chapter_0676

676 – Luffy

676 – Luffy

I was lost in thought on the way home.

I was thinking about the fox Beastman I met at the auction house.

‘She said she’d come back later, right?’

Then she knows where we live.

Doesn’t she know the exact situation?

She could be an impatient girl, or a meticulous girl whose actions are all an act.

I must never let my guard down.

I clenched my fist, making that resolution.

Choi Jin-hyuk approached us, leading two men in black suits.

“Huh…?”

They were wearing luxurious black suits and white gloves, and they were holding something flat and square.

It was wrapped in cloth, so I couldn’t tell exactly what it was.

“Gyeoul, this is a gift from Master.”

“Yes? What is it?”

“I heard it’s a Beastmen treasure?”

“Huh…?”

A Beastmen treasure, could it be the one we failed to get at the auction?

Surprised, I rushed towards what was presumed to be the treasure.

Swish-

As I slowly pulled the cloth away, the men holding the treasure adjusted their posture to make it easier to unwrap.

Thanks to them, I was able to see the Beastmen treasure for the first time.

“Wow.”

The treasure was a painting in a frame.

It was a painting of a wolf girl fighting a minotaur with a sword, and surprisingly, the painting changed slightly depending on the viewing angle.

‘The painting is bumpy.’

When viewed from the left, the girl was leaping with her sword, and when viewed from the right, she was stabbing the minotaur with her sword.

A painting of this quality was definitely worthy of being called a treasure.

“It’s amazing.”

“You have a good eye.”

“By the way, where should we put the painting?”

“Um… for now, please put it in that container over there.”

As I took the lead and carried the painting, the eyes of those inside the container were drawn to it.

Sophia was among those who were surprised by the painting.

“Gyeoul, this is…”

“The Master gave it to us.”

“…Is that so?”

Sophia’s eyes were fixed on the painting.

Seeing Sophia purely admiring the painting made me feel good for some reason.

“I’m glad we were able to bring the treasure.”

“Yes, I’m glad too.”

“Yes. But where should we put this treasure?”

“Since it’s a symbolic painting, how about hanging it in the guild?”

“Yes? It’s a treasure, is that okay?”

“It’s okay. This place is symbolic for the Beastmen living on Earth.”

Symbolic?

Was our guild at that level?

Well, it’s a place I’m proud of in my own way.

I decided to follow Sophia’s advice here.

“Then should we hang it in a place that’s visible as soon as you come in?”

“Good idea. Let’s put a protection spell on it too.”

Sophia showed a rare excited expression.

Thanks to that, I was able to erase my worries and concerns about the fox Beastman.

Well, I have my family.

If things go wrong, I can get help from my family.

So, let’s just rest well for today.

I used a lot of energy preparing for the auction.

**

The next day.

Having recovered from my fatigue, I moved to the guild container.

“Ahem.”

I cleared my throat to draw the attention of those in the guild.

I was about to have a meeting on what to do about the fox Beastman I met the day before when someone knocked on the container door.

Knock knock knock knock-!

It was a knock that felt urgent.

I didn’t know anyone who knocked on the door like that.

What is it, a guest?

I cautiously opened the door and looked outside.

“Huh?”

The person at the door was none other than the fox girl I met yesterday.

She said she’d visit later, but the gap was only a day?

I couldn’t help but be taken aback when I saw the girl.

“Hello?”

“Y-Yes…”

Whether she had good execution or an impatient personality…

I didn’t know anything at this point.

I decided to save my words and watch her.

“Have you thought about what I said yesterday?”

“Uh… no…?”

She looked momentarily flustered at my answer.

It had only been a day, less than 24 hours in terms of time.

But I was also taken aback that she had already come to ask about my intentions.

“Hmm…”

The fox girl crossed her arms and looked around the container.

She tapped the tent next to the container but didn’t look inside.

“Do you live in a place like this?”

“Yes…?”

Living in a place like this.

This isn’t a house, it’s just a guild.

Maybe the fox girl really didn’t know anything about us.

‘She seems a bit clumsy…’

No, no, no.

Don’t let your guard down.

It could all be an act.

As I slightly raised my eyebrows warily, she sat down on a chair near the bonfire with her unique seductive smile.

“A thin iron plate house with a tent… you’re working hard, but you’re still lacking.”

“I-Is that so…?”

“Of course.”

She cautiously looked around and gestured for me to come over.

After hesitating for a moment, I approached her, and she whispered in my ear.

“Don’t be surprised. We live in a stone house.”

