episode_0167

How long has it been since I stared blankly at the ceiling?

“Everyone, let’s move quickly…”

Rattling.. rattling..

The rough sound of various tools clashing can be clearly heard through the window.

{Winter Festival} Judging from the sight of several collapsed buildings at the time, it was clear that they were heading there.

Drur…

I got up from the bed I was lying on, removed the curtain from the window, and opened the stuffy window.

A refreshing rush of air.

＂It’s dazzling..＂

The hot morning that seemed like it would never come has suddenly dawned.

＇Let’s get ready and go out..’

Belze did not return to his lodgings.

It seemed like she needed some time to organize her thoughts, so she didn’t bother to look for it.

***

“Oh my.. Are you leaving already?”

＂There is a delicious restaurant nearby.. How can I give you a small amount?＂

The owner of the hostel, who was sweeping the yard, saw me about to leave and started talking to me.

“Oh, no.”

＂Thank you for the nice room.. then.＂

The {Royal Academy} student’s school uniform, covered with a cape, is carefully hidden from view.

Seuuu.

Because there is nothing good about standing out.

“Oh.”

“Have you seen my group?”

As if he had been waiting for my question, the hostel owner pointed in the direction with a smile and a small hand gesture.

“Don’t be so mean..”

“Please try your best~~”

After the owner’s meaningful tone… I moved along with his hand gestures.

I was able to find Belje waiting for me, holding a small bouquet of flowers in one hand.

[Purple Hyacinth]

It is said that it rarely appears even in fertile lands where monsters live.

The flower language of purple hyacinths means ‘sorry’.

Drinking the flower petals as tea will revitalize your body.

‘No way… did you buy flowers by talking to the owner?’

‘That too.. alone?’

Belze hates humans…

Since I didn’t think he would accept our culture, Belze’s behavior seemed to relieve some of my tightness.

Tread.. plod..

Belze cautiously approaches and hands her a bouquet of purple flowers with an expression that doesn’t know what to do.

“Sorry..”

It must have been difficult to talk to anyone other than me…

Sigh..

She carefully receives this bouquet, which clearly shows her hard work.

“It’s my fault..”

Unable to make eye contact, Belze’s head is facing towards the floor.

Her drooping brown tail and ears show her current state of mind.

I gently stroke her head without saying anything.

Sigh..

The feeling of liking someone… I also knew it better than anyone else.

I couldn’t criticize Belze, nor could I hate him.

It’s just that Velze was unable to accommodate the instinct that came with the species’ habit of ‘estrus’.

It’s not that I don’t understand.

I accept Belze’s apology with actions rather than words and decide to end the situation quietly.

“There’s nothing to be sorry about..”

＂Let’s go.＂

In Dahyin’s words…

Even though he shows a regretful expression… he closes his eyes while receiving caress from Dahyun, who always forgives him! Wind it up.

A warm touch.

A warm gaze.

The more it happened, the more Belze’s feelings for Dahyun began to grow deeper than before.

“Belje… Let’s first cover ourselves with the cloak properly.”

There was no need to intentionally reveal that it was a ‘wolf beastman’, so the half-protruding ears and tail were carefully tucked in.

Did he understand my actions?

While I am patiently enduring the stuffiness that I hated so much, I am trying not to show any signs of dislike. I feel both proud and sad inside.

“Not all humans are like that, but…”

He smiles while stroking the head of Belze, who is wearing a cloak.

“You know it’s for your safety, right?”

Was I really talking about the safety of Belze?

In fact, the term ‘safety’ applied to people other than Belze.

Belze had never encountered another human being except me.

As there was even the slightest possibility that they could be hostile to each other, I decided that it wouldn’t be a bad idea to be cautious.

It must have understood my intention, as it nodded its head carefully and began wagging its shiny brown tail.

“We have to hide Belze’s tail too..”

***

Rattling.!!

＂Persons whose identity cannot be confirmed cannot enter.＂

Female knights blocking the main gate of {Royal Academy}.

“Any further access will be considered an intruder.”

He takes off his cloak and reveals his {Royal Academy} student uniform.

＂It’s been a while… drivers.＂

I look at them with a shy smile.

Because she was quite active at the time of {Winter Festival}, she was acquainted with the female knights in charge of {Royal Academy}.

“I heard you took a leave of absence due to family issues..”

“Is it okay?”

Tuk.!!

