"Bastard!"
When that delighted voice reached the ears of Shien, Capeline, and Tilly, all three froze for different reasons.
They turned toward the source of the voice at the same time.
Up ahead along the palace garden colonnade, three figures had appeared at some point.
They were a group of three clad in black robes, though they had already lowered their hoods.
The trio consisted of two women and one man, all Beastfolk.
On the left stood a tall wolfman with a powerfully built frame.
On the right was an intellectual-looking catgirl.
The two stood together like guards, protectively flanking the foxkin in the middle.
She was a beautiful foxkin girl with delicate fair skin and a fox tail.
All three carried an air of holiness that ordinary Beastfolk lacked.
"Beastman Priests?"
Tilly recognized their identities.
"Oz? Mafy?"
Shien recognized the Wolfman Strongman and the catgirl as well.
"Iris!"
Capeline called out the Foxkin Saintess's name in both surprise and delight.
The newcomers were the Beastman Priests who had once fought alongside Shien in Cosmos, experiencing the Cosmos incident with him. They were also the three highest-ranking members among the Beastman Priests.
"Princess Capeline!"
Iris noticed Capeline too and cried out joyfully.
Only then did Shien remember that the two knew each other.
At least, back in Cosmos, Iris had personally said that Capeline, the Empire's princess, was her close friend, and that they shared a deep bond. After the Cosmos incident ended and Capeline disappeared, Iris had even led the Beastman Priests in searching for her, hoping to bring her back.
Unfortunately, Capeline had fallen into Moro's hands at the time. Once Moro, who could use necromancy, concealed her beneath death energy, all traces of her life force were hidden. As a Saintess of the Beastmen Race who worshipped