03: Slimming Down in Boot Camp! …Or So I Thought, but I Matured?!

It’s started to rain, and me and the rest of the mud-covered trainees continue running through the forest.

“Hahh… Hahh…”

I run unsteadily, tongue lolling out of my mouth. My new Fen Wolf friends running nearby are just as out of breath as I am.

“Grwl, grwl! (What’s the matter, you whelps?! An old goat could run longer than you! Show me what you’ve got!) ”

The drill sergeant running alongside us barks antagonism at us. She’s run the same distance we have, but she shows no signs of exhaustion at all. Is that the gap in our experience?

“Grwl, grwl! (Don’t look down! Feel your footing with the soles of your feet! Your eyes should always be focused on spotting the enemy!) ”

As we stagger forward, none of us can even respond to Garo. Eventually I trip over a stone hidden beneath some mud and fallen leaves.

“Squeak, squeak?! (Are you hurt, beloved?!) ”

Nahura and Len, who have been safely observing, run to me.

“Grwl, grwl!! (Don’t spoil him, brats!!) ”

But Garo intercepts them.

“Grgrwl!! (Get up, whelp! You will not cry! You will not laugh! If you don’t want your tiny balls crushed, you will run!! Go, go, go!!) ”

E-eeeeek! Garo’s so freaking scary!

I frantically work my legs to stand up, and then, still spattered with mud, I dash back to where the others are running.

“Grwl, grwl! (Listen up! You’re the lowest forms of life on this planet! Maggots! Piles of shit on legs! But once you’ve survived my training, you whelps will no longer be maggots—you will be warriors!) ”

Training in the rain is mercilessly sapping all the warmth from my body. Garo’s “encouragement,” though, blots out the sound of that cold rain, driving us to go even faster.

“Grwl, grwl! (Hate me! Hate your own weakness! But don’t let your hate consume you! Let it feed you! Let it make you stronger! As long as you don’t give up, I will not abandon you! Throw away your young wolf’s dependence right here and right now! Bare your fangs and run to the ends of the earth!) ”

As we’re gifted with passionate words that make me want to unconsciously reply, “Sir, yes, sir!” we continue our training in the rain.

Officer Garo’s constant drills last until late at night.

As Routa was going through his hellish special training, one monster reigned supreme in the eastern forest.

“Rrgh…! (I am lord of this forest…!) ”

The monster was called Redarmor. He had originally been just a bear, but his destiny had been forever changed when a huge storm of mana blew through the woods.

The raging mana was actually something produced during the battle between the Fen Wolves and Lich, the Demon Lord’s adjutant, but he had no way of knowing that right now.

Most of that mana had been dissipated, sealed by a witch. But what remained had accumulated in the cave he slept in. The powerful mana had given him wisdom and incredible strength—and awakened the ambition slumbering within him.

His height had increased to the point where he could reach the forest’s canopy, and one swing of his mighty arm could smash boulders and cut down thick trees. Eventually, none remained in his territory who could rival him, and at that point, Redarmor was confident his time had come.

“Rrrgggghhhhhhhh!! (Come out, Fen Wolves!! Let us make it clear which of us is truly worthy of being this forest’s ruler!!) ” roared Redarmor into the dark of night, scratching his crimson chest hair, which, according to rumors, was stained with the blood of his foes.

It was a declaration of war.

Redarmor headed west, massive body swaying, the ground splitting underfoot. His destination was the territory of the Fen Wolves, who arrogantly claimed dominion over this forest. He would rip apart the weak little wolves with his bare paws and gain supremacy over these vast woods.

His eyes bloodshot with ambition, Redarmor began his advance.

“Grwl! (Lady Garo! I have news you may want to hear!) ” said the Fen Wolf tasked with patrolling the area, having run to Garo’s side.

Having already given the recruits instructions, Garo turned around with a calm demeanor. “Grwl? (What is it? Something urgent?) ”

“Grwl! (An invader, ma’am!) ”

“…Grwl? (…An invader, you say? Not an intruder?) ”

“Grwl! (Yes, an invader! The enemy is destroying all the trees and animals in his path, leaving only devastation in his wake. He claims that he will wipe out the Fen Wolves and gain control over this forest.) ”

“Grwl… (Is that so? Looks like someone with a spine has finally shown up…) ”

They frequently hunted corrupted monsters who had lost all sense of reason and were going on a rampage. But it had been a long time since an enemy had appeared and demanded a challenge while still in their right mind.

“Grwl, grwl. (How should we proceed, ma’am? We’re currently keeping an eye on him from out of reach, but at your order, my clan will defeat him.) ”

“Grwl… (No…) ”

Garo paused, then turned her back.

To face the Fen Wolves, who had just completed their entire training course.

“Grwl, grwl. (Good timing. I’ll make it these recruits’ graduation test.) ”

Having sensed the battle soon to come, the Fen Wolves were filled with bloodlust, their eyes blazing. Garo chuckled at that, then looked around at them as if to drive the rain away.

Lined up before her were the young and talented who had overcome her hellish training. Their eyes held no trace of weakness, and their trained bodies spoke to their belief that each was nothing but a single fang in a mouthful of teeth.

