Chapter 346
Chapter 346
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 346
Chapter Title: Side Story 30. Beasts (2)
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Professor Secret of Curse Studies.
The undisputed master of curses, a powerhouse who had even lifted an alien curse that bound Ronan's body.
Among the eccentrics that filled the Phileon Academy faculty, he was a man who operated on an entirely different level.
"That... a few months ago, when you lectured at Phileon, you were definitely human, weren't you?"
Baren, who barely knew him, was feeling it keenly right now.
He cautiously asked the question while huddling by the campfire.
A small cave they had entered to escape the cold. Secret sat across from him, licking his soiled tail clean.
"Probably. There are a few students with fur allergies."
"Then this form is..."
Baren trailed off.
Secret's current appearance was that of a perfect werefox.
Looking at the fluffy fur covering his entire body and his perky ears, it was impossible to believe he had originally been human.
"The North is damn cold, you see. It was better to just change my skin rather than bundle up in annoying clothes. Beastkin have it good in times like this."
Secret's hobby was traveling the world, collecting curses and testing them on himself.
Unless it was a special case like Ronan or Iril, anyone else would drop dead or go mad on the spot, but he had done it so many times that he could handle five or six curses without issue.
"I see... You're truly impressive in every way."
"Impressive, my ass. Anyway, thanks. If not for you, I would've been in real trouble. It's damn hard to chant spells properly when your mouth is shaped differently."
"Ah, so that's why."
Secret opened and closed his muzzle as if feeling wronged.
Only then did Baren understand why this master mage had been chased by something like a woolly wolf.
Unlike humans, a protruding muzzle naturally let pronunciations slip.
"What brings you all the way to Heiran, Professor?"
"Ah, gathering materials for curses and antidotes. There are a lot of herbs only found in the North, like eternal snowflower."
Secret visited the North regularly.
It wasn't just for materials.
To him, who had resided there for two years to thwart Barca's schemes in the past, the North was practically a second home.
"Still better than getting chased by wild animals. If you run into bandits, it gets really annoying."
"Bandits are still around?"
"Gone from the cities, but they pop up in remote areas now and then. The Sword Saint's been sweeping them diligently, but the frontier security is still unstable. Even if the root cause vanishes, it takes time to fully heal."
Secret's lips twisted.
The North, tormented by imperial oppression and Barca's curses for so long, had yet to regain full peace.
Though former Sword Saint Zaifa led the wandering beastkin to restore order, the land was too vast.
This'll sort itself out with time.
Secret continued.
"So, what brings you to Heiran? You don't look like you're here for travel or research."
"Hmm. Well... I'm not sure how to explain it."
"Go ahead. Don't tell me you got kicked out by your wife? Haha, just kidding, of course. A couple as harmonious as you two wouldn't have that happen."
"Heh!"
Baren gasped.
He hadn't imagined it'd be seen through so quickly.
Seeing his reaction, Secret furrowed his brow.
"Good lord, really?"
"Ahem... Embarrassing as it is, yes. Looks like I can't go back until I lose the weight."
Baren gripped his mane and recounted his woeful tale.
His wife's scolding, Principal Kratir's appearance, and his fall to Heiran.
Secret nodded as he looked Baren up and down.
"Hm. Now that you mention it, you have put on weight. Your already round body got even plumper."
"Ugh. Even you, Professor..."
"Anyone not blind would notice. Anyway, this is serious. At this stage, it's not going down easily."
"Pardon?"
It was like a bolt from the blue.
Secret's face, stripped of any amusement, was as grave as if he'd seen a cancer patient.
Baren's eyes widened.
"Wh-why?"
"Because you're a were-lion. I've seen beastkin plenty crossing the North, but a fat were-lion? First in my life."
Secret sighed.
Having lived as a beastkin for quite some time himself, he couldn't comprehend it.
Were-bears or were-cows, maybe, but pure carnivore-based beastkin didn't gain fat easily.
"The were-lions I know are one of the strongest races alongside were-tigers. They eat a whole cow a day and still pack on muscle, not fat. What kind of life have you been living?"
"Ugh. That's..."
Baren mumbled and hung his head.
There were too many suspects.
Baking as a hobby, he could devour enough bread and pastries for fifty humans in a day.
No stress helped too.
After stepping down as advisor to Ronan's elite adventure club, his weight had steadily trended upward.
Secret poked Baren's belly repeatedly.
"Heh, so soft and fluffy, you could sell it as a novelty bed concept. Layers piled up steadily like strata. Frame like Zaifa's, yet ruined like this... Such a pity."
"I-I'm sorry, so please stop. Isn't there any way?"
"With bone-grinding effort, it's possible. Meat and veggies only, grind hard for a month, that balloon gut might shrink a bit. But for the results you want? Way too short. Probably back to normal by this time next year."
"No...!"
Baren's face twisted in despair.
