[– Let’s not recklessly destroy the natural environment –]
Whitey and I unwittingly made eye contact. He seemed to ask, “Do I look like a human to you right now?” with trembling pupils. I shook my head to answer, “No, you look like a puppy.”
“Are you in camouflage?”
As soon as Lumins reached out to touch him, Whitey opened his mouth while still in puppy form.
“That’s it, human. What you suspect is correct.”
“H-how did you know……?”
When I asked that, Lumins replied as if I was asking something obvious.
“The flow of mana itself is different from animals. Of course, it’s not exactly the same as humans either. He’s probably a beastman?”
As a humble mage, I didn’t know about the flow of mana unlike the genius mage…… Jin asked Lumins with a slight sense of wonder.
“……Do you also know about the existence of beastmen?”
“There are records in the literature. It seems the kingdom has deliberately hidden this information for generations.”
“I see…….”
The way he twitched his ears and rested his chin on the sheet was incredibly cute, but I wouldn’t be fooled. His true identity is a large, silver-haired handsome young man.
“Since there’s no need to hide your identity anymore, why don’t you reveal your true form?”
“W-wait a minute!”
I stopped Lumins. Then, I struck a pose, holding onto my clothes and fluttering them, pointed at Whitey, and made an X sign with both arms.
My desperate act, unable to say out loud that he’s stark naked, seemed to work. Lumins burst into a small laugh and agreed.
“I understand that your mana is weak. Is there a problem with the mana system?”
Indeed, the medical consultant identified the issue just by observing the flow of mana for a moment.
“……Yes. Beastmen sustain their existence with natural mana.”
“Natural mana. Ah, it must be due to the destruction of the Lake of Tranquility in the north.”
I was surprised by how sharply he hit the core of the issue. Do genius mages understand everything from such clues?
But more importantly, Lumins, is it okay to bring up that topic? You destroyed the lake, so you’re Whitey’s enemy, right……?
Ignoring my concern, Lumins crossed his arms and spoke in a monotone voice.
“First, let me make it clear, I’m the one who destroyed that lake.”
He confessed to being the enemy himself……!?
No way, if a duel flag gets raised here and one of them dies, what will happen!
I hurriedly intervened.
“Uh, um! I’m sorry! Because I foolishly fell into the lake, Lumins had no choice but to destroy it to save me. Lumins did nothing wrong, so please blame me instead!”
I expected an immediate outburst of anger, but Jin asked in an unexpectedly calm voice.
“……Was offering your mana earlier out of guilt?”
Feeling guilty, I nodded honestly since everything was already exposed.
“……. Yes. I’m sorry.”
“No. Even so, wasn’t your intention to protect me in the forest genuine?”
Whitey, aren’t you accepting this too coolly!?
I was the only fool anxiously worrying about the death flag.
Lumins, who had been watching us, spoke again.
“It was an unavoidable situation, so I won’t apologize. However, I can provide you with mana so that you can continue to exist. Since the situation is a consequence of my actions, I will take responsibility.”
They’re both so cool about this that it’s almost chilling.
It’s a good deal for Jin, so there shouldn’t be any downside……? I thought he would naturally accept, but Jin gave an unexpected answer.
“……No. It’s okay. I will receive mana from this human…… from Senephin.”
“What?”
“Huh?”
Both Lumins and I made dumbfounded noises simultaneously.
Lumins was the first to regain his composure and started persuading him calmly.
“……Look, I don’t mean to disrespect, but objectively speaking, with the level of mana Senephin has, it’s barely enough to maintain your current form. Judging by the mana form, isn’t your original form much bigger?”
That’s true. He’s a silver wolf about 2 meters tall. However, Whitey shook his head.
“What is visible is not all there is in the world. My essence remains unchanged.”
It’s a cool answer like a martial arts novel protagonist having a sudden realization, but isn’t that missing the point……?
“I already owe her my life. As per the customs of the beastmen, I will offer her my back.”
I flinched at the phrase ‘offer my back’ which I had heard many times before.
Isn’t that……what he said to Velkina in the game……!
What was it again? Offering one’s back means the other person could stab them with a sword if they intended to harm them, signifying a level of dedication and trust.
Why is that phrase coming up here now……?
“But―”
– Ding dong.
Before Lumins could finish speaking, the doorbell rang.
“I’m here~! Where’s the puppy!? I really love puppies!”
With the expected guest, I started to get a headache again, wondering where to start explaining……
“Oh, I see―. Then why doesn’t Senepin just take care of him?”
Velkina’s cheerful response made me want to grab my head in exasperation.
“Take care of…… No, Velkina, he’s a person, not just a puppy who can communicate.”
“We can’t reveal someone who would be a prime research subject at the magic institute. So, it would be difficult for him to stay in his human form, and if his original form is a big wolf, it’s hard to pass him off as a pet. Wouldn’t it be better if he stayed in a mini size?”
It wasn’t just a thoughtless remark; she had a point.
But um……. it’s fortunate he won’t be staying in Velkina’s room, but if he’s always around, I won’t have time to indulge in my hobbies. I’d have to keep my expressions in check.
