CHAPTER 13: THE LAST KING OF CHERWIND

**Kuro**

Eventually, after that overwhelming display of god-powers, Konka surrendered to me. Of course, she was fuming mad about what happened to her remaining forces, but once she calmed down, I talked sense into her, and she listened.

Then, I invited Konka to come to Malvette and took her on a personal tour around the kingdom, where I made sure she saw the results of the ‘peace’ we worked so hard to achieve. To further convince her of laying down her struggle, I told her of my real designs for Cherwind…though I was having my doubts if she really believed me in those.

In the end, the Insetus-woman just shook her head, smiled, and signed the peace document with her blood. Likewise, I signed the treaty with my own blood, together with Ruro, at the throne room of the Black Tower and in the presence of every beastman tribe chief and human nobles.

“So, uh, according to the arrangement, this wolf would remain as Saint, while I would be her Grand High Priestess?” Konka asked.

“I’m pleading you, Lady Konka,” I bowed for a bit. “We know that you two have a bad history together; while most would see this as a strange compromise, I think your different perspectives about Cherwind would be beneficial to this land. See, if one had an idea about something, the other can bring out the negatives on that thought, and you can talk it out or bring it to a third party for help in deciding. Once we follow on this, we will create a ‘balance of power’ between you two.”

“Hmm…I get the point why you made such arrangement, Master,” Ruro asked, “but what about of Lady Sebastenerva? You will remove her as my Grand High Priestess?”

“Well, I already talked to her about it, but I’m planning to assign her as a special spiritual adviser to the monarch, in this case, to Ursura. You know that the queen’s going to be the ‘third party’ in this setup between you and Lady Konka. She agreed to it.”

“Working with my enemy, eh? This is interesting…”

“Lady Konka, I’d prefer if you call it a ‘compromise’,” I reiterated. “See, I know that you and Her Fluffy Holiness have their own plans for the good of this land. It’s just that, both of your ideas clashed, and there have been no limits about its implementation. What I simply did was to combine your ways—human and beastmen, and here we are at this point. Isn’t this nice, instead of our peoples killing each other, they are now cooperating to progress?”

“You’re a real one strange human,” Konka quipped.

“Thank you, Lady Konka.”

The Insetus-woman didn’t answer me for a few seconds. Then she reached out to Ruro for a handshake, which startled the Beastman Saint. However, Her Fluffy Holiness took it and an agreement was reached. The hall of the Black Tower’s throne room was filled with applause from the happy and grateful populace, as our cannon batteries outside fired their guns in celebration.

With that, the era known as the ‘Dark Times of Cherwind’ came to a close. The land entered a new, peaceful age, known in their history as the ‘Golden Age of Cherwind’.

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Once the land of Cherwind was at peace, the work to its progress and prosperity soon began.

The kingdom that we founded flourished and soon came to encompass every land south of the Outer Walls, including those across the sea of the Isidus. We deliberately left the northern lands under control of no one, since we envisioned it as a ‘buffer’ to our northern limits. Time would pass and the villages of that area eventually grew into towns and cities, which would merge to form another beastman state, but it was for another story.

Our capital city, Malvette, eventually expanded into a major metropolis, complete with paved roads, a railroad network (courtesy of Salis and her colleagues at the Royal Academy), and even shopping centers reminiscent to the ones I knew back from Earth, though we’re still yet to ‘invent’ electricity.

The port town, and the main Eagle village, of Navaren in the Avinus Isles Region became the main port of the kingdom, receiving trade from the villages outside our boundaries, and even elvish ships coming from the east. Actually, with everything that happened to me in this place, it was already late when I learned that the ‘crossing’ into the land of the elves, Cherwoods, remained open despite Ruro closing the one in Chersea.

The ruins of Telessaria became a state-protected ‘historical ruin’, preserved so that the humans and beastmen would never forget the mistakes their forebears did in the past. Likewise, if you could still remember that place up in the Ersus mountains to our west (the one where we passed on the way to escape to the Avinus archipelago before), it was also designated as a ‘historical place’, especially that stone where Ursura and I sat together, talking about the idea of establishing a ‘Beastman Kingdom’ that led into our current situation now. It was now called the ‘Kingdom Stone’, and the most loyal of our subjects would make it sure to do a pilgrimage to that place from time to time, paying respects to their kingdom’s history.

They say that, since the kingdom was founded on a rock, so it will endure for thousands of generations to come…

“…”

The Cauldron entered the kingdom’s jurisdiction as the ‘Cauldron Island Region’, where the fox tribes lived under Governor Kashca Telis. Ruro still had her own place to rule, at the ‘Holy Crater Lake City’, in which Konka was her assistant. From time to time, Telis would report to Ursura about the relationship between the two, which was surprisingly became amiable after setting their issues aside.