“……?”

What is it?

Is she being serious?

Then all the actions she’s taken so far weren’t an act?

As I rolled my eyes in confusion, she cleared her throat.

“…You can be a little surprised.”

“Ah… Wow…”

Clap clap.

I awkwardly clapped and looked at the fox Beastman.

Come to think of it, I don’t even know her name.

It seemed like we needed to take some time to get to know each other first.

“Um, how long have you been on Earth?”

“It’s been a month now.”

“Ah.”

I thought she was a bit clumsy, so it’s only been a month.

There were many things I didn’t know even after living in this world for eight years.

She was doing great for that amount of time.

“By the way, what’s your name? I’m Gyeoul.”

“Oh, I didn’t tell you my name? My name is Lupiel. Just call me Lupi.”

“Okay, Lupi.”

To commemorate learning Lupi’s name, I bowed again.

Then Lupi, who was sitting in the chair, crossed her legs and continued with a serious tone.

“Gyeoul, if this were our world, we might have had to compete for a position.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. But this is Earth. We have to cooperate.”

“That’s right.”

Beastmen are a minority.

It would be good if we could help each other.

“But Gyeoul, do you know that the Beastmen’s hierarchy is quite strict?”

“Yes. I know.”

“Then that makes things faster. You know that Beastmen don’t recognize two leaders, right?”

So, come under me.

Lupi was saying that.

But there was one fact that Lupi didn’t know.

We had already abolished the caste system.

“U-Um…”

I couldn’t help but hesitate as I looked at Lupi.

How should I tell the Beastmen, who have only been here for a month, about freedom and equality?

Lupi seemed to think that my worries were hesitation, and she sighed deeply.

“Is it hard to give up the leader position?”

“No, I…”

“Then we’ll have to have a match to see who is more suitable to be the leader.”

“……”

Lupi was somewhat hasty.

Even though I was waving my hand, saying no, Lupi only smiled like a fox.

“Unfortunately, the chances of Gyeoul winning against me are low. We have a Divine Beast.”

“Huh? A Divine Beast?”

“Yes. Are you surprised?”

As Lupi said, I was surprised.

The power of a Divine Beast was beyond imagination.

But we also have Divine Beasts, doesn’t Lupi know?

In the midst of my questions, I realized.

Our Divine Beasts usually make their bodies smaller with Bom and Levinas’s magic.

From a distance, they just look like ordinary animals.

“That’s amazing. But we have a Divine Beast too.”

“You have a Divine Beast…?”

“Yes.”

I looked around the park.

Most of the Divine Beasts were in the Dungeon with the adventurers, and only Seol was running around the park.

“Seol, Seol.”

“Mya! Mya!”

At my call, Seol made a sound and ran over.

I picked up Seol and showed her to Lupi.

“She’s a cat Divine Beast. Isn’t she cute?”

“…Yes?”

Lupi made a dumbfounded expression, then sighed.

“Gyeoul, that’s just an ordinary cat.”

“Ordinary?”

Our Seol doesn’t have special powers like a Divine Beast, but she wasn’t ordinary.

She could fully understand human words, and she could roar with wildness.

‘Our Seol is amazing…’

My ears and tail drooped in gloom.

Lupi’s eyes narrowed at my appearance.

“Gyeoul, we’re also clearing Dungeons in this world. We’re at stage five.”

“That’s amazing.”

Lupi’s tail wagged softly at my compliment.

Unlike my and the children’s tails, her tail wagged in a wave-like motion, which was fascinating.

“Do you understand? We’ve come this far in just a month. Gyeoul, you’ve worked hard too, but…”

Heh.

Lupi chuckled instead of finishing her sentence.

Perhaps because she was a fox, it was a truly captivating smile.

Of course, I wasn’t fooled by that smile.

“Lupi, you’re amazing, but we’ve also built a village well in our own way.”

“Ha… I guess we can’t just talk about this.”

“Yes?”

Lupi’s eyes turned fierce.

Was she angry because I kept refusing?

A physical attack might come.

It was the moment I was building up tension to prepare for an attack.

“I guess I’ll have to show you the difference in level.”

“W-What kind of…?”

“I’ll show you our village, Gyeoul. It’s on a different level from this place.”

Lupi smiled.

Fortunately, it didn’t seem like she was trying to fight.

Author’s words (Author’s Afterword)

PIA1747014585384 Thank you so much for reading today!

Thank you for the comments and recommendations! They always give me strength…!

Lupi is creating a dark history in real time…!