Volume 10 Chapter 72 Genealogy of the Bitten
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”The enemy isn’t fighting us head-on. They’re using underhanded tactics that are difficult to counter. The situation has become too complex for a Hero to handle alone,” the woman said.
”It’s hard to believe that even that Hero is falling into such a predicament,” a man replied.
The Chieftains of the Beast Continent met face-to-face at the Beastfolk Grand Council.
The meeting proceeded with the addition of the newly seated Fox Princess.
”The Demon Lord’s Army isn’t stupid. They must have been extremely wary of the Hero, who is likely the Humans’ greatest military force. The fact that they launched a war despite that means they had a plan to suppress her,” a Chieftain said.
”So they intend to subjugate the Humans without even defeating the Hero. If that happens, I wonder if the Hero will come to the Beast Country?” another asked.
”Fool. If we abandon the Humans, there’s no way the Hero would ever help us,” the first replied.
”True. To begin with, the current state of the Beast Country exists only because of the judgment passed by Lord Klock. The Hero merely followed his decision. Now that same man has returned to the Human Continent after learning of their plight. If we turn our backs now, we will certainly lose his favor,” a third added.
”Elna!!”
The wolf girl slammed her hands on the table and stood up.
Her gaze was fixed on the very front seat.
There sat the small Queen with white hair and cat ears. She gave a small, firm nod.
Every Chieftain turned their attention toward her at once.
”The Hero defeated the Abyss monster for us in the previous battle. If she hadn’t come, the Beast Continent would surely be underwater by now! If she’s in danger, then this is the time to repay that debt,” Elna said.
”She’s right. Because the Hero reached out to help the Beast Country, the Demon Lord’s Army saw an opening to strike. If we don’t rush to her aid now, it will be a mark of shame on our history forever,” a Chieftain agreed.
Strictly speaking, that wasn’t quite true.
The Hero had fought entirely for his own reasons.
But that didn’t matter now.
This was the grand justification the members of the Beastfolk Grand Council needed to make their move.
”This is the second time an Abyss monster has attacked our continent. I hear that a hundred years ago, the Humans also reached out to help us. If we don’t act now, the world will look at us as nothing more than mindless animals,” the monkey Ende said.
The woman from the Harpies quietly lowered her eyes in agreement with the White Cat Girl’s words.
”We’re taking a vote! The Beast Country will lend its hand to the Humans and the Hero. All in favor!”
The cat girl raised her high-pitched voice.
Every person in the legislative seats raised their right hand in unison.
The meaning was clear.
”The motion is passed unanimously! The Beast Country will immediately dispatch a relief army to the Human Continent!”
The voice of the Cat Girl echoed through the hall.
The Beast Country was the largest nation in the world.
The kingdom of beasts, which had remained secluded for so long, finally decided to wage war against the Demon Lord’s Army.
”The recruitment we started recently is moving along without a hitch. I hear people are gathering on an unprecedented scale,” a Chieftain said.
”Most Beastkin never forget a grudge or a debt. When they hear we’re rescuing the Hero, their fighting spirit will boil over,” another added.
”However, getting the ships ready will still take time. Besides, we have to guard the south to make sure the Demon Lord’s Army doesn’t counterattack us there.”
”I know there’s a lot to prepare, but we have to hurry. Humans are suffering this very moment. RosRos, you head to the Human Continent ahead of the main force! Appearances matter. Take every warrior you can find so the Hero and Kuro aren’t disappointed in us!” Elna said.
”Leave it to me!” Rosetta replied.
A girl younger than anyone else in the room was taking charge and issuing orders.
It was a glimpse of the effort she put in to become the Queen that these tribal chiefs would actually respect.
”Cattleya. The Beast Country is struggling with its food supply. It would be better if your people handled the procurement and transport of supplies,” an old bear said.
”Very well. I’ll take care of it,” Cattleya replied.
The old bear and the Harpy woman settled the logistics in quiet voices.
They were the senior officials supporting a Queen who was far too young for her station.
Perhaps as a lesson from the time when court sorcerers held all the power, several people now shared the responsibility of guiding her.
”Well then, I’ll go get ready to leave, too—”
”Wait just a minute,” Rosetta said.
”That’s the one thing we won’t allow, Princess Elna!” Ende shouted.
”Don’t you dare try to sneak out in the middle of all this!” Cattleya added.
Rosetta the wolf, Ende the monkey, and Cattleya the bird all moved at once.
They blocked the White Cat Princess, who was blithely planning her own departure.
In this single moment, the council chieftains were perfectly united in their opposition to her.
”Why not?! Kuro might be in trouble! There’s no reason Elna can’t go out too!”
”There’s every reason! Look at your swollen belly!” Ende yelled.
The monkey chieftain, Ende, pointed a finger directly at her stomach.
The girl, who had always been thin and petite, now had a stomach that was beginning to show quite clearly.
The White Cat Princess puffed out her cheeks in a pout.
Even though she was about to become a mother, she still acted like a child.
But perhaps recognizing her own physical state, she sat back down quietly instead of jumping around.
”To have grown this much already… she must have conceived out of season. A successor is a blessing, but the Queen should stay put and let others handle the fighting. …Though I am curious who the father is,” the old bear mused.
”Don’t worry about it. This is strictly a matter for us cat-Beastkin. I’ll tell you when the time comes,” Elna said.
She blithely looked away from the old bear’s gaze.
The Council members were left wondering when their young, pure Princess had managed to find a mate.
Based on her progress, the timeline led back to her studies in the Dusselhelm Empire.
Specifically, to a day when she had a run-in with a certain bandit at an art museum.
The people in the room could only tilt their heads in confusion, knowing none of this.
