The Lingering Beastkin Scent
"Look me straight in the eye when you talk."
"Why are you like that? Your face is all red."
"...It's nothing."
Veronica's cheeks flushed crimson as memories of their recent romp flooded back. Cecil tilted her head at the sight, then sniffed the air curiously.
Cold sweat trickled down Veronica's back in rivulets.
After sniffing intently, Cecil muttered in a puzzled tone.
"But... there's no such scent."
Veronica cleared her throat loudly to redirect Cecil's attention. Whatever the scent was, it didn't feel good.
"Ahem! Ahem! Anyway, have you finished cleaning the workshop, apprentice?"
"Ah, yes! I have, Lady Veronica."
"Good..."
An awkward silence hung heavy—especially for Veronica, who could barely stand it. She avoided Cecil's gaze, stealing sidelong glances at Asha lying there as if nothing had happened. Perfect cleanup. Veronica let out a sigh of relief.
Then she spotted Cecil climbing onto the bed, pressing her nose close to Asha and sniffing again. Veronica's pupils began to tremble.
Cecil kept sniffing, looking perplexed, before speaking up.
"There's a strange smell coming from Sha'a-nim."
She leaned in closer to Asha, unhesitant, burying her nose right between her thighs and sniffing deeply. Veronica froze in shock at the shameless display.
"Wh-what the hell are you doing?!"
"There's a weird scent mixed in with Sha'a-nim's usual fragrance."
Veronica bristled, the words hitting like an accusation against her.
"...Weird? What's so weird about it?"
"It's like... the smell when a beast's scent is scraped off Sha'a-nim."
"B-beast scent!?"
Veronica's eyes widened in horror as she scanned Asha's body, hoping it wasn't what she feared.
"Ah, Sha'a-nim asked not to call it a beast. It's a beastkin scent."
"Beastkin...?"
Veronica's voice trailed off, her mind swirling with doubts as she nodded mechanically. Has something like this happened before... with what I did? Does that mean Asha already had that kind of experience?! ...I was her first, but she wasn't mine? And 'scraped off'? Does that mean she's like that with her apprentice too? When did it start? Is that why she made that insane potion...? No, wait, maybe the person on the bed isn't even Asha? Th-that would be bad...
Veronica struggled to calm her chaotic thoughts.
Just then, Asha stirred with a mumble, blinking her eyes open. Her fluffy tail and ears were still attached.
Cecil noticed first and cautiously reached out, mindful of the earlier reaction.
"Sha'a-nim...?"
Asha turned her head toward Cecil's voice. Her lips parted.
"Cecil?"
Unlike before, she was fully rational now. Cecil dove into her arms.
"Sha'a-nim!"
"Wh-whoa..."
Cecil clung to Asha's belly, nuzzling her face against it. Asha felt a strange, tingling sensation and a dizzy haze in her head.
She shook her head internally to refocus and surveyed her surroundings. Taking the beastkin transformation potion for a mood boost had been fine, but everything after was a blank—she needed to assess the situation.
The familiar scenery came into view. As she stroked Cecil's head and looked around, something unfamiliar caught her eye. Or maybe slightly familiar.
She sensed scarlet eyes staring at her, brimming with betrayal.
Asha blurted out the name without thinking.
"...Veronica?"
Veronica's eyes filled with betrayal and shock. Teeth grinding, she pointed accusingly with a pale hand.
"Y-you... you perverted freak!"
Asha's mind went blank at the sudden insult, realizing too late she should have hidden her identity.
* * *
I managed to calm Veronica, who had suddenly branded me a pervert, and we moved to the parlor. My mind was even more frayed thanks to the sprouting animal ears and the tail swishing annoyingly against my butt. Especially the tail—beastkin pants weren't made for this.
I considered changing into a dress, but after admitting I was Asha to her face, I didn't want to.
And my crotch feels kinda damp... I'd deal with that later.
...But why is Veronica here, anyway?
