Arrival at the Castle

After about an hour’s walk, they arrived at the castle—just as Kuuga expected. He recognized it well, having seen it many times through the spring’s images.

The little birds that had been perched on his head, chirping merrily the whole time, apparently had no intention of entering the castle; still chattering, “See you, see you,” they fluttered off toward the forest.

Gadilas, perhaps also puzzled by the birds having ridden on Kuuga’s head the whole way, gazed after them with a bemused expression.

The castle staff who came to greet them looked distinctly uneasy at the sight of Kuuga, and when they realized he was at Gadilas’s side, their faces displayed a variety of reactions. Yet one aspect was common to them all—none had expected Gadilas to be chosen. Their faces said as much.

It was true that Kuuga’s choice of Gadilas had been almost an accident; he hadn’t intended to select anyone, let alone Gadilas. Yet, he was confident that, even if he had been asked explicitly who was most fit to be king, Gadilas would have been his choice. He had that much worth… though, admittedly, a few flaws that could not be ignored.

Kuuga studied everyone’s faces, trying to memorize those who seemed even mildly pleased at Gadilas’s selection. It might prove useful someday. He found only two.

Together with Gadilas, he was first led to the audience chamber.

Some present objected that it was too dangerous to bring the Divine Beast—Kuuga—inside, but Gadilas, and especially the other royals, dismissed them with a curt, “Don’t be absurd.”

Evidently, the royal family, like the clergy, had received education concerning the Divine Beast—unlike the general populace. Kuuga wished, not for the first time, that everyone had been so educated.

‘Can’t blame them for being wary with me looking like this.’

He was a black beast, as large as a lion. If he went wild, it would be quite a disaster—something he understood all too well. Even he would have been on guard.

Passing between two lines of soldiers, all extraordinarily tense, they came before the aged king. He looked just as he had in the spring’s vision: imposing yet with an oddly exhausted face. When the king saw Gadilas, his eyes narrowed slightly.

“So you were the one chosen.”

“It would seem so.”

The old king did not seem displeased by Gadilas’s selection. …Though perhaps he was simply indifferent.

Gadilas’s own brusqueness was much the same. He, too, seemed to care very little for the old king.

With a look of relief, as though a burden had lifted, the king bowed deeply to Kuuga.

“Divine Beast, I thank you.”

‘…For what, exactly?’

“With this, I shall relinquish the throne. I leave the rest to you, Gadilas.”

“You’ll still be attending the coronation.”

The king seemed perfectly content to leave everything to his successor, while Gadilas remained as aloof as ever. Kuuga could not help but wonder if this was truly how things should work between kings.

Baffled by the interview, which was nothing like he’d imagined, he hastened after Gadilas as the new king made to leave the chamber promptly.

Still thinking how deeply exhausted that king had looked, Kuuga followed Gadilas next to the royal office.

There, at the desk, awaited a man with red hair, blue-green eyes, and spectacles, stacking piles of papers in order. As Gadilas and Kuuga entered, the tall man bowed his head deeply.

“Congratulations on your accession to the throne, Your Majesty Gadilas.”

With a heavy sigh, Gadilas pressed his fingers to the bridge of his nose.

“Uros… why are you already trying to put me to work?”

“Now that you are King, Your Majesty must swiftly learn your duties.”

“…Let me relax at least for today. The coronation hasn’t even happened yet…”

Sighing once more, Gadilas crossed the room and collapsed heavily onto the sofa set sideways before the desk.

Seeing Gadilas look as though he might settle in to nap, Kuuga hurried to his side.

‘Wait a second. Aren’t you going to introduce me?’

“…What is it?”

‘Don’t “what is it” me…’

Kuuga pawed at Gadilas’s outstretched foot, trying to insist on an introduction, but Gadilas only looked at him with puzzlement, unable to guess his intent.

Giving up, Kuuga turned to the man called Uros.

