Chapter 52: Darling, How many children will I have?

Quite some time has passed.

The lord who ruled Mysticgrove, Dracos Blacksmith…

Vanished without a trace one day.

No one knew the reason for his disappearance.

Rumors spread like wildfire: “The lord, obsessed with hunting beastkin, received divine punishment,” “He was possessed by the vengeful spirits of beastkin…”

Amidst these rumors…

An imperial decree arrived in the village.

“Elysion Aias is hereby appointed as the new lord.”

…Such was the decree.

At first, the villagers were puzzled…

But they understood after reading the part about Dracos in the decree.

“Dracos Blacksmith is hereby stripped of his lordship for his unethical conduct and deception of the Emperor.”

“A bounty is placed on Dracos Blacksmith. A handsome reward will be given to whoever finds him.”

This decree was announced in the village.

Beastkin hunters searched for Dracos, who was likely no longer alive…

And the new lord, Aias, began to implement her ideals.

Now, something unthinkable was happening in this village…

A village once known for hunting beastkin…

Has become a society where humans and beastkin coexist.

“Haha, as expected of a bear! Your axe skills are top-notch!”

The bear beastkin was incredibly strong.

And excelled at any task involving strength.

The beastkin smiled and swung his axe powerfully at the man’s praise.

“This is nothing!”

“Why don’t you become a lumberjack!?”

“If you give me the job, there’s nothing I can’t do!”

“Hahaha! Reliable, very reliable!”

As the bear beastkin chopped wood…

The humans next to him carried the logs.

They worked together harmoniously, sweating…

And cheerful voices echoed through the forest.

“Oh my, is this really a medicinal herb?”

“Yes, it is. It’s dewdrops, which I gather and brew myself. It’s good for your knees. It’ll revitalize you.”

“Wow, you’re amazing, Miss Beastkin…”

The middle-aged woman was always amazed by the rabbit beastkin’s knowledge of medicinal herbs.

She used to just pick and eat any herb that was said to be good for you…

But not anymore.

There’s an expert here.

She learned what to eat and what not to eat.

“It’s nothing. By the way, you’re going to teach me that stew recipe, right, Big Sis?”

The rabbit beastkin smiled and put the herbs in her basket.

The human woman seemed pleased by being called “Big Sis” and laughed heartily.

“Oh my, oh my! You’re so sweet, Miss Beastkin. I’m a middle-aged woman, you know.”

“Eh? Really? I thought you were a Big Sis.”

The rabbit beastkin smiled slyly, covering her mouth.

She’s good at socializing and making a good impression.

The woman was even more delighted by the beastkin’s attitude.

“Oh, you’re so charming! Ohohoho!”

“Anyway, you’re going to teach me, right?”

“Of course! The carrot stew recipe is very simple. It’s…”

Heartwarming scenes…

Mysticgrove has become more lively since Dracos disappeared.

It’s become a better world for Lunari to live in.

Dracos seems to have been eliminated effectively…

And the village, once specializing in beastkin hunting, is changing.

All preparations for redemption are complete.

All that’s left is Lunari Evergrace’s ascension.

She has to reach the level of a saint, not just a beastkin.

And to reach that level, she needs to be revered by all beastkin.

“Isabel, this place…”

“Lunari, do you remember?”

“Yes. Isn’t this where we first met?”

“You remember…Lunari…”

The giant tree.

This is where I first met Lunari.

I remember what Lunari first said to me.

“I…hate humans.”

I still remember her voice vividly…

And I couldn’t help but smile.

“Heh, what’s so funny?”

“Do you remember what you first said to me?”

“Hmm, was it ‘I hate humans’?”

“Yes…How about now?”

Lunari put her hand to her chin, as if in thought.

After a few seconds, she smiled faintly and answered,

“…I still hate them.”

“Is that so? Haha…Honestly, I was hoping you’d say you liked them.”

“But…I like you, Isabel.”

Lunari suddenly blushed and approached me.

“…Yes?”

“…I won’t say I hate all humans anymore. Because I met you, a male. Because I enjoyed your good fortune.”

Lunari placed the mask she was wearing on my face and continued,

“Then, I have a question too, Isabel. Do you remember what you said when you gave me this mask?”

“Haha, it’s been a while…I don’t remember. What did I say?”

Lunari replied naturally,

“You told me not to always think of myself as misfortune, and that only good fortune awaited me.”

“Ah…you remembered that?”

“Yes…!”

I thought she was just a dumb beast…

But she’s surprisingly smart.

I chuckled, surprised by her unexpected side.

“That’s amazing.”

“So, I thought about it…and I think meeting you was the start of my good fortune. All these moments are good fortune.”

“Haha, good fortune…I’m honored. Then…shall I give you some more good fortune?”

“Hmm? What kind of good fortune?”

“It’s time for your Yoho coming-of-age ceremony.”

“Coming-of-age…ceremony?”

I smiled naturally and pointed at the tree.

“Do you see that tree?”

“Hmm, what about it?”

Lunari looked at the tree at my words.

A faint blue magical energy emanated from the tree…

And shone down on Lunari Evergrace like sunlight.

“…Huh? Isabel, what is this?”

