05: The Demon Lord’s Army Returns with a Raid! …Or So I Thought, but We’re Fully Enjoying the Summer!

Late one night, a white object rolled along the forest floor.

It was small, like a pebble, getting stuck in little ditches and bouncing off other pebbles, but it kept rolling, as if trying to go somewhere.

The moonlight illuminated the white object until finally one could make out its shape.

A tiny little skull.

It was like a human skeleton had been shrunk down to that size, but only its head was rolling.

Had one of the Fen Wolves been there, they would have known exactly what it was.

It had been burned into their eyes—as well as their stomachs—during that decisive battle in the graveyard.

The skeleton was the one that had been eaten by the Fen Wolves under Routa’s command, and it shouldn’t have existed anymore: the necromancer, Lich.

“Haah, haah… I managed to fake my destruction and sneak my main body out of my all-important graveyard, but now that it’s been stolen, I have no mana left with which to repair myself… How many months, how many years will it be until I fully restore my strength?”

The skeleton stopped rolling, then looked up at the moon peeking down in the night sky.

“To think one of the Demon Lord’s generals would be defeated so easily… Who in the world was that white Fen Wolf? Enough mana to continuously shoot ultimate destruction magic… Hardy enough to shrug off my attacks… So many wolf soldiers, trained to their absolute best… Strong enough to make me fear him. And that wasn’t the only fearsome thing. His abnormal ideas, too—such as killing me, an immortal, by eating me…”

Lich’s bony body clattered in fear as he remembered the terrible Fen Wolf and how he had gnashed his fangs to devour him whole.

“Weakened as I am, I would not be much help to the Demon Lord. I’ve no idea how much time it will take to regain my original body… My only choice is to go into hiding to replenish my strength. That white Fen Wolf is one to be feared. That one as great as he was born while we were sealed is a grave situation indeed… Perhaps I should be very cautious in my investigation of how to unseal the Demon Lord as well.”

First he’d need to find a safe place… He hated the idea of any more crows and squirrels chasing him around. Why were they so fascinated by a skull in the first place?

As he muttered these things to himself, his skull form continued rolling through the forest.

Then he was stopped—by a high-heeled boot.

“What?! Who goes there?!”

“Oh? Oh, oh, oh, what’s this? I spotted something terribly unsightly, and who should it turn out to be but you , Uncle Lich?”

“That… That voice!”

For him it had felt like a few months. In actual time, however, he had not heard the voice of this cohort in a thousand years, and it had him shocked.

“Carmilla?! You’ve revived as well?!”

The one stepping on Lich was a beautiful girl wearing a mantle over a black dress.

Her golden locks and her bloodred eyes glittered ominously in the night.

Her clothing was an ill fit for so deep in the forest and far from human civilization, but the long fangs protruding from her mouth and the big, bat-like wings extending from her back revealed her to be a monster.

“I have indeed, Uncle. It is I, your beloved comrade and vampire princess, Carmilla.”

The girl calling herself Carmilla did a little twirl in place, granting herself an affected sort of elegance.

“But I must say, this is funny. The great necromancer Lich, general of the Demon Lord’s army, reduced to something so laughable!”

Knitting her brows, she giggled. Lich was indignant.

“Where… Where have you been this whole time?! If you had been part of the fight, I might not have lost so terribly…!”

“I wish you wouldn’t ask the impossible. I only woke up just a few days ago, you know. I don’t know why the seal was undone, but I did fly here in a hurry after I sensed your pitiful magic nearby, Uncle. Though we may be of different races, we are both immortal, so I came here to save you. A little thanks wouldn’t kill you.”

Lich had to fall silent after that. If Carmilla put a little more force into her heel, she could easily crush him, weakened as he was.

“First, you’ll explain the situation. Starting with that teeny-tiny body of yours, hee-hee…”

If his body had contained any blood vessels, they would have been quite visible on his forehead. But Lich restrained his anger and chose to proceed with the conversation in a constructive manner.

“…Fine, then. The path to resurrecting the Demon Lord may be as straightforward as we hoped.”

“Oh? Now I’m interested. Why don’t you tell me all about it? And instead of letting others get in the way, I’ll invite you to my crystal palace, Uncle.”

After picking up the skull, Carmilla spread her wings and flew off under the moonlight.

Ever since the rainy season ended, the days have been getting hotter and hotter.

I dearly miss the cold water of the lake. And also that delicious, ice-cold beer.

“Hff… Hff… (It’s hot… It’s so hot…) ”

It’s not all that bad inside the mansion, but the sunlight outside seems to be stabbing right into me, and moving just a little makes me want to pass out from the heat.

Damn it all. To think the day would come when my fluffy fur worked against me…

“Are you all right, Routa? Do you want some water?”

The ever-considerate Lady Mary has officially switched to summer clothes. Her sleeveless white dress and wide-brimmed straw hat are very cute.

Moments ago we were running around together in the garden; I was the first one the heat did in.

“Oh my. How slovenly.”

I suddenly feel a cold wind blow through, and then Hecate appears before us, sitting on her staff as it floats horizontally in the air.

