Chapter 44: Emergency food is a couple?

“Dracos Blacksmith.”

The Marquis and lord of Mysticgrove.

A despicable man who fawns over the Emperor but tramples on those weaker than himself…

He truly has a punchable face.

I especially want to pluck that treacherous mustache of his.

Both in “Lilith Tycoon” and now.

“So, what do you want me to do?”

“Haha, what do you want me to do? Stop the beastkin search.”

He glanced at me and chuckled softly.

“…Sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong, huh, Black Hound…Having a lot of backers doesn’t mean you’re invincible.”

“Oh my, such frightening words…The villagers’ complaints are piling up. The Emperor has secretly ordered a thorough investigation of the village…”

“…Ridiculous. How could His Majesty give such an order to someone like you…”

“Here’s the proof.”

I smiled and held up the fake Emperor’s letter.

Dracos flinched in surprise and muttered to himself, “No way…”

“I’ve heard the villagers’ complaints. His Majesty told me to take notes, so I’ll just read them to you.”

I slowly unfolded the fake letter and began to recite,

“Hmm, the patrol captain had a banquet with 30 bottles of whiskey, claiming it would be expensed to taxes…Oh, and a patrolman caused a disturbance at a tavern and injured someone…Oh, and what’s this…a patrolman ripped someone’s clothes to check if they were a beastkin…”

“W-Wait…”

Dracos broke out in a cold sweat and gave an awkward smile.

I smiled back at him.

“Haha, what’s wrong?”

“Is that really the letter…?”

“Of course, shall I show you?”

“…Y-Yes. Show me.”

“Here it is.”

The “Faker Letter.”

It’s not good to overuse it…

But it’s a perfect item for when it’s needed.

Just like with the Thief Guild Leader Han, it bore the Emperor’s seal…

And was made of the Emperor’s signature luxurious silk.

The content of the letter was exactly as I had said.

“Patrol each village and rectify any injustices or hardships faced by the people. I will provide the necessary support…”

Something like that.

Dracos’s hands trembled as he read the letter.

I chuckled at his reaction and asked,

“Do you believe me now?”

“W-Why…why would His Majesty use…you?”

“Well, it’s because I’m the Black Hound, isn’t it? I know the nobles’ ugly secrets better than anyone.”

Yes.

The ugliness of the nobles.

It’s beyond words.

A world where they can commit any evil deed because of their power.

Even the villainous heroines were born from such injustices.

That’s what this world is.

The Black Hound is a ray of hope born from that darkness.

As someone embodying that concept, I need to play the role faithfully.

“Sigh…What do you want?”

“Simple. Stop the patrols.”

“…Is that really all?”

“Yes?”

“There must be something else you want…”

He seems to think I’m asking for a bribe.

Hmm…the bribe I need right now…

This should do.

“Then, will you order the patrolmen and their captain to go to Spiral Mountain?”

“Why there?”

“I heard a beastkin infiltrated this village. I also heard from another source that she might have escaped from the village.”

“From whom…”

“Well…”

I put my finger to my lips and gave a sly smile.

“It’s a secret.”

“…A secret? Ridiculous. You want me to send my men there without any proof?”

“No. If I told you who the informant was, you’d retaliate, wouldn’t you?”

“Retaliate…?”

“Yes, retaliate.”

“Who would retaliate…”

“No, you definitely would.”

I pressed him, piling on the accusations.

Dracos must be dumbfounded, but he has no choice but to comply.

I’m giving him information about the beastkin he’s so desperately searching for.

Even a clueless, idiotic lord should be able to make that judgment.

“…You…just you wait.”

“Haha, feel free to watch. You’re going through with what I said, right?”

“…”

Dracos clenched his fists, looking furious.

But what can he do? Anger is pointless.

“Sigh…”

He just let out a long sigh.

Dracos will probably follow my instructions.

In the game, when I provided this information…

Dracos sent the patrolmen to Spiral Mountain.

Knowing this, I bowed deeply, tipping my hat.

“Then, I’ll take my leave, assuming you understand.”

I calmly left.

♥

Now the danger is gone.

The patrolmen in the village have all moved, as I predicted.

A sudden journey to Spiral Mountain.

It’s near the village, but it makes sense since I told him the beastkin fled there.

So now I can freely roam around in broad daylight with Lunari.

I have some things to buy at the market…

And it’s time to accelerate her adaptation training.

“Oh, there are so many humans…”

“Different from early morning, isn’t it?”

“Sniff…”

Lunari sniffed the air and gave a strange smile.

“Hmm. I see.”

“Just so you know, you can’t eat humans. Okay?”

“…”

Lunari glanced up at me at my words.

“You really know everything about me, don’t you, Isabel…”

Lunari chuckled softly.

“Of course. I’m the one who knows everything about you.”

“Hmm, is that so?”

Lunari suddenly looked at me with narrowed eyes.

I scratched my cheek and gave an awkward smile at her expression.

“Is there something on my face?”

“Hmm, no. It’s nothing. So where are we going?”

“To the market, as I said.”

“The market…?”

The bustling market, teeming with people.

I brought Lunari here to further her adaptation.

Her Malice Gauge is still at 68%, but…

She won’t mindlessly attack anyone…

—Fresh fish just arrived!

—Delicious fruits here! Starfruit! One gold! Only one gold!

—Delicious stew for sale! Take-out available!

