Chapter 19

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Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 19

Chapter Title: (1) Dark Shadow Horse, Arion

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(1) Dark Shadow Horse, Arion

After my easy victory in the first match, the staff notified me that I had two more ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠fights to go. Well, I knew that much. Remilia hadn't said just to win—she'd said to take first place. I was just doing my job per the contract.

The next match was tomorrow at lunch. The one after that was two days later in the evening. The schedule was a bit tight over those two days, but it wasn't a problem for me. Not with [Tender Care] usable three times a day.

A system cheat that cost neither potion money nor mana.

—Whoosh.

I lay on the bed, tossing an apple into the air.

—Crunch.

"Kyeng!"

Bori caught and devoured it. The apple crunched, spraying juice as it slid down the wolf's throat.

After the win, the announcer had demanded Arion's execution, but I'd brushed it off and walked away. The announcer and crowd's faces twisted in disgust, but I didn't care.

The announcer tried threatening to unleash more beasts. But no one could stand against Bori, who was even friskier than before the duel. And with Arion thrashing even while unconscious, kicking at anyone who approached, they couldn't force another match.

In the end, the announcer slapped an "arrogant" label on me and hyped up the crowd by promising the next fight wouldn't be easy.

The announcer's ass-kissing show worked pretty well. My confident—maybe even a bit cocky—display seemed to... stimulate the male spectators in the arena. They'd come watch the next one hoping I'd lose.

I was using one of the gladiators' private rooms. It was shitty as hell, but it fit a huge beast like Bori and had a bed, so no complaints. Better than sleeping rough.

Time passed, and now it was late evening.

I lay prone, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠propping my chin and swinging my legs idly, lost in thought. Even though I'd won, I didn't feel good. The problem was why. I had a rough guess, but that only made it more confusing.

"Hmmm..."

I lay prone, propping my chin and swinging my legs idly, lost in thought. Even though I'd won, I didn't feel good. The problem was, I couldn't understand why. I had a rough guess, but that only made it more puzzling. Knowing and understanding are different things.

—Pity.

More precisely, sympathy. A corner of my heart occupied by those drugged-up animals.

But by nature, I wasn't one to feel pity easily. My life had been too busy with self-pity, and I knew how miserably easy pity could make you. So even feeling it now, my heart stayed rock-hard.

Yet this mood persisted, so...

'Blame the skill.'

The Animal Lover trait.

A trait that made animals love me—and forced me to love them back.

—Lick.

"Yeah, yeah. Bori. Wanna mate?"

Bori licked my cheek, and I grinned, reaching out.

But Bori's face didn't look excited at all.

"...Huh?"

A look like he was staring at an idiot.

I squinted at that subtle expression and asked Bori.

"What, something on my face?"

"Kyeng."

...If it bothers you that much, go check it yourself?

That's what it felt like he was saying.

"...Hmm."

In my 'conversations' with Bori, I'd realized that thoughts sometimes feeling like my own mutterings ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠were actually his. Sharpest in battle, but even normally, they came through strong.

Like right now.

"Agh! Whatever. Fine, let's go check if it's dead or alive!"

Out the window, a crimson evening glow draped the back alley. The sun was nearly set. The alley was poorly lit anyway; it'd be dark soon.

I headed to the beast pens where Uncle Hans had been.

I'd left the arena right away for my room, so I hadn't seen what happened after. No idea what became of the unconscious Arion—dead or alive.

But the central lobby I returned to was...

—Haa, fuck! Hey, more bandages!

—Fucking horse-headed bastard. Still thrashing after losing a foot?

Bloody as hell.

The arena gates were bent. The door to the beast pens was shattered. The floor had several corpses covered in rags, unmoving.

"Heh."

Tilting my head as I surveyed the scene, one of the staff who'd picked a fight with me earlier glanced over. Head wrapped in bandages, he spat irritably.

"What're you staring at? Show's over."

"Why does everyone here talk the same? So, what happened to make this mess?"

"Haa..."

He shook his head like he didn't know where to start.

"If you wanna know, go check it out yourself."

He pointed to the beast pen door.

It was smashed, and drag marks of blood pointed one way.

I hesitated a bit, then hopped onto Bori.

"...Gotta do what I gotta."

—Hop.

"Let's go, Bori."

Bori moved quietly and swiftly.

The beast pen corridor was a wreck. I instinctively knew the scattered blood came from different people.

At least ten. Bori's nose told me so.

"...Bori, hold up."

A few steps more, and I spotted a figure in the distance.

Skinny and hunched, short gray hair.

Beast handler Hans.

"Uncle!"