“Grwl? (I ask you. What is your purpose?) ”

“““Grwl! Grwl! Grwl! (The hunt! The hunt! The hunt!) ”””

“Grwl? (What is your pride?) ”

“““Grwl! Grwl! Grwl! (The hunt! The hunt! The hunt!) ”””

“Grwl, grwl. (Yes. To hunt is our nature. And into our territory, a fool has set foot. What will you do, princesses? What do we do with fools?) ”

“““Grwl! Grwl! Grwl! (Hunt! Hunt! Hunt!) ”””

“Grwl, grwl! (Very good. Then go! Teach the fool what a true wolf is!) ”

“““Grrrrwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwllll!!”””

The young warriors raised a fierce battle cry, then raced into the night forest.

The largest and strongest bear of them all: Redarmor.

He did as he had declared, laying waste to the forest, rapidly expanding his territory. He devoured all who came his way, and chased down those who fled, crushing them underfoot.

“Groooooo!! (Gu-ha-ha! What’s the matter, Fen Wolves?! Come at me! If you don’t want to fight, then surrender your domain at once and leave!!) ”

Redarmor’s massive arms swung down onto the center of a great tree, uprooting it.

Avoiding the falling tree, the Fen Wolves slipped out of the enemy’s attack range. They hadn’t suffered any casualties yet, but if they allowed this wanton rampage to continue, a member of their ranks might eventually die.

“Grwl! (Ugh, you whelp! You really think you’re something, eh? When all you have is brute strength? If we felt like it, we’d have you dead in our fangs in mere moments!) ”

Growling, wrinkles forming on the ridge of her nose, a Fen Wolf warrior attempted to intimidate Redarmor.

“Grw. (Captain, we can’t. Lady Garo has to be the one to decide what to do about him. Until we get instructions, we should focus on observation—) ”

“Grwl! (I know that, idiot! That’s why I’m pissed off—the lack of instructions. What happened to our messenger? She should have apprised the others of the situation a long time ago.) ”

The Fen Wolves were unsure how to attack, but not because they were powerless in the face of Redarmor’s overwhelming might. The opponent was strong, sure—but nothing a coordinated Fen Wolf assault couldn’t beat.

Any such assault, though, was blocked by one of the codes established by the Fen Wolves. The only monsters they were allowed to hunt and kill without question were those that had been violated by magic and lost their minds or their ability to reason.

Redarmor was committing terrible atrocities, but it was of his own volition that he was trying to expand his domain. If they were going to fight—as a species—over this territory, that would be a war with their pride on the line; and as the leader of a single team of one clan, the captain couldn’t decide that for herself.

And the truth was, Redarmor was strong .

Her earlier aggressive assertions aside, if it did come down to a hunt, it would be an all-out raid involving all the clans.

“Grw, grw! (Captain!) ”

“Grwl! (You’re back! What did Lady Garo say?!) ”

“Grw… (She, uh… She gave the order to withdraw.) ”

“Grwl?! (Withdraw?! What idea could she— Wait, didn’t she start personally raising a bunch of talented youngsters recently? This must mean their training is complete.) ”

The captain nodded at the messenger’s news in understanding.

Meanwhile, Redarmor had concluded that the Fen Wolves were a lot of cowards, unable to do anything but watch from a safe distance.

“Gohh-ohh! (Weak! Every one of you Fen Wolves is weak! The forest deserves a better ruler than the likes of you!) ”

He continued to chase out the Fen Wolves with swings of his enormous arms.

“Grrrwl. (Hmph. Howl all you like. Your fate is sealed.) ”

The captain nimbly avoided Redarmor’s attacks and jumped up to a tree branch, looking down at Redarmor.

“Grrwl. (Soon you will know what a Fen Wolf hunt really looks like.) ”

The Fen Wolves all concealed themselves at once, their shapes melting away into the night forest.

“Grrwl. (Show us how much you can squirm, whelp.) ”

The Fen Wolves completely disappeared. At the same time, he sensed a palpable bloodlust a great distance away, causing Redarmor to frown, wrinkles appearing on the ridge of his nose.

Redarmor had been so sure of himself.

These Fen Wolves are nothing to be frightened of. A bunch of incompetents—the most they can do is witness my tyranny from afar.

It’s your turn—come out, King of the Fen Wolves, or whatever you call yourself. The great Redarmor will feast upon you personally.

It had been a few minutes since he’d galvanized himself with such thoughts.

“Goh… Gohhh… (Hahh… Urgh…) ”

In this minute, however, he’d been forced into an entirely different situation.

Now he was running this way and that in a frantic attempt to escape, his giant frame swaying and his eyes unfocused. This weakened state was a stark difference from that of the monster who had, mere moments ago, been a walking natural disaster.

“Goh-gohh…! (What… What the hell are they?! This isn’t right…! What the hell am I fighting against…?!) ”

He, the strongest of them all, had no recourse but to flee.

With every swing of his arms and gnash of his fangs, he could crush anyone, no matter who or what it was, just as one could crush a dead leaf.

Now he was cornered. At his wits’ end.

By themselves, he was sure they were weak. And yet he couldn’t beat them. He didn’t even hold a candle to them.

Whenever he attacked, they would use the trees as shields. Then, before he could react, they’d counterattack from behind. He would swing back around, meaning to rebuff them, but they would already be gone. They were whittling him down, little by little, like they were waiting for a chance to finish him off.

Shadows leaped about the forest, up, down, in every direction—and each time, they would shake him.

The attacker was now the defender. It was no longer a contest. It was a rout.

To the Fen Wolves, Redarmor was just tonight’s hunt.

“Gohh-gohh! (Damn…! Damn it all! If I could only hit—if I could only hit you, you’d be nothing! I never took you for cowards, Fen Wolves…! Come out and fight me in the open!) ”

As if to scorn his cries, the trees in the forest swayed.

