Chapter 37: I’ll educate you properly

Han frowned and reached for a hidden dagger, pressing it against his throat.

“Choose your words carefully. You could die.”
“Oh, really…?”

He wasn’t afraid.

He was certain Han wouldn’t kill him.

Because of the letter.

It wasn’t an ordinary letter…

It was a handwritten letter from the Emperor.

Even the former leader of the Thieves Guild wouldn’t dare disobey a direct order from the Emperor.

“You must have really kissed up to the nobles to get the Emperor’s protection. Pathetic…”

Han scoffed.

He just smiled.

“But… the Emperor is on my side, isn’t he?”
“…You little…”

He chuckled and continued, “What are you going to do? You have to obey the Emperor.

Or I might call the White Wizard.”

He made the threat sound as ominous as possible.

“A
like you…”

But as expected, Han hesitated.

He sheathed his dagger and glared at him.

‘The item is working…’

The letter he’d given Han was a forgery.

A point shop item called “Faker Letter”.

This item could create a letter from any NPC, mimicking their handwriting, writing style, and even their family crest and seal if they were a noble.

He could write whatever he wanted.

So he’d written a letter to the former Thieves Guild leader:

“If you encounter the leader of the Thieves Guild, summon the White Wizard immediately.”

The White Wizard was a legendary figure, rumored to be the continent’s strongest mage, capable of summoning meteors.

Of course, the rumors were exaggerated.

And he was the only one who knew the truth.

Everyone else believed the hype.

“…So? Should I summon him?”
“…”

He held up a stone-like object.

“Magic Diary”.

A magic item used to summon specific individuals.

It required prior registration and agreement.

He tossed the stone in his hand, feigning nonchalance.

“I can summon him anytime…”

“You
… you’ll get yours. Watch your back in the alleyways.”
“Haha, I will. So, are you going to tell me?”

Han looked at him intently, then chuckled.

“I can tell you. But don’t come crying to me later.”
“What? Regret? Why would I regret it?”
“That beastkin is no ordinary creature… she’s a man-eating monster.”

‘Man-eating…’

Lunari Evangrace’s list of atrocities included cannibalism.

Tearing people apart, collecting their heads like pineapples…

A true monster.

But that’s why he was here!

He laughed heartily.

“Don’t worry! I’ll train her properly!”
“Train…? Are you crazy? You’re going to die…”
“So… are you going to tell me or not?”
“I’ll tell you. But don’t blame me.”

He ignored Han’s warning.

“Of course not. Tell me.”
“…The place is…”

He listened intently to Han’s information.

Preparing to meet Lunari Evangrace.

He arrived at the location Han described.

“Hmm… quite a tall mountain…”

‘And Lunari is supposed to be living here…?’

According to Han…

Lunari frequented Mysticgrove forest.

A place called the “Enchanted Forest,” where people often disappeared.

“It makes sense that Lunari would live here…”

‘I hope she hasn’t eaten anyone…’

He had to stop her if she had.

Cannibalism would significantly raise her Malice Gauge.

He had to find her quickly.

“So many beautiful trees…”

Cherry blossoms, maple trees, snow-covered trees…

All kinds of trees bloomed here, despite the lack of distinct seasons.

Just like the forest in Lilith Tycoon.

At night, the trees glowed with an ethereal light.

Blue, pink…

“This forest is… quite complex.”

Easy to get lost in.

He followed the map on the system interface, but it was still confusing.

Even with Saint’s Eye, the skill he’d acquired after Belladriel’s redemption, finding Lunari wasn’t easy.

“She’s hiding deep within the forest…”

He looked at the ground, searching for footprints.

He activated Saint’s Eye.

“Hmm…?”

[Traces of a wild creature detected…!]

A system notification.

He felt a surge of excitement.

“Oh, an animal…?! Or… Lunari?!”

He shouldn’t get his hopes up.

It could just be an animal.

Saint’s Eye.

A skill that detected faint traces of living beings.

It could sense footprints, for example, and provide a faint trail to follow.

But the trail wasn’t complete. He had to rely on his own tracking skills eventually.

“This way…”

He followed the trail.

