"Who among you is in charge here?"
Aozaki Touko's expression did not change, and her tone was utterly calm.
Every werewolf here possessed astonishing killing power. Without caring about casualties, any one of them could independently kill an army of over a hundred men. Their strength was beyond question.
Moreover, there were more than fifty werewolves surrounding her now.
As for how many more werewolves there were inside the village, that was completely unknown.
However, she had no need to fear them.
Because... she was only a puppet!
Yes, although she was confident in her own strength, the necessary caution was still required. Before confirming the werewolves' exact power, there was no need for her true body to take the risk.
She was a magus. Caution and rationality were essential!
"..."
The surrounding werewolves' eyes flickered with thought. They did not respond immediately. Instead, they waited until a werewolf burst out of the bushes and said a few words to them. Only then did the tense atmosphere ease slightly.
"Magus... what have you come here for?"
A particularly burly werewolf stepped forward and asked in a low voice.
They had just used the werewolves' naturally keen sense of smell to investigate the surrounding area. Only that female magus was giving off a presence, which meant that she was the only outsider to enter the Werewolf Village.
Now that she had been completely surrounded and under their control, they could at least hear what this magus had to say.
"We can talk about that later!"
Aozaki Touko smiled. "Let's talk about what you need. Even living in this remote village, you must have felt things becoming increasingly difficult, right? This era is abandoning you!"
"What exactly are you trying to say?!"
The Werewolf Leader's gaze grew colder, as if he might erupt at any moment and tear the magus into pieces with his sharp claws and fangs. This female magus had indeed touched upon their pain.
Because this era was truly becoming less and less suitable for their survival!
Their people were finding it increasingly difficult to reproduce. Every time a newborn was delivered, the entire village would celebrate. On top of that, humanity's development of the environment was intensifying day by day, leaving them with less and less room to survive.
At the same time, both the magi and the Holy Church regarded them with hostility.
"...Mm, I have a way to solve your problems!"
Aozaki Touko revealed a sly smile. "Whether it's reproduction, a living environment, or providing you with shelter, I can provide all of it—and I guarantee that I can accomplish it!"
"...!!!"
At those words, the werewolves' eyes widened. Their green eyes seemed to shine, as if they wanted to devour the female magus before them.
"Don't look at me like that... It's creepy~"
Aozaki Touko brushed back her long hair and revealed a confident smile. "Everything I said is absolutely true. You can rest assured about that. However, you'll have to pay an equivalent price!"
"..."
The Werewolf Leader's gaze was razor-sharp. He did not miss the slightest expression from the young woman, yet he never saw the slightest hint of deceit. There was not a trace of fear or hesitation in her eyes. She was practically the embodiment of confidence.
"We can discuss whether what you said is true later. What exactly is the price you want us to pay?"
He asked in an icy tone.
"It definitely won't be light!"
Aozaki Touko's expression turned solemn.
"The price is—your deity, the Golden Wolf!"
Chapter Eleven: Golden Beast
—The air seemed to freeze!
Killing intent appeared in the werewolves' green eyes. It was the fury of having been toyed with. Using the Golden Wolf as a condition for exchange was impossible.
The reason needed no further explanation.
They were merely believers of the Golden Wolf.
They had no qualifications whatsoever.
"Since you know the Golden Wolf exists... then you should understand that this is impossible!"
The Werewolf Leader's gaze was cold, and his tone was somewhat impatient. He was suppressing the rage that urged him to attack and tear the female magus apart. If he did not still harbor some expectations toward her, he would have already killed this magus who did not know her own limits!
"...That does make things a little troublesome."
As if she had not noticed the bone-chilling killing intent, Aozaki Touko smiled faintly. "Then how about this? I'll subdue the Golden Wolf myself, and you can provide labor in exchange for what you need!"
"How about it... Can you accept these terms?"
Every werewolf here was an excellent combatant. If they were abandoned in this wilderness, it would honestly be a pity.
Thus, gathering their strength was also part of her plan.
"Do you know what you're saying?!"
The Werewolf Leader asked with a mocking laugh. The surrounding werewolves also revealed scornful expressions.
Modern magi absolutely could not defeat Phantasmal Beasts. This was common knowledge. Magic was as flimsy as paper before the Golden Wolf, yet this female magus claimed that she wanted to subdue the Golden Wolf. She sounded as if she had lost her mind.
"...You don't believe me?"
Aozaki Touko brushed back her long hair, her eyes filled with confidence. She chuckled. "You only need to take me before the Golden Wolf. You don't need to worry about anything else!"
"If I succeed, that will be enough to prove my qualifications, and you can leave with me without worry."
