The village we passed on the way to the wolf territory was an utterly peaceful sight.
Unlike the sheep territory, where the streets were clean and in harmony with nature, this place was well-designed with a square at its center.
The roads were neatly maintained, and the colorful houses were harmoniously arranged, resembling a piece of art.
So far, so good.
For someone like me, who had never left the sheep territory, it was a refreshing view.
“Welcome!”
As we opened the door to a noticeable inn, the owner greeted us warmly with a friendly smile.
Yes, everything was fine up to this point. A large and clean inn was certainly better than an old, shabby one.
The problem was…
“Oh my, it’s been a while since we’ve had a family as guests. Is the child on your back your son?”
The innkeeper’s sharp fangs, visible every time she spoke, naturally made a herbivore like me shrink back. Her dazzling, predatory face only added to the effect. She had the typical appearance of a carnivorous beastman.
The innkeeper had orange hair and eyes, a beauty mark under her eye, and an enchanting smile that seemed capable of seducing any beastman.
That’s right. This was the fox territory, situated between the sheep and wolf territories.
‘Yes, let’s think of this as a rehearsal. Foxes are less intimidating than wolves, after all.’
The innkeeper’s sparkling orange eyes turned to me. She alternated her gaze between me, Billy, and Ed, before widening her eyes as if realizing something incredible.
“My goodness, I’ve only heard of love that transcends species! A sheep and a wolf together—how romantic!”
It’s not romantic; it’s terrifying!
The innkeeper, who seemed to have already created a romantic movie plot in her head, naturally led us to the largest room upstairs.
“There’s one big bed, so it’ll be fine for you to sleep with the child.”
“One more…”
Two wolves and one fox.
Caught between them, the powerless sheep’s brain malfunctioned again. Unable to finish my sentence, I raised a finger, but the innkeeper tilted her head, confused.
“We’re not family, so we need another room.”
Billy naturally stepped in to clarify what I was trying to say.
“Oh, I see.”
Why does she look so visibly disappointed?
Her eyes, which had been sparkling as if hearts might pop out, suddenly dimmed. The innkeeper searched through her key bundle, picked out a silver key, and led us to the end of the hallway.
“Then two small rooms will do, right? Luckily, there are exactly two left. Please stay here.”
The rooms the innkeeper showed us were at the end of the hallway, two small ones side by side.
As soon as she opened the doors and went downstairs, I tried to enter the room assigned to me.
“Will you be alright?”
“Huh?”
Billy suddenly asked if I’d be okay. Confused, I looked at him, and he pointed to the unlit, dark room.
“The dark.”
“Huh?”
“Looks like you’re fine.”
What was he talking about? While I was holding the doorknob and staring at him in confusion, he stepped closer.
Standing just a step away from me, his cool scent wafted over, making my fur stand on end.
My body instinctively leaned back from the tension of having a predator so close, and my heart pounded loudly in my chest.
Snap.
Billy snapped his fingers after briefly glancing around the room. The unlit magic lamp flickered on, filling the room with a soft orange glow.
“Goodnight.”
He greeted me softly and entered his room, leaving me leaning against the door, trying to calm my racing heart.
‘What… what was that?’
Did he really have to get that close to turn on the lamp?
The moment our eyes met at such a close distance kept replaying in my mind like a lingering image.
He was a man who truly put a strain on my heart.
***
Chirp, chirp.
The sound of birds outside a large window announced the lazy autumn morning.
“Ugh…”
The sunlight streaming onto the bed hurt my eyes. I pulled the pillow over my face and tried to go back to sleep when—
Knock, knock.
Someone tapped on the door from outside.
“If you don’t come out now, you’ll miss breakfast.”
It was Billy. Silently applauding his early rising, I pushed the pillow slightly aside from my face.
“I don’t need it.”
I’ll just sleep more. Pulling the blanket over my head, I sought the sweetness of sleep once more.
Tap, tap. Billy’s footsteps echoed as he walked downstairs.