“Dr. Hecate! Did you come to play?!”

The young lady’s face lights up, and she pounces on Hecate. She must really like her a lot. Maybe she’s all the more attached to her because she doesn’t have a mom.

Of course, Hecate isn’t exactly the mother type—she’s more like a grandma who endlessly dotes on her grandchildren—eep?! Hecate’s looking this way and smiling! Her face is smiling, but her eyes are subzero!

“…My, my. I won’t give you my summer-visit gift if you behave like that.”

Huh? What is it? Did you bring something for me?

I am eagerly awaiting something that will release me from this blazing-hot summer.

“Mary, take a step back, okay?”

Hecate alights from her staff and has me and the young lady move away.

“Nahura, are you ready? Oh! I see you’ve found something just right. Anchor it, then, okay? I’m going to summon you.”

Is she communicating with Nahura from a distance? As she talks, she has her fingers on the accessory on her ear.

“All right, here we go.”

Hecate twirls her staff and points its orb toward the sky.

A hole opens up in midair, and from it something huge gently descends.

“Wow! It’s cold!”

A burst of cold wind rushes through the hole along with the giant object.

“Arwf? (Is that a clump of ice?) ”

An ice boulder falls down, then lands in the backyard with a thud.

“Wow, it’s so pretty!”

The young lady draws near and looks up at the icy chunk. Despite its size, you can see right through to the other side. The ice is totally transparent.

“M-mew… (I… I thought I was going to freeze to death…) ”

Nahura comes up to me, shivering, snot dripping from her nose. It seems she was the one who went and got this ice.

“Natural ice cut from the areas near the peak of the sacred mountain in the north.”

Whoa. Never heard of it, but that’s incredible. Just being near it makes me supercool. This was a great midsummer present.

“Whoa! What’s that?!”

The kitchen’s back door leads to the backyard; a shocked old man comes bursting out.

“Ah, Miss Hecate—welcome. This is quite the block of ice.”

He seems to have immediately understood Hecate called it here with magic. He raps his knuckles against the ice, then licks the droplets that stick to his hand, evaluating its flavor.

“Very high-quality natural ice at that. I was just thinking of buying some at the capital. One scoop of this would go for a whole gold coin there.”

Wait, for real? We could get a thousand scoops out of this much ice and it would barely scratch the surface. If we bring it there, we’d be filthy rich.

And yet we’re using it as a stand-in air conditioner? Hecate sure loves to live lavishly.

“Hmm. Miss Hecate, may I have a little of this ice?”

“You may. I see you’ve thought of something.”

“I won’t say anything yet. It would spoil the surprise.”

The old man goes back into the kitchen, then brings out a knife and a small dish.

“Well then, don’t mind if I do.”

He presses the knife against the ice, then smoothly slides it. A moment later, fine powder bursts off the ice’s surface, glittering in the sun.

He catches it in the dish, then continues shaving little pieces off the ice, his movements fluid.

“A-arwf! (This… This is shaved ice!) ”

First rice, and now this! I can’t believe I’m seeing such nostalgic foods.

Well, actually, the shaved ice I’m familiar with is the sort sold at festivals, shaved roughly and left to sit so long it hardens. Sure, it’s nice to look at in the beginning, but then the taste makes you sad.

I’ve never seen such pillowy shaved ice before! I’m very pleased to meet you, yes I am!

It looks delicious, even though I haven’t even tried it yet. The ice is so fine it looks like frozen mist. It flutters down onto the plate, light as feathers, and piles up higher and higher. Actually, I didn’t think this was how shaved ice was made, but I can’t fault the old man, not with his knife skills.

“Still, if you squeezed a fruit on this, it would probably make a very interesting sorbet. The sheer cold might make it difficult for the tongue to taste much, so I’d need to flavor it with something very sweet…”

“Oh my, is that a request of me in particular?”

Hecate can knock even Papa down a peg, but old man James trying to coax her is just what I’d expect from him.

“Okay, then. I’ll bring out something from my special reserve.”

And his request actually works. Hecate must want to sample his experiment, too.

Aw, so honest with your desires. I have to say I like that about you!

Hecate waves her staff, and several small bottles fall out of the sky.

“This is violet syrup. This one is dew herb. This is golden Osmanthus, and this is bonesetter shrub.”

The bottles line up, all hovering via flotation magic, each containing a richly colored syrup.

“They’re so pretty…!”

“I have your favorite rose syrup, too, Mary.”

Hecate’s homemade flower syrups. I’ve had the rose one before, diluted with water, and that had a great smell and an amazing taste.

Being able to pour it over ice and eat it that way is the height of luxury! Thanks, Hecate!

“Arwf, arwf! (I want the violet! The purple one!) ”

The thick purple syrup swirls onto the shaved ice, mixing in with it and giving it a pink gradation. It looks refreshing and delicious.

“Arwf! (Thanks!) ”

It doesn’t even pop or crunch in my mouth. There’s only the sweet flowery aroma and the feeling of refreshing coolness sliding down my throat.

