The strange, smooth-skinned creatures scurried around near the treasure trove. She didn’t like it.

At all.

The only thing that stopped her from taking care of these creatures was their unmistakable avoidance of where the treasure was stored. They ventured close—really close—but never actually trespassed into the sacred chamber.

She took a dip under the large lake and took a long drink, surfacing only when her appetite was sated. She blinked her eyes to clear them of the miracle water and returned to her all-important watch.

The nice-smelling smooth-skin was there again. The one that the god of this land acknowledged.

She stroked her tail in thought, enjoying the miracle water flowing through her fur as she floated lazily on the lake. The nice-smelling smooth-skin felt similar to the god. She wondered if that meant it could also be another god.

But she wasn’t sure. It hadn’t made any miracles happen yet, but it certainly felt like it could.

Why else would the god speak to it? … Unless this is the mate—

She quickly dove under the water when the nice-smelling smooth-skin looked in her direction. She stayed near the lake bed and looked up to see if it was necessary to make a further escape.

She disliked having to hide so often, but the god often had strange creatures visiting his land. She never liked showing herself when there were creatures of unknown strengths close by.

At first, she was terrified when she saw so many of these smooth-skins, thinking they were all like the god. Thankfully, that was not the case. She then went from feeling terrified to confused.

Some of the creatures felt so weak that she wondered why the god had taken their form. It was almost an insult for such creatures to exist in that form. Even if the god didn’t feel that way, she would in his place.

I don’t think it saw me.

She carefully waded to the surface and poked her head out of the water. All the smooth-skins were still scurrying around, though there were far fewer than before.

That got her attention. Some could have snuck into the scared chamber.

Her eyes sharpened into daggers before she sliced through the water, moving even faster when she left the water and hit the ground. A small hole was left beside the entrance to the sacred chamber, which she quickly filled up to cover her tracks. She stuck close to the ground to make herself small.

She stealthily crawled forward and peeked around the edge to see if anyone was watching. All the smooth-skins were still moving the things off the large wooden boxes pulled by the dumb beasts.

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She pulled the entrance open before zipping into the sacred chamber. The massive entrance clicked shut behind her.

“What was that?”

She perked her ears, tilted her head toward the entrance, and wondered if she had been caught.

“I didn’t hear anything. Stop wasting time. The Initiate is already angry at something. I don’t want that directed at us.”

“… I wonder if it’s because of other Initiate.”

“Stop wondering and do your job. We just saw that one summon rain like it was nothing. I want to go back home before he returns.”

She still wondered why the weak smooth-skins spoke the same language as the god. When her father had taught her the language, he said it was the language of the gods and demons.

She felt special that she knew how to understand such a language. That special feeling disappeared when she saw that the silly wolf and the weak smooth-skins could also understand it. Worse, the latter could speak it too.

Hmph. They might understand it, but the god chose me to be the protector of his land. I am still special.

She turned away from the entrance and checked the sacred chamber. She only bothered to listen to the smooth-skins outside because she sensed nobody else in the chamber with her.

She swallowed the building saliva and looked away from the treasure casually stacked up in the chamber's center. It was the most prominent symbol of the god’s wealth and power.

She didn’t dare stare too long at it. She was already tempted to have a taste, but the fear she had of gaining the god’s displeasure stopped her… barely.

She patrolled around the chamber like the good protector she was. If it weren’t for the treasure at the center, the sacred metal objects hanging on the wall would have gotten her full attention. These were the things that the god was using to give life back to his land.

Most of them were just lumps of metal now, but she knew they would change once the god started using them. She had seen proof of that.

She made a few rounds before becoming bored. It didn’t look like anyone was going to enter.

As it should be.

She glanced at the treasure again.

There’s nothing wrong if I get closer. I can protect the treasure better.

She hesitated before hopping on top of the stacked vaults and moved to the very center. She glanced frequently at the large entrance, half-expecting the god to suddenly show up.

Luckily, that didn’t happen. She settled onto her stomach and stretched her legs out to lay like a starfish.

I can protect the treasure better if I’m comfortable.

She closed her eyes but perked up her ears, and her antenna was alert, too. Any change in her surroundings would be noticed immediately.

This is the life. I have unlimited food, a place to rest, and the god’s favor.

She twitched when she remembered that she hadn’t built a tunnel today.

I’ll tell the god I was waiting for him to return. The god doesn’t mind if I relax occasionally, as long as it’s not excessive.

She shuddered when she recalled the warning. The god said she would be kicked out after finding out she hadn’t built a tunnel the night before. She had no idea how she was discovered, but the god’s power was tremendous and unknowable.

I don’t know why so many tunnels are needed, but I hope the god fills the prime hole soon. Father told me I have to keep building tunnels as long as it isn’t filled.

... Is this my punishment for what I did?

She didn’t want to think of the time she tried to take the god’s heart. She had never felt something so bright and warm before.

Her mind had blanked, and she had broken into the god’s sleeping chamber for some reason. She was inches away from touching the god’s body when she was discovered.

She considered herself lucky that she was still alive after that night.

The god is merciful and generous. I must... protect…

“What are you doing, little beast?”

She squeaked loudly and jumped several feet in the air in surprise. She saw the god staring at her.

I fell asleep. Oh no!