Krr and Grr are bloody wolf pups that Luna took in.
They were small enough to sit on my knees with no problem, but now they’re about as big as me.
But they like to be pampered just as much as before, so they’re trying to lick my face, and I’m trying to hold them back.
“They were still young the last time I saw them, right!?”
We go into their house, to hear Elga’s explanation.
It’s actually my first time in here, but it’s not particularly fancy. There aren’t a lot of things here, but there’s a hibachi in the center. I’ve only seen those on TV.
I sit next to Reina with Elga in front of us.
Livia is away somewhere, and Luna and Snow are playing with the now bigger Krr and Grr.
“So, why are they that big?”
“Well, it’s their growing season…”
“Growing season…”
Luna, Krr, Grr…What’s going on with the beings of this island?
Elga looks a little awkward, because he can probably see the iffy looks on our faces.
“Sorry, I’m jokin’. I guess they formed a contract with Luna already, so they were spurred by her.”
“Contract?”
I’ve never heard of that on this island, so I ask back.
“Yes, a lord and retainer contract. You can form one of those if both parties want it. And those guys get along, so…”
“Eh…”
“Unlike normal animals, monsters attack on instinct. So even if you raise them from when they’re young, they’re still not gonna take to you. But monsters can be freed from those instincts through a contract.”
“I see.”
So they’re that friendly because they formed a contract with Luna. But hearing of contracts makes it sound like a videogame.
“Well, there aren’t any bad effects.”
“I see… That’s good then, but…”
It sounds like Reina wants to say something. I’m sure it’s about Luna.
The way Elga is talking makes it sound like he knows something…
“Why did Luna get so big?”
“Yes. I was really surprised, because I woke up one morning, and she was like that.”
“Haha, yeah, you would be surprised.”
He laughs casually, but I thought my heart would stop.
And it doesn’t look like he’s worried at all.
“But in the end, is Luna all right?”
“Yes, she just got a drastic increase of magic energy because she knows the name of her ancestor. She’ll be back to normal in about a day.”
“Ah, I see.”
“That’s good…”
Reina and I sigh at the same time.
Luna herself seems fine, but we were worried, thinking there might be problems.
“It’s actually a happy occasion. We’re keepin’ it secret from Luna, but we’re actually holding a banquet for her.”
“Hn? So you knew she would learn her ancestor’s name now?”
“Yes.”
So that’s why Elga has been busy lately.
That said, learning the name of an ancestor is an important event for a divine beast person, that is proof of their maturity.
It makes sense that Elga would be so fired up, for a girl he raised as a daughter.
“Well then, we have to celebrate too.”
“Of course.”
“Ooh, thanks.”
“Luna is always looking after us too.”
With that decided, we should get her a present. But we can’t think of anything she’d want besides food.
If possible, I’d like it to be something she can keep as a memento…
“Can you think of something?”
“Well…”
Reina and I are thinking about it, but we’re not getting any ideas.
And eventually, Elga turns to us with a strangely gentle expression.
“The banquet is only happening when the elder comes back, so it’s another day.”
“Then we have time to think of something.”
“Yes. Something she would like… Food?”
“Hahaha, I thought the same thing Reina, but it should be something she can keep.”
I look outside, and see Luna and Snow riding the big Krr and Grr.
Looking at that picture of freedom gives me an itch.
“I want to ride them too.”
“So do I…”
Honestly, it looks pretty fun.
◇ ◇ ◇
After playing for a while, Elga calls me, and we all go back.
“What?”
“You’ve been playing too much.”
“Eh… It’s fine.”
Even if her body is bigger, Luna is Luna, and Elga is treating her the same as always too.
“Geez… What was your ancestor again?”
According to Elga, once they learn the name of their ancestor, they know it like it’s carved into their soul.
Some people suffer a lot, because they know everything their ancestor experienced, but Luna shows no signs of that.
“Dunno!”
“I see, Dunno… I’ve never heard of that one. What kind of divine beast was it?”
“Luna just said dunno!”
“…”
“…?”
Elga freezes, and Luna tilts her head in confusion.
“I can’t even picture that divine beast Dunno.”
“Elga, she’s saying she doesn’t know.”
Is he trying not to accept it? He’s trying really hard to hang on to that divine beast Dunno.
She even said that she had more tails when she woke up. It’s clear that she doesn’t have her ancestor’s memories.
“T-that can’t be right! Luna has the power of her ancestor… Hey Luna, don’t you remember something?”
“Tail got bigger!”
“I see…”
Elga stares into the distance. He’s starting to come to grips with reality.
If what he says is right, she’s getting stronger through the power of her ancestor’s name.
But from my point of view, even though I feel more magic energy, nothing has changed other than her appearance.
“So what now…”
“Is it bad?”
“I’ve never seen anything like it, so I don’t even know if it’s bad.”
I turn to Luna, and see her fidgeting. She’s tired of being here.
“Luna, are you really all right?”
“You too mister? Luna’s just gotten a bit bigger and with more tails.”
And she’s sick of hearing the same questions.
She’s looking at us like she’s asking if she can go already. And so we nod, and she goes back to playing with Krr and Grr.
“Ah, Snow too!”
And Snow goes to ride Grr.
It’s cute… It is, but…
“I guess we just gotta see how she does for now.”
“Suzaku might know something.”
“Yes… If the elder is coming back in a few days, we should ask her then.”
Says Reina.
“Hn, got it. And she should be back to normal tomorrow, right?”
“Normally, yes.”
I guess at this point, we’ve already deviated from what’s normal. Even Elga doesn’t sound confident.
“Hey Elga, can we stay here for tonight?”
Reina is also concerned about Luna.
Elga accepts her proposal, so we’re staying the night in the divine beast people’s village.
And the next morning…
“Yay! Good morning!”
Luna is happy that we stayed in her house, and wakes us up with her usual cheerful voice…
“Yes, the same as always.”
“…She hasn’t changed.”
I say, followed by Reina. She’s still a grown woman moving like a kid.
“Seriously…”
“Oh dear.”
Elga and Livia are also looking on with troubled expressions.
But Luna herself doesn’t care, and just smiles.
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Thanks for the treat.