And then his wish was granted.

For as he fled, one Fen Wolf had appeared in front of him. This one was far larger than the others, more beautiful, and veiled in an aura that could only belong to someone extremely powerful.

“……”

There. I came out, just like you wanted , the white Fen Wolf seemed to say as he blocked Redarmor’s escape. You won’t lose in an all-out brawl, will you? Well then, you can attack me all you want. I won’t dodge.

The utterly silent white wolf’s attitude alone was enough to convey the message.

“G-gohh… (You… You, you bastard…) ”

Redarmor instinctually understood. This white wolf was Fenrir, king of the wolves. The one who led the Fen Wolves, and the forest’s ruler.

It was a good opportunity. That much was certain. If he could beat this one, he’d be able to usurp that position.

The scant remaining ambition lit a fire in his petrified body.

“Goohhhhaaaaa!! (I… I am the strongest!!) ”

Aided by the momentum of his dash, his arm swung down, portending the most powerful attack Redarmor had ever unleashed.

Thick nails carved the wind, striking viciously into the King of the Fen Wolves.

The king, without even blinking, took the hit.

An impact. A flash and a roar, bright and loud as a bolt of lightning, knocked over a swath of trees, making Redarmor certain of his victory.

However, he was mistaken.

“Arwf… (That was a good attack. Touching, even…) ”

The white wolf king had taken Redarmor’s full-power strike unscathed.

“Arwf. (Touching, though pointless.) ”

The king’s disappointed words caused Redarmor to take a step back.

“Goha… Goha… (Wha… What…) ”

Now that he’d entirely lost his will to fight, a pack of Fen Wolves set upon him from every direction. It was more than enough of an opening for them to finish him off.

“Gh…gowahhhhhhhhhh?! (Gyaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh?!) ”

And so, in less than an hour, Redarmor’s unstoppable advance met its end.

The rain had more than cleared up.

The young Fen Wolves had been covered in mud from their training, but the rain had washed them, the sunlight had dried them, and they had given an absolutely beautiful performance.

“Grw! (Listen up!) ”

We’d formed a line, backs straight, in front of Garo, our instructor.

“Grw, grw! (As of today, as of this instant, you are no longer maggots—you are warriors! Now that you have overcome my training, you aren’t young pups needing to be protected by their parents. You can fight with your own strength as proud Fen Wolves! Swear by the blood coursing through your veins, and fight on until the moment you die!) ”

“““Grrrrrowwwwwwwwww!!”””

As the other Fen Wolves gave their valiant cries, I, too, howled my heart out.

After a breath, Garo, whose face had been strict until then, looked at us with gentle eyes.

Eyes that showed she’d completed her duty as our demonic drill sergeant.

“Grw, grw. (You’ve done well to make it through this harsh training, everyone. I’m sorry for how difficult and painful it’s been. But you believed in me and stayed with me, and for that I want to thank you. I’m proud of each and every one of you.) ”

“““Gr-grwl…! (I-Instructor…!) ”””

We all ran to Garo, surrounding her, and cried, nuzzling against one another.

Our bonds were invincible. Glory to the Fen Wolves. Glory to the king.

As Garo watched us sob, her eyes filled with compassion, she suddenly gave a start and looked at me.

“Gr-grwl…? (Routa…?) ”

“Arwf? (Uh, yes, ma’am. I am Routa. Is something the matter, Instructor?) ”

“Gr… (I’m…) ”

I’m…?

“Grrrrrrwwwl!! (I’m so incredibly sorry!! I’ve done something absolutely inexcusable to our king!!) ” cries Garo as she grovels incredibly low. She puts her tail between her hind legs, and, trembling madly, shoves her nose into her outstretched front legs.

Seeing her so afraid makes me snap out of it.

“Arwf?! (Wha— What was I doing?!) ”

Without realizing it, I became one of the new recruits. Man, boot camp diets are terrifying.

But look! Thanks to the training, I’ve gotten my old figure back. A lean, tight stomach. Lithe, slender limbs. A dauntless, intrepid face.

“Squeak. (Well, what have we here? You’ve certainly slimmed down.) ”

“Mrow. (Too true. Routa, you’re so cool!) ”

“Arw-rw? (Deh-heh, you think so?) ”

After running over to me, Len and Nahura praise me.

And even I can tell. No matter how you look at me, I’m one hunk of a wolf—err, dog. I could go back to the mansion like this. I probably won’t break any beds or smash any doors.

Sweet, I did it! Mission complete.

“Whiiiiine… (I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry…) ”

Garo has turned into a robot programmed only to apologize.

“Woof, woof. (You don’t need to apologize, Garo. I’m the one who asked you to do this.) ”

Well, despite how harsh the training was, the hellishness of it all seems to have mostly fled my mind. I also feel like I just fought a giant bear or something, but I can’t really remember. Letting Garo be that enthusiastic was my mistake, and it was her training that took all this weight off in a single day. What does she have to apologize for?

“Whine… (King… My king, Routa…)”

She comes to nuzzle me as she cries tears heavy with emotion.

There, there, you did admirably. Still, I don’t feel anything for you whatsoever, given that you’re an animal.

“Arwf? (Huh? Garo, are you, like, a little smaller than before?) ”

She used to be only a little smaller than me. I’m not sure what happened, but now she’s only big enough to come up to my chest. She’s gotten two-thirds smaller.