“It’s a miracle that happens once every thousand years.”

“A miracle that happens once every thousand years…?”

“Yes, that’s why all the beastkin have come to witness your miracle.”

At my words, Lunari looked around.

And a large number of beastkin had gathered.

These beastkin came because of my words…

But also because they believed in the legend passed down through generations.

“…You guys?”

“All the beastkin think you’re an amazing beastkin, Lunari. Even though they might have considered you misfortune at first.”

Even now, that’s probably true.

Even when I ordered her to kill Dracos…

They acted out of fear of Lunari’s curse affecting them.

Because they had wronged Lunari so much in the past.

But it’s different now.

This is the true event.

I spread my arms towards Lunari.

“Now, awaken as a true divine being.”

“…Divine being?”

“Lunari Evergrace, the fox who brings good fortune. That’s who you truly are.”

“Heh…good fortune. Does such a thing really exist?”

“Of course. Why don’t you try praying? To that tree.”

I smiled and pointed at the tree again.

Lunari looked at the tree, then back at me and asked,

“What…prayer should I say?”

“…Pray for what you’ve always dreamed of, Lunari. It will come true.”

“Really? Hmm…I doubt it…”

Lunari gave me a dubious smile…

But then she sighed and murmured softly,

“But…well, if Isabel says so, I guess I should listen.”

Lunari reluctantly approached the tree.

She looked at the tree quietly, then closed her eyes…

And a bright light shone.

A gentle yet dazzling light, like moonlight…

The blue light shone even brighter on Lunari.

The beastkin watching all looked at me.

I addressed them,

“This is the moment a divine being of good fortune is born. It is time to pay your respects to the divine being who will protect the forest, the village of Mysticgrove, and everything within.”

I raised both arms.

Then, Lunari shone brightly once more.

As the bright light momentarily filled our vision…

I couldn’t help but smile with joy.

Because…

[Lunari Evergrace’s redemption is complete!]

Along with the system message, the true Lunari, with her silver hair shining faintly, appeared.

“Th-That’s…”

“I-It’s the Divine Being!”

“Th-The Divine Being…has descended upon this land!”

Divine Being.

To the beastkin, the Divine Being is equivalent to a god in the human world.

In “Lilith Tycoon,” it’s expressed as a “divine being.”

All the beastkin rushed towards the awakened Lunari…

And knelt.

“D-Divine Being…!”

“W-We’re sorry for not recognizing you!”

“W-We didn’t recognize you…We made a grave mistake!”

“P-Please, spare us!”

They confessed their misdeeds without prompting.

But Lunari didn’t care about their sins.

She just smiled faintly, looking at the tree.

Now a true Divine Being, not just a beastkin…she floated slightly in the air.

Her coming-of-age ceremony complete, she floated towards me, her silver hair flowing.

“Heh…Isabel. This is amazing.”

“Is that so? Divine Being.”

“What…are you calling me Divine Being too? Hmm…well, whatever. But why is that human here?”

Lord Aias was watching from a distance.

I had invited her to the forest.

“You’ve arrived, Lord Aias.”

“Are you the Fox Mask? Black Hound…”

She seemed at a loss for words.

The fact that she became the lord…

And the appearance of a Divine Being before her…

She realized it was all because of me.

I greeted her nonchalantly,

“Haha, you’re very perceptive. Greetings once again. I’m the Black Hound. And this is the Divine Being who will protect your village from now on.”

“Heh, you’re the lord?”

Lunari, seemingly interested, approached the lord.

“I heard about you. You took in those unlucky beastkin, right? Isabel told me.”

“…Ah, n-no. I’m indebted to those beastkin…”

“Oh? Indebted? Those beastkin seem useful. I was going to devour them all if they weren’t!”

She raised both hands and made a playful growling gesture.

The beastkin flinched and prostrated themselves at Lunari’s reaction.

Lunari giggled, amused by their reaction, and murmured,

“Just kidding, just kidding!”

The lord smiled faintly at Lunari’s playful laughter.

“You seem to be a warm person, Divine Being.”

“Heh…? I’m not. You’re a poor judge of character.”

Lunari casually came back to my side.

She linked arms with me and leaned on my shoulder.

“L-Lunari?”

“My darling here…is a much better person!”

D-Darling…

What’s going on…?

“Haha. You look good together, Divine Being.”

“Right? Darling, did you hear that?”

W-Wait a minute. D-Darling…?

“Hmm? Didn’t darling say the tree would grant any wish…? My dream is to live happily ever after with darling and have darling’s babies!”

This is going in a strange direction again.

I smiled wryly.

And the oblivious beastkin all cheered.

“The Divine Being is getting married!”

“Let’s all bless the Divine Being!”

“Waaaa!”

I’m not grateful at all…

This situation is uncomfortable.

Amidst this, the lord covered her smile with her hand and said,

“Then we’ll have to throw a grand feast for the village. A party for the Divine Being, the beastkin, and our people.”

“Oooh!”

In this cheerful atmosphere…

Lunari, clinging to my arm, murmured,

“Darling, did you hear!? So many people are celebrating for us! As expected of my darling, the Lucky Fox Mask!”

“Hahaha…”

I need to escape, quickly.