”I’m more than enough for the vanguard. They call you a Princess, but you’re the Emperor of the Hundred Beasts. Sit on your throne like you belong there and wait for the good news,” Rosetta said.
”Hmph,” Elna pouted.
The Wolf Princess admonished her and then turned her gaze toward the Fox Princess.
They exchanged a silent, knowing look.
”I’m heading out. I, Princess Beledia, promise to show a fight that won’t shame the warriors of the Beast Country,” the Wolf Princess declared.
She bared her thick, sharp fangs as she spoke.
(I’m coming for you. Just wait, Klock…!!)
* * *
(Are you safe, my friend?)
(Yeah, I’m managing.)
The voice of the old spider flowed into Klock’s head as he caught his breath.
Telepathy could be a nuisance in a tight spot, but Lizamis’s timing was always perfect.
(Forgive me. I wanted to help, but I had no cards left to play.)
(Don’t sweat it. This is my fight. You’ve got your own body issues to deal with, right?)
(True. If I were human, I’d be in the thick of it, but this spider form is just too small.)
The Vampire Princess and the Wolf Princess faced off before them.
A wind of magic power, heavy with the scent of battle, whipped between the two women.
”Hmm, a dog-type Beastkin this time? You’re actually pretty cute. But VioVio is a cat person. So, I won’t be going easy on an untrained little puppy,” Viola said.
In that instant, Viola vanished.
”She’s gone?!”
No. To Klock’s eyes, it only looked like she had disappeared.
She kicked off the stone rampart so hard it cracked, soaring through the air as if she were swimming in the wind.
She spun mid-air and dove.
She dropped straight toward Rosetta, then pulled up at the last second.
Despite being in the air, she moved with impossible agility, darting across the sky in every direction.
”Look, look! Can you even see VioVio?!”
It was hard to track her with the naked eye in the twilight.
Viola was so fast she was a blur.
It was a harsh reminder that sheer speed could be its own kind of absolute power.
Especially when she wasn’t running on the ground, but through the sky.
”This is insane… There’s a limit to how fast a person should be,” Klock muttered.
No bird in the world could fly with that kind of erratic movement.
Rosetta’s eyes darted back and forth, trying to track the Vampire Princess.
She was being toyed with, unable to find an opening to attack while Viola kept her distance above.
”Over here, over here! Can a little puppy even lay a finger on VioVio??”
Viola taunted her from all sides.
It was then that Klock, watching from a distance, saw Viola’s true intent.
Something was closing in behind Rosetta.
A blood-clone of Viola lunged at Rosetta’s back.
”Consider this a thank you for kicking me in the face,” Viola said.
She stopped dead in the air.
She stood far above Rosetta’s reach and flipped her the middle finger.
Her mouth twisted into a triumphant, mocking grin.
────────!!
A wolf’s roar tore through the air.
Rosetta sucked in a massive breath and let out a deafening howl.
In that heartbeat, the blood-clone shattered.
”Wait, what?”
The clone that looked exactly like Viola exploded into a spray of blood.
It splashed across the stone floor, painting it red as it vanished.
Then, Viola herself dropped out of the sky like a stone.
”…Eh? What just—whoa?!”
Viola hit the ground hard, unable to regain her footing.
Before she could even process what had happened, her face twisted in pain.
Rosetta kicked her with enough force to cave in her skull.
”Awawawawa…!!”
”Huh?”
The old spider was making a pathetic little noise.
Klock looked down to see the big, hairy spider flailing at his feet. It was repulsive.
”What are you doing at a time like this?” Klock asked.
”I’m not playing around! My Deep-Dive Parasite was just canceled! The flow of magic power was cut off instantly!” Lizamis cried.
A defensive tower at the corner of the Sanrid wall collapsed with a thunderous crash.
Viola had apparently been kicked straight into it.
She crawled out from under the rubble.
”Why are VioVio’s feet on the ground…?”
She was clearly disoriented, not understanding why she couldn’t fly.
She still hadn’t realized exactly who she was up against.
Confused, Viola brushed the dust off her skirt with a fake air of composure.
But when she looked up, the Wolf Princess was already on top of her.
”Wait—!”
She tried to leap away, but she was a fraction of a second too slow.
The wolf girl’s claws grazed her, shredding part of her wing.
”That hurts!”
Viola scrambled backward to create space.
But Rosetta stayed on her, catching up instantly.
She lunged at Viola while she was still low to the ground.
She grabbed the Vampire Princess and drove a kick directly into the center of her stomach.
”Guh…!”
The Vampire Princess was sent flying, tumbling across the top of the wall.
As she lay crumpled on the stone floor after taking a massive hit, another figure rushed to her side.
”Viola!”
Rugandia stepped in, sensing she was in real danger.
He tried to pull Viola into the shadows to make an escape.
But Rosetta wasn’t about to let that happen.
She closed the gap in a heartbeat and kicked Rugandia with everything she had.
”Ugh… damn it…!!”
Rugandia succeeded in guarding against Rosetta’s kick and suppressing the damage.
Having managed to weather the dash kick, she reached her hand out toward Viola.
(She’s going to bolt into the shadows!!)
Even as Klock raised his voice, Rosetta was too far away to reach.
Rugandia grabbed Viola, and the two began to sink into the dark.
”————!!!”
Once again, Rosetta’s howl tore through the air.
The level of her roar was worlds apart from a Cat Girl showing her fangs to intimidate.
In the same breath she roared, Rugandia and Viola were spat out from the shadows.
”She did it again! She severed the flow of their mana!! There’s no doubt. That’s the Wild Fang¹!!” said Lizamis.
Lizamis had climbed up onto Klock’s shoulder to watch the carnage.
Her own Unique Skill² had been deactivated just moments ago, and now she watched as Rugandia’s Shadow Walking³ dissolved into nothing.
