Chapter 11

“Keep our existence a secret. God is always watching over us.” Stefan looked back, his expression on the verge of tears, and quickly nodded several times before dashing away from the room. The door was left ajar, and Col could hear him desperately calling out to somebody. Should the major support of this town, Stefan, change his mind, surely the archbishop would have to listen. And since the clergyman did reach his position through human society and not the teachings of God, then he should see this event as part of the new ways of the world. But perhaps that was a little too hopeful. The room fell silent again, but he could not help but feel uneasy. “…Do you think it will be all right?” Myuri’s red eyes shifted from the door to Col. “I’m more worried if you’ve actually turned into a demon or not, Brother.” That was her way of saying yes. “But if you’re worried, then why not go to the church? If worse comes to worst, I can eat them and then run away, probably.” He wanted to take her up on that, but Hyland would not like it, and it might not be actually possible. Col had somehow managed to trick Stefan, but there was no time to explain Myuri’s existence to the crowds. Hyland had been deemed a heretic, and their hands would be tied if he was seen escaping by the power of a terrifying wolf. That was how Col decided to do what he could do. “Let us pray.” The reason he was in this place at all was directly because of Hyland’s noble will. A commoner had no choice but to respect that. Despite his somber emotions, Myuri did not respond and scratched her neck with her hind legs. Such easygoing behavior reminded Col more of a dog than a wolf. “More importantly, we should go get my clothes now while we can.” “Huh? Ah, of course.” Perhaps being calm and composed like Myuri was the correct answer, instead of anxiety and worry. He had done all he could do. And then, confident there were no people around, Myuri walked down the hallways as unhesitatingly as always, slid up the stairs, and headed to their room. The smell of ink and parchment greeted them, and though they had been in that room just that morning, it felt like they had returned after a very long time. At the end of a day, this kind of place suited him much better than the violence of the world, even if he saw only a quarter of it. He smiled wryly and noticed that Myuri had plopped herself down in front of the clothes folded in the corner of the room. “Is something wrong?” “…Yeah.” Her tail lay flat on the floor, and she spoke without turning toward him. “Maybe I should just throw them away.” “What?” Her clothes were flashy, and to use the words of God, they were profligate. However, it was true that Myuri wore them well. Even still, he remembered that she had happily put her outfit together to show off to him. It was partially his fault that the view of her back seemed so sad. “Oh, but it’s not your fault, Brother.” Over her shoulder, she said, as though she had discerned his thoughts, “It’s not, I just…can’t wear them, like this.” “Huh?” “When I showed you the wheat, I said it was for when we really needed it, right? There’s a reason for that.” Myuri turned to face him, her front legs neatly placed together. Only her eyes were cast downward. “I’m different from Mother. Mother has a hard time hiding her ears and tail, but it’s easy for her to become a wolf. I’m the opposite. That’s why this is only when we need it the most.” “No…” Even if she could easily transform, she might not be able to turn back. He knew that was what she meant now, and the blood drained from his face. Even if they returned to Nyohhira, she would not be able to stay in the bathhouse as a wolf. She would not be able to stay in any populated area. How could she decide to do such a thing for his sake?! “C-can’t we…can’t we do something about this?” He ran to her, and the silver wolf narrowed her eyes in pain and lowered her head. It was as though the more he suffered, the more she suffered as well. “Don’t make that face, Brother. I’m really glad I could have an adventure, like the ones Mother and Father told me about.” Those words wounded his heart. Myuri was a kind girl. She had not explained any of this and simply acted for his sake. He had been so involved in fulfilling his own dreams that he had paid no attention to her. Even though Col did not reciprocate Myuri’s feelings for him, she had sacrificed herself for him. All his apologies and self-hatred beforehand were just self-indulgent. There were no words to express how he felt, and he could only wrap his arms around her neck. “Brother…,” Myuri murmured quietly. “But you know, there is a way to turn back into a human.” He lifted his head, and Myuri was gazing at him earnestly. “What is it? Please tell me!” “But I don’t want to see you suffer anymore, Brother.” “Myuri! I can’t imagine anything that could make me suffer more!” Myuri closed her eyes and showed her teeth. It was a troubled smile. “I’m glad you feel that way.” “Myuri!” He called her name, and after a few moments of silence, her eyes opened and turned to him. “Are you sure?” “Of course.” Myuri, still hesitant, dropped her gaze before slowly lifting it again. “Remember the promise I made to you.” Col was Myuri’s friend. That was even more certain than any prayer to God. Myuri had opened the door to an outcome that she did not want, all for him. So now, it was Col’s turn. He would do anything, no matter how much misery it would cause him. Her red eyes were staring at him. They were the same as when she was little and came crying to him upon learning that she was different from other people. Then, those ruby eyes closed, as though she was going to sleep. “It happens a lot in stories.” “…Stories?” “Yeah. Lots of old tales…You even said that in the story of your village, there was a big frog long ago, right? There are stories that must have really happened long ago.” That was true. A