TLWD 45

Chapter : 45. The Hounds (2)

The commander of the monster legion.

Kai also agreed with Adrian’s plan that they had to eliminate this leader.

So Kai was checking his equipment while waiting for Adrian. Adrian had said he would bring one more person for the subjugation.

And after some time…

From afar, Adrian was walking toward him.

Following behind him, like a duckling behind its mother, was a small figure.

A petite woman trotting behind Adrian like a baby duck trailing its mother duck.

“Lady Seraphia…?”

None other than Seraphia.

“Ah, Sir Kai, you’re here too.”

“Why is Lady Seraphia…?”

“Well, that’s because—”

“Seraphia’s coming with us for this subjugation,” Adrian said.

“What…?”

“That’s how it is,” he replied.

Seraphia smiled sheepishly and said she would be in their care.

But Kai had no intention of doing so.

With narrowed eyes, he asked Adrian,

“What are you scheming?”

“I told you. We’re hunting down the commander of the legion.”

“Then why are you bringing Lady Seraphia?”

“Because we need her help.”

“Wouldn’t just the two of us be enough?”

“No.”

Adrian’s answer was as sharp as a blade.

“Then at least bring some soldiers.”

“They’d be useless. They wouldn’t even make decent meat shields.”

“Is the commander of the legion really that powerful?”

“Yes. Even if you and I go all out, we can’t guarantee a win.”

“I should mention… I’ve recently—”

“Even you, who has stepped into the realm of a Master, wouldn’t stand a chance.”

“…You knew?”

Kai was at a loss for words.

It was rare for someone to perceive someone else’s level at a glance.

There was only one case where that was possible — when someone far more powerful assessed someone weaker.

In other words, Adrian was indicating that he was far stronger than Kai.

“That’s why we need Seraphia’s help to take down the commander.”

His words were just as firm and cutting.

Seraphia clenched her fists and said she would do her best.

Kai swallowed hard and spoke calmly.

“Just who is this commander?”

That was that, but this was this. Kai wouldn’t move until given a proper explanation.

Adrian let out a small sigh, then finally answered:

“A lycanthrope.”

Lycanthrope.

From the Greek lycos, meaning “wolf,” and anthropos, meaning “human.”

The word meant werewolf.

There were countless theories about the origin of werewolves.

One: a person infected after being bitten by a wolf.

Another: a human-wolf hybrid.

Nonsense: a result of a sorcerer’s curse.

Utter garbage: a failed experiment by a necromancer trying to create an undead.

These theories spawned many legends and myths across the continent.

But eventually, with the development of a new classification system called “Monsterology,” it was concluded that werewolves were humans who had undergone monstification.

Some starving human had eaten monster flesh, gone mad, and turned into a werewolf.

That was the accepted truth across the continent — even the Allied Forces believed it.

Until their Archmage offered a different opinion.

The beast commander, the lycanthrope — he claimed — had nothing to do with monsters.

The lycanthrope was not influenced by monsters at all.

“It’s a mental illness,” the Archmage said.

He called it Lycanthropy — a delusion in which a person believed they were a wolf.

But no mere mental illness could cause physical transformation.

If it could, it wouldn’t be a mental illness — it would be a superpower.

Thus, no one in the Allied Forces believed the Archmage’s theory…

…until Ian said this:

“Kai wasn’t resurrected as a Death Knight.”

According to Ian, Kai had become a Lich by sheer will.

He had no magical knowledge, yet turned himself into an undead.

Pure will alone had allowed him to transcend the laws of the world.

So who was to say that a change in one’s genes was impossible?

In truth, human belief can create things out of nothing.

The placebo effect, where a fake medicine improves symptoms.

Phantom pain, where people feel pain in limbs that no longer exist.

False pregnancy, born from a deep desire to bear children.

Such deep belief could surpass metaphysical logic.

Difficult, but not impossible.

This was how auras came into being — manifestations of human will given form.

That was why only humans could wield aura.

And indeed, the Archmage had been correct. The lycanthrope was not a monster.

He was a human whose body had changed through will — a form of transformation through belief.

Ironically, the one who proved this theory… was the Emperor.

The Emperor extracted the transformation factor from the lycanthrope and injected it into other humans.

He even went as far as forcing captured women into mating experiments.

The lycanthrope was a transformed human, so the Emperor assumed interbreeding was possible.

The Archmage proved this in theory; the Emperor proved it through experiment.

And so—

The beast legion — the Werebeasts — were born.

Direct descendants of the lycanthrope: Werewolves.

Crossbreeds with tigers: Weretigers.

With bears: Werebears.

With foxes: Werefoxes, and so on.

These beasts had strength and speed beyond human limits.

With heightened senses and regeneration, they devastated the Allied Forces.

Compared to them, monsters were nothing.

Which meant only one thing:

“The Emperor’s experiments are already complete.”

