Chapter 87: The Golden-Eyed And The Youko (1)
A river separated the Philut Empire from the beastkin territory.
Starting from the Elankaya Cordillera, the water source followed the many streams towards Bruglium Falls. The two countries had agreed to use the river located between them–even wider than the Han River–as the border.
Waterways like this traditionally made for good trade routes. The Youko had realized this and began trading with the Empire around when Count Saliere had transferred to these parts.
Count Saliere was a wise man, treating the beastkin who’d been seen as barbarians until then as people. He permitted trading with humans and gave them food every summer when floods occurred.
Thanks to that, the relationship between humans and Youko was in good condition. That was the story behind Lotte not doing her best to stop me from going to the beastkin territory.
The drawbridge I was crossing had also been built out of Count Saliere’s consideration. There were three of these iron bridges which symbolized the current peaceful relationship between the beastkin and the Empire.
“Though that wouldn’t always be the case.”
The occasional small boat could be seen going up or down the river. I took in the scenery as I walked towards the beastkin nation, and that was when I spotted a strange boat.
“What the hell.”
No, it wasn’t the boat that was strange but the passenger. They looked familiar.
Dark purple locks as twisted as their personality. The eyes of one blessed with Earth Magic shone softly like black pearls, and the face that made them appear much younger than their age was round in shape.