“I heard a lot about you. You look quite normal, but your right eye is weirdly white, and you’re usually lazy, but you’re scary in a fight. Well, although I say that… Gahaha! I never thought we’d meet like this! You really are a wolf!” [Leodor]

Leodor was laughing in the garden as he sat cross-legged in front of Ryner. He seemed to be having a good time, even though he looked quite strange talking to a wolf for the past ten minutes. His family was also there and sat on a pink, rectangular sheet that was brought by a servant. It was big enough for his three wives and four children that were relaxing there as if they were on a picnic.

His older brother, Leonhart, and the prime minister, Taniel, had already left after they greeted Ryner.

“Now then, I’ll be going back first to take care of some work.” [Taniel]

“I’ll also be going. I’ll help out with whatever I can do.” [Leonhart]

“Thanks. It’s hard being a king. My shoulders always feel stiff and the throne is so uncomfortable to sit on.” [Leodor]

“Gahaha! You became king, little brother! You’ll have to put up with it! Let’s go then, Taniel.” [Leonhart]

“Yes. Then, your majesty, everyone, take care.” [Taniel]

Bowing respectfully, Taniel then turned around and followed after Leonhart who was walking away. That was how they left the garden and why they weren’t present right now. Currently, Kirial and his mother, Meireld, were eating some snacks leisurely while watching the conversation that was happening between Leodor and Ryner. Sally was giving a lap pillow to her daughter, Mimi, who was sleeping, and was gently patting her head.

“Can I touch him?” [Tita]

“Can I touch him too?” [Tota]

The wolf-eared twins, Tita and Tota, were approaching Ryner with their hands raised toward him.

“No! Let your father talk with him in peace! Don’t interrupt them!” [Tali]

Their mother, Tali, was holding them by the back of their collar and scolding them lightly. Maya was sitting next to Ryner and softly chuckled as she watched the disappointed faces of the two. Evelyn, who was sitting on the other side of her former foster father, had a calm and cool expression, but was inwardly relieved that they didn’t get near him.

“And? What are you gonna do now?” [Leodor]

When the lion-eared king asked him that, Ryner began writing with his tail. A bowl of black ink and white pieces of paper were brought to him by a servant on the blonde vampire’s request. He dipped the tip of his tail in the ink and dexterously used it like a brush to write his thoughts. This happened a number of times and it was how they could have a conversation.

It was quite the fascinating sight for anyone who saw it.

“The wolf’s writing.” [Tota]

“He’s really writing with his tail.” [Tita]

The twins had some especially sparkling eyes as they stared at him.

“Gahaha! A wolf that can write! Too bad my brother and Taniel aren’t here to see this!” [Leodor]

Leodor also seemed childishly happy like his teenage son and daughter.

“Dear, don’t be rude.” [Tali]

His attitude prompted his black-haired wife, Tali, to warn him to not act rudely toward his guest.

Once Ryner was done writing, Evelyn picked up the paper and read it out loud.

“He said: ‘For now, I’ll laze around at Myra’s house until I’m back to normal.’” [Evelyn]

The orange-haired beastman crossed his muscular arms and nodded.

“I see. It’s good that you’re not panicking. We’ll be looking into the relic and we’ll tell you whatever we find. Well, just relax at Taniel’s house until then. Maybe having two humans guarding his family will change his attitude toward your kind. He’s really uptight with humans. Ah, but you’re a wolf now! Gahahahaha!” [Leodor]

“Dear!” [Tali]

Nothing major happened after that except for the king of Ofauvra getting scolded by his wolf-eared wife, but he splendidly brushed it off with his hearty laugh. The royal family thanked Ryner for saving Myra and Snow and promised that they would do everything in their power to turn him back into a human. Keeping it short for his sake since he went through such a life-changing ordeal, him and his two companions were escorted outside the castle so that he could rest. As such, the three of them now stood in front of the house they had stayed at for the past few days.

DING DONG

“Yeesss~. Who is it?” [Myra]

As the door opened, a woman in her early thirties asked the visitors with her soothing voice. She had long, wavy blonde hair and green eyes as well as fox ears and a bushy tail. On top of her blue dress that covered her whole body was a simple white apron. It was Myra Elkind, mother of Snow and wife of Taniel, the prime minister.

“My, Evelyn and Maya. Welcome back.” [Myra]

When she saw who was at her door, she greeted them with a gentle smile. Then, putting her hand on her cheek, she made a puzzled expression and looked left and right as she searched for someone.

“By the way, where is Ryner?” [Myra]

A bark was heard as if it was the answer to her question. Lowering her gaze, she found who she was looking for.

