Chapter 22 : A Helping Hand

The wolf that was about to attack the squirrel was flustered by the perfectly fine human suddenly emitting heat and going berserk, so it stepped back for a moment to watch the situation, and when a wolf with crow wings appeared in that spot, it quickly fled.

How wise.

“Squeak!! Squeak!!!”

Compared to that, this fellow was clearly lacking somewhere in the head or the part that recognizes danger was broken.

The small fellow, seemingly very excited, was repeatedly climbing up and down my leg.

Despite being the cause of all this, it even climbed onto my body, looked all around at the flapping wings, and made squeaking sounds.

Right, I'm surprised too.

“Awoong.”

Instead of a voice, a pitiful wolf's howl rang out.

It's not an onion, but the more I peeled it back, the stranger this ability was.

I can turn into an animal, and on top of that, I can even mix them as I want.

The scope of the ability was so much larger than I thought that it was unsettling.

Isn't there some kind of handicap?

Like, conditions such as my lifespan decreasing if I use it too much.

There was no way to know, as those non-visible things couldn't be seen.

There was nothing in the book about lifespan decreasing from using Manis, so I had no choice but to wait and see for now.

I looked back at my strange appearance once more.

Looking again, it was indeed a wolf's body with black wings.

If the alchemists saw this sight, they would have tried to dissect me immediately.

Since there was also a scene where they spent money and effort synthesizing animals to create chimeras.

Well, even if not an alchemist, if someone discovered a winged wolf, they might have tried to kill it on sight.

It was unlikely that people would come in at this hour, but one never knew, and above all, I didn't want to stay in this form any longer, so I immediately returned to being human.

Fortunately, there seemed to be no special conditions for returning.

Thinking I should stop here for today and go back quickly, I stood up in a hurry.

“Ugh.”

But, contrary to my intentions, I had to clutch my ringing head and sit back down.

I was quite flustered because I hadn't had this kind of side effect before, even when I had been transformed into an animal for quite a long time.

Does transforming by synthesizing use up more stamina?

My thinking speed was slow, to the point I could feel my head wasn't working properly, and my body felt heavy, as if waterlogged.

This is a disaster.

As I lay down, placing the back of my hand on my dizzy head, the clear sky, half-hidden by high tree branches, came into view.

It's a beautiful forest, but this area is probably teeming with carnivores larger than wolves.

If I stayed this relaxed in the medium-sized animal zone, I could end up as food for a wild animal.

But my body didn't move as I wished.

Dammit, I couldn't die so absurdly, so vainly.

My last remaining survival instinct made it possible for me to drag my body and shove it into a rotten hollow in the nearest large tree trunk.

The squirrel fellow scurried after me and, next to me, where I was curled up, patted my cheek with its tiny paws, making 'chap chap' sounds.

Indeed, it was clear that if the fellow didn't have anyone to protect it here, it would die with me.

Chap chap.

It hits quite firmly.

It seemed intended to make me come to my senses, but with its pebble-like paws, there was no effect other than it stinging a little.

“You, if I get out of here alive, I really won't let you, off……”

As I forcibly released the strength I was holding in my whole body, a distant comfort washed over me, and my five senses slowly dulled.

***

Ran Abalan closed his eyes just like that.

The squirrel patted his unmoving cheek a few more times, and after confirming he didn't even flinch, it let out a deep sigh.

No matter how one looked at it, that was not the behavior of a simple squirrel, so it was quite bizarre.

“Hey, did you really lose consciousness?”

But when an eerie voice, as if somewhere between a boy's and a girl's, came from the squirrel's mouth, the bizarreness now turned into eeriness.

“Goodness. What a weak fellow.”

The squirrel sighed once more and turned its body to the outside of the tree hollow.

The small body, upon exiting the hollow's entrance, changed into the form of a person with long, flowing hair.

The two wolves that had been growling in front of the tree hollow slowly approached the one who had been the squirrel, as if they had been waiting.

It was the two of them, the wolf whose forepaw was bitten just before, and one that looked to be its mate.

“Grrrr.”

To the two, who looked thoroughly annoyed, this suspicious being smiled brightly.

Its clear face softened even more gently, but the two wolves did not let down their guard and puffed up their bodies further.

“Calm down, I said I'm sorry about earlier, okay? You stepped on my tail once too, right? Let's just call it even.”

“Grrr, Hmph!”

“So petty. It's been a while, and you're going to be this narrow-minded? Just over a little greeting.”

To the two wolves still glaring at it with dissatisfied expressions, the suspicious, long-haired being's eyes flashed.

The two wolves, though still annoyed by the other, straightened their shoulders as if to say they couldn't say anything more.

The one who had been pissing them off until just before extended a hand as if in thanks.

At that, the two wolves began to make whining sounds, looking toward the tree where Ran Abalan was lying.

