Chapter 13
Chapter 13
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Departing for Rub Mansion
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The intense stares and their faces were so overwhelming that I couldn't think straight.
They were inviting a sheep like me to their wolf den, a place crawling with nothing but wolves. Even these two wolves here were terrifying enough.
My panicked eyes darted wildly.
At that moment, a new status window appeared above Ed's head.
📜 NEW QUEST 📜
Depart for Rub Mansion with Ed!
📍 Objective: Accept Billy's offer and head to Rub Mansion.
⏰ Penalty: If Favorability drops to 0% or below, you will die.
🎁 Reward: Choice appearances reduced by an additional 10%.
*Note: Favorability decline stops upon reaching 100%.
...This is basically telling me to go to Wolf Territory with him and raise his Favorability, right?
If we separate, it'll drop naturally. Reject Billy's offer, and the penalty kicks in—death without a doubt.
"You'll come with us, right?"
"Uh, y-yeah..."
The two wolves' sticky gazes clung to me like ropes. I alternated between the status window and Ed, finally forcing my lips apart.
"I-I guess I have to..."
"Knew you'd say that. We'll wait, so take your time packing."
"Lady Lami, wise choice!"
The two wolves, who'd bulldozed me into agreeing, left the drawing room first.
I collapsed into a chair, staring blankly at the status window fading above Ed's head with dazed eyes.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"Uwaaaah!"
While Lami was busy packing for the trip to Wolf Territory...
Jeb Horse, fleeing for his life, couldn't fathom why he was stuck in a place like this.
"When does the Magic Tower entrance show up?!"
No matter how hard he ran, the Magic Tower—so close it seemed he could touch it—never drew nearer.
It looked right there, just ahead!
His legs pumped furiously in frustration, eyes locked on the unreachable goal.
He'd always prided himself as a skilled mage, but in the Forest of Darkness, where magic failed, he was powerless.
That's why he'd done nothing but run.
Grrrrr—!
Dodging the grotesque monster charging to kill him.
'No more running.'
Bright light erupted from Jeb Horse's body as he sprinted on two legs. Soon, a massive zebra with bold stripes appeared in his place.
Fleeing at breakneck speed, Jeb Horse seethed over the damned Magic Tower mage who'd sent him here.
A carnivore beastkin—wolf clan, no less—far stronger than him, an herbivore who couldn't dare challenge.
'That bastard... called the slave his nephew?'
Was sending him here punishment for bullying the kid a bit? He'd only taught the slave the natural order of society!
'I was planning to sneak him away soon and work him extra hard in the basement.'
When he'd first visited Morton Family with his marriage proposal, he'd spotted Ed by Lami's side and recognized the potential instantly.
Living in Sheep Territory with no real mages, no one else noticed. But he did.
It irked him that Ramen had snagged such a promising slave first.
So he'd frequented Morton Family, laying groundwork whenever the slave appeared. Even if he married Lami, he wouldn't take you along.
Lami doted on the slave, and it followed her loyally—he figured threats would make her hand him over begging.
He knew how unprotected kids clung to any adult who showed them kindness.
Once at his mansion, he'd drain the slave's mana endlessly under the guise of "for Lami."
'Plus, payback for humiliating me in front of the Morton lady!'
Last visit, someone used magic to tumble him comically from his carriage. That slave's doing, for sure.
The memory ground his teeth.
Screeeee—.
Neigh—.
As he ran, eyes blazing with vengeance and regret, a massive bird swooped from the sky, snatching his back with its talons.
'Wh-what?!'
His body lifted into the air; he squeezed his eyes shut in shock. The bird carried him off, dropping him gently on solid ground.
Inside the Magic Tower fence—the place he'd longed to reach.
"Welcome."
He looked up. Under the dark purple sky stood a wolf with a strikingly memorable face.
"I don't want filth in my workplace, so let's end this here."
End what...?
The man was clearly a far superior mage.
'Heard the Tower Lord changed recently. The new one?'
Weak before the strong, Jeb meekly gauged the situation without resistance—a sight that would horrify his Horse Family servants who knew him well.
Caw—caw—.
Jeb's anxious eyes fixed on the crows circling the Magic Tower.
His vision filled with the wolf, whose soft voice belied an ice-cold aura.
