Alicia's heavy breathing slowed, her face relaxing as she drifted into a peaceful sleep again.
…So cute.
...Heh... It seems like I might have a thing for kids...
…I don't mean it like THAT.
I just like kids! Not the perverted meaning you're probably thinking about!
"So…" Pluto suddenly spoke up. "You're not planning to walk around like that, are you?"
…Hm?
"Like how?"
I glanced down at myself.
Ah.
Yes.
I'm still naked.
"I don't really mind, though," I sighed. "I've always been naked."
"Of course, you have. You're an animal."
Something about the way Pluto put that annoyed me.
He continued, completely unbothered. "But tell me, how many humans do you see walking around with their—CENSORED—flapping in the wind? Pison is a lot like Gihon when it comes to morals. You'd be hunted down for advertising your ass—even if you worked in a red-light district."
"Hey, for some reason, I feel like you're abusing me somehow."
"Well… Since you're an ANIMAL, you probably don't get it. But if a human heard you say, 'Hah! I don't really mind exhibitionism, let the whole world kiss my butt cheeks!' they'd think you're just wrong in the head."
I never said that, though!
"It's okay, I get it," I muttered, waving him off.
Humans make such a big deal about clothes.
Actually, humans turn everything into a complicated mess, right?
Pluto reached into his suspiciously all-purpose treasure chest—one that could hold literally anything—and pulled out some garbs for me.
A plain white fabric that covered my entire human arms down to the wrists.
A piece of cloth he called "pants," which I used to conceal my newly acquired Se—CENSORED.
And another wrapper of sorts. He called it a handless jacket. A brown one.
Whatever.
With this, I believe I can operate as any "original human" out there.
Pluto also decided to change my name to Ruben.
He said it'd be safer since someone from Pison might recognize the name Ravenswood.
I highly doubt that, but… better safe than sorry, I guess.
…Wait.
I haven't really thought about this before, but…
Wh-what if I'm approached by a h-human woman?!
At one time, when I ruled most of Gihon—some decades ago—several human women offered their bodies to me in exchange for sparing their lands.
They were… too direct.
It was strange. Awkward. Not to mention embarrassing for me.
So, I just let them off with a warning and made some parts of their land into a territory filled with wolves and wolf-kins.
Well, for some reason, I remain a virgin to this very day.
But I guess I shouldn't hold back anymore.
This journey to the other heavenly piece signals a change. A new life.
So I…
I mean, if a human woman was… you know, interested… well…
I'm basically human right now, so…
"Gahhh?! So l-lewd!!!" I involuntarily yelled, my face burning.
Pluto hurriedly turned to me.
"Kyaaa! What a cute blushing face! I want to take you home and lock you up."
What? I feel sick from that remark just now.
He continued, completely ignoring my look of disgust.
"But... such a deep voice in a cute appearance?!" He clicked his tongue. "I better fix that too."
And just like that, the remaining virtue in me—my menacing, Optimus Prime-y, villain-worthy tone—was seized.
Replaced by something that was neither male nor female.
So far, so good—Pluto has officially ruined my life the most.
We were all set—or just me—for Pison now.
But Alicia…
I don't know how long the journey will take, but it'll definitely surpass a day.
And she'll have to eat something on the way.
Ugh. The babysitting has already begun. And I'm becoming accustomed to it, infuriatingly so.
"Pluto?" I reluctantly breathed.
I didn't like the sound of my voice. It lacked the right amount of vibration.
"..."
Pluto was quiet.
Strange. I was sure I called him just now.
Let's go again.
"Hey, Pluto."
"...Use 'Lord' Pluto, or I'm not answering."
"...Lord Pluto?"
"What is it, honey?"
Blueeghhhh!! I want to vomit!
"H-How long will the journey to Pison take?"
Ugh! My voice lacked its usual bite after all!
There's no longer anything tying me and the Fenrir Ravenswood together again!
Pluto replied. "Ah, that'd take you guys about two days or so."
So we'll need food after all.
I could go a month without food or water, but not Alicia.
I guess I'll just summon a shadow wolf to steal some grub from a human settlement.
Unlike me, my shadow wolves could literally swim in shadows.
It's just like teleportation—one of the hardest spells known to mortals.
So... Platform, summon one of the strongest shadow wolves I have…
{...}
…Sigh…! Should I take this as God answering my prayers and making Platform unable to spea—
{Yes, Master, you called.}
Of course, you'll respond now.
I said summon me a shadow wolf—I want it to go steal food from some idiot close by.
{...But Master... You have no Shadow Wolves anymore.}
Argh. I really need an ability upgrade.
Platform will mislead me to my death one day.
What the hell do you mean I have no Shadow Wolves anymore?!
Did they retire?!
"Let me guess. You're speaking with—uh, what's the name—Plant form, right now, right?"
And Pluto just had to join in!
This is serious, though.
Did I lose my summon ability?
But why…?
What could possibly—
{Master, might you be referring to your new ability—"Specter Wolves Summon"?}
"...Platform… you…"