As the two wolves whined, the suspicious being laughed 'haha' and answered.

“Yes, that fellow is the human we've been waiting for. You saw it with your own two eyes, so you should know well.”

The smiling face said, looking at the wolf whose forepaw was bitten.

The two wolves rubbed their faces together and made a grrr-ing sound.

To the two who had finished their conversation, the being who smiled brightly said.

“So, tell the others in the territory. To all come and pay their respects. From the looks of it, if we go by his pace, a year won't be enough.”

A tense light flickered on the wolves' faces.

They instinctively realized that this time, that playful face was speaking words that were by no means a joke or a prank.

The two slowly backed away and raised their heads high to the sky.

“Awooo--”

“Awoooooo--”

The howling sound of the two echoed through the forest.

It was both a guidance and a warning, sent not only to other wolf packs but to all the animals of the forest.

That the one everyone was waiting for had finally come, and so they must fulfill their duty to their hope.

“Ah, not today. He's still a weak fellow, so he's asleep right now.”

The wolves threw a look that said 'You should have said that first!', but the other just smiled brightly.

The wolves suppressed their annoyance and started howling again.

This time, with a bit more emotion, adding that any squirrel found in their territory was fair game to be attacked.

With a 'hahaha' cheerful laugh, the sound of wolf howls rode the wind and echoed throughout the forest.

***

The Piteos Ducal Family faced a slightly early morning, greeting a guest who had visited since dawn.

The guest was the eldest son of the Crisa Count Family, Igo Crisa.

People who hadn't worked at the ducal family for long whispered, not knowing what the urgent matter was, but that since Tollin's family had visited, perhaps the deadly atmosphere of the ducal family would ease up a bit today.

Pale watched the firmly closed drawing room door worriedly, without bothering to correct that nonsensical talk.

Contrary to people's expectations, inside the room, a cold question-and-answer session was taking place instead of a friendly conversation between brothers.

“What did you just say?”

“Last night, the Crisa Count was sentenced to house arrest by imperial order. They say he'll be imprisoned in the imperial prison if his guilt is confirmed during the investigation period.”

Do you think I asked because I didn't hear you?

Tollin Crisa frowned at the blunt answer, which set his already-sharpened nerves on edge.

His eldest brother, who was probably scheduled to be the next Count, just continued to look at him expressionlessly.

His taciturn older brother, who normally didn't open his mouth unless it was for the bare minimum necessary talk, had never been as annoying as he was today.

Tollin, who hadn't slept properly for two days, forced his head, which was working a bit duller than usual, to turn.

For what reason?

There was no noble who lived as diligently and silently as the Crisa Count.

He wasn't one to particularly chase pleasure, nor one who tried to climb conspicuously higher.

He was just a typical Abalan noble.

Possessing the human-like pride of having occupied a high noble position for a long time.

Though not as much as Piteos, the Crisa family also produced splendid knights who sacrificed their lives for the Imperial Family, and proved that much splendid loyalty.

He didn't commit any particular crime worth mentioning, nor did he do anything special enough to fall out of favor.

And since when did he ever report such things to me one by one…… Ah.

“Is it because of me?”

If not for that, there was no reason for him to visit a younger brother whose face he hadn't even properly seen in recent years, except for at Duke Piteos's funeral.

Since when did he ever pass on family matters to me?

“Well, they might have noticed that the people from the streets, whom you rounded up under the pretext of holding them accountable, are being put to work in the building's construction.”

“Making criminals do labor shouldn't be that rare.”

“While being provided with fair compensation and even food?”

“……”

“It seems they're also just turning a blind eye to the food that young children are secretly taking.”

Tollin glared at Igo Crisa without a word.

His words were right.

Everything Igo Crisa listed was a measure designed to let the vagrants of the street save money and leave.

The two months was a grace period left for them.

If they could save money and leave within that time, good, and if they couldn't come to their senses until the end, they were just that level of human.

But it wasn't a matter that could be used as a pretext externally.

Because the important thing was to clear out the people from the streets.

I had closely investigated the central district that Prince Rasia had demanded at the Hunting Competition, but aside from the Temple being nearby, it was an unremarkable district.

But now, what…….

“So, are you saying the situation is because of me?”

“That too…… well.”

Tollin could no longer hold back and raised his voice.

“You didn't really come here not knowing. Don't waste my time, coming suddenly without even a letter. Didn't you come to check what kind of conditions the Imperial Family is sending my way?”

“Your way of speaking has gotten much sharper since I last saw you.”

Tollin, now even his sneers dried up, looked at his older brother numbly.

He couldn't be unaware of the rumors and his actions circulating among the nobles, so why bother saying such a thing?

“Do you have any intention of helping?”

Igo's eyes, looking at his youngest brother, were numb.

Tollin pondered for a moment.