I think, if I remember, Konka assumed the role of Ruro’s cook as well, along with her duties as her Grand High Priestess.

“…”

You know, I got to think about it, but maybe if only these two decided to talk about their differences over a negotiation table, I think we wouldn’t have come in shedding thousands of innocent bloods in that senseless war that spanned several generations of humans and beastmen.

“…”

But, in any case, it’s better late than never…

Anyway, to their southeast, the land of the Serpentinus became another province known as the ‘Serpentinus Island Region’, where the Grand Library of the Serpentinus—a vast repository of books painstakingly written by Cherwind’s monks—could be found. I was looking forward to check out those books in there, once I got to have my break, since nearly all my time in this place went to negotiating, fighting wars and thinking about things.

Meanwhile, the Isidus tribes remained within their territories, rarely surfacing in land to trade. Nevertheless, Chief Sekhte of the Isidus made good of her promise not to be hostile against our people, and likewise, we accepted their people in our schools whenever they wanted to enroll. In the long run, their lands went under the kingdom’s jurisdiction as well, but it was for another story still…

Finally, with the advent of peace in the entire land of Cherwind, the kingdom could now focus its energies and resources in dealing with the monster hordes that remained a problem even after the signing of the treaty. Because of the violent nature of the groundworms and harpies, we decided to hunt those monsters down to extinction. For the relatively docile wild leviathans, our subjects preferred to tame some of them and use their huge size for cheap labor, just like how the humans back in Chersea did in the past. The others were left untouched in the wilderness, since there were no more groundworms to prey on them, thus avoiding any rampages, too.

Ha! I feel like our kingdom can now take on everyone and everything thrown against us!

“…”

But seriously, let me enjoy this peace while it lasts…

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The Tribe of the Orphans, with me as its Chief, went down in the history of Cherwind as the only tribe with the smallest number of members (12 people). Chief Minahaba of the Chickens later succeeded Governor Gislaine as the governor of the Avinus Isles Region, while the Eagle Chief became the Governor of Netevren, after Governor Salaz opted to retire years later. The tiger-children, Yufos, Colheen and Teviki, became famous members of the Royal Guard of the Beastmen Kingdom. Rishnu’s name was later associated with beastmen medicine, and she was considered as Cherwind’s first ‘modern’ doctor. Yufa, as Rishnu’s assistant, was Cherwind’s first ‘modern’ nurse, while Taro—one of the rabbit-children—was looked up to as the first ‘ambulance driver’.

“…” Well, at least, that’s something.

Taro’s other kins from the rabbit tribe, Senna and Gero, became famous ‘hunters’ and ‘scouts’, and they established their own schools for teaching the next generation of their craft. I think their ‘graduates’ were valuable to the regiments not only of the Beastmen Kingdom, but for the human armies of Chersea, and the elvish forces as well.

Rumia and Luka, the dog tribe leaders of the first two ‘wings’ of the legendary Black Feathers, were revered by their men as their ‘commanders for life’. The dog-boy, in particular, was famous for his last stand at the Outer Walls, against all odds, while his sister was among those names that commonly given as an example for generals that did the impossible. This was for her part in the Fall of Malvette, for her ‘wing’s’ assault of the Black Tower, which lasted for only half an hour.

And I’m their chief, the twelfth member, so I’m the one who’s narrating their fates.

As for the others who helped us, Sir Loin remained as the kingdom’s army chief-of-staff, and though the war was over, he never let down his guard in training the new recruits of the Black Feathers, as well as the regular armed forces. His reason? Well, he would always tell me that we could never be sure when the necessity to use force would arise again.

Besides of military drills, the parka guy also gave our soldiers basic training in disaster response, like saving drowning people from sinking ships, or earthquake drills, and similar matters. He was always assisted in this by Rumia, who never missed a time being with him.

Heh, I really should celebrate Rumia’s ‘adulting’ ceremony…

Chief Malu remained as the general in-charge of the kingdom’s air forces, eventually bringing the Red Feathers to the height of its power in its later years. Her daughter, Salis, became the directress of the Royal Academy of Malvette, and she went to the history of Cherwind as the inventor of the steam engine, ballpoint pen, railroad networks and several other things that improved the lives of Cherwind’s people.

