Ch. 1: A Meeting in the Forest
Kingdom of Veritia in the Land of Beastmen, Month of Shadow…-
Wrapped in a warm light that filtered through the trees, I continued to walk on the path to the castle.
(What a beautiful forest…)
Going a little further, I saw a butler and Vairy waiting for me.
Elderly Butler: “Welcome Lady OO.”
The butler was smiling, a kind look on his face, but in contrast, Vairy had a grim expression.
Vairy: “I didn’t ask you to come! This guy’s the one who sent the invite.”
Elderly Butler: “You awoke Lord Vairy for us. We must repay you.”
Vairy: “…did you fight the Dream Eaters?”
Vairy looked dubious as he asked.
OO: “Uh…yes…”
Vairy: “I don’t believe it. Just look at you.”
I felt myself grow a little saddened as he expressed his displeasure. Then…
Vairy: “Ah, no…! It’s just you’re so short and tiny…I’m just kinda surprised.”
Vairy panicked, his eyes darting around.
(…is he worried because I didn’t say anything?)
Vairy: “F…Fine!! You can stay, but only for a little bit. Then you have to leave right away! And…thanks…for waking me up.
Vairy grumbled his thanks, then turned on his heel towards the castle.
(…is it really alright for me to intrude?)
Vairy: “Don’t stand there spacing out! Let’s go!”
OO: “Ah, right!”
I gave a bow to the butler, then chased after Vairy, seeing his broad back as he walked away.
The butler stood there, watching us leave.
Elderly Butler: “…perhaps Lady OO can break Lord Vairy’s curse…”
Ch. 2: The Approaching Curse
The next day…-
I went on a trip to the castle town with Vairy.
Vairy: “They’re all beastmen, but they aren’t that different from regular people.”
The people of the village had things like ears and tails, but as Vairy said, they seemed more like regular people than beasts.
Matching my pace, Vairy showed me around the town.
(I know he said I needed to leave right away tomorrow but…)
Vairy: “…what’s wrong? You’re makin’ a weird face.”
OO: “Ah, nothing…”
Vairy: “… I’ll show you around, but as soon as we’re done, you’ll leave.”
(…like I thought.)
The way he said it so decisively made my chest ache a little.
Looking at me as I hung my head, Vairy let out a sigh.
Vairy: “It’s not like I hate you …”
??: “Oh, if it isn’t Lord Vairy!”
At that time, I heard a man’s voice call out.
Vairy: “Hey man! Busy as ever huh?”
The person Vairy called out to was carrying a lot of large bags affixed with price tags.
(I wonder…if he’s a merchant.)
Village Man: “Lord Vairy, you’re in for it now, taking a cutie like this out.”
Vairy: “…! No! She’s not…”
Vairy panicked, and as I stood next to him, I felt my cheeks warm.
Village Man: “Don’t be shy! You’ve always been pretty upfront about stuff! Hahaha…”
Vairy: “Geez…don’t you have work to do?”
Village Man: “Oh, you’re right! I’m trying to stock up on weapons after hearing those nasty rumors. It’s been keeping me quite busy.”
The instant those words were spoken, Vairy’s expression changed completely.
Village Man: “Didn’t you hear? They’re saying it’s the curse of the werebeast.”
(Werebeast…?)
Looking at Vairy, I saw he looked incredibly sorrowful.
(Vairy…?)
Village Man: “You be careful too Lord Vairy. …Oh, young lady, let me give you this as a symbol of us getting to know each other!”
The man said as much, then handed me a large bag.
(Wha…! It’s heavy…)
OO: “U-um…?”
Village Man: “It’s a few different fruits that grow on the trees around here! You can eat them with Lord Vairy.”
Then the man left in a hurry.
Vairy: “…geez, that guy. Here, hand it over.”
Vairy snatched up the bag from my arms.
OO: “Thank you.”
Vairy: “You don’t need to thank me.”
Vairy quickly averted his gaze.
OO: “Uh…um, it’s alright. I can carry it myself.”
Vairy: “The fact that it’s heavy is written all over your face.”
(…he noticed.)
Vairy: “…the sun’s goin’ down. Let’s head back to the castle.”
OO: “Um…what was that rumor…?
Vairy: “It’s got nothin’ to do with you.”
I had asked carefully, but been met with a cold brush off.
(…first he’s cold, then he’s kind. And that expression on his face when the curse came up…Who is the real Vairy…?)
I looked at Vairy’s profile in the light of the setting sun, and for some reason my chest began to ache.
Ch. 3: Vairy's Brother
A few days after the tour of the town…-
After that day, it seemed like Vairy was avoiding me. So I went by myself to the forest near the castle.
——————–
Village Man: “Didn’t you hear? They’re saying it’s the curse of the werebeast.”
——————–
(I can’t forget the expression Vairy made then…)
?? “You alone?”
I turned around in surprise as a voice came out of nowhere. A lone man stood there.
His hair was dark red, and his eyes were jet black.
Aside from his long hair and slightly shorter stature, he looked very similar to Vairy.