“G-grwl… (N-no, my king. I haven’t gotten smaller, but…) ”

“Squeak. (You’ve gotten bigger.) ”

“Mrrrow! (Routa, you’re really big now!) ”

“A-arwf? (I… What…?!) ”

Once they say it, I notice that Nahura and Len look like specks now.

The real change was inside me all along.

I certainly succeeded at getting slimmer. But that was only because my body’s volume stretched vertically. Without realizing it, I grew three times bigger than before.

“Ar-arrrrrrrrrrwf?! (Wh-what am I supposed to do like this?!) ”

I’m huge. Gigantic. Inexcusably enormous.

And now I can’t possibly go back to the mansion anymore—again! Nooo!

With my body having grown so big my head would probably reach all the way to the mansion’s second story, even the mansion-dwellers, who look at me through rose-tinted glasses, are sure to notice something’s wrong. How am I supposed to go home now that I’m this big?

“Arrrww! (I’ll never see my lady or anyone else ever again! Waahhhh!) ”

I cry. In fact, I bawl.

Garo and the others, meanwhile, seem quite taken with my appearance. They’re chittering about it. It all paints a terrible picture.

Also, it’s amazing how the collar Hecate so casually gave me has stretched out along with my body. She must have made it assuming I’d grow. It seems to be made of material that can freely expand and contract, and even having gotten this big, I don’t find it hard to breathe at all. Her nonchalant concern for me makes me happy—not! Why didn’t she stuff her stupid concern and do some magic or something to stop me from growing?!

“Squeak. (Why not give up already, beloved? It might be nice living in the forest like this. In fact, it would make more sense. Humans raising the King of the Fen Wolves like some sort of common pet—it’s unnatural, no matter how you think about it.) ”

“Woof, woof! (I don’t wanna! I wanna live as a pet doggy my whole life! I’d never wanna live like a wild wolf! Not in a million years!) ”

I’ve already been endlessly spoiled. I could never do something like live in the wild at this point.

Falling onto my front legs, I wail bitterly at my own misfortune. How cruel this world is to me! I’ll accept consolation now. Glance, glance.

“Mrow. (Well, setting Routa aside, I wonder why he got so big all of a sudden.) ”

Setting me aside? Isn’t that a little harsh?

“Squeak. (Hmm. My speculation is that it all started a little while back when he started getting fat.) ”

“Mroow. (Yeah, he always ate so much before that, but then he suddenly started getting fatter. How long ago was that?) ”

“Arwf? (When I started getting fat?) ”

I’ve never done anything besides eat and sleep, so I don’t remember. But if I have any recollection of when I was thinner, it would be this one: when I fought that giant skeleton. I’m pretty sure I wasn’t fat before then.

A skeleton calling itself a general in the Demon Lord’s army or something attacked us, and we battled to protect Mare, a ghost horse who had lost her memories.

Well, I say battled , but really, I just ate it. And it was delicious. I got to experience the umami of bones, something I could never taste while I was human. Couldn’t I have left a little bit, waited for it to regenerate, and eaten it again, forever? That was wasteful of me.

“Squeak. (I’m always amazed by your nonchalant consideration of bloodcurdling ideas, but eating that skeleton was probably what caused this.) ”

Huh? Why would bones make me fat? They have almost no calories. In fact, to even get fat off of meat, you’d need to eat through entire buffets. Speaking of meat, I really want some of the old man’s grilled steak… Ahh, now I’m hungry…

“Mrow? (Routa, your thoughts always fly off into the clouds, huh?) ”

“Squeak. (Nothing’s changed; let it be.) ”

I think immediately setting me aside like that is really mean.

“Squeak, squeak-squeak. (Back to the matter at hand. Eating such a powerful monster must have caused its reserves of mana to build up inside you. The excess mana became excess fat which accumulated in your body. And then, thanks to the harsh training, it triggered a sudden growth spurt. You only looked plump and chubby because you were ‘bulking,’ as it were, before growing.) ”

In other words, all the energy I saved up was released at once by the training and caused this gigantification incident? Wait, but that means…!

“Ar-arwf?! (Everything I do that I think is for the better is backfiring?!) ”

I was trying to diet—and that actually made the situation worse.

Now that I’ve gotten this big, there’s nothing else I can do. I can’t even go back to the mansion now. I’ll probably fail to adapt to bare-bones living in the forest and die a dog’s death. It’s hopeless. All I can do is cry. Cry, and weep, and bawl.

…Or so you’d think! However, I do still have a way to fix this.

“Arwf. (I’m out of options. I was going to save this as my ace in the hole, but…) ”

I’ve had a secret plan—a perfect one—for if my identity was ever exposed to the young lady. I hadn’t wanted to commit to such a tactic. After all, learning it would be a huge pain. But griping won’t get me anywhere in this situation. I need to get my old form back soon and return to my lady.

“Woof! (Len!) ”

I give Len a look filled with determination.

“Squeak? (What is it? Why are you looking at me with such a passionate gaze? Have you decided to give up, live in the forest, and mate with me? ‘Bring it on,’ as they say.) ”

No, not at all. Also, you’ve been quietly absorbing the slang I use, haven’t you?

“Woof! (Len! Lady Len!) ”

With all my energy, I make a plea of Len, whose arms are folded.

“Woof, woof! (Please, teach me the art of shape-shifting!) ”

Mastering the art of shape-shifting: a goal I’d first set my sights on when I saw Len use it to transform mice and people and whatever else.

