Chapter 51
Chapter 51
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 52
Chapter Title: An Unwanted Tail
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Elvin’s mouth was dry.
The current Gaju, who had driven out his predecessor and seized the throne the moment he came of age, possessed an ability so extraordinary that he had single-handedly turned the tide in the territorial disputes where they had been losing…….
At the same time, however, he possessed an exceptionally cruel nature.
Wary of getting on his bad side, Elvin carefully chose his words.
“……If I may be so bold, would it not be best to withdraw now?”
“Why? Are you scared?”
“I know. But isn’t this getting too interesting?”
he asked, his voice laced with amusement as he rose from his seat.
As the screen was pulled back, a man with silver hair and dark violet eyes was revealed.
Elvin’s nerves were on edge as the distance between them closed.
The man, now standing right before him, smiled sweetly and spoke.
“It seems Ella didn’t completely fail her mission. I’d say she was half successful.”
“……What do you mean by that?”
“I heard an egg hatched in the Astrofel family. And that they cherish it dearly.”
Although he hadn’t been the Gaju at the time and hadn't seen it with his own eyes.
And was that all? They had apparently even held a banquet to introduce the child.
They had even bestowed upon it the surname Astrofel.
For a moment, a flicker of interest danced in the man’s eyes before vanishing.
Seeing this, Elvin was horrified and spoke in a rush.
“It is too dangerous to provoke the Astrofel family.”
“Did I say I would provoke them directly? There is someone else who will do that for us.”
His interest apparently faded, the Gaju’s brow furrowed. Realizing his mistake, Elvin fell silent.
The man, who seemed lost in thought for a moment, smirked and muttered as he returned to his seat.
“Wouldn’t it be only proper to play the cards you have left?”
“Surely you don’t mean the Roisar family?”
“They’ll want their heir back safely, so I imagine they’ll follow orders diligently.”
“……”
“You understand what I’m saying without me having to explain it, don’t you?”
Of course, he understood all too well.
After seizing the clan’s throne, the first thing the man had done was take the heirs of all the surrounding families as hostages.
The area was devastated, and most of the territories fell under the man’s control.
The clans, weary from long years of territorial disputes, had cheered the Gaju’s relentless advance, but…….
Elvin could not bring himself to be entirely pleased.
“Then I shall take my leave, Lord Diel.”
“You may go.”
Elvin stepped backward. The large doors then swung open on either side.
*Creeak.*
*Thud.*
Having safely completed his report, Elvin let out the breath he had been holding.
Can things truly continue like this?
He closed his eyes, walking down the deathly quiet corridor.
If only someone could stop the Gaju’s march.
If they could, it wouldn’t matter who it was.
“……Where was the Roisar heir being kept again?”
Currently, the Roisar heir was likely tasting humiliation, trapped in a cage.
It was all the Gaju’s command.
As Elvin moved to carry out the order, he couldn’t shake the heavy feeling in his heart.
* * *
*Hnngh. Hnnngh.*
It was the second day of our lessons in the forest.
I was desperately trying to move my uncooperative pheromones.
“You are doing well. Just focus a little more.”
It’s hard!
I tried to spread the pheromones throughout my body as Arban had taught me, but it wasn’t as easy as it sounded.
When I actually tried, they wouldn’t budge.
The improperly controlled pheromones were just bubbling out of my body.
My impatience seemed to be making it worse. This isn’t working. I need a short break.
“Kasana. I wanna west for a little bit.”
“Understood. Let us take a short break.”
“Fank you.”
I took a water bottle out of my bag and drank. The ice hadn't all melted yet, so it was still cool.
As I leaned against a tree for a moment, I noticed Kasana watching me with concern.
“What?”
“If you are tired, perhaps we should stop for today.”
“No, I’m not tired at all. I can keep going.”
I couldn’t give up like this. I was just taking my first steps as a Su-in, and I didn’t want to be a baby about it.
I shot to my feet. Alright. I’ve rested enough, time to start fresh.
Just as Kasana explained a moment ago, I’ll slowly feel the pheromones circulating through my body……. I’ll think about changing one spot at a time.
