Philone had Royal connections, indicating a powerful backer behind him,
or he was very wealthy.
Fisher leaned toward the latter, as the South Continent Protection Treaty, agreed by Nali, Schwali, and Kado in recent years, had explicitly specified that officials were not to preside over entrances into the South Continent.
In name, all three countries maintained a protective stance toward the South Continent, and those entering now were merely “friendly merchants” coming to support the locals.
If Philone had connections with Nali Official, such overt displays wouldn’t have gone unnoticed by Schwali and Kado.
Fisher withdrew his gaze from the soldiers ahead and turned to look at Rafael, who sat beside him quietly, staring at the adjoining field without a word.
Since boarding, she hadn’t spoken a word, which Fisher guessed wasn’t because she was sulking at him.
Rather, she was angry with those humans.
Since their last time in Keken City, she had become more restrained, her thoughts no longer so linear, yet traces of naivety lingered, for instance, this time.
The Red Dragon Queen, huh?
That was still a distant future.
“We had agreed previously that, until the game of killing me is over, you are prohibited from attacking other Humans.
This is the last time I indulge you like this; should you act out again, don’t blame me for being unkind.”
“…Do you so wish for me to kill you?
Are you counting this as another assassination attempt and going to punish me for it?” Rafael turned her head to look at Fisher, her emerald eyes narrowing into a slit.
“The reason you haven’t received punishment is that I commend you for your courage in protecting the children of different races, but I’m also angry that you still fail to remain calm, acting impulsively and causing trouble for both yourself and me.”
“…My mistake, I shouldn’t have done that.”
She turned her head away again, her voice much softer this time.
Rafael was no fool; she knew her actions were impulsive, it was just that the anger burning within her heart was like steam in a steam engine, forcefully driving her to irrational rashness.
“Tell me about the goblin race.
In the Western Continent, goblins are synonyms for Demons and are never portrayed positively in stories.
But coming here, I’m seeing a live goblin for the first time.”
Goblins were a name coined by their own race, not given by Humans.
When the first pioneering ship from the Western Continent arrived here decades ago, these creatures were encountered.
An accompanying novelist wrote them into his stories, depicting them as blood-sucking of young maidens and plunderers of Human-kind.
In the Western Continent, he had seen many goblin specimens brought back by Human hunters.
Not particularly angry with Rafael this time, Fisher took the initiative to lighten the mood.
Without turning her head, and only after a long wait, Rafael spoke calmly,
“Goblins, meaning ‘earth spirits’, simply prefer to live in natural caves.
They are very friendly beings.
You might not believe it, but their most adept skill is weaving.
They tend to the animal hides found in the wild and create many handicrafts.”
“I see…”
Those terrifying creatures from Human tales were starkly different from Rafael’s description.
“My eighteenth birthday gift came from the elder of the Sate Tribe goblins who lived nearby.
He gave me a necklace made of shells, which he said had been dug out from rocks, remnants of ancient creatures.”
“That’s a fossil.”
Fisher supplied the term in Nali Language.
“But they…
really, really, really, really, really, truly are…
are all an extremely kind, very peace-loving race.
Throughout the long history of this continent, they never started any conflicts, and even the humans who lived here liked to trade with them.”
“I just don’t understand what sin they committed to warrant not even sparing their young children.
Could humans be savage beasts that devour flesh and blood?
Even if one cannot understand the goblin language, don’t their pleas for mercy, their cries, mean anything to stop them?”
This time, Rafael didn’t cry.
Up to now, her words were calm but filled with questions, as if she hoped Fisher could provide her with answers.
Fisher lit a cigarette, his mind brimming with countless possible responses.
He could say many good things about humans, like how there are also many good people among us, many kind-hearted individuals; he could skirt around the subject, letting the sadness remain buried in her heart.
After all, that would be better than revealing the true thoughts of mankind, wouldn’t it?
Because humans simply don’t care.
Whether it’s goblins or others, due to their weakness and primitiveness, they are rightfully subjected to plunder and aggression, their everything taken by force.
Ha, isn’t this just perfect for breeding the Red Dragon Queen who will exterminate humanity?
Fisher sneered with mockery, and the next moment, he raised a finger to Rafael,
“Rafael, the sin of demi-humans lies only in their weakness…”
Rafael turned her head sharply to look at him, her emerald eyes narrowing into slits, as terrifying as the giant dragons from legends known to ravage cities.
But Fisher remained unfazed,
“Being so weak that humans don’t even care about your lives.
Such feeble life, no matter how forcefully it screams, it can’t reach their ears; pity and compassion are the prerogatives of the strong, and precisely because they are a choice, pinning all hope on the subjective choices of humans is foolish.”
Surrounded by the hoofbeats of the human army’s horses, Fisher said these outrageous statements to Rafael without changing his expression.
Her breathing was slow, she just stared motionlessly at Fisher in front of her.
“Therefore, you must be strong enough to make no mistakes, to not act rashly, not be weak, not hesitate, not be arrogant.
Rather than being like now, acting recklessly like a child, completely disregarding the consequences.”
“And only then, when you are strong, will your kind have the chance to break free from human choices, have the opportunity to resist them…
So, strive on, Rafael.”
“You, a human, are actually teaching me this…”
Rafael said so and then turned her head to look at the field, not letting Fisher see her current expression.
“These are simple truths anyone can understand.
Even if I didn’t tell you, after seeing more demi-humans die, sooner or later you would come to understand.
I’m just telling you in advance to avoid losing your life to impulsiveness next time.”
“And besides, with your current level, the likelihood of defeating me is still slim.”
This time Rafael did not argue, merely emphasizing,
“Heh, I’m already preparing a strategy to defeat you.
Remember what you said today when it fails.”
“I look forward to it.”
Rafael’s tail swished, and it was a long while after the conversation had ended that she leaned a little closer towards Fisher.
