Chapter 54: Side Story: Rumi (Epilogue)

Before I knew it, my body was already outside the tower.

The side door I had entered with Rumi had vanished without a trace.

“Hmm, I feel refreshed, woof!”

Come to think of it, I had been throwing punches left and right, jumping around, and barking non-stop.

Rumi must be exhausted too.

I was about to suggest we take a break when I turned to look at Rumi.

“Rumi, um…”

This shouldn’t be happening.

Just because her outfit was a little—no, more than a little—revealing, I couldn’t help but feel awkward.

If I looked at her legs, the soft flesh of her thighs peeked out through the mesh stockings.

If I looked at her stomach, the tight black clothing clung to her, revealing her soft navel in a way that made me want to shout “high-cut, high-cut!”

The buttons—ugh, those devilish buttons.

“Woof?”

“……!”

As I stood there awkwardly, Rumi sniffed the air and suddenly clung to me.

“Master! Let’s go, woof! Rumi’s hungry, woof!”

With that, she started dragging me toward the guild house.

“Rumi… is this okay?”

Tina, who had been lounging around the guild house like a bum despite being on vacation, suddenly perked up.

“Your outfit is so cute…! And your chest is huge, nya!”

Turning her own insecurities into admiration, Tina jumped onto Rumi, giggling.

She even started groping Rumi’s chest and rubbing her stomach.

Is this how girls interact?

I’m not jealous… not jealous at all…!

“Tina, that tickles, woof…!”

“Hey, hey! Such an enviable chest! I’m so jealous!”

If I kept watching, I felt like I’d be cursed with paralysis.

I made a strategic retreat to my room.

Finally, all the desires, temptations, and worldly thoughts began to settle.

Of course, they didn’t completely disappear—I’d have to deal with them later at night.

Anyway.

It was time to check something I had been curious about but couldn’t bring myself to ask.

What exactly had changed about Rumi?

I pulled out my smartphone and checked her character info.

“……?”

[Character Info]

– Name: ‘Beast King Candidate’ Rumi (★★★★★)

– Earth Attribute / Melee / Frontline

– Level: 50/50 (RANK 5)

– Basic Skill: Rumi Strong Punch (LV.1)

– Enhanced Skill: Roar of the Beast King (LV.1)

– Ultimate Skill: Legendary Invincible Rumi Rumi Clone Technique (LV.1)

…

– Affection: 65,535/100

– Exclusive Equipment: Not Equipped

Something… something had changed a lot.

Her basic skill had gone from “Rumi Punch” to “Rumi Strong Punch.”

Her enhanced skill had changed from “Mascot’s Allure” to “Roar of the Beast King.”

Her ultimate skill now had the prefix “Legendary” added to “Invincible Rumi Rumi Clone Technique.”

Even her cute title, “Mascot of Happiness,” had disappeared, replaced by the aggressive title of “Beast King Candidate”!

“Woof?”

Moreover, when I scrolled down, her affection level was a whopping 65,535 out of 100!

I’ve seen this number before.

It’s an overflow error from sloppy coding.

Just to be sure, I checked other friends like Johanna and Saha, but their affection levels were still [Locked].

Ugh.

It must be a bug caused by the character skin change.

This is why half-baked games are such a mess.

How did they even make this game that someone like me could get possessed by it?

Feeling drained, I flopped onto the bed.

I had been crawling on all fours all day.

It wouldn’t hurt to rest for a bit, right?

***

Scenes I had never seen before.

Foods I had never tasted before.

The kindness of humans I had never encountered before.

“Wow, it’s a dog!”

“Is Rumi your friend?”

Led by Ari’s hand, Renatel, who was exploring the human city of Celestia, encountered a strange encounter in the park.

“Ahaha. This unnie is Rumi’s friend, her name is Renatel. Say hello, okay?”

“H-Hello!”

“Let’s play, let’s play!”

The children, barely greeting her, clung to Renatel’s clothes, pulling at her sleeves with their innocent gestures.

Renatel was at a loss.

Life in the Great Forest was always a constant struggle.

Even though the Langin tribe lived in groups, venturing just a little outside meant facing all kinds of dangers.

“Umm…”

Renatel let out a flustered sound, unable to laugh or cry.

“Alright, alright, this unnie just came to the city today and doesn’t know how to play yet. Tomorrow! We’ll play together tomorrow, okay?”

“Ehh…”

Ari skillfully shooed the children away, and peace finally returned.

“Let’s go? There are still a few more places I want to show you.”

Renatel followed Ari in silence, her mind feeling increasingly tangled.

After making a big loop around the city…

“Oh, Ari and Renatel. How’s life?”

They ran into Saha, who was wearing a bikini with metal plate armor awkwardly strapped on.

“Welcome, Renatel. This is the sanctuary where we worship the Sweet Goddess.”