He'd only spoken to Secret a few times, but the man wasn't one for lies.
Plus, having lived as beastkin, his words carried weight.
"Ah..."
Silence fell, amplifying the blizzard's howl.
The campfire logs had nearly burned out.
Secret finally spoke.
"...There is one solution. Just one way to return to your dapper old self by the end of break."
"What? Really?!"
"Yes. But it'll be hard to accept. Tell me, Baren—do you really want to lose the weight?"
"Of course! For this devilish blubber, I'll do anything!"
Baren clenched his fist.
Looks didn't matter, but he hated worrying his wife and kids.
Time to watch his health anyway.
Seeing his resolve, Secret pulled something from his backpack.
"Good. That spirit should do it. Come here."
"Hm? What's that?"
Baren tilted his head.
In Secret's fluffy paw were white chalk, an unnamed herb, and vials of colorful powders.
Instead of answering, Secret drew with the chalk.
A geometric magic circle formed around Baren in an instant.
Placing the herb in a spot ignited a bluish glow along the circle.
Secret smiled in satisfaction.
"Perfect. Now, I'll curse you to turn human. It's strong, so don't move."
"...Pardon?"
"Exactly that. Humans gain and lose weight far easier than were-lions. Bet you'll hit normal weight just walking around in this cold."
"W-wait, Professor. Human? What do you mean?!"
Baren panicked.
He'd said anything, but this was beyond imagination.
Ignoring him, Secret chanted.
His body wouldn't move—already in progress.
"Glad to repay the debt so soon. Perfect timing with the herb I just got. Here we go."
"No, Professor, hear me out! What the he—!"
Baren tried to speak.
Secret finished the chant on his own and sprinkled powder from a vial.
The circle's light intensified, enveloping Baren.
"This can't be! Graaaah—!!!"
His roar shook the cave.
The wicked glow twisted Baren's bones and flesh, remodeling him.
At last, the light faded, silence descending.
In the distance, a woolly wolf's mournful howl echoed for its lost kin.
The next morning.
"Halt. You can't go any further... Ah, Secret."
"Loyalty. Long time no see."
"Yes. You're doing well, I hope?"
The sky was clear.
Secret smiled at the were-wolf soldiers' greetings.
Over ten years since they met.
The heavily armed beastkin guarded the entrance to Alkaltto Valley as always.
"You seem in high spirits. Here for materials again?"
"Yes. Risky, but the quality's unmatched."
"Be careful. Hard to rescue if something happens inside."
The soldier spoke earnestly.
Alkaltto Valley was a frequent stop for Secret.
Sharp ice cliffs and periodic monsters were dangerous, but irreplaceable materials made it necessary.
"Don't worry. I can protect myself."
"True, you're a mage... Speaking of, who's the human beside you?"
"Ah, a friend helping with work. Say hi."
Secret poked the man beside him.
The soldiers' eyes narrowed at the odd sight.
First, the striking face.
Sharp features and a dark brown beard covering his jaw were handsome even by beastkin standards.
His thick, neck-length hair evoked a lion's mane.
Handsome so far, but the man had a fatal flaw.
"Handsome face. But..."
"Hmm, not just a head swap, right? What's your name?"
The soldiers tilted their heads.
Face and body didn't match.
Like a watermelon with a cherry tomato on top.
His burly, hefty build blurred the line between beastkin and human.
The soldiers genuinely worried for his health, forcing him to hold back tears each time.
The man gritted his teeth and answered.
"...Baren."
"Unique name. Wasn't there a Brinhills Duke named Baren? Baren Hanashir or something?"
Phanasir, not Hanashir.
Baren swallowed the words rising in his throat.
He was no longer a great were-lion magnate—just a fat human.
Verified, the soldiers let them in.
Walking between sheer cliffs, Secret chuckled.
"Don't worry, Baren. It'll work. That fat'll melt like spring frost."
"...I hope so."
"Just follow me. How's the human body?"
"Awful. Cold... lower field of view... nothing good except maybe hands."
Baren sighed.
He was freshly appreciating were-lion superiority.
Physicals weakened, obesity pains intact.
Aura, which made him superhuman briefly, was hard to manifest post-change.
Worst was the cold without fur.
Triple thick coats made Baren look like a walking snowman in leather.
Secret laughed.
"Heh, you'll adapt soon. Anyway, pray to the gods for this trip."
"What do you mean?"
"We're weak now. My chants tangle, your aura's gone—if monsters attack, we're in deep shit."
"R-right... Better move carefully."
Baren shivered.
Alkaltto Valley was lawless beyond the entrance.
He dreaded encountering foes like this.
Once adapted, maybe, but now? He doubted beating even a boar, let alone a wolf.
Gotta watch my breathing too.
As Baren steadied himself to step forward—
"Kyahahaha! Stop right there, you lovely moneybags!"
"Ah."