“Arrwf! (What is this? What even is this?! I’ve never tasted anything like it before—not even remotely!) ”

In a few gulps, the shaved ice on the plate disappears, and I lick up the leftover syrup. The pooling liquid is delicious in a completely different way.

“Woof, woof! (Nahura! You try some, too!) ”

“M-mewww… (I would be perfectly happy not seeing ice again for a long, long time…) ”

It must have been awfully cold for her at the peak of the sacred mountain, because she’s lying on the warm stone cobbling, basking in the sunlight. She doesn’t even attempt to go near the ice.

“Squeak, squeak. (The chef isn’t looking. Quickly, give me some!) ”

As soon as I get my seconds, Len pokes out from between my legs.

“Arwf, arwf. (Okay, okay, this one’s for you. Eat as much as you want.) ”

“S-squeak! (My beloved has shown me consideration…! I am moved by your kindness! Shall we copulate now?!) ”

Something like that, Len. Something like that.

The huge chunk of ice still shows no signs of melting, and as we cool off near it, we smack our lips and enjoy the cold sweetness.

“‘At last, a general of the Demon Lord appeared before the Hero on his journey.’”

“Arwf, arwf. (Uh-huh.) ”

As we lie on the bed, the young lady reads a book to me. Another part of the legend of the hero Routa. She really likes this book, doesn’t she?

“‘The general was named Carmilla, the vampire princess. She was a terrible demon who drank the blood of pure boys and girls. She would appear in villages and towns after night fell, striking fear into the hearts of the people. Anyone whose blood was sucked by Carmilla turned into a mindless thrall who worshiped her. She had personally brought several countries to ruin that way…’ Eek, this is scary.”

The young lady hugs me tightly.

“Arwf. (Ooh, vampire kinks? That’s pretty high level.) ”

“Squeak. (What are you saying? She may not understand you, but your replies are still utterly nonsensical.) ” Len interrupts as she sits on top of Lady Mary’s head, reading the book with her.

“Arwf, arwf. (I would have thought this hero’s legend was just a fairy tale. But I see monsters like these all the time.) ”

What was that one called—Lich, the necromancer? I feel bad for him since we ate all his bones, but if we’d left him to his own devices, it would’ve been bad news for the rest of the world.

“Squeak. (Well, I’m sure mere humans wouldn’t have been strong enough for that. Those pitiable fools should be far more thankful for your rescue.) ”

Please, no. If that happened, my comfy life as a pet would be all over.

“Arwf, arwf. (But why would they be showing up now? Didn’t this legend happen a thousand years ago? Len, do you remember anything from back then?) ”

“Squeak, squeak. (Hmm. A thousand years ago, I was still a newborn dragon. In general, I never left that cave in the waterfall.) ”

So she’s a natural shut-in? From birth?

“Squeak, squeak… (My father or mother may know something, but I haven’t seen them since they left me in my infancy. The only ones I had to talk to were the odd mouse or bat that would take up shelter in the cave…) ”

This is painful just to listen to. Maybe when Len chose to transform into a mouse, it was because that was the only thing she could think of when using the technique, where mental image was important.

Brrr. I feel so bad for calling her a friendless, thousand-year-old spinster shut-in that I think I’m gonna cry.

“Squeak! (You’re thinking something rude again!) ”

“Woof, woof. (I was not. I was just pitying you. With everything I had.) ”

“Squeak! (I have done nothing deserving of pity! If you would pity me, I would rather you mate with me instead!) ”

I’ll have to decline.

The young lady yawns. “I’m too sleepy now. Let’s continue tomorrow.”

“Woof, woof. (It’s not good to stay up late. Let’s hit the hay!) ”

“Squeak. (It is time for children to sleep. Have a good rest.) ”

The mineral lamp’s gentle light fades, and until the young lady falls asleep, I play the part of a hug pillow.

And then, when all is quiet in the mansion, we slip outside.

It was so hot this afternoon, but now that it’s night, the air is chilly. Maybe it’s because of all the nature, and how we are close to mountains.

Which means the night is our time.

“Awoooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!! (Nngghoooohhhhh!! It feels so good to hoooowwwwwwl!!) ”

“Meooooowwl! (It doesn’t feel particularly good, but I’m copying Routa!) ”

“Squeak… (A dragon does not recklessly howl. ’Twould be immodest…) ”

Whenever there’s a full moon, I just gotta howl.

We are at the pointed edge of this forest, and in a line, we howl under the moonlit sky.

“Arwf… (Ahh, I feel better.) ”

I feel like I got it all out. Aaand here comes the postcoital clarity, right on schedule… Anyway, I get to thinking—if I’m a dog, why am I acting like a wolf?

“Woof, arwf. (The moon tonight looks especially delicious. Being not quite full makes it look like an omelet.) ”

Actually, an omelet over rice would be better. Ever since the rice we got from Toa made it onto the menu, my passionate lust for rice has been unstoppable.

I need rice. I need chicken over rice, covered with fluffy, melty egg. That out-of-this-world juiciness.

“Ah, my king—so this is where you were.”

I turn around at a female voice calling out to me and see Garo, still in human form.