He now breeds werebeasts in the royal dungeon using the transformation factor.

Having completed his experiments, the Emperor let the lycanthrope loose — subordinated to the beast king — onto the continent.

Otherwise, there’s no way it would be here.

“He’s been planning this all along…”

The Emperor’s methods were chillingly thorough and sinister.

I, too, needed to act faster now.

Find Ian sooner.

Form the Allied Forces sooner.

Build power to oppose the Empire.

“But first — the lycanthrope.”

It would’ve been best if we had captured him before the Emperor did.

But that ship had sailed.

Subjugating the lycanthrope now was the best course of action.

In my past life, the damage he inflicted on the Allied Forces had been catastrophic.

But if we kill him now—

“We can prevent that.”

However, he wouldn’t show himself easily.

“He’s wary of me.”

Because he saw [Dragon’s Wrath] in action.

That skill incinerated half the monster legion.

Even the beast king would find it threatening.

The lycanthrope saw that through his legion — and now feared me most.

As long as I’m around, he won’t show himself.

“Seraphia.”

“Y-yes?”

“You’re the bait.”

So we’d lure him out using Seraphia.

“M-me?”

“Yes.”

The lycanthrope had an intense breeding drive.

Or rather, the Emperor had given him one.

Since he was still fundamentally human, he only felt that desire toward other humans.

“That’s probably why the legion attacked the count’s territory — for women.”

The same thing must’ve happened in my past life.

I’m not sure how that went, but this time, I ruined it for him.

Still, he wouldn’t give up so easily.

The desolate north had few humans — especially women — for him to target.

Which is why we had to bait him using Seraphia—

“Absolutely not!!”

…As expected.

Kai’s face contorted in rage.

He was firmly against the idea of using Seraphia as bait.

Of course he was — his whole world revolved around her.

I’d been wondering when he’d explode.

“If we leave the lycanthrope alone, who knows what will happen?”

“Still—!”

“He’s probably already preparing to breed a new legion and attack again.”

And if that happened, even I couldn’t stop it.

The penalty of the sudden quest would cause the count’s territory to fall.

“We have to find and kill him as soon as possible.”

“Even so! You can’t use Lady Seraphia as bait! It’s too dangerous! And have you even considered the possibility the lycanthrope is female—”

“He’s male.”

From my past life’s memory — definitely male.

Kai clenched his jaw.

But he didn’t argue further.

He must’ve believed me.

He also knew how urgent the situation was.

“Does it have to be Lady Seraphia?”

That was true. Any human woman would do.

“We could use a maid or some woman from the territory.”

“Then why Seraphia—”

“Because she’s the most beautiful woman here.”

The lycanthrope had no reason left — only instincts.

He was drawn to beauty. The more beautiful the woman, the more excited he became.

And objectively, Seraphia was stunning.

Even Ian had once said she was prettier than a saint.

Not that I agreed.

“I’ll do it!”

Seraphia, who’d been silent, suddenly shouted.

“Just as Brother said, I’ll be the bait!”

“Lady Seraphia!”

“No, Sir Kai. I must do this.”

“It’s too dangerous!”

“It’s fine. I’ve done nothing so far. When Brother was fighting the monster legion, and when you were chasing them alone—”

“That was my duty. As a knight—”

“Then this is my duty.”

Her crimson eyes shone with determination.

“I don’t want to just hide and hope for help. I want to be helpful.”

“……”

“If you two risked your lives for this land, then so can I.”

Perhaps because of her unshakable resolve, Kai finally bowed his head.

“Then… I’ll stay by your side to protect you.”

“No, you won’t.”

I stopped him right there.

“The lycanthrope is extremely cautious. And he’s seen you killing his monsters.”

“……”

“If you’re near Seraphia, he won’t approach.”

So neither Kai nor I could be with her.

“She has to be alone. At least until he shows himself.”

“And if she gets hurt…?”

“Well, then… too bad.”

Kai’s expression turned murderous.

He looked ready to kill me.

If it were up to me, I’d just leave him behind.

But we needed him to defeat the lycanthrope.

And Kai would never agree to a plan that left Seraphia in danger.

“…Then maybe you should dress like a woman.”

“……?”

Kai’s fury turned to blank shock.

Seraphia also gasped in disbelief.

I ignored their reactions and continued.

“What matters is appearance. And you, Kai…”

Flowing golden hair.

Delicate features.

A handsome face that could pass for a beauty.

Even in my past life, Kai’s looks were praised in the Allied Forces — even as an undead lich.

“If you dress up, the lycanthrope might get excited. You can be bait alongside Seraphia.”

Kai stared at me like he truly wanted to kill me.

Even angrier than before.

His hand tightened and loosened around his sword.

A terrifying bloodlust boiled in his deep blue eyes.

But what could I do?

If he wanted to stay by Seraphia’s side, he’d have to.

“So, are you doing it or not?”

Kai’s answer was already decided.