“That’s because you are maxed out. The next step would be to become a sacred beast and you will need outside help for that. However, it would involve some changes to your body and might make it difficult to have children. So it will depend on what is more important to you.”

  Grimgar says “We will have to discuss that and I will get back to you.”

  Lin says “Smart answer!”

  Grimgar says “So, what brings you back to the main continent? What is with the caravan of humans?”

  Seeing how late it is, I pass the word for the caravan to set up camp for the night. Then I sit down with Grimgar and his wife and tell them everything that has happened since I last saw him. After that, I explain about the conclave in the Magic Kingdom that we are headed to.

  Grimgar says “Considering what happened the last time, is it really wise to return to the Magic Kingdom?”

  “Probably not, but I am not too worried about it.”

  Grimgar says “You may be safe, but is it a good idea to take Lin with you?”

  Lin says “Oh, I won’t be going. In fact, I am returning to the peninsula tomorrow and another wife will be taking my place. Ash will be going into the Magic Kingdom alone.”

  Lenora says “Would it be possible for me to accompany you?”

  Grimgar and I say “What?!”

  Lenora says “I would like to see this empire that Ash is building. I also want to check out these tribes of artificial beastmen. Some of the tribes we are in contact with are struggling. I want to see if migrating would be a good option for them.”

  “I don’t see a problem with that.”

  Lin says “We have plenty of people who can show you around. Unfortunately, I will be rather busy once I return.”

  Lenora says “That won’t be a problem.”

  Grimgar says “Are you sure you want to do this?”

  Lenora says “Yes, I am. We may have secured our lands thanks to you, but the other clans don’t have the power that we do. Some of them are to the point that they may not survive another generation. This could be their only hope.”

  “Things are that bad? I didn’t think the humans were pushing that hard towards the center of the continent?”

  Grimgar says “They aren’t. On the southern side of the mountains the humans aren’t pushing at all. It is the beasts from within the mountains that are pushing the clans. They just keep getting stronger and most of the clans have gotten weaker.”

  This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

  “That sounds like a tough situation. Sorry if you consider this rude, but do you have a deity you worship? Can you gain levels?”

  Lenora says “We don’t worship anyone, but most of us do have levels.”

  Grimgar says “There is a fruit that grows close to the mountains that when eaten will grant a class. It is hard to reach so normally only the warriors of our tribe will venture to claim one. As far as I know, it is similar for the other clans.”

  “Has an attempt been made to grow the fruits somewhere else?”

  Grimgar says “Yes, it has been tried, but the fruits wouldn’t grow. I can tell you that the fruits become more common if you actually enter the mountains. There is something about the mountains that allows them to grow.”

  “I should head to the mountains and get a sample. I have some people who specialize in plants that could probably get it to grow.”

  Grimgar says “Do you not have levels?!”

  “I do. I have a class granted by my goddesses, but I am max level. They don’t have the strength currently to grant me a second class, so I am looking for other options. They grant levels to their followers, but before that started no one on the peninsula had levels. While I like my goddesses, I will not force anyone to worship them, so having an alternative would be good.”

  Lenora says “They don’t care that you are not human?!”

  “No, they don’t. In fact, I am their champion. They also accept beastmen who wish to worship them and grant them levels.”

  Lenora says “That is just those beastmen on the peninsula that were made from humans. Would they treat us the same?”

  Lin says “Absolutely! They have accepted elven worshipers and even humanoid beasts. Both those made ages ago by the elves and those that have naturally evolved. They treat all of their worshipers the same. They also accept sentient beasts like Ash’s children. You would be treated just like everyone else.”

  Lenora says “Just from that I think there would be some who would be willing to worship them.”

  “I don’t know if that would work. Their power is mostly limited to the peninsula.”

  Lenora says “I meant if we migrate.”

  “Wait, are you considering migrating your clan? Aren’t you doing fine now?”

  Grimgar says “We are holding our own, thanks to you, but we need to consider the other clans. The Black Lions have always been the unofficial leader of all of the clans. Without us, maybe one or two clans would migrate. With us, most of them would seriously consider it. That’s why Lenora wants to see things for herself.”

  Lenora says “Our goal would be to convince them all to move at once because any clans that stay behind would soon be overwhelmed. We would prefer it if none of the clans suffered that fate.”

  “That’s understandable and I completely agree. If there is anything I can do to help convince them, just let me know.”

  Lenora says “We can discuss it more once I have had a chance to see your empire for myself and meet the beastmen there.”

  “Understood. Oh, I should warn you, the five tribes of cat-like beastmen have not sworn loyalty to me.”

  Grimgar says “Why is that?!”

  “I think it is probably because I used your form so much. The cat tribes started to think that they should get special treatment and I wasn’t about to allow that. Now they are the only ones that haven’t sworn to me and I have left them isolated. Honestly, I just haven’t had the time to go back and deal with them. There are much more important things for me to do.”

  Lin says “We were planning on dealing with it for him while he is on this little trip. The cat tribes are holding out to try and force him to take one of theirs as a wife.”

  Lenora says “I can’t imagine that that went over well. I will see if there is anything that I can do when I meet with them.”

  Lin says “We’d appreciate any help you can offer. Ash has insisted that we do this without any bloodshed.”

  Lenora says “ No bloodshed as in no killing or no blood at all?”