Funnily enough, the thought that popped into his head as soon as he heard those words was, ‘Ah, if I help with that, will there be any disadvantages coming back to the Ducal family?’

His father, with whom he shared blood, was in a dangerous situation, yet he was worried about the Piteos family.

How futile blood ties are.

Tollin didn't give any particular answer to his older brother's question, whom he used to fear endlessly.

He just offered him a guest room and said they should watch the situation.

***

Tollin, who returned to his office, handled work as the Acting Head of Family with his hands, while organizing his thoughts on the other hand.

Although he had begun to solidify his political standing among the nobles more than before to protect the ducal family, he had not yet done anything to go against the will of the Imperial Family.

This was also an implicit agreement between the Imperial Family and the Piteos Ducal Family.

The Imperial Family neither helped the ducal family, which was reeling from attacks here and there due to Agoni Piteos's deviation, nor did they completely trample it.

They pretended not to know, as if to punish the ducal family which had gained the dishonor of opposing the Imperial Family, but on the other hand, it wouldn't be good for them if the Imperial Family's sword disappeared completely.

If they just showed a faithful appearance as they had always done, perhaps from the next generation's Duke onward, they would slowly regain their original status.

Rather, the Head of the Piteos Ducal Family, starved for loyalty, might even pledge stronger obedience.

To Tollin, whose unconditional loyalty to the Imperial Family had vanished compared to before, that was bitter to his taste, and he would sometimes look at the young Little Duke and give a bitter smile.

It was a Tollin who was busy protecting him, bowing his head sufficiently to the Imperial Family.

And he was being more careful about that delicate tightrope walk than anything else.

What was it that had gotten on their nerves?

***

Whether Tollin was struggling with anxiety or not, it was a matter of no concern to those living their daily lives.

Mentil Abalan was heading to the underground holy temple for the preparations for the upcoming Tinas ritual.

It was because of the rather bothersome tradition that the 1st Imperial Princess had to reveal herself before the citizens of the empire alongside the Emperor when holding the Tinas ritual.

It was a joyous thing to be able to see her father, who rarely made time for her, on the day of the ritual, but the preparations for that day were quite unpleasant.

There was nothing as boring as spending a day in the holy temple, being served by foolish and lowly beings whose thoughts were plainly visible.

Therefore, encountering the Empress on the way to the holy temple was, for Mentil, no different from an unexpected gift box.

And a box filled only with her favorite things in the world.

“Your Majesty, the Empress, it has been a long time.”

Mentil feigned a happy face and greeted the Empress first.

But the head of the Empress, who had her voluminous black hair twisted up, did not move in the slightest.

She just turned her dry pupils, for which the expression 'cold' would not be an exaggeration, and glanced at Mentil once.

Mentil, as if used to such things, did not let go of her smile.

“Mentil-nim, to leave your post. You must not forget your duty. Are the preparations for the ritual proceeding properly?”

A voice as dry as her gaze rebuked Mentil.

“Are you worried about me right now?”

As Mentil asked with a slight smile, the Empress replied in a monotone voice.

“I am always worried. Whether the Imperial Princess born from my womb will make a mistake, or whether something will happen to my bloodline. There is not a day I do not worry.”

Even at her seemingly insincere answer, Mentil blushed and smiled, as if something pleased her.

“You are particularly affectionate today.”

The Empress, who had been staring at her happy-looking face for a moment, soon turned her head as she had at first and tore her gaze away from her.

“Your Highness the Imperial Princess, I apologize, but I must be going now. I have an appointment with His Majesty, the Emperor.”

“Ah……”

Mentil hesitated for a moment at the words 'appointment with the Emperor', then obediently made way for the Empress.

Because there was no more pretext to stop her.

Mentil followed the Empress, who passed by her with a light greeting, with her eyes, capturing her retreating back.

“……I don't know if it's a good thing or a bad thing that my ability doesn't work. I can't confirm if it's an insincere lie, or if an urgent appointment that I truly don't know about has come up.”

Mentil smiled bitterly.

As the Tinas ritual approaches, the Emperor almost never leaves the Castle.

So, it must be one of two things.

Either there was truly an important matter that required the Empress to meet the Emperor, or the Empress left the spot because she was uncomfortable with the conversation with her.

She knew that the probability of it being the latter was high.

As the Empress did not welcome conversations with her growing long.

Thinking that she would rather a big incident have occurred, Mentil hastened her steps that were heading to the prayer room again.

“Forget everything I just said.”

Not forgetting to give the order to the ladies-in-waiting following her either.

The ladies-in-waiting, who received the sudden command to tear the memories from their heads, followed her with dazed faces.

***

It might have been happiness for her to leave just like that.

If one uncharacteristic impulse had not caught her.

If she had professed to be a good daughter who listened well to her mother.

If she had not changed her direction to a place that suddenly came to mind, instead of the prayer room where the Temple's priests would be waiting.