I, the Villain, Want to Save Myself, But the Yandere Heroines Disagree-Chapter 18 - Entering the Desert (4/5)
As a race caught between beastmen and humans, demi-humans were not accepted by either side. Beastmen considered demi-humans too weak, while humans considered demi-humans too savage.
Demi-humans were discriminated against by both sides and could only establish their own communities.
However, demi-humans neither had the strong reproductive ability of beastmen nor were they as numerous as humans. Even when united, demi-humans would still be bullied by beastmen.
There were not many demi-human communities in the desert.
If the group of beastmen led by the Minotaurs, who possessed bestial characteristics, accounted for ten percent of the beastman population, then demi-humans at most accounted for one percent or even less of the beastman population.
This was also because demi-humans had never participated in wars against humans. Otherwise, demi-humans might even face extinction.
The tribe before him didn’t seem large. Orson roughly estimated the number of demi-humans to be around two to three hundred. But even so, it was still a relatively large demi-human community in the desert.
At least demi-humans were easier to talk to than beastmen. Orson thought this, feeling quite lucky.
He jumped down from the wooden wall and returned to the entrance of the tribe.
Guarding the entrance of the tribe were two demi-humans with canine features. Seeing a creature about the same size as themselves approaching, they thought the other party was also a demi-human like them.
After all, beastmen were either huge muscular men or slender laborers.
Of course, the other party was a stranger after all. The two guards still habitually became alert. One of them stepped forward and glanced at Orson.
“Hello, may I help you?” the demi-human asked.
“Yes.” Orson nodded. “I’m lost nearby. I need a map of this area.”
“This...” The guard was startled upon hearing this, then said, “Apologies, I need to go back and report first. Please wait at the entrance for a moment.”
“Alright, thank you,” Orson said this, also thanking him politely.
After a few minutes, the demi-human guard came out with a white-haired old man who had fox ears.
“Excuse me, are you the leader here?” Orson looked at the other party and politely inquired.
“Yes, my name is Arati. And yours is?”
“Ah, my name is... Edward,” Orson hesitated for a moment, making up a name on the spot.
He had initially wanted to introduce himself by name, but considering his identity, if the demi-humans in front of him had heard of his name, they might be unwilling to cooperate with him. So he came up with a fake name.
“Mr. Edward, is it? I heard you were lost nearby and need a map? I happen to have one here, but...” Arati said this, narrowing his eyes.
“In the desert, everyone always follows the principle of equal exchange. I can give you the map, but we are currently facing some trouble here and would like to ask for your help.”
Indeed, there was no free lunch in the world.
Orson nodded.
As for why the other party didn’t suspect his race, Orson could also understand.
After all, he was wearing a cloak, with only his face exposed. Racial features like hair and tail were completely hidden.
But in a place like the desert, humans couldn’t enter. And he didn’t look like a beastman. Therefore, it was normal for them to assume he was a lone demi-human.
Although the probability of a demi-human traveling alone was small, compared to the probability of a human reaching this place, the former was still more believable.
“I agree to help you.”
“Then this old man thanks you in advance, Mr. Edward,” Arati said, smiling upon hearing Orson agree to help him. He then quickly welcomed Orson into the tribe.
Orson, wearing the cloak, followed behind Arati, walking through the tribe. He could see that in this small tribe, almost everyone had come out. There was a hint of curiosity in their expressions as they looked at him.
In their eyes, it had been a long time since newcomers had arrived in the tribe. Would the person in front of them live with them in the future, or would he simply be a passerby?
Arati led Orson into a slightly larger building in the center of the tribe. This seemed to be the administrative center of the tribe.
“Mr. Edward, please have a seat,” Arati said this, making a “please” gesture.
“Thank you.” Orson nodded and sat down in a chair.
Compared to human cities, the furniture here was extremely simple, not even comparable to that in poor human villages.
It was hard to imagine that the leader of a tribe lived in a house that was not even as good as that of a human farmer.
However, Orson could also understand. In a place like the desert, resources were scarce, and survival was the top priority. Comfort was irrelevant.
“Mr. Edward, are you aware of what has been happening in the desert recently?”
“Oh? Apologies, I have been away and just returned recently...”
“So, you’ve been to the human territories to earn money?” Arati said this, looking at Orson in surprise.
“Yes.” Orson heard this and nodded. “As you know, working among humans, as long as you don’t mind their stares, life is better than in the desert.”
“Sigh, that is true,” Arati deeply resonated with this and nodded in agreement with Orson’s words. “Several young people in the tribe also expressed a desire to go and try their luck, but it happens to be during the beastman-human war recently. If we demi-humans go out at this time, we will only be treated as spies and shunned by humans.”
“But haven’t the beastmen already been driven back?”
“It still takes time for human hatred to fade,” Arati sighed. “Let’s not talk about this. Since you just returned recently, let me tell you. Recently, I don’t know why, but the group of beastmen in the desert clearly just plundered a batch of spoils from the humans, and I estimate they haven’t even finished using it yet, when they started fighting among themselves.”
“When gods fight, mortals suffer. Our tribe received a threat from a beastman tribe three days ago. They demanded that we hand over all our provisions to supply their war, otherwise they threatened to slaughter our tribe completely.”
“Of course, we are not going to resist them, but we also will not obediently hand over our surplus grain. After all, we also need to live.”
“Then what are you planning to do?”
“We are planning to move,” Arati said. “We have sent people out to find a place that can serve as a settlement for the tribe these past few days. We have already found a place where we can dig a well. We are planning to move tomorrow, but a few of our young people haven’t returned yet...”
“So, you mean, you want me to go look for them?”
“Yes,” Arati nodded. “The desert is not safe, but you can move around in the desert alone, so your own strength must be quite formidable.”
“We are forming a search and rescue team and plan to conduct one last search today. If we can’t find them, we must move tomorrow,” Arati said this. “If you are willing to help us, even if we don’t find them in the end, I will still give you the map.”
“Alright.” Orson heard this and agreed to Arati’s request.
“Then, please tell me the direction they went before they went missing.”
“Alright,” Arati nodded.
Just then, Orson suddenly saw a pair of large ears poking out from behind the chair Arati was sitting in.
Arati was about to speak to Orson when he noticed Orson’s gaze and also looked in that direction.
Then, from behind the chair, a small head emerged.
