Chapter 88

R​e​ad on KatReadingCafe

As they approached the Black Forest, they got off the Bone Dragon.

The fog was too thick, making it impossible to see anything from the sky.

“Good job.”

Lucy patted the Bone Dragon’s head.

“Grrr…”

The Bone Dragon rubbed its large head against Lucy’s body.

Its bony tail swayed slowly.

“…Is this thing really a dragon?”

Finn made a bewildered expression.

Beside it, Hon, as if jealous, tried to push the Bone Dragon away with his small horn.

“Ah, you shouldn’t do that.”

Sophie quickly hugged Hon.

Still, Hon growled and glared at the Bone Dragon.

The Bone Dragon’s blue gaze turned toward Hon.

“!”

Hon flinched and hid in Sophie’s arms.

He was scared of the Bone Dragon’s gaze.

Whoosh!

As Lucy dismissed the summon, the Bone Dragon turned into black smoke and dissipated.

“Let’s go.”

At Lucy’s words, Sophie nodded.

“Okay. I’ll guide you to Harmonia.”

“Please.”

Lucy reached out and began stroking Sophie’s ears.

Once they reached Harmonia, it would be difficult to touch Sophie’s ears anymore.

The beastfolk might not like it.

She had to touch them as much as she could now.

“Ugh, ugh…”

Sophie’s body twitched.

Beastfolk ears are very sensitive.

Especially rabbit beastfolk, whose ears are several times more sensitive.

Even a slight touch could send shivers through their body.

“Huu…”

But Sophie didn’t resist Lucy’s touch.

For some reason, it felt good when Lucy touched her.

Step. Step.

The Black Forest was so foggy that they couldn’t see even an inch ahead.

The atmosphere was eerie too.

“I-it’s a bit cold…?”

Finn slowly slipped into Lucy’s clothes, only poking his head out.

“It’s warmer when I’m touching Lucy…”

That’s when it happened.

Click. Click.

A sound echoed.

It sounded like bones clattering.

“…”

Lucy stopped walking and narrowed her eyes.

In the darkness, dozens of blue lights were approaching.

Click. Click.

Soon, a group of skeletons revealed themselves.

“W-wow, there are so many…?”

Finn curled up.

Click. Click.

The skeletons surrounded Lucy’s group.

There were about thirty of them.

Each held a rusty sword.

“This is strange…”

Sophie tilted her head.

“When I left the Black Forest, they just let me go…”

Then, one of the skeletons pointed at Lucy and moved its jaw as if saying something.

The other skeletons began clattering their jaws in response.

“Crackle, crackle, crackle.”

It felt like they were mocking Lucy.

“What’s with these guys…”

Finn frowned.

This time, another skeleton pointed at Finn.

“Crackle, crackle, crackle.”

The skeletons laughed again.

Some held their stomachs, while others slapped their knees.

They seemed to be having a great time.

“You jerks!”

Finn shouted angrily, swinging his fist in the air.

“You’re just a bunch of bones, and you’re mocking us?!”

“Crackle~ crackle~”

One of the skeletons mimicked Finn’s actions.

Then, it spread its fingers, making a gesture as if to say Finn was small.

The skeletons burst into laughter.

“Crackle! Crackle! Crackle!”

Finn’s face turned red.

“What’s wrong with these guys? They’re so annoying!!”

“I’ll handle it.”

Lucy casually stretched out her hand.

[Undead Summon: Darcan]

[Undead Summon: Crevius]

A black magic circle appeared on the ground, and two figures rose.

“Ah, Master! You’ve finally called for me!”

Darcan shouted excitedly.

Then, he noticed Sophie and his eyes sparkled.

“Gasp, a cute beastfolk girl I’ve never seen before…! Can I touch your tail…?”

“Ahem, ahem…”

Crevius pretended to cough elegantly.

His gaze was fixed on the ruby necklace around Lucy’s neck.

“Take care of those guys.”

At Lucy’s words, Darcan and Crevius looked at the skeletons.

“What are these pathetic things? Are they threatening our Master?”

“Skeletons these days have no manners…”

“Drop your swords now! Huh?!”

“Is it polite to stand there staring at higher undead?”

The skeletons dropped their swords and stood at attention, their jaws clattering.

“Who’s the leader?”

At Darcan’s question, one of the skeletons was pointed out.

The pointed skeleton flinched and waved its hands, but it was too late.

Darcan gestured with his finger.

“You, come here.”

The skeleton clattered as it approached.

Darcan crossed his arms.

“Apologize to our Master. If you don’t, I’ll grind your bones into dust and scatter them in the river.”

“…!”

The skeleton immediately bent at a right angle toward Lucy.

But it bent too far, and its head fell off, rolling away.

Thud.