The old spider had finally pieced together the truth.
”Could that girl be…!?”
”That’s Rosetta Beledia. She’s a descendant of the One Who Bites and Inherits⁴,” Klock said.
”I knew it!! A scion of Bairan!!”
The Vampire girls, forcibly ejected from the dark, scrambled back in a pathetic crawl to put distance between them.
”Ugh, shut up with that yapping already! This is why I can’t stand mutts. Cats are the only ones who truly win!” Viola said.
”Viola! This isn’t the time for jokes. This girl… she’s clearly stronger than us…!!” Rugandia replied.
It wasn’t just that she was strong; she was their absolute worst nightmare in terms of compatibility.
A Vampire’s flight was powered by the manipulation of magic.
With the flow of magic severed by Wild Fang, they lost all buoyancy and plummeted.
They had been stripped of their high-speed flight, the very thing that made them the “strongest.”
Viola’s once-beautiful crimson dress was now a mud-stained rag, leaving her looking utterly wretched.
A trickle of blood escaped her mouth. Since she was a Vampire, it looked like the messy remains of a feeding.
Beside her, Rugandia looked like her black robes were nothing but a hindrance.
Klock had thought she was being a serious Vampire maid, but seeing her trip over her own hem, it was clear she wasn’t used to the outfit.
”You two sure talk a lot for being in the middle of a fight,” Rosetta said.
”Huh?”
”That kind of chatter is for the winning side. It’s clear you’ve lived a very pampered life,” Rosetta said.
This time, Rosetta’s figure simply vanished.
Due to her sheer speed, Viola and the others couldn’t even process the movement.
The Beast Continent is a hellscape where monsters rule.
If you look up, there’s a damn giant mantis; if you look around, you’ll run into a griffin like it’s a stray dog-it is a continent of pure carnage.
In that land, the only thing that matters is the law of the wild.
Rosetta was forged in a world where a one-second hesitation separated life from death.
On a battlefield, “human” reactions and idle banter were nothing but fatal openings to her.
The Wolf Princess kicked off the stone floor, a projectile of pure instinct.
In a heartbeat, she took the space behind Viola and pivoted to strike.
”Kuh-“
Viola responded with her raw reflexes, lashing out with her claws.
Rosetta slipped the strike with fluid grace and delivered a counter-kick.
She seized Viola’s arm and collar so she wouldn’t fly away, then hammered her with a rapid-fire succession of kicks.
The Wolf Princess’s shins dug into the Vampire’s ribs like a butcher’s cleaver.
”Gwah…!”
Viola finally went down.
She hit the ground and stayed there, her body locked in a paralyzed state of agony.
Viola wheezed, unable to catch her breath.
But Rosetta didn’t stop.
She brought her boot down on the girl’s head, grinding her face into the stone floor.
”Viola!?” Rugandia shouted.
Rugandia rushed forward, but even though she was right there, she had let her partner be mauled. Her reactions were simply too slow.
Rosetta greeted the maid with a brutal axe-kick.
The Wolf Princess’s heel slammed into the Vampire maid’s shoulder.
Rugandia bounced off the stone floor, only to be caught by a merciless follow-up kick.
Rugandia was sent hurtling over the edge of the castle wall.
”S-She’s… she’s a freaking monster!?” Klock shouted.
The battle was over.
Rosetta had dismantled Viola and Rugandia with terrifying ease.
She had suppressed Viola alone-the same monster Klock’s entire party couldn’t even scratch.
From start to finish, the whole engagement had lasted barely a minute.
(Are you for real, Rosetta? You were this strong the whole time…!?)
Thinking back, Klock realized he’d never actually seen Rosetta go all-out in the Beast Country.
He knew she was powerful since she’d handled Kuzuha easily enough, but he’d never seen the ceiling.
He remembered her being willing to take on every cat in the Hundred Holes.
Now, it all made sense. She was likely stronger than the Chieftain himself.
She might very well be the strongest being on the entire Beast Continent.
”Viola’s been taken down!”
”Dammit!”
The surrounding Vampires, having finally realized the tide had turned, began to close in.
”————!!!”
Rosetta met them with a roar that shattered their composure.
The Vampire soldiers dropped from the sky like stones, landing awkwardly on their backsides.
Confusion washed over the soldiers as they hit the floor.
Having the flow of their magic severed was an experience they had no frame of reference for.
But Rosetta didn’t give them time to think-her strikes found them long before their brains did.
”Guh!”
”Agh!?”
Heads were crushed into the stone; stomachs were caved in by follow-up kicks.
One by one, they were swept off the ramparts and over the wall.
”Hmm??”
But this was still a battlefield, and the enemy had numbers.
New reinforcements appeared behind Rosetta, diving from the heights with murderous intent.
”You bastard!!”
”How dare you do that to Rugandia…!!”
”Let Violan go!”
It was Rodney, Mermy, and Linaria.
The rest of the Vampire Maid Corps had finally arrived.
”Mmf!?”
”Gah!?”
”Nn!?”
Rosetta started to turn, but she didn’t need to move.
The attacks of the three maids froze in mid-air before they could even graze her.
Black fabric suddenly surged upward, wrapping around their faces.
Shadowy bindings wound around their torsos, limbs, and legs, pinning them in place.
”Law of the Sword Seal⁵-“
Leaves swirled in the void.
A wall of wind rose like a fortress.
The surrounding Vampires were caught in the gale, sliced and diced by the invisible pressure of the storm.
”You stupid wolf!! Honestly, what do you think you’re doing, acting all high and mighty on your own…!!”
Hearing that familiar, sharp voice sent a surge of adrenaline through Klock’s veins.
”Ah, Kuzuha. You’re quite late,” Rosetta said.