“Are you okay with that?”
“I said I wanted it that way.”
Jin answered, twitching his ears. So cute……. But I mustn’t forget his true identity (cut off).
At that moment, Lumins, who had been quietly listening, interrupted.
“I don’t mind providing mana, but I’m against him staying here.”
“Hmm? You mean Jin living in Senephin’s room?”
Velkina, who had somehow already introduced herself to Jin and was on friendly terms with him, asked. Lumins nodded.
“Right now, he may look like a puppy, but his true form is an adult male.”
Even though he’s transformed into a boy, Lumins figured it out just by the mana flow? As expected, our genius mage Lumins is different!
“Oh, really? I thought he was a kid because he looks like a puppy. Sorry, Jin.”
“It’s okay.”
But is it okay that I went through the trouble of breaking the meeting flag with Jin only for him to reveal his beastman identity event at lightning speed with Velkina…….
“……Anyway. That’s how it is, so you’ll be staying in my room.”
Hearing Lumins’ suggestion, Jin shook his head.
“I will stay and protect Senephin, to whom I have offered my back.”
“You don’t have to stay in Senephin’s room to do that. Senephin, you feel more comfortable that way, right?”
“Ye-yes. I’m indeed hesitant to share a room with a man, haha…….”
Of course, if it were a matter of Whitey staying in the same room with Velkina, I would have stopped it even if it meant having him sleep in my room 100 times, but there’s no problem with Lumins’ room.
Whitey, looking somewhat dejected, buried his nose in the blanket a few times and lowered his ears.
“……If Senephin agrees, I understand.”
So, no trying to evoke sympathy with that cute appearance!
I approached the bed, sat next to Whitey, and extended my hand.
“Since it’s decided, take some mana. You’re having a hard time right now, right?”
Whitey had looked dejected not only because of his mood but mainly because he was too weak to support himself and had been leaning against the bed.
Jin lifted his head and looked at me with deep blue eyes that appeared greenish. Then, he licked the back of my hand a few times.
Immediately, the fur that had seemed almost gray due to being so dirty transformed into soft, silky silver fur. When I stroked him with his permission, his previously scrawny body filled out and became plump. I sighed in relief.
“Thank goodness…….”
“Indeed! Wow, he really is like a fairy. It’s amazing how his appearance changes as soon as he absorbs mana. By the way……can I touch him too?”
Velkina asked with sparkling eyes, Whitey, who was quietly being petted by me, climbed up my arm and perched on my shoulder before replying.
“If Senephin says it’s okay, then it’s okay.”
……What if Velkina falls for Jin after touching this soft fur? It’s so soft that even I could fall for it. Oh, of course, even though he has no fur, you’re the only one for me, Lumins.
“Ah- haha……. It’s… it’s perfectly fine…..”
But since I had no reason to refuse, I gritted my teeth and answered.
Giggling, Belkina petted Whitey’s back and exclaimed, “Wow, it’s really soft!”
Huff……. Velkina don’t fall for him, okay? Promise your big sister……?
While the three of us were playing, Lumins approached us. Does Lumins want to touch him too? If so, I’d be happy to say yes… But he spoke in his usual calm tone.
“There might be others in the magic institute who, like me, can read the flow of mana and realize he’s not human, so I’ll take care of that part.”
With a businesslike motion, Lumins touched Whitey’s forehead, back, and legs while chanting a spell, then withdrew his hand.
Does he…… not like animals? To react so coldly to such a cute and soft-furred Whitey. Of course, I’ll respect Lumins’s preferences.
“Oh! Since we’re gathered like this, even if it’s not a picnic, how about we all have lunch together? Senephin prepared a lot, and it would be a shame to waste it.”
After being satisfied with petting Jin, Velkina suddenly remembered. Lumins chimed in to support her suggestion.
“That’s right. Anyway, we all haven’t had a meal yet.”
Oh, is my lunch saved? Thank goodness……. It was worth the trouble from early in the morning.
“……I will eat too.”
Perhaps getting tired of being touched, Jin swatted away mine and Velkina’s hands with his tail and moved to sit on my head.
“Didn’t you say you don’t need to eat since you absorb mana?”
“I can’t get nutrition from food, but I can still taste it.”
At least he’s not missing out on the pleasures of life.
“Hey, you there.”
“It’s Lumins Hardelf.”
“Lumins. Give me clothes. I’ll eat in my human form.”
“……… I’ll consider it if you give me three strands of your fur for research.”
…… Have they not just met? Are they already on bad terms?
And so the late lunchtime passed pleasantly with little Jean, Jin managed to borrow Lumins oversized clothes. We then enjoyed a late lunch with the angelic Lumins smiling as usual and the adorable Velkina enthusiastically eating the not-so-delicious sandwiches.
Though I couldn’t create an opportunity for Lumins and Velkina to have a date alone as I intended, there will be other chances!
Until then, I’ll make sure Velkina doesn’t fall for the charm of fluffy fur while also working hard to break flags with other characters!
……According to the event order, the next one seems to be the Crown Prince of this country, who is likely to be a formidable opponent.
