How to Survive When Facing an Untamed Beastman Tribe.
First, identify the ‘species.’
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If it’s a herbivorous beastman tribe, you might be able to acquire a useful slave.
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If it’s a carnivorous beastman tribe, your chances of survival may decrease slightly. However, if you have a weapon, you can still survive.
Subdue the beastmen through violence.
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Unless you happen to encounter the leader of the tribe, whose chances of meeting are extremely rare, you will likely survive.
― Excerpt from “How to Tame a Beast” by the Empire of Eden, Bestselling Book
Every Sunday, I remembered the phrase from the book I glimpsed over the nun’s shoulder at the temple.
Could this have been my death flag?
Why did the book’s slim chance appear to me?
Looking at the man in front of me, I felt helpless.
‘Eden Lionheart…’
The leader of the beastmen tribe, who was in hostile relations with humans.
Beyond the Prima Forest, behind the Need Orphanage, at the Empire’s border—he should’ve been there, but he stood before me now.
“You won’t be able to deny it now. I won’t let you off the hook.”
His murderous gaze was chilling.
As expected of a ‘lion’ beastman.
A predator that holds its prey shows no signs of weakness.
“… You probably won’t believe me, will you?”
“I’ll be the one to make the judgment.”
My heart thudded loudly.
‘If I tell Eden everything honestly, what’s the chance of me surviving?’
I couldn’t be sure.
But the only good thing was that many memories returned to me in a short amount of time.
The many times I’d read the original novel.
And my talent for creating pet products before I transmigrated.
‘With these two, I have a chance.’
I had a chance of survival.
“What is your goal?”
“Huh?”
“I’m asking who is behind you.”
I felt his grip on my hand tighten.
“I’m just a baby.”
“A disguise spell isn’t that difficult.”
His sharp gaze scanned me.
Once suspicion arose like this…
‘Weak lies or begging for my life won’t work.’
I knew him well.
Eden Lionheart, who infiltrated the Eden Empire to hide his identity and take revenge.
If I stood in the way of his revenge plan…
He’d kill me without hesitation.
Then, there was only one way out.
‘Become someone essential to his revenge.’
I took a deep breath and slowly opened my lips.
“… Mister, should we move to another place?”
“Running out of tricks, are we?”
“I need to talk about something secret.”
“A secret?”
“Shh.”
His eyes narrowed. I knew how to coax him in this situation.
“There might be ears listening in.”
Even if bitten by a predator, as long as I stayed clear-headed, I could survive.
‘I’ll do whatever it takes to survive.’
Even if it means deceiving the most powerful antagonist in the world.
Eden was cautious.
He was probably thinking of all possible scenarios. After all, this revenge plan must have taken him a long time to prepare.
“Follow me.”
My prediction was spot on.
He led me into the forest, where his carriage was parked in a secluded area.
“Get in.”
He commanded me, as if I were supposed to obey without question.
How was a four-year-old supposed to open the carriage door by themselves?
No matter how much I tiptoed, it was no use; it was too high.
I pouted at his unkindness.
“You need to open the door, Mister.”
It was a brave statement for my little self.
He wrinkled his brow slightly but said nothing and opened the carriage door for me.
Finally, I got inside the carriage, but I heard footsteps approaching from behind.
“Oh? Didn’t you decide to adopt a boy?”
A new character appeared.
A man with striking blonde hair that looked like it had been stuck to him from a harvest field in autumn.
I knew who he was.
‘Richard!’
He would later be known as the butler of the Lionheart family in Bis.
But that was just his outward role.
In the book, he was described as:
‘Eden’s right-hand man, and a golden retriever beastman.’
“Ah.”
Richard, standing before the carriage, looked at me with a mix of surprise and admiration.
“Congratulations, Your Excellency.”
“Huh?”
Eden raised an eyebrow.
“You’ve finally found a child who doesn’t cry upon seeing your face.”
“What?”
Was Richard fearless or just oblivious?
He babbled on without minding Eden’s stiff expression.
“You look just like a rabbit, but I guess you’re a brave little one.”
“He’s not the child I’m adopting.”
“Eh? Then why bring him to the carriage? … Oh, wait, don’t tell me…”
Richard, watching me closely, whispered to Eden.
“Perhaps it’s for when you get hungry…”
“Do I look that idle?”
“I just had a feeling I’d be seeing the two of you together a lot, so I thought I’d say something.”
Eden shot Richard a fierce glare, making the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
“Richard.”
“Yes, Your Excellency.”
“If you say another unnecessary word, I’ll carve your epitaph.”