”Shut up, you idiot! Don’t go sprinting through the night just because you want to ‘race’! Think about the soldiers who have to keep up with you!!” Kuzuha said.
”Is that your excuse for coming in second? You’re always full of these gloomy excuses. That’s why you lose everything,” Rosetta said.
”Why don’t you try following your instincts and running like your life depends on it for once? But fine-feel free to remain a supporting act for the Wolfkin forever,” Rosetta added.
”Wh… What did you just saaaaay!?” Kuzuha shouted.
Black fur bristled on her arms.
With her long black hair, flowing tail, and slender frame, she was a striking sight.
She wore a half-undershirt-a garment almost never seen on the Human Continent.
”Kuzuha!!” Klock shouted.
”…Hmph. It’s been since the Crimson Spire⁶. You look well enough, I suppose,” Kuzuha said.
(You… you remember what happened at the Spire…!!)
It had been since the Crimson Spire.
Leaving the remnants of the child he had seen in his dreams, she once again stood before Klock.
The Princess of the Karakas Foxes-and her prickly attitude was fully intact.
Despite the way they had parted back then, she acted as though she hadn’t a care in the world.
”I can’t believe you came all this way,” Klock said.
”Typical. You’re always in over your head. You really are more trouble than you’re worth, aren’t you?” Kuzuha said.
”The world’s just got a grudge against me, I guess,” Klock replied.
From the Purifier battle to the Crimson Spire and now Sanrid.
It seemed Kuzuha was always there to bail him out at the eleventh hour.
Klock couldn’t help but wonder if this Black Fox was actually his guardian deity.
Outside the walls, the air was thick with the roars of a massive conflict.
The Beastkin clans were hunting monsters with practiced efficiency.
They put their shields up to bait the bite, then took the neck with a hand-axe-a rhythmic, brutal repetition.
Even though the battle had only just begun, the fields before Sanrid were already carpeted in monster corpses.
”The Beast Country has declared its full-scale support. You should be grateful,” Kuzuha said.
”Full-scale??” Klock asked.
”Reinforcements need to make an impact-that’s the ‘impact’ our idiot Queen was rambling about. She’s dragged people from every corner of the Beast Country,” Kuzuha said.
An impossible number of Beastkin were tearing through the enemy lines.
The darkness made it hard to count, but the sheer density of the crowd suggested they weren’t just in the thousands.
It looked like there were tens of thousands out there.
”Klock. Don’t just watch the ground. Look at the sky,” Rosetta said.
”Eh?”
The sound of heavy, rhythmic flapping filled the air.
These weren’t the papery wings of Vampires.
What was flapping in the sky were birds-the aerial elites of the Beastkin.
”Harpies!!” Klock shouted.
The Vampires were being systematically hunted in their own domain.
A legion of Harpies dived from the clouds.
On the Beast Continent, they were a scandalous sight with their chests exposed, but here they were armored and lethal.
They dived with clawed greaves, ripping through the Vampire ranks.
They shredded their prey or snatched them up, carrying the dying Vampires high into the stratosphere.
Then, they dropped them like stones, slamming them into the earth outside the city.
”Ah, Sir Klock!”
”Hm?? Ah, are you Charlotte!?” Klock asked.
In the dark, a Harpy veered close and called out to him.
It had been since Boorinel-it felt like a lifetime ago, yet it had only been a few weeks.
”A message from Lady Cattleya! ‘The wildcat will be along shortly. Give her my best when you see her!’” Charlotte said.
”Wildcat…?” Klock asked.
Charlotte took flight, disappearing back into the fray.
It was a bit of a shame that her… assets were hidden behind a breastplate this time.
”We didn’t have enough ships. I landed at Dayrid via Belandi as part of the vanguard,” Rosetta said.
”The main force is scheduled to land at Rushelora from Fwavlotz,” Rosetta added.
”Wait a minute. Is this the vanguard?? How many are there!?” Klock asked.
”Thirty thousand,” Rosetta said.
Thirty thousand… thirty thousand?
Klock’s jaw hit the floor.
”The main force will be seventy-seven thousand,” Rosetta said.
”Well, we’re short on boats, so the landing will take forever. I expect that wildcat will lose her patience and charge over here before the rest of the troops finish the crossing,” Rosetta added.
”Wha-Haaaaaaaah!?!?” Klock shouted.
The numbers were astronomical.
The Demon Lord’s Army had once conquered their continent, but the Beast Continent was said to be twice that size.
Even if much of it was wilderness, it was still the largest nation on earth.
This was a military juggernaut that could make the Demon Lord himself turn pale.
”————”
The most dangerous moment is the one right after you think you’ve won.
This was still a battlefield, and the enemy had numbers.
In the periphery of his vision, a shadow flickered.
It was moving toward Rosetta’s exposed back.
”Give… Viola… back!!” Rugandia screamed.
It was Rugandia.
She had climbed back up the wall and was lunging at Rosetta with everything she had left.
”Hmph. You should have stayed down,” Rosetta said.
But her opponent was Rosetta.
The moment Rugandia’s fingers touched the top of the wall, the Wolf Princess had already sensed her.
She turned, more than ready to intercept the desperate maid.
It was a suicide charge, and Rosetta’s claws aimed straight for Rugandia’s throat.
”Wait–!!” Klock shouted.
Before Rosetta could strike, Klock’s blade hissed through the air, catching Rugandia’s leg and making her stumble.
It wasn’t a deep wound, but it was enough to stop the wounded girl in her tracks.
”Sorry, Rugandia. That girl there is a Princess,” Klock said.
”And Princesses are strictly look-but-don’t-touch, you get me? I don’t care if you’re a maid–I can’t let you lay a finger on her,” Klock added.
