A week has passed since the Fox Beastkin Tribe began living on the Floating Island.
About three hundred people wished to move from their original village to a new location, most of whom were relatively young.
The older members remained in the hidden village, feeling anxiety and dissatisfaction about the new location, and above all, unwilling to abandon the land they had lived in for a long time.
This was, in itself, a choice, and the elders and the ruling class did not force anyone to relocate.
After all, there were those among the ruling class who did not wish to move, so it was likely that such individuals would take the lead in guiding the village in the future.
Furthermore, it was still uncertain whether those who wished to move would truly be able to reach the new land.
They could only go if they cleared “the trial of the gods” as the elder called it, and it was unknown how many people would overcome this trial.
Whether they stayed in the village or found hope in a new land, most people were currently holding onto their anxieties without knowing what the future held.
Among those who wished to move, there was the elder, which could be called unexpected or, perhaps, as expected.
After all, it was precisely because he judged that the tribe had no future as things stood that he had sent Akatsuki based on a very limited oracle.
It might be natural for the elder to stand at the front of the group wishing to move.
And, as if it were natural, Akatsuki stood beside him as the representative of the younger generation.
Akatsuki had become known among those who wished to move because he had brought hope for the tribe’s future.
He had always been expected to become the tribe’s representative, but his safe return this time had only accelerated that.
The elder and Akatsuki watched over their tribe members working in the fields of the Floating Island.
“A week has passed since we came to this island. From your perspective, Elder Eiru, how do you see it?”
The elder spoke to Eiru of the Winged Race, who was watching over their tribe members beside them with the same gaze.
“Well. At least half have shown improvement this week, but as for the rest… And about one-tenth seem beyond hope.”
“Is that so? You see them that way as well.”
The elder let out a sigh at the unforgiving assessment.
All of them knew that their life on the Floating Island would be the criterion for moving to the tower.
Even so, those whose attitude was too poor were being weeded out, despite being told that they would be mercilessly removed if their behavior was too bad.
Some, perhaps due to a misunderstanding, even displayed an attitude of “I am doing you a favor by approving this move.”
Of course, such individuals were intended to be sent back to the village without any leniency.
In any case, the decision of whether or not to allow them to move to the tower was left to the judgment of the Winged Race based on their observed living attitudes.
Ultimately, Kousuke would make the final decision, but the information from the Winged Race would undoubtedly heavily influence that judgment.
Moreover, since the Winged Race would be living closely with them during the relocation period, it was natural for this to happen.
This was being communicated to the tribe members without concealment.
Despite this, their continued foolish behavior was naturally enough to make the elder sigh.
However, Eiru did not show leniency towards the elder.
“I apologize, but we will report the facts as they are to our Master.”
“No, you don’t need to apologize. If I were in the same position, I would do the same.”
“Elder…”
Akatsuki unintentionally interjected at the elder’s words, which, in some cases, could be seen as abandoning some of his tribe members.
However, the elder shook his head at Akatsuki.
“Akatsuki, do not misunderstand. It is my duty to wish for the salvation of my tribe members until the very end, but it is also part of my duty to make the final decision.”
For the sake of the tribe, it was necessary to make the decision to discard some individuals.
Akatsuki fell silent, unable to speak, in the face of the elder’s resolve.
Then, Eiru continued to speak to Akatsuki with a cynical smile.
“What did you learn by going to that place and meeting that person? Or did it all just slip through your fingers in the end?”
At the very least, when he first came to this island with Kousuke and the others, Eiru thought there was some promise.
He still holds that belief, but he occasionally says harsh things like this.
The elder understood why Eiru was being so harsh with Akatsuki.
That was precisely why he deliberately continued to speak sternly to Akatsuki.
“When leading many people, kindness can sometimes lead to tragic outcomes. It is natural to struggle until the very end, but the final decision is ultimately necessary.”
“…Yes.”
Chided by both the elder and Eiru, Akatsuki nodded with a complex expression.
Looking at his face, it was as if he understood the logic but was unwilling to accept it emotionally.
Knowing this, neither Eiru nor the elder said anything further.
Both knew that it was up to Akatsuki to think and decide how to proceed from here.
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Although those who decided to move were relatively young, this also meant that many of them were hot-blooded.
It was a fact that some of these individuals felt dissatisfaction at quietly obeying the Winged Race and living according to their rules.
In reality, the combat power of the Beastkin Tribe, not just foxes, far surpassed that of ordinary Humans.
Many still believed that they had come to live in hiding precisely because Humans had attacked them in overwhelming numbers.
In short, they were country bumpkins who were convinced that their strength was second to none among all species.
However, even if it was a delusion, there were no more troublesome existences than young people blindly trusting in their own strength.
They gathered in one of the dwellings provided to them and talked.
“—Why are we doing this?”
“It’s been a week already, a whole week!”
“I can’t stand just half-heartedly helping out on the farm!”
These individuals mistook their own strength and were part of the combat units that hunted monsters in the surrounding areas back in their village.
Therefore, they were accumulating dissatisfaction with their lives on the Floating Island, where they were merely helping with farm work.
However, the number of people gathered here was only about ten.
They were not so foolish as to believe that they could break through the current situation with their own strength alone.
The past experience of being driven away by Humans due to numerical inferiority had deeply ingrained itself in these combat units.
“I understand your dissatisfaction, but for now, suppress it. This is just a temporary place to live anyway. Once we reach the new land, everyone will understand our value.”
The central figure among the gathered individuals spoke, seemingly to calm the others.
At this, voices of dissatisfaction from others ceased.
They had been gathering at night for the past few days, lamenting their dissatisfaction like this.
By doing so, they were preventing themselves from exploding during the day.
They understood that it was not good to openly show their defiance.
That was why they were voicing their dissatisfaction like this, hidden from other eyes.
…Without even realizing they were being monitored by the Winged Race.
It feels a bit like a foreshadowing at the end, but I just filled in the gaps in word count lol.
Also, I don’t plan to drag out how they will be dealt with; it should be resolved in the next installment.