“Woof! (Oh, it’s Garo! And everyone else!) ”

I look more closely and see that the young Fen Wolves I was in boot camp with are here, too. I give them a friendly “Heya,” but they prostrate themselves before me. That makes me feel lonely.

“Arwf. (Come to think of it, Garo, you’ve been in that human form ever since shape-shifting that one time, huh?) ”

“…Not only did four legs not draw your interest, but you hardly seemed convinced that I was a female at all, so I thought I should look like a human, at the very least…”

Garo trailed off, but my Fenrir ears picked it all up perfectly.

I asked Garo once if she was female, and it seemed to wound her pride quite a bit. She got her revenge after that, too, by making me fight a huge boar.

“…Am I a bother to you in this form?”

“A-arwf? (No, not at all, why?) ”

I avert my eyes as Garo comes up to cuddle close to me.

To be honest, she’s total eye candy. Black hair, golden eyes, and deep brown skin. Slender arms and legs and a tight, firm body. She exudes an exotic charm. Her clothing choice is bold as well. She has the important bits covered with a thin cloth, but she’s basically naked. In more than one way, I’m not sure where to look.

“Grwf, grwf! (This will work! It will work, Lady Garo! Your form is certainly bringing His Majesty into rut!) ”

Don’t use terms like that, please.

“Squeak! (What? Cease being lovestruck and look at me as well!) ”

Len leaps into the air and transforms from a mouse into a person.

“Look, you are going into rut now, are you not? You want to make children with me now, yes?”

Her kimono sliding down one shoulder, Len shoots me a flirtatious glance. I look her straight in the eye.

“Woof, woof. (Thanks a ton, Len. You really calmed me down there.) ”

“But… But why?! I do not understand!”

“Mrow? (Huh? Does this mean I have to transform, too?) ”

Please don’t.

Please, put yourself in my shoes—the one who has to look at that terribly grotesque scene every time you shape-shift. I finally calmed down. You’re gonna give me heart palpitations for a completely different reason from Garo.

Anyway, why did Garo and the others come here, I wonder? It seems like we just ran into each other out of coincidence, rather than them having any real business with me.

“Arwf. (Oh, oops. Did my howling call you here?) ”

I hadn’t meant to. Now I feel bad.

“No, that isn’t it. We would run to you faster than the wind itself should you call for us, but we actually had business at this location tonight as well…”

“Arwf? (You did?) ”

“Yes. Tonight we welcome a new member of the Fen Wolf family.”

Did somebody have a baby? None of the wolves here appear to have rounded bellies.

As I watch blankly, Garo explains for me.

“Do you recall how I explained that monsters come not from a mother’s womb, but are instead born from the gathering of mana?”

“Arwf, arwf. (Yeah, I remember all that.) ”

That’s how those violent monsters I occasionally destroy with my beam in the Labyrinth come into existence, if I recall.

“We Fen Wolves are no exception. Unlike monsters who are constrained by their flesh, we are progeny of the moon, closer to spirits. As such, when the full moon draws near and night comes, we are born of the moon, as though falling from it.”

The moon gives birth to them? That’s a pretty fantastical birthing method. Guess I shouldn’t be so surprised at this point. This place is pretty much a fantasy world already.

“Arwf. (Ha-ha. And tonight is the night someone will be born?) ”

Now I know something else about the Fen Wolves.

What’s that? A Fen Wolf king not knowing anything about Fen Wolves? Who would possibly be that dumb? Yes, it’s me, I know. I’m sorry. I may have been born Fenrir, but I was raised a pet, so I can’t help it.

“We Fen Wolves are broadly divided into twelve clans, and depending on the current month, a different clan will welcome the newly born child. It is the seventh month now, so it is our clan that will do this.”

“Arwf. (Huh. So that’s how you get more family members?) ”

I guess this is what makes the strong bonds between Fen Wolves.

“This child will be my first daughter, so I am rather nervous. I hope I’ll be a wonderful mother, but…”

“Woof, woof. (Garo, you’ll be fine. I don’t think you have anything to worry about.) ”

The gentleness she showed us after that hellish boot camp was overflowing with maternal instinct. Even I almost wanted to call her Mommy.

“Bow. (Incidentally, the only exception among us Fen Wolves is you, my king.) ”

Covering for Garo, who is flustered at my show of support, Bal continues the explanation.

“Arwf? (Huh? I’m an exception?) ”

“Grwf, grwf. (Only female Fen Wolves are born from the moon. There is but one exception: Fenrir, King of the Fen Wolves—you, Your Majesty. Our legends do not state how it is you are born, but the king will always be born male. That, too, proves that you are the King of the Fen.) ”

Well, that’s because a goddess reincarnated me into this world. I don’t have a clue how the Fen Wolf king’s birth is supposed to work, either.

Hold on a minute. If all the Fen Wolves aside from me are female, does that mean Bal—the one who radiates old-man energy—is female, too? That would be the biggest surprise.

“Grwf, grwf. (Lest we allow the king’s bloodline to end, we would like you to spread your seed among the Fen Wolves, Your Majesty. However, you are yet young. You may not be comfortable with us telling you to lay paws on whomsoever you see. Thus—go on, Lady Garo.) ”

Urged on by Bal, Garo steps forward.