“Isabel. This place is fascinating…”

“Yes?”

“So many people…How do they all gather here?”

“Hmm, that’s simple.”

I chuckled and raised my index finger.

“This is a place for conversation, a place where many people can gather.”

“A place for conversation…Are there beastkin like me here too?”

“Haha…Well…I wonder…”

I said with a sly smile.

Actually, there are no other beastkin in this village besides Lunari.

As far as I know, the other beastkin live in other mountains.

“Oh, is that so? That’s why it’s fascinating…”

“What is?”

“So many people walking around. And it’s amazing that they gather here. It’s like…they appear endlessly. These human creatures.”

“Ah, yes. It’s a human village after all.”

“Conversely…there must be villages where beastkin live, right…?”

“Well. I’m human, so…I wouldn’t know…”

It would be troublesome if I said yes here.

Especially to this heroine who harbors hatred not only for humans but also for beastkin…

Such words would only fuel her malice.

“Isabel, it’s good that you don’t know…If there were such a village, I’d want to destroy it immediately…”

…I’m glad I didn’t say anything.

Her eyes were smiling, but her face seemed filled with malice.

“Haha, how frightening. Why would you want to destroy it?”

“…Well, I don’t remember. But…this comes to mind. When I was young, someone said I was misfortune…if I was nearby.”

“Misfortune?”

“Yes, Isabel…Are you also unhappy being with me?”

Misfortune…

The reason Lunari was hunted by her own kind…

Was because of the rumor that misfortune always followed her.

This was also why she suffered various forms of persecution for being a rare Yoho beastkin.

And come to think of it, whenever Lunari was around, incidents and accidents always happened.

Calling her an icon of misfortune wouldn’t be an exaggeration.

Out of 100 times, 100 times something bad happened.

Of course, it’s all just a coincidence.

Lunari doesn’t actually bring misfortune.

If she did…

She wouldn’t have become a symbol of good luck and a guardian deity in the true ending.

I smiled softly at Lunari and said,

“Lunari, you’re never…”

—Hey, you couple over there!

Hmm…?

Some guy is talking to us.

I glanced at Lunari.

Lunari looked up at me, and the man continued,

“Come and win a prize! We have an event for couples!”
“…Isabel, what’s a couple?”

Lunari asked, twitching her ears.

I scratched my cheek and said, “Ah…”

“A couple…refers to lovers.”
“Lovers? Do you mean a mating relationship?”

As expected of a beast…

Ah, no, that’s how a beastkin would interpret it.

“Well, it’s similar.”
“Hmm…That human sees us that way.”
“Why, does that bother you?”

At my question, Lunari stroked her chin and smiled faintly.

“No, it’s just…he sees my emergency rations as a mating partner…”

W-Wait…

E-Emergency rations?

Does she really see me that way?

“Haha…That’s a rather scary joke. You’re joking, right?”
“Heheh.”

Lunari didn’t answer and walked towards the man.

Watching her, I thought…

I should be careful too.

“Come on, young man!”
“Ah, yes, coming.”

I naturally followed the man.

“We’re having a game for couples. How about it, want to try?”

The man handed me a bow.

“…Is this…a bow?”
“Hahaha, it’s a toy.”
“Ah…Lunari, how about it? Shall we try?”
“…Is there a prize?”

The man replied with a hearty laugh to Lunari’s question,

“Of course! See that item over there? It’s a special ornament, a Lucky Fox Mask.”
“A Lucky Fox Mask…”

Perfect.

Lunari always considers herself a symbol of misfortune.

This would be a perfect gift for her.

I smiled and said to Lunari,

“Miss Misfortune. I’ll turn you into Miss Fortune.”
“Hmm…? Me?”

As Lunari tilted her head and looked at me…

The man suddenly said something strange.

“Yeah, yeah! Hunt it like a beastkin!”
“…Beastkin?”

Her expression suddenly turned cold.

I yelled, “Ahh!” and shouted, “Lunari!”

When Lunari looked at me…

I quickly used the effect of the potion I drank yesterday and shot the fox ornament.

Thwack! The arrow hit the target, and the man’s jaw dropped in surprise.

“How did you…”

It’s only natural he’d be surprised.

The target was incredibly small.

The size of a fingernail.

But I could easily hit it.

The “Agility Potion” I drank yesterday when dealing with the patrol captain…

It enhances physical abilities and improves aiming skills.

“Now, hand over the mask.”

I said with a grin, and the man nodded dumbly.

“Uh, uh…Y-Yes, of course.”

He handed me the mask with a dazed expression.

“C-Congratulations.”
“Thank you.”

I smiled and gently placed the mask on Lunari’s face.

“The mask suits you, Lunari.”
“…Does it? Thank you.”

Lunari lowered her head shyly.

I continued what I couldn’t say earlier.

“Lunari?”
“Yes?”
“Don’t always think of yourself as misfortune. From now on, you’ll only have good fortune. It won’t always be misfortune. You don’t bring misfortune. It’s more fun being with you.”
“Really…?”
“Of course.”

Lunari smiled faintly at my words.

“Is that so…? Well, I don’t know for sure. But it might be true. If you say so, Isabel, it must be true. You’ve always been smart.”

Lunari smiled bashfully and looked up at me.

I nodded and stroked her head.

“Yes, Miss Fortune Lunari.”