A Man in Sheep's Clothing (1)

The golden fleece. The wool that shimmered with a golden luster wasn't mere fur—it was an entire 'garment'.

"A robe?"

"Yep. A robe made from golden fleece."

"Hmm..."

It wasn't ordinary clothing. The fact that it was golden was unusual enough on its own, but the fact that it was a robe made it even more peculiar.

"So I just need to wear this and act like a sheep beastman?"

"For now, yeah. Want to try it on?"

"Understood."

I slipped the robe over my body as Bastet suggested.

"Hmm...?"

It felt slightly heavy at first, but the moment a gentle warmth touched my skin, it became light as a feather. Maybe it was because I hadn't worn proper clothes like a robe in so long. Aside from the golden color and the wool hood that resembled a sheep's fleece, the garment felt strangely similar to a doctor's lab coat.

"If anyone discovers you're human, I can just say you're my slave. But there's no need to invite unnecessary trouble by getting pointed at as a human, right?"

She had a point. Especially since I'd be doing external activities as part of Bastet's plan, there was no reason to go looking for headaches.

"Isn't impersonating a beastman a crime?"

"It is a crime."

"...Won't that cause problems for you, Lady Bastet?"

"It would be troublesome. But if we don't get caught, what's the problem?"

Bastet pointed at her own cat ears.

"It's fine. You can just act as a clerk and employee at the magic shop. Besides, the customers who visit my magic tool shop aren't the type to raise a fuss even if they figure out what you are."

"Sounds like your customers aren't ordinary people."

"Correct. Honestly, these are people who probably wouldn't care much even without this disguise... but it's still better to be careful."

"I fully trust your judgment, Lady Bastet, but..."

"But?"

"What about the smell? A sheep's scent and a human's scent are different, aren't they?"

Beasts were sensitive to smell. Even if the appearance could be fooled by wrapping myself in golden fleece, there was no way to hide the distinct human scent—

"...Hm?"

Or maybe there was?

"Do you perhaps not recognize this so-called 'human scent'?"

"Yes! That's exactly it!"

Bastet ran over and placed her hand on my shoulder.

"Most mainstream beastmen have already forgotten the smell of humans. Even if they did know it, you humans from the tribe that lived on that island for so long smell a little different."

Had our body odor changed? Or was it because of dietary shifts from eating sea fish and island plants every day?

"Either way, you don't need to worry too much. You seem to worry more than I expected?"

"When one wrong step means tightrope-walking above sharks with their mouths wide open, it's impossible not to worry."

"So you're not getting on the rope?"

"No way."

If you can't avoid it even though you're worried, you might as well enjoy it. Strike while the iron is hot—wait, maybe I shouldn't throw around sayings like that carelessly.

"Let's go. I want to see if this golden fleece can truly fool the beastmen."

If we get caught, we get caught. If not, oh well.

"Good. Then let's head straight there. To my alchemy workshop."

While talking with Bastet, one thing I realized was that she wasn't giving me perfect information. There were inconsistencies. A few details didn't match what I'd heard from the slave traders when I was captured and what Bastet seemed to know.

For example, the Empire. Bastet had said it was an expression beastmen avoided, yet the slave trader had announced me as one of the 'humans protected by the Empire' when putting me on the auction block.

Well, if I used my imagination, it made sense. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Just like how organizations carrying on Nazi ideology could exist even if people hated the Nazis. Or maybe there were bastards claiming the title of Empire that Bastet refused to acknowledge. If a kingdom with some influence started throwing around the word 'empire,' the other kingdoms would probably find it ridiculous and absurd.

There was also the money issue. The value of ten thousand gold weighed heavily on my mind, but Bastet had reacted like it was no big deal. Just how much was her total wealth? Of course, as a slave in a master-servant relationship, I had no right to comment on my ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠owner's assets, but curiosity was curiosity.

What I was most curious about was the concrete method to eliminate the Twelve Kings. Did Bastet actually have the ability? She probably did. But since she never explained the details, I could only wonder. It was partly my fault for not asking yet, but how could I suddenly bring it up? Maybe she had already recruited one of the Twelve Kings. Or perhaps she had already obtained some of the King's Symbols.

Still, in most other cases she told me the truth. Especially when it came to the common sense I needed to survive in this world.

"Ta-da. This is my alchemy workshop, Manmul-dang."

"Manmul-dang..."

"It literally means a place that deals with all things. If we can sell it, we sell it! Our main product is magic scrolls crafted to let you use specific spells as one-time consumables."

The display cases held magic scrolls, equipment radiating a clear aura hung on the walls, and materials that looked like they came from magical beasts sat on the shelves. There was even a corner for fresh vegetables and fruit.

It really does feel like a typical fantasy-world general store.

I wondered whether the items sold here were normal and if business was actually good, but the state of the display counters suggested it wasn't doing badly.

