My Name

Though the Royal Guard had only a few members, they had been reformed, and once more, sentinels stood watch in the office and Gadilas’s bedchamber. With this, Kuuga finally found Gadilas in a somewhat safer situation.

Now that Louis, too, had come to him after completing the handover of duties, Kuuga felt inclined to take a look around the castle while Gadilas was at work.

“Divine Beast, is there somewhere you’d like to go?”

Perhaps Louis had already thought the same, for he asked before Kuuga could speak.

‘…I want to read books.’

“?”

Up until now, Kuuga had managed somehow, but the fact remained that there was too much he didn’t know about this world, this country, the king, and the Divine Beast itself—an uncertainty that troubled him. Eager to learn, even a little at a time, Kuuga wished to read any book that might shed light on these subjects.

If no one thought to explain things to him, ignorant as he was, then he would simply have to research them himself. That was what he intended—but, as expected, his intent did not get across.

With no other option, Kuuga placed a forepaw on Gadilas’s desk while he worked, and tapped insistently at the books resting there.

“…Books… You want to go to the library?”
‘That’s right.’
“…Wait, you can read?”

Naturally, Gadilas did not fail to notice what was happening right in front of him; with a look of surprise, he asked. Kuuga nodded twice.

Everyone present stared at Kuuga in astonishment. Clearly, none of them had imagined he could read. The realization was written plainly on their faces, making Kuuga lower his head in disappointment.

Gadilas roughly patted Kuuga’s dejected head before glancing questioningly at Louis.

“Take him to the library.”
“…As you wish.”

And so, Kuuga at last set out for the long-desired library.

—

The library was located at the end of the first floor of the castle, a very quiet place where few people came and went.

According to Louis, it housed a range of old texts, making it one of the castle’s key facilities—hardly a place just anyone could enter.

Though Kuuga had hoped for this chance to read at last, he looked utterly downcast, his ears and tail drooping.

“…Divine Beast, please don’t be so discouraged.”
‘…Ah.’

The reason for Kuuga’s gloom was an incident that occurred immediately upon reaching the library.

Along the way, he had already inspired fear in passing soldiers and servants, but it was the reaction of the librarian standing at the library’s entrance that was the worst. At the mere sight of Kuuga, the librarian let out a loud scream, which swiftly brought soldiers running. They rushed in, intent on driving Kuuga out.

They protested that if such a beast entered, he might ruin the valuable books. Though Louis explained that the Divine Beast would do no such thing, they were slow to believe it, and the dispute sharply escalated. In the end, Kuuga, feeling his beastly form only invited rejection, began to trudge toward the exit—until Louis stopped him.

Louis insisted that the Divine Beast understood every word being said, and it was this understanding that made him so despondent. Only then did the soldiers finally seem to grasp the situation, moved by Kuuga’s evident dismay.

While Louis managed to wring permission for Kuuga to use the library, the librarian continued to cower behind the counter, and the soldiers remained to keep watch. Any trust shown was incomplete at best.

Louis shot the soldiers a glare, but he understood well enough that fear of beasts could not be dispelled so easily.

“So, what sort of book would you like to read?”
‘…’

Spurred on by Louis, who gently stroked his back with concern, Kuuga turned his head with dignity to gaze at the rows of bookshelves.

Spotting a shelf labeled “History,” Kuuga selected some promising titles, prompting Louis to fetch the books for him. Louis didn’t so much as frown at Kuuga’s greedy eagerness for more, but simply carried the burden of books.

What Kuuga truly wished to learn about was the Divine Beast. Yet, there was no book devoted specifically to that subject—perhaps because there was not enough to fill one.

Guessing that the Divine Beast fell into a category akin to legends or deities, Kuuga had Louis bring him books on creation myths, mythology, and some on the nation’s history and culture. Frankly, there were so many books that he picked almost at random, uncertain what was most useful.

As it was impossible for a beast of Kuuga’s size to sit and read at a desk, he carried a lamp to a quiet corner of the library, settled down, and began to read there.

Louis, who sat with him on the floor, watched closely with a serious expression, growing apprehensive as he saw the themes Kuuga had chosen.

“…Divine Beast, by any chance… you don’t know much about this country, do you?”
‘Not a thing.’

As if finally realizing the truth, Louis fell silent, his expression troubled.

