The beast tamer exiled from the hero’s party and the cat eared girl from the strongest race meet

Chapter 392 I am the leader

(TL:By Rafael,valhallatls.blogspot.com)

I was told to wait for the chief, but no one was there.

Could it be…? Perhaps the chief can't actually meet with humans, or something along those lines?

"Honestly."

Seeing my flustered reaction, Shigure-san sighed and cast a slight glare at the woman.

“Playing tricks isn’t something to be encouraged, you know.”

“…Hmph.”

What did that mean?

As I wondered, the woman moved to the back of the room and then turned around. Without further ado, she sat in the chair, which seemed to be the chief’s seat.

"I am Elfin... chief of the Phoenix tribe."

“W-what!?”

This woman was the chief?

I had my suspicions, but… I dismissed the possibility, thinking there was no way the chief would come in person.

Hmm… I need to be more careful. Assumptions can narrow one’s perspective. Reflecting on this, I mentally scolded myself.

"And this is my daughter, Finia."

“Uh… n-n-nice to meet you!”

She stammered. Maybe it wasn’t just fear of humans; she seemed uncomfortable in front of others.

“Honestly… you were sending me such suggestive glances, I wondered what you were up to. Were you hiding your identity as the chief just to see their reaction?”

“Well, Shigure was in on it, too, so we're both guilty here. Though, I must say, I don’t feel any obligation to be considerate toward humans.”

Her words were laced with hostility toward humans. Thanks to Shigure-san’s presence, we were managing to hold a conversation, but… if it were just us, we probably would’ve been attacked outright.

In that respect, I was grateful for Shigure-san.

“And now…”

Elfin-san cast a sharp look in my direction, then turned to Shigure-san.

“What’s this about a human representing you in the race? I’d like to hear the details.”

“Of course. You see…”

Shigure-san began explaining, step by step, how we had come to the Northern Continent seeking healing powers, how we had met Shigure-san and the werewolves, and how, after a series of events, I was acknowledged and chosen as the race’s representative.

Listening, Elfin-san placed her hand to her temple as if suffering a headache from hearing something absurd. She sighed deeply.

“…I understand the situation, for now.”

“Is that so? Then…”

“However! I cannot accept something as foolish as allowing a human to  be a representative in the race!”

“Why not?”

“Because it’s unprecedented! There’s no way such a thing could be allowed!”

Elfin-san spoke sharply, clearly unwilling to budge. Although Shigure-san had said she’d handle it… could this really be resolved? It seemed like talking to her was futile.

“But wasn’t there a rule that allowed for a representative to choose a substitute? And, after all, there’s no rule saying that substitute can’t be a human, is there?”

“That may be true, but surely it doesn’t even need discussing.”

“That may be so, but if it’s not a clear rule violation, there’s no problem, is there? If it truly wasn’t allowed, it should have been written in from the start. The absence of such a rule implies there was an acceptance, at least in principle, don’t you think?”

“That’s just sophistry, and a rather forced one at that.”

“Besides, it’s not as though the human will be competing alone. His partner is our Sakura. That should eliminate any issues, shouldn’t it?”

“…Are you serious about pairing your dear granddaughter with a human?”

“It’s because I trust this human to that extent.”

“Hmm…”

Elfin-san appeared contemplative in response to Shigure-san’s words.

Maybe things would work out this way?

“…The race is not exactly a sacred ritual. If Shigure is willing to approve it… no, but a human…”

Elfin-san muttered to herself, seemingly wavering in her decision. Perhaps with just one more nudge, she might be convinced… But unfortunately, I didn’t know her well enough to provide that push.

“Elfin.”

With a look that said, “Leave it to me,” Shigure-san moved to stand beside Elfin-san.

“Why not use this race to your advantage?”

“Use it?”

“Yes, by facing off against a human and Sakura team, you could…”

“Hmm…”

With that, the two began whispering to each other in low voices.

I couldn’t make out what they were saying, but the word “use” from earlier stuck with me.

I hoped they weren’t plotting anything bad.

Sometimes, Shigure-san gives off a vibe that she’s up to no good…

“…Very well.”

The two continued their private conversation for five minutes.

When Shigure-san finally stepped back, Elfin-san looked in my direction.

“Human, what is your name?”

“It’s Rain Shroud.”

“Then, Rain, I will grant you special permission to act as a representative of the werewolf tribe.”

“Really!?”

“But!”

Elfin-san pointed at Chiffon and Kanade with her thin finger.

“Hand over that human and that cat spirit as hostages.”

“What!?”

“Just because Shigure trusts you doesn’t mean we do. As a rule, humans are our enemies. If you truly want our trust…”

“You’re saying that, in exchange, I have to offer them as hostages?”

“That’s correct. If you have any foolish intentions, I won’t guarantee their lives. Without such assurance, we cannot permit a human to participate in the race, nor will others accept it.”

“I refuse.”

I knew I was supposed to accept, but… the words slipped out of my mouth before I realized it.

Everyone gasped. Even Elfin-san and Shigure-san looked at me, surprised.

“I understand where Elfin-san is coming from. Not being able to trust a human is perfectly reasonable, and taking precautions is sensible.”

“Then…”

“But Kanade and Chiffon are my companions. Even if it’s to gain trust, I would never betray my friends.”

Elfin-san looked stunned, as if she hadn’t anticipated such a response.

“Kukuku.”

Shigure-san chuckled, clearly entertained.

“To think you’d say that… my, my, Rain, you’re a far more intriguing human than I thought.”

“You certainly don’t seem quite like the humans we’ve heard about.”

Refusing to hand over hostages shifted things in a different direction. It wasn’t a bad feeling—in fact, Elfin-san’s demeanor seemed to soften slightly.

“However, it’s not reasonable to expect only gains without giving anything in return. If you refuse to hand over hostages, I will not permit you, a human, to compete in the race, nor will I give you any opportunity to change our perceptions.”

“Even so…”

I didn’t want to sell out my companions. Just as I was about to say so, two hands gently patted my shoulders.

Turning, I saw Kanade and Chiffon, each resting a hand on my shoulders.

“Meow~ Thank you, Rain. You’re worried about us, aren’t you? That makes me really happy.”

“But we’ll be fine. Don’t worry; you can go ahead and offer us as hostages.”

Even though they were saying that, I still couldn’t bring myself to agree. Sensing my reluctance, Kanade continued, trying to ease my stubborn heart.

“It’s just as a precaution, you know? Are you planning to do anything reckless, Rain?”

“I’d never do something like that.”

“Then there’s no problem, right? I trust you, Rain, so I want you to trust me, too.”

“Yes, yes! As Kanade said, believe in us and send us off as hostages with peace of mind!”

“Um… something about that wording doesn’t sound quite right.”

I couldn’t help but laugh a little. My absolute refusal had softened.

Though I still had some reservations… the two had gone out of their way to reassure me. If I refused now, it would mean I didn’t trust them.

“…All right. I accept the conditions.”

“A wise decision.”

“You won’t harm them, will you?”

“As long as you don’t plot anything foolish, we won’t. We are not like humans.”

“Understood. I trust you.”

And so, by offering Kanade and Chiffon as hostages, I was granted permission to compete in the race.

Not just for Iris’s sake, but for Kanade and Chiffon’s too, I’ll do my best to show integrity and earn their trust.

TL Note- The bet's have increased.......

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