Minister Ruja, after the war, returned to his hometown to take care of his father Chief Habu, together with Yatoi and Minahaba. His role once the conflict ended was largely diminished, because the land was already at peace. Nevertheless, he would go around the kingdom from time to time to check on matters regarding internal security and the military.

Lady Margaret, the former Duchess of Malvette, opted not to return to her noble house in Chersea. She told me that she wanted to create her own legacy, and after serving as the first admiral of the kingdom’s navy, she devoted her energies in helping our subjects in every way she could. In due time, Lady Margaret was given the honorary title of ‘Knight Chevalier of Cherwind’ for her contributions to Cherwind’s society.

Well, she would come to visit Chersea from time to time, for some…err…‘personal’ reasons…

Lady Sebastenerva, as per our agreement between Ruro and Konka, was elevated to become the Chief Spiritual Adviser to the Queen of the Beastmen. And she did that duty with vigor and enthusiasm. In fact, while Ursura didn’t mind her presence before, soon the bear-woman realized that the snake-priestess was meddling with every aspect of her life…including how she spoke to her subjects.

Of course it annoyed Ursura like never before, but then, she discovered something that would appease the snake-priestess and keep Lady Sebastenerva away from minding her business.

She often bribed her with gifts, especially shiny things…

“…”

Yep, that’s also why I removed Lady Sebastenerva from being the Grand High Priestess. She’s easily bribed.

And speaking of gifts and lavish stuff, Lady Missy and Madame Bellefort’s ‘Royal Inn’ hotel turned into one of Malvette’s premiere locations. Aside from their excellent food, drinks and services, it was where the nobility of Cherwind would stay whenever they were visiting the capital. Soon, they also expanded to other cities of our kingdom, and their name became synonymous with ‘class’ and ‘elegance’.

Just like how the Cherwind phrase ‘Lady and Madame service’ means ‘High-Class Service’.

I think they also had plans to establish branches in other worlds, too? Well, as I experienced their inn first-hand, I’d like to spend some time in their Chersea branch, should they come there…

“…”

Meanwhile, I never saw Banu of the East Ursus ever again. Ursura told me that he wanted to ‘travel’ and see the world, as well as the other worlds connected to Cherwind, and I think he really did make good of his promise. However, he made sure that the beastmen would never raise their arms against their fellow beastmen forever.

“…”

And, since I was talking about the ‘Ursus’ tribes, Ursura of the Beastmen was acclaimed in Cherwind’s history as the queen who triumphed against all odds. Her story was one of the rags-to-riches, and many generations of beastgirls dreamed of following her footsteps.

In fact, if I may say, her name eventually surpassed that of Lady Terebia of the Bow, Cassandra David’s companion and the Beastman hero. People revered Ursura as the ‘Great Founder’ of the Beastmen Kingdom…which we eventually changed to Kingdom of Cherwind (to accommodate all races). However, the old name stuck, so yeah, hopefully it won’t create any issues in the future…

The news about race riots in one well-known country in my own world would always come to haunt me because of that…

As for me? Well, I know little after I gave up my crown and went back to Chersea. I believe our kingdom should only have one monarch to rule over it, and that honor should go to Ursura. After all, she’s the one who cared more for Cherwind than I.

“…”

However, the people often considers me as Cherwind’s first—as well as its last—king. They desired no other king after I abdicated…

----------

Oh, and speaking of the West Ursus, I never forgot my promise to Ursura about her own tribe back in our conversation atop the ‘Kingdom Stone’. Just before I stepped down the throne, I brought her to a place that’s familiar to us…

“Hey, are you alright?”

Ursura only gave me a nod. Ever since we left Malvette and journeyed to the ‘Kingdom Stone’, she had been awfully silent. Honestly, I thought she would be more excited than her reaction right now. But, I guess, she was just nervous…now that she was returning to the place that banished her before.

Then I heard her sigh.

“You’re nervous?” I asked, noting her shivering hands.

“Nice of you to notice,” she snapped. “Why do you have to bring me here? I’m ready to forget those people, you know? I got a new set of responsibilities to perform, and I have no time for those who threw me away.”

“Well, I had to bring you here. I made a promise to you after all.”

“Hmph! If it’s glory and fame, then I guess you already gave it to me!” then Ursura turned her back to me and marched away. “Come on, the kingdom waits for us. Let’s head back—”

“Stop!” I grabbed her arm and gently pulled her back to her former spot. “What I like to give you isn’t what you want, but you need. Come on, Ursura, I’ve been looking at you. I know you’re missing your family back in the mountains, don’t deny it.”

“Y-You’re…looking at…me, huh?” she blushed for a bit.

