Becoming Aozaki Touko

"Who's the one in charge here?"

Aozaki Touko's expression remained unchanged, her tone utterly calm.

Every werewolf here possessed terrifying lethality. Disregarding casualties, any one of them could independently slaughter an army of a hundred men—their strength was beyond doubt, absolutely formidable.

Moreover, the werewolves surrounding her now numbered at least fifty.

As for how many more lurked inside the village, that was anyone's guess.

Yet, for her, there was no need to fear.

Because... she was merely a puppet!

Yes, while she had confidence in her own abilities, necessary caution was still required. Before ascertaining the true strength of these werewolves, there was no reason to risk her real body.

She was a magus—caution and rationality were essential!

"..."

The encircling werewolves' eyes flickered with contemplative light. They didn't respond immediately, waiting instead until a werewolf burst out from the thicket and spoke a few words to the pack. Only then did the tense atmosphere ease slightly.

"Magus... what business do you have here?"

A werewolf of towering build stepped forward, his voice low as he asked.

Just now, they had relied on their kind's naturally keen sense of smell to scout the surroundings. Only the lone female magus exuded any presence, meaning only one outsider had come to the Werewolf Village.

Now that she was tightly surrounded and under their control, they could afford to hear what this magus had to say.

"On that point... we can discuss it later!"

Aozaki Touko said with a light smile. "Let's talk about what you need instead. Even holed up in this remote village, you must feel things growing harder, don't you? This era is abandoning you!"

"What exactly are you trying to say?!"

The Werewolf Leader's gaze turned icier, as if he might lash out at any moment, tearing this magus into shreds with sharp claws and fangs. This female magus had indeed struck a nerve.

Because this era truly was becoming less and less suited for their survival!

Their clan's reproduction grew ever more difficult—the birth of a single new cub was enough to make the whole village celebrate. Meanwhile, humanity's relentless development of the environment shrank their living space day by day.

On top of that, magi and the Holy Church bore them nothing but malice.

"...Hmm, I have a way to solve your problems!"

Aozaki Touko flashed a sly grin. "Whether it's reproduction, living conditions, or providing shelter—I can offer all of that, and I guarantee I can deliver!"

"...!!!"

At her words, the werewolves' eyes widened instantly, their greenish pupils gleaming as if they might devour the female magus on the spot.

"Don't look at me like that... it's a bit creepy~"

Aozaki Touko tossed her hair back, revealing a confident smile. "I speak nothing but the truth—rest assured on that. However, you'll have to pay a corresponding price!"

"..."

The Werewolf Leader's gaze was razor-sharp, not missing a single flicker of expression on this young woman's face. Yet he saw no trace of deception. Her eyes held not a hint of fear or wavering—she was like a living embodiment of confidence.

"We'll talk about whether you're lying later. What exactly is the price you want us to pay?"

He asked coldly.

"It won't be light!"

Aozaki Touko's face turned serious as she declared:

"The price is—your deity, the Golden Wolf!"

Chapter 11: The Golden Beast

—The air seemed to freeze solid!

The werewolves' greenish eyes blazed with killing intent, a fury born of being toyed with. Offering the Golden Wolf as a bargaining chip was an impossibility.

The reason needed no elaboration.

They were merely the Golden Wolf's followers.

They had no standing whatsoever.

"Since you know of the Golden Wolf's existence... then you should understand this is impossible!"

The Werewolf Leader's gaze turned frigid, his tone laced with impatience. He was suppressing the urge to tear this female magus apart. If not for the faint hope he still held for her, he would have already killed this arrogant magus!

"...That's a bit troublesome, then~"

As if oblivious to the bone-chilling killing intent, Aozaki Touko smiled faintly and said calmly, "How about this: I'll go subdue the Golden Wolf myself, and you pay with your labor in exchange for what you need."

"How about it... is that condition acceptable?"

Every werewolf here was an excellent combat asset. To leave them abandoned in this wild forest would frankly be a pity.

So, gathering their strength was also part of her plan.

"Do you even know what you're saying?!"

The Werewolf Leader asked with a sneer, and the surrounding werewolves bared their fangs in mocking grins.

Modern magicians are absolutely incapable of defeating a Phantasmal Beast—this is common knowledge. So-called magecraft is like paper before a Golden Wolf. For this female magician to claim she wants to subdue the Golden Wolf seems utterly insane.

"...Can't believe it?"

Aozaki Touko flicked her long hair, her eyes brimming with extreme confidence. She chuckled lightly. "You just need to take me before the Golden Wolf. You needn't worry about the rest!"

