Chapter 21 : Fusion

6 years ago, as the capital's Temple was expanded, he was newly appointed, and in a short time, he received the full trust of the Empress and the Emperor, proving his deep faith in the Empire.

For those who could never meet the Imperial Family in their lifetime, Priest Vesper was the closest thing to a living embodiment of faith they could meet.

Everyone longed to receive his blessing at least once.

When such a person stepped down from the carriage, the crowd of people parted on their own.

With a benevolent smile, he moved his steps without hesitation.

The crowd stared blankly as he slowly approached Tollin.

“Vesper.”

As Tollin knelt on one knee and bowed his head before him, Vesper raised his hand and placed it on Tollin's shoulder.

It was a simple gesture, but one that allowed the onlookers to automatically understand its meaning.

That the Temple acknowledged Piteos's project.

While everyone's eyes were fixed on the contact between Priest Vesper and Tollin, Tollin was feeling Priest Vesper's bone-like palm on his shoulder with less emotion than he expected.

The reason Priest Vesper had come all this way might have diminished the mystique surrounding him, Tollin thought.

“Thank you for inviting me, Tollin.”

“I am only grateful that you have come, Priest.”

Tollin asked politely.

“How could I dare refuse when asked to lend strength to such a praiseworthy and noble task.”

At his answer, Tollin struggled to force down the corners of his mouth, which were trying to rise disrespectfully.

Lend strength, he says.

All costs and manpower would be borne by the Piteos family.

There was only one thing the Temple was doing.

Today, in this place, just showing that they supported the hospital and education project.

No, that's not right.

There was one more thing.

There was also the matter of taking 40% of the profits generated from the education and hospital operation.

It seemed that serving the god from the closest place required a commensurately steep cost.

While Tollin was pushing aside the thought of the price being put on the noble faith of humans to a corner of his head, Priest Vesper, who had raised Tollin to his feet with a gentle touch, turned his body to the people gathered in the square.

“O, lost children of Abalan, you all know that we are traveling to head to the same place.”

His voice was not that loud, but it wasn't because Vesper's chest was small, but because there was no one not focused on him, so there was no need to make a loud noise.

“Temptation always follows a journey, and there are times when the hand of evil reaches out. But we cannot ignore the efforts of one who shakes off all that and tries to walk the right path.”

There was no one who did not understand whom the hand of evil he spoke of referred to.

Tollin, who was listening to everything from the closest place to him, was the same.

Tollin maintained his smile, putting strength into his face, which was trying to stiffen.

Priest Vesper placed his hand on Tollin's shoulder again, and Tollin tried hard not to be startled by the feeling, which was like a bug crawling on him.

“This pitiful lost child of Abalan here has prepared all this to undo the atrocities committed by the criminal. The command given by the god will eventually be fulfilled.”

As the people, who did not understand his words for a moment, began to murmur again, this time Tollin opened his mouth.

“The Hunting Competition will be held again. The hospital and education facilities will leave our hands and ownership will be transferred to their original owner. I don't know what this space will become after that.”

It meant that it would return to the Imperial Family at any time when the right time came.

It also meant that if they missed this timing now, the opportunity to learn medicine would be lost forever.

There were those who became anxious, and those who were still full of complaints, but the former was more overwhelming.

The atmosphere of the square, which was not as cold as it was at first, proved it.

“If there are any nobles who desire education, they are welcome to send a letter. Though visiting the mansion will not be permitted.”

At the end of Tollin's words, some of the anxious people hurriedly turned their bodies.

Young Master Millio blankly watched the backs of those who were foolishly faithful to their desires.

He was on the verge of letting out a hollow laugh at the atmosphere that had changed in an instant.

But Young Master Millio, unable to discard the single strand of pride left in him, raised his head and glared at Tollin.

“The fall of the Piteos family will not be far off. They have rejected the will of God.”

It was the moment he muttered it like a curse.

Tollin, who was exchanging greetings with Priest Vesper, turned his head and looked at Young Master Millio.

Young Master Millio, whose eyes met his before he had a chance to avoid them, was caught by his sharp eyes and could only stand as if nailed to the spot.

The corner of Tollin's mouth went up, and he said softly.

“The world is not overturned so easily, Young Lord Millio.”

The first son of the Millio Ducal Family, who had been observing Tollin, hidden among the commoners with his face covered by a robe, shut his mouth at the cool sensation flowing down his nape.

Since when had he noticed?

Young Lord Millio recalled Tollin's gaze from a moment ago, which had scanned the people as if engraving them in his eyes.

He could no longer tell if his appearance today was the last struggle of the fallen ducal family, or a trap to bite the prey.

***

My footsteps, treading on the rustling dry leaves, were cautious.

The sound of leaves rubbing together, created by the sound of the wind, sounded like a beast growling.

This was the medium-sized animal zone, a zone where things like wolves, deer, and tigers commonly live.

You might ask what on earth is in the large animal zone if these things live in the medium-sized animal zone, but that place is where somewhat non-human humans go to hunt.