Without hands, turning the pages was no easy feat. Kuuga struggled with his claws, managing somehow to open the books and search the volumes on mythology for any mention of the Divine Beast.

Seeing Kuuga painstakingly turn each page, his paws trembling, made Louis anxious, and he offered to help. Kuuga, however, refused—he wanted to do it himself.

‘…Found it!’

On the third book, Kuuga finally spotted the term “Divine Beast” and began poring over the relevant passage.

The Divine Beast is a creature sent by God, who selects, protects, guides, and lives alongside the king. A king chosen by the Divine Beast is one chosen by God.

The chosen king will live a long life with the Divine Beast, and as long as he sits upon the throne, the realm is said to flourish.

Divine Beasts do not exist in every age; the conditions for their appearance are unknown. Only a priestess beloved by God, through divine revelation, knows when a Divine Beast will appear.

Each candidate is marked somewhere on their body by a birthmark resembling God’s seal, and from among the candidates, the Divine Beast selects the king.

During the ceremony, the Divine Beast will seek to make eye contact with its chosen. One must not resist.

The Divine Beast takes the form of a beast, but its appearance is not fixed: in the past, they have appeared with the bodies of horses, cats, or cows, each bearing a sacred mark upon its forehead. Some Divine Beasts are said to have been able to assume human form.

Divine Beasts possess extraordinary physical abilities and are said to wield magic without the need for blood. It is also said that they can see the floating island where God resides, located somewhere in this world.

Such was the gist of what was written.

‘…That’s all?’

With a sigh, Kuuga found himself disappointed at the scant two pages of content.

The most useful information seemed to be that he might be capable of transforming into a humanoid and that he could apparently use magic—though he had no idea how.

And the paradise where God dwelled—the floating island? No one had mentioned such a thing… Yet when Kuuga first gazed out over this world from the church, he vaguely remembered glimpsing various islands floating in the sky. He had dismissed this as mere fantasy suited to another world, but could it truly be that ordinary people couldn’t see them?

Come to think of it, did gods really exist in this world? If priestesses receive divine revelations, there must be a source… so yes, evidently they do.

As Kuuga pondered, troubled, Louis continued to watch him with that same difficult expression.

Shaking off his gloom, Kuuga turned next to investigate this kingdom.

The country over which Gadilas now ruled was called Lagra. It lay on the southern side of the continent, bordered by sea, renowned for its prosperous fishing and trade.

Of all the countries on the continent, its area was neither particularly large nor small, and apparently, the appearance of the Divine Beast was unprecedented in its history.

In a great forest near the northern border lived creatures known as magical beasts—monsters that sometimes descended on nearby villages to attack livestock or people. Likewise, there were creatures in the sea that preyed on people, leading to frequent attacks on the ports.

From what Kuuga could recall of Gadilas’s official business, expeditions were often sent to such troubled areas—though his memory was hazy.

Reading the historical records would likely yield the story of the nation’s founding, but the sheer volume deterred him.

Instead, Kuuga skimmed and browsed through whichever sections caught his fancy, gradually gaining a faint sense of the country’s character.

He did not so much study as simply flip through the pages, but after observing so much text, he found himself growing familiar with the writing system itself. It was not exactly reading—the words simply seemed to make sense. He felt he was grasping the rules behind them.

On a sudden whim, Kuuga shut his book and lined up several volumes before him. He tapped them with his forepaw in signal and looked at Louis, who tilted his head in puzzlement.

Extending his claw, Kuuga pointed to specific characters in the book titles—now curious whether it would convey the sound he intended.

Louis, following the letters Kuuga indicated, seemed to catch on. He pieced together the sounds as directed.

“Ku…ga…? Kuuga?”

‘Yes, that’s it!’

Delighted that his meaning had gotten through, Kuuga nodded repeatedly. Still puzzled as to the significance, Louis tilted his head, uncertain.

Realizing he had yet to communicate the meaning, Kuuga opened a book, searched for a suitable phrase, and pointed his claw at it.

“…My name? …Me? Could it be… the Divine Beast’s name?”
‘Exactly.’
“Wait, you have a name!? Er, Master Kuuga?”
‘You finally got it!’

For the first time in this world, Kuuga was called by his name, and his satisfaction was immense; he nodded over and over again. Looking refreshed, he eagerly returned to his reading, while Louis, in contrast, fell silent, steeped in thought.