The technique lets you change your shape at will; I figured it might help me pretend to be a dog. And when she changed the ghost horse Mare from her spooky-scary-skeleton form into a wonderful black steed, I was fully convinced. If she could transform Mare, who was obviously a monster however you looked at her, into something that kept even Zenobia in the dark, then if I mastered it, my pet life would be fully secured. No doubt about it.

“Squeak, squeak! (I see! Yes, yes, I see! You want to learn the art of shape-shifting! I understand! You want to change into a dragon and produce offspring with me!) ”

What? No.

“Squeak, squeak, squeak! (No, no, no need for others to chime in. My beloved has always been a pervert only aroused by the human form. Thankfully, I, too, have mastered the art of transforming into a human. You’d like us both to transform into humans and mate that way!) ”

Len, causing a clamor, seems to be the only one not understanding this.

“Squeak, squeak, squeak! (You’ve clearly thought this through. It’s no wonder we could resolve our racial differences via shape-shifting techniques! Though, of course, I would accept you no matter what form you were in. Considering we are to make children, there is little doubt things would go well were we both human! If that is what you wish, I will spare no attention to detail in teaching it to you!) ”

I’m trying to do something entirely different from what Len is hoping for, but if she wants to teach me the technique, maybe it’ll be easier if she keeps on misunderstanding. I am terrified of what will happen when the truth is revealed, but who cares? I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it.

“Squeak! (Then first, I shall show you an example!) ”

Len, in mouse form, hops upward, then spins around once in midair.

And then, the moment she lands, a young girl is standing there, wearing clothing that looks like an unlined kimono, a little big for her.

She has black hair, but with hints of blue reminiscent of her scales. Her skin is as white as snow. She also has big, almond-shaped eyes. She’s cute enough that she’d 100 percent be a beauty in the future, but since she’s currently a little girl, I don’t feel anything.

“How was that? If you master this technique, you’ll be able to transform with clothing included as well. I hope you learn it swiftly so we can then mate.”

I have no intention of mating with you, but I do want to learn the technique quickly!

“Arwf, arwf? (What exactly should I do to learn it?) ”

“Ah, yes… As shape-shifting is high-level magic, the spell is quite complicated. I doubt you’ll have any problems, considering you can use ultimate destruction magic, but still…”

“Arwf? (Huh? I didn’t realize that laser beam was such a complicated spell.) ”

And here I thought it was just a barf beam!

“Not only is it difficult, it is inefficient. It takes time to weave the spell, for one thing, and if your opponent runs away while you build up mana, you will be helpless. To make matters worse, it expends a lot of mana; one shot and you’ll be dry. It may be useful for attacking castle fortifications, but there are plenty of other more efficient spells for that purpose. In terms of its raw power, it is certainly the strongest, but frankly speaking, there is no practical use for it.”

Huh. It’s only good for the wow factor, then. I can make the beam narrower and stuff to use it for subtler tasks, though, so it seems pretty handy to me.

“How exactly do you use magic, anyway? You seem to fire beams in succession quite easily, but I’ve never actually seen you cast the spell. How do you activate it?”

“Arwf? (Huh? I just, uhh, will it.) ”

I sort of howl while imagining myself throwing up, and then it comes out.

“…That…is exceedingly nonsensical.”

Len’s shoulders slump in disappointment, her kimono sliding down one shoulder.

“Well, I suppose we’ve always known how much of a monster you are.”

That’s rude. How could you call a cute little pupper like me a monster ?

“However, if you can’t weave the spell yourself, then having me cast it on you would be the fastest option. I would need you to stock up on mana in advance, but I’m sure you would have no problems at all.”

That’s how she did it with Mare, too. I’ll take the easy way, please and thank you.

“Very well, then! We shall do it now!”

“Arwf! (Great! Bring it!) ”

“King of the Fen Wolves, Routa Fenrir! Envision thy desired form and receive my magic!”

Wait, is that my full name?

Possibly because of the stray thoughts about that new discovery, before I knew it, the shining magic circle Len creates engulfs me before a flash of light snaps a moment later.

The smoke billows and drifts before eventually clearing.

“Woof, woof?! (How did it go? Did I change?!) ”

“…No, it was a failure. You were thinking something unnecessary, weren’t you?”

It’s your fault for suddenly giving me a really edgy-sounding name!

“We will try again. This time, place the form you wish for firmly in your mind’s eye.”

“Arwf! (Great! I’ll do it as many times as it takes!) ”

Len’s spell activates again, and a flash of light brightens the forest.

“…Arwf! (How about that? It went perfectly that time, didn’t it?!) ”

“You haven’t changed in the slightest. Shape-shifting into a different race is indeed difficult. Humans in particular are frail, and for one born mighty such as you, it may be hard to imagine a human form.”

Actually, I was human before reincarnating, so it’s pretty easy for me to imagine that.

“But we shall overcome these trials and change you into a human no matter the cost—so that we can mate!”

Len’s been barking up the wrong tree this entire time. I never said I wanted to turn into a human. Not even once.

In reality, the shape-shifting technique hasn’t actually been failing. To others, it may look like nothing’s happening, but it’s steadily approaching success.

“Heh-heh. I wonder what form you will have when you become human. Well, my love for you would never wane no matter what appearance you took on, but I am boundlessly curious. We must hurry and succeed!”

Len puts her hands on her cheeks, wiggling around in excited embarrassment.