Things like the Giant Bear or Werewolf that the 1st Prince caught in the last hunting festival.

It was a place deep, deep in the forest, a place one goes with professional hunters and beaters.

It was not a place I, who could be torn to shreds if pounced on by a single wolf right now, could easily set foot in.

I was in a state of sufficient tension just by coming here.

“Squeak.”

A fellow who looked like it had maybe been tense once in its life also came along and tried to help halve my tension.

“Just get in. I don't have the loyalty to risk my life to help you if you get caught here.”

I said, forcibly pushing the squirrel that was trying to pop out of the bag.

Yes, the squirrel came along too.

It's already been several days with this fellow.

I didn't know the reason, but this little fellow tried to follow me everywhere.

Really, at any and all times.

That was no exception today.

Up to the small animal zone, it was only full of fellows similar to it, and even if a predator appeared, it was a size I could handle to some extent, but I tried to convey to the fellow that today was really dangerous.

But the fellow, who at other times acted as if it understood human speech, this time acted as if it couldn't understand such a thing, or come to think of it, stubbornly insisted as if it wasn't its business.

In the end, I had to divert its attention with acorns again and come out.

No, or so I thought I had.

Only to realize I'd been had again when I saw the moving bag as I approached the medium-sized animal zone.

“How do you do it every time?”

This wasn't the first or second time, so I had thoroughly searched the bag on my way out today.

“Are you also a possessed squirrel from somewhere outside?”

Even at my suspicious gaze, the fellow busily looked around and pricked up its ears.

“I don't care if there's a person inside or what, but today you really can't come out.”

I pushed the fellow back in again and closed the bag's opening.

Based on my experience so far, no fellow had suddenly attacked me, but I wasn't confident that it wouldn't be distracted by such small prey dangling in front of it.

But I couldn't leave this small animal in the medium-sized animal zone, so I had to bring it.

The fellow, at any rate, was a squirrel that lived in the wild, so it would probably know to save its own skin in front of a predator.

Thinking that, I cautiously moved my steps along the path where the footprints, left by what seemed to be a fellow of considerable size, continued.

***

It wasn't long before I was able to find the fairly large animal I was aiming for.

“Kkwek!!! Kkwek!!! Kkwek!!!”

Although the fact that a familiar fellow was with it was a bit unexpected.

“Grrrr.”

The wolf glaring at me, its yellow pupils shining, and the familiar squirrel floundering under its paw with its tail stepped on was by no means the picture I had imagined.

“When did you get out again?”

Knowing that checking inside the bag now was useless, I sighed and met the eyes of the large, agitated carnivorous animal.

It was a gray wolf that looked to be about 3 times my size.

It was the first time I was seeing a real wolf up close, both in the modern world and after possessing this body.

It was much bigger than I thought.

I was even a little intimidated by its size, which looked like one head was about the size of three of my heads put together.

Though seeing it baring its teeth and puffing up its body, it might be that it was thoroughly pissed off and looked even bigger.

Whatever the case, it seemed certain that it was not an opponent I could recklessly challenge.

I slowly tossed the crossbow I was holding in one hand far away.

And I spread open both my palms to express that I had no intention of attacking.

“Here, look. There's nothing. I'm not trying to attack. I wasn't trying to invade your pack's territory either.”

The fellow's black pupils scanned both my empty hands, and I willingly stood like a stone statue so the opponent could check sufficiently.

As the panting wolf gradually evened its breathing, I also calmed my pounding heart.

“Grrr.”

The fellow, perhaps completely calmed, retracted the teeth it was baring and corrected its posture.

Though the pitiful squirrel under its paw was still as it was.

“Squeak!! Kkwek!!!”

The fellow was moving its body here and there, as if its stepped-on tail hurt.

“Grrrr.”

The fellow growled lowly, as if getting heated up again at the sight of the squirrel.

It probably wasn't holding down that little fellow like that just to eat it.

Besides, the opponent, seen calmly, looked to be the owner of a milder temperament than expected.

It didn't seem like it was just getting angry recklessly.

This required hearing the wolf's side of the story too.

Considering the past conduct of my little companion, I had a strong premonition that it had probably thrown the first punch, so I slowly approached the two fellows in a standoff.

“Both of you, calm down. You too, you're the size of a mountain, you won't feel very good about bullying this little fellow.”

When I spoke calmly, the wolf fellow flapped its ears once, as if agreeing with my words, then let out a 'poo-' breath and released the strength from the paw pressing down on the little troublemaker.

As expected, the animals in this world are all good listeners.

Now, if I just got a little consent and stroked its neck, today would, after a long detour, be a success.

“Squeak!”

“Grrr!!”

“Wait……!”

Was it true that a cornered mouse would bite a cat?

The damn big-nerved little squirrel fellow, as soon as the force pressing it down was gone, shot out like an arrow and bit the wolf's forepaw.

The wolf seemed to be overcome with surprise, a slight sense of betrayal toward me, and anger.

