After I received a call from Azrael, we got out of the dungeon and returned ourselves to the surface, where Azrael was. Currently, we are inside a temporary tent that was built for the matter that I discussed with Azrael.
The tent was built just for protection from the sun, not for us, since we had tolerance for it, but for the ones who were about to attend. .
The surface was not grassy or even earthy. For the sake of clicky footsteps, I cast Earth Magic Level 7: Stony Path to pave the area with stone slabs.
“So those humans will be having an audience with Master, huh?”
Just as Czarina muttered, the audience of human migrants was about to start. That was why I was sitting on a throne that I crafted time ago just for this occasion.
It was personally kind of embarrassing to sit on a throne like this and act like a king. I am yet to become the lord of our territory, but my mothers had been guiding me to become one. I would be facing some villagers, so I do not have to sweat the small stuff.
The throne on which I was sitting was situated at the end, facing the entrance in the middle. Czarina and Inari stood guard over me on both sides. Behind me were Uriel, Yuki, and Griffith, in a neat little line.
“How do I look, Inari?” I turned my head to the right and asked Inari.
“You looked so dignified, Master.” She answered with a pleasant smile.
“Thank you. You all are doing great as well.”
I changed my outfit as well. From my black and white battle gear, I was currently dressed in my formal attire, just my proper clothing for formal occasions.
I need to look presentable in front of my constituents, of course. Their opinions of me might vary based on my outward appearance. Not only I, but everyone else in this audience was dressed presentably as well.
Czarina was in her newly sewn black military uniform, ornamented with golden details. Inari did not wear her bold outfit and equipped herself with real shrine maiden attire instead; the same was true of her daughter, Yuki.
I said that I would not provide her with anything in the meantime, but actually, the clothes of Griffith have been hoarded inside my subspace. One of those, a black dress, was currently being worn by her.
“So, Master,” Czarina leaned closer and put her hands on my left shoulder, “why do you think those humans requested an audience with you? Even though the construction of the abodes has not finished yet.”
“Hmm… maybe to express their gratitude, and probably to observe.”
Now that the humans have effectively evacuated here from the south, they will be starting to live safely here. And they were about to have an audience with me, the presumptive feudal lord of this place.
They were apparently worshippers of the Tailed Foxes and had sworn allegiance to them, but now that the queen of foxes had become a familiar of mine, those humans were under my thumb as well.
Currently, they are in the middle of the construction of their settlement. But of course, they had to follow the instructions and guidelines for the appropriate measures before they started to build.
I had given them the blueprints and layouts for proper and neat arrangements of their house through Azrael. The materials were provided by us, so I could guarantee the structural quality of the house.
Initially, some of them were still doubtful about how their almighty local deities would submit themselves before a mere human, and their suspicions rose upon seeing the youthful appearance of Azrael, whom they initially thought to be me.
But they changed their insights no sooner said than done once they personally witnessed how Azrael instantly killed then eventually revived a few of them with just snaps.
Sometimes, we necessarily needed to choose the violence option and demonstrate them some tyranny just to force them into cooperation. But I truly hoped that we would not need to use violence multiple times.
As we were waiting, multiple figures were now standing outside, and the tent flap finally waved and the figure of Azrael unveiled from behind, which made Czarina recompose herself and go back to her position.
“SirBoss, the representatives of the humans are here.” Azrael announced.
From what I had perceived, there were three humans other than Azrael. They seemed not to be strong to us, but I bet that the robust one would be the most powerful among them.
And they even brought their appraiser amongst them, probably to have a little understanding of my strength. Well, whatever. It would not be my problem if she died of shock.
“I understand; let them in.”
Once I crossed my legs and rested my cheek in my left fist, I gave my permission for the humans to enter the audience chamber (tent).
◆◇◆
“Very well,” Azrael intoned, “you have been permitted. You are hereby granted an audience with Lord Raphael.”
“Thank you for your help, Sir Azrael.”
With the permission of Raphael, the three representatives of the human migrants followed the guidance of Azrael and cautiously entered the tent.
They had been told by Azrael that they had to be more mindful of their movements, even though he told them that Raphael, their lord, seemed to be patient, but the people who surround him were not.
Once the tent shaded their skins, all of them widely opened their eyes and got tensed upon laying their gazes on the figures that were present inside.
The atmosphere inside was heavy, they could literally feel that the ones in front of them were not normal.
All of them were shaking in and out and figuratively wanted to piss their pants. But they had to show their courage in front of them and eventually recomposed themselves, albeit one of them did not show any change.
They quickly gauged the people and noticed something. Almost all of the people inside were female, and the man on the throne must be the lord of this land. They also paid attention to the fact that the lord was young, around the age of Azrael.
But they definitely did not underestimate him since Azrael reminded them that Raphael was far more powerful than him, a person who easily killed and then resurrected multiple people at the same time.
After walking for several yards, the three humans slowly kneeled with heads down before Raphael in line. But one of them was sweating like a whore in a church, and the other two knew the reason why.
“There is nothing to fear.” Raphael’s voice echoed. “You are free to share your words with me.”
Upon giving permission, the man in the middle finally raised his head and spoke. “Thank you very much, Lord Raphael.”
Raphael gave him a nod, which seemed to relieve the man. He could practically feel that the weights on his shoulders had significantly lessened.
“Okay, introduce yourselves.”
“I understand, Lord Raphael.” The same person said. “My name is Rauan, and I am the chief of our village.”
“Hm.”
The square-jawed man named Rauan was a robust, middle-aged man of six feet and reddish brown hair. He was the strongest individual among the surviving members of their village.
“And these are the ones who accompanied me today.” Rauan said, then turned his head to the right. “The one by my right is named Odum, my son.”
“Greetings, Lord Raphael.” Greeted by the man with the slender build, who was apparently the son of Rauan.
Odum appeared to be a man within his twenties and notably inherited the mahogany hair of his father. He was not of the combat type, unlike his father, as his body physically indicated.
“And,” Rauan continued and turned on his left, “she is one of the elders of our village. Her name is Taris.”
“G-greetings, L-lord Raphael.” The elderly woman spoke with a shaky voice.
She was Taris, the oldest individual in the migration, and the only person with a skill-seeking skill, specifically the Appraisal, in the tribe.
“Your fears are understandable, but there is no need to worry.”
“I-I understand, Lord Raphael.”
Taris was visibly quaking as she kneeled, but Raphael and all the others inside clearly understood why. Since she possessed the Appraisal skill, Taris was able to see the real identities of those around Raphael.
Each of the individuals at Raphael’s side was a lot more powerful than the chief, who was around Level 400. She had known the fox queen, whose name was now Inari, and Taris found her very powerful.
All of them gave her chills down her spine, but the one Taris feared the most was the unnaturally beautiful woman with black hair, whose name was Czarina, whose strength surpassed their pagan.
Upon learning that Czarina really was the legendary Ancient Dragon, Taris shivered in fear and felt that their pity lives would end miserably if they made a mistake. And that fact was yet to inform her two companions.
Taris desperately wanted to warn Rauan and Odum, but her fears were stopping her from uttering a word. Even if she had a chance, she could not just talk ill of them in front of them.
“Now then,” Raphael admonished, “you have introduced yourselves. Let’s proceed to the topic, shall we?”