“Ow, my head… This ale was stronger than I thought.”
Maybe I pushed myself too hard last night.
It’s easy to get rid of a hangover, but I didn’t want to erase the fun mood so quickly.
I can do it when we enter the capital anyway. Let me stay like this for now.
As I shook my head and started getting dressed, Earl gave me an exasperated look.
“You’re not stupid, are you? Why bother suffering…”
“It’s my heart. My patience is lower because of the headache, so watch out. I might lose control right now.”
“…Your threats have increased.”
After our usual banter, when I went outside, everyone had already prepared to some extent.
Am I last again?
As I was feeling like a failure, Black Wolf suddenly stuck to my side.
Not like hugging or anything, just standing close silently.
“Hot. Back off a bit.”
“No.”
I sighed softly and shook my head.
I have an idea why this guy sticks to me like glue.
Must be because he couldn’t sleep with Earl. Isn’t he more like a dog than a wolf?
“You smell of alcohol.”
Black Wolf, who slightly furrowed his brows, took something out of his pocket and handed it to me.
A pure white mint candy.
“What is this? Where did you get it?”
“It was in the dormitory.”
“If so, I’ll take it then.”
Without thinking, I popped the candy into my mouth, and a refreshing sensation spread instantly.
Ah, familiar feeling, sharp taste.
Mint candy, isn’t it?
“So there are extreme mints in this world too…”
“Why are mints extreme? Isn’t it good to freshen your breath?”
That line came from Earl who was somewhere picking up that phrase. This guy, a mint lover?
Another reason to tease him appeared.
“Something seems off about your eyes…”
“Probably a mistake. Let’s go pay respects.”
Leaving Earl’s suspicious gaze behind, I headed toward Theron.
“Hmm, you should keep that for now. We’ll arrive in about an hour anyway. If there’s anything lacking, it’s better to replenish on return.”
“Yes!”
Despite being practically equivalent to an emperor here, Theron leads by example, commanding the scene.
If only Erias lying lazily on top of that carriage wasn’t glaring like a superior officer.
It’s not entirely wrong somehow… Anyway.
“Good morning. Did you rest well last night?”
“Ah, looks like you didn’t get much rest. Your dark circles have reached your jaw.”
“…Is it that bad?”
As I absentmindedly touched my face, Theron smiled and shook his head.
“Just a joke. Still, you look tired. You seem weaker against alcohol than expected?”
“Guess it’s been too long since I drank. Not used to drinking regularly.”
Speaking of which, wouldn’t anyone get drunk after downing several beers?
It’s not that I’m weak against alcohol, but Theron seems unusually strong.
“Haha, this is nothing. Felix could drink with dwarves. If he were here, he’d probably finish all the alcohol in that small tavern alone.”
“That’s surprising…”
Can someone really do that?
“Well, let’s leave that story for later. Let’s start moving.”
“Yes sir.”
As I nodded and was about to board the carriage, Erias muttered in a low voice.
“Looks like it won’t be an easy journey.”
“Huh? What do you mean…”
Theron blinked.
Finally, I could sense some strange energy.
Extremely faint, but definitely “demon energy”.
“Seems like it’s definitely related to heresy.”
“…There won’t be any easy going.”
Theron narrowed his eyes, having noticed the demon energy too.
“All personnel prepare for battle!”
At Theron’s shout, the Guardian Knights moved swiftly.
The sharp sound of swords being drawn grew louder as a faint noise became increasingly distinct.
BOOM-BOOM-BOOM-
And before we knew it, they were upon us.
“ROAAAR!!!”
A monstrous creature charging towards us, roaring.
Its crimson muscles glistened unnaturally.
Huge enough to rival an ogre, drooling at the corners of its insane-looking mouth with fresh blood trickling down.
Erias raised her mana while making a displeased expression after carefully observing it.
“…It’s human.”
Understanding what she meant, I frowned.
“A demon beast?”
“Yeah. No idea what the heretics did, but this is someone contaminated by demon energy. And it’s not just this one, looks like around five more visible ones.”
Looking around, Erias spoke to Theron.
“I’ll take a few Guardian Knights. The forces here seem insufficient.”
“Yes. First squad follow Infantry Palace’s command!”
“Understood!”
Confirming the knights following behind him, Erias turned to me.
“Protect the Crown Prince well. Even if I don’t say it, you’ll do fine, right?”
“Don’t worry. I’ll finish quickly and go support elsewhere.”
“Don’t let your guard down. It’s rare for humans to become demon beasts, so there might be unknown variables. Be especially careful of poison.”
“Yes, understood. Go ahead quickly.”
“Tch, such an impolite guy.”
Muttering, Erias flew off to another location.
I cracked my neck and approached the monster in front of me.
“Sobers me right up. Stay back and protect the Crown Prince. I’ll finish this quickly.”
“Yes sir! Should I assist?”
“Not necessary.”
