Chapter 36
Chapter 36
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: The Rubje Festival
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“W-wait a second!”
My urgent shout made Billy freeze, turning back with a puzzled look. Ed, halfway out of his seat, stared at me too.
I took a deep breath to calm my pounding heart, then spoke in a trembling voice.
“Give me a minute to get ready before we go down.”
“Ready?”
“...Mentally.”
Billy and Ed exchanged glances at my mumbled words. I couldn't tell what silent message passed between them, but they seemed willing to wait.
Billy sat back down across from me, watching intently. Ed snuggled closer, looping his arm through mine.
I gulped as I peered out the window at the Wolf Beastkin passing by. Then, staring wide-eyed at Billy, I declared,
“Okay, let's go.”
It took tremendous resolve for me. Intellectually, I knew no Wolf Beastkin could harm me, but instinct etched deep in my body made courage hard to muster.
But seeing Billy and Ed steadied me. With these two sturdy wolves by my side, I was certain I wouldn't end up as lamb skewers.
Billy nodded solemnly at my determined expression. He and Ed stepped down first, both extending hands to me.
Beyond the open door, Wolf Beastkin milled about behind them, curiosity plain as they wondered who the Family Head and heir were helping down.
“Lady Lami! Hurry!”
Ed bounced impatiently, eager for festival fun. I cautiously stepped out of the carriage.
Memories flashed of lounging comfortably in the Morton mansion, munching salads.
It wasn't enough that I'd entered the wolf's den to avoid death after such an easy life. Now I'd come to a place teeming with far more wolves than the Rub estate.
“It's fine. Just take my hand.”
As I reached out hesitantly, Billy grasped it firmly and guided me down.
This was my first historic step into the bustling streets of the Wolf Territory.
The Rubje Festival was a major event held only in the Wolf Territory on full moon nights when the weather began to chill.
The name—festival on a full moon night in Wolf Territory—sounded a bit ominous at first. But seeing it firsthand, it felt no different from any ordinary village celebration.
Holding Ed's hand, I craned my neck this way and that. Delicious street food aromas tantalized my nose everywhere, while game stalls captured my eyes.
“They've got skewers over there!”
Ed pointed excitedly at a food vendor. Looking up at me, still clutching my hand, he asked,
“Lady Lami, you like meat, right?”
Instead of answering, I scanned the choice window hovering before Ed.
'What kind of question is "first time seeing a sheep who likes meat"?'
To turn a simple "Do you like meat?" into that sassy retort. I shook my head and eyed option 3.
No real dilemma this time—I went with 1. One corner of my mouth quirked up, a soft hiss of laughter escaping through my teeth.
“Meat's way better than tasteless grass.”
I meant it sincerely, so my voice came out more earnest than usual. Better to pick 1 than send Ed on an errand with 3.
“Right? Let's grab one then.”
Ed tugged my sleeve, eyes sparkling. I'd never seen him this thrilled.
'Maybe I should bring him out more often.'
I hadn't expected such joy. Stroking his head, I headed to one of the shabby street food stalls.
“Welcome... Gah!”
The vendor startled mid-greeting, stumbling back. He quickly composed himself, flipping skewers cautiously.
“How many...?”
I couldn't respond. Staring in horror at the meat on the skewers, Billy finally noticed and glanced over.
“Ah, better go somewhere else.”
“Y-yeah! I want something else anyway!”
Billy and Ed whisked me away. Pale-faced, I numbly followed their lead.
Glancing back, I spotted the stall's sign—impossible to miss now, huge letters proclaiming:
<Melts-in-Your-Mouth Lamb Skewers>
'L-lamb... skewers...'
Food I'd loved before possessing this body...
Memories surfaced of turning into a sheep from a weird magic item at the Magic Tower. Silently praying for the souls of those sacrificed lambs, I moved on.
After browsing and sampling street foods until full, we wandered in search of other sights.
“Come see the play! Starting soon—hurry in!”
A voice halted us. Ed and I turned in sync. A tall Wolf Beastkin promoted eagerly before a small theater.
“Wanna go see the play?”
Billy pointed at the theater, noting our interest. Beastkin already gathered, filing inside excitedly, faces alight with festival cheer.
Watching them enter stirred my curiosity too. I looked down at Ed, who gazed up, eyes meeting mine.
'Ed's never seen a play before, huh?'
His sparkling eyes demanded we go now. Seeing the wolves crowd in, I swallowed nervously.
“Yeah, let's go in.”
Even saying it, my feet stuck to the ground. The thought of a tight space surrounded by wolves froze my body.
Billy stepped closer, whispering near my ear.
“Here, repeat after me.”
Puzzled, I waited. He made a weak fist.
“I can do this!”
“...?”
“Wolves don't scare me at all!”
My jaw dropped, staring at him. Undeterred, Billy said earnestly,
“Good affirmation, right?”
“Y-you... heard that?”
“You shouted it so loud.”
My ears burned crimson.
I'd yelled it clinging to Mimo, unaware Billy—a wolf—heard every word: wolves don't scare me at all. I couldn't even look at him properly.
“You're teasing me, aren't you?”
I quickened my pace, whining. Billy just smiled, pointing silently to empty front-row seats.
“Sit there?”
“Yeah!”
Ed's booming reply spurred Billy ahead. Wolves parted like the Red Sea, sneaking glances.
We sat just before the play began.
I wondered if I'd focus surrounded by wolves, but the worry proved unfounded—I was hooked.
The play depicted a war from a decade ago between Snow Leopard Territory and Wolf Territory.
Billy's face grew grave; he'd lived it. Ed leaned forward intently, drawn in despite it being before his time.
Amid serious wolves, I watched carefree. It had no tie to Sheep Territory, happening long before my possession—no emotional pull.
'The war was worse than I thought.'
The damages seemed severe. Worried for Billy, who'd been a child then, I snuck a glance, fearing traumatic flashbacks.
But Billy, whom I'd expected lost in grim memories, gazed at me with concern.
“Wanna go?”
He whispered softly.
“I'm fine, but do you want to leave?”
Whispering back during the play, so close for once, my voice shook.
His fangs peeked through smiling lips, stark. I instinctively leaned back, awaiting his reply.
Noting it oddly before, Billy asked worriedly again,
“You really okay?”
What wasn't okay? It was a war play, but no gore or realism. He seemed overly concerned.
I shrugged nonchalantly.
“Yes, really.”
Billy's face mixed relief and bitterness, then turned back to the stage.