“W-would y-y-y-you like to try it out with me first?!”

She blushes so hard you can see it in her brown skin as she leans closer to me.

I don’t think anything of her when she’s in wolf form, but right now, she’s a black-haired, brown-skinned beauty. She’s cute, as you would expect, and it troubles me.

Still, the way she’s acting coy… Bal must have suggested that one.

“Arwf! (But I refuse!) ”

“I… I see…”

Garo’s wolf ears flop down. She looks up at me with puppy-dog eyes, but I disregard it.

You’ll need cuter moves than that. Breaking my resolve will be impossible if that’s all you have. You may have apprehensions about this entire race, but I have apprehensions, too.

About the continuation of my blissful pet life! A pet going out and having babies without its owner knowing could, in the worst case, end with me being neutered.

With my pride and responsibilities as a pet, I’ve decided to never have any dependents. After all, I, myself, am dependent on others. It would be weird for a pet to be supporting a family.

I’m the kind of guy who doesn’t bite off more than he can chew. I’m so cool.

“Mrow! (Routa, you’re making a face like you’re thinking about something pathetic again!) ”

Shut up. Stop reading my mind.

“That… That was close… Curse you, princess of the Fen Wolves… Ever since you learned the art of shape-shifting, you’ve been appearing out of nowhere. I must be more attentive in the future…”

Len is lost in thought, biting on her thumbnail. You know, I doubt you have any chance of winning unless you do something about your current loli form.

“Grwf. (It seems we must leave it at that.) ” Bal speaks while looking up at the sky.

“Arwf. (Oh? The moon is brighter.) ”

The moon is rippling as if with a pulse. Eventually that glow gathers underneath the moon, then drips off it like a water droplet.

Slowly it falls toward us.

The thoughts of a modern man flash across my mind, involving things like the physical distance to the moon, but as I watch the moon droplet descend, I figure, what’s the point? Magical phenomena happen around me all the time anyway.

The droplet falls slowly, wreathed in light, until it comes to rest in Garo’s arms at her breast.

Eventually the pulsating light dies down, revealing a small baby wolf.

No, two wolves. One is white and one is black, each curling inward like yin and yang.

“Mrow! (They’re… They’re so cute!) ”

“They are adorable indeed. I, too, would like children soon…”

Nahura and Len peer at the baby wolves from either side of me.

They really are cute. I’ll have to make sure never to let the young lady meet them. They’ll steal her from me.

“The look on your face says that you’re having pointless thoughts again.”

“Mew. (Yep, no doubt about it.) ”

Why does everyone always know what I’m thinking? Is my face that easy to read?

“Yes.”

“Meow. (Yep.) ”

“Woof! (Knock it off!) ”

The two wolves, perhaps having woken up because of our conversation or because of Garo’s body’s warmth, begin to make little cries.

“Grwf, grwf! (Twins—a rare sight indeed! White as the moon and black as night, just as His Majesty and Lady Garo are… It is almost as though they have been born to the two of you!) ”

“B-Bal, that’s disrespectful!” says Garo, though her tail is wagging like crazy. “…My king, this may be forward of me, but may I ask a favor of you?” she says to me, the small baby wolves who still haven’t opened their eyes cradled in her arms.

“Arwf? (You never ask favors of me. I’m always the one relying on you, so of course. Allow me to repay you once in a while.) ”

Just not by making babies.

“Would you give names to these children?”

“Arwf. (Oh, that was what you wanted?) ”

She asked me with such a serious face that I wondered if there was a problem. If it’s just a christening, I don’t mind at all.

“Arwf… (Names, huh…? Hmm…) ”

All right, leave it to me. I already had the perfect names in mind for them.

“Arwf, arwf. (The white one is Shiro, and the black one is Kuro.) ”

“Mrow?! (That’s so basic!) ” Nahura falls over.

What are you saying? In terms of dog names, both of these have an extremely respectable history.

“K-King Routa…!”

Garo practically jumps up to me, bringing her face close.

“A-arw?! (Wh-what?!) ”

I guess it wasn’t okay after all. Were they too plain?

“Thank you very much for the wonderful names! And to think you would take a syllable from my own name as well for them… I’m truly moved!”

I, uh, wasn’t thinking about it that deeply. But seeing Garo tearing up with joy, I don’t have the heart to tell her how I decided on those names.

“I will remember this blessing for as long as I live! I promise you I will raise these children into excellent Fen Wolves to serve you!”

R-right. Just don’t go overboard. Save the boot camp for when they’re grown.

“Let us depart for the night, then. I’d like to let these children rest.”

“Arwf, arwf. (Sure, see you. And let me visit them once in a while, too.) ”

I watch as Garo and the others bow deeply and leave.

“Arwf? (Hm?) ”

Suddenly sensing something odd, I look up into the sky.

Nobody’s there, though.

It’s the middle of the night anyway; the birds aren’t even flying. What was that?