I want to give her spoilers, but if my plot is revealed, she might not want to use the technique on me anymore. I’ll leave her in the dark for now.

“Grw? (Princess of Dragons, is this talk of our king lusting for humans true?) ”

A voice comes from behind Len.

Oh? It’s Garo. Seems like she came to check on us. With boot camp training over, she appears to have turned off her drill sergeant mode, too.

“Grwf, grwf. (Ah, I see. It would make sense, then, that our king would not react to Lady Garo’s beauty. I had thought it strange, that he could not so much as discern her gender, much less judge her appearance…) ”

Garo’s watchdog, the old wolf Bal, is there with her.

You may call it weird, Bal, but I just don’t have the special ability to tell male wolves from female ones at a glance. My aesthetic sense is still human.

“Grwf, grwf. (In that case, why don’t we have Lady Garo, too, learn the art of shape-shifting? With her in human form, His Majesty could then provide his seed as well. Lady Garo is the most beautiful of all the Fen Wolves, after all. She is likely to be just as beautiful in human form.) ”

“Gr-grwl… (S-stop that, Bal… You’re being disrespectful to our king…) ”

Garo says that, but as she does, she throws a glance my way.

“Grwl. (However, Bal does have a point. One of our responsibilities is to preserve the king’s bloodline for future generations. My personal feelings have nothing to do with it—nothing at all!) ”

I get the feeling they’re forgetting to ask me about anything as they roll this conversation along.

Garo nods as if to convince herself, then sits in front of Len.

“Wh-what is it…? You would attempt to tear my beloved and me apart? If it is to be a battle of strength, I will face you!”

Swish! Len assumes a strange stance. More importantly, you need to do something about that anxiety. You’re only quick to pick fights because you’re scared.

“Grwl. (Princess of the dragons, your concerns are unfounded.) ”

In contrast to the cautious Len, Garo acts straightforwardly. She speaks to her in a gentle, placating voice.

“Grwl, grwl. (I have no intention of objecting to you and my king becoming mates. The noble bloodline of the king deserves to be spread far and wide, and not only within the Fen Wolves. However, this is a matter of pride for us Fen Wolves. I would ask you, for the sake of our future, that you please teach your secret arts to me as well.) ”

Garo prostrates herself deeply before Len.

“Nnngh… To think a proud Fen Wolf would lower her head to one of another race…”

Actually, all these guys bow all the time.

“If you so insist, then I suppose I must agree. However, I am his lawful wife! I will not budge on that point!”

“Grwl, grwl. (That is fine with me. I name myself as the king’s first subject, but I am no more than one wolf organizing the Fen. If I am able to pass on the king’s bloodline, my position matters little.) ”

Hmmm. I haven’t consented to a single part of this, but the women seem to have made up their minds.

“Very well. If you are so prepared, then I must abide. Receive my secret technique, princess of the Fen Wolves!”

Len holds out a hand, and the shape-shifting spell engulfs Garo. Light flashes, and white smoke enshrouds her before eventually fading.

“…So this is a human form? It certainly feels strange to stand on two legs.”

Standing there is a black-haired, golden-eyed, brown-skinned beauty. Slender and tall. Lean, compact features. Her jet-black hair trails down her back, an aura of wildness bounding from it.

I see. Her brave, dignified air seems to have been directly carried over into her human appearance.

“Hmm. As expected, you have an aptitude for this. Even I required more than one try to succeed.”

“Bow, bow! (Truly a technique possible because of your love, Lady Garo!) ”

“B-Bal… S-stand down…”

Garo getting flustered now that she’s a brown-skinned beauty is actually incredibly cute. Cool and calm beauties getting embarrassed and stuff is the best.

…Wait! This isn’t good. Not good at all. I never planned to settle down and get married .

“M-my king… What are your thoughts? Does this form please you?”

Garo walks over to me, her gait unsteady and inexperienced. As though the shape-shifting subtly failed, wolf ears poke from her hair, and a bushy tail extends from her rear end. Plus, her unsteady way of walking makes me want to protect her. It’s a total knockout.

That was close. If I were a furry, I might have keeled over and died right then and there.

“My king…?”

“A-arwf? (I…guess it’s good?) ”

The fully naked, dark-skinned beauty is just too much stimulation for a pure boy like me.

“Bow, bow! (This is your chance, Lady Garo! Go on the offensive! Like a huntress, sharp and fierce, shall you take the king’s heart!) ”

Damn you, Bal! Quit saying stuff you don’t need to. Garo is actually gonna go for it!

“M-my king… P-please, look this way…”

As Garo leans coquettishly toward me, her eyes watering, I defend against her, desperately averting my gaze.

“Mgh, mrrrgh! This is an entirely different reaction than the one you gave me when I shape-shifted! What is the meaning of this?!”

Len stomps her foot, immediately regretting having given Garo the shape-shifting technique.

“Meeeow. (Now, now, Lady Len. Please, calm down.) ”

“I cannot remain calm! Are you not frustrated as well, Nahura?! Have you not gone on about him being your lover and whatnot?! I will teach you the shape-shifting technique as well, so that you may take him back! At this rate, the Fen Wolf princess will have him all to herself!”

Actually, I don’t remember any of you owning me. I’m my own dog. More specifically, if we’re gonna talk about whom I belong to, the only answer would be Lady Mary.

“Mew-mrow. (Routa is a good-for-nothing, so I don’t think you really need to worry so much about him. And I may look like a normal familiar, but I was made from alchemical essences. I can transform into a human without anyone’s help.) ”

“Wh-what?! You know of a different system of magic than I do?! I would very much like to see that!”

