After quietly entering my Inn room through window, I set the girl down on the bed.
"... Are... Are you the legendary werebeing?"
I turn my head to her. Werewolves exist in this world? I went through the People & Monsters encyclopedia in the library and I didn't find anything on werewolves or something similar.
I decide to inquire about this.
"What do you mean 'werebeing'?"
The girl looks at me in confusion.
"You know... A werebeing. A Beastkin that can transform into the animal of their characteristics. Us beast people heavily revere these legendary beings! They helped found our country thousands of years ago!"
So werebeings exist in this world, but instead of a humanoid turning into a hybrid like me, they are beastkin that turn into animals. There is also that beast people she mentioned. Is there a difference between that and beastkin?
"I wasn't born in the Primum Empire, so I wouldn't know of any legends. By the way, is there a difference between beastkin and beast people?"
"Yes! Beastkins are like you! They are uncommon in our empire and are our greatest warriors! About one in one hundred beastkins are born from normal beast people. Beast people are like me, people who look similar to the other races, except for our ears and tails."
I see. That's good to know.
"So, are there any, uh, werebeings like me living in the Primum Empire?"
The girl shakes her head.
"No. You're the first one seen in hundreds of years. It's like my childhood fantasies came true!"
Her tail waves back and forth while her ears twitch in excitement. That's cute.
"Hmm... Well, I'm not exactly what you think, but I'm something very similar... That's okay though. What's your name, girl?"
"Oh! My name is Viviana Vi Primum! I am the 4th princess of Primum."
Of course she is. I should have known such a cliché would happen eventually.
"Oh, well, sorry if I was rude princess..."
I begin to get on one knee. I don't want to disrespect a member of royalty. When in Rome...
"Ah! No need for that! A werebeing such as yourself shouldn't bow to a lowly person such as I."
Viviana gets up and motions me to stand straight.
"Werebeings were founders of my Empire. They are like the kings of our kings. You have no need to bow to us."
"Oh, okay."
It's probably best if I don't transform back into an elf now. I'll just confuse her more.
"By the way, Princess-sama, you were kidnapped, correct? Do you want me to help you get back home?"
"Oh, yes! I was so excited to meet a werebeing that I almost forgot... Yes, if the Great Werebeing is willing to help me, I will gladly accept. And please, call me Vivi, no need to treat me with such respect."
Vivi gets on both of her knees and bows her head slightly.
"Alright, then you can just call me Valister."
I can hear her mumble under her breath.
"Ah! To share the same first letter of our names! Such an honor!"
She sure is a fanatical.
"Ahem... Well, Vivi, I think we should rest now. We'll leave tomorrow morning. Eat that meal over there. It's cold, but it's probably better than what you've been eating before."
"Yes, Valister-sama!"
---------------
I wake up in the dark early morning.
While Vivi is still asleep, I exit the room while making sure no one is around in the hall, and transform into my elf form.
I see no one in the dining/lobby room. I set the key to my room behind the counter and a note saying the room number and that I needed to leave in a hurry.
I quickly turn back to my room and transform into a werewolf and prod Vivi awake.
"Vivi, wake up. We need to leave now, before the sun rises."
Vivi squirms in her blanket.
"Mmh! No! Don't hurt me anymore...!"
She mumbles in a fearful voice while she sheds tears. She's having a nightmare.
I move closer and pat her head, trying to calm her down.
When I got closer, she seemed to pick up my scent and calmed down.
She slowly opened her eyes and stared at me. She began crying more, this time from relief.
"You- you're still here? I thought it was just a dream...! I, I thought..."
I bring her into a hug and pat her head.
"It's okay, your safe now. No need to think about the past. We're heading to your home."
She stays there crying for a few minutes before separating herself.
"My apologies, Valister-sama, I've dirtied your golden fur with my tears."
"It's not a problem, Vivi. Come on, were leaving through the window."
I open the window and take Vivi in my arms, then jump down onto the deserted street. I make my way to the north gate.
Since the gate isn't open yet, I'll have to scale the high walls using my claws.
"Vivi, get on my back and hang on as tight as you can. I'm going to climb up the wall."
"Yes, Valister-sama."
Vivi grips onto the fur of my neck and wraps her legs around my torso.
With a running start, I jump up a fourth of the way up the wall and begin climbing as fast as I can to avoid any commotions with city guards.
I make it to the rampart and jump off to the other side while using my claws to slow our descent.
I caused a bit of damage to the wall, but it should just be cosmetic.
I look to the plains in front of me. I kinda wish I had a map. Oh, well, I'll get one eventually.
Luckily for me, since I'm the son of the God of the Hunt, I have a biological compass. Since the Primum Empire is located in the north, I only have to go north.
It should be easy enough.
Since it would take too long to walk, or run in my werewolf form, I'll have to transform into a Direwolf.
The only thing is I can only keep up that form for a few hours, but fortunately, I'm the fastest when I'm a Direwolf.
I remove Vivi from my back and hand her my backpack and fanny pack and tell her to put it on.
Having a fanny pack attached to my Direwolf form when running is uncomfortable.
"I am honored to carry the possessions of Valister-sama!"
"Heh, okay, whatever you say."
I grab a utility rope from my backpack, tie it into a loop and hand it to Vivi.
"Here, when I transform, put this rope around your waist and put the other side in my mouth so I can keep you on my back as I run full speed."
Vivi nods her head, excited to ride me again.
She gets on my back, wraps the rope around her and I grab onto the other side with my mouth. I transform into a Direwolf the size of a truck.
"Get ready, I'm gonna start running now."
I crouch down and Vivi lowers her body closer to mine.
I begin running at full pelt, kicking up large amounts of dirt in the air.
It feels like I'm going more than 100 miles an hour.
(A/N: 160 kilometers per hour.)
I feel Vivi's nails dig into my back. I slow my pace down to around 70 mph for a more comfortable ride.
"You doing alright, Vivi?"
"Y-yesh!"
Haha, she's scared.
"We'll be going at this pace for a few hours, then I'll hunt us some lunch. How does deer sound?"
"I would be honored to share a meal with Valister-sama!!"
Of course she would be, that's all she says. She must really look up to werebeings.
I continue running, just as the rising sun gives warmth to my muscles.
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I haven't proof read this. I'm so fucking lazy.