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"You wanted to see your kin, didn't you?? I'll grant your wish."
As Haru's words fell, a strange chill shot from Beo's tail, up its spine, and into its brain.
"...Divine pack!!"
Haru narrowed his eyes slightly and slowly spoke the name of the Divine authority. In his mind, the crystal of the authority, which had long been sealed away because he couldn't strengthen it, once again glowed.
An invisible ripple spread out.
"Woof! Woof! Woof! Woof! Woof! Woof!"
The atmosphere in Shagi Park rippled faintly, and then, a chorus of dog barks suddenly erupted.
One after another, divine beasts, created by the authority, emerged from the ripples. Each one was a perfect copy. They were the same height as Beo, their entire bodies covered in curly, light brown fur, even their faces obscured by it.
A short, round tail, thick, short legs, and large, fan-like ears. A dazed, innocent expression.
"...Poodles??"
Touko looked at the forty-odd giant dogs surrounding Beo with a strange expression. Besides being tall, the beasts that had appeared from nowhere were identical to poodles.
"...Divine Beasts??" Alice clutched her stomach, a look of bewilderment on her face as she looked at the poodles that had surrounded Beo.
Their lofty mystique utterly eclipsed Beo's—by tenfold, perhaps even dozens of times. Though their strength might be on par, the sheer, crushing weight of that mystique was enough to utterly overwhelm Beo, a proud Phantasmal Species.
But why were there divine-level poodles?
————
"Woof~" A coquettish bark slowly sounded.
The giant poodles all lifted their heads in unison, looking at Haru, who had created them. They wagged their short tails and barked excitedly.
Haru took a step back, then suddenly thrust out his index finger—pointing straight at Beo, who was staring blankly around at his kin.
"Play... as you wish!"
An unparalleled chill welled up in Beo's little heart. It looked in horror at its divine beast elders, who were excitedly biting its four limbs and dragging it into the forest.
"What... what... what are you doing!!!!!" Beo's childish, boyish voice was filled with a thick terror and unease.
In a state of terror, Beo was dragged into the jungle, into a dark and deep corner.
"Awoooo—!!!!!!" A desperate wolf howl echoed through the sky, followed by the exceptionally excited woofing of the poodles.
Poodles—the pet dogs had a special ability.
That is, the terrifying talent to hump dead things.
Haru had seen it before. The figures humping the sofa, the toilet, and even... the air.
"Forty-odd of them. Judging by that husky's boyish voice, it should be quite young. That should be enough to give it a psychological scar," a low voice slowly echoed in the air.
Alice stared blankly at Haru's face, not understanding his purpose in summoning a pack of divine beast poodles.
But with Beo's desperate howls, her expression gradually grew strange. The witch had never owned a poodle, and had only heard of them. But from the screams, she could hear Beo's despair.
Touko's lip twitched as she looked at the malicious Haru. She glanced at the jungle with pity. The next second, her Mystic Eyes seemed to see something, and she immediately averted her gaze, a look of nausea on her face.
It was clear she had never seen the poodle's racial talent before. But now, with that one glance, she—knew.
"Beo... is a male..." Touko muttered, her voice lost.
Seeing Alice's pale face, at the bowl-sized hole, Haru's face was cold. He crouched down and touched the mangled flesh.
A faint white light shone in his palm, continuously radiating a dense life force and holy ripples.
Alice immediately felt a tingling numbness in her abdomen. Knowing that Haru was treating her, her pale face flushed slightly. But when she saw Touko in the distance, her face instantly turned exceptionally grim.
"...No... need." A weak, dissatisfied voice came from Alice. The witch, in a state of anger, lifted her hand, gently patted Haru's arm, and refused his help.
"I don't care if you need it or not. I think you need it, so you'll just have to obediently accept it," Haru said, pursing his lips, his tone flat.
Alice petulantly turned her head away, but the hand that had been patting his arm vanished, and she gently held his palm, silently accepting his treatment.
The white fluorescent light in his palm suddenly intensified, then vanished.
Touko looked at the two with a cold expression. After Alice's injuries had healed, and she was only weak, she said, her voice icy,
"Are you going to interfere in my and Aoko's dispute?"
Anyone who interfered in her revenge against Aoko would be considered a mortal enemy, even Haru, with whom she had had a skin-to-skin relationship. In fact, if Haru were to interfere, it would only make her more furious.
Though it was due to an exchange of interests, Touko had given her body to Haru. And because of the contract, he was the only man in her life.
Her magic inheritance had been stolen by her sister, Aoko. The title of the Three Primary Colors had been given to Aoko. If even her only man was taken away, she might lose her mind.
Hearing this, Haru lifted his head and turned his gaze to Touko. Seeing the madness in her brownish-red eyes, he immediately understood her will. If he said he would interfere, she would probably try to take him down with her.
'In the end, I can't be a heartless bastard.' Haru thought with a helpless sigh.
But he didn't have to worry. Unless Touko was completely inhuman, with her mother as a protective charm, Aoko would definitely not die. So, he naturally planned to remain neutral.
Just as Haru was about to state his position, Alice's weak voice slowly sounded.
"He won't interfere... Neither I nor Aoko will let him interfere."
Touko's gaze immediately focused on Haru. Sensing her gaze, Haru shrugged and threw up his hands, indicating his silent agreement.
Touko's gaze immediately shifted to Alice. She narrowed her eyes. "If you don't let him interfere, you should understand your position."
Alice had been crushed by her familiar, Beo. If Haru didn't interfere, it should now be Touko's time to deal with the 'spoils of war.'
"...I understand," Alice said, pushing herself up with her slender arms, her voice weak.
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