"If I succeed, that will prove my qualifications, and you can rest assured following me away."

"If I fail, it'll show I'm nothing special after all, and you won't have to fret over the truth of my words!"

"Simple, isn't it? Just bring me to the Golden Wolf!"

The girl's coaxing voice rang out.

The werewolves' eyes flickered with contemplation. If this girl could subdue the Golden Wolf, she would undoubtedly possess unimaginable strength, and solving the werewolf clan's problems should be well within her ability.

As for if she failed and was killed by the Golden Wolf, they'd suffer no loss—they could simply treat it as an offering to the Golden Wolf.

"...Follow me!"

The werewolf leader fell silent for a moment, then turned and led Touko away.

Stepping along the forest path, dappled light filtered through the gaps in the leaves. As they advanced, the atmosphere grew increasingly clear, and the concentration of magical energy from the Great Source in the air rose.

Soon, they arrived before a cave thick with magical energy.

And deep within the cave lay a sacred being—a miracle of the Age of Gods' dying light, a natural enemy that modern magicians could not oppose.

A beautiful Golden Wolf was quietly lying on the ground, napping.

"Finally, I've met you!"

Aozaki Touko's voice rang out in admiration.

The Golden Wolf's ear twitched slightly, then she opened her sacred eyes and looked toward the cave entrance with a hint of curiosity. There, a graceful figure came into view.

It was a slender girl, her frail body seeming as though it could be broken with a single touch, easily snuffing out her life.

Yet, her instinctive intuition whispered something.

This girl possessed a strange allure—a quality that, standing in a crowd, could steal everyone's attention. If anything, she was a born centerpiece.

But that wasn't what drew her in!

What was it, then?

Before she could figure it out.

This peculiar girl walked over with elegant steps.

"A pleasure to meet you. I'm Aozaki Touko... a human who's come to subdue you as my familiar! Of course, as a token of thanks, I'll also take you on a proper tour of the world!"

The words sounded like a provocation.

The Golden Wolf stared at this strange woman.

She felt no anger at all. It wasn't because the other was a beautiful girl—in truth, gender meant nothing to her. If she wished, she could assume any gender.

But it was very strange that there was no fury.

Even she herself found it odd.

Normally, she should be angry by now...

"...So you're not an offering?"

The Golden Wolf rose to her feet, pacing lightly in circles around Aozaki Touko. "You want to make me your familiar? I should kill you in anger right now!"

She threatened the beautiful girl, hoping to see fear color that confident face.

She was the apex Phantasmal Beast, her life's rank surpassing humanity. From the day she was born, she had been a perfect lifeform, and everyone showed her fear.

Even the werewolf clan, her worshippers, were no exception.

Chapter 12: Staking Life as a Bargaining Chip

"...Should I kill you in anger?"

At that, Aozaki Touko tilted her head slightly, then flashed a bold smile. "If you truly feel angry, then how about we fight it out, staking our ownership of each other?!"

A very straightforward declaration of war.

This time, the Golden Wolf's gaze turned icy. If she could have ignored the earlier remarks, this blatant provocation could no longer be dismissed!

Though she possessed high intelligence, she was still a beast that followed the law of the jungle.

This was like a challenger provoking the king of beasts over its throne—it had to answer with claws and fangs, killing the challenger.

Only then could it assert its absolute authority.

"...Do you know what you're saying?"

The Golden Wolf's voice was cold and low, her molten-gold fur bristling. She gave this woman one last chance to correct herself.

The woman before her was no ordinary offering sacrificed by tradition, nor one of the dull werewolf believers from the village. She was a woman who felt strange to her.

Until she uncovered the source of that strangeness, she didn't want to kill her just yet.

But if this woman truly insisted on a challenge...

She would kill it without mercy!!!

"...Are you planning to spare my life?"

Aozaki Touko smiled faintly, then her gaze suddenly turned sharp. "But I have no intention of taking back my words. Let us stake our lives and fight!"

"If I win, you will become my familiar!"

Her frank words carried a fierce will.

This frail-bodied woman truly intended to subdue her.

Realizing this, the Golden Wolf asked in return:

"And if you lose?"

"Then you may devour this body—take it as food to fill your belly!"

Aozaki Touko's tone was cold and sharp, as if the matter had nothing to do with her.

This body of hers was merely a clone. Even if it were killed and eaten to the bone, she would only lose some material costs. For her, backed by the Einzbern family's funding, it was a trivial trifle.

"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 spoken so boldly, there was only one option left—

to kill her!

"...Heh~"