"If I fail, then it will prove that I'm nothing special after all, and you won't need to trouble yourselves over whether what I said was true!"
"It's simple. Just take me before the Golden Wolf!"
The girl's coaxing words rang out.
Thought flickered in the werewolves' eyes. If this girl could subdue the Golden Wolf, then she would certainly possess unimaginable strength. She should have no problem solving the werewolf clan's difficulties.
As for if she failed and was killed by the Golden Wolf, they would lose nothing. They could simply treat her as a sacrificial offering to the Golden Wolf.
"...Follow me!"
The Werewolf Leader was silent for a moment, then turned around and led Touko away.
They walked along a forest path. Dappled sunlight scattered through the gaps between the leaves. As they continued forward, the air grew increasingly clear, while the concentration of the Great Source's magical energy in the atmosphere also increased.
Soon, they arrived before a cave rich in magical energy.
Deep within the cave lived a holy creature—a miracle from the twilight of the Age of Gods, and the natural enemy that modern magi could not oppose.
A beautiful Golden Wolf lay quietly on the ground, taking a nap.
"We finally meet!"
Aozaki Touko's voice carried a sigh.
The Golden Wolf's ears twitched slightly. She then opened her divine eyes and looked toward the cave entrance with a hint of curiosity. A beautiful figure entered her view.
It was a slender young woman whose frail body looked as if a mere touch could easily snuff out her life.
Yet her instincts were telling her something.
This girl possessed a strange allure. It was the ability to seize everyone's attention simply by standing among a crowd. If one had to describe it, she was probably a natural-born focal point.
But that was not the key to her attraction!
What exactly was it?
Before she could figure it out, the strange girl walked over with elegant steps.
"Nice to meet you. My name is Aozaki Touko... I'm a human who has come to subdue you and make you my familiar! Of course, in return, I'll also take you on a proper tour of the world!"
Her words sounded almost provocative.
The Golden Wolf stared at this strange woman.
She did not feel angry at all. It was not because the other party was a beautiful girl. In truth, gender held no meaning for her. If she wished, she could take on any gender.
Yet, strangely, she felt no anger whatsoever.
Even she found this somewhat peculiar.
By rights, she should be angry now...
"...So you're not a sacrificial offering?"
The Golden Wolf stood up and circled Aozaki Touko several times with light steps. "You want me as your familiar? I should be angry and kill you now, shouldn't I?"
She was intimidating the beautiful girl, hoping to see fear appear on that confident face.
She was a top-tier Phantasmal Beast whose life rank surpassed humanity's. From the day she was born, she had been a perfect life-form. Everyone would show fear before her.
Even the werewolf clan, her believers, was no exception.
Chapter Twelve: Wagering Life as the Stake
"...I should be angry and kill you?"
At that, Aozaki Touko tilted her head slightly, then revealed a bold smile. "If you're truly angry, then how about we fight to the death and stake everything we have on it?!"
It was an utterly straightforward declaration of war.
This time, the Golden Wolf's gaze abruptly turned fierce. If she could pretend not to hear the earlier remark, she could no longer ignore such an open provocation!
Although she possessed extremely high intelligence, she was still a beast that followed the law of the jungle.
The current situation was like the king of beasts having her position challenged. She would inevitably respond with claws and fangs, killing the challenger.
Only then could she proclaim her absolute authority.
"...Do you know what you're saying?"
The Golden Wolf's voice was cold and low. Her gilded fur bristled as she gave the woman one final chance to take back her words.
The woman standing before her was neither the sacrificial offering presented according to custom nor one of the dull, boring werewolf believers from the village. She was a strange woman who gave her an unusual feeling.
Until she discovered the source of that strange feeling, she did not want to kill her yet.
But if this woman truly intended to issue a challenge...
She would kill her without mercy!!!
"...Are you planning to spare my life?"
Aozaki Touko smiled faintly, then her gaze suddenly sharpened. "But I have no intention of taking back what I said. Let's fight with our lives as the stakes!"
"If I win, you'll become my familiar!"
Her frank words contained overwhelming resolve.
This physically frail woman truly intended to subdue her.
Realizing this, the Golden Wolf asked:
"What if you lose?"
"Then you can devour this body. Treat it as food to fill your belly!"
Aozaki Touko's tone was cold, as if the matter had nothing to do with her.
This body was merely a clone. Even if it were killed and devoured completely, it would only cost her some material expenses. With the Einzbern Family supporting her, it was utterly insignificant.
"Is that so!"
"You really are a strange human!"
The Golden Wolf turned and left the cave.
As a Phantasmal Beast, she had her own pride.
Since this woman had put things so plainly...
There was no choice but to kill her!
"...Heh~"
Before you continue