“…Arwf. (…Guess it was just my imagination. We should get home, too.) ”

“Mew! (Oh, then let’s go looking for a late-night snack again!) ”

“Arwf, arwf. (I like the way you think. Let’s get as much as we can without making the old man mad.) ”

“I swear, is eating all the two of you ever think about?”

“Arwf, arwf. (Then we won’t get any for Len.) ”

“I… I didn’t say I didn’t want any…! Stop trying to make me into a pariah!”

“Oh…? Even in mist form, he was able to sense me. He is neglectful, though. He just shrugged it off.”

With an analytical murmur, the mist hanging beneath the moon coalesced and took the shape of a human.

A girl wearing a black dress, the moon floating behind her. With her index finger to her lips, she evaluated those leaving the cliff side.

“He must be the king of the Fen Wolves. It’s as if he doesn’t know what caution is. I could have fired magic at him from this distance if I’d wanted to. Uncle, you lost to that ?”

“Make no mistake, Miss Carmilla. A short incantation fired abruptly will not and can not defeat him,” warned Lich, held in Carmilla’s hand like a sake cup. “And it isn’t only the king. The monsters under his command are all very powerful. When I think back on our battle, I did not have the upper hand for a single moment. Even for one such as you, it would not be a wise idea to engage him in a straightforward fight.”

Lich’s bones shuddered in fear as he remembered being eaten.

“Please, Miss Carmilla, think about this in a calm, concentrated manner. As long as the Demon Lord is sealed in these lands, the King of the Fen Wolves, ruler of the forest, will be an obstacle. We will not need to worry should we turn him to our side; furthermore, it seems he coexists with humans. It is in his mental nature to live in consideration of those frail humans despite possessing such immense power. His essence is very far removed from that of monsters. He is much too abnormal. I doubt our words would mean anything to him.”

Carmilla, on the other end of his tedious, repetitive explanation, puckered up her face at the bones.

“I get it already. I’ll keep my guard up. That’s what you want, isn’t it? I lost all my own followers when I was sealed, too. We’ll start by observing and gaining a foothold. And also—I’m thirsty.”

Narrowing her bloodred eyes, the vampire princess smiled.

“Routa, I fooound you!”

“Arwf, arwf! (Oh no, you found me!) ” I crawl out from under the garden fence.

“Routa, you’re so big I find you right away!” The young lady brushes off the leaves stuck to me.

“Arwf. (Can’t argue with that.) ”

Our games of hide-and-seek are hardly even games at this point. I’m so big there’s nowhere for me to hide, and I can sniff out the sweet-smelling young lady no matter where she is. The rounds end in the blink of an eye.

But that’s where my Japanese customer service mentality comes in. Rather than actually searching her out, I pretend to search.

“Okay, now it’s my turn to hide! You have to find me!”

“Arwf, arwf! (Okay!) ”

I turn around and put my front paws over my eyes. While I do so, the young lady patters off at a trot, looking for somewhere to hide.

“Arwf, arwf? (Can I look now?) ”

“Not yet!”

“Arwf, arwf? (Can I look now?) ”

“Hee-hee. Not yetttt!”

“Arwf, arwf? (Can I look now?) ”

“…You can look now!”

I have consent, so I turn around and start looking for her.

There, behind the fountain! It only took a second to spot her. I didn’t even have to sniff her out. She’s hiding in a spot that’s so easy to see it’s almost refreshing. I can glimpse her beautiful platinum-blond hair even from where I am.

In her not seriously trying to hide, her kindness is palpable; this way I have an easy time finding her. But it would be dull to go along with it and find her. All who are pets must let their masters have fun. If I don’t feign enough dullness, they might suspect I’m a monster.

“Squeak. (Normal dogs don’t have the intelligence to understand hide-and-seek in the first place.) ”

Y-yeah, probably not. Nobody’s ever called me out on it, though, so it’s fine.

“Arwf! (Right, here I come!) ”

The question is how I should go about arriving at the young lady’s hiding place.

“Arwf? (Are you here? Nope!) ”

“…Hee-hee, that’s not it! I’m not over there…”

The young lady watches me from behind the fountain as I poke my nose into the bushes and check the backs of trees.

Okay, great—she’s having fun, which is all that matters. I’ll take as roundabout an approach as I can to wander over near her. And then I’ll call out right before she gets concerned that I haven’t found her yet. A masterful display of customer service, if I do say so myself.

“Squeak, squeak. (You actually seem quite skilled at playing with children… You will be a fine father one day. I look forward to the future.) ”

Shaddup. That future is never happening.

I quiet my breathing, then creep up on the young lady before using my front leg to touch her back.

“Arwf! (Found you, young lady!) ”

“You found me!”

Watching Lady Mary giggle in delight makes me happy, too. This is the only sliver of free time she gets outside of her daily studies. I have to make sure she has as much fun as possible.

Conversely, you could say this is about the only time I actually move during the day. It’s just too hot.