“Mew? (You really want to see it that much? Well, if you insist. I’ll make an exception just for you.) ”

The dumb cat calling people good-for-nothings assumes some sort of stance in front of the keenly interested Len.

“Meeeeow. (Okay, here I go!) ” Nahura meows loudly.

As I’m wondering what sort of magic she’ll use, her back suddenly splits wide open .

What bursts from within is a grotesque, red mass of flesh. It wriggles, sprouting tentacles, multiplying across Nahura’s back.

“Arwf?! (What’s with the sudden body horror?!) ”

The spectators break out into a cold sweat as the unannounced splatter theater unfolds.

The fleshy lump turns inside out, swallowing up Nahura, pulsing as it changes form. My brain immediately applies a pixilation filter over the whole thing. It’s all a terrible, squishy mess. This is just like a failed human transmutation! The kind that gets you called to that gate!

The adorable cat is nowhere to be seen, and now a human-shaped monster with half its joints bent in the wrong directions closes in on us—the kind that would make even an exorcist turn white in the face.

“Ar-arrrrrwf?! (Eeeeeeeeeek?! It’s walking on its back?!) ”

It’s throbbing! I swear to God it’s throbbing!

I’m glued in place by sheer terror.

The impending monster, steam hissing from it quietly, changes its shape even further.

The twisted joints move into their proper positions, white skin appears over the exposed body, and the disheveled hair comes together neatly.

“Hee-hee-hee. How was that, Routa? I’m pretty cute even human-shaped, aren’t I?”

Nahura, now rubbing up against me, has morphed into a cute girl with cat ears. Her body, however, is covered in a mysterious sticky fluid.

“……”

“What’s the matter, Routa? You froze. Could it be you’re bewitched by my beauty?”

I look at Nahura as she moves her body sinuously, and then—I pass out.

“M-my love?!”

“M-my king?!”

“Wait, whaaat?! That’s a little rude, don’t you think?!”

Too many things happening at once made my brain deflate like a flat tire.

Once I regained consciousness, I practiced the shape-shifting technique many times under the watchful eyes of Nahura and Garo, both who had changed into animal girls, and Len, who had taken the form of a young human girl.

“Little one, why don’t we take a break?”

“Arwf! (No, just a little longer, please! I feel like I’m about to make a breakthrough!) ”

“Ohhh, to think I would see the day when you put your heart and soul into something…! How gallant, how manly! It makes my heart flutter!”

I’d rather it not.

Still, like I said, I’m definitely getting the hang of the art of shape-shifting. It’s the mental image. The crucial part of the spell is how strong an image you can hold in your head when you do it.

Len and the others have technically turned into humans, but it’s hard to call their technique perfect considering the leftover ears and tails. It’s because they were dragged down by the images of what they’re supposed to look like. Pushing that away and vividly imagining your transformed self—that’s the path to success.

“Arwf! (Do it, Len! I know for sure I can do it this time!) ”

“What spirit! You must very much want to mate with me!”

No, not at all, but knock yourself out.

Len’s magic engulfs me, and light brighter than any thus far illuminates our surroundings. I squint against the radiance, and when it disappears, there I stand. My true self.

“Mgh, another failure… ’Tis unfortunate, but you must not give up. I will prepare for our next attempt—”

“Arrrwf!! (I did it! It worked!!) ”

I cut Len off with a howl of joy.

It’s perfect. No doubt. The shape-shifting spell was a complete success.

“…What are you saying? Your shape hasn’t shifted at all, has it?”

“She’s right,” says Nahura. “You don’t look any different than before.”

“My king, perhaps you should take a short rest…?”

Hey, quit acting like I’m loopy from exhaustion.

“Woof, woof! (Look closely. I’m totally different!) ”

Len sighs. “So you say. What about you is different?” she asks, toddling toward me, her kimono dragging behind her. She looks up at me.

And then a look of sudden understanding comes over her face.

“You’ve grown smaller?!”

You got it.

My current form is my previous one, before I accidentally grew so much. Or, more concretely, I’ve shape-shifted to what I looked like before I got so fat. My proportions all shrank by the same amount, so from afar, they probably couldn’t tell.

I’m such a perfect size that I want to give myself a pat on the back. If I got greedy and went too small, that would actually make the people at the mansion suspicious in its own right. Getting the balance right sure was tricky.

Now I’ll always be able to interact with Toa, and even if I get fat again, it won’t change how I look because of the shape-shifting spell. Now I can eat all the food I want without having to worry.

“What… What is the meaning of this, beloved…?” inquires Len in a quivering voice. “Wh-what happened to all that about changing into a human and mating with us?”

“Arwf? (Huh? I never said a word about any of that. Oh, what a terrible misunderstanding. Anyway, let’s go home.) ”

In high spirits, I start on the way home, leaving the women behind me baffled.

“How… How… How dare you dash the hopes of a maiden!! I shall not forgive this!!”

Len spouts fire, shifting from her young girl form into a giant blue dragon.

“A-arrrwf!! (Hey—stop that, stupid! It’s hot! No, stop!) ”

“GAROROROOOOOON!! (I shall not forgive this! I will not forgive it!! The price for your sin of deceiving a woman is grave indeed!!) ”

H-Hey! Nahura! Garo! What are you doing?! Get out of the peanut gallery and help me!

“Can’t defend you this time, unfortunately!”