Giving a short reply, I transformed Opheucus into a spear.
No idea what kind of monster it is, but it was once human, so it’s better to end it quickly.
-HUMMM!
[Divine Power: Forced Harmony]
As I slowly activated my divine power and gathered aura, Black Wolf beside me bit his lip and spoke.
“Number 3.”
“Huh? That guy we quarreled with yesterday? Geez, fate is mysterious. Didn’t expect to meet again like this.”
Now that I think about it, the scar on his face seems familiar…
Was there a complication during treatment?
Should’ve gotten treated at a verified place.
“Hmm… Want to handle it?”
After brief consideration, I glanced at Black Wolf.
If there are bad memories, it might be better to resolve them this time.
“…I’ll do it.”
Black Wolf solemnly nodded.
His tightly shut lips revealed various complicated emotions.
Go on. Whatever happened, let’s clear this trauma here.
Deciding to leave it to him, I stepped back slowly as Opheucus hummed unhappily.
-HUMMM…
“Let Black Wolf handle it this time. There will be another chance next time.”
-HUM!
Confirming Opheucus returning to bracelet form, I moved to Theron’s side.
“Will it be okay? Seems tough for an assassin to handle.”
“At Master level, such elemental advantages don’t apply. Just watch.”
By the way, it’s been a while since I’ve seen Black Wolf fight seriously.
Though, against monsters, it’s different.
This opponent is far from making him show his true strength.
***
“Number 3… Didn’t expect to meet here.”
Standing quietly in front of the monster, Black Wolf reminisced about distant past memories.
Just as Allen expected, they weren’t good memories.
Back then, before the war between the empire and the barbarians.
The barbarians were gathering various races to strengthen their power.
Actually, the name “barbarian” didn’t even exist back then.
It was the empire that called the coalition of races hostile to them “barbarians”.
Among those numerous races, there were certainly peace-loving ones.
However, they were slaughtered by non-human barbarians under the terrible motto that human races must be exterminated.
That massacre changed the fates of many races, including Black Wolf’s.
“Didn’t expect to meet like this.”
The child of the wolf race, who lost family, friends, and hometown to the barbarians, was raised by the empire.
Under the inhumane group called “Blackwater”, Black Wolf received harsh training to the point of forgetting his original name, being called Number 7.
“Received a lot of discrimination.”
Blackwater took parentless children and raised them to follow their ways.
Since the land was vast, there were plenty of orphans.
Even among the mixed-race children there, Black Wolf stood out as different.
Being the only canine humanoid, he inevitably drew attention from many boys and girls.
They poured out their stress from training onto Black Wolf without filter.
Among them, Number 3 was always the first to incite other trainees and enthusiastically bully Black Wolf.
“Our positions have reversed, haven’t they.”
In the early days of training, when Black Wolf was the weakest and Number 3 was competing for the top spot, Number 3 ended up being kicked out of Blackwater and lived as an adventurer before becoming a demon beast.
“Grrr…”
The monster made a low growl upon meeting eyes.
Its sneering smile reminded Black Wolf of how he used to trample and mock his head back then.
Even with his mind contaminated by demon energy, he still regarded himself as superior.
Black Wolf couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Hey! Finish it quickly! The Guardian Knights are struggling!”
Hearing Allen’s shouting from behind, his ears moved involuntarily.
The first human who treated him as a person without prejudice.
Now someone he has developed feelings beyond comradeship…
A precious human.
“Understood.”
Black Wolf quietly raised his dagger.
The moment the swaying tail stopped moving.
[Divine Power: Shadow Ambush Wolf]
Black Wolf’s presence disappeared.
“Grrr…?!”
The monster, who was swinging his fists at the Guardian Knights, stopped in confusion.
Looking around for Black Wolf, the monster finally let out a roar.
“ROOOAAAARRRR!!!”
“Ugh…!”
“Hang on!”
As the knights formed a shield and gritted their teeth, at that moment.
“Too noisy.”
Black Wolf appeared behind the monster.
“Roooaaar…?”
Reacting to the voice from behind, the monster turned around.
And Black Wolf quietly plunged his dagger into the monster’s forehead.
“Farewell, ghost of the past.”
“ROOOOOOOAAAARRRR!!”
Even with his brain pierced, the monster swung his fist towards Black Wolf, but failed to achieve his purpose.
POOF!
Thanks to the burst of aura from Black Wolf, the head flew off.
Not satisfied with just the head, Black Wolf vaporized the upper body, then lightly landed in front of Allen, avoiding the splattering blood and flesh pieces.
THUD
With movements so quiet he didn’t even make footsteps, Black Wolf stood in front of Allen without a single speck of dirt.
“I’m back.”
Seeing his calm demeanor, Allen chuckled and patted Black Wolf’s head.
“Welcome back.”
With the warm touch, Black Wolf’s tail, which had momentarily stopped, began to wag gently.
