Naya’s Intervention and a Shocking Revelation

I leaped onto the wolf’s back, but then… I realized I couldn’t reach the werewolf’s heart at all!

“Roar?” Helter turned his head, offering me a crimson smile.

“Oh dear~”

I playfully stuck out my tongue, naively thinking my cuteness might stir some sympathy in the beast…

“ROAR—”

His wolf claws began desperately tearing at his own back!

“Hey, hey, hey! Helter! Do you truly not recognize anyone now?! I’m your good brother!”

Yet, it was utterly useless. My inexplicable plea only made him shake his body more violently, attempting to throw me off.

The force was immense! What a joke! It felt as if I was truly about to be flung away!

I clung desperately to his wolf fur, swinging back and forth in mid-air…

“Roar!”

Suddenly!

He dropped to the ground.

‘Huh? Is he tired?’

“Hah—” I let out a breath.

But my hopes were too optimistic. How could a werewolf’s stamina simply vanish?

“Pong!”

Not this trick again, again, again! You’re a wolf, not a rabbit! Why are you senselessly jumping around?!

Even as I complained, Helter and I were already dozens of feet in the air.

“Help meeeeee!” I shrieked, tears gushing from the corners of my eyes!

“ROAR—”

“Dong!”

The enormous jolt upon landing instantly wiped my mind blank!

My grip weakened… and I simply let go, falling to the ground.

“Wuwuwu.”

Fighting through the dizzying pain, I forced my eyes open, only to find… this scene again! It was exactly like this just this morning!

My hands were restrained, and a ferocious wolf head stared intently into my eyes.

My body trembled, and I instantly snapped awake from my daze.

“Help!”

The werewolf opened its massive maw…

If you’re going to bite me to death, just do it quickly! And that viscous saliva again! It’s utterly disgusting!

“Hmm?!”

Suddenly!

The wolf’s eyes blinked.

What was that sound? It was different from anything it had made before.

I watched as Helter slowly loosened his grip, moving back just enough to create space for me to get out.

‘Huh? Could he have regained consciousness?’

“Helter?”

“Wuwuwuwu!”

Why did that wolf face look so contorted? It seemed to be resisting something.

“Helter!”

“Ah, ah… mmph!”

“Helter! Are you lucid?”

“No… mmph… no…” He stammered, and I couldn’t understand what he was trying to say.

“You’re not what?”

“Mmph, mmph… Quick! Pull… it out…” With great effort, he extended a wolf claw, pointing at the dagger embedded in his chest.

“Understood!” I sprang to my feet, gripped the hilt with both hands, and yanked it free!

“Ugh…”

The terrifying red in his eyes began to fade, and his entire body started transforming back to its human form. Then, he collapsed onto his side, falling to the ground.

“Phew, good thing Helter regained his own consciousness midway!” I said, wiping sweat from my brow, relief evident in my voice.

“No, that’s not quite right, esteemed Hero.” A soft voice drifted from behind me.

“Who’s there?”

“It is I, Naya~” The petite girl’s presence was a stark contrast to the idiotic wolf that had nearly killed me—truly like heaven and earth! She was simply adorable.

“Ah, Little Naya~” I rushed forward and embraced her. “You scared me to death just now.”

“I was frightened to death as well, but thankfully I managed to control him.”

‘Control?’

“What did you control?”

“Just now, I was looking for you all on the street when I saw a huge creature fall from the sky. Upon closer inspection, I realized the Swordsman had transformed into a werewolf and gone berserk again. So, I tried to control him as one would an animal.”

“So, you were speaking through his body just now?!”

“That’s right… I had initially thought that since werewolves are an intelligent species, they couldn’t be controlled. But to my surprise, it worked.”

‘So, those “mmph” sounds earlier were attempts to say “I” or “me” in her unique way.’

“But it looked like you had a lot of difficulty controlling him.”

“Yes, indeed. After all, I’m no longer a demigod; my abilities are limited, and I almost lost control. I’m sorry.” Naya lowered her head, apologizing with a hint of grievance.

“Why are you apologizing? I’m the one who owes you, Little Naya~” I said, smiling as I lifted her into a hug. “Little Naya is the best!”

“Thank you, Big Sister~”

“Mhm mhm~”

‘Speaking of which, why am I starting to get used to being called “Big Sister”… It’s so strange! I’m a man! At least, on the inside!’

“Ah—” Just then, a naked Helter began to scramble up from the ground. “It hurts so much! My heart… huh? Where’s the wound?”

Ah… Helter in this state… completely naked again! Does a muscular man really need to expose himself this often?! I’ve only done it twice! You’ve had at least three times now, haven’t you?! (Ahem, why am I so concerned about exposing oneself?! This is a wholesome and pure novel!)

“So big…” Naya murmured, a nosebleed starting to trickle.

“Children shouldn’t look! Helter! Go put some clothes on, quickly!”

And so… the chaotic battle temporarily came to an end.

Half an hour later.

“This is bad! Esteemed Hero! I saw a werewolf, seven or eight meters tall! Luckily I ran fast, or something terrible would have happened!”

We three had just reunited with Crimson Aironi when he started chattering incessantly.

“Indeed, that werewolf is quite concerning.”

“How did it get into the village?”

The Village Chief and the Blacksmith stroked their chins, deep in thought.

Helter’s expression was somewhat troubled. He was just about to open his mouth and explain everything…

“Let’s not dwell on this! In any case, Little Naya and I took care of it.” I interjected before Helter could speak.

After all, this was a secret known only to me, Helter, and Naya. Like the news of the old Hero’s death, it was best not to disclose it publicly… otherwise… it might incite negative rumors and panic.

“Is that so? Truly worthy of the Hero’s title… But what about the body?” The Village Chief, once again, hit upon the crucial point.

“Ah…”

“I disposed of it, offering it to the great God Sein.”

‘Naya explained it perfectly!’

“Hero, who is this young lady?” the Village Chief asked me.

“She’s a demigod from the Twilight Forest~”

“Oh.” The Village Chief and the Blacksmith nodded calmly.

Then, they suddenly exclaimed in shock, “What?!!!”

It took a moment to explain how Naya had joined our party.

“Ah, love.”

“Indeed.”

The two old men sighed with inexplicable emotion.

“Speaking of which, is this young Guard also a member now?” the Village Chief inquired.

“That’s right! I, Crimson Aironi, am incredibly formidable! There’s nothing I can’t provoke! I balablabalbala (a thousand words omitted here).”

“He seems quite unreliable…” the Village Chief whispered into my ear.

“Well, an extra person means extra strength…” I replied, a bead of sweat trickling down my temple.

“Let’s get back to the main topic!” The Blacksmith interrupted our conversation. “Our main character today is that young man, after all.”

We all looked in unison at Demonflame, who was still sprawled on the ground, not yet risen.

“How to deal with him, we’ll leave to you, Hero.” The Village Chief smiled at me. “Thanks to you, our village has survived.”

‘Me, resolve this? Hmm… then you can’t blame me for what happens next.’

“First, I’ll search him to see if he has anything good on him.” (‘Don’t do something like that under the banner of justice!’)

A few poisoned arrows, a dagger (another one, surprisingly!), a money pouch, and…

A verdant green bracelet?

“Ah…”

Suddenly!

Demonflame groaned in pain.

Seeing this, everyone immediately adopted a combat stance! (Except for Crimson Aironi, who was still engrossed in his incessant self-monologue.)

He opened his eyes, and the moment he saw me holding the bracelet, he uttered a single word—

“Sister?”

‘Huh? Who are you calling “Sister”?! You little brat!’