Knock, knock.
But someone knocked on the door again.
“Lady Remi, breakfast is the only meal today. We’ll be traveling straight to Ruevarg by evening…”
Crash! Bang!
Before Ed could finish his sentence, I rolled off the bed and sprang up. I threw open the door and rushed downstairs.
“You said you didn’t want it?”
Is he mocking me? That wolf!
When I got downstairs, Billy was already seated, cutting into a delicious-looking steak. Having steak for breakfast—what a carnivore thing to do.
“You didn’t mention breakfast was the only meal of the day!”
Naturally, I sat at a different table and ordered breakfast from the innkeeper.
“Oh dear, I’m afraid we don’t have any salad for herbivores.”
The innkeeper, who had assumed I’d eat greens, rested her chin on her hand with a troubled expression.
“That’s fine. Just bring me whatever’s prepared.”
This was actually good news for me.
Before I was reincarnated, I was a carnivore, so the countless salads and plant-based dishes I had eaten in the sheep territory were nothing short of torture.
‘Finally, I get to eat meat!’
As I waited with sparkling eyes for the meal to arrive, Ed came downstairs late and naturally sat next to me.
“Ed, did you sleep well?”
Oh my, oh my!
For the first time, I asked Ed if he had slept well. Such a mundane morning greeting!
Usually, I would either scold him for waking up late or scold him for waking up early.
But Ed’s expression wasn’t good upon hearing my morning greeting.
He looked as though he’d just witnessed something he shouldn’t have, as if wondering what ulterior motive this sheep had.
Well, I suppose I did have a certain image to maintain. Feeling slightly awkward, I saw Ed’s gaze shift behind me toward Billy.
After a moment, he nodded to himself and then brightened up.
“Yes, I slept well! Did you sleep well too, Miss Remi?”
With a big smile, I nodded, just as our breakfast arrived, filling the air with a delicious aroma.
‘Steak!’
How long had it been since I’d last eaten meat? And such perfectly grilled steak, no less.
Excitedly, I cut into the steak and placed a piece in my mouth. It felt like it melted away before I even chewed it.
This inn was a hidden gem for steak lovers.
“This is so delicious! This is the best steak I’ve ever had.”
Pouring all my sincerity into the compliment, I gave the innkeeper a thumbs-up, to which they responded with a curious expression.
“Haha, you must have had your share of steak. A sheep who likes meat—that’s a first for me!”
Ah. I suddenly remembered that the sheep domain rarely had meat-specialized restaurants, mostly boasting salad streets and the like.
“Ahaha, is that so.”
At that moment, a half-eaten steak plate was placed on our table.
“Looks like you’re enjoying it. Ed, eat well.”
Billy flashed a charming smile as he sat across from me, continuing his meal leisurely.
‘No, why did I bother to sit here….’
Rumble-rumble.
“Uh? Why is the table shaking like this?”
The innkeeper looked puzzled and went inside, presumably to check the cause of the vibrations.
Meanwhile, Billy, completely indifferent to the shaky table, kept eating without pause.
***
After a hearty meal, we left the inn. And then, we ran non-stop the entire day, only to arrive at our destination earlier than expected by evening.
Although I thought I had lived a luxurious life in the sheep domain’s ruling family, that notion evaporated the moment I saw the grandeur of Ruvaga.
“Welcome back, Lord.”
A massive garden—at least four times the size of the Morton estate—and the grand mansion at its end loomed before us.
Lining the path to the mansion’s entrance were countless household staff members, awaiting our arrival.
“This is Mr. Benon’s….”
The butler choked on his words mid-sentence as he turned to look at Ed. Then, his gaze shifted to me.
“And who might this be…?”
“She is Ed’s guardian and a guest here. She’ll be staying with us, so treat her well.”
At Billy’s explanation, the butler and the other servants cast wide-eyed stares at me.
‘Well, I suppose it is unusual for a sheep to act as a guardian for a wolf.’