“Of course. You’re irreplaceable to me, so I don’t want you to suffer thinking of ‘what ifs’. I wanted you to move forward and say in retrospect, ‘at least I tried’. Get it?”

The bear-woman hid her bashful face under her scarf. I gave her a head pat to further encourage her.

“Will you come with me?” she asked.

“That’s why I’m here…” I chuckled, “…and the Black and Red Feathers as well. We’re going to support you.”

“Just…don’t bomb them to smithereens.”

“Don’t say that, even as a joke,” I laughed. Well, the only reason we brought some of the soldiers along was to make a display of power in front of the West Ursus. After all, Ursura did promise that she would return to her old village bathing in glory and fame…I think a ‘wing’ of Black Feathers and Red Feathers in all their military splendor would get our message across.

----------

After a few days of hiking up the Ersus mountains, we finally reached the limits of the West Ursus village, patrolled by several West Ursus sentries. Upon our appearance, the bear-guards were quick to challenge us.

“Halt! You’re now entering the village of the West Ursus, Avinus! State your purpose and the name of your captain!”

I stepped forward and identified myself, “West Ursus, we come in peace! I am Kuro of Arles, of the Kingdom of Cherwind, and these are our soldiers!”

“Soldiers?” one of the sentries—I think he was the leader—asked. “But you’re a human! And we know nothing about a kingdom down the mountains!”

“It’s been newly-founded, Hanagi, that’s why you know nothing about it!”

“!!!” Every one of us turned aside and made way for the Queen of Cherwind, Ursura of the Beastmen. Actually, we planned for that confrontation so that she could have her ‘grand’ entrance. We even talked about kneeling down while she passed, so her kin would have the impression that she was so powerful and influential.

“Wait, your face…you look awfully familiar…” the sentry commented.

“Of course you would only vaguely remember,” Ursura told him, with a smirk on her face. “I was still young and naked when you and your guys threw me from this spot, all thanks to that bastard, Ciriacus.”

The sentry’s eyes nearly popped out from its sockets as he realized who he was talking to, “Y-Y-You’re U-U-U-Ursura?! That little Ursura? Jaira’s little sister and Bonavi’s child? That Ursura?”

“Yes, and the Queen of Cherwind.”

“Wha—”,

“Your eyes are not fooling you, Hanagi,” Ursura turned to us. “These are my loyal warriors, ready to do my bidding anytime I want.”

“Proof, or it didn’t happen!”

The Queen then turned to me and said, “Kuro!”

“Yes, Your Majesty?”

“Play dead!”

“Wha—” I was surprised by her order, but yeah, I picked up what she meant, so I willingly did what she told me.

She’s going to get it after this…

“See? I have power, even over this human.”

“What do you want?” the sentry was convinced, and he countered. “Even if you’re a Queen, you still have no authority over us, you disgrace of an Ursus—”

“!!!” A small explosion echoed throughout the mountain peak where the West Ursus village stood. Everyone’s eyes looked at me, who fired my matchlock pistol and nipped the stone spearhead of Hanagi the sentry, much to the shock of the other bear-guards.

“We come in peace, West Ursus,” I told him. “But it doesn’t mean we can’t fight you. Please mind your tongue when speaking to our queen!”

“So, are you going to let us in, Hanagi?” Ursura quickly backed me up. “Or you’re willing to risk war against my warriors because you won’t listen to a ‘disgrace’? You have the time to choose, but our patience doesn’t last long.” She also made sure that Hanagi saw the flying Red Feathers above us, just to reinforce her statement.

“What do you want?”

“Ciriacus. I want to talk to him.”

“Okay then, I’ll lead you to—”

“No,” the queen insisted, “we will enter the village, but stay near here. Bring him to me, drag him if he won’t go. Did you understand me, Hanagi?”

The sentry, though he made it clear by his reaction that he didn’t want to do her bidding, had no choice but to obey. Once the village guards left, Ursura and I exchanged amused looks and winks.

----------

Ciriacus was a big, burly bear-man that could fit my description of the typical NTR hentai villain. He had hair on his chest, arms, and even a nice beard (I’m actually envious of it), and a stare that, well, looked like he seduced hundreds of beastwomen to be his mate. When he appeared, Ciriacus made it clear to us that he didn’t want the idea of being disturbed.

In fact, I think he is in the middle of doing ‘that’, for he only had a piece of cloth covering his private parts.

“And who are you?” his eyes immediately fell on me, as he scratched his head.

“Not me, her,” I directed his attention to Ursura, who was standing on my opposite side.

