The young girl approached with confident strides but halted abruptly.
After glancing over in my direction, she cut straight to the chase with a question.
“Is that you?”
“…?”
I was momentarily at a loss for words, thrown off by her unexpected appearance.
After all…
—Thrrrrrt!
Her ears stood up into a sharp triangle, an elegant silver tail swayed at her waist, and her eyes sparkled—large and vivid.
Could it be…
‘A Beastman?’
A different race.
Among them, the Beastmen were infamous for their fierce temperaments.
Beastmen are naturally gifted in combat.
Rather, they are a race born for battle.
A race that revels in struggle, extols strength, and bows to no one.
In direct contrast to humans, who value harmony, Beastmen typically form their own isolated communities, far from humans.
So I couldn’t understand the current situation.
Because Beastmen, rumored to move in packs, are rarely seen alone—especially here, in Blackmore, the famed Magic Realm.
“Hmm.”
I stood still, gazing at her. From any angle, she was a classic fox Beastman, wasn’t she? As far as I knew, their territory should be nowhere near here.
Had she been cast out of her group? But she was too young and too intact to have been exiled. Or maybe she had escaped slavery?
Who was she?
I thought it over several times but couldn’t recall anyone who fit the bill.
‘I just don’t know.’
Eventually, I truly didn’t know. Just as I thought this, a cold and measured voice reached my ears:
“Did you not hear me?”
“Huh?”
“You! Aren’t you the one I’m asking about?”
“What about me?”
She tapped a broken sign dangling loosely with her fingers.
“Didn’t you put up this sign?”
“Yes, but…?”
“I followed it too.”
The confident proclamation from Rudine followed. Good job. I lightly ruffled her hair, causing her face to redden instantly.
“Found you.”
Regardless of anything else, the fox Beastman’s expression softened after hearing the response.
Then she said—
“Take responsibility.”
What?
“Responsibility? For what?”
“Because of you, I couldn’t die.”
“???”
Couldn’t die…
Because of me?
This must be…
“Suicide?”
“…”
The silence seemed to confirm my guess. It was indeed surprising. While I’d seen many Beastmen die fighting, I’d never come across one attempting to end their own life.
“So, you’re telling me that because of my sign, you couldn’t die after coming all this way?”
“…”
Nodding reluctantly, she appeared irritated and admitted to it. Watching this, Rudine’s eyes widened considerably, and she whispered to me.
“Does that sign really work?”
“I told you, seeing it makes even someone who wanted to die lose the will.”
“But what’s she asking you to take responsibility for? Is she asking you to… kill her?”
“Ssh! What if she hears us…?”
“Hey! I can hear everything perfectly!”
Great.
No wonder they say foxes have sharp hearing.
“Do you have any idea how much effort I put in to get here?!”
“I don’t.”
“I’ll explain it to you then!”
“I’m not interested.”
“Argh…!”
The fox clenched her fists tightly, visibly irritated. Her silver tail, which had been swaying gently, now jutted sharply. I suddenly felt an urge to touch it; it looked so fluffy.
“Anyway, take responsibility!”
“Why me?”
“Because you interfered!”
She thrust the sign directly in front of me. The words “Can you swim?” caught my eye.
I stroked my chin, deeply contemplative. Why was she so triggered by those words? Unable to resist my curiosity, I eventually asked her.
“You… can’t swim?”
“…”
“So you didn’t jump?”
“…”
Her face turned bright red, her gaze sharp and dangerous. Ah, so it was true—she had been scared off by the sign.
A sudden sense of pride washed over me. My signs indeed worked exactly as I had hoped. I’d spent a lot of time planting them comprehensively, and it was paying off.
However, despite that, I couldn’t agree with her implication.
“Why is this my responsibility?”
At this, her face showed a flustered expression.
“Why…! If only you hadn’t put up those kinds of signs…!”
“Maybe you’re just easily frightened?”
“Wha…?”
Her teeth ground together, the sound distinct and clear.
“…You dare.”
Her tone laced with fury. There was no mistaking the hostility in her voice, her expression, and the faint but deadly killing intent radiating from her presence. The fine hairs on the back of my neck stood up.
‘Oh, right.’
I realized my mistake. To a Beastman, calling someone a coward was the ultimate insult. Considering their competitive nature, I had unintentionally pressed the worst button for her, triggering her rage.
That’s when…
“Luke.”
Rudine tilted her head slightly.
“Is it an enemy?”
A short, but sharp question. Rudine hadn’t even finished her sentence before…
Goohhhooohhh—
The air around us grew heavy, pressing down on my breath. My legs wobbled as if my shoulders were bearing a weight beyond their capacity.
‘What is this…’
I wasn’t the only one affected. The fox Beastman also grimaced, feeling the immense pressure.
‘Damn… what killing intent…’
The dense, unfathomable murderous aura enveloped the entire area, making my heart race in sync.
Kuh! Kuh! Kuh! Kuh!
The startled fox Beastman’s gaze slowly turned toward something. When she saw Rudine with a sly smirk, her eyes widened in shock.