Glancing around, I saw Veronica sipping tea with a face full of betrayal and Cecil munching on guest cookies.
Cecil met my eyes and beamed, crumbs on her lips. I smiled back and brushed them off, only to hear the clink of teacups.
Then a voice like it rose from hell.
"...You two seem to be having a great time."
"What're you talking about all of a sudden?"
Veronica shot back in a voice laced with tears.
"You hole up in some backwater opening a workshop, start spreading weird potions, so I come looking—and you're turned into a woman living some promiscuous life! Who does that?!"
"Pr-promiscuous?"
What the hell? I frowned at the baffling accusation, and Veronica jabbed a finger at me, her face red.
"You! Messing around with b-beastkin and... and your apprentice too... in that way...!"
Whatever she was recalling made her face tomato-red as she bowed her head and mumbled on. Her voice grew damper with each word.
"The place reeked of beastkin essence... meaning you did it with the beastkin... and then your apprentice scraped it off, so you're like that with her too...? You used to be a guy fooling around with guys and girls... I never dreamed you'd be this kind of sl-sleaze...!"
"Hold on."
I raised a hand to cut off the dizzying false charges. Next, I sent Cecil, who was tilting her head and crunching cookies, off to the workshop with her hands full of treats.
As Cecil left, a chilly silence settled over the parlor. Veronica's face still looked flushed.
...Trying to clear up the misunderstanding, but excluding the 'fooling around with guys' part... I had no real defense.
No. I'm not 'like that' with Claudia or Cecil. It's purely business transactions... and unavoidable treatments. Right.
I worked to dispel Veronica's misunderstanding.
...Most of it was accidents anyway. I never chose to indulge! Not even once!
My mouth tasted bitter for some reason. Actually, it felt a bit sticky. Potion side effect? I kept talking with Veronica for now.
After our long chat...
Veronica seemed to understand somewhat, her expression softening from before.
"I get the gist, but that homunculus... isn't she too dangerous for you?"
Worry tinged her voice.
"Cecil has no malice. I just need to be careful."
"...Knew you'd say that."
"Really?"
Veronica took a bitter sip of tea and smirked.
"You've changed a lot on the outside... but you're the same inside. Just like the Asha I knew."
"...And you haven't changed a bit."
"R-really?"
"Still the same height."
Veronica blushed at that, then glared daggers—before bursting into a chuckle. She used to snap back angrily... had she grown emotionally?
"You've gotten shorter than me?"
Guess not.
"Feels about the same."
"...Wanna measure?"
Veronica and I stood to check our heights. It was too close to call. But with my ears perking up atop my head, I could claim victory.
"Hey, exclude those!"
"They're part of me too."
"Shameless."
Veronica and I traded silly banter, reminiscing about academy days. It was... nice, in its own way.
Different from when we met at the academy. Back then, I felt chased, and my rationality kept distance... but now, it felt easier.
I used to find her constant visits annoying... but looking back, I was grateful. With my family name scaring people off, only she and the preachy nun approached me. They kept my academy life from being lonely.
So I thanked her anew.
"Thanks."
"Wh-what's that out of nowhere."
"Just... for academy days and now."
Come to think of it, why had she come?
"Veronica."
"Y-yeah?"
"What did you say brought you here?"
Her face flushed again. She spoke cautiously.
"Th-the... growing potion."
"Growing potion?"
"Th-that one! The one that makes a-a rod grow on w-women!"
What the hell is my master up to? I'd sent a letter recently... maybe I'd hear soon? Worst case, I'd have to visit.
But calmly considering it, one question arose.
How did Veronica know about the beastkin—Claudia's—scent from our 'transaction' being scraped off my body?
When I asked, her face turned beet red, steam practically rising from her head.
"...Veronica."
She couldn't meet my eyes, no answer.
Thwack! Thwack! My tail slapped the sofa, mirroring my mood.
She flinched at the sound.
...I sensed something happened while I was out. Grabbing her face to force eye contact, I demanded the truth.