Had Shia returned after properly regaining the honor of her homeland?

  It seemed too early for her to return. I was worried.

  “Shia, are you alright? Have you settled your business?”


  “There is no need for you to worry. My homeland is a three-hour walk from the capital.”


  “That’s pretty close.”


  Now that I think of it, I never did ask her where it was.

  Shia had called herself the daughter of a beastkin chief who lived in the east.

  And so I had just assumed that it was far away.

  “Yes, I never asked you about the distance…”


  “What are you talking about?”


  “Uh, nothing. I’m glad that you were able to settle things.”


  “Thank you, thank you. This is all because of you, Mister Locke.”


  “Don’t mention it. In any case, I suppose you were waiting here because you need help?”


  “Exactly that. …It must be most annoying for you, but I have a request, Mister Locke…”


  “I’ll do it.”


  I say. Shia looked at me with surprise.

  “But I haven’t even said anything.”


  “You need my help, right? Then I will help you.”


  As we talked, Serulis opened her mouth.

  “I think we should go inside instead of talking out here.”


  “Are you sure?”


  “Of course? You are a guest of Mister Locke, yes?”


  “Thank you. Shia, let’s talk inside.”


  “Thank you very much!”


  And so Shia entered the mansion with us.

  Luchila held Gerberga preciously as he followed us in.

  Shia was looking as Serulis and Luchila.

  “Um, if possible…one on one…”


  “Yes, that’s true.”


  And so I took Shia to my room.

  Once we were alone, Shia’s expression became even more serious.

  “It seems that the vampires have started to move.”


  “Oh? That’s not good.”


  “Yes. The High Lords, which are advanced types of Vampire Lords, have begun to move with several other Lords.”


  “Vampire High Lords…”


  These High Lords were several times stronger than Vampire Lords.

  They were every bit as strong as the devils.

  “We of the wolf clan have attempted to expose their plans and stop them, but…”


  “It’s difficult to fight High Lords.”


  “Yes. It embarrasses me to say it. And my father is not completely healed yet.”


  Shia’s father, who was the chief, was gravely wounded during a battle with a Lord.

  Shia explained.

  Aside from Shia’s tribe, there were also other wolf tribes scattered near the capital.

  And most of them were now considering the idea of uniting their forces in order to battle the High Lords.

  “I understand the sentiment. I too do not want to allow the vampires to run wild.”


  However, these were High Lords who had many Lords as subordinates.

  Such a strong enemy could end up annihilating all of the wolf tribes.

  “It is far too dangerous. I appeared in the tribe council in place of my father and objected to this idea.”


  “But it was ineffective?”


  “Yes. I was just a young representative for the chief, and our tribe had recently been shamed…”


  They had regained their honor. But it didn’t change the fact that they had made a big error.

  And while no one publicly derided or accused them, they could not avoid being underestimated now.

  “But I thought that it was settled. It sure is hard to be a beastkin.”


  “Oh, but we got off easy. It is thanks to you, Mister Locke, that we were able to quickly regain our honor.”


  “I hope so.”


  “There were also chiefs in the council who acknowledged us though.”


  It was likely the difference between chiefs who focused on the mistake and chiefs who focused on how they made up for it.

  “So, you want me to kill the Vampire High Lords, is that it?”


  “Ultimately, yes… But there is something that needs to be done quickly first.”


  “What’s that?”


  Shia’s voice dropped into a whisper.

  “These vampires are united in their search for a certain chicken. And so we must find this chicken first and protect it at all cost.”


  “That’s…”


  A familiar tale. Well, it was clearly about Gerberga.

  “I know how you feel now, Mister Locke. You are wondering why we must protect a mere chicken, aren’t you?”


  “No, I’m not.”


  “No, I understand why can’t believe me now. After all, this is a chicken that we are talking about.”


  “I believe you.”


  “You are very kind, Mister Locke.”


  “It has nothing to do with kindness.”


  “But still, this chicken can open and close gates to other dimensions and stop vampires from transforming.”


  It really was Gerberga then.

  “I truly understand why you wish to doubt me. But it’s true, the vampires are searching for it.”


  “I do believe it. I mean, you just met it.”


  “…Just…met it?”


  “Yes. Didn’t you see the demon boy carrying a chicken in front of the house?”


  “Boy? Ah, ahhh. I did see a demon carrying a chicken, yes. I thought that it was for dinner…”


  “Shia. Let’s introduce you to the God Fowl Lord Gerberga first.”


  “I, uh. Thank you?”


  I’ll introduce her to Serulis and Luchila as well.

  I thought and then approached the door. But then it suddenly opened from the other side.

  “Waaah!”


  Serulis tumbled into the room. She had been listening to us.

  Of course, I already knew that she was listening.

  Serulis should practice on erasing her presence a little better.

  Luchila was still holding Gerberga and standing a few feet away.

  “I told you that you shouldn’t eavesdrop like that.”


  “Cluck.”


  Luchila said with exasperation. Gerberga clucked in agreement.