This was the man he’d often seen talking with Gadilas during his spring observations—the superior with whom Gadilas spoke most freely. He looked a little older than the early-twenties Gadilas, his sharp eyes and unemotional face giving a cold impression, though Kuuga sensed he was actually quite kind. He was someone Kuuga could trust.

‘I am Tsukimiya Kuuga. Pleased to meet you.’

“…Divine Beast?”

Sitting formally before Uros, Kuuga offered his greeting, but Uros only gazed at him, baffled and trying to decipher Kuuga’s intent.

Disappointed by the lack of a reply, Kuuga’s actions finally seemed to dawn on Gadilas.

“Ah, right. You want to know who Uros is.”

Finally, someone understood! Kuuga turned eagerly to Gadilas, nodding repeatedly. Uros, too, seemed to understand his role at last, and knelt down before Kuuga.

“I am Uros Kagoi, the chancellor. It is an honor.”

‘Chancellor. So that’s it—he’s the chancellor. He’s rather young for the job.’

“Until yesterday, His Majesty was my deputy.”

‘So I was right.’

Their positions as superior and subordinate had reversed overnight, but Uros didn’t seem to mind; in fact, he even looked quietly pleased.

To show he meant no harm, Kuuga rubbed his cheek against Uros’s at their shared height. Uros stiffened a moment in surprise, then, cautiously, reached out to stroke Kuuga’s neck.

Ah, that feels nice. He could be a bit firmer.

Pressing into Uros’s hand, Kuuga’s intent seemed to register, and a stronger, more robust scratching came.

“You’re quite the affectionate one, Divine Beast. I thought I’d be far more intimidated, being allowed to touch you at all.”

“Doesn’t seem to mind being petted. Like a dog, really.”

Apparently interested, Gadilas drew nearer to take a closer look at Kuuga. When Kuuga rubbed his face against him, clamoring for attention, Gadilas gave in, petting him a bit roughly but not unkindly.

“But the Divine Beast is supposed to be very intelligent, isn’t he?”

“Yeah. He seems to understand everything we say. Sometimes he actively tries to communicate… Shame I can’t make much sense of what he’s saying.”

“In that case, why not find a better way to communicate with him?”

“Huh?”

‘Huh?’

Both Gadilas and Kuuga stared at Uros, not quite grasping his meaning. Uros, finding their identical expressions faintly amusing, began to explain without betraying his feelings.

“To figure out what the Divine Beast is saying, we have to ask questions and let him nod or shake his head, right?”

“…That’s about it.”

“But don’t you think yes or no is a rather limited range of answers?”

Kuuga nodded—it was just as he’d felt. Having to compromise and nod to the nearest fit had been frustrating.

“For example: Two nods for exactly right. One nod if it’s close or mostly correct. One shake of the head if it’s wrong, two shakes if it’s completely off. If you agree on signals like these, the range of communication gets a bit wider, right?”

“If we both know what they mean, we could get a lot across like that. What do you think?”

‘Sounds good to me.’

To show his approval, Kuuga immediately nodded twice. Gadilas pondered, hand on chin.

“We might also work out some common words in advance, like a kind of sign language.”

Having humans take the initiative to communicate with him was more encouraging than he could say. Overjoyed, Kuuga nodded again and again.

Noticing Kuuga’s wagging tail, Uros scratched his head, eyes narrowing just a little with amusement. They really didn’t smile, either of them, Kuuga thought in mild exasperation.

“In that case, I’ll draft up some ideas. If you’re not working today, why don’t you check out your quarters? Everything’s already prepared.”

“…That was quick.”

“We knew the ritual was today, after all.”

Of course—regardless of who took the throne, the succession itself would not change. The necessary arrangements had been made in advance.

“When your meal is ready, I’ll send someone to the rooms. Please, take some time to relax.”

“I’ll do that. …Divine Beast, what about you?”

‘I’ll go too.’

Relieved not to be denied, Kuuga stood and trotted after Gadilas.

Come to think of it, where was he supposed to sleep? Would it be all right to share a room with Gadilas?