“Hey.. won’t you be quiet?”

“Oh, welcome, Dahein.. But there are still procedures, so can you take out your student ID and your student ID?”

Did you hear news from Asia?

The female knights said no more words. It’s as if he’s watching me.

“Oh… just a moment.”

I manage my facial expression as if it is no big deal. Thanks to [Black Button], I feel that it is much easier to control my emotions.

From the [Subspace Ring], I take out my {Royal Academy} student ID card and the ring-shaped [Token of Royal Faith] that I received from the King a while ago.

sparkle..

“Can’t the person behind you use this to replace their identity?”

Did he recognize the ring I took out?

After a moment of surprise over whether or not the [Subspace Ring] was being used, the female knights’ eyes quickly turned to the [Token of Royal Faith].

Rattling!

“It has been confirmed that it is [a token of royal trust].”

The two female knights, who looked more polite and formal than their usual friendly self, let me and Belze in with a knight’s salute.

Without any doubt.

＇This is my first time using it… but the effect is amazing.＇

***

-Principal’s Office-

“As expected, it wasn’t a rumor, student Dahyun.”

‘Tren B. Gerlin’, the principal of the {Royal Academy}, takes a quick look at the [Token of Royal Faith] I have.

“Does student Dahein know the meaning of the ring?”

The principal, who was engrossed in research, puts down the materials he was holding and looks at me intently.

“Does this ring have great meaning?”

“I only heard that this ring would take responsibility for my status.”

If the contents of the letter that disappeared are clear…

Maybe it was the only way to take responsibility for Belze’s status.

“It is said that [Token of Royal Faith] is a shackle given to a companion of the royal family… or to someone who owes an inestimable debt.”

“I don’t know the exact circumstances, but that ring must have complex meaning.”

The principal carefully drinks hot brewed black tea.

“so..”

＂Whose identity are you going to take responsibility for with that ring? Student Dahyun?

Gerlin looked closely at Belze who was hiding behind me.

＇As expected.. I can’t keep up with just one glance.＇

I take off Belze’s cloak and carefully show her that she is a ‘wolf beastman’.

＂He is my friend… he is like family.＂

“Please… allow me to stay at {Royal Academy} until I graduate.”

From the perspective of {Royal Academy}, which is operated with the support of {Alysseum Kingdom}…

The principal had no choice but to listen to Dahein’s request while showing the [Token of Royal Faith] he received from the king.

“after…”

The principal, who had put down the teacup he was holding, looked up gently.

“Are you aware that a large sum of money is currently on the line for all ‘Wolf Beastmen Tribe’?”

＂All students..＂

This is a fact I know better than anyone else.

Belzeb, Belzeb’s mother and my teacher, was wanted for killing all the high-ranking nobles in one day.

“Yeah, I know.”

If you knew that fact, you shouldn’t have brought him to this {Royal Academy} crowded with nobles…

The principal’s eyes are stinging as he looks at me with an expression of incomprehension.

＂First of all, student Dahein had an idea and was brought here..＂

“Of course, she will also have to clearly prove her skills.”

Only then did the principal clear his heavy expression.

What he meant was that he would recognize Son Velze as a student at the {Royal Academy}.

{Royal Academy} is an academic channel that revolves around merit, and as long as their skills are proven, ‘beast people’ from other races are also recognized as students.

Nevertheless, it would be false to say that the implicit rules of this world that still exist do not apply.

The ‘beasts’ of this world are in a state of low-status slaves simply because they have the magic power of monsters flowing through them.

There was no way such people could ignore the gap in social status and take the same classes as nobles.

In the end, it was said that {Royal Academy} would provide convenience so that only the beastmen could gather separately and take classes comfortably.

Fortunately, there has been a growing trend these days for prisoners who have proven their skills and shown their competence to be recognized by others.

I believe that Belze will do well as he is no less talented than anyone else.

＂Thank you, Principal…＂

I put the [token of royal faith] I have on Belze’s finger.

＂Belze… This will protect your identity.＂

“Just as no one can treat you carelessly.”

“You should think twice when dealing with others and act more carefully.”

As the principal said, it might be a bad decision to bring Belze to this place full of nobles.

However, it was not a situation where such unstable Belze could be left alone.

Moreover, since I had an ultimate purpose in coming here, I decided that there was no place in the kingdom as safe as {Royal Academy} where I could protect myself.

Nod…

“okay. Everyone..”