Honestly, I wanted to say "No." with the blankest and most straightforward voice.

1. I haven't even digested what I learned from Interitus about this world's history.

2. I personally knew that secrets always lead to shitty situations.

3. Also, why me? Why would you share your secret with me? It was like how Morrigan trusted her letter to me. Did Star, who sent me here, give me some kind of aura that made me look trustable?

Despite those three reasons and all of my being wanting to refuse, I begrudgingly opened my mouth:

"I am here to listen if telling it will comfort you."

Blanche looked hesitant. She looked torn between wanting to tell me her secret and wanting to keep it. She bit her newly healed lips. She felt different than when I first met her. Her cold and stoic persona was mostly gone.

Her pose and face reminded me of Morrigan when she was about to ask me to deliver her letter. Huh. I guess they are similar. Cold and strong females. Funny how they would be enemies if they were to meet.

"A little bit more than a century ago, my family wasn't this big," she said without looking at my face. Was she embarrassed that her family was smaller?

"We were still a noble house, but we didn't have the power or wealth to back up. The only land we owned was a small village." Owning an entire village sounded pretty rich to me no matter how small it was.

"My ancestors were mocked and humiliated by other noble houses." This wasn't something I could understand. Not only did I come from a world governed by democracy, but I was also raised as a lower class before becoming a soldier. Yeah, I ascended through the ranks, but this kind of power struggle wasn't familiar.

"That's why we looked for ways to get stronger. One day, the family head of that time found a ruin. A ruin that was once a Calamity's temple. In there, he found a way to get Calamity's power. He found this," she pulled her sleeve and showed me her magic crest.

"At first, everything was fine. We enjoyed power. With it came wealth and land. But most importantly, respect." She let out a small sigh.

"But this started to happen. Some family members started to lose themselves. Losing themselves, attacking everyone until they are killed or their life force gets drained by their magic crest."

She pulled her knee to her chest. Her posture was very defensive.

"We tried everything. But we didn't even know the exact reason. We knew that it came from the power we acquired, but the main reason was unknown. The science!" She shook her hand in the air, frustrated.

"It was random. It started to happen with no apparent pattern. Once it showed its ugly face, that person would certainly die. We couldn't have it. We gained a name, a prestige for ourselves. If our family members went mad all the time, we would lose everything!"

At this point, I realized that she wasn't talking to me anymore. She was ranting about her feelings and thoughts.

"Grandfather made a hard decision: Kill everyone that showed the symptoms. My mother was one of those people."

She lowered her head to hide her face, but I caught a single tear falling down from her face. Gökbörü slowly moved and put his paw on her thigh. Unfortunately, his attempt to console Blanche was futile as she didn't even notice him.

"When I also started to show the symptoms… I couldn't just sit and wait to be executed. I had to try. I had to find something."

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

She let out a small chuckle.

"I guess I found that something."

She looked at the flask absentmindedly for some time. I waited without saying anything. She turned her attention to me after a long-lasting silence.

"I wouldn't have succeeded without you. I should reward you for your services. Tell me, what do you want?"

Oh, she returned to her usual self. I think she just had to get that out of her system.

"Aghhhhhhh, can I want anything?"

"What you did was no small feat. With this, I may save my entire family. As long as it is in my power, I will give you anything you want."

I thought to myself. Blanche looked serious, and I was sure she would give me anything I wanted. This was once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

"Is it possible to outlaw slavery in your territories?"

Blanche looked taken aback by my question.

"Why? Why would you want this kind of thing when you could ask for rank or wealth?"

"Because I am fucking stupid."

Was my actual answer, but I held my tongue.

"I believe that taking one's freedom away is one of the evilest things in this world. When I joined the guard, I saw how horrible things were there. If they can think like us and feel like us, nobody should be in chains."

Blanche made a noise similar to a sigh.

"It is not possible. If it was up to me, I would fulfill your wish even though it would surely damage the economy and decrease family wealth. However, family head, my grandfather never allowed that kind of thing. I do not have the authority required for it."

"I understand."

Well, it was too far-fetched to expect beastkin's problems to be solved like that anyways.

"You also shouldn't say what you said to me everywhere. What you said may be taken… differently, and you may get accused of helping rebels like Black Claw."

"I see."

Haha, me? Helping Black Claw? That's impossible, haha! The expression on Blanche's face told me she didn't exactly like what I said.

"Then is it possible to free every slave back at the camp?"

I knew that Ama and others will already rescue them, but asking this can help me in two ways:

1. If Blanche had any suspicion I worked with them, this can help me shake off them. After all, why would I ask this if I knew they would be rescued, right?

2. If she agrees to free them, I may convince her to not chase after Ama and others. Why would we spend time and energy if they were already going to be released?

Of course, it wasn't so simple. Firstly, Blanche could reject this. Secondly, she still could want to chase after them. They saw Black Claw as terrorists and a threat after all.

"That can be doable. But are you sure you want this? You can ask for gold or magical items."

I pulled my gauntlet off and showed her the ring she gave me. I still had 8 uses left.

"You have already given me enough, My Lady. For a peasant like me, wealth is poison. If we take too much, we lose our identity."

"I understand. I will order them to free the slaves when we turn back."

"Thank you."

I bowed slightly.

"Can I ask a question, My Lady?"

I asked after several seconds of silence between us.

"What is it?"

"You said it was your first time petting a dog. Is there a reason for that?"

Even in this world, dogs were man's best friend. So it was weird someone from a noble house didn't have a dog. I guess they could use magic to guard their houses but they didn

't use dogs to hunt? It was weird.

"Oh, that. That's because of this too."

She showed her magic crest.

"Dogs can't stand our presence. They become hysteric before escaping. We never understood, but seeing this dungeon it makes sense. If this power originated from a peak wolf-type monster it is normal for dogs to feel afraid."

Peak. It was the same word Interitus used to describe himself. I noted that.

The irony of "dogs" being afraid of "Silverfox" wasn't lost on me too.

Or how Silverfox's power came from a wolf.

"Gökbörü seems to like you."

For some reason, he really did like her. Was it because of her magic crest coming from the Wolf King? No, that wasn't it. If it was the case, he would have liked Interitus too. This bastard… Does he like her because she is a female? I narrowed my eyes as I looked at him. He didn't even notice me as he wagged his tail while chasing Blanche.

Suddenly a portal opened, and Percavel stepped out of it. He took one step and collapsed to the ground. I rushed to his side and pulled his helmet off. Blanche handed me water, and I raised his head and gave him water. He protested weakly at first, but he soon noticed what I was giving him was water.

"It is me, Percavel. It is okay. You cleared the dungeon. You are safe now."

"Heal Minor Wounds."

Blanche chanted beside me. His wounds under his armor were infected. His wounds… They must be caused by that void thing Lupus used. I wasn't sure how healing magic worked; infection was spread too much. If healing magic and potions didn't magically remove infection, it was hard for him to survive.

"He has a fever. It is caused by an infection."