Infinite Adaptation: Starting As A Level 1 Slime-Chapter 32: Caged Bird

The saintess was taken aback.

That’s... what he wanted?

"Is that a no?" Lunaris asked.

She shook her head quickly. "Of course not."

She looked at Lunaris more carefully now.

He did seem quite pitiful, now that she thought about it.

Her gaze shifted to Roselle standing beside him.

Seria bit her lip.

She finally understood the situation.

It’s just like me.

Roselle pretended to obey Lunaris, but clearly she wasn’t. She was the true person in power here, using her position to restrict him. To control him.

Seria understood this feeling all too well.

Everyone in the Holy Church acted as though she was some powerful individual above everything. They revered her. Worshiped her.

But it was all for show.

In reality, they were just using her as an attractive banner to wave around. A pretty face to draw believers. A tool.

That was why she had escaped in secret with her friends to explore the outside world.

And looking at Lunaris now - a person who had experienced the same thing as her...

"Saintess?" Lunaris called out.

It was then that she noticed tears were flowing down her cheeks.

Yuna and Garen looked at her with concern.

"Seria? What’s wrong?" Yuna whispered.

The saintess wiped her eyes quickly. Then she smiled - a genuine smile this time.

She placed her hand over her heart.

"Please," she said softly. "Call me Seria from now on."

Her voice grew steady with resolve.

"I promise to tell you everything I know about the outside world. I swear it on the gods’ name."

Lunaris blinked.

Huh? You don’t have to go that far.

Still, it was great that she accepted. He had thought they would refuse, given he was a beastman asking about human territory.

...

Seria began her explanation.

"The place we’re on is called the Central Continent," she said. "While the Central Continent is huge, about half of it is just a large stretch of forest where beastmen have settled. People have been trying to reclaim it for a while now, but there’s no hope there."

Lunaris nodded, listening intently.

"On the human side, there are five major powers."

She held up her fingers as she listed them.

"To the far east is the Valdris Empire. They’re a military nation with the strongest standing army on the continent. To the southeast is the Merchant Republic of Caelmont - they control most of the sea trade routes."

She continued, "In the south is the Kingdom of Thornwell. They’re known for their knights and strict nobility. To the southwest is the Azurian Theocracy, ruled directly by religious leaders who worship Azurath, the God of Light."

She placed her hand over her heart.

"And finally, in the west, bordering both the elven and dwarven territories, is the Holy Kingdom of Astoria. That’s where I’m from."

"Astoria," Lunaris repeated.

Seria nodded. "Astoria is unique because we neighbor both the elves and dwarves. Unlike other beastmen tribes, elves and dwarves are recognized as official allies of humanity."

"Allies?"

"Yes. Because of our trade relations with them, Astoria has become something like a capital for the whole continent. We trade with the elves for herbs and medicine, and with the dwarves for advanced tools. This allowed our kingdom to grow rapidly."

She smiled slightly.

"It’s also where the headquarters of the Adventurers Guild is located. And the headquarters of the Holy Church - where I’m from."

That seems like a good place, Lunaris thought.

He glanced at Yuna. Her slightly pointed ears.

They’re even having interracial marriages.

He wondered if this tribe couldn’t get such benefits.

He glanced at Roselle.

He could only shake his head.

Probably not.

"That’s pretty much it," Seria said apologetically. "I don’t go out very much, so I don’t know any more than that."

"It’s okay," Lunaris assured her. "You were really helpful."

He paused, considering his next question carefully.

"Is it possible for another beast tribe to have the same allied status as the elves and dwarves?"

Being hostile with the humans would make things quite hard for me.

Seria tilted her head, thinking.

"I don’t know if there’s a specific criterion," she said slowly. "Maybe... trade relations? That’s how the dwarven and eventually elven territories became allied."

Lunaris sighed.

His tribe didn’t have anything they could produce for trade.

Wait.

He remembered that their land had been blessed by the Spirit Queen. Maybe they could sell crops as a starting point.

"But," Seria continued, her expression becoming troubled, "tribes like the orc, goblin, and rabbit tribes probably couldn’t be allied."

Lunaris blinked. "Huh?"

The saintess glanced nervously at Roselle, then back at Lunaris.

"They are designated as enemies of all humanity," she explained carefully. "Their leaders are actively hostile toward humans."

Lunaris facepalmed.

I really have my work cut out for me.

He sighed deeply.

"Do you have a map?" he asked. "I’d like to see for myself."

Roselle suddenly spoke up. "My Lord..."

"Stay quiet," he cut her off. "You’re in detention right now."

"...Detention?"

"It means you stay in a corner and keep your mouth shut."

Roselle’s ears drooped.

Lunaris turned his attention back to Seria.

"About the map..."

"I didn’t bring one with me," she admitted. "But I could make one for you."

He scratched his head. "Unfortunately, we don’t have paper or ink here. Maybe I could..."

"No worries," Seria interrupted with a smile. "I can just use this instead."

Suddenly, an image appeared inside Lunaris’s head.

Lines and shapes formed a detailed map of the continent. The five kingdoms. The forest. The mountain ranges where dwarves dwelt. The elven territories. Everything laid out clearly in his mind.

This is...

Seria smiled. "It’s telepathy magic."

This magic thing is quite convenient, he thought.

...

Roselle stood next to Lunaris outside the church.

Opposite them, the three adventurers stood ready to depart. Passing rabbitmen watched with curious eyes, as if seeing such creatures for the first time. And it might as well have been as not many humans came to these depths of the beast forest given the dangers.

Seria bowed formally.

"Thank you for having us, Lord Lunaris."

"It was no issue at all," he replied with a smile. "I should apologize for causing you trouble."

"Not at all."

She straightened up.

"We’ve been away for too long. It might cause problems if we don’t return soon."

"It already has," Lunaris murmured, glancing in a certain direction.