Chapter 118: A Toothless Tiger
- Reira ☾⋆⁺₊✧ᶻ 𝗓 𐰁
- Dec 13, 2025
- 9 min read
“Even so, I’m okay now.”
[That is not possible. It must have been hard.]
The monster’s voice sagged like waterlogged cotton.
A monster that had lived a long time knew humans.
Humans never dared to feel jealousy toward those in positions far above their reach, but when such a person came close, they would seize the chance to slander and envy them viciously.
To them, a god who had lost authority would have been prime prey.
There was no way she could be okay, having endured it in her fragile body.
“But that’s how I was able to come this far. The person I am now was made that way.”
[...]
“If I hadn’t made that choice back then, the person I am now wouldn’t exist. And you monsters…”
Alicia stopped speaking mid-sentence, swallowing hard as she met its eyes.
She had received so much help that it didn’t feel right to keep calling it ‘monster’ all the time.
“…What’s your name?”
[Name?]
The monster tilted its head.
“It feels weird to just keep calling you ‘monster.’”
[...]
“…Perhaps, did I make a mistake?”
Alicia looked up at its gaze and smiled awkwardly.
She still didn’t fully understand the monsters.
[Me, have no name.]
“You don’t have a name?”
[Without a name, one is forgotten. That is why we were forgotten. No one remembers us. That is the punishment we received.]
“…Then how about I give you a name?”
[You?]
The monster’s eyes widened noticeably.
Alicia scratched her cheek and smiled awkwardly at the intense gaze.
“Of course, only if you’re okay with it. We’ll be together from now on, so I can’t keep calling you a monster.”
[...]
“You don’t like it?”
[No. I like it. Anything is fine if it is from you.]
The monster’s eyes sparkled like a child who had just received a surprise gift.
Alicia gently stroked the monster’s head.
“Then, how about ‘Pelsy’?”
[Memory.]
The monster let out a low growl.
"So you know the meaning."
[You taught me. Everything about us, I learned from you.]
"So your god was kind."
[Yes. They were kind. That was why everyone loved them. And they gave me my original name, too.]
The monster’s eyes grew unfocused.
Moisture glistened at the elongated corners of the monster’s eyes.
Even though it knew the god it remembered and Alicia were different, it couldn’t help but naturally look for traces of the past in her.
A monster that loved its god couldn’t help but love even the smallest fragment left behind.
“Then we’ll only use the name ‘Pelsy’ until you find your original name—”
[My name is Pelsy. From the moment you gave it to me, I became Pelsy.]
“Then what about your original name?”
[A name exists to be called. If no one remembers it or calls it, it has no meaning. So I am Pelsy. I like this name.]
The monster, no, Pelsy, gently rumbled and rubbed its face against the back of Alicia’s hand.
The monster, smiling and showing its teeth, looked genuinely happy.
・・・・・
James frowned as he looked into the mirror.
He couldn’t even imagine how expensive the fabric must be. It was so soft it seemed like it would melt upon touch. But one thing was certain: the man reflected in the mirror looked quite like a noble.
“This suits you far better than I expected.”
Zerpheus, who was sitting behind him, smirked.
“Am I really allowed to go to the party like this?”
“There are already many people curious about you, so of course you should go.”
“I understand that the current situation is not very good.”
“It’s precisely because things aren’t good that we have to enjoy the party. This is a place where, by any means, you have to look plausible in order to survive."
The imperial capital, Alaugust, was different from Schwarhan, where annual parties could probably be counted on one hand.
The nobles of Alaugust lived more extravagant lives than nobles from any other region of the empire.
They enjoyed socialising while dancing and chatting under lavish chandeliers, and above all, they loved to flaunt their wealth and power even amidst such gatherings.
To mingle with the most prominent nobles of the capital, one always had to display a dazzling plumage like a courting peacock.
“Some nobles might recognise me from my days as a painter.”
"I see, so a person so concerned with the opinions of insignificant nobles actually went and carried out a ploy like that."
"..."
“Don’t worry too much. In any case, you can just say things appropriately depending on the situation. And above all, no one’s bold enough to actually speak that fact out loud, so there’s really nothing to fret about.”
Zerpheus casually brushed back his hair as if it were nothing.
In Schwarhan, where people were too busy making a living to enjoy refined hobbies, a rising painter’s reputation might have mattered, but not in the capital.
Nobles whose names were fairly well known in the capital each had their own painters whom they personally sponsored.
No matter how skilled a painter he was, without a patron, it was obvious he would have had to drift among mediocre nobles.
"What do you mean by 'say things appropriately'?"
“I’m just saying, we should think about this sensibly. Honestly, what ordinary painter could possibly have the power to exterminate a witch? Unless, of course, one suddenly received a divine revelation and gained special power.”
“...”
“Why are you looking at me like that? It’s all a fabricated story anyway. A few more lies won’t hurt.”
Zerpheus tightened his cravat with a showy flourish.
After going through all the trouble of bringing God’s representative, he couldn’t just keep him tucked away.
He had to parade him around to provoke Herman and, ultimately, draw Cabelenus out.
“Stop overthinking and let’s get going. Oh, and of course, you should take off that bracelet before we go.”
“That is not possible.”
James instinctively stepped back half a pace and winced, realising his mistake.
But Zerpheus was already watching him with a gleam of curiosity in his eyes.
“Why not?”
“…This is a keepsake from my lover. No matter what happens, I cannot take it off.”
James subtly covered the bracelet with his hand, but the gesture only seemed to provoke Zerpheus.
“Is that so?”
Zerpheus’s eyes narrowed.
But there was no real flaw to pick on.
The bracelet, made by stringing together beads, looked ordinary from the outside.
