I tried to snatch the key from a Treasure Beastman who happened to come out of the gate, and ended up in a scuffle.
Well, it looks like they’re letting us in, so case closed.
“Hey Hiro, what were you doing?”
Thump-thump!!
“Uh, uh, well, I was just trying to get the key from that guy and we fell into the bushes while wrestling. But it looks like they’re letting us in as a result, so is it all right? ‘All right’ means like, success.”
“Where are they letting you in?”
Karubene, with a lecherous grin, purred as he cuddled up to me. Damn, he’s jumping on this chance.
“Inside, of course! No, at the gate. You know, to the Treasure Beastman’s castle.”
“Not the gate behind us?”
“Shut up! Just be quiet, really. It was a mistake.”
My face felt like it was on fire from embarrassment. Why, and how did it turn out like that? For some reason, in that moment, the old man looked incredibly attractive. Maybe it was because I was tired from the journey? It must be, it absolutely must be. Anyone’s brain might malfunction when they’re tired.
While I was blushing alone, we returned to the front of the gate. The old man was still hesitating.
“What should I do? I don’t want to get caught up in any trouble.”
He’s still saying that at this point. Fine, maybe if I tell him about the other poem, he’ll understand. I told the old man about the poem I heard from a Treasure Beastman youth before.
“Wh-what? Where did you hear that?”
“I heard it from a youth of the same race as you before. The beast of paradise written in this poem refers to your kind, right?”
The old man scratched his head as if he’d given up.
“Wh-why would someone else know about it? Someone must have had a loose tongue. That’s right, correct. And there are others outside, too?”
“There seem to be a few. But the youth I met didn’t even know his parents’ faces. He only had a few acquaintances.”
He nodded, listening intently. Then, he finally opened the key.
“Be quiet, I don’t want any trouble.”
The castle interior was spacious, with a floor that looked like it was entirely paved with beautiful marble. It was so flawless that my face would probably reflect if I looked down.
Small chandeliers hung from the ceiling along the hallway. Wait, does this place have electricity?
“That’s magically illuminated.”
I must have been looking around too much. Wow, magic here too. That’s amazing. The large tapestries hanging on the walls also fit the atmosphere. As expected, it’s close to the center of God’s Island. This really feels like the final stage.
The hallway was quiet, with no figures in sight. I thought it would be more lively, but it’s not. Could it be that there aren’t that many of them?
Following the old man, we arrived at another door that exuded a sense of luxury. It looked like the door to a theater or a movie theater.
“Listen, my companions are beyond this. You wait here. I’ll go talk to the person in charge.”
“Sorry, please do.”
The old man opened the door slightly and slipped his body through. It closed with a click. What on earth is inside? I like the atmosphere of this hallway, but it’s so quiet that it’s unsettling. Karubene, already getting bored with this situation, is gently trying to peek.
“Idiot, stop it.”
“Just a little, I’m curious about what’s going on.”
“I understand, but if we get caught here and thrown out, we’ll be back to square one.”
I stopped Karubene, who was trying to approach the door.
“Come on, don’t be stingy. Just a little bit.”
“No, be quiet.”
As we were making a fuss, a ray of light shone between me and Karubene. We looked back towards the door, as if to make eye contact. There was a child peeking at us. With large, fox-like ears and a fluffy tail, this is what Treasure Beast Children look like. This is cute in its own way.
“What are you doing?”
“Haha, uh, we’re visiting. It’s okay, we’ll leave right away.”
The child blinked their big eyes adorably and tilted their head. Their long eyelashes fluttered up and down.
“Aren’t you coming in?”
“No, they told me not to go there.”
“Why?”
I don’t know why. They told me to wait there. The child opened the door and invited us in. Or rather, they seemed completely unwary. Weren’t they supposed to be in a panic about intruders?
As if led by the light, I took a step forward. I couldn’t help but gasp at the sight that unfolded before me.
It was truly a garden created by God. A small waterfall cascading from above, surrounded by greenery and colorful flowers. Tables and chairs like those found on a stylish cafe terrace. Brilliant light streamed in through the stained-glass windows.
And there were nothing but handsome men and beautiful women, whether you looked to the right or to the left. People swimming in the pool with the waterfall, people drinking tea at tables, and people just chatting. All of them, without exception, had perfect features and outstanding proportions.
It seems that paradise was indeed real.