”…Idiot…” Rugandia whispered.
When he said something so ridiculous, the wolf girl let out a mischievous grin.
”Hoh. You’ve got spirit, wanting to protect me. As expected of my mate.”
Even if she didn’t actually need it, Wolf Princess Rosetta looked genuinely pleased by Klock’s actions.
She was so powerful that, under normal circumstances, no one ever dreamed of looking out for her.
Rosetta began to approach the slumped figure of Rugandia.
However, Klock intercepted her, stepping firmly between the two.
”Sorry, Rosetta. I’ve got some personal history with these girls. Mind letting them slip away for me?”
Klock immediately pivoted into the unenviable task of persuading his own ally.
Even as the words left his mouth, he knew how insane he sounded.
Across the way, Rosetta’s brow furrowed in confusion, and further off, Fox Princess Kuzuha narrowed her eyes.
To hear that from such a distance… their Beastkin senses were no joke.
”Let them go?? Why??”
”Look, the truth is, I’ve been working on flipping them for a while now. They’re heavy hitters, but the Moon Court⁷ treats them like disposable errand girls. The ones we actually need to crush are the bastards pulling their strings from the shadows.”
This was going to be the hard sell.
The world viewed Viola and her Vampires as walking natural disasters.
Asking for them to be pardoned was essentially inviting a riot.
”Fine,” Rosetta sighed. “Do whatever you want.”
”No, wait, hear me out. These guys will eventually join our—wait, what did you say?”
”I said, do what you like. I’ll allow it.”
To Klock’s shock, Rosetta gave her blessing with a strangely cheerful expression.
(Oh. That’s it?)
She was being incredibly casual about it.
He glanced around; Kuzuha was pointedly looking the other way, and Primlena was just sitting in the distance, keeping a watchful eye.
Meina had perched herself on the battlements, looking like she was just there for the show.
Flavia stood still, maintaining a respectful – if slightly awkward – distance.
Not a single person was going to object.
”Well, you heard her,” Klock said, turning back to Rugandia.
The woman just looked away awkwardly, her silence speaking volumes.
”WE’VE WON——!!”
A victory cry erupted.
Rosetta’s voice boomed toward the outskirts of the castle, and the axe-yielding warriors responded with a thunderous roar.
The sound shook the very earth of the battlefield.
Knowing every single one of those voices belonged to an ally made the raw, chaotic noise feel surprisingly good.
Before he knew it, the nightmare was over.
What had been a hellish siege – a mere thousand men defending from both inside and out – had turned into an absolute rout once the reinforcements arrived.
The sky was clear of Vampires, and the low growls of monsters had faded into the wind.
The entire area was now a sea of Beastkin.
Despite the heavy losses, the curtain closed on an overwhelming victory.
”Are you… are you really letting us leave…?”
Having been granted the rights to Viola’s fate, Klock wasted no time in clearing a path for them.
Linaria looked at him, her eyes wide with lingering anxiety.
”Actually, I’ve already got an in with the Moon Court. I’m planning to negotiate with your ‘big boss.’ If I play my cards right, the next time we meet, we’ll be on the same side. That’s the goal, anyway.”
”Oh… I see…”
Rodney and Mermy were slumped on the ground, exhausted.
They were cradling Rugandia and Viola between them.
Viola’s eyes were barely open, flickering with a dull light.
She’d clearly taken a massive amount of damage.
”By the way, level with me. The guy running the show at the Moon Court… is it Hanover?”
”…Probably. Among the Nobility, he’s definitely the one sitting at the top of the food chain.”
Klock figured the Moon Court was some kind of council or a similar collegiate body.
Based on their behavior, he guessed there was one person acting as the ‘first among equals.’
His money was on Cardinal Hanover.
(Even in a human world, the guy’s a Cardinal. His status is on another level. If I’m going to settle things with the Moon Court, I’m going to have to square off with him.)
In Klock’s memory, Hanover was intellectual and incredibly slippery – a dangerous combination.
He wasn’t sure if he could actually talk the man down.
But strangely, he felt a surge of confidence.
He wasn’t the same man he used to be.
His hand was stronger now.
There was room to move.
”Um, okay… we’re going to head out now, alright?”
”Yeah, yeah, get lost. Beat it before I change my mind. Unless you want me to tie the lot of you up for an ‘asshole comparison contest,’ you’d better start running.”
”Gross! You are the absolute worst! …Pfft.”
The idea of lining up the Maid Corps’ butts…
Klock shifted his gaze and caught the Black Fox watching from the distance.
Despite saying she’d leave it to him, she was keeping a hawk-like watch.
No openings with that one.
”We’re going. Violan is going to be pissed, but I’ll tell her not to blow a fuse.”
”Yeah. Tell her she owes me one for the pass. And once the ceasefire is signed, tell her to behave.”
”Got it. And… I know it doesn’t change anything, but… I’m sorry for all of this. I hope your negotiation works out.”
A shadow moved.
Rugandia didn’t have the strength to speak, but she was staring at Klock, her eyes pleading.⁸
Was it gratitude for the mercy? Or a promise of revenge for the beating?
She didn’t say a word as she, Viola, and the four members of the Maid Corps vanished into the darkness.
(They’re gone. Was that really the right move? Letting them go?)
He might never get another chance to catch them.
Holding them hostage would have given him a massive edge in negotiations.
He knew that, and he let them walk anyway.
He’d taken a massive strategic hit for one reason: to make sure that when Viola finally surrendered, her first impression of him wasn’t purely one of hatred.
”Whatever. It’ll work out. God, I’m wiped. I just want to crash.”
The war ended before the sun came up.
Klock left the cleanup to Kuzuha and the others.
Before he even knew he was tired, his consciousness slipped away.