“… A wolf?” [Myra]

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“Oh my, the relic actually changes humans into animals. Normally, it’d be an honor, but you’re really unlucky that it reacted to you, Ryner.” [Myra]

Myra said as she tilted her head and brought a hand to her cheek. She was sitting on a couch in the living room of her house with her daughter and her three benefactors. Maya and Evelyn took the other couch that was placed diagonally to her left while Ryner was lying on the other side of the table that was placed in front of her. Having heard the events that happened at the ruin and at the castle, the fox-eared woman looked at him worriedly.

“Woof, woof woof. (Yeah, it’s my usual luck.)” [Ryner]

After barking three times, the wolf dipped the tip of his tail in the bowl filled with black ink. Then, he began using it like a brush to write on the pieces of papers that were on the ground next to him. The rest of the group waited in silence and curiously stared at the rare sight of an animal capable of writing. Once he was done, Maya, who was the closest, picked it up and read it out loud. The letters in the beastkin language were a bit oddly-shaped, but they were readable.

“Master wrote: ‘Yeah, it’s my usual luck.’” [Maya]

After the former Catallard conveyed his message, Evelyn sighed and crossed her arms under her chest.

“That’s the situation. For now, we have the cooperation of King Leodor, so we’ll wait to hear from him.” [Evelyn]

“I’m sure they’ll be able to find a way to return him to normal.” [Myra]

Myra said to reassure her to which the blonde vampire nodded.

“We don’t know if it is temporary or permanent, but it doesn’t seem to put Ryner’s life in danger at least… But, right now, we need to deal with that.” [Evelyn]

“Snow, Master won’t hurt you.” [Maya]

“She’s right. Come here, dear.” [Myra]

The three women stared at the teenage girl who was hiding behind the couch that her mother was sitting on.

“N-no! I’m fine here!” [Snow]

She was trembling and her ears were flat on her head. Her hands were on the couch and only the upper half of her face could be seen as she took a peak at the sleepy-looking man who was now a sleepy-looking wolf. When they made eye contact, she ducked behind cover right away.

“Asking her to endure and to let Ryner stay here might be a bit cruel.” [Evelyn]

“I’m sorry. This child is usually energetic, but she’s quite sensitive. I don’t want to sound like an ingrate, but please understand.” [Myra]

Myra apologized to Evelyn and patted her daughter’s head. When they were still slaves and were about to be used for entertainment, Snow was in a precarious situation as she was forced on her hands and knees with her butt in the air. One of the perverted nobles that were in the room had a dog that was about to become her first partner. Although nothing happened since Ryner barged in and went on a killing spree, the event still left a scar in her. Thus, her slight fear of dogs, especially big ones, was born.

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“I-I-I’m not scared. I just don’t like… Dogs very much right now.” [Snow]

It hadn’t been long since she and her mother were freed from slavery and returned home. Everyone knew that it would take time for her traumas to disappear.

“I don’t hate you, Ryner! But… You’re a dog!” [Snow]

Seeing her so scared of him, Ryner began writing on another piece of paper with his tail. Maya picked it up and spoke the message out loud.

“Snow, this is a message from Master to you.” [Maya]

“T-to me?” [Snow]

“He said: ‘Are you blind? I’m a wolf, brat.’” [Maya]

“You’re hung up on that?! And it’s the same thing! Dogs and wolves are all dogs!” [Snow]

Another message was written to the fox-eared girl who was leaning on the couch and was suddenly speaking with a loud voice.

“This one says~: ‘No, it’s not, idiot.’” [Maya]

“You’re the idiot! Grrr! I don’t want to get close, but I really want to hit you right now!” [Snow]

In the end, despite her bravado, Snow acted like a frightened rabbit and shook in her boots every time Ryner got close to her. As such, it was decided that he would be staying someplace else for the time being. Luckily, Maya knew someone that wouldn’t mind sheltering an animal temporarily and even had a lot of experience in that field.

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“Seriously?! He’s Ryner?!” [Suky]

Suky said while staring at the wolf with her light green eyes wide open. Both Maya and Evelyn were at her house and filled her in on the details. Although shocked, she managed to regain her wits and slowly nodded her head.

“… Sure. If Maya’s asking, then I don’t mind. Leave it to me, you two. I’ll shelter him.” [Suky]

“Thanks, Suky. Master, please rest here.” [Maya]

“We owe you one. Ryner, we’ll find a way to reverse your transformation.” [Evelyn]

Getting up from their chair, they thanked the reddish brown-haired woman, warned Ryner to take it easy and left the place. For now, they planned on gathering information using their own methods so that their beloved could turn back to normal a second sooner. Seeing off their departing backs, Suky waved at the two from her front door for a while and closed it.