He looked at me with his usual slightly drunk, grinning face. Clutching his bleeding arm, he said.

"Ah, y-you... it's you. Heh—I was just th-thinking if I should c-call you."

"...That's why, huh. Arion. Still alive?"

"D-Dunno. Won't last long. Heh. After thrashing like that, can't be much time. Heh heh."

Hans looked genuinely regretful.

"J-Just killing it's a waste, so I t-ried to milk some s-seed. Too bad. Heh. No beast like that again. If it d-dies, gotta rip the b-balls at least."

Blood pouring from his arm, yet cracking jokes. Looked fine enough. I stared with pity and worry mixed; he chuckled.

"Th-This much? Just more a-anesthetic. If you wanna see it, go inside. It c-calms down around y-you."

"...Well, take care of yourself. I'm no saint to babysit."

I brushed past Hans toward Arion.

Heading to Arion's cage.

The deeper in, the thicker the blood scent stabbed my nose. No—more metallic. Blood gets that iron tang when it's heavy. This much? Impossible to imagine the volume.

Four or five unconscious men lay around the cage.

"..."

—Thud.

I dismounted Bori and approached the cage. The door hung open. Inside was dark. Lighting angle hid the depths. Crimson lights like a butcher shop reflected off blood pools, barely outlining one faint silhouette.

"Heh. You're alive after losing that much blood?"

I smirked and drew closer.

Arion slumped weakly into view. Breathing shallow, but eyes fierce as ever.

"Prff..."

A whinny like why're you here? I chuckled at the cool attitude.

What was it? For some reason, his emotions felt clearer than at our first meeting. Was I laughing because I synced with him?

Arion felt immensely relieved. Before going out, he'd killed a ton of those scummy humans and was deeply satisfied. That's what he conveyed.

I squatted before Arion.

"Yeah. Satisfied?"

I placed a hand on his muzzle. His gaze followed. He glanced at me and Bori behind, then softly closed his eyes.

I closed mine too.

Reaching to grip his muzzle sides, I pressed my forehead to his and listened to his fading breaths.

I wiped my smile, speaking sadly.

"Sorry for hurting you."

"..."

As Arion's eyes dimmed, Bori barked from behind.

—"Kyeng!"

"...Right. Not pity. Respect."

I relayed Bori's words roughly. Without [Tender Care], that kick would've killed Bori for sure. You were strong enough, worthy of beating me. I just had the status window cheat.

Ah... shoulda listened to Remilia. Getting attached just sticks in your head. Even if I left now, this memory would linger.

...Animal Lover trait? Never felt this emotional before. What is this? Pity? Sympathy? Compassion? No, no. This is—

"If you had a status window too... it'd be different."

—Cherishing.

That instant, text filled my vision.

"—Huh?"

What the—

Stunned for a moment, I blankly watched the continuing text.

Use Tender Care? On him?

I only had one left for today. But this should only work on entities the system designates as my 'master'...

"...Yes!"

I reflexively looked back; Bori snorted dismissively. Like, do what you want—permission granted.

Right, Bori's a wolf. Pack animals by nature. But wolves are extremely exclusive to outsiders unless family. Yet Bori just accepted Arion into the pack. Why?

......

...Ah.

—Right. Not pity. Respect.

Words from minutes ago flashed back.

Is that it? Just as I learned the beast's life from Bori, did he learn from me? Learned attacks from the heart, not just instinct. That true effort breeds respect. Amid all the trash humans, did he learn humanity—

"...Hah."

You rascal.

Learning all the useless stuff.

Smiling, I headbutted Arion's forehead.

"—Wake up!"

—Thonk!

The impact hit, and text appeared.

—Screeech...

The chains on Arion's legs snapped free. I instinctively backpedaled.

Slumped on the floor, I looked up. The dying horse was gone; a massive black steed stood tall.

His wasted muscles now rippled like sculpture. His torn mane blazed beyond his neck. Upright on hind legs, Arion looked utterly transformed.

"Yeah, those eyes suit you."

Ruby eyes gleaming intelligently. Arion swished his long black tail, snorting excitedly. Pure thrill.

"Alright, let's check the stats?"

Oh ho, hiding in shadows... literally in Bori's or my shadow? Hard to say without seeing it.

But damn, the drug penalties were insane. Normalized stats blew past my guesses.

'Strength higher than Bori's.'

No wonder it cracked ribs in one hit.

Agility lagged way behind, though. Still fine. Horses symbolize endurance since forever. And Tender Care could cover it easy.

"Good. Now, how to clean up this—"

Squeeze.

Turning to gawk at the status window, pressure pressed my crown. I grumbled irritably.