*Hnngh.*
I clenched my fists. More than anything, I just wanted one part to change.
Kasana had said that once you transform a part of your body, you get a feel for it, and it becomes easier.
I was seriously concentrating, trying to move the pheromones inside me bit by bit, when Kasana’s eyes suddenly widened at something she saw.
“……Young Lady Aileen.”
“Hmm?”
“You have succeeded in transforming a part of your body.”
“Huh? Weally?! Where? Where?”
So that’s why Kasana looked so surprised!
I jumped up and down, overcome with joy.
But what part had changed? I looked myself over, but I couldn’t see anything different.
I touched my face; that didn’t seem to have changed. My arms and legs, which I could see, were the same.
Could Kasana be lying because she thought I was overexerting myself?
I turned to her with a suspicious look.
“Where did Aileen change? Nothing’s changed!”
“Well……”
“Nothing changed.”
“A tail has appeared.”
Kasana pointed behind me.
……A tail? Of all things, a tail?
I grumbled and turned around. I could see the shape of a pointy tail sticking out. I would have preferred wings.
Still, I had managed to change a part of my body, so it wasn't all bad.
“But, Kasana.”
“Yes, Young Lady.”
“How do I make it go away?”
“You can make it disappear by feeling as though you are drawing the pheromones back in.”
Drawing them back in?
*Hnnnngh.*
I squeezed my tail hard.
I could feel it twitch and move.
I couldn’t walk around like this, so I hoped it would disappear before the lesson ended.
After what felt like an eternity of wrestling with my tail…
I plopped down on the ground with a grimace, unable to squeeze out any more pheromones.
“H-how……”
The tail wouldn’t disappear at all.
Suddenly, Set’s words flashed through my mind.
*‘You can’t lose focus when you’re changing into your true form. If you do… only part of your body might change, and you could be stuck like that forever.’*
Oh no. Are his words really coming true?
A wave of anxiety washed over me. I grabbed Kasana’s arm urgently.
“Kasana!”
“Yes, Young Lady Aileen.”
“What do I do…… Does Aileen have to wive like this fowever?”
At my worried question, Kasana smiled warmly and reassured me.
“It is alright, Young Lady. Situations like this are quite common. It will resolve itself naturally over time.”
“But Set said he succeeded on his fiwst twy.”
“That is…… true.”
“Then what about Arban?”
Kasana fell silent. It seemed Arban had also succeeded on his first try.
And she called this a common situation. It wasn't common at all.
For now, I decided to hide my tail with my bag on the way back.
If I slung it over my shoulder and let it hang down, I could probably cover it.
“Young Lady Aileen, please do not be too disheartened. You have succeeded in a partial Su-in transformation, after all.”
“You’we wight, Kasana.”
She was right, but……. I didn’t feel cheered up at all. Besides, having just a tail sticking out was somehow embarrassing.
I left the forest with my bag hanging low.
I have to make sure no one sees it. I especially have to hide it from Arban.
“Aileen can go alone fwom here.”
“Very well. Then I wish you a safe and undetected return, Young Lady Aileen.”
Encouraged by Kasana, I nodded and headed toward the entrance to the garden.
But my resolve was short-lived.
I ran into a huge obstacle. Namely…….
“Hello, Aileen.”
“……P-Paymon?”
“I brought you some snacks in case you were hungry. But why is your bag hanging so low?”
“Uh……”
“If it’s heavy, give it to me. I can carry it for you.”
It was because I had run into Paymon, who was waiting at the entrance.
Seeing him hold out his hand for my bag, I backed away slowly.
“No. It’s not heavy at all. I can cawwy it myself.”
“Then you should wear it properly on your shoulder. Your arm will hurt if you carry it like that.”
Paymon nodded in understanding but still wore a puzzled expression.
*Phew.* This is bad.
How am I going to get back to my room without getting caught?
As I stood frozen, looking around, I suddenly felt a massive presence next to me.
A huge, scary-looking man was staring at me intently.
“It seems the young lady is fond of her bag.”
“I don’t think that’s it.”
“Why not?”
“It looks more like she’s trying to hide something.”