“Squeak… (I cannot believe how cozy you constantly get with each other without ever getting tired of it… What is going on with these prearranged matches? What are you, lovers?) ”

“Arwf? (Wait, seriously? We look like that? Aw, you’re making me blush.) ”

“Squeak! (Grrr! You are such a pervert! No, your perversion puts perverts to shame!) ”

“Arwf, arwf. (If that’s how you feel, then why not join in yourself? Although she might not be able to find you since you’re so small.) ”

“Squeak… (I decline. I’m supposed to be sleeping the daylight away…) ”

After saying that, Len buries herself in my mane, and then her breathing grows steady. I have to say, she’s even more of a NEET than me—and I’m a pet!

“Arwf… (That’s strange, though…) ”

For whatever reason, I take a look around.

Ever since yesterday, I’ve felt someone’s eyes on me, appraising my fluffy body. Usually the only ones who give me the borderline stalker stare are Len and Garo, but Len is in my mane and Garo is too busy with child rearing to come this far out.

I survey my surroundings, but I don’t see anything that catches my eye.

Actually, there’s something suspicious about the roof… I narrow my eyes and stare hard, but nothing seems to pop out at me. Maybe I’m overthinking it. Len hasn’t reacted at all, either. Must be just me.

“Is something the matter, Routa?” asks the young lady, tilting her head in mystification.

“Woof, woof! (Nothing at all, young lady! Shall we continue our game of hide-and-seek?) ”

I put it from my mind, and we play as much as we can until Toa comes to tell Mary that her break time is over.

“Aruru, Iruru? Eruru still hasn’t come back…”

Her two older sisters, who were preparing the bedchambers, turned around at their younger sister’s addressing them.

Aruru and Iruru were twins, but Ururu could of course tell them apart, since she was family. Or so they thought, anyway—she actually got them mixed up all the time. Even they didn’t bother trying to distinguish themselves, so they’d stopped minding so much if someone got them wrong.

Routa, the King of the Fen Wolves, savior of the elven race, was the only one who had never confused them. Just thinking about it made Aruru’s and Iruru’s chests warm, and they were unable to hold in their feelings of gratitude.

Ahh, I want to spoil him. I want to spoil him rotten and ruin him.

The older of their younger sisters, Ururu, wondered at times if it was actually a darker desire than gratitude, but it wasn’t especially bothering anyone, so she didn’t point it out.

More importantly, she was concerned about where the middle of the younger sisters, Eruru, had gone off to.

Contrary to her glasses-wearing, mild-mannered appearance, Eruru was energetic and always up to something outside the village.

Though they were under the protection of the Fen Wolves, who had an information network spanning this entire forest, that didn’t mean there were no monsters out there. With night having already fallen, it was strange that she hadn’t come home yet.

“Anyway, let’s go look for her. Where’s Oruru?”

“She’s already looking.”

“Okay, then we should join her. If anyone here can use lamp magic, have them help us.”

“All right!”

The sisters put on their overcoats and left to find the missing Eruru. Even before the slave traders had burned the village, Eruru would go out without telling anyone and suddenly wander back, so they weren’t overly worried.

“Heeey! Eruru!”

“Eruru, where are you?”

“Eruru! If you’re there, say something!”

The full moon shining in the night sky illuminated everything brilliantly, but not enough to allow them to see too far in the forest. The two older sisters, who could use simple magic, had hovering orbs of light in place of torches as they searched for their younger sister.

“It looks like Eruru is gone again.”

Villagers came running, one after another, once they heard the news.

“Yes. We’re sorry to trouble you, but we’d like you to help us look.”

“Oh, sure thing. Let’s split up to search for her.”

It was almost bedtime for the good-natured elves, but all of them came out to search for Eruru without complaint.

“Eruru!”

“Eruruuuu!”

As they continued to search, calling her name through the forest, some bushes in the direction of Aruru’s search rustled.

“Eruru!” she called. A figure appeared.

And it was certainly her younger sister, Eruru.

Aruru’s sisters gathered to her voice.

“Did you find her?!”

“Phew. You shouldn’t worry us like that.”

“Sometimes Oruru seems older than you. Don’t worry us like that again.”

Everyone surrounded Eruru and rejoiced over her safety.

“……”

But Eruru was acting strange—normally she’d quibble and make excuses, but she wasn’t doing either. She wasn’t even responding, and her face was pale. Aruru took her younger sister’s shoulder, thinking she’d been wounded somewhere.

Eruru, lips trembling, managed to speak.

“…Run…away…”

“Run away? What do you mean? From what?” asked Aruru, peering into her face, worried something had happened to her.

“Run away……from me!”

She grabbed the hand on her shoulder, tightly. The force of it surprised Aruru, and a moment later she’d been bitten in the neck.

“Aruru?!”

“Eruru?! What are you doing?!”

They frantically peeled Eruru off the bitten Aruru.

Eruru’s mouth was spattered with blood, and she had sharp fangs that glistened eerily in the moonlight. The elves were taken aback, not sure what had happened. Meanwhile Aruru, who had fallen on her face, got up slowly.

“Wait, Aruru, are you okay?!” Iruru ran over to her in worry, but then her face froze.

Now Aruru, too, had two sharp fangs in her mouth.