"Magic scrolls must sell pretty often?"

"Oh! How could you tell?"

"That shelf has the least dust on it."

At my words, Bastet's cat tail swished back and forth. I'd spoken using knowledge from my previous life, but from her perspective—

"You're seriously incredible! If you hadn't been born on that island—if you'd been born a beastman and entered the academy—you would've been known as an unparalleled genius!"

"It's not that impressive."

I wasn't an unparalleled genius. I'd barely caught the last train but still gotten into medical school. It wasn't something to brag about, and definitely not worth making such a fuss over.

"What do you think is the next best-selling item after magic scrolls?"

"Food, right? The spot for perishables is completely empty."

"Wrong!"

"Huh?"

"Ahaha! You're smart, but your common magic knowledge is still a bit lacking. Everything sold in a place like this has preservation magic cast on it. Oh, preservation magic is..."

"If we compare it to fruit, it's magic that maintains freshness so it doesn't rot, right?"

"Wow!"

Bastet clapped her hands and laughed brightly.

"Exactly! Aww, if only you'd started learning magic when you were little! Ah, but back then there probably wasn't any way for me to reach you, was there? It's such a shame..."

I had to gather as much information as possible from the things Bastet let slip. It might be speculation, but humans could become quite excellent mages if they accumulated mana efficiently. The industry's common knowledge was that you had to train in mana from a young age to do so.

"It's nice that you catch on so quickly. Then... shall we jump straight into practical application? I have one customer scheduled to come today."

"Should I handle them directly? Or assist from the side?"

"Hmm, I'm still a little worried, so I'd prefer you assist for now!"

"Understood."

It meant I could build up my common sense by watching from beside her.

I can take it slow.

There was plenty of time. What Bastet wanted most was the death of the Twelve Kings, but that was ultimately her ultimate wish. If it proved impossible, living as her Slave Number One wouldn't be so bad. At least it beat spending my entire life on the island shouting for revenge and doing nothing but train.

"Alright. Then... could you go down to the basement and bring up some items? Head in the direction this magic stone points and you'll find several boxes. Bring those up for me!"

"Understood, Lady Bastet."

This was the start of my second—no, my third life.

While the man headed down to the basement.

"...Hehe."

Bastet grabbed her swishing tail with her own hand and stroked it.

"It seems far more was passed down orally on the island than I thought. The level of detail is hard to believe after a hundred years."

There had been alien parts in our conversation that made her feel wary without realizing it, but—

"Well, whatever. It's good if he understands quickly."

Bastet raised both hands innocently and chuckled softly.

"Don't you think so too? Guest?"

"...Who are you calling a guest."

Beside Bastet, a single grayish-white hamster smaller than a fist emerged from a hole in the building and climbed onto the sales counter.

"This alchemy workshop was mine to begin with."

The voice coming from the hamster's mouth was that of a young girl. Even though her tone was sharp and laced with irritation, Bastet simply lifted the hamster into her palm and stroked its back.

"Yes, yes. Sorry for acting like the owner when I'm just borrowing the place. But honestly, aren't I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the owner now? I completely restored this abandoned workshop."

"I'm the landlord. You're the tenant."

"What if the tenant earned enough to buy the building? You're the one who won't sell."

"Ha... Fine. That human will be back up soon, so let's talk about the important stuff first."

The hamster thumped Bastet's wrist with its short tail.

"So, is it really possible? The possibility of gathering every King's Symbol."

"Fifty-fifty."

"...Who can talk when you put it like that?"

"No, I mean it. It's literally fifty-fifty."

Bastet pointed downward with a serious expression.

"Either we won't obtain a single additional one, or we'll obtain them all."

"...That's even more extreme. Do you not want to talk to me or something?"

"No way. How could I possibly mistreat a comrade with whom I've sworn to start the true Bremen Revolution? I'm speaking from the heart."

"Fine. Then what's your basis for thinking we'll obtain every King's Symbol?"

"Comprehension."

The hamster's gaze turned toward Bastet's face.

"Do you really think that human is a genius? On the level of the Sage of the Moon? Like those crazy rabbits?"

"Not to that extent, but he's the kind of being who understands his situation better than anyone and knows exactly what to use. You've heard enough to know he's clearly different from the other human slaves. The others resist in every way, attack their owners, refuse meals, and so on, right?"

"That's true. ...In a way, the slave who looked ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠like he'd resist the most violently turned out to be the most cooperative. You really are lucky."

"I am. After all, I picked him up for ten thousand gold."

"He's worth more than ten thousand gold?"

"Isn't it obvious? For one thing..."

Bastet's eyes curved like crescent moons.

"Just the fact that he can keep moving while wearing one of the King's Symbols, the Vicuña, says everything, doesn't it?"

"...You're going to be punished by heaven."

"For what?"

"Dyeing pure white fleece that shade of gold."

"Ah, that part?"