Chapter 331

Outaishihi ni Nante Naritakunai!! Chapter 331

She and the Cat Beastmen 2

―― Rena is going home, huh.

It feels very lonely, but since she’ll be able to meet her family, I can’t stop her. Besides Sion has also been saying he wants Rena to return to the island.

Since she can actually go home, I’m sure Sion will encourage her, and if she wishes, I won’t spare effort either.

As Ilya said, Rena had suffered for a long time. I think she’s allowed to be happy already.

While I was having such thoughts, Rena made a face like she resolved herself and told Ilya.

“―― I won’t return yet.”

“Eh?”

Surprised by the unexpected words, both I and Ilya stared at her. Rena looked at Ilya and said in a firm tone.

“Lord Sion saved me, a slave in Tarim where it wouldn’t be strange if I died any day. I can’t return to the island without repaying the favor… I’m sure my dad wouldn’t be pleased with that either.”

“… Rena.”

Rena bowed her head to Ilya, who had asked her about her true feelings.

“Thank you for telling me my dad is alive and searching for me, Princess. However, I won’t go home. When I think I returned the favor… of course I will want to go home, but I haven’t repaid Sion anything yet.”

“… I see.”

For a moment, Ilya looked at Rena hanging her head is silence, then she said just those two words.

“You’ve chosen to remain here, right? It might be painful if you stay. Do you still want to?”

“I think I’ve already had the most painful experience, so I’ll be fine. Besides, as I am now, I’d hate not returning Sion the favor the most.”

Looking at Rena who wasn’t troubled in the slightest, Ilya let out a small breath and smiled, convinced those are Rena’s true feelings.

“I see. You are a beastman too. Beastmen never forget favors they receive… Very well. I will send a letter to your father, Weiss. Ah, or will you write one yourself? You can entrust the letter to me.”

“I can’t write a letter. So I’d be happy if Princess could write one in my stead.”

“…”

I heard another heartrending story.

Wilhelm’s literacy rate is notably high among other countries, but Tarim’s and Sahaja’s literacy rates are remarkably low. The reason is that they deem education unnecessary for slaves.

Those two countries have a considerable number of slaves. That’s why their literacy rates are falling.

The former assassin, Cain, can read and write, but the reason for that seems to have been increasing the assassination success rate. People who have received education can be put to different uses in the future, so there’s no loss in making them learn. Rather, it’s quite profitable. Cain told me that.

―― I considered the possibility, but after all Rena can’t read or write.

It couldn’t be helped since I had no chance to learn that earlier, but I still wish I had.

I reflexively cut into their conversation.

“Rena. If you want to study reading and writing, should I ask Sion? If you like, I can also teach you when I have time… Actually, does Sion know you can’t read or write?”

“No. We’ve never talked about it. I also didn’t think it was particularly necessary.”

“I see…”

I’ve heard that when she was with Sion in Tarim she acted as his maid. Certainly, if you only do housework and attend to someone, you won’t have the opportunity to learn it.

“It seems you need to talk about it with Sion after all. Your master is him. Rena… I want to confirm your wishes. What about you? Do you want to learn to read and write?”

“Err… I… Umm…”

Rena mumbled. Her ears drooped. Ilya put a hand on Rena’s shoulder and said to encourage her.

“You can be honest… Say, Rena. Don’t you want to personally write a letter to Weiss, to your dad?”

“T-That’s…!”

Ilya showed an easy-to-understand reaction to Ilya’s words. Then when she realized we were watching, she flushed but still gave a small nod.

“Y… Yes. I want to write a letter to my dad.”

“It’s decided! Then I’ll talk to Sion later.”

“T-thank you.”

Rena happily thanked me again and again. She looked so cute I instinctively wanted to hug her.

Cat beastmen are unfair. Being weak to fluff, I am easily beaten.

―― Aah, I want to pet her.

My hands began moving on their own, and I desperately suppressed them.

Ilya confirmed with Rena.

“Then, this time I will write a letter to Weiss. I will write that you are safe and will go home after returning the favor. Is that much alright?”

