Chapter 29: Snake Bone Island: Consequences of Feinne's Prayer

You finally came! Welcome to Konium. Did you find your way all right?

Yeah! It was easy, I had Aldo and the others with me. Wait, y-you're!

Haha, looks like you lot haven't changed, still persistent as ever. That's great, I need my emergency food to be as lively as possible.

Vares, you're here too?!

Where the Beast King is, Vares is. I rushed over here as soon as I heard these two were on the island. I knew the Beast King could never have been beaten. He does seem a bit younger, but that's not important now!

Vares, please. I have told you, I am no longer the Beast King. Just Guildna now.

Stop with that nonsense, Your Majesty! You were the Beast King from the moment you were born, and will be until the day you die. Unless what you are saying is that you have rid yourself of the beast within you? In that case, shall I call you King? Yes, that has a good ring to it! King, taller than the mountains, deeper than the sea. It's perfect for you.

It is decided! From now on you are no longer the king of beasts, but the king of all monsters! Allow me by your side as we rule over all life! Whahahaha!

Vares, please... Calm yourself.

Ah! Please forgive me. I got carried away.

Master Guildna, please excuse my foolish brother. I can't believe you're still like this!

Whoa wait a second! Myrus, Vares is your brother?!

Whoa, whoa hold up! Brother? You mean you're Vares' sister?!

That's right. We're siblings. Actually, we're twins.

Yes?

Oh come on Var-var, quit acting like that! You really don't have to be in combat-form anymore.

Fine, fine, I'll change back. Just cut it out with the Var-var. Right, back to normal...

Y-You're...Vares?! This can't be right?

Well now! This is some surprise indeed! It would appear that foul beetle was not his true form.

No way!

It's me, Vares.

And I'm Myrus, hi everyone!

......

My apologies for not revealing myself sooner. You did not seem to recognize me when we met, so I purposefully avoided introducing myself. It wouldn't do to have your knowledge of me change history and prevent His Majesty from being reborn.

This is just my regular form, is there a problem? And I am not a foul beetle. How rude.

Anyway, I must apologize for all of my brutishness, Feinne. I hope you can forgive me. While it may have been my duty, it has weighed heavy on my conscience ever since.

Umm... What? No. It's fine, you were just doing what you were told, after all. It's all in the past now.

Vares, seems like not just your form has changed, huh?

When Var-var changes form, his personality changes too. Isn't that right, Var-var?

I don't think I'm any different from normal. But it's hard to tell.

Dual persona... Two-faced! The changing of one's personality to respond to each appearance, the result of acute etiquette protocol!

Oh, that sounds very much like nonsense, Riica. Did you find that in a self improvement book or something?

That aside, Your Majesty, is there any news on the berserk beasts?

It seems when Chronos' Umbra fell upon us, some of the corrupted Prisma was scattered across the land. Now any beast that comes into contact with that Chaos Prisma mutates and turns feral.

Actually, that's the reason we came to this island, to investigate the mutated beast rumors. Now we know that you and Altena are safe, I think it's about time we got to the bottom of this.

Yes, you're right. But, Aldo, before that, would come and try something with me?

Try something? What are you talking about?

I want to go and meet the legend of this island, Genesis Dragon God. I'm not sure if we'll find him, but, receiving his blessing could give us the power we need.

A legendary god of dragons you say. Yet another interesting turn of events!

A blessing from the Dragon God, huh.

But, Guildna, those caves are so dangerous...

Nothing that Aldo and his group can't handle. They were strong enough to defeat me as the Beast King. Besides, I want to see their power for myself.

It's okay with me. Maybe a test of our strength will be good before we take on this monster.

My King, allow me to accompany you.

No, with the threat of the mutated beast, I need you to stay in the village.

Yes, Your Majesty. Please take care.

Don't worry, I will be back soon. Aldo, let's go.

You're Feinne, aren't you?

Huh? Oh, yes that's me. Can I help you?

We all really wanted to meet you! Altena told us all about you. You really love plum mushrooms, right? You've got real good taste in food!

What?! P-Plum mushrooms, here?

We're really sorry, there aren't any on this island, but don't worry! We have something even better! We have loads of Pocoshoot and Picklepine! I know! Why don't you come gather some with us?

Oh, ummm? Now? I don't know, Pocoshoot and Picklepine...

Yeah, come on! The war between humans and beasts is over now.

You're wrong! The war hasn't finished yet!

Wha, ?!

That's what my grandma said!

Hey, we were talking to Feinne. Don't butt in, shorty!

It's got nothing to do with you anyway.

Umm, Mr. Guildna... I-I have a really important favor to ask you...

A favor from me? What is it?

In the village, there's a wagon loaded with vegetables and also some Picklepine nuts. Could you take that to the meeting hall where my grandma is? I tried to take it to her myself, but one of the Abbetos thought I was just fooling around and yelled at me. I think my grandma wanted to talk to you as well.

If I remember rightly, isn't your grandma the curator of the castle's archives?

That's right. And my grandpa is the guardian of the archives.

Hm, is that right? So you want me to take some Picklepine nuts to your grandma? Maybe what your grandma wants to talk about will be useful to us as well. We are on our way to the archives anyway.

Aldo, before we go to the castle, let's meet with this woman. She might have business with the Archives Guard.

That's fine with me.

Sorry girls! Looks like I'll have to go gathering with you some other time.

Awhhh! I guess you have to do what Mr. Guildna says though.

Thank you so much! Just remember, the Abbetos is the bad guy here, not me!

I was asked by your grandchild to bring this Picklepine to you.

Oh, Mr. Guildna, you didn't have to! I told that child to bring it himself...

It's all right. Apparently, you have something you want to discuss with me?

Actually, it's about that husband of mine, you see.

Hm? What troubles the old man?

I was hoping you would be able to talk him into quitting his post at the archives. I'm sure if it was an order from you yourself, even that stubborn fool would listen to reason. I've tried telling him myself time and time again, but he won't listen to me.

Hmm... Now that there is peace, I suppose I should relieve the Archives Guard of his duties. It seems there's only hoodlums who know nothing but violence left in the castle now. All right, I will talk to the old man.

Thank you ever so much. I'm sorry to trouble you with such a petty task.

Don't worry about it. I had business with the castle's archives anyway.

Then let's head to the Beast King's Castle. There's a secret passage in the throne room. From there, we can get to the hidden floor of the archives.

Got it!

Oh, Master Guildna, please wait a moment. Could you also bring this special Picklepine juice to him? I'll just prepare it now from the nuts you brought for me.