Gadilas’s Reaction

Before they realized it, Kuuga and the others had spent a considerable amount of time in the library. Deciding it was a good stopping point, they wrapped up their research and returned to Gadilas’s office.

“Louis, was there any trouble?”

Gadilas, visibly relieved to see them return safely, addressed Louis. Louis bowed once before beginning his report.

“There was a slight commotion when we entered the library, but I managed to convince them, and we were able to use the library as planned.”

“…So it wasn’t as smooth as it should be, then.”

“Yes. …More importantly, Your Majesty, there is something I wish to report.”

“What is it?”

Sensing the seriousness in Louis’s tone, Gadilas put down his pen and turned to face him intently. Uros, too, paused his work and fixed his gaze on Louis.

“The Honored Divine Beast is named Kuuga.”

“…What?”

Gadilas was momentarily bewildered, but as if suddenly recalling something, he turned his gaze to Kuuga, who was being petted by Edalion.

“A name!? …Did the Divine Beast say so himself?”

“Yes. He combined the letters written in a book and taught it to us.”

“So the Honored Divine Beast’s name is Kuuga, huh…”

Edalion, who had been listening, commented in a carefree tone, but Gadilas was in no state for such levity.

“Who gave him that name? …It wasn’t me.”

In the first place, with no precedent of more than one Divine Beast appearing in the same era, there had been no need to distinguish individuals—everyone had simply referred to him as “the Divine Beast.”

With that in mind, Gadilas eyed Kuuga suspiciously, wondering why he possessed a name that no one remembered bestowing, especially given that Kuuga had only just appeared in this world.

“Could it be… the gods gave him his name?”

Uros ventured a guess, but Kuuga shook his head in denial. Uros himself seemed to think that was rather unlikely and simply watched in silence.

“Maybe he came up with it himself?”

‘No…’

Edalion’s tone was as blithe as ever.

“…Don’t tell me you’re going to say it was given by your parent.”

‘That’s exactly right, actually…’

Thinking it was the most natural thing in the world, Kuuga nodded. At that, everyone’s eyes widened in collective shock.

“What? Kuuga, you have a parent!?”

“Wait a minute—does a Divine Beast actually come from a parent’s womb!?”

“I’ve never heard anything like that… but then again, don’t they usually just appear in the ritual chamber?”

“So does that mean you existed somewhere else before appearing? …I always thought the moment you appeared was when the gods created you…”

Kuuga, in turn, was surprised to hear this was their understanding.

“So then, you descended from the realm where Divine Beasts dwell?”

‘No…’

“So that’s not it, either?”

Just as he thought he had reached a conclusion, Gadilas was left deflated when Kuuga shook his head again.

Thinking nothing more could be learned unless Kuuga could talk, Gadilas seemed to give up. At that point, Louis, who had been observing the conversation, opened his mouth again, as if deciding the time was right.

“Your Majesty, there’s still something else I need to tell you.”

“…There’s more?”

“Well… Master Kuuga has been researching Divine Beasts.”

“…What?”

Gadilas’s expression was the very definition of dumbfounded, but a few seconds later, his face twisted into a scowl as he glared at Kuuga.

“Don’t tell me… you didn’t know anything about yourself?”

‘…That’s exactly right.’

“He was also looking into mythology, and, in addition, the history and culture of this country.”

Upon hearing this, Gadilas realized what Louis was getting at and put a hand to his forehead, groaning as if overcome by a headache.

“…Don’t tell me… you really don’t know anything…”

‘That’s right.’

Kuuga nodded, as if to say “finally you understand,” and the entire room fell silent in shock. Even Edalion, usually so nonchalant, stared wide-eyed, his mouth agape.

A heavy silence lingered for some moments, until suddenly Gadilas sprang to his feet, the chair scraping loudly as he stood. As Gadilas approached with a disgruntled look, Kuuga looked up at him, a bit bewildered.

“Then how did you choose the king? …Don’t tell me you picked randomly.”

‘I don’t think it was anything so careless.’

At that moment, Kuuga recalled how Gadilas’s eyes had seemed to glow. Out of all the candidates, only Gadilas’s eyes had glowed, and after their pact was made, the glow disappeared. Most likely, even if someone else had attempted the same steps, the pact would not have been possible.

Surely that glow served as an indicator for selecting the king.

Even without knowing anything, the process made it possible for them to form a pact. Such was Kuuga’s understanding now.

When Kuuga shook his head, Gadilas narrowed his eyes, as if to ask if that was truly the case.

“Perhaps it’s something like the Divine Beast’s instinct,”

Uros offered, coming to Kuuga’s aid. Hearing Uros’s words, Kuuga also nodded in agreement; it did seem the most fitting way to describe it.

Gadilas stared intently at Kuuga, as if searching for something within him, but at length let out a small sigh.

“Are you certain you have no regrets about choosing me?”

‘None.’

“…I see.”

Seeming to accept this for now, Gadilas murmured quietly and returned to his desk.

More than anyone, Gadilas had always doubted why he had been chosen. Learning now that Kuuga had been ignorant of everything was no doubt a shock to him.

Kuuga reflected that, in his eagerness to make them understand his own situation, he had given little thought to how Gadilas would feel.

Noticing how Kuuga’s ears and tail—so honest to his emotions—drooped despondently, Edalion reached out at once to comfort him with gentle strokes.

“Louis, from now on, make sure you teach the Divine Beast… Kuuga everything he needs to know. And try to have conversations with him, about anything at all.”

“Conversations, Your Majesty?”

“He used books to tell you his name, didn’t he? …It doesn’t matter how trivial or simple—just talk. Kuuga, you do the same if there’s anything you don’t know.”

‘…Understood.’

Kuuga was so delighted that Gadilas had addressed him by name that he hesitated for a moment, but then nodded his understanding. It would take time to search for and assemble the necessary words and phrases, but it was preferable to being unable to communicate his intentions at all.

No doubt, Gadilas had given Louis such instructions with this in mind.

“I grant you permission—borrow as many books as you need, and do it here.”

“Here, Your Majesty?”

Louis looked uncertain, wondering if their conversations wouldn’t be disruptive while Gadilas was working in the same room, even if not addressed to him directly.

“Yes, I’d like to hear as well.”

“…As you command.”