Chapter 18

“This is not the same!”

“This is the same!”

“Lafetti, indeed there was not a law of such kind among our tribe. But that is only because there is no meaning before. And I don’t think I need to tell you this since you should have already understood it long ago, that what we deemed as something ours when we found it, only refers to materialistic things. But not Human Beings! You know the condition and circumstances of our tribe…!”

“… …” Lafetti growled.

She was infuriated by Zarda’s words because on a certain level, she knew she was right.

But Zarda didn’t care. “And besides, you falling in love with a human… do you know how absurd was that? I know you are still young but you should have known our history!” She reminded with an icy cold voice. “Humans will just betray us over and over… just how can you not realized it, before you get hurt…”

“Wait!” Suddenly Rain called out, frowning. “I think we’re over on this matter, Chief?”

“I apologize, Rain… but I told you before, I still don’t trust you. Even right now, you are still hiding something from us. Do you really think that we will believe you that easily?”

“Even still, I told you already and I stand by my words… I love Lafetti, and that is something I would never lie!”

“That is just based on words… hardly something we can place our faith in. Many men had uttered the same words, taken the same oath of love… but where did that lead our sisters…? Eternal Damnation, Rain… we are betrayed all over, and over and over again.”

Silence covered the entire surrounding.

“I’m sorry, Rain I can’t risk my tribe on a promise. On mere words. It’s the duty of a Chief to protect the tribe and all of its people…”

Rain turned his eyes around, only to see many Lamian clenching their fists and hanging their gazes down, full of sorrow and sadness. All of them might not have experienced it, but most of them know someone who did, family, friends, sisters, daughters, all believed in the lies uttered by men. However, most of them had not returned to regret and reflect on things they had foolishly done.

“…I told you what kind of place was this, this hell-hole like place. Not one in their sane mind would come into this place, and tried to live here… but why did we do it? All because of your kind. They pushed us away, every time. They wouldn’t care about our lives, and they saw us as nothing but monsters. Many of our sisters had fallen, most met a tragic end. Then, will you still ask us to believe in you, Rain…?”

“But I…”

Lafetti bit her lips. She grabbed Rain’s arm and pulled him over…

But Rain just can’t accept it.

“What do you want me to do then? How do you want me to do to prove myself?”

Plop! Suddenly, he kneeled on the ground Lafetti’s eyes widened in shock and cried out in surprise. She tried to hold Rain up but Rain didn’t, instead, he kneeled in the floor and placed his forehead against the ground.

“I know I’m asking for something impossible…something so difficult. But I don’t know anything, nor could I do anything to prove myself. I love Lafetti, and I wanted to be with her forever. I ask of you, with all my heart… please, let me be with her!”

Even Zarda was shocked by Rain’s sudden actions. Looking at Lafetti who was so moved she was about to cry while trying to raise him up, she for some reason felt enormous jealousy at her. How lucky…

“Rain… lift your head,” Zarda sighs. She turned towards her other sisters and saw them feeling the same thing as well.

Their expression was a mixture of shock and disbelief.

In this world, men seldom kneel. They are like proud creatures that would never like to kneel to someone. Especially not for someone like them. Rain’s actions had somewhat earned him great respect and impression from the other Lamians and look at him favorably.

But was this really for real?

Would someone actually love them as he proclaims…?

Such a thing… a dream that many Lamians had in the past but was like an elusive cloud, something that could grasp in their hands no matter how much they desire it, hope for it, and reach for it. But will someone exist really be able to accept them for who they are…?

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“Rain, I said to lift your head,” Zarda repeated with a bitter smile.

Rain who was still prostrating on the ground finally lift his head and turned at her. Lafetti fought the tears from coming out. She extended her hand and hugs his head. “You idiot” she muttered all over and over again as she embraced him tightly. Rain smiled faintly and hugged her back.

Truthfully, Rain actually didn’t know when he truly fell for her. Of course, he doesn’t have any prejudice on her not being a human. He was fine with it. Race is never a hindrance for love. That’s what he believes in.

Love transcends age, sex, or even space-time boundary... how can Race possibly be an exception? As long as both can understand each other, love can bloom like an orchid in beautiful moonlight. This world’s whatever culture and opinion, Rain knows nothing about them. Nor he cared about them.

He was someone who had grown in a modern world where everything was deemed possible.

“You can’t love them because they are not human,” Modern humans won’t label everything with absolutes based on worthless feelings. ‘The one you love must be a person’ such a rule doesn’t exist. Also, there are no contracts or regulations that say such things either.