“I’m not tasty, though.”
“I can tell.”
Eden grabbed the carriage door and added,
“Go do a perimeter check.”
“You want me to go?”
Richard hesitated, but Eden pushed him out.
No! Don’t leave, Richard!
I wanted to stop him, but Eden effectively kicked Richard out.
As soon as the door closed, a heavy silence filled the air again.
‘Ah, if only I could vanish like smoke right now.’
Eden took out a small pocket watch from his pocket.
“Five minutes, countdown starts now.”
Five minutes? Isn’t that too short?
Tick-tock. The sound of the ticking second hand filled the quiet air.
At least I had prepared what to say while moving locations.
Otherwise, I would have been in trouble.
I quickly opened my mouth before Eden could change his mind.
“I had a prophetic dream.”
“A dream?”
His tone changed, and his eyes sharpened.
“I can see the future in my dreams.”
I couldn’t read his mind, but I felt a cold murderous intent radiate from his amber-colored eyes.
“You want me to deal with it, huh?”
“Really…”
I swallowed nervously.
‘If he finds out I’m lying, I’ll disappear without a trace.’
I started fiddling with some herbs I’d picked from the faucet, an old habit I had when I wanted to hide my anxiousness.
“The beastmen might find me suspicious, but you can’t kill me.”
What did I say that was funny?
Eden chuckled and nodded at me.
“Keep going.”
“I’ll be very useful to the beastmen.”
“Why?”
I looked him straight in the eyes.
“Because you plan to settle in Bis, right?”
“…”
His expression wavered slightly.
Good. If I play this right, it might work.
I gathered my courage and continued.
“That’s why you’re planning to adopt a child born in Eden.”
Bis, the capital of the Eden Empire, was only open to citizens.
The easiest way for foreigners to settle in Bis was adoption, and that’s why Eden had come to our orphanage.
“I know why you came to our orphanage. Unlike others, we have no sponsors, so you can avoid the eyes of others, right?”
“… Looks like your superiors employ some good informants. But…”
He closed the pocket watch and put it back in his pocket.
“If you were going to deceive me with a lie, you should have prepared better.”
“… You’ve already decided you don’t believe me?”
“Birds hear the daylight talk, and rats hear the night talk. I have some reliable spies, but none of them brought me the information that a saint could see prophetic dreams.”
“…”
He was right.
‘This is a strategy I just came up with to survive.’
In this world, prophetic powers were something many mages coveted, but no one ever possessed them.
It was a divine domain.
‘… But if this is a novel world, things change.’
I’d read this novel all the way through, and my memory was pretty sharp.
‘That means I can pretend to have prophetic dreams by using information from the novel.’
I spoke calmly.
“So, you’re going to kill me now?”
“I was about to.”
He didn’t make a move, so I took the chance.
“You don’t have to stain your hands with blood.”
“Why?”
“Because I’ll be dead tomorrow.”
Eden froze. I quickly added,
“There will be a big fire at the orphanage tomorrow. It will be an accident, so it won’t attract attention.”
His brow furrowed, and his expression seemed to ask, ‘Where did this child learn such words?’
“I’m a genius.”
“So, this is related to your prophetic ability?”
“Yep. That’s the truth.”
We both fell into silence, eyeing each other warily.
“… What is this trick?”
I reached into his inner pocket and grabbed the pocket watch he’d left hanging half-open.
I opened the pocket watch and showed him the time.
“Five minutes haven’t passed yet!”
There was still one minute left from the time he’d given me.
Tick-tock.
The second hand of the clock reflected off his transparent golden pupils.
His lips, which had been tightly shut, slowly parted, and a small laugh escaped.
“You’re definitely different. Not like other kids.”
“Please spare my life.”
“Even if I spare you, you’ll die tomorrow anyway.”
“Can’t you prove my words are true to the beastmen?”
“If I can find out whether your words are true or not, what do I get in return?”
“You’ll get a chance.”
“A chance?”
“The chance to find out if I’m telling the truth. And if I am, you’ll gain the ability the temple desires the most.”
He remained silent.
“If my words aren’t true, wouldn’t that be a huge help to you?”
“I suppose so.”
“You’ll have a better chance of settling in Bis too.”
“Indeed.”
“And this is a really, really big secret.”
I tugged at his collar and whispered in a small voice.
“I also know a secret of the temple. One that neither the birds nor the rats can hear.”
“It’s impossible.”
He narrowed his eyes.
“The High Priest doesn’t want anyone to know.”
“What’s that?”
I let go of his collar and smiled sweetly.
