“Gegegeck!” “Unicorn!” “Multi-mate!”

The Unicorne showed a very gentlemanly demeanor, contrary to what Baekrang had described.

Right. Just because they had two horns doesn’t mean they’re all like the Baikon.

They were merely rhinos with two horns, not mythical beings that despised purity.

There couldn’t possibly be ten of those around.

These gentlemen, dressed as if in suits with two horns, bowed their heads and greeted me warmly.

“Multi-mate!” “Geck!”

As I responded appropriately, the gentlemen nodded vigorously, clearly pleased.

It felt nice to communicate like this.

I felt like I could call them “brother” or “sister.”

If the situation allowed, I’d love to share drinks with these creatures, but that wasn’t the time for it.

I had a purpose to fulfill.

I didn’t come here to befriend the Unicorne.

Of course, it wouldn’t hurt to be friendly with them, but I couldn’t lose sight of my initial goal.

The objective was to stop them from attacking the wolf pack.

Ideally, I wanted to drive them out permanently or forge an alliance with the wolves.

“Geck.”

But how was I supposed to say this?

“Multi-mate!”

I couldn’t threaten those who liked me so much.

Besides, I doubted they would even be intimidated by me given their size.

Could I communicate through mere gecking?

While pondering this, I heard a few howls coming from behind.

Turning around, I saw a reasonably-sized gray wolf approaching me.

Chillang?

No, why was the one who should be in the cave here?

Even though he was the youngest, all the wolves in the pack were adults.

This meant it wouldn’t be an issue for them to be out hunting.

Chillang must have come out under the excuse of hunting.

If not, maybe the whole wolf pack had gone out, and he spotted me by chance and snuck out.

Well, since he was here, maybe I should help clear up any misunderstandings with the Unicorne?

Our gentlemen with two horns weren’t the ferocious beasts they were made out to be.

“Gwoooong!” “Multi-mate!”

But contrary to my thoughts, the Unicorne glared at Chillang with fierce eyes.

“Grrr….” “Gwooor!”

The Unicorne were puffing out their breaths, ready to charge at any moment.

“Gegegeck!”

What’s wrong with you guys?

I tried to stretch my arms to calm them down, but it wasn’t easy.

At the same time, I felt a chill gathering from afar.

Baekrang must have spotted Chillang too.

To her, it probably looked like the Unicorne were extremely agitated by Chillang’s presence.

…They indeed seemed to be excited.

The situation had escalated.

The Unicorne looked ready to attack Chillang, and Baekrang was preparing to counter their assault.

No matter how much they liked me, I couldn’t stop a fight from breaking out.

The best way was to mediate before a fight started, but I couldn’t rely on sheer strength to calm down the Unicorne.

Should I just grab Chillang and run?

At least that would prevent bloodshed.

“Auwooo….”

Chillang, who had been sneaking up, suddenly rolled over on its back.

“Hah hah hah….”

Chillang stuck its tongue out and looked at me.

“…Multi-mate?” “Unicorn?”

The Unicorne looked at each other and then back at me.

Their fierce demeanor had softened.

What was going on?

Oh, right.

Canines have a habit of showing their bellies to those above them in rank.

It seemed that by performing that action, the Unicorne recognized there was some kind of relationship between that wolf and me.

In other words, the lizard, Komodo-Rania, favored by the Unicorne. The wolf close to that lizard also became a favored wolf.

“Hah hah….”

Chillang, being the youngest, had surprisingly quick wit.

I had been trying to figure out how to foster harmony with the wolves, and here was a method that worked.

However, just rolling over was something anyone could do.

The Unicorne’s suspicion hadn’t completely vanished.

In other words, I still needed to take some action.

And that action was simple.

Pet the wolf’s belly.

“Auwooo….”

As I petted Chillang’s belly, I noticed the Unicorne looking at me with admiration.

“Multi-mate! Multi-mate!” “Geesh! Geesh!” “Omnivore! Omnivore!”

I wasn’t sure what those cries meant, but it probably indicated respect.

The Unicorne were celebrating as if a festival had started.

And as their spirits calmed, the chill that had been gathering around Baekrang also dispersed.

It seemed they had realized that misunderstandings were cleared.

Good, now that I knew the solution, I could solve the problem.

“Geck!”

Hey, you white one. Come over here too.

*

Baekrang doubted her own eyes.

Over there, weren’t the Unicorne dancing?

They had been ready to charge at her pack with rage, yet they were acting very affectionately toward the lizard.

No, it was more than just affection.

It was respect. Or perhaps worship.

That lizard was an object of worship for the Unicorne.

Why?

Baekrang questioned herself, but there was no answer.

The Unicorne were ferocious beasts but held the status of spirits.

Could such beasts behave in that way?

It was incomprehensible to Baekrang.

She had met a Unicorn before.

Contrary to the rumors of ferocity, it had been endlessly kind.

Thus, she had thought that the Unicorne, resembling the Unicorn, would be similar.