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Rumble-rumble—.
The smooth-riding carriage jolted more on the rocky path.
They say beastkin in extreme danger freeze solid instead of trembling.
"Sitting so rigid like that must be uncomfortable."
Billy chuckled at me—statue-stiff, hands primly on my lap.
'Sharing a carriage with you is the most uncomfortable part!'
The unspoken retort echoed in my mind. Ed, who'd chosen to sit by me over his uncle, slept soundly. Only Billy and I were awake.
The route from Sheep Territory to Wolf Territory wound through dense forests—no scenic views.
"I-I always sit like this."
"Oh, sure you do?"
He clearly didn't buy it.
'How did it come to this?'
The more I thought, the more surreal it felt.
"I'll follow later with the rear guard. Got to pack."
"Packing's done. Billy, sir, just take Lami and go!"
Ramen, thrilled at the Magic Tower connection, moved fast—no delaying. He shoved me into the carriage, shut the door, and waved grinning as we departed.
Straight to Wolf Territory.
'What? Just plant yourself there and forge ties with the Magic Tower?'
Ramen's whisper fueled my rising anger. My only family left, shoving me to wolves despite hating me?!
I shot Billy—a smile he wouldn't drop—a subtle glare.
Inviting a sheep to Wolf Territory with that cheerful face. No clue what he was thinking.
'That voice sounds familiar.'
Low timbre I'd heard before, though I'd never met Billy.
It nagged at me, vaguely unsettling.
And from what I knew, Billy wasn't this slick. Original snippets showed a curt, narcissistic uncle cold to his nephew.
Not one cracking sly jokes, tossing quips, and smiling easily.
'Did he change with age?'
As I pondered and stole glances...
"You'll stare a hole through me."
He'd noticed, commenting casually while enjoying the breeze.
Black shirt hugging his frame, pale skin, sharp features, sea-night hair tousled by wind.
A perfect painting.
The original had him arrogant, aloof, unkind to kin.
"Sorry."
Caught ogling, I flushed and looked out the window to play it off. Then Billy spoke again.
"Village soon. We'll overnight there."
Peering out, I spotted the village edge.
The carriage sped in.
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Ed had pretended to sleep the whole ride, nearly dozing for real.
The mage who'd dispatched that annoying Jeb Horse suddenly appeared, introducing himself as Ed's uncle and inviting him to the mansion.
'Guess I'm no ordinary kid after all.'
Street-smart, quick-witted, hardworking Ed had wondered if his parents were remarkable beastkin.
His subtly noble looks fueled it.
And now, confirmed: blood of Wolf Territory nobility—the ruling family, no less.
Ed grasped it instantly upon hearing from Billy, eyes landing on slack-jawed Lami.
'If I go with the mage, will I never see Lady Lami again?'
Least bad adult he'd met. Fed him well, comfy bed, light work.
No need to cling to Morton Family now, but parting with Lami felt oddly regrettable.
The servants scorned her behind her back; he'd seen their two-faced treatment and hated it.
'Maybe she should come with me. Once out of this mansion...'
So he'd tested the waters.
Hoping the mage—claiming uncle—would pick up on it.
Luckily sharp, he proposed she join.
Lami agreed to Wolf Territory.
Recalling, Ed nearly smirked contentedly but caught himself, hardening his expression.
The betrothal between that pest Jeb Horse and Morton Family seemed busted. No zebra daring Wolf Territory.
'No worries about marrying that fool anytime soon.'
Key was Lami thriving at Rub Mansion, not facing old mistreatment.
Imagining arrival and warm welcomes, a worry sprouted.
What if Rub Family adults were all scary or cruel, driving her to flee into another marriage...?
'No! Lady Lami must stay by my side.'
His closed eyes tensed unwittingly.
Ed had watched her: sloppy, subtly dismissed by servants. He felt better protecting her himself.
Maybe find her a wolf match?
"You'll stare a hole through me."
Then the mage—uncle?—teased her playfully.
"Sorry."
Lami's shaky reply.
'...Ah!'
A lightbulb flashed in Ed's mind. Perfect!
His lips twitched upward.
'This solves everything.'
Satisfied, sleepiness finally hit.
Soon, soft snores filled the carriage quietly.
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