“Yes. Please. I’ll be happy to send a letter after learning to write. Ah, but, I don’t know how to deliver it…”

As Rena withered in disappointment, Ilya comforted her that it’ll be alright.

“If you send a letter to me, I will forward it… Umm, Lidi. It will have to go through you…”

She said that apologetically, but I had no intention of refusing from the start.

“Alright. Ilya, I’ll send Rena’s letter to you. That much is no problem.”

When I agreed to leave it to me, they made relieved faces.

After deciding on the details of the letter and settling down, we finally all sat on the sofa.

At first Rena desperately refused doing that in presence of two crown princesses, but with me and Ilya persuading her, she eventually sat next to Ilya. It’s their first meeting a beastman from their hometown since leaving the island. They must want to spend time together a little. Cute.

“Rena, I want to ask you one question.”

Ilya talked about various things in response to Rena’s questions about the island, but suddenly her tone changed, and she asked Rena.

“You were abducted… and sold to Tarim, right? There… In Tarim, did you see your fellow cat beastman called Philia?”

“… Ilya.”

I immediately understood Ilya was asking Rena about her older sister. She must want to obtain some information about beastmen in the distant country of Tarim,

After thinking for a moment, Rena shook her head to deny.

“I’m sorry. There were a few beastmen other than me on the slave market. I think there were rabbit beastmen and tiger beastmen. But there were no cat beastmen beside me. Even in the castle where I was working… all the children were kept as pets and fundamentally locked in their rooms, so I’ve never… met one.”

“I see…”

“Ah, b-but! Does she have any special features? Maybe I’ve at least heard a rumor!”

Seeing Ilya become visibly dispirited, Rena hurriedly asked.

Ilya pulled herself together and said.

“Umm… I’m looking for my older sister. Her hair and eye color are the same as mine. She has a ring made by our father identical to mine. Moreover, despite being a cat beastmen, my older sister appearance is unlike that of Aura clan. She’s as tall as human women, and her body line is also distinct, at first look you can’t tell she’s a cat beastman.”

“Is that… so?”

After listening to Ilya’s older sister’s features, Rena lost strength.

“I’m sorry, Princess. All cat beastmen I know of seemed to be small. I heard their masters say every slave was small and had cute pointed ears. I don’t know how everyone is doing now though… Anyway, I’ve never met them. I apologize for not being helpful.”

“Ah!”

Listening to the story of a fellow cat clan member, Ilya bit her lip. I also felt miserable hearing about the treatment of beastmen again.

―― I wish slavery disappeared.

I don’t have a say in the laws of foreign countries, but I still think so. It’s lamentable that I can’t help even though I want to.

But, Ilya must feel that the most. After all, it’s about her clan.

“… I reminded you of something unpleasant. I’m sorry.”

Concealing her pain, Ilya apologized to Rena.

She only wanted some information about her older sister, she must’ve not expected to hear such a painful story. And so, she was making an awfully regretful face.

Seeing that, Rena hurriedly comforted Ilya.

“I-It’s alright. Nothing happened for Princess to apologize.”

“But…”

“It’s a shame I couldn’t help Princess. I’m sorry I can only say that I haven’t seen her in Tarim’s castle.”

As Rena lowered her head, Ilya shook hers.

“No. I’m grateful to learn that she isn’t in Tarim’s castle. Until now I didn’t have any information from outside Irvine. Compared to that, it’s plenty… Thank you, Rena. Umm… I’d be happy if you kept my older sister’s matter in mind.”

“Of course I will! She’s Princess’s relative! I’ll indirectly ask court ladies I work with!”

, I thought after hearing Rena’s statement.

I might not get much answers if I ask court ladies, but there’s a possibility they’ll answer Rena, their colleague.

A relaxed attitude unique to colleagues is impossible for me.

―― Then, I have to search where I can.

After all, it’s my friend’s request. I’ll search as much as I can.

Rena and Ilya were talking happily.

While showing that I was paying attention, I thought of what to do next.

Looking for a typesetter for Outaishihi manga. If you are interested, contact me on (also feel free to join to simply hang out~)