Awaited One of the Shamcats
Shamcats’ King’s Point of View
I was never meant to become king. My strong yet somewhat absent-minded brother, who possessed great decisiveness, was supposed to take the throne, while I would spend my life supporting him as his aide.
But reality was different.
My brother was struck by that mysterious illness, and the queen—his cousin, who also carried royal blood—fell ill as well.
I was forced onto the throne against my will.
And the situation only worsened. A relentless war, poor harvests, and the resulting civil unrest... I spent my days desperately trying to keep the kingdom from collapsing.
Amidst all this, the rightful heir, Maryannette, disappeared with a sacred relic said to alleviate the illness. To make matters worse, my own child contracted the disease and had to be placed in isolation.
I wanted it all to end. Even if we defeated Shiverihas, my suffering would not cease. I no longer cared. The symptoms of the disease had begun to manifest in my own body. Soon, I would be able to join my wife and child.
I tore apart the letter sent by the prince of Shiverihas.
And then, the "Awaited One" arrived, bringing both destruction and purification. The Awaited One was a prophesied priestess, said to have been foretold by Saintess Kotoha, one of the founders of our nation.
The prince of Shiverihas was supposedly Awaited One’s younger brother, but since they bore no resemblance, they were likely siblings in name only. There was no longer any reason to resist. I would simply follow Awaited One.
As I resigned myself to my fate, I was reunited with my brother, who looked far healthier than when we had last met. At first, I thought he was someone else entirely—he had changed so drastically. It was said to be the result of Awaited One’s power. His muscles were incredible. Even my children, who had grown plump with muscle, had regained their health, and their fur had returned to its pure white brilliance.
At last, I could find happiness… or so I thought, when a Great Tsunami struck. This kingdom would surely be destroyed. But I had to at least save the children. Fortunately, the prince of Shiverihas would not treat them poorly.
Even if I died, I had to protect my children and my people. For the first time, I made a decision of my own volition. Until now, I had lived only out of duty, swept along by the tides of fate. But this was my choice.
Around me, soldiers prepared to march into battle. None attempted to flee.
"This kingdom will fall… But lend me your strength so that we may protect and evacuate those dear to us!"
"Now is the time to prove our strength!"
My brother agreed with my words and roused the troops.
The soldiers all nodded in unison. Morale was not low. With this, we could buy time for the children to escape.
Just as I began to feel relieved, a messenger soldier burst into the room.
"Your Majesty! A crisis!"
I thought nothing could surprise me anymore… but when I saw what the soldier was pointing at, I froze.
"……………… Huh?"
A gigantic, plump man was flying through the sky. Judging by the leg hair and what was between his legs, he was clearly male, yet he was dressed in an adorable white-and-pink outfit.
What the hell is that?
Before we could comprehend what was happening, we were engulfed in a strange yellow smoke and lost consciousness. It was likely due to exhaustion as well—I hadn’t slept properly in days.
When I awoke, Shamcats had been saved.
Awaited One had apparently defeated almost everything single-handedly.
She did say she would help, but… seriously?! My resolve had been completely unnecessary.
"Father!"
"Meat, meow!"
My children came running to me, holding skewered grilled meat. Where did they get that? As it turned out, Awaited One had provided it. She had distributed meat from the defeated monsters free of charge and even organized a "Meat Festival." I couldn’t keep up with all of this, but as I listened to the cheerful laughter of the citizens and the lively bustle of the festival… I stopped caring.
Shamcats had been saved by Awaited One in more ways than one. Gratitude alone could not express what I felt. It was no wonder she was called a Saintess in Wolfanea.
With her overwhelming power and boundless compassion, she healed the people. A true saint.
"Your Majesty! Awaited One has arrived!"
"I shall go at once."
I could not afford to keep our savior waiting. I hurried to the audience chamber where she awaited.
Was Awaited One truly human? Her purity was almost unreal.
"Um, are you listening?"
"Ah… Shamcats was saved by Awaited One. If you so wish, I am willing to offer my head."
"No gore! No splatter! What good does it do to take the leader’s head!? Wouldn’t it be better to advise the leader and let them govern properly instead!?"
Despite this being a foreign land, Awaited One had even prepared policies to aid orphaned children. Honestly, I had only been able to maintain the status quo, but with her plan, the slums could be greatly improved.
Moreover, if I accepted her proposal, she even promised to personally support the initiative. I was moved to tears as I expressed my gratitude, but this was not the end of Awaited One’s astonishing deeds. Was she really human?
The barren lands were suddenly covered in lush greenery, as if Shamcats itself had been revived. I saw vibrant plants and flowers for the first time in ages. The people rejoiced… Wait. Was that a scream?
"Eat this water ferngoroyoooo!!"
"I’m yummyyyyy!!!"
Giant vegetables… were attacking…? No, wait! Those vegetables—though much larger in size—seemed oddly familiar.
"Do not be afraid, everyone! These are Awaited One’s blessings! Let us gratefully partake!"
The vegetables beamed with joy before gently lying down. The people immediately began butchering them.
"Stew is recommended. Salad is also delicious."
They even provided cooking tips! How thoughtful! We prepared dishes using the saint’s bountiful gifts.
Even I, who usually preferred fish, found the fresh vegetables incredibly delicious. I had never tasted vegetables this good before.
"Ehhhhh…"
Awaited One and her entourage had returned, seemingly bewildered.
"Saintess! What do you think of Shamcats’ local cuisine? We have gratefully prepared dishes using the blessed vegetables you bestowed upon us."
The oden, a local specialty prepared by our finest chefs, was exquisite. It was packed with Shamcats’ famous konjac, along with daikon, carrots, and burdock, all simmered to perfection.
For some reason, Awaited One gazed off into the distance before flashing a beautiful smile.
"The vegetables were a gift from my brother. Not from me. This is the great achievement of my esteemed brother, Rupert Rosenberg."
"Wha—!?"
"Now, everyone! Let us honor Rupert—no, Ru-sama!!"
[Ru-sama!] [Ru-sama!!] [Ru-samaaaa!!!]The people cheered as they joyfully hoisted the two Awaited Ones into the air.
Thus, the two became the saviors of Shamcats, their names immortalized in history as legends.
What do you think about this chapter?