Crevius caught the skull with his staff.

“How undignified… tsk.”

“…”

The skeleton’s body picked up the head and put it back in place.

“Pfft.”

Finn fluttered his wings and flew over.

“Well, well~ You were so cocky earlier. Why don’t you mock us again?”

Finn circled around the skeletons.

“Why aren’t you saying anything? Too scared to speak?”

“…”

The skeletons hung their heads low, their jaws clattering.

They looked like scolded children, completely cowed.

“Next time, think twice before messing with someone. Got it?”

At Finn’s words, the skeletons quietly nodded.

“Good. Now then…”

That’s when it happened.

“Kwooo!”

A roar came from behind.

Turning around, they saw a massive figure charging toward them.

Worn armor and a rusty sword.

Black energy flowed from where its neck should be, and it held a skull in one hand.

It was a mid-tier undead, a Dullahan.

“…”

The Dullahan, full of momentum, stopped short when it saw Darcan, Crevius, and the stiffened skeletons.

“Kwo, kwo…”

It then tried to turn and run in another direction.

But Crevius’s magic tripped it, and it fell with a thud.

“You, come here too.”

Darcan’s eyes glowed as he spoke, and the skeletons looked at the Dullahan with pity.

The skeletons and the Dullahan were thoroughly scolded by Darcan and Crevius before bowing their heads and leaving.

“Good job.”

Lucy was about to dismiss Darcan and Crevius as well.

Though they wanted to stay longer, Lucy thought it would be troublesome to keep them around.

“I’ll call you if I need you.”

“P-please do, Master. And can I just touch that rabbit beastfolk girl’s tail once…?”

Whoosh!

As Darcan and Crevius disappeared, Lucy began stroking Sophie’s tail again as they walked.

Sophie’s tail was soft and warm, like a ball of cotton.

It had a nice elasticity when pressed.

Lucy felt like rubbing her face against it, but she held back, thinking Sophie might feel embarrassed.

“Hehe, any more troublemakers? I feel like teaching someone a lesson.”

Finn puffed up his chest as he climbed onto Lucy’s shoulder.

“Now that I think about it, the Black Forest isn’t so scary~?”

At that moment, a rustling sound was heard.

“Eek!”

Finn quickly clung to Lucy’s cheek.

“…”

But it was just the sound of the wind.

“Pfft.”

Sophie let out a small laugh.

“Finn, you’re so scared…”

“N-no, I’m not!”

Finn’s face turned red.

“I was just trying to protect Lucy…!”

Sophie giggled and poked Finn’s cheek with her finger.

“So cute.”

“D-don’t call me cute!”

Finn covered her face and backed away.

Her neck and ears were bright red.

“Grrr…!”

Then, Hon growled from Sophie’s arms.

Hon was glaring into the darkness.

“…Ah!”

Sophie also flinched, her ears twitching.

“W-what’s there…”

“W-what is it?!”

Finn hurriedly climbed onto Lucy’s head and lay flat.

“What’s coming now…? Hmph, it’s no match for Lucy anyway…”

“Bone Shield.”

Lucy’s voice was soft.

Boom!

A massive fist slammed down where Lucy had been standing.

The impact was so strong that the ground shook.

The shockwave caused the surrounding trees and bushes to sway violently.

Fortunately, Lucy’s Bone Shield protected them from harm.

“Huu, huu…”

Sophie trembled in fear and sat down, while Finn quickly hid inside Lucy’s clothes.

Lucy dismissed the Bone Shield and looked up.

“…”

A figure about three meters tall stood before her.

Dark gray skin.

Four arms.

Eyes glowing red.

Drool dripped from its jaw.

‘A demon.’

Distinguishing demons from undead wasn’t hard.

Red eyes meant a demon, blue eyes meant undead.

Lucy immediately activated a skill.

[Devil Vision]

A skill that reveals information about demons.

Information began flooding Lucy’s mind.

[Mid-tier Demon: Malcares]

[Possesses immense strength and tough skin, with high physical resistance]

[Prefers human flesh, especially the flesh of women and children]

[Enjoys a cruel fighting style, slowly tearing limbs apart with its four arms]

[Speech is clumsy]

“Ugh, ugh, h-human, woman… child…! T-tasty… tasty…!”

Malcares’ eyes lit up as it reached out its four arms toward Lucy.

Lucy calmly stared at Malcares’ face.

“You’re a mid-rank demon.”

The corner of Lucy’s mouth curled up slightly.

“Amon is a high-rank demon.”

Whoosh!

Black smoke swirled behind Malcares.

Author Note

A/N (Author’s note):
Sorry for being late…ㅠ.ㅠ

Translator Note

T/N (Translator’s note):
Child and women predator.

Literally.