For some reason, I felt frightened.
??: “Are you thinking I look like Vairy?”
(Eh…)
My heart leaped as it seemed like he had read my mind.
Jess: “Nice to meet you, I’m Jess, Vairy’s younger brother.”
(Brother…?)
Jess: “So you’re the famous princess who woke Vairy.”
OO: “…!”
He suddenly grabbed my arm.
Jess: “Honestly, you shouldn’t have done that.”
I could easily read the hostility in his eyes as he looked at me.
He held my arm so tightly I thought it would break, and my body flooded with fear.
(I’m scared…!)
OO: “…!”
I mustered as much strength as I could and somehow manage to pull free of his grip, but I pulled so hard that I fell to the ground.
Jess: “Oh dear… you alright?”
He said as much, then sneered as he walked towards me.
(Don’t come near me…!)
Vairy: “What’s goin’ on!?”
I looked towards where the voice had come from and saw Vairy.
OO: “Vairy…!”
I called out, imploringly, and Vairy furiously rushed to my aid.
He then placed himself between Jess and me, as if protecting me.
Vairy: “Bastard, what the hell are you doing!?”
Jess: “Hey bro. Did you break the curse? I was thinking you were almost out of time and got worried.”
Vairy’s face quickly paled.
Jess: “Oh, is it possible she doesn’t know…? …haha.”
Vairy: “Shut up!”
Vairy looked like he was about to strike at Jess and I…
OO: “Vairy…!”
I called out without thinking, and Vairy stopped in surprise.
Vairy: “…sorry. For doin’ that in front of you.”
I stood there rooted to the spot.
Jess: “You sure about that? You’ll scare her.”
Vairy: “…!”
Vairy looked in my direction and clenched his fist.
Jess: “See ya. I hope she doesn’t hate you too much.”
Vairy: “Wait…!”
Vairy called out, but Jess had vanished into the depths of the forest.
Relieved, I felt my heart start to calm down when…-
Vairy: “…sorry about my brother.”
Vairy bowed his head apologetically.
(He looks really pale…)
OO: “Vairy…”
As I went to reach out my hand…
OO: “…”
Pain shot through my leg, and I crouched down.
Vairy: “Hey, what’s wrong!?”
Anxiously, Vairy looked into my face.
(I wonder if I twisted it when I fell…)
Vairy: “It’s a little swollen…man. Here.”
Vairy turned his back to me and bent down, gesturing for me to get on.
I hesitated a moment, then moved to Vairy’s back.
OO: “…th-thank you.”
(…his back is so broad and warm.)
OO: “I…I’m alright! I can walk on my own.”
Vairy: “This’ll be quicker than if I just give you my shoulder!”
Vairy grabbed my arm and easily pulled me onto his back.
The little bit of his face that I could see from his back had turned red.
(Is Vairy embarrassed?)
I could feel the warmth through where our bodies came into contact, and my heart started to pound loudly.
I hurried to say something, hoping he couldn’t hear it.
OO: “So…you have a brother.”
Vairy: “We’re not too close though, as you could see. …he doesn’t really like me and my issues.”
OO: “Your issues…?”
(…does he mean the curse that his brother mentioned? I’m curious…but I’m sure he doesn’t want to talk about it.)
OO: “…thank you for saving me Vairy.”
Vairy turned his head towards me in surprise.
Vairy: “…I couldn’t hear that.”
He quickly turned to face back around, but he looked like he was relieved.
Vairy: “…you smell good. Like the warmth of the sun.”
OO: “What…?”
Vairy: “…! Crap, what am I sayin’…!?”
I felt the heat from Vairy’s back rise, and I also felt my cheeks flush.
Vairy: “…when I’m with you, I feel like I’m going crazy.”
(…my chest feels light. I wonder what this feeling is…)
The strange feeling filled my chest, and I couldn’t bring myself to say anything.
Ch. 4: Curse of the Werebeast
The sun had completely set as we made our way through the forest and back to the castle.
With the coming of night, I was in a slightly cold room having my foot tended to.
Vairy: “…how’s that?”
He put a cold cloth on my foot, his hands moving awkwardly.
OO: “…it’s alright.”
——————–
Jess: “Hey bro. Did you break the curse? I was thinking you were almost out of time and got worried.”
——————–
(According to what he said, Vairy is cursed…)
Vairy: “…it’s time for you to leave this country.”
OO: “…!”
His sudden words stung, a pain rising in my chest.
Vairy dropped his hand onto my head.
Vairy: “…I mean, I can’t stand seeing that look on your face. I’ve got the curse of the werebeast.”
Bit by bit, Vairy started to tell me the story, his voice low.
Vairy: “It’s a rare thing for someone of the royal line to be born with it…guess I got lucky. You saw the people in the town were half animal, half human right? That’s what’s normal. But with the curse, I totally change into a terrifying beast.”
OO: “But you look the same as everyone else…”
Vairy: “It’s fine now, but at night, it’s the time of the beast. You heard the rumors. Someone must’ve seen me. Beasts are hated in this country…they’re targets to be destroyed.”