Aside from being irritated by James’s reaction, there was nothing wrong with it.
Entering the imperial palace meant passing through inspections, and James’s belongings had already been checked multiple times.
If there had been any issue with the bracelet, it would have been caught long ago.
‘It's just my overthinking.’
Zerpheus rubbed his chin with his thumb and dismissed the thought.
・・・・・
His frozen breath shattered into a cloud of white.
Cabelenus pulled the reins as he gazed over the endless expanse of snow.
The bone-piercing wind was as fierce as ever, yet the man’s mind was completely elsewhere.
“Nothing seems out of the ordinary.”
「Is that so?」
Hearing Gazeff’s voice in his head, Cabelenus pressed his forehead.
After years of research, he had succeeded in miniaturising the existing communicator, yet the buzzing voices of others never quite felt familiar.
“Are there any other artifacts nearby?”
「Yes. According to the records, the traces of Prime in Schwarhan end with that tower.」
“Then, as expected, they’re not in Schwarhan.”
「Since they were exiled, they are likely somewhere outside.」
“I half-expected it, but it’s a shame.”
Cabelenus frowned as he looked at the crumbling tower.
He had checked around to see if Prime, who was obsessed with the god, might have tried returning to Schwarhan. But, as expected, he found nothing.
「What will you do from here? Will you return as you are?」
“It’s too early to return, so for now, I’ll move steadily westward.”
「Are you sure? I’ve heard the border guards have been unusually alert lately.」
“That’s why I came alone. It’s easier to move without anyone on my tail.”
「I’m saying this just in case, but please don’t cause a commotion.」
Facing a few soldiers would be easier than bending a finger for Cabeleinus, but rash actions could easily become a liability.
Moving quietly required an equal measure of patience.
“Do you think I’m incapable of such judgment?”
「After all, it’s the young lady’s matter.」
“…She’s been doing well, right?”
「She is doing well. Thanks to the soup, her complexion has improved a lot.」
“I see.”
Cabelenus’s voice softened considerably.
He wanted to communicate freely with Alicia, but the communicator was still not perfect.
He had to conserve mana just in case.
「If you have something to say to the young lady, I will convey it for you.」
“Tell her I’ll be back soon.”
「Is that enough?」
Gazeff’s voice lowered subtly, unable to hide his anticipation.
“Do you need anything else?”
「Hmm, I think it would be better if it were a slightly sweeter message.」
“Words like that should be said in person.”
A faint smile spread across Cabelenus’s lips.
Compared to the time they had been apart, this was nothing, but he couldn’t help wanting to see her.
Cabelenus rolled up his sleeves, recalling the faces that remained in the castle.
On his wrist was a bracelet strung with small beads, oddly out of place on him.
・・・・・
“I thought that, as God’s representative, he’d be older, but I can see that’s not the case.”
"Look at that beautiful face. At that level, he wouldn’t fall behind any other young man."
"That’s why he is God’s representative. If Prime had devoted themselves, they'd surely look just like that."
James sipped his wine, pretending not to hear the conversation.
Ever since God’s representative appeared, people had been completely absorbed in stories about him.
If he just listened a little, he could hear people talking about him, and no one took their eyes off him.
“The wine has a nice aroma.”
“I’m glad it suits your taste. The wine today was actually prepared for a very special guest."
No sooner had Marquis Mandalin finished speaking than everyone eagerly reached for the wine, as if they had been waiting for it.
James maintained a polite smile as he picked up one of the chocolates stacked like a tower and ate it.
Then, this time as well, everyone reached for the plate of chocolate without anyone going first.
James savoured the chocolate melting in his mouth while sipping the remaining wine.
The corners of his lips, touching the glass, curled up slightly.
“Everyone seems very interested in God’s representative.”
Zerpheus narrowed his eyes as he looked at James.
At first, the painter was as awkward as a straw dummy, but after a few parties, he had learned to somewhat convincingly imitate God’s representative.
"Isn’t that only natural? Even if faith isn’t what it used to be, the will of God is with the Empire."
Marquis Mandalin, who stayed by Zerpheus’s side throughout the party, rubbed his hands together and bared his snow-white teeth.
He was a prominent pro-Imperial faction member, a retainer who contributed greatly to Zerpheus becoming emperor.
“Well, that’s true.”
Zerpheus smiled faintly and leisurely looked around.
Perhaps because he was accompanied by God’s representative, the gazes directed at him felt markedly different from before.
“Public opinion isn’t unfavourable. At this rate, His Highness the Grand Duke’s side won’t be able to act recklessly toward us.”
“Well, we’ll see about that. It’s about time the old fox’s patience runs out, isn’t that right?”
“The will of God is on our side. He won’t be able to act easily.”
“With the right ally, it could certainly be done.”
Zerpheus smiled even more broadly as he looked at Duke Melta, who was observing the situation from a distance.
He was well aware that not everyone was looking on favourably.
There were also unfavourable opinions, such as the idea that he had appointed a fake representative of God.
“Duke Melta is now nothing more than a toothless tiger.”
“We can’t really tell whether he’s truly toothless or just pretending to be.”
“If Duke Melta were going to make a move, he would have done so already.”
“Do you really think so?”
“He’s the old man who didn’t even flinch when his daughter died. How would it be any different for his grandson? Honestly, if he were going to act, he would have done so the moment His Highness the Grand Duke was thrown onto the battlefield.”
Marquis Mandalin smirked, covering his mouth with his hand.
Contrary to expectations that Duke Melta wouldn’t accept his daughter’s death, he showed no particular reaction even after the former Empress passed away.
Rather, he did nothing but let the whole affair pass, ignoring his surviving grandson and remaining silent.
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