“Who’s this beautiful West Ursus? A gift for me?” he asked her again.

“Did you indulge in mating with others that your senses dulled?” Ursura countered.

“Hm…your face looks familiar. Are you Ursura of the West Ursus?” Ciriacus chuckled, “Now, I remember Hanagi telling me that the banished little cub has returned, but I didn’t believe him until I saw that beautiful…hmm…sumptuous…body and face of yours. You took after your mother and sister…” The bear-man began smacking his lips, as he threw lewd stares at my companion.

“Oi,” I put myself between him and Ursura, pointing my matchlock pistol close to his nose. “Let it be known to you that I won’t let you touch our queen easily. Back off, West Ursus!”

“Hoh? And what can you do if I say I want her to be my mate?” Ciriacus asked. “Can your puny weapon do something about it?”

“Want to see me try? As well as the rest of our warriors?”

Ciriacus then looked to the people behind us, and much to his horror, the Black and Red Feathers trained their muskets at him, ready to fire at a moment’s notice.

“Ciriacus, you bastard, I hereby declare as Queen of this land that your authority over the West Ursus is void!” Ursura shouted her pronouncement, as the other members of her tribe showed up to watch what was happening. “I, Ursura of the Beastmen and West Ursus, shall now be the new elder of this tribe! Those who say the otherwise would taste my fist, and our blades!”

“And also our bullets,” I added that whisper, because well, most of our weapons were muskets.

“What?!” the bear-man cried out, “You can’t just do that! Our traditions—”

“Fuck your traditions! If it will cause ruin to my tribe, then I’m willing to violate that set of nonsense!” the Queen then turned to our men, “Drag this filth out of this village and threw him away!”

At once, the Black Feathers stepped forward and caught Ciriacus by his arms. Then, though he tried to free himself, we put heavy-duty shackles on him (courtesy of Salis) then flung him out of the limits of the West Ursus village.

“Oh, wait!” Ursura then grabbed a wineskin from a sentry and threw it to the disgraced chief, “As we of the West Ursus are merciful and kind, law-breakers like you get food—no, scratch that, no food for you, just water, even as you are banished. So, yeah, bye Ciriacus! Good luck on your new life as a wanderer!” Then the bear-woman let a laugh as she watched Ciriacus ran away, though it sounded so evil she looked like a villain at that moment.

But I guess that resolved her issue about her kin. Hanagi and the other sentries were quick to recognize her as their new chief. After all, no one wanted their body to be riddled by bullets.

----------

After Ursura’s ‘coup’ of the West Ursus leadership, she was immediately greeted by her mother and sister, as well as several her other siblings and nieces. Err…as much as I didn’t want to assume it, I think they were the children of Ciriacus.

“Thank goodness you came back safe, Ursura!” her mother took hold of her daughter’s face, and it was long before she let go of her.

“Yes, mother, and I’m the new chief of the West Ursus now.”

Ursura excitedly chattered everything to her family while they listened. I stood nearby, watching them.

Heh, and to think she’s utterly reluctant earlier! It’s good that she decided to go and try coming here.

“Eh?” her sister exclaimed, “What happened to that accursed Ciriacus?”

“You should’ve seen how I kicked that fucker’s ass!” Ursura proudly told her. “He won’t come back to harm you—and the other women of the village—anymore.”

“We’re sorry we couldn’t do anything about you before…” they muttered.

“Nah, it’s fine! In fact, I’m thankful it happened to me. If I was not banished, I won’t reach my current position now!”

“You’re right…” her sister flashed a weak smile, “you’re already the chief of our tribe…”

“Heh, not only that, sister! I’m also the queen of this land!”

“H-Huh?”

Ursura smiled and led their eyes to the army we brought along. “These are my warriors, and I rule at Malvette now! You should come down the mountains with me, along with your other children, to see!”

“B-But…this is…” her mother was bewildered by what’s happening. “Is this…Is this true?”

I think it’s now my chance to intervene, “Yes, Lady Bonavi. To us, she’s our beloved Queen Ursura of the Beastmen, who ruled the kingdom south of the Outer Walls.”

“And who’s this young human?” she turned to me.

“I’m Kuro of Arles, milady,” I greeted Ursura’s mother by kissing her hand. “I serve Queen Ursura with all of my heart and mind.”

“Ooh…Ursura, can you introduce me to him?” I heard her sister asked.

However, Ursura was indignant, “What the hell are you saying Kuro? You’re my king, and that means you’re my mate!”

“H-Ha?! Why did you reveal—” I wasn’t able to finish my words because the Queen sealed my lips with a kiss.