That day's meeting ultimately transformed into something like a ministers' gathering.

  Discussing monopoly business plans going forward, from wherever he'd heard—or rather smelled it (being Canisade)—even Foreign Minister Roibar Nadent Pahr burst into the conference room saying:

  "Hearing about asymmetric trade goods creation, you all discussing alone without telling me—how is that? Eh?"

  Complaining with tremendous force (Celeste imagined something terrible like 'Does that guy do yakuza diplomacy?'), then the King arrived finding it strange his ministers were nowhere to be seen:

  "You lot having interesting discussions excluding me—that's treason!"

  Making jokes stupid yet unlaughable, ultimately transforming into a Felideria state leadership social gathering.

  "Come to think of it, where's Military Affairs Minister?"

  "That one's jurisdiction barely relates to this matter, so didn't call him."

  "Heh~ So that's how you excluded Internal Affairs Minister too~"

  "Grrr! Stop bringing that up already!"

  The ministers all laughed together.

  "But that's only for now, eventually I think it'll develop into military-related talks too.

  Plus with all ministers here, leaving Military Affairs alone seems bad.

  Already tea party atmosphere—shouldn't we have him join too?"

  When Celeste said this, the ministers exchanged glances, an atmosphere like wanting to say something but hesitating.

  "What are you all hiding?

  That he's wary of me?"

  "Oh, you knew?"

  The Internal Affairs Minister answered, perhaps taking the ministers' representative role.

  "Well, when I talk to him he barely seems willing to speak, and though neighbors, when I invited him to the other day's unveiling party he just greeted and immediately left.

  Did I do something to him? Rather than wariness, seems like he dislikes me?"

  "No... he probably doesn't dislike Royal Father personally.

  Because you resemble Humanita, an enemy race hostile to us Antero.

  We've even warred with them, so as military head, he'd naturally be wary of you."

  "Eh, war...?"

  For Celeste—Amashiro the Japanese born in peaceful times—an unfamiliar word, so hearing it didn't feel real.

  However, with nations existing, with militaries, conflicts and wars are inevitable.

  Celeste thought his recognition had been too naive.

  "So when I first came to this royal palace, that commotion..."

  "No, even if not Humanita, that'd cause huge uproar."

  "Palace intruder—no matter what race."

  While the Justice Minister and Prime Minister retorted, Amashiro thought it slightly odd.

  "Then, you all seeing me resemble this Huma-whatever, you don't feel hostility or disgust?"

  "That's..."

  The ministers' faces showed some difficulty.

  "Honestly, when first seeing your face, all us ministers were surprised.

  We weren't without wariness either.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  However, you're 'just extremely similar to Humanita'—many features differ from Humanita. Hair color, skin color, eye color."

  The Internal Affairs Minister seemed to have said something important.

  Skin color?

  Hair color could be changed with dye and such, but skin color couldn't.

  "What about skin color? White? Black?"

  "That's... pale and dirty-looking(*note) pink?"

  "Eh, pink?... Ah."

  Come to think of it, he recalled hearing that Westerners call themselves 'white people' but actually, because their skin is thin showing blood underneath, they're more appropriately called red or pink rather than white.

  'In other words, humanoid life forms—Humanita have Western faces.

  Then thinking of me as "just similar, different race" isn't unreasonable maybe

  ...Like the difference between salamanders and lizards?'

  Celeste making terrible comparisons calling himself salamanders or lizards—he'd be angry if others said it, but saying it about himself, he didn't particularly mind.

  "Mm, well... I kind of understand.

  Could that Humanita have large noses, golden or light brown hair, blue eyes... ah, are there black-skinned ones too?"

  "Black? No reported sightings of black-skinned Humanita.

  Everything else mostly matches. Royal Father also encountered Humanita somewhere?"

  The Internal Affairs Minister showed interest, but this might be quite troublesome.

  Like old Western fantasy racial composition, perhaps, Humanita?

  "W-well... not met Humanita exactly...

  Earth people have similar types.

  If racial nature's also similar, might become a race I'd rather not meet."

  "Hoho, I see.

  But about not wanting to meet them, completely agree.

  They call themselves 'chosen race,' claim they should purge other races from the earth creating a world where only they prosper, drove surrounding minor races nearly to extinction—barbaric race.

  In culture, character, knowledge, everything—far beneath you."