It was instantaneous.

The agitated wolf shook off the fellow stuck to its forepaw and opened its mouth to chew and swallow it in one bite.

Maybe I had a greater love for animals than I thought.

Or maybe I remembered the yellow chick I secretly bought for 500 won behind my father's back when I was young.

That fellow was beaten to death, and I was beaten to within an inch of my life.

With one hand, I shielded the small fellow that had been thrown to the ground, and with the other hand, I pushed somewhere between the wolf's nape and chest with strength that would surely be far from enough to push away the large wild animal.

What is there that can stop a wolf?

What I can turn into are small rodents or, at best, a fox, and for birds, only a crow.

It would be great if I could turn into a wolf, but I had no way of knowing if I had touched its neck properly.

Then should I first become a crow and snatch this damn squirrel fellow away?

There were many thoughts, but in truth, the time given to me was a mere instant.

The wolf's teeth were close at hand, and I still hadn't organized my thoughts, so in the end, I reached a completely absurd conclusion.

‘Dammit, become a winged wolf or whatever.’

And,

A heat incomparable to before enveloped my entire body.

***

“The Piteos Ducal Family has started a charity project building a shelter in the central district of the capital.”

A middle-aged man with graying hair said stiffly.

The 2nd Prince, Dito Abalan, who was sitting at his desk looking out the window, made an 'hmm' sound and twirled the rim of the empty crystal glass.

The smile was not erased from his lips.

Thwack.

Even at the moment the crystal bottle he was fiddling with flew and hit the man's head, making a dull sound, the smile on Dito's face did not distort.

“That pisses me off.”

“I apologize.”

The man, who was not permitted to wipe the flowing blood, stood still even as the blood that flowed down his forehead entered his eye.

“What kind of thing is sitting as the Piteos Ducal Family's acting head right now?”

“It is Tollin Crisa. As the third son of the Crisa Count Family, he worked for 13 years as the aide to Agoni Piteos, who died in the Piteos family.”

“Ah, so a pair of vermin have made things troublesome.”

Dito Abalan, who muttered with a still-twirling face, this time picked up an eagle-shaped ornament that was on the desk.

And he took a stance as if to throw a shot put toward his aide in front of him.

“……”

The 2nd Prince, who was staring for a moment at the man who still had his eyes lowered with an expressionless face, put down the ornament with a sound of deflating.

“You're no fun because you don't even scream or move when you're hit.”

To him, who spoke as if he had lost interest, the aide bowed his head and apologized.

“I apologize.”

“Enough. If you're no fun, you should at least be fast at handling work. Investigate the Crisa Count Family's tax records for the last 5 years. If even the smallest pretext is found, detain the Count immediately.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“On your way out, throw that filthy thing away.”

As the 2nd Prince jutted his chin toward the blood-stained crystal glass rolling on the floor, his loyal aide bowed his head deeply once more, then carefully picked up the glass and left the office.

He leaned back in his chair and took in the bright sky with his eyes.

Though it wasn't that he looked at it because he thought it was beautiful.

It felt like his mood was foul, but the sky outside seemed to be the same, so it grated on his nerves.

Lately, the feeling that something was out of place was getting on his nerves.

The sensation that a cogwheel, which had been turning smoothly, had lurched due to a small catch.

Nevertheless, the cogwheel didn't stop, but he felt a sense of déja vu.

Everything was heading toward its original goal as planned, but unexpected variables were grating on his nerves.

It started with the 1st Prince, whose body seemed to have collapsed earlier than expected.

His condition, which returned to normal as if that had been a momentary illusion, was also strange, but that was a problem that could be passed off as a side effect.

The problem was his subtly changed attitude.

It wasn't that he was a different person.

He was still foolish, simple, and floundering in delusion.

Not even knowing that he was being sucked into a deep darkness and drowning.

And yet, he would sometimes act against his intentions.

‘Does that mean... there might be someone controlling the 1st Prince?’

If so, could the sudden death of Agoni Piteos or the ducal family's charity project also be related to that?

The 2nd Prince tapped the desk with his fingers.

The probability was extremely low.

For someone to break into a perfectly woven script that had been ongoing for over ten years.

There was no reason, nor opportunity.

But what if it was the appearance of a completely new character.

Dito Abalan imagined the 'what if', even knowing it was an extremely low probability.

It didn't matter.

This world had given him everything, as if in a well-written script.

This time, too, would be no different.

The 2nd Prince laughed cheerfully again and entrusted his body to the plush chair.

***

The 2nd Prince's fun playmate candidate was standing blankly on all fours in the middle of the forest.

Flapping black wings.

The 7th Prince, Ran Abalan, looked around once at his own body, which had sprouted gray fur, and also cast his gaze on the black wings, which were adorable for his body size, sprouting from his back, and laughed in resignation.

Although, it only came out as a 'grrr' animal sound.

In any case, it seemed sufficient to celebrate the new discovery.

So, Customization was possible?