“They’re gone. Well, I’m Suky, a friend of Maya. I met Evelyn already, but this is the first time we meet.” [Suky]

The beastman covered in reddish orange fur that had black stripes began to talk to the wolf that was standing next to her. She narrowed her eyes and examined him a bit.

“(Maya told me what he looked like, but that was when he was human… The right eye is white, like she said. I guess this hasn’t changed. Actually, now that I take a good look, he looks pretty sleepy… Ah, he yawned.)” [Suky]

“They told me a lot about you. I actually wanted to talk to you in person at least once, but… Didn’t think it would be like this.” [Suky]

Sure enough, because of her lifestyle, she didn’t find her current action of speaking to a wolf weird at all.

“Well, it can wait until you’re human again. For now, come and meet the rest of the group.” [Suky]

Waving her hand to tell him to follow her, she went to the living room that practically had no furniture and whistled.

“I’ll let ya get acquainted.” [Suky]

Leaving behind those words, she left the place in a carefree manner. Soon enough, a bunch of animals flooded the place. They had been cautiously examining the wolf from a distance, but since their master called them here, it was probably okay to approach him. So, carrying such feelings, a big dog that had lopped ears and was completely black walked up to him.

“Are you the new guy?” [Black dog]

He said in a deep voice as he stared down at the newcomer who was slightly smaller than him. For some reason, Ryner could understand him as if he was speaking words. His animal brain now automatically translated animal language. It was one of the mysteries of life.

“Listen, new guy, we’ve got rules around here and if you break them, we’ll bite you.” [Black dog]

The black dog put on an intimidating air and began reciting the rules the residents of this house had agreed on.

“First, you don’t eat anyone. Second, you don’t… Don’t cause us tr-trouble… T-third, you, uh… You listen to, uh, to our…. Master… And…” [Black dog]

Halfway through, he started losing his confidence and was shrinking back. He seemed frightened by the wolf in front of him and his tail was between his legs. But, it wasn’t that Ryner was showing him hostility. Rather, he was just staring at him with his sleepy-looking eyes and a bored expression. It was because his instincts that he had put aside for the moment were finally overwhelming him as he was watched by that pair of different-colored eyes.

“T-that’ll be all… Yeah…” [Black dog]

No longer able to handle the pressure, he escaped from the place and tried to make himself invisible. The other animals who were watching and talking noisily kept their distance from Ryner.

“(Finally, some animals that listen to their instincts.)” [Ryner]

Sounding a bit pleased, he thought back on the encounters he had so far. Animals had better senses than humans, so they more often sensed how dangerous he was if they made him an enemy. As such, they chose to play it safe and to not invite his ire. However, some still bared their fangs for one reason or another such as the horned wolves he had fought off at one time with Maya. They were black wolves that had bug-like, dark brown shells on their backs, limbs and on their heads as well as a single horn on their foreheads.

There were also the dragoons that attacked the capital city where the heroes resided, Elura. Furthermore, there was the dog of the perverted noble from when he had saved Myra and Snow from slavery. Sometimes, animals would attack him out of desperation, out of prideful confidence or because they ignored their body’s warning senses. 

But, whatever reason it was, the ones here made sure to heed their instincts. They weren’t wild beasts or huge monsters. Most of them were household pets. After taking a look around him, the black and white wolf proceeded to walk ahead of him and the crowd naturally parted to let him through. Ignoring the uneasy gazes stuck on him, he went to the big windows on one side of the walls and lied there under the sunlight.

“We’ve got quite the newcomer.” [???]

Chuckling, someone spoke to him. The male voice was a bit hoarse and sounded like that of an old man. It belonged to his neighbor who was also sunbathing lazily. Unlike the other pets, this one didn’t seem to belong because he was a tiger, the biggest animal in the house.

“Are you really a wolf…? Just what are you?” [Tiger]

He asked Ryner with a bit of curiosity and nervousness mixed together. Although he didn’t seem frighten, he knew instinctively that if he fought this canine that was smaller than him, he would be killed. That was why he wondered if he really was a wolf.

“It’s a secret, kid.” [Ryner]

That was all Ryner said and the tiger, who was frozen for a second, laughed softly again before closing his eyes. He was old, but being called a kid by this wolf felt oddly normal.

“Alright then, I won’t pry. Probably better if I don’t. Anyway, welcome to our home, newcomer.” [Tiger]

Seeing how the tiger, who was like the leader of their pack, greeted and welcomed the new face that smelled like danger, everyone decided to leave him alone for now. As such, the animals dispersed and went about their business all while steering clear from Ryner. The only one who dared be near him was the old tiger that was sleeping by the windows like him. It was his usual routine and he didn’t want it to change.

Then again, from here on, he would have to share his spot with his new neighbor.