He slept like the dead until well past noon.
”YOU DISRESPECTFUL BRAT!!”
Later that night, at the Beast Country military camp outside Sanrid, Klock was currently being kicked across the grass by a wolf girl.
”Wait – what?! What did I do?!”
He’d woken up in a strange bed, stepped outside, and was immediately flattened.
He tried to scramble up, but a follow-up tackle sent him right back onto his rear.
Rosetta sat on top of him with a thump, pressing her cheek against his chest while she fumed.
”You! I, your mate, came all this way to save you! I put my life on the line to clear the field! And what do you do? You go and sleep all by yourself?! You should have been crying with joy! You should have been hugging me and dragging me into bed with you, you idiot!”
”u-ssu”
It was classic Rosetta – acting spoiled under the guise of an angry outburst.
The Wolf Princess curled her tail around herself while sitting on his lap.
When Klock finally picked her up in a princess carry, the “bratty wolf” just smirked and wrapped her arms around his neck, clinging to him.
The surrounding soldiers stared, eyes wide.
It seemed the personal dynamic between Rosetta and Klock wasn’t exactly public knowledge.
Both the Humans and the Beastkin were looking at Klock like he was some kind of alien.
(Man, I missed this. This smell… the whole vibe. Feels like I’m finally back home in Boorinel.)
Wolf Princess Rosetta lived entirely by her whims.
She wasn’t just a tyrant as a head of state; she was a tyrant in the house, too.
He suddenly missed those chaotic days with the cat, the wolf, and the fox.
”Even between mates, there’s such a thing as manners,” she huffed.
”If I work hard, it’s only polite for you to take the lead in petting me and doting on me. That’s what being a mate is, isn’t it?”
”You’re totally right…”
”Good. As long as you understand. I’m feeling generous, so I’ll forgive you. Hold me tight. But watch it – I might bite you next time.”
Rosetta continued to rant even as she snuggled in.
Klock just nodded and agreed with everything she said.
They eventually made it to the captain’s tent assigned to Klock.
”Finally, some peace and quiet,” Klock sighed as he sat down.
Rosetta immediately began rubbing her head against him, nuzzle after nuzzle.
She was marking him with her scent.
Her hair tickled his nose, making it itch.
This was “management” – like a person tidying their room or putting laundry away.
She was hanging a mental sign on him that read: Klock Livorno is the property of Rosetta Beledia.
Once she was satisfied, she leaned back against him.
She looked up and gave his mouth a quick, playful lick.
”On a serious note… I want to reward you. You did good, Klock. It’s only been a little while since you left Boorinel, but you’ve already survived so many close calls. As your mate, I’m proud of you.”
”Thanks. Though I’m sure you would’ve handled it better.”
”Don’t be humble. Was it the ‘Portline Ambush’? Back in Dayrid, I heard people calling you a hero everywhere I went. I was trying to act like a dignified Wolf King in front of the people, but thanks to you, I couldn’t stop smirking like an idiot. I looked ridiculous.”
She gave him a playful little nip.
She was being even more affectionate than usual.
Maybe it was because it had been a while, or maybe because Elna and the others weren’t around to share the attention.
This was the most spoiled Rosetta had ever been.
(A hero, huh? Honestly, I think they’re laying it on a bit thick.)
Klock knew his name was spreading, but he also knew the Count was behind it.
Klock’s glory was the Golden Count’s glory.
By turning Klock into a living legend, the Count’s own political stock rose.
It was all a play for control over Conro and Orrid.
The Count was using Klock as a propaganda tool.
Klock didn’t really mind – as long as he could ignore the embarrassment of it all, it was a fair trade for the backing he received.
”Oh, that’s right, Klock. There’s something I need to tell you.”
”Yeah? What’s up?”
”The morning sickness started recently. The mating was a success.”
The world tilted.
Dizziness washed over Klock, and his consciousness flickered.
The man instinctively looked up at the heavens.
”My belly will start getting big soon. I don’t know if it’s a boy or a girl yet, but I’ve already picked out names.”
”…I… I see… That’s… great. I’m looking forward to it…!”
”Mhm! It’s wonderful! My brothers and sisters have been sniffing my stomach non-stop lately. They’ve got sharp noses. I want to see the baby’s face already, but I have to be patient. I know you’re dying to see them too, but just hang in there.”
”…Y-yeah…”
Klock froze as she licked him again.
For a second, he forgot how to breathe.
He felt like he was going to pass out from sheer panic.
He forced himself to take a deep breath.
Rosetta was pregnant.
He’d known it was possible – that’s what happens when you “do it” during mating season – and as the father, he should have been the happiest man alive.
But in his mind, he saw a pair of blue crystal eyes.
A face colder than ice.
A gaze hotter than lava.
He could already feel the future Klock Livorno being incinerated by Elna’s wrath.
”Sir Klock!!”
The sound of frantic footsteps approached.
The tent flap burst open, and Meina the golden cat appeared, her ears twitching.
”Meina? You feeling better?”
”Ah, Rosetta-sama! Mī is doing great! But listen, we’ve got a problem!”
”A problem? What happened?”
Rosetta didn’t move an inch, still clinging to Klock.
Since she hadn’t been petted to her satisfaction yet, she wasn’t about to let a “problem” ruin her moment.
”The Bat came! It brought a message!”
”…A Bat?”
”Kuzuha-sama said it was a Familiar Contract⁹. Mī and the others were moving the bodies off the wall when this Bat just appeared out of nowhere. It flew in front of Kuzuha-sama and turned into words made of blood!”
In front of Kuzuha… letters of blood??
So a message had reached them during the cleanup.
An artificial familiar used to deliver a bloody distress call.
It probably tracked the strongest source of magic – which meant it found Kuzuha by accident.