At the sanctuary, Johanna greeted them with a bright smile.

“This is our shop! Arcane Shop! And over here is Harong’s place… Yard! Pound!”

“Don’t say it!”

“Hoho, so lively.”

Even on their day off, the workaholics were still at it.

Dodging the hammer Harong threw and facing Elice’s suspicious smile, they finally arrived back at the guild house.

“Haah…”

Feeling the fatigue wash over her, Renatel let out a sigh.

“Tired? Hehe.”

Ari, who had been talking non-stop all day, still looked perfectly fine.

“You’re amazing.”

“It’s nothing, really!”

Renatel expressed her deep admiration.

Truly, Ari was the social butterfly of the hero party, her charm completely melting Renatel’s heart.

As the two women opened the creaky door and stepped into the guild house…

“We’re back—”

“……!”

They both gasped at the same time.

Ari…

“Kyaa! Rumi! You look so pretty! What’s with that outfit? Where did you get it? Wow, amazing!”

Her high school girl soul took over as she started gushing excitedly.

Renatel, on the other hand…

Her right eye twitched inexplicably.

Her hands trembled slightly.

A deep, overwhelming pressure weighed down on her, as if she needed to bow her head right then and there.

When Rumi, who had been chatting happily with Ari, turned her gaze to Renatel…

“……!”

A feeling of terror etched into her very soul.

Renatel instinctively let out a scream and stepped back.

Seeing this, Rumi’s eyes half-opened lazily.

“Renatel, woof?”

“……?”

“Come on in, woof?”

“……”

Unable to resist the intense pressure, Renatel hesitantly closed the guild house door and stepped inside.

Seeing this, Rumi smiled gently.

She reached out her hand.

“We’re friends now, woof?”

Her voice was kind, but…

Rumi’s eyes weren’t smiling.

This feeling, it was like…

When I was young, the first time I formed a pack, the sensation I felt from the leader.

Instinctively recognizing a ruler…

“Haah.”

By the time Renatel regained her senses, Rumi’s outstretched hand had firmly grasped hers.

Her glowing red eyes came close, then whispered into her ear.

“No cutting in line, woof.”

Her voice was so soft that no one else could hear it, but to Renatel, it was like thunder.

Unable to say anything, Renatel could only nod.

Then…

“Renatel is Rumi’s friend now! Friends, woof!”

The heavy atmosphere lifted as if it had never been there, replaced by a bright and cheerful mood.

The tension that had built up in Renatel’s body finally released, and she could hear the other heroes chatting casually.

What was that strange feeling just now?

And that overwhelming pressure?

Sitting quietly on the sofa, Renatel pondered deeply, but…

No answer came.

***

Before the episode had fully ended…

Rudin, who had returned to his human form, grimaced in pain from the intense discomfort in his lower body.

“Where does a daughter get off hitting her father’s weak spot…”

He asked with a deeply hurt expression.

Master, with Ark’s head resting on his lap, gently stroked Rumi’s fur, who was tilting her head cutely.

“I learned it from Mommy, woof!”

“……”

Rumi’s response, invoking her mother—his wife—left Rudin unable to retort, feeling like he shouldn’t even try.

They say having a daughter is useless, huh.

Sighing, Rudin gave up on arguing.

“Traditionally, the king of the beastmen must reign not only over the beastmen but also over the dragonkin and all creatures of the Great Forest.”

“Woof?”

Rumi tilted her head at Rudin’s sudden words.

“Looking back, I’ve defeated many, but many more will stand in your way. But I know you can overcome them.”

With that, he handed Rumi a neatly wrapped package.

“Present, yay!” Wagging her tail, Rumi eagerly unwrapped it, only to look puzzled.

“…Daddy, you have this kind of taste, woof?”

She held up a pair of mesh stockings that seemed more revealing than covering.

“…Your mother used to wear these.”

“Woof.”

Rumi, now trapped in an inescapable situation, made a frustrated face.

“When you knocked me down with that one punch—ah, it wasn’t a hit to the lower body, it was a fair fight. Anyway, this was the outfit she wore during that fight.”

Rudin added unnecessary details as he explained.

Watching him, Rumi’s expression grew even more ambiguous.

Is this how Daddy always was, a little… um… like this, woof?

“There’s no time to explain further, but this outfit will help you. Whether it’s challenging for the throne of the beastmen or…”

Trailing off, Rudin looked down at the large dog resting on Rumi’s lap, its face troubled.

“…Love.”

Rumi tilted her head again, not fully grasping the meaning behind his words.

“Then, let’s meet again. My beloved daughter.”

As if he had said all he needed to, Rudin’s form faded into dust and disappeared.

Only then…

“Daddy! It was so good to see you, woof!”

Rumi finally managed to say what she had been too shy to say earlier.

Just before he completely vanished…

A bright smile appeared on Rudin’s lips.