167 Episode 167 "Ritas Oath andHow to Find Your New Self".txt (1/2)

You are welcome to use these quarters as you see fit.

Mr. Notori, the beastman, led us to our new quarters.

It was under a tree with a large wolf statue underneath, and a magnificent mansion was built to attach to the trunk. Upon entering, there was a large living room with a staircase leading to the second floor in the center. At the top of the stairs, there was a bedroom with beds for four people and a wide window covered with soundproof curtains.

There was a large tapestry hanging from the living room wall.

There was a picture of a wolf, a man and a woman holding a baby beastman.

This is The Beast that Runs in the Forest - The Beginning of the Beastmen: ......

'Yes. Next to the woman is the Lord of the Beasts that Run in the Forest. Legend has it that he was the master of the wolf, a gentle man who loved the girl even when he changed into human form.

I guess that's the 'beginning beast' the woman is holding.

Yes, sir.

Nonotori-san said and pulled out a wooden box from the back of the tapestry.

'A transcendent being who was touched by the love that transcended species - some say it was a dragon and some say it was a god - but it is said to be the village's hidden treasure that it gave to bless the two of them.

She took the key from her chest and inserted it into the side of the box.

There was a grating sound and the lock opened.

'This is the Squire's Bell, the hidden treasure of our village.

Inside the box was a golden bell.

It was about the size of a ping-pong ball. It has a strange pattern painted on its surface.

Mr. Notori shakes it lightly. But - it didn't make a sound.

”Is it broken?

No.

Shaking his brown beast ears, Mr. Notori said.

'This bell chooses its owner. It is said that if a qualified person uses it, it can expose hidden places. But, well, ordinary beastmen can't hear the sound.

Don't you hear me?

'When you ring it, it's said to spread out a sound that only a qualified person can hear. It is said that when they hear it bounce back, the beastmen find their hidden places.

In my world, it would be like a sonar.

You know, the kind that reflects sound so you can detect the location of the enemy. Yeah, it's kind of like that.

”This is for you, our benefactors.

............ Yes?

I've heard some crazy shit...

Wait a minute.

'Excuse me. Benefactor.

This is a village treasure, isn't it?

Yeah.

You're giving it to us?

We're a people-oriented village.

Mr. Notori said with a nonchalant smile.

'We shouldn't have anything that could cause a child to be abducted.

'No, but if I get this ......

You're going to be the target, isn't that what you're saying?

Yes, sir.

”Don't worry. I'll tell you that the 'ex-wise goblin' took it.

...... That's pretty good work, ”Nerham Village”.

Indeed, that's a relief.

The Former Wise Goblin will now be judged by the creatures of the forest.

He can no longer use his transformation skills and will either be imprisoned or exiled as normal.

I'm not going to be a target for the village and I'm not going to be a target for us.

'We're adventurers too, you know?　We move around. So you might lose it?

Yes, sir.

It was easy.

'If you lose it, you can come and report it to me. If you don't like having it, you can come and return it to me.

Then the beast girl laughed.

'The elders, Totori and Lutri both said that if you do that, Nagi-sama, Rita-sama and everyone else will come back to visit you. Then Nagi, Rita, and the others would come back to visit us.

...... If you trust me that much, I can't help it.

If that's what you mean, ...... I get it.

I nodded and received the 'Squire's Bell' from Notori-san.

I'll put it in Aine's 'sister's treasure box'. That way, you won't lose it and someone else won't take it away from you. I'll keep it for a while and come back to you when things have cooled down.

Well, I guess that's it for me.

Notori-san bowed his head deeply.

Brown beast ears and a thin tail flapping.

''Thank you so much for this time. I hope you have a good night's rest.

Saying that, Notori-san left the quarters.

The two people who remained in the inn were me and Rita.

I was sitting on a chair and looking at the 'Squire's Bell'.

''So this is the item the 'Ex-Wise Goblin' was looking for: ......''

With this, it seems that you can find the Dungeon of the Demon Dragon.

Probably, it means that you can detect dungeons that you wouldn't be able to find if you searched normally.

If you conquer the dungeon, you'll be able to meet the Demon King .......

...... You should at least specify the location.

Don't approach them by mistake.

I don't ever want to meet the nobleman who ordered the ”Visitor” and ”Heroic Quest”. They don't care about the inconvenience of others.

If we can locate the Demon Dragon Dungeon, we should mark this place on the map as a place that everyone in the party should never approach. I'll go talk to the saint later and ask her about the Dungeon of the Demon Dragon.

That's what I'm going to do.

I sent a text message to Cutlass with the ”Mind Linkage Revise” and then got up from my seat.

I move in front of the tapestry of ”The Beginning Beastman” hanging on the wall.

To be precise - next to Rita, who has been looking at the tapestry ever since she entered this inn.

The beast that drives through the forest changed into a human form by a wish. That girl and human mixed together to create the beginning beastman.” ......

I said.

”...... Yeah.

Rita murmured vaguely.

She's looking up at the tapestry with her hand on her chest, a serene expression on her face.

'It seems the first beastman could take on the form of both a man and a beastman.

So it was a hybrid.

'Haiburid'?

It's a high level race that can use both human and beastman.

...... Yeah, I guess.

Rita's ears are flattened and she's lying on her back.

As it is, Rita tilted her head back...

I don't know, it just doesn't feel right. It was a long time ago.

But doesn't this mean that Rita is a good ancestor?

Rita can take the form of both a beastman and a human. With the ”Complete Beastification” skill, she can also take the form of a beautiful wolf. In other words, it's like she inherited the 'Beginning Beastman' and her mother's abilities.

''Isn't that a nice thing for Rita to do?''

...... that is,

Rita nodded her head in annoyance as she looked at me.

'Strangely enough, I don't really care anymore. This.

Does it matter?

'Probably when I was the head priest of the Order, I would have been overjoyed. But now it's different. There's a part of me that thinks I'm a good beastie, or that I'm some kind of a misfit beastie, or that it doesn't matter.

Rita unexpectedly takes my hand.

She presses it to her cheek and closes her eyes.

It's warm. I can feel Rita's body heat directly. It feels strange to me, too.

The sounds of the outside are so far away. It's as if Rita and I are the only people in this village.

I'm happy to see ....... I'm glad to hear this story with Nagi.

...... Rita.

'To be able to ask my favorite master about his ancestors. I don't need anyone else to know what kind of beast I am.

Really?

”What did Nagi think when she found out that I'm a 'superior ancestor'?

I thought Rita would like that.

What about Nagi?

”I know Rita is great, and she's Rita. She's my precious 'soul mate'.

You know, just the same. Doesn't it?

Rita shrugged her shoulders and smiled.

It's true.

I'm not sure what kind of creature the beginning beastman is, or even if Rita has thicker blood in her veins, but it doesn't change anything for us.

It's obvious ...... but this might be a pretty amazing thing.

”But, Rita,

Hey, Nagi.

'I guess you're no longer afraid of being in the midst of so many beasties, are you?

When Rita came to my room last night, she said, 'When I'm in the village of beastmen, I'm afraid of being in the village of beastmen because it reminds me of the family that abandoned me,' but now Rita is calm. The shaking, too, has stopped.

...... How do you know?

'I think that's because ...... Rita is snugly attached to it.

...... Maybe.

Before I know it, Rita has her body on my shoulder.

So snugly that there's no room between us.

'...... So, while you're no longer scared, can I ask you for a favor? Master.

Okay.

You haven't said anything.

I know that much, indeed. You're the master.