(But that’s so…)
OO: “Is there a way to break the curse…?”
Vairy: “Dunno. I’ve heard people say that some of my ancestors were able to find a way, but I don’t know how. …anyway, I’m almost out of time.”
OO: “Out of time…?”
Vairy: “The curse has a special time limit. Once it passes, I’ll completely change into a beast and won’t be able to change back. Lately, I’ve spent longer and longer as a beast…I think my time’s almost up.”
Stopping there, Vairy turned his back on me.
Vairy: “I’ll send a butler to take you tomorrow. I’ll handle the prep.”
OO: “I want to stay here…”
My feelings spilled out unintentionally.
Vairy: “…no way. Think more about yourself.”
OO: “…alright.”
I answered while squeezing my hands together.
Vairy: “Good…see ya.”
OO: “Please wait!”
I reflexively grabbed Vairy’s arm as he went to leave the room.
OO: “…if you’re really out of time, what do you plan to do?”
Vairy: “Leave this country and live out the rest of my life alone. It’s what my ancestors did if they were cursed.”
OO: “But…!”
Vairy’s eyes seemed to waver as if in fear.
Vairy: “I’m scared, alright…! How would people see me as a beast… and if I give in to my anger, I could lose myself…I don’t want to hurt you, or the people here…!”
Saying so, Vairy shook off my hand and left the room.
(What should I do…?)
Left alone, I could only stand there dazed and confused.
——————–
Vairy: “…geez, that guy. Here, hand it over.”
Vairy: “…you smell good. Like the warmth of the sun.”
——————–
(Vairy…!)
I raised my head as if sending up a prayer, then saw a massive tome entitled “Country Records” on the bookshelf.
OO: “Is this…the country’s history?”
Taking the book in my hands, I intently scanned through the book, looking for any mention of the curse.
(Anything…isn’t there anything…?)
After my hands had turned black from the ink on the pages…I found a mention of it.
~The curse can be broken through true love.~
OO: “True love…?”
There was only that short abstract about how to break the curse.
But without any other clues, I held tightly to that one hope.
(Does Vairy know about this…?)
At that realization, I took off and left the room.
Ch. 5: Feelings Realized
I had forgotten the pain in my foot as I ran through the forest covered in darkness.
(The butler said Vairy went into the forest…Where is he…!?)
I heard a muffled sound echo from far away.
(Was that…a gunshot!?)
I ran towards the sound, and found Vairy.
OO: “…! Vairy!”
Vairy was crouching, and I could see blood flowing from a wound in his side.
Vairy: “OO…,why’re you…run, now!”
OO: “What…?”
I looked beyond Vairy and saw another figure standing there. It was…
Jess: “You saved me some trouble by coming here. I’d planned to take care of you too.”
His voice was sinister and full of malice as he turned to me.
Jess: “You got in my way…here I figured I could take the throne while my brother slept. Then you went and woke him up. On top of that, it’d be real inconvenient if your power could break my brother’s curse.”
The end of the gun turned towards me.
Jess: “Farewell, Princess.”
I squeezed my eyes shut.
(I’ll be shot…)
The area echoed with a vicious crack.
(…there’s no pain?)
I slowly opened my eyes and…-
OO: “…!!”
Vairy was holding me tightly.
Vairy: “…you okay?”
OO: “Vairy…your arm, it’s bleeding…”
Vairy held on to me even tighter.
Vairy: “You’re safe…good.”
Jess: “Tch, well, whatever. This time for sure…”
He went to pull the trigger again, but…
Vairy: “…!”
Vairy turned and rushed at Jess with a vicious speed.
Jess: “Uwaaaa!”
Blood started to flow from where Vairy had bit Jess’ shoulder.
Vairy: “Don’t touch OO…if you do, I’ll kill you right here!”
Vairy’s eyes were piercingly bright.
Jess: “F-fine…! I promise…”
Jess pulled himself together and ran off in fear.
At that same instant, Vairy collapsed.
OO: “Vairy…!”
Vairy: “Stay back! …this injury is making it hard to control the curse.”
Vairy let out a pained sigh.
Vairy: “I don’t know how long before I change…hurry and get out of here…”
OO: “I won’t…!”
Vairy: “Go! I don’t want to hurt you…”
OO: “…alright, but…will you come back with me?”
Vairy: “That’s a stupid thing to ask…”
Vairy: “Why are you so worried about me!?”
OO: “…”
I thought about Vairy, and my chest ached.
(At first…I was a little scared.)
——————–
Vairy: “Thanks…for waking me up.”
Vairy: “…you smell good. Like the warmth of the sun.”
Vairy: “… I don’t want to hurt you, or the people here…!”
——————–
(But he’s actually clumsy, and kind…I don’t want him to be alone. I don’t want him to hurt…)
I didn’t know when, but my heart filled with those feelings.
OO: “Vairy…I…”
I fixed my eyes on Vairy, and then…
Suddenly, he was wrapped in a white light.
OO: “Vairy…”
Turning to the center of the dazzling light, I desperately reached out my hand.