Who sent it? It had to be one of the Maid Corps.
”What did it say?”
”…It just said, ‘Help me.’”
Klock stood up so fast his chair clattered to the floor.
Rugandia’s face flashed in his mind.
She was the only one shielded from total control thanks to the Crown’s Companion Star¹⁰.
If something had gone wrong, she was the only one who could have sent a cry for help.
”What is the meaning of this?” Rosetta growled.
”If it’s a Bat, it’s the Vampires’ work. Why would the people who just attacked us be begging for help?!”
”Sorry, Rosetta. No time to explain. We have to move.”
It wasn’t hard to guess what had happened.
And there definitely wasn’t time to sit around and debate it.
Given their situation, every second wasted was a second closer to a disaster.
(Dammit. I shouldn’t have let them go. My judgment was soft. No – I just got sloppy because I was relieved the battle was over.)
(Kispe.)
(Yes, Master♡ Oh? Who’s this cute little puppy on your lap—)
(Save it for later. Get Rosalie from Conro and bring her to Sanrid via the Crimson Spire¹¹ immediately.)
(…Has something happened?)
(Viola is in deep shit. We’re storming the Moon Court. Now.)
To get into the Moon Court, you had to be invited.
But with Rosalie, he had a way to force his way inside.
The final showdown at Orrid would have to wait.
Settling things with the Vampires at the Moon Court just became the only thing that mattered.
—
Summary:
Beast Country mobilizes for war to repay a debt to the Hero. Rosetta leads the vanguard to the Human Continent while Elna’s hidden pregnancy becomes public knowledge. Viola’s aerial assault on Klock is abruptly halted by Rosetta’s overwhelming physical power and a mysterious cancellation of magic power.
Rosetta decimates the Vampire vanguard while the Beastkin army arrives in overwhelming force. Kuzuha intervenes to bind the remaining Vampire maids using the Law of the Sword Seal. Klock grapples with the realization that the Beast Country’s military might dwarfs previous expectations. Rugandia makes a desperate final assault on Rosetta only to be thwarted by Klock’s intervention
Klock releases the defeated Vampire Maid Corps to build future rapport, only to be ambushed by Rosetta’s overwhelming affection and a shocking pregnancy announcement. The celebratory atmosphere is shattered when a bloody distress message arrives from a magical familiar. Klock immediately prepares an emergency infiltration mission into the heart of the Moon Court
—
Trivia:
- The Beast Country is currently facing food supply issues.
- Elna was previously a student in the Dusselhelm Empire.
- The monkey chieftain Ende was the one who noticed Elna’s pregnancy first.
- Viola refers to herself as ‘VioVio’.
- The specific mechanics of how Wild Fang severs mana manipulation to induce gravity-based falling
- The visual gag of Rugandia tripping over her own maid hem due to lack of experience with the attire
- The logistical detail that the Beast Country army is divided between two separate landing points due to boat shortages
- The exact distance between Rosetta and the Fox Princess Kuzuha
- The visual of Meina sitting on the castle’s battlements during the negotiation
- The specific mention of the ‘Crimson Spire’ as a transportation or communication method
- Klock’s deduction that Cardinal Hanover is the likely leader of the collegiate bod
—
Character Insight:
Rosetta shows a ruthless battle-hardened philosophy, viewing the Vampires’ battlefield banter as a sign of a ‘pampered’ upbringing. Klock demonstrates a protective instinct for ‘Princesses’ even when they are enemies, prioritizing capture over execution.
Rosetta shifts from a fierce military leader to a vulnerable, high-maintenance mate, while Klock transitions from post-war exhaustion to high-stakes urgency upon realizing his mercy may have endangered the Vampires.
—
Glossary:
Notes:
• Klock – Battle-worn Conro master and Chosen One, purple-eyed with a healed gut piercing and massive weapon-like penis, caked in mud after summoning a magical flood, commands the 2,600-strong Brigante Troop west of Conro; pragmatic heir of the Opener, wields Dominance-based Stellar Skill ‘Authority’ (World Conquest), aggressive and vengeful, street-hero fame, and a succubus harem; phases through stone, wields a Cianie Knife with razor-sharp precision, recently betrayed and cornered by vampires in a church, knows Flavia and Suzette, and upholds a personal code—intervening to stop Rosetta from killing Rugandia, honoring the sanctity of princesses despite his brutal nature.
• Elna – Female. A young apprentice mage. Her appearance is that of a child with white hair reaching her shoulders. She wears a black hooded mantle with strange patterns. Her relationship is as an apprentice to Hermine, the Great Mage. Her power involves advanced magic, including spatial teleportation. Her combat style is magical, and she is described as childish and easily provoked.
• Ende – A male monkey elder of the Beastfolk Grand Council first appearing during Queen Elna’s reprimand session. He denounces her reckless cross-continent travels following past wars caused by Beastfolk misrule. Acting under the council’s authority, he seeks to prevent another dictatorship like Rosemarina’s. He holds no known direct relationships. Sharp-tongued, stern, and politically vigilant.
• Rosetta – Wolf Princess, petite descendant of Bairan—the One Who Bites and Inherits—and current King of the Wolfkin. She has white hair streaked with black, a large fluffy tail peeking from short pants, and jagged teeth. Cold, combat‑focused, she can sever magic power with her roars.
• Cattleya – The lord; resides in the town of Boorinel, east of Ryzan, past the Mesa; wants to confirm Klock’s humanity.
• Beledia – The Beledia family name, carried by Rosetta. The lineage is identified as the descendants of Bairan, the One Who Bites and Inherits.
