In a room within the Silver Mansion, Tifa stared at Tarawo, who was seated before her.
The intensity in both sides’ eyes was unlike anything they had shared before, and neither of them would waver.
“Tifa, it is about ti you gave this up. I will head to the front lines alongside Team Silver.”
“You won’t.”
Tifa replied imdiately. This ti was different from the usual, however. Tarawo, under Tifa’s cold and piercing gaze, quietly lowered his eyes and, after a mont, looked up and spoke again.
“Nothing you do will stop . It’s impossible to change my mind now.”
Tifa couldn’t comprehend Tarawo’s words.
She tilted her head slightly, but her gaze remained unyielding.
But then, in the next mont, her eyes revealed a clear sense of surprise.
Tarawo stood up, took a step back, and exhaled slowly.
In that instant, he emitted a radiant light and then transford into the form of Garm, the King Wolf, sitting right before Tifa.
The King Wolf’s figure was so enormous that it did not seem to belong in this room, but that wasn’t the most crucial detail.
What truly mattered was that Tarawo had willingly taken on his original form.
“But… How…?”
Asley had given Tifa the magecraft of Temporary Awakening, with which she could turn Tarawo into his King Wolf form during combat. However, she had not done anything before he transford this ti — not with that magecraft or any other. This abnormal occurrence and the sight of Tarawo’s unfamiliar appearance left her in shock.
“It seems that… my curse has been lifted. Even without the use of your magecraft, I can hold my own in a fight.”
“You’re lying!”
“I am not. This was gradually becoming the case since the day Cleath ca to Eddo. Surely you have seen this coming, and understand the reason why…”
Tarawo spoke with a tone of reassurance.
Tifa, however, vehently shook her head, denying it.
“You’re lying! This wasn’t supposed to ever happen!”
“You have changed, Tifa. Your actions may have remained the sa, but the way you look at has undoubtedly been different since that day. In the mont when Cleath unleashed his breath attack, I tried to shield you. Though Lylia ultimately saved us, that occurrence brought our minds closer.”
“I don’t want to hear it!”
“Do you understand what I was thinking? I wanted to protect a little human — I wanted to protect you, Tifa. I did not want you to die. But if it had only been who thought that… perhaps the curse would not have lifted so quickly.”
Impending death — that was what had a profound impact on both Tifa and Tarawo.
Tarawo resolved to protect Tifa with his own life, while Tifa genuinely wished for Tarawo’s survival.
In defending her with his own body, Tarawo triggered emotions of panic, anxiety, and fear in Tifa, ultimately leading her to discover the depths of her own mind.
“I am a King Wolf Garm… This massive body, these fangs, this grotesque form… No matter how you look at , I’m a monster.”
Tarawo muttered to himself while looking at his own body.
“I am a monster, Tifa!”
“So what…? What does it matter!?”
Tifa shouted as she stood up.
She even displayed anger. In response to Tifa’s outburst, Tarawo quietly but distinctly revealed his fangs, and his smile, unlike his usual hearty laughter, softened into a gentle one.
“You… loved a creature like … Tifa, I’m eternally grateful…”
In an instant, Tifa’s anger dispersed, replaced by a sudden flood of sorrow.
Tifa wept as she embraced Tarawo, and he nuzzled her while moving his head.
“Idiot…! You stupid idiot…!”
“…I see. I wondered what was so amusing about Asley and Pochi’s interactions, but I understand now…… It’s a wonderful feeling…”
◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆
The woman with violet flas in her eyes, forr Brigadier of the Royal Capital Magic Guardians, and a trusted aide to Gaston the Great Mage of Flas — that was Viola.
Many warriors and mages, perhaps unable to fall asleep, were still in the south of Eddo, preparing for the imminent battle even though it was already quite late into the night.
Viola was no different, having decided on this as the place to spend her ti before the final battle.
“Miss Viola, are you sure you don’t need to sleep?”
The voice from behind her belonged to Jeanne the Lightning Flash, a mber of the Magic Guardians Brigade’s elite group.
“Why do you ask? And what about you? I gave you the order to get so rest, didn’t I?”
“Did you? I’m afraid I don’t rember that.”
Jeanne feigned forgetfulness, eliciting an exasperated sigh from Viola.
“Without Sir Gaston around, it seems I can’t get even a single subordinate to follow orders…”
“That’s not important to the current mont, is it? It IS the day before a decisive battle — It would be odd to be able to sleep.”
