Barnada Garundel was nervous.

  Ever since yesterday's suspicious Humanita incident, not only had he been pressured by His Majesty the King and His Highness the King's Brother to keep silent, but bizarre phenomena had occurred—the suspect appearing from and disappearing into empty space—and today he'd been summoned to the royal family's private chambers. A series of normally impossible events.

  The royal family's private chambers—a place where even prominent court figures were rarely permitted entry, let alone a lowly Equs like himself, a mere military officer.

  And he'd been summoned there by His Majesty the King himself.

  Could something about yesterday's Humanita have touched His Majesty's wrath?

  Was he about to be disposed of?

  Without even getting married, his short life would...

  "Equs Garundel? What are you doing in a place like this?"

  Walking while lost in thought with his head down, Garundel was startled by a voice addressing him and looked up ahead.

  There stood a person he absolutely didn't want to see in such a place, looking at him with a puzzled expression.

  "M-Marc Mengen!

  Royal Castle Guard Captain, Barnada Garundel!

  I have hastened here by His Majesty the King's command!"

  He'd reported in great haste, but the person in question furrowed his brow.

  "Quiet. Do you know where you are?

  However... His Majesty's command—you were also summoned?

  Should I call it coincidence? Or perhaps..."

  Before his supreme superior, who looked down at him with an appraising gaze as if thinking 'Did this one do something?', Garundel was completely intimidated, his ears flattening back and his tail trying to curl between his legs.

  Marc Mengen, Daharat Mengen Pahr, who'd been watching him with pitying eyes, approached Garundel and ordered him in a low, growling voice:

  "You're not planning to show such a pathetic appearance before His Majesty, are you?

  Listen. Chest out. Tail straight. Ears up.

  As a soldier of the kingdom, I, Daharat Mengen, will not permit such a cowering display."

  Though Garundel had quite a large build, the silver Lupacid (wolf beastman) standing before him, Marc Mengen, felt so massive that even he felt no chance of matching him.

  "Y-yes! I'll engrave it in my heart!"

  About to answer loudly, Garundel remembered the earlier warning and instead gave a measured response without raising his voice.

  "Good. Now, let us go."

  Saying this, Mengen led Garundel to the reception room and informed the waiting attendant of their arrival.

  "Your Majesty, Marc Mengen and Equs Garundel have both arrived."

  'Very well, admit them.'

  The elegant, sturdy door to the reception room opened, and the attendant said to them:

  "Please, enter."

  An attendant serving His Majesty closely would be at least a Vicari.

  Being addressed respectfully by a noble superior to himself, Garundel felt utterly uncomfortable.

  In truth, it was respectful language toward Marc Mengen, who stood at the pinnacle of the military—they weren't actually concerned about him.

  After entering the room, Garundel watched Mengen advance before the King, place his right hand on his left shoulder, bow his head in salute, and hastily followed suit.

  "Minister of Military AffairsMengen Pahr and one other, have arrived by Your Majesty's command."

  "Well done. Thank you for coming.

  ...Captain of the Guard, thank you for coming as well."

  "! Royal Castle Guard Captain Barnada Garundel, such gracious words are—"

  "No, it's fine. Let's dispense with formalities.

  Actually, you were the one I needed... but not knowing what might happen if I summoned you alone, I called Lord Mengen along as well.

  I apologize for the inconvenience."

  "Not at all."

  His heart already felt ready to leap from his mouth at being summoned by His Majesty, and now that Minister of Military Affairs had been called along specifically to escort him?

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  ...Trying hard to maintain a dignified attitude so as not to shame himself before the King, Garundel kept his ears straight up, but both the Minister and the King pretended not to notice his tail curled between his legs.

  "Now, as for why I summoned you... Father-dono, please come forth."

  'Father-dono?'

  At the strange title, the two summoned "mentally" tilted their heads.

  If it was the King's father, that would be the late King who'd passed away last year, but adding 'dono'? And saying he was here?

  Their questions deepened when a figure emerged from behind the curtain behind the King.

  "As you command."

  The person approaching from behind the King while answering had a somewhat smaller build among those present, no tail, and wore clothing in an unfamiliar style.

  However, strangest of all was the mask-like thing on his face.

  That white mask made of some unknown glossy, smooth material had a pair of pointed ears and a muzzle protruding forward, shaped somewhat like Canisade, particularly Fene, but the bizarre face drawn with only green and red lines exuded an indescribable eeriness.

  FLINCH.

  In Garundel's field of vision, he saw the Minister's shoulders tense.

  Such a suspicious person had appeared before His Majesty.

  Only because the King had just called him "Father-dono" was he barely restraining himself—normally he'd have already leapt to subdue them.

  However... he'd been sensing it, but that person had a smell from his memory.

  Though quite diluted and mixed with various things, it was unmistakably the scent of yesterday's Humanita.

  But could a scent change so much in just one day?

  The suspicious person spoke.

  "Mr. Garundel, it's been a while.

  Thank you for your assistance yesterday. I am truly grateful."

  Garundel was by no means a dull person.

  However, now that very quality was bringing disaster, driving his psyche toward an abyss of terror.

  He'd proven to himself that the thing before him was undoubtedly yesterday's Humanita.

  His Majesty the King was calling this person "Father-dono" and allowing him to attend closely.