• Lizamis – Palm-sized spider guardian of Kupira, once the human Great Sage and Revealer, now exists as a flickering, husky-voiced entity with eight ribbon-tied legs clad in knightly armor, shifting between shadowy silhouettes and living tapestries woven from portraits and fabric—observing the battlefield from Klock’s shoulder, speaking telepathically only to him, bound to the world by echoes of its past self, and possessing deep knowledge of unique skills and historical lineages, emerging from mirrors, dresses, or painted scenes as if from memory.
• Viola – Pale vampire maid with fangs and crimson eyes, a Vampire Princess of the Demon Continent, wears a soaked, tattered red dress now mud‑stained and wretched after being overwhelmed by Rosetta. She leads the maids defiantly against Klock, bears a scar from the Hero’s fatal blow, and though bratty and arrogant, shows fierce loyalty.
• Sanrid – The location where Roldi reportedly went the day before the attack on Portline. This movement is a key piece of strategic information Misha provides during her interrogation.
• Rugandia – Slender maid from the Sand Village, in a crisp white uniform with a red apron, appears at the edge of the Croce Estate’s fire, summoned by Sylvia’s father to serve as Sylvia’s loyal attendant. Later revealed as a vampire coven member meeting in the estate’s old church, she balances family service with secret nocturnal duties, wearing a black robe. Now she protects Viola, using Shadow Walking through darkness, though her formal attire hinders combat.
• Kuzuha – A young woman with long black hair, a black tail, and black fur covering her arms. Known as the Princess of Karakas Foxes, she utilizes the Law of the Sword Seal and wears a half-undershirt.
• Linaria – Vampire girl from Sand Village, once victim of the Moon Court Nobility, now a longtime maid of Castle Viola and childhood friend of Viola. Member of the Vampire Maid Corps, she’s quiet, dependable, famed for long, decorated nails, and participates in a dive‑attack on Rosetta before being immobilized by the Law of the Sword Seal.
• Rodney – A member of the Vampire Maid Corps who attempts to reinforce Viola and Rugandia before being bound by Kuzuha’s seal.
• Mermy – Calm, dutiful dampir maid with sharp eyes and freckles, a childhood friend of Viola and member of the Vampire Maid Corps. She fought in the Orrid sky battle, urges retreat at sunrise to avoid burning, serves as Viola’s subordinate, and is a loyal ally. Recently she dove from the sky to attack Rosetta but was intercepted by shadowy bindings.
• Charlotte – Harpy soldier in chest‑concealing armor, younger sister of Lord Cattleya and avian secretary of Boorinel. Initially a Nyan Law Corps probe of Klock, she later swears to the Hero after Cianie’s clash, rallies Beastkin for the Bastili rescue, and serves as Lady Cattleya’s messenger.
• Boorinel – A town east of Ryzan, where Lord Cattleya’s manor is located; said to be a long journey from Ryzan.
• Dayrid – The city the Demonkin army is planning to attack next, intending to strangle Dayrid from land and sea. This confirms the Demonkin’s immediate military objective for Klock.
• Rushelora – A port where demons are allowed to stay at embassies under special circumstances. It is a location where humans and demons have trade relations.
• Fwavlotz – A town beyond a mountain north of Rizan Village, it is an alternative location for Klock to verify his humanity.
• Primlena – An orange‑haired merfolk priestess, fierce yet elegant, sister of Sea General Primjune and former Demon Lord officer now in Klock’s inner circle; calm and disciplined, she leads Obsidian Riders on giant fish, wields a trident, seeks Klock’s downfall, and as a revenge‑driven siren bride relays Merfolk and jewel‑clam news. Though her presence is soft and protective, she remains a formidable force.
• Meina – Golden‑haired cat‑girl scout with twitching ears and a feline tail serves at Larana’s inn, calling herself in the third person. She delivers the harrowing blood‑message, offers earnest, inexperienced intimacy near Klock, and fights with cat‑like grace, blending vulnerable working‑girl demeanor with animal traits.
• Flavia – Younger sister of Avery (132), second daughter of Queen Isabella of the Forestier line, she is slender with pale, refined features and pointed ears, bearing a servant’s mark and devoted to her mother. As Princess of the Forest People (森人/Moribito, Vaulder), she wields ancient Void magic to shape plant paths, guide travelers through Death Soldier Pass, and sense Fairies, protecting the Fairy realm. Bound to Klock the Chain Binder, she embodies Void loyalty to Goddess Teekua, fights beside him as a decoy against vampires, weaving floral magic to turn the tide. She wears sandal-like footwear and remains composed even in wetlands, quiet yet resolute in her sacred duty.
• Cardinal Hanover – He appears as Theocracy envoy; clarifies Barutoro’s legitimate authority and prevents Hero from being forced into Barreith’s political obligations
• Livorno – The family name of Klock, now associated with the property of Rosetta Beledia within the social hierarchy of the Beastkin.
• Orrid – Southern pleasure town near Conro, known for its chaos and vice. Serves as Brigante’s next destination and Count Grasso’s sphere of influence. Rumored den of spies and mercenaries.
• Kispe – Queen Kispe, the Succubus Princess Asura, is a winged succubus with long black hair, amethyst eyes, a petite slender build, and a black‑tied one‑piece dress. She is Klock’s lover and healer, teasing him, wielding arousal as a weapon, and manipulating him with a sharp, playful tongue. She communicates telepathically, sharing a flirtatious, mischievous bond.
• Rosalie – Daughter of Viscount Albert Fennec, once frail and bedridden under Suzette’s care, now a vampire heir of the Fennec title, innocent of betrayal. Soft, untrained body with thick thighs and a fleshy, well‑endowed frame; long fangs from a bite by Viola. Thin vampire blood drives a fierce hunger. Sheltered by House Borges, under Klock’s custody, she follows the Brigante Troop.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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