Even without hearing their thoughts, their expressions told me enough.
“We will treat her with the utmost care,” the old butler said respectfully, bowing his head as he led us into the mansion.
‘So this is what it feels like to enter the wolves’ den….’
Reflecting my reluctance, my feet seemed glued to the ground, unwilling to take another step.
At that moment, a small hand gripped mine tightly—it was Ed.
Though he had carried himself maturely at the Morton household, a grand noble family like this must have felt incredibly intimidating.
Even I was overwhelmed by the mansion’s grandeur, so how much more daunting must it feel to Ed?
Gulp. The sound of nervous swallowing echoed as I held Ed’s hand firmly, summoning the courage to move forward.
‘Ed, don’t worry. I’ll stay by your side, so let’s do our best to adapt here!’
That’s what I had intended to say.
「1. How can you be scared? This is your home. Don’t be such a coward.
2. Keep five steps away from me! Didn’t I tell you not to cling to me last time?
3. It seems we’re both uncomfortable here. Let’s try to survive as unwanted guests together.」
‘…….’
Blink-blink. My eyes fluttered in disbelief as I stared at the options, trying to deny reality.
Ever since receiving the penalty for reducing choice appearance frequency by 10%, I’d rarely encountered options, and I’d let my guard down.
But for the selection screen to appear now, of all times!
‘W-what? You want me to say that? Here, of all places?’
With Billy, the butler, and the servants present….
Ed’s short stride matched mine as we walked in silence, the options stubbornly refusing to leave my vision. A cold sweat trickled down my back.
‘I’ll make my choice once we’re inside. I’ll pick something when it’s just me and Ed.’
My strides naturally grew a little longer. Though I felt a bit guilty about staying silent, survival took precedence over everything else.
‘Why couldn’t they park the carriage closer to the mansion!’
Though the distance was manageable, it felt unbearably long.
Billy, walking leisurely ahead, began to seem irritating. You’re supposed to take care of your nephew!
Finally, as we reached the mansion’s entrance, Billy paused to wait for us. Ed and I arrived, and just as the servant opened the door—
「The selection timer has expired. If no choice is made within 5 seconds, a selection will be made automatically.」
‘What?’
What do you mean?
「5, 4, 3….」
‘No! Stop, stop!’
There was no time to think.
Still holding Ed’s hand, I turned my head toward him and spoke in a harsh tone:
“How can you be scared? This is your home. Don’t be such a coward.”
The butler, the servants trailing us, Ed, and even Billy ahead of us—all of their gazes locked onto me.
Being the center of attention from so many wolves, I felt my legs wobble, threatening to give out beneath me.
Desperate to escape this situation, I acted impulsively.
‘Please, no more choice screens. Please!’
Shutting my eyes tightly, I lifted Ed in my arms and exclaimed,
“N-no, you’re not as much of a coward as I am, Ed. Haha. There’s nothing to be scared of. Everyone here must be good people!”
Drip. Sweat trickled down my forehead, betraying my panic.
Ed, cradled in my arms, looked up at me with a subtle, unreadable expression—similar to the way Mimo sometimes regarded me.
‘You think I’m pathetic too, don’t you….’
The butler and the other servants wore expressions that left no room for interpretation.
‘What’s with this beast?’
I wanted to cry.
“Lady Morton.”
Hiccup.
Billy approached me with long strides, his expression unreadable.
I wanted to run away then and there.
I hurried to put Ed down, but at that moment—
Thud!
My trembling legs finally gave out, and I collapsed. I almost fell forward, risking crushing Ed, but managed to shift my weight backward at the last moment.
“Ouch….”
The marble floor sent a painful shock through my tailbone. Ed, sitting awkwardly on my lap, stared at me in bewilderment before carefully climbing off.
Above Ed’s head, his affection meter glittered.
「Affection: 24%」
‘Why did it go down?!’
This was shaping up to be a terrible start.
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