"...why are you here?

'What?　I heard my brother-in-law is coming over soon, so I'm here to pick him up, what's wrong with your eyes?

It's a bit of an injury.

　I traced my finger over my right eye as I spoke. The burn marks have faded considerably, but only the vision in my eye has not returned. Even the Maximum Healing doesn't seem to restore the vision I had lost. I can heal it, but it doesn't seem to be able to regenerate. Now he wears an eye patch so that he can't see. ...it's too much of a kitchen hazard.

　We are in the grounds of the Lanwalker Frontier County. We stopped by the mansion before going to the royal domain, we left the royal capital after a month or so of preparations and came to the mansion as a break on our way.

　We asked our master about the spear, and he told us that the man who made his master's great sword was a dwarf, and he is now dead.

　Dwarves have a lifespan of about 150 years. Longer than humans, but shorter than elves. It seems that their descendants are taking over the business now, and they have a shop in Forestfalia. He says that his master comes home from time to time to take a look at them.

　I asked the master to write a letter of introduction and we decided to go after the royal domain.

　When we arrive at the mansion, Sieg and his friends, who returned to the frontier county right after the victory celebration, come out from inside and greet us.

　Marco and Tigris and Merlin-san. Dorothea and the others as well. Filia hugs May and the others in a big hug. I was terribly surprised when everyone saw these eyes, though. Filia hugged me with tears in her eyes.

　Then we were followed by all of our fiancées and Dagris and the others, Rabbi, who for some reason was the resident receptionist for the Adventurer's Guild, and Rose, Madam Blossom's apprentice who runs a branch in the King's Domain. To be honest, I didn't want to go with them, but since Alexia and the others approved of it, I gave up.

　Dagris had Alma with him, and Kate and Emma came too. I knew my parents gave them permission to come. I heard that the two were engaged as a condition, though.

　I wondered what I was going to do when they came to tell me that story with a bright red face, but, well, it was a good story. We all celebrated with them.

　When I entered the mansion with everyone else, for some reason Prince Fergus was sitting on the couch waiting for me inside. A woman with tiger ears was sitting with him next to him.

''Your sister-in-law Carome is here too?!

'Oh, I wanted to see my brother-in-law too!

　I knew Ferris was an acquaintance after all. Sitting next to Prince Fergus is Carome Warbestos. She's the future queen of the Warbestos. It seems to be a beastman of the tiger tribe, and seems to be quite capable.

''Why are you here?''

I told you.　He's here to pick up his brother-in-law. Right now, Lord Melia is providing security for us, but it's quite a bit bigger than a third of the Empire. That's why it's divided between Warbestos and Arcadia.
　Melia-dono is the most resistant empire.......or rather, he's a former imperial nobleman. The noble lands near the Empire's current borders are heavily resisted. Warbestos and Arcadia are around their own borders, so they can afford it.

Are you really that resistant?

It's close to the border. Do you think the Empire will help you if you get out of control?　You know, the aristocrats don't understand that if you do that, this time the Empire will be crushed. Well, they're the ones who lost their jobs because of their own importance. By the time Ray heads to the Royal Domain, it will be over and they'll be back.

　Prince Fergus spits harsh words at the imperial nobles and shakes his head. Well, I can understand why they want to shake their heads because they don't know that there's no point in doing such a thing.

''........So what's the real reason Prince Fergus came here?''

　I ask, and Prince Fergus' ears perk up!　I stand.

"That's what it takes to get your f*cking hand in glove!

　Prince Fergus who looks extremely happy to say things.

　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇.

'Oh no, for what it's worth, it's the first time I've been hand in hand with Ray, so I'm excited to get here!

　Prince Fergus collides with the basket hand attached to both hands with a clunk. What we are in now is the garden in the mansion. It's where I used to train with Eileen-sensei every day.

　Me and Prince Fergus stand in the middle, and everyone looks around us. Among them are the mansion's handmaidens and Prince Fergus' soldiers. And for some reason there are even food stalls in the mansion. Are they from the city?

''Good luck~ Fergus!

Don't let your brother beat you to it!

　Prince Fergus is going to be cheered by Lady Carome and I am going to be cheered by Ferris. Zeke is going to be the judge.

'Then both of you. 'Until one of you gives up or passes out. Injure them, but avoid fatalities. Okay.

Oh!

Yes!

Then let's begin.

　Prince Fergus starts to run with Zeke's signal. I thrust my spear at Prince Fergus. Prince Fergus deflects it with his basket and tries to enter my pocket.

　But I won't let him go in so easily. He immediately brings the spear back to his hand and unleashes a side-nap. Prince Fergus avoids it by turning his face away, but I turn the spear around and stone it away from his feet.

　Prince Fergus flew to avoid it, but I thrust again there. However, the spear that I thought would hit, the tip of the spear was struck by Prince Fergus and made to change its trajectory.

''Tch, looks like you can afford it!

　Prince Fergus makes a frustrated but joyful sound. In fact, I can still afford it. I'm still only using my body strengthening.

　He avoids Prince Fergus's striking fists and blocks his kicks with his spear. If we let go of a thrust, Prince Fergus will prevent it with his basket.

　It seems to be an equilibrium now, and I'm pushing. I'm not going to be able to get my hands on it, but I'm not going to be able to get my hands on it because I can see it through magic detection and presence.

　And then he swung his spear down and Prince Fergus crossed his arms to prevent it. I'm not going to be able to get the best out of it.

　It's a good idea to be able to have a good time with them. I shake off the spear and blow Prince Fergus away.

　Prince Fergus hits the ground repeatedly and stops. I would have been grateful if this had knocked him unconscious.

'Geez, geez!　That's what I'm talking about. That's my brother-in-law!　Then I'll show you how serious I am too!

　As he said that, Prince Fergus's magical power is blown away. And Prince Fergus' appearance is changing. Until now, the only thing that could tell that he was a beastman is his ears and tail.

　But now his entire body is covered in hair and he looks like a werewolf, just like the ones in the old movies. So that was the technique Ferris was asking about.

　A skill that only the beast race was allowed to perform. "Beastification.