Someone married the same gender as them, someone married an animal, and someone even married a wall. Sexual orientations humans are capable include heterosexuality, homosexuality, bisexuality, polysexuality, pansexuality, zoophilia, and even objectophilia. In the modern world, there are plenty of examples.

Those people just happened to be a part of the minority.

It was then boosted by the fact that after the spreading of cartoon and anime culture in the world, many people had dreamed of marrying non-human fiction characters as well. And most of these desired partners and dream lovers belong to the demi-human faction; such as Lamias, Arachnes, Therianthropes, and many more. There were even Demons among the list; Vampires, Ghouls, Devils, Succubus, Incubus and the likes.

Although Rain was not among those with extreme addiction, he still considered himself an Otaku, and even sometimes wished he could meet one and marry a non-human partner. This world deemed it as evil and disgusting—fuck them all.

This is not about the world’s acknowledgment but personal happiness.

At first, Rain treated Lafetti as a safe sanctuary, a place where he could be safe and away from danger. But as time passed by, those feelings strengthened. Before he realizes it, he was thinking of her all the time.

Was this love?

Perhaps—since he doesn’t have any experience before, it took quite a long time for him to realize it. However, now he was certain. He really loves her. He can never be complete without her.

Zarda rubbed her temple, feeling somewhat envious at the same time at a loss. This kind of love… who didn’t want it? Who didn’t like it? Countless Lamians had desired such pure love but never had they able to obtain it.

“… Whatever the case, your love cannot be left alone.”

“Sister!” Lafetti glared but Zarda’s expression never wavered.

“Lafetti, you will face the punishment for breaking our law. You are forbidden to leave the tribe before I gave my permission.”

Lafetti snorted. Since Rain was already here, why would she leave anymore? However, “Sister! Rain will…”

“…Enough, Lafetti. I am the Chief of this Tribe!” Lafetti couldn’t finish what she wanted to say as Zarda slammed her hand into the armrest of her chair, cutting her off. “…I already made my decision. And it shall never be challenged. Even if it’s you!” Zarda glared at Lafetti, shutting her up with her frightening aura. The small snakes on top of her head slowly stood up and glared, countless red eyes shone brightly.

The bloodline’s oppression was extremely powerful. Despite wanting to rebel, Lafetti couldn’t help but stop and closed her mouth, unwilling. Zarda turned her attention to Rain, and for some strange reason, her fierce expression slowly softened. Even the frightening aura she was releasing somewhat disappeared.

Her lips curled into a mischievous grin. Though, to Rain’s eyes, it was a mean smile like a child telling someone a dark joke, “… following the law of the Amani Tribe… You, human, named Rain Revert, at this very moment, will become this tribe’s Amani’s slave! Any objection?”

“Sister you dare!!!” Lafetti stood up and cried out in anger. However, Rain’s expression stiffened. Not understanding how things developed this way. As for the other Lamians, mosquito-like voices and hushing noises echoed in the surroundings as the entire tribe fell into deep discussion. However, aside from Lafetti, which voice doesn’t seem to have any weight anymore, no one says anything nor even object.

Zarda completely ignored Lafetti. She looks at Rain, and her eyes glinted; “Seems like there is not. Now, Rain… you wanted to prove yourself, yes? Then, let your action do the talking, Let me see your resolve,”

“… …”

Silence…

“…What?!”

Finally, Rain snapped out from his daze. However, since his mind blanked out, he didn’t know what to say…only staring at Zarda in a daze.

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Somewhere in the world , in a big kingdom named [ Delouria ], something funny was going on.

BOOM!!

An explosion echoed from the sky.

---No, this wasn't any figure of speech nor an imagination.

The sky truly had exploded!

A destructive like energy spread out from the sky. At this moment, waves of ripples surfaced in the empty air. The ripples spread and passed through the towering peak of a mountain in the clouds not far away. Right now, the originally clear blue sky was like the surface of a pond. And the waves that just happened were like the ripple of water waves.

As if Gods were descending to the mortal world, not a second later, something flashed brightly and a pillar of golden light shone down from the sky towards the Kingdom’s palace.

After a few moments, the pillar of light gradually disappeared only leaving a circular-looking disk encompassing a distance of several kilometers. What was strange was that this disk-like thing looked like a huge crest. In the center of it were two swords crossing from each other while a serpent was encircling it.

The disk finally started to fade until it disappeared into the clear blue sky as if nothing happened.

This extremely magical phenomenon awes every people who had seen it and some even kneeled in reverence.

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