  Understanding what this meant—his lack of insensitivity to not comprehend this was proving his misfortune.

  Both ears, which he'd been desperately keeping up, had already flattened back.

  His tail... need not be mentioned.

  Seeking some salvation, he gazed desperately at Marc Mengen's large back standing ahead, but he too couldn't move. He was fully occupied with being wary of the strange presence before him.

  Ah, if only that person would scold him with "Straighten up! Don't shame the kingdom's military!"—then he might escape this terror...

  "How long do you plan to stand? Come closer, let's sit and talk."

  "P-please forgive meeeee!"

  Before the King addressing him innocently, Garundel couldn't endure the terror, collapsed, knelt, and begged for mercy.

  "...My apologies for this most pathetic display, Your Majesty."

  Mengen, glancing at Garundel, advised the King.

  "For one of his station, this may be rather too stimulating."

  "Mm...

  Hahahahahaha!"

  The King, who'd looked troubled for a moment, burst into hearty laughter the next.

  "Ah, forgive me. Indeed, perhaps too much pressure for him. And I haven't even explained the circumstances.

  Very well, let's make this informal. You two, forget the stiff etiquette."

  "Yes, as Your Majesty commands.

  Equs Garundel, what are you doing? How long do you plan to shame yourself before His Majesty?

  Stand up at once."

  To Garundel's psyche, pushed to its limits, that rebuke sounded sweeter than anything.

  He wanted to immediately obey the command, but couldn't admit even unto death that his legs had given out.

  While watching them, behind the King, the masked stranger and the King's Brother were whispering about something.

  'I told you to stop with that creepy mask!'

  'But humans seem to be regarded with suspicion... Isn't this cute?'

  'Where?!'

  'Ah, should I have added a tail...?'

  'Please, really, just stop.'

  In any case, the situation settled, and the four people besides the King took seats on sofas.

  They were surprised again when, to the King's left—the seat of honor—sat not the King's Brother but the person with the strange mask, but the two tried not to show it. Both the earlier "Father-dono" title and this indicated this person was truly someone important connected to the royal family.

  Though it was informal, they wouldn't ignore basic etiquette, so Mengen sat on the sofa to the King's left, and Garundel, timidly taking a seat on the sofa to his left, felt like sitting on a bed of nails despite the plush luxury sofa.

  "Lord Mengen."

  "Yes."

  "You must have many questions, but could you bear with me for now?

  As for him... Father-dono will be formally announced later."

  "Understood."

  The King himself had said 'ask nothing now.'

  For him—Daharat Mengen—who'd sworn loyalty to the King, there was no objecting further.

  Just as the silence was becoming uncomfortable—

  "Your Majesty, if I may."

  The person in question spoke.

  "What is it?"

  "The atmosphere is too heavy to accomplish our purpose in summoning Mr. Garundel.

  He's still greatly intimidated, is he not?"

  "Ah, right.

  I'd like to say 'relax,' but given his position, he can't be at ease."

  'What military officer could relax before the King—'

  Just as Mengen thought this, that person spoke again.

  "Then, may I try that item?"

  "Do as you please. That's why you called him here in the first place, isn't it?"

  'Try? What?'

  The next moment, the masked man reached into his jacket's chest area.

  There must have been a pocket there, as he pulled something elongated from inside.

  Made of a strange-looking material, brightly colored... with a picture of a Canisade child drawn on it—it definitely didn't look like a weapon.

  However, Daharat Mengen would regret that judgment.

  The masked man tore open that thing's seal.

  Unlike how solid it looked, perhaps made of fragile material, it tore easily with just fingertips.

  The problem was the moment the seal was torn.

  Not even completely torn—the moment a small opening appeared, an indescribably fragrant smell wafted through the room, and the two with keen senses of smell shuddered.

  Something appetizing, bringing to mind delicacies that shouldn't be here—

  Even Garundel's ears, which had been flattened back, were suddenly standing straight, and his nose was twitching.

  Even the calm-faced Mengen was fiercely battling in his heart against the instinct to deeply inhale that scent.

  'That is dangerous.'

  Feeling himself on the verge of succumbing to temptation, Mengen couldn't help but speak.

  "If I may, Your Majesty."

  "What is it?"

  "May I ask what that person... is currently doing?"

  At Mengen's question, the masked man looked toward the King.

  The King gave a look, and the masked man responded.

  "I'm doing nothing.

  I simply wish to offer a small token of gratitude to him... Mr. Garundel, who assisted me yesterday."

  "I believe you're holding something rather dangerous?"

  "Dangerous... you say.

  Indeed, it may be slightly dangerous."

  "What?"

  "Ah, no need to worry.

  I have absolutely no intention of harming him.

  Just... he might like it too much, and it might hit his household budget later... that's all."

  "Like it too much and household budget...?

  Your Majesty, surely not...?"

  "I can guess what you're thinking.

  But it's not 'that sort of thing.'

  I guarantee it."

  If the King said that much, as a subject he could say nothing more.

  Whatever happened to Garundel would happen by the King's will.

  However... the King Rashion that Mengen knew was no such tyrant.

  Who was that masked man, and what was he doing to make the King allow this?

  "Now, Mr. Garundel. Here."

  The masked man lightly squeezed the thing in his hand, making something gooey overflow from the tip, and held it out before Garundel's nose.

  Garundel's nose, having smelled it, was now violently—