perfect example was the story of Myuri’s own mother, Holo. “That’s why…you know…” She opened her eyes and gazed at the floor. She then looked up at him like a disheartened puppy. “The prince is the one that breaks the spell on the princess, right?” “That’s…” There was no way he did not know what she meant. Though it was a sacred act, it would violate his vows of abstinence. Myuri immediately looked away. “No, you have dreams to become a priest, Brother. I won’t make you do it.” “Myuri.” He looked straight at her. Though she was covered in fur, and her mouth was big and filled with sharp teeth, she was still Myuri, the same girl he had known since birth. If it could turn her back, then he did not mind how uncomfortable he was before God. “You can change back that way?” “…Yeah, but—” “Very well.” “Brother?” If he hesitated here, then Myuri would most likely never believe anything he said anymore. No—she might never believe anything anyone ever had to say in the future as well. He did not want to imagine a Myuri who distrusted others with a cold stare and declared, “That’s nothing but talk.” He did not want her to doubt that there were things worth believing in, things that were genuine in the world. These were the golden bonds that preserved the most wonderful parts of life. I see; so this is what Hyland was thinking when he went to the church, prepared for death, Col thought. Actions must follow through on faith. Myuri indicated she was ready. “Brother…Thank you.” Even if the mouth full of teeth made him shy, Myuri was still Myuri. Nothing was different about his cute little sister. Then, he put his hand on her snout and brought his face closer to it. “Oh, wait, um, Brother…?” “What is it?” “Um…It’s embarrassing, so can you close your eyes? And your hands make me nervous, so…can you let go?” Myuri looked up at him with puppy eyes again, her ears and tail drooping. She was a girl of age. When the fact occurred to him again, he suddenly became rather embarrassed himself. Col cleared his throat, let go of her, and closed his eyes. “Is this all right?” “Yeah.” He did not care how far the seat of God was, as long as Myuri could return to her human form again and they could live in Nyohhira as they always had. And this did not break his vows of abstinence. It was something meant to save another, and he had not given in to lust. Besides, even the prophets had to kiss those possessed by demons on the forehead and hands to save them. So this was…Then Col’s line of thinking halted with a question mark. A kiss on the forehead or hand? Then was it at all necessary to give a kiss on the lips? There were certainly many stories in which a prince breaks the spell placed on a princess by giving her a kiss on the lips, but could Myuri’s situation even be called a “curse”? Something was odd. What had Myuri said in the first place? There is a way to turn back into a person. He recalled her exact words and suddenly realized— She never said that was the way to solve it in stories! “Ah—” He opened his eyes, and there he saw Myuri already back in her human form. She did not want him to notice, so she was holding back her hair back and keeping her arms and legs away, sticking her face out in an odd pose. Then their eyes met; she grinned slyly and flew at him. Col moved to the side. He could hear the thud of her head hitting the floor behind him. “Owww…” When he remembered back, after his eyes were closed, he had heard Myuri speaking in her normal voice. And if she had been practicing transforming with Holo in the first place, then of course she would be able to change back. “Aww, I missed.” She did not act bashfully, nor did she try to hide her nakedness. Col was unsure what he should be angry about first. He just stood and spoke. “Myuri!” Myuri shrugged and hid her face with her arms, but he could see her smiling underneath. “I only did the same thing you did earlier.” She did not lie but had simply let him interpret it the wrong way. He could not counter a sound argument. “Urgh…” “But you weren’t lying when you said you would always be my friend. I’m going to cry,” she said with a bright smile, and his anger faded. Nothing made him happier than knowing she finally understood the meaning of his resolve. “By the way, can you hear those cheers coming from the square?” “Ah, what? Hey, Myuri!” She stood, her familiar tail wagging as she rushed to the window and flung it open. Her arms and legs lit up as the light of the square reached them. “It looks like it went well, Brother! Ba—” Col plopped his coat onto her head. “Ears. Tail. And you are a girl—be more modest!” Myuri poked her head out from under the coat and draped it over herself, annoyed. He suddenly felt dizzy; perhaps he had gotten too angry or too tired from these past few days. “Gosh, you’re always so cross.” “And whose fault do you…?” “Oh, it did go well! I can hear blondie’s voice.” Not paying any mind to his scolding, she leaned out the window, ears pricked up. But this excitement would be the end of it. Myuri would return to Nyohhira, and Col would go to the Kingdom of Winfiel with Hyland. It would not be a depressing parting, but on the contrary, a rather good one. “Oh, hey, Brother, this means you can collect on a huge favor now!” And she went as far as to say such a thing. But there was no need for that. Hyland was a noble person. He was truly glad it went well. “Hey, Brother…Brother?” He was truly glad… “Brother, come on, are you okay?” Col had run out of energy, and he wavered, but Myuri held him up. She was a mischievous, tomboyish girl, but she was reliable when the time called for it. As his consciousness faded, he was not anxious. He was comfortable, like he was soaking in the baths. She was constantly indulging him, so he gave in. At least it was the end. He thought about this as the faint smell of sulfur invited him, and the last of his tension eased in Myuri’s arms.