  'Uwaaaa... isn't this bad?'

  "Truly terrible lot. No coexistence intentions with other races, even practice predation."

  "P-predation?"

  "Attacking peaceful agricultural race Piglets(pig beastmen) settlements, massacring villagers without reason calling it 'Orc subjugation,' ultimately treating victims..."

  "Eh, eh? Wait, Orcs?"

  "Yes. Something familiar?"

  "Ah, no... seems I misunderstood something."

  He spoke vaguely, but Celeste felt like he'd fallen into a confusion vortex.

  Orcs.

  That super-famous proper noun first appearing in "The Lord of the Rings," beloved(?) in various fantasies as evil humanoid alien race, originally described as 'ugly pig-like faces' but in Japan somehow became 'boar heads'—

  Hearing it here on Tusita, universe's far side, seemed impossible.

  Moreover, with that... ghastly treatment often appearing in light novels.

  "What about Soruine(mouse beastmen? Even with bad habits, not committing major crimes, yet calling those poor wandering peoples 'Goblins' arbitrarily..."

  'Again...

  What exactly are those Humanita people?'

  Seeing Celeste's complexion worsen slightly from feelings like wandering a maze, the Commerce Minister asked in worried voice.

  "Regis Celeste? Are you unwell?"

  "Ah, no...

  Hearing disgusting stories made me nauseous..."

  The nausea was genuine feeling.

  Calling them 'bipedal pigs' and preying on Orcs—reading in novels would just make him think 'such settings exist,' but with living beastmen—Antero before him, hearing such shocking stories from those he'd befriended, nausea was understandable.

  "Completely. What do they think intelligent life forms are?"

  "Those lot misunderstand this Tusita as a world 'prepared solely for themselves.'

  Spouting nonsense about being chosen by some 'Kami(* God in Japanese)' existence—what's this Kami thing anyway?"

  At the Prime Minister's words spat out as if revolted, Celeste felt discomfort.

  "God... you mean?"

  "Hm? You recognize something?

  Come to think of it, you've been showing odd reactions.

  Hearing that, Chikyu also has types resembling Humanita.

  Then, do you know what 'Kami' is?"

  How should he answer this? Celeste worried.

  Saying repeatedly, but Antero—at least Felideria's civilization level felt like "early 19th century."

  Not versed in history, and not corresponding one-to-one with Earth history so couldn't say clearly which was frustrating, but visually the sense was that. Especially mantle-style oil lanterns.

  But, though considerable time had passed going between Tusita and Earth, seeing no signs of any religion seemed slightly odd...

  'No way, does the very concept of "god" not exist?'

  If so, mustn't carelessly mention gods.

  Couldn't imagine what influence it might have.

  Fortunately, Celeste himself was atheist.

  "Why, not worth a penny—trash-like excuse-only word.

  For those calling evil deeds they wanted to do 'god's will.'"

  "Hoh, is that all?

  No wonder they kept chanting Kami-kami-kami-kami annoyingly about everything.

  How pathetic."

  "Yes, completely."

  Rarely did Celeste and the Prime Minister agree—that moment.

  The Foreign Minister timidly asked Celeste.

  "Um, Regis Celeste?"

  "Yes?"

  "Apparently, you understand Humanita's nonsense babbling?"

  "Ah, no no, just coincidentally similar words exist on Earth.

  This'll revive spy suspicions."

  While everyone smiled wryly, the Foreign Minister continued.

  "Haha, of course not that, but...

  Occasionally, information entering from neighboring countries says Humanita's nation sends assassin groups targeting Antero nations' leadership."

  "What cowardly lot indeed."

  "Completely.

  However, those assassins they call...

  'Yuusha' apparently."

  PFFT—

  "What, spitting tea at people! Filthy!"

  "Cough—

  S-sorry, Prime Minister.

  Um, Foreign Minister? That's confirmed information?"

  "Well... information via neighboring countries, so accuracy might drop...

  But using the term 'Yuusha'—coming from multiple sources, so probably fact."

  Celeste couldn't help feeling bad premonition.

  But this makes sense abnormally well.

  "Um, Foreign Minister?"

  "Yes?"

  "That information... does it perhaps mention 'Maou(Demon King)'?"

  "...It does.

  Referring to our His Majesty, 'Maou Rashion.'"

  WHAAAAAT?!