After the centaur girl finished bathing Al, they returned to the tribe feeling refreshed.
It seemed like a segment was skipped, but it didn't matter. Not important.
Al normally went with the mare to the clear spring, then normally bathed. There was no weird bathroom play mixed in, none at all, absolutely zero.
But because of physiological limitations while bathing,
It was perfectly reasonable that her hands couldn't reach her horse body or horse ass, right?
And as the centaur girl's ward and adopted son, it was also perfectly reasonable for Al to help his powerless foster mother wipe her back and other hard-to-reach areas while bathing, right?
The result was that both sides were very satisfied.
Then they came face to face with Thar leading a group of beastmen who looked aggressive (mist) and were even carrying weapons as they hurried over.
Alina lightly exerted strength and lifted her ever-present hammer off the ground.
Her crimson eyes narrowed slightly as she scrutinized Thar and his group with a measuring gaze.
In silence, the rage-tainted beasts breathing heavily through their noses walked out of the camp carrying weapons. The other Chaos beastmen crowded chaotically behind them.
Thar sighed. He knew coming like this would cause problems, but the situation was urgent.
So he left his staff behind and stepped forward with two horned beastmen. The two horned beastmen carried the bound Will between them.
"Lord Al."
He stopped a short distance in front of the mare, looking at Al whose hair still carried moisture and who had already grown into a half-grown youth, carefully choosing his words in his mind.
"Yesterday I learned the purpose of those hunters from the human world and the massive army behind them."
Thar turned his head. Under the centaur girl's inexplicably terrifying gaze, the two horned beastmen nervously carried Will forward and untied the bonds on his upper body.
"Who is he?"
Al looked at the man, feeling a bit curious. From appearance alone the other party was the most ordinary human. If there was no tail behind his ass, he should be a pure-blooded human.
He just didn't know whether he was from Bretonnia, the Empire, or a local Estalian.
"Tell them again what you know."
Thar pressed down on Will's head. A trace of humiliation flashed in the young man's eyes, but he helplessly opened his mouth. "We are the Empire's vanguard force heading to Magritta. The Prince of Magritta has agreed to cede a piece of territory to the Empire for establishing an outpost and colony. The court plans to use this port to increase colonization of the New World while expanding influence in the Southern Kingdoms…"
Thar growled in dissatisfaction: "The important part! Tell them why you entered this forest!"
A flash of vengeful delight appeared in Will's eyes. He deliberately used these not-very-secret secrets to waste time.
Secrets? What did a bunch of forest beasts understand? As long as it made them unhappy and angry, he would feel a tiny bit of light revenge.
"A woman from an imperial noble family, the Julius house, joined a merchant caravan half a year ago traveling from Bretonnia to Estalia. She was ambushed by you beasts along the way."
"Someone personally saw that beast knock the sword from her hand but did not kill her. What happened after is unknown."
"Some think she died long ago, torn to pieces by the beasts. Others think she is still alive and want to find her."
Will spoke with a mocking expression.
"Her name is Selesthin Julius."
"The commander of the army outside is Rhine Julius, her cousin. An arrogant and obsessive fellow."
"Mages confirmed through magic that she is still alive. If they don't find Selesthin now, they will not let it go…"
Al said nothing. He didn't recognize either name, but his intuition told him it was Selesthin.
Thar twitched his nose and turned to look at Al.
"In the past half year, the only human woman brought back alive…"
The shaman spoke softly, afraid of angering Al or the giant beast beside him.
The boy remained silent.
"Your birth mother, that woman…"
Will, who had been hanging his head in a daze, suddenly widened his eyes. The corner of his mouth twitched as he desperately tried to hide any abnormality.
"Half a year…"
Al's emotions were extremely complicated.
Missing for half a year, falling into the hands of beasts even more terrifying than the black tribes of decades ago, a group more cruel and violent than thugs, warlords, or KGB agents. Despite all that, her family had not given up that almost negligible hope.
Was this… family?
He suddenly felt a longing toward his biological mother, an emotion beyond expectation called "envy."
The centaur girl sensed something. She turned her head. Behind the beastmen herd, a blonde woman holding a sword stood there, gazing in this direction.
Thar swallowed the words of request on his lips. He suddenly felt that perhaps waiting for Al to make the decision was the better choice right now.
"Let's go over there, Alina."
The centaur girl carried him toward Selesthin. Thar thought for a moment, grabbed Will with one hand, and followed.
The beastmen all made way for the Beastlord and the Godson. Only Selesthin stood alone at the very back, locking eyes with Alina.
The centaur girl's intrigued gaze made Selesthin's heart stir. She gently tightened her grip on the short sword.
She already knew the terror of darkness.
So as long as there was even a one-in-ten-thousand chance, she would never become darkness's captive again.
"Your family has come."
The centaur girl stopped a short distance in front of Selesthin and let Thar bring Will forward.
"Se-Selesthin!"
Will didn't have a deep impression of her. They didn't belong to the same branch and had only interacted a lot when they were children. Even though he had mentally prepared himself, he was still shocked by her womanly appearance.
A highland flower that had endured wind and frost yet remained stubbornly strong.
The Grail Knight's face carried the natural fortitude that only those who had suffered hardship possessed. Most of the childish tenderness and delicate charm had faded from her peerless features, leaving behind an aura that made people yearn for and desire to understand her.
Will almost instantly felt as if he were looking at a famous painting titled "The Warrior Maiden," depicting the legend of a Grail Knight who stood unyielding despite setbacks and fought heroically.
From those golden, brilliant eyes he saw something unique that reminded him of the largest portrait hanging on the family's glorious wall—the founder Karl Legion Julius. There was the same aura between them.
For the first time in half a year, besides in nightmares, someone had called her name.
She looked at Will, her lips trembling.
"Your family has come. They are still looking for you."
As Al spoke, his nose felt a little sour. He quickly rubbed his eye sockets, then wondered in his mind whether this feeling came from his own heart or if his mind was still being influenced.
Perhaps both?
His gaze was complicated.
Selesthin—this woman he had only called "mom" once (the begging didn't count) and unsurprisingly received no response—was his mother.
Al pressed both hands on the centaur girl's back. The latter seemed to sense something, turned sideways, and gently stroked Al's head.
That's enough. I shouldn't be obsessed.
"We will send you back to your family. Tell him not to enter this forest. This is not a place for humans… not a place he should come."
Al patted the centaur girl's back. She turned around understandingly.