“Run…away…”

Aruru and Eruru, shedding tears of blood, attacked the remaining elves.

And so the elf village, which had just been rebuilt, was destroyed in a single night.

“Ah-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!! Weak! How weak! How frail the kin are compared to their king!”

The vampire princess laughed, snakelike trails of red blood running across her body.

Garo and the others bared their fangs to threaten the invader who had suddenly attacked their settlement.

Several Fen Wolves had already been defeated at Carmilla’s hand. Their enemy had caught them by surprise, and they lacked a means of attack. But they couldn’t keep glaring at each other like this. There were young Fen Wolves here as well—ones who didn’t have the strength to fight.

“Grwl! (Don’t underestimate us…! You’re about to learn firsthand how we fight…!) ”

Garo, leading the pack, dug her claws into the earth and sought an opening to pounce. The enemy was in human form, but it was clear she was anything but. Pure malice radiated from every pore, and Garo could sense a power rivaling that of the necromancer they’d once fought.

“Bow! (Lady Garo!) ”

Bal ran to her, having brought reinforcements with her.

“Grwl! (Bal! Take the children and leave this place! Inform the king of this!) ”

Never breaking eye contact with Carmilla, Garo ordered the evacuation of the noncombatants.

“Not so fast. I need you all to disappear here .”

With a thin smile on her lips, Carmilla slowly closed the distance.

“But I will listen to any preferences on how you want me to kill you.”

Sharp red nails then extended from her hands, looking like ten scythes. She brought the nails together, sending sparks scattering madly, portending a terrifying sharpness.

“Grrr! (That’s the last time you ever look down on us!) ”

“Grwl! (Wait! Don’t be reckless!) ”

Garo couldn’t stop them in time; the Fen Wolves who had been hiding and waiting for their chance sprang out to attack Carmilla from all sides.

“Not. A. Chance. ”

Carmilla swung the nails on both hands as though dancing. The Fen Wolves twisted to avoid them, but the surge of blood that came a moment later rose up to swallow them.

“Grahhh?!”

The murky, raging stream swirled upward like a tornado, whipping the wolves every which way.

The attackers helplessly sank into the blood, eventually disappearing.

Carmilla exhaled. “Thank you for the snack,” she said, the wave of blood pulling back into her mantle as though being sucked in, leaving Fen Wolves flat on their faces in its wake.

It was hard to tell, given their absolute motionlessness, whether they were alive or dead.

“Tastes terrible, though… Young human blood really is the best. Elven blood wasn’t bad, either, but I very much feel like snacking on the blood of a youthful virgin. ”

“G-grwl…! (Damn you…! You’ve even gotten to the elves’ village…?!) ”

Garo was astounded that they hadn’t been able to detect that even with their sharp senses.

If they’d actually noticed this vampire approaching, they’d never have been caught by surprise. She possessed concealment techniques that exceeded the Fen Wolves’ senses.

Her objective was unknown, but this enemy could become a threat to the king. They needed to swiftly pass along the information they’d acquired to him. The dragon princess was with the king as well. Those two would be able to counter this powerful opponent.

She needed to let Bal and the young wolves escape—and Garo was prepared to risk her life to create an opening for them.

“The one past here, yes? I’ve partaken of them. Don’t you think you’ve been a little too neglectful of their security? What a tribe of incompetents you are, Fen Wolves.”

Garo’s hair stood up. Her inability to save the elves, whose protection had been entrusted to the king, and her family from being harmed were enough to fill her limbs with mortified rage.

Cracks appeared in the ground on which she stood.

“Grwl! (You will atone with your life, bastard!) ”

Garo disappeared.

Even the eyes of Bal, another Fen Wolf, couldn’t track her god-speed assault.

Carmilla, however, caught her fangs easily with her nails.

“Oh, stop… Beasts’ blood doesn’t taste good. But I am still thirsty, so I’ll put up with it and drink you dry.”

“Grwl, grwl!! (Bal, go! I swear I’ll stop her! Don’t turn back! Run as fast as you can!!) ”

“Grwf, grwf…! (Lady Garo…! Damn… Leave Shiro and Kuro to me! Please stay safe!) ”

“I already said you weren’t getting away—”

As Carmilla took aim at the fleeing Bal, Garo’s claws sliced at her.

“Grwl. (I said I’d stop you.) ”

A line of blood ran down Carmilla’s cheek, and a single drop of it fell.

“…Not bad. Okay. I’ve got something special in store for you.”

Her long tongue reached out to lick the blood on her cheek.

Eyes glittering with anger, Carmilla swung her nails. The blades created vacuums in their wakes. Garo slipped by them, gaining distance for a charge.

She’d successfully diverted the enemy’s attention. Now it was about how long she could stall her.

“Grwl, grrr…! (Don’t think you’ll kill me for free, you leech. We Fen Wolves can rip out your windpipe even after we die…!) ”

“Ha! Very funny. Go ahead and try, you lowborn mongrel.”

Carmilla grinned scornfully at Garo, baring all her teeth.

Remembering her king for a moment, and praying for Shiro and Kuro’s safety, Garo threw herself into a battle with her life on the line.