Beastmen Love-Chapter 209: Trip Decisions

Seiryuu, being a Mizuryuu, is very honored that Astri is there, but his mind is now strict about keeping her safe. His mind is very much like making sure his people are fine; the others are not his responsibility. Each continent should take care of its own, and he doesn’t believe the other continent is sacred enough to have Astri there.

"Lord Seiryuu, I understand your worries. And I’ll gladly come live here periodically, it’s an amazing place. But if the world is not balanced, evil will come here, and even the Mizuryuus won’t be capable of keeping the balance. Because once it arrives here, it’s because the evil is too strong for you to handle. I cannot let this happen. It’s not your duty to take care of other places, and neither their duty to keep you safe, but wanting or not, you affect each other. And I’m the one who needs to keep everyone in a good balance, so you don’t affect each other in a bad way. Can you understand?" Astri explains.

He sighs, scratching his chin, and then she makes him sit next to Kenzou. She puts a meal in front of him, impressing him with the different food. He tries the food after watching Kenzou and Shinkou digging into their meal. Now he knows why they eat with so much passion.

"Your food is delicious." Seiryuu says as he tries to eat in an elegant way.

"Thank you, sir. I like cooking."

"I wish we could have this kind of food every day in the castle."

"I can teach some of your workers." She smiles.

"Would you do that, milady?"

"Of course. But I would want workers in exchange. I need help building some things."

"You don’t have to pay anything you ask for me, milady. It would be dishonorable to take advantage of a Goddess." Seiryuu says.

"It’s not taking advantage. But if you feel this way, I won’t insist. I’m open to sharing knowledge because I also love to learn new things."

They keep on eating, and once they’re done, she serves them some rice buns filled with sweet azuki beans. Astri giggles when Kenzou sighs, enjoying the flavor. Being a bear makes him love sweet things.

"If I can’t convince you not to leave, I can send you workers to build the things you desire, milady." Seiryuu says after finishing eating.

"Thank you. You’re the son of a Shogun, do you think that if your father or the Emperor learn about me, they will make things hard for me to leave?" Astri asks.

"The Mizuryuus Shogunate is the most ancient and powerful one. We’re the ones that is more connected to the spirits of Nature. If my father says that we cannot hold you here, the Emperor is a Peacock and is very respectful to what my father says about Nature’s will. That’s why we live near the most sacred places of this kingdom."

"Interesting. I wonder if I should keep on selling salt slowly or talk to them so I can get a ship faster. However, no ship around here has the structure to travel more than two hundred days, and we will take time to build things, and I plant crops, organize everything I’ll need." She says, looking up as she was talking to herself.

"You...sell salt?"

"Yes. For now, I’ll stick with that. If, after organizing everything, I still don’t have enough gems to buy a ship, I’ll ask for your father’s help." She says.

"I can give you my ship."

"Really?!" She says, after almost choking on her water.

"Yes, Goddess. However, I have a request. And I’ll give you the ship even if you deny my request." He slowly says.

"I’m listening."

"Please, let me court you to become your spouse one day."

Kenzou and Shinkou are impressed with the request.

"Well, I never denied anyone to do this. Normally, my spouses decide who can come near and court me. But I won’t stop you. I won’t guarantee I will be your spouse." She answers.

"Fair enough. As I said, I will give you my ship even if you have denied it. I’m glad you will let me court you." He smiles, happily.

"I have a question, though. Mizuryuus are supposed to be in the sacred places, right? How will you come with me if you have to stay?"

He stays quiet, trying to think of an answer, and she chuckles.

"You wanted to tie me here, didn’t you? Smart. I like that." She says, and he looks away shyly.

"I apologize for the selfish wish. I still believe you shouldn’t be traveling."

She chuckles, rolling her eyes.

"I promise all of you that once I’m complete again, I’ll come visit you always. As I said, I love here. I would for sure want a home in here, too." She says and claps her hands to end the subject. "Shinkou! Change of plans. I need you to help me buy everything I’ll need to bring." Astri says, walking inside the shrine and taking the notebook she roughly made for her.

She sits on Shinkou’s side and starts to say what she will need.

"You know how to write? What can you not do?" Shinkou asks.

"I don’t know. Many things. I never sailed on my own, but I learned a lot with my spouse, Beau, and I’m sure that if I can handle that complicated ship from Aquaterra, I can take care of a normal ship."

"The things you were telling him to buy, is it for a how long trip?" Kenzou asks.

"Two hundred days." She answers.

"That doesn’t sound right. It looks enough only for one beastman." Kenzou says.

"Well, yes. It’s for me. I know it sounds like little things, but Nature can provide me with fruits and plants. The seeds I’m taking are mostly so I have something to do. I can stop by every island I find to get more meat, and I can make my salt to keep it from spoiling. I can fish.." She says.

"Are you planning on going alone? Is that it?" Kenzou asks, impressed, and interrupting her.

"Well, yes."

"No. No, you will not." He estates like any father would do.

"Who would travel to another continent with me without being assured that they will be back someday? Only if I tell the whole crew who I am, and it would still be hard to convince them to come."

"One more reason not to go alone. Are you sincerely believing I’ll let you go alone?"

"Well..yes?"

"You will not go. Not alone. And that’s a final. Make the list for two. You and me." Kenzou says.

He sounds so much like her father that it made her smile at his authority.

"Who will stay here?"

"I was chosen to be here after defeating a tiger. He can stay here. The Mizuryuus only has to agree, but if he was selected for the duel, it’s because he’s also suited to be here."

"All right. And we have a Mizuryuu to help us." Astri smiles at Seiryuu.

"You must be out of your mind to accept going on this dangerous trip with only you to protect her." Seiryuu says to Kenzou.

"We won’t actually be alone. Nature will be there, and I also asked Nature to call for an old friend to guard us at least most of the way. It will help us find the right direction, too." Astri says.

"An old friend? How can it come here?" Seiryuu asks.

"Biggie lives in the ocean. It’s an ancient beast that can’t shift from its beast form. It’s a Kraken. Believe me when I tell you that very few things in the ocean would go against him." Astri says and chuckles.

"What’s a Kraken?" Kenzou asks.

She draws Biggie quickly on the paper, impressing them that she can draw so well.

"For you to have an idea of how big he is, he can swallow a fishing boat." She shrugs her shoulders to explain, making them gasp.

"Is he really your friend?" Seiryuu asks.

"Yes. He’s a sweetheart. He has the eternal mind of a little boy. And he’s such a good boy. I can’t wait to see him again." Astri answers.

"Well.. I feel more relieved knowing you will have a powerful guardian like that. But I’m still going with you. Make the list for two." Kenzou says.

"All right. Let’s double everything. I’ll have to change some projects too if you’re coming."

"...Make it for three." Shinkou says, and all of them look at Shinkou. "I want to go. I’m not as strong as Kenzou, but I have 9 marks. I can protect her, too."

"You don’t have to go. You’re already helping a lot." She says.

"You’re the first one who ever treated me as someone good. I don’t want to stay where people will always believe I’m a bad beastman. I have no patience to prove myself to anyone, and I will always use their belief of who I am for my own gains since I don’t owe anyone the respect they do not give me. I want to stay where I feel better, and that means it’s by your side."

She smiles, feeling that she would and could never make him give up.

"List for three, then!"