But what was this? The reputation of ferocity suited the Unicorne, not the Unicorn.

How had she managed to prevent those formidable creatures from trampling her pack? Baekrang couldn’t help but click her tongue at that memory.

Still, it was a relief.

For reasons unknown, it seemed there was a special bond between that lizard and the Unicorne.

Having promised to reveal the location of the Dragon Gate, that lizard could potentially drive the Unicorne out of the area.

Even if not, it could at least prevent them from recklessly attacking the wolf pack.

While pondering this, she spotted something familiar walking in the distance.

A relatively small figure.

It was Chillang.

“Chillang!”

She must have either been in the cave or gone hunting with her other sisters. Why was she here?

I called out urgently, but Chil-lang didn’t answer.

Baek-rang approached to chase after her.

As Chil-lang got closer to the ichthyosaurs, the previously docile ichthyosaurs suddenly started to become agitated.

They were gentle with the lizard but not with a wolf.

It was obvious that Chil-lang was in danger.

I was about to gather my energy to respond to the ichthyosaurs’ attack.

“…Auw…”

Chil-lang let out that sound and rolled over onto her back.

The ichthyosaurs’ fierce energy also diminished.

Baek-rang roughly understood the situation.

As soon as she proved that there was some kind of relationship with that lizard, the ichthyosaurs became calm.

In other words, to solve the problem, she needed to prove it to the ichthyosaurs.

Look at that; as the lizard stroked Chil-lang’s belly, the ichthyosaurs were nodding their horns in delight.

She had realized the solution to the problem.

However, Baek-rang’s pride wouldn’t allow it.

No matter how you looked at it, how could she do that to a lizard?

Chil-lang was still young and didn’t know the ways of the world.

A wolf that had grown up like herself.

A wolf of the spiritual class could never do such a thing.

Just as she thought this, she heard.

“Ggegegek!”

Was that oblivious lizard calling her?

“Part…?”

She had intended to withdraw and wait for the next opportunity, but the ichthyosaurs had also noticed her presence.

This meant that if things went wrong, Chil-lang, who was among the ichthyosaurs, could be in danger.

Just the ichthyosaurs getting agitated and rampaging would be fatal for Chil-lang.

Baek-rang made a decision.

She would save Chil-lang.

She slowly approached the black lizard.

“Gweowowng!”
“Part-dam!”

The ichthyosaurs were on guard against her.

Wolves only create one mate in their lifetime.

This was in stark contrast to the ichthyosaurs’ beliefs.

Moreover, she was a wolf of the spiritual class.

Like a unicorn, she could eliminate those who preached polygamy.

The ichthyosaurs’ wariness of her was instinctive.

“Part-dam!”

Baek-rang approached the black lizard little by little.

Then she used her trump card.

A way to calm both that wicked lizard and the ichthyosaurs.

She rolled over.

“Ggegek.”

The lizard looked at her with a puzzled expression.

If Baek-rang hadn’t had fur, you would have seen her face turning red.

“Auw…”

Baek-rang let out a sound she shouldn’t have as a spiritual being and began to wag her tail.

Even so, that foolish lizard seemed not to understand Baek-rang's intent and just stared blankly.

No.

Baek-rang knew how cunning that lizard was.

Look at that face.

It must be holding onto what it said and planning some kind of revenge.

“Auw…”

Even when she made that sound, the lizard remained still.

“Part-dam!”
“Fur! Fur? Turael?”

The ichthyosaurs were arguing among themselves.

How to deal with the wolf that appeared before them.

Baek-rang clenched her teeth.

Look at the lizard's blue eyes.

It was as if it was saying, “Say it yourself.”

She felt that sound resonating within her.

But Baek-rang had no other choice.

“Hurry… stroke… my belly…”

How could she say something like this?

She felt like she could die of shame.

But for Chil-lang, and to keep her pack safe, it was an unavoidable choice.

Baek-rang closed her eyes.

The lizard’s large hand began to stroke her body.

Only then did the ichthyosaurs drop their threatening demeanor.

“Fur fur fur…”
“Omnivore, omnivore.”

Listening to the ichthyosaurs’ discussion, Baek-rang said, as if feeling frustrated,

“…I allowed my body, but I haven’t given my heart.”

That was her last shred of pride.

Stroking wasn’t a promise of love, so it didn’t have to hold any great significance.

It was just a choice to break through the current situation.

Baek-rang reassured herself that she said that in case the lizard might misunderstand.

Tap tap tap.

The fluffy white tail was wagging vigorously, but that was Baek-rang's act.

No, she thought it was an act.

Being stroked by the lizard didn’t feel good at all.

“Auw…”

Realizing she had made a sound like a puppy without realizing it, Baek-rang quickly covered her mouth.

*

…Is it okay to stroke this?

It won’t bite my hand, right?

Chil-lang might not, but this one is a bit too big and scary…

Ugh, I don’t know.

It asked her to do it, so it probably wouldn’t complain.