“My king, this is just too cruel…”

Nahura folds her hands behind her head and grins, while Garo’s shoulders droop in disappointment.

“GAROROROROOOOON!! (Wait! Stop!! Stop, you!!) ”

“Arrrwf! (Waaahhh! I’m sooorrrrrryyy!) ”

My game of tag with Len continues until we get back to the mansion.

“Woof, woof!! (Lady Mary! Everyone! I’m hooome!!) ”

After somehow talking Len down and having her go back to being a mouse, I bark outside the mansion, calling for everyone.

When I do, the mansion doors immediately open and the young lady comes bursting out of them.

“Routa!! You came back!!”

Yay, it’s Lady Mary. Lady Mary!

I leap over the gates and run to her as fast as my legs can carry me.

Just before I run into her, I assume a sitting position to jam on the brakes and catch her with my fluffy fur.

“Routa, Routaaa… I thought you didn’t like being here anymore…”

As she sniffles, Lady Mary hugs me really tight.

I left the mansion yesterday morning, which means I’ve been gone for a full day. It looks like I’ve made her feel pretty lonely.

“Whine, whine. (I’m sorry, Lady Mary. I’m sorry!) ”

But, look—look, Lady Mary! As you can see, I’ve gotten my slim shape back!

After the young lady, the rest of the mansion’s denizens come over to us.

“Look at how much you’ve made Mary cry. I thought you were a better man than that, Routa.”

Papa starts rubbing my and the young lady’s heads, seeming relieved.

“Arwf, arwf. (Papa, I’m sorry for breaking the bed and the mansion.) ”

“What’s that? You’re worried about damaging the mansion? No need to worry. I ordered materials and a craftsman right away, and they came via airship. At times like these, I’m really glad to be in the merchant business.”

“Well, I would have preferred a little more time with the young lady. It reminded me of when she was little.”

Miranda giggles. Since Lady Mary’s bed was broken, she must have slept in Miranda’s last night.

“Wow, Routa, you’re so thin now!”

“You’re right. That’s a lot of weight to lose in only one day.”

“…So slim.”

Right? You maids can take a good look at my wonderful body, too. I can even get through the mansion’s doors with ease now.

“Lady Mary, I just informed Mr. James! He says the meal is ready.”

Toa approaches, out of breath. I assume her lateness is because she went to tell the old man that I was back first.

My eyes almost start leaking tears from Toa’s kindness. Also, my mouth almost starts leaking drool. I’m seriously hungry.

“Oh, that’s right! Routa, we need to feed you! Let’s go!”

“Woof, woof! (Yay! Food time! It’s been a whole day since I’ve had the old man’s cooking!) ”

As Lady Mary breaks into a run, I follow her, and we head for the old man’s kitchen.

As soon as we step from the hallway into the kitchen, I’m surrounded by delightful culinary aromas that make me feel like I’m on my way to heaven.

“Well, look at you! You’ve certainly trimmed down. Try to be more reasonable with your outings, though. Everyone worries about you. I figured you’d be returning soon, though, so I got a meal ready for you.”

“Arrrwf! (Yes! I love you, old man!) ”

After that, I stuff my belly with the old man’s cooking, and when night comes, I go to sleep with the young lady in a bed that’s wider and sturdier than ever before.

And that’s how I got my regular life back.

Incidentally, Redarmor’s story continued after his defeat at the hands of Routa and the others.

“Gh… Gohh…? (What… What was I…? I thought that white Fen Wolf killed me…) ”

He realized through the haziness of his consciousness that he was still alive after being hunted and supposedly killed.

When he opened his heavy eyelids, the glaring summer sunlight stabbed at his eyes.

“Finally awake?”

A voice came from nearby. Redarmor abruptly got up and took a cautious stance.

“Nice reflexes.”

The voice belonged to a young human woman with brown skin. No, she had big ears and a thick tail. Characteristics of Fen Wolves. This woman was a shape-shifted Fen Wolf.

He didn’t know why she’d wanted to change into a human, but before even that, he had been unable to understand the situation he was currently in. He’d challenged the Fen Wolves to battle, and he’d been defeated easily. His being alive like this should have been an impossibility.

“Hmm. By the looks of it, you still don’t appear to have been taken over by the excess mana. You’ve made the power your own, without letting yourself be swallowed by it. You have talent.”

Redarmor’s caution intensified at the woman’s appraising stare.

“Gohrrr? (Why didn’t you finish me off…? Those who are defeated in battle are consumed. It’s the only rule of the wild.) ”

“Oh, no reason in particular. I just thought I’d give you one more chance now that you’ve lost. You are inexperienced, and a fool, but your courage in challenging us by yourself is admirable. However, simply swinging power around wildly does not require skill. You and your greed-stained personality both—I will thoroughly reforge them.”

And then the Fen Wolf elites, all in a line, bared their fangs to welcome the arrival of a new green recruit.

“““Grwl, grwl! (Welcome to the Fen Wolf training grounds!) ”””

“Rejoice, Redarmor, for we will make you, too, into a Fen Wolf. And we shall start by instilling in you an absolute loyalty to King Routa.”

“G-gohhh?! (Wh-what?!) ”

“Grwl. (Don’t worry. We will teach you everything.) ”

At Garo’s signal, the Fen Wolves penned Redarmor in.

“G-goaaahhhhh?! (St-stop! I don’t want that…! Ggyaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh?!) ”

It appeared the forest-ravaging invader would soon become a new ally to the Fen Wolves…