"...Bori, not in the mood for play. Find a way to hide him first. They'll drug and drag him if caught."

"......Kyeng."

"Huh? What?"

"......Kyeng!"

"What're you—properly say..."

......

...Sound from across the cage?

I dismissed the window and looked up. Bori was already in the hall, nodding for us to hurry.

'...Then what's on my head?'

—Swipe.

Tensing slightly, I glanced sideways.

A thick, long, foggy something thicker than my arm... brushed my cheek.

"..."

—Gulp.

"...Eh?"

Its monstrous size left me gaping stupidly.

"—C-Cock?"

Horse cock.

Dark red shaft, square-thick pillar, deep crimson glans oozing sticky fluid. Intense, pungent smell that made my womb tingle.

I drooled reflexively, staring blankly speechless. Come to think, hadn't mated lately... Ah, no. Can't think—

—Ding.

Messages chimed.

"Ah, ugh."

W-Wait. Frustrated aside, why Heat on me? I was fine till now?!

I clutched my skirt, pressing below my womb. But even that pressure sparked jolts to my brain.

"F-Fuck... w-wait—"

Then something jammed into my mouth. No—shoved in. Arion thrust his cock at my face. Nose and lips sank into the glans center.

A head-numbing, brutal scent.

Male pheromones arousing the female.

Thick, sticky Cowper's fluid filling my mouth.

"Mmm, slurp...♡"

As the viscous fluid hit my tongue, I reflexively licked. The smell... pungent, but not dirty.

Fact learned from Bori. Just as [Semen Healing] kept me pristine, Bori stayed spotless via [Tender Care]. Arion's cock now—forgetting its drugged filthy past—was massive, clean, emanating pure male musk—

"—Heh?"

Snapping to, I gripped the cock with both hands, sucking semen, even lapping the balls eagerly.

"N-No. B-Bori will—"

—Bori was.

—Scratch scratch.

Casually scratching his ear with a hind paw.

"B-Bori...?"

A twinge of panic. Not betrayal. Y-You're my master. No, I'm yours, but the system... whatever.

But Bori—

"Kyeng,"

—Poor guy's frustrated, lemme use her once.

That's what he said.

"Ah......"

This is.

Not friend, not wolf's bride...

"Onahole...♡"

"Ha, hee...♡ Th-This is ridiculous, dehe...♡ Mmm, sluuuurp...♡"

Why, why can't I stop.

I haven't fallen that low to deserve this treatment...

"Chuuup...♡ Slurp...♡"

Feels too good.

"Haaawp...♡"

Tastes too good.

Can't stop licking.

"Hauuup...♡ Chuuup...♡"

Until my body was semen-drenched.

"Puhah—♡"

Tranced, I cleaned until the cock gleamed.

Afterward—

"—Thanks for the meal...♡"

—Mwah.

I kissed the glans politely.

"Aaah... did it...♡"

N-No—

"U, eh?"

Stupid noise as I realized my state: dress semen-soaked mess, muzzle fur around my mouth.

If caught like this—

—Clack.

Footsteps.

'—Life over.'

"B-Bori! Arion! R-Run! W-Window?!"

The dimly lit window... too small. Bars too. Fuck. What now? Sneaking doggy vs. blatant horse-fucking, anyway—!

—Clack, clack...

—Th-That bastard's overdue. Heh heh.

—Shut up and guide, junkie. How many died 'cause of him.

—K-Kick. L-Let me snag the balls.

No.

Coming.

Nowhere to hide? Crates? Hay? All smashed.

'Wh-What's that?'

A cylindrical leather vat...? Wrinkled rim creepy, but fit someone my size.

"B-Bori. Pretend I'm gone. Got it? Arion too!"

Leather exterior, inside squishy rubbery. Felt new-ish.

Sticky mystery fluid grossed me out, but no choice. Hiding now or branded crazy bestiality bitch forever.

—Squish...

Laid horizontal—perfect to crawl in.

Pushing inside, warm dampness enveloped me.

"Uh...?"

One thought hit naturally.

This thing... made for Arion.

Why? The size... fit the cock I just sucked...

'......Eh?'

—Too valuable to kill. Waste! Need as stud!

—No beast like that again. D-Dies? Rip balls at least.

Hans's mutter resurfaced.

'......No way.'

...What did I just do?

"B-Bori. Gotta get out—"

"U, eee?"

Strength drained. Legs useless. Just dazed groans, holding breath faintly.

Signal from Bori: quiet.

—Clack.

"Heh, hehehe. Those guys should be limp by now—huh?"

"Wh-What the hell?"

The massive gray wolf Bori and restored Arion face off against Uncle Hans and arena staff.