Not to be outdone, the fox Beastman tried to channel her own power, but it was no match against Rudine’s oppressive killing intent.
‘Damn…’
The situation had taken a turn for the worse. Neither side showed any sign of retreating, perceiving the other as an enemy.
Rudine I can understand, but this fox girl was problematic. Just look at her—biting her teeth, refusing to back down. True to the insane race that valued dying in battle as an honor.
Kiiiiiiiik—
The colliding auras created a sizzling sound in the air, piercing our eardrums.
Gulp.
A moment of extreme tension.
Then, suddenly…
Thud.
“Wha…?!”
The shaking fox girl had collapsed on the ground, trembling from head to toe. Despite the situation, she hiccuped and sobbed.
‘What’s this? Why is she…?’
Her once-perky triangular ears were now drooping, and her silver tail slumped against the ground.
You little…
Could it be?
“Hey.”
She flinched!
“Are you okay?”
“…”
Her red-rimmed eyes, the crimson ears…
It’s clear. She’s scared right now.
“???”
It baffled me.
Is she really a Beastman?
This race, known for living for combat, breaking down due to an aura of fear and shedding tears—does it even make sense?
I didn’t remember seeing such a Beastman in the original story…
‘Wait, a moment…’
Although I don’t recall every detail of the original story exactly, I clearly remember key events and characters.
And among those was a Beastman…
That name…
‘Adina.’
Adina.
A fox Beastman destined to be one of the great Beast Kings, a pinnacle figure among her race.
‘Could this coward be her?’
Is that even plausible?
Yet much of what I know about her matches this girl’s traits.
‘Fluffy triangular ears, silver tail, violet eyes…’
That’s not all. If she truly is the same Adina destined to become the Beast King, then it’s also possible to infer why she has been living alone in Blackmore, separate from her kind.
For ages, she had lived hidden in Blackmore, earning a notorious name before eventually being redeemed by the protagonist and later joining his companions. She even revealed her reasons during that time—
‘I was cast out.’
Because she was cast out by her own race.
What was the reason for this casting out?
‘She was… a coward.’
That’s right.
Because of being a coward.
She despised fighting, was frightened easily, and had a timid nature, causing her to be severely ostracized by her pack.
Ultimately, after being exiled from her race, she had no choice but to run away to Blackmore.
‘The only Beastman who hated her own kind.’
When I read the original, it was a detail I barely noticed.
But now, I realize something I hadn’t considered before.
Could it be… she came to Blackmore to commit suicide?
“Hey.”
“Huh?!?”
Her silver tail shot up in alarm.
Trembling like a frightened rabbit, she stammered.
“P, please forgive me!”
“Hm?”
“I’ll… I’ll forget this ever happened! Huh-huh!”
“Really?”
“Y, yes! It’s absolutely fine! I’ll deal with the monster… huh-huh!”
She’s really a coward.
I barely managed to suppress my astonishment bubbling up to my chin.
“Then we can leave now, right?”
“Y-yes!”
Adina nodded frantically. Her silver tail swayed in sync.
“Rudine!”
“Hm?”
“Let’s go.”
“Okay!”
Rudine immediately relaxed her aura upon my signal and followed me with small, quick steps, watching Adina’s panicked expression.
“Let’s go ahead.”
“…”
Without a second thought, I turned my back and walked away. Whether she’s the future Beast King or not, I had more immediate matters to attend to.
I needed to finish my exploration as soon as possible and return to rest peacefully.
Still…
“…”
Clomp, clomp.
“…”
Clomp, clomp.
‘What’s this?’
Footsteps followed behind me, drawing closer.
Could it be?
“!!!”
Phew!
“Hiiik!”
Sure enough, as I turned around, Adina was there, keeping a safe distance while stealthily following.
“What are you doing?”
“…”
She moved her lips a few times as if trying to say something. After a pause, her voice came out strained and constricted.
“…I… I’m scared alone…”
What?
“I… I don’t want to be alone…”
“…”
A genuine coward.
I barely managed to hold in the admiration that threatened to spill out.
“Then we’re leaving.”
Nodding quickly, Adina tried to stay as close as possible.
“Rudine!”
“Hm?”
“Let’s go.”
“Okay!”
As I gestured with my hand, Rudine quickly followed in step. Watching us leave, Adina exhaled a sigh of relief.
“I’m heading out first.”
“…”
Without further ado, I turned my back.
After all, I didn’t have time to deal with her right now.
Still…
“…”
Clomp, clomp.
“…”
Clomp, clomp.
‘What is this?’
The sound of slow footsteps following me grew louder and closer.
Could it be?
“!!!”
Pfft!
“Hiiik!”
Sure enough.
She was there, trying—and failing—to sneakily follow.
“What are you doing?”
“…”
She moved her lips a few times, trying to articulate something. Then, with great effort, she finally spoke.
“…It’s… it’s scary alone…”
What?
“I… I can’t be alone…”
“…”