As Viola lanted her situation, Jeanne replied with a smirk.
Viola widened her eyes at Jeanne’s words, remained silent for a while, and eventually broke into a dry smile.
Jeanne proceeded to smile as well, turning Viola’s forced smile turned into a genuine one.
“You’ve beco quite capable, Jeanne.”
“Oh, please, ma’am. I have always been capable.”
Jeanne playfully retorted, causing Viola to burst into laughter.
The following mont, the sound of small footsteps reached their ears from behind.
Both of them noticed the presence and turned around.
“”Fuyu?””
Indeed, Fuyu was standing there.
“I’m here too, you know.”
Konoha was on Fuyu’s shoulder, pointing at himself to make his presence known.
“Konoha…!”
Viola approached Fuyu, surprised by Konoha’s appearance.
“Fuyu, what are you two doing here…?”
“Well, I asked Fuyu to bring to you, Viola. And I see Jeanne is here as well — that’s perfect timing.”
“Huh? …?”
Jeanne was taken aback by Konoha’s unexpected words, pointing to herself with a puzzled expression.
“Well… what do you need us for?”
Viola was the first to ask Konoha of his business.
“Looks like Fuyu will stay in the rear tomorrow, you see. I wanted to stay on Baladd’s head and give out orders, but ol’ Irene wouldn’t let do that. So instead, I’ll sit on Fuyu’s shoulder and keep an eye on how the battle goes.”
Konoha displayed a sowhat disappointed expression, causing Viola to avert her eyes with a dry smile.
“You jest. Miss Irene would be furious if she were to hear that.”
“Hahaha! Now, my Master has always called her an ‘old bat’ behind her back. Compared to that, this is rather cute, don’t you think?”
“And you want to agree with that opinion of yours?”
Viola asked with a subtle grin, causing Konoha to be the one who smiled dryly this ti.
“Hahaha, you’ve changed quite a bit, Viola. You used to be so formal.”
“I no longer have anyone or any organization to constrain , after all. But still…”
Konoha, Fuyu, and Jeanne all nodded as if to express their understanding of Viola’s intent.
“…I intend to carry Sir Gaston’s final regret with .”
With a strong determination, Viola directed her gaze at Konoha, who extended his small forelimb with a nod.
“That’s the spirit.”
By this point, Viola seed as if she had been drained of the venom that had been tornting her.
“Well, considering where I’ll be, I probably won’t ever run into Billy… So listen, Viola. I know you already have your hands full defending Lina, Hornel, and the others, but… If you see Billy, you’ll have to…”
Viola nodded this ti, her determination stronger than before.
“…’Get back at him twofold… hell, make that a hundredfold!'”
“‘Or the silly old fool won’t ever rest easy!’ …Was that how it went?”
Konoha opened his mouth in amazent at Viola’s unexpected utterance — and Jeanne’s equally unexpected completion of the quote.
When Konoha beca Baladd’s familiar, he had uttered these words as his lingering attachnt to the world. These two were not present at that ti, and that was why he was astonished that Viola and Jeanne repeated the quote almost world for word.
Lina, Hornel, and Baladd had been there. However, it was hard to imagine any of them revealing Konoha’s words to others.
So, Konoha’s sharp gaze, as he looked away, was directed at just one person in the vicinity.
“Ahh~~ Look, a shooting star~~ So pretty~~”
Fuyu said, her voice dry and monotone.
Indeed, she was also one of those who had stood in that fateful battle.
Konoha, feeling quite exasperated, heaved a deep sigh and perched himself on Fuyu’s shoulder.
“…Ugh, now I know why you needed my Master to rein you in.”
“I’ll keep my eyes peeled for an opening… and strike him with all my might.”
Viola said, clenching her fists to show her determination.
“I won’t lose to him when it cos to speed. I’ll make sure he’s killed ninety-nine tis over.”
Jeanne expressed her confidence as she made her resolution.
“And I’ll support everyone with all I have… I can do that, right?”
Fuyu said while peering at Konoha on her shoulder, seemingly anxious about getting scolded.
To these words from the three, Konoha’s face lit up with joy. He stood up and bowed deeply.
“Yes… I’m counting on you all! It’ll be a fitting send-off from us to that silly old man!”
In harmony with Konoha’s determination, the three won’s voices resonated as they all nodded firmly.
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