‘Pant, pant…’

‘How much further…?’

The trail was longer than he’d expected, zig-zagging through the forest.

‘If it’s just a wild animal… I’ll be so pissed.’

As he trudged through the forest…

A chilling breeze swept past him.

He heard running footsteps in the distance.

–Run!

–Aaaaagh!

–Luivitec, over here!!

Frantic shouts and screams.

‘There shouldn’t be anyone here…’

He instinctively ran towards the sounds.

He pushed through the trees, following the noise.

–Aaaaagh! Help me!

A desperate cry.

He ran towards the source and saw a large tree in the distance.

Evergrow, the oldest tree in Mysticgrove forest.

He ran towards it.

–Grrrr!

–It’s a Yoho! We’re! A Yoho!

‘A Yoho…?!’

‘That must be Lunari!’

He looked towards the source of the commotion.

Two men cowered in fear before a wild animal.

“That’s…”

It stood on all fours, with two tails.

It looked like a fox.

‘A Yoho…’

‘Is it really Lunari?’

The system confirmed his suspicions.

[Lunari Evangrace has appeared!]

‘Yes…!’

He’d finally found her.

–Grrrr! Raaaaar!

“W-What do we do, Luivitec?!”
“I don’t know!”

[Lunari Evangrace is about to commit an evil act!]
[Lunari Evangrace intends to devour the travelers!]
[Lunari Evangrace’s Malice Gauge is at 100%!]

A critical situation.

The fox bared its fangs, drooling, ready to attack.

He pulled out the point shop items he’d prepared.

He rushed forward and yelled, “Run!”
“W-What?!”
“Huh?!”

He ran towards Lunari.

She lunged at him, her fangs bared.

The other men seemed to be running away.

He quickly pulled out an item.

“Delicious! Churu!”

Despite the name, it was a magical bread made from flour.

Its taste changed depending on who ate it, always providing the consumer with the most delicious flavor imaginable.

As Lunari opened her mouth to bite him, he shoved the bread into her mouth.

“Eat this!”
“Kgh?!”

Lunari was startled by the unexpected treat.

She shook her head violently, but he continued shoving the bread into her mouth.

“You wicked vixen! Here’s your favorite treat!”
“Grrrr! Kgh!”

She tried to resist, but he persisted.

He couldn’t let her bite him.

“Eat your
bread! Eat it properly! We’re starting your training all over again!”
“Kgh! Whine!”
“This bread will teach you a lesson! You’ll become good with bread! Savor it slowly! Understand yourself! You flour addict! How does human bread taste?! Hahaha!”

…It might sound perverted, but it was an act of love.

He continued feeding her, and Lunari, after initial resistance, began to eat.

Then, she started chewing slowly.

“Kgh?!”

Her eyes sparkled.

She seemed to enjoy the taste and started devouring the bread.

He let go.

–Munch, munch!

“Haha, delicious, isn’t it? This is human food! Understand, Lunari?!”

Lunari finished the bread, wagging her tail and licking her lips.

“Now, let’s introduce ourselves. I’m Isabel Leonhardt.”

Their first encounter was rough, but…

He extended his hand in greeting.

But she suddenly raised her hindquarters and bared her fangs.

“…Grrrr.”
“W-What…?”
“Grrrr…!”

She was about to attack him again.

‘Oh,
…’

[Lunari Evangrace is about to commit an evil act!]
[Lunari Evangrace intends to bite you!]
[Lunari Evangrace’s Malice Gauge is at 100%!]

‘She’s going to bite me…’

But Lunari was an intelligent Yoho.

He raised his hands in a placating gesture.

“W-Whoa, calm down. I’m not here to hunt you.”
“Grrrr!”
“You look like you want to bite me… if you behave, I’ll give you more bread.”
“…Whine?”

As soon as he finished speaking…

She stopped growling and looked at him with a blank expression.

He knelt down, meeting her gaze.

“Isabel Leonhardt. Remember that.”
“Human… bad!”
“W-What…?”

Lunari suddenly jumped back, enveloped in a bright light.

She began to transform, taking on a human form.

A blonde-haired beastkin stood before him.

“Human… bad.”