Chapter 100

(Note) I updated a few days ago as well.

I meant to do it, but it ended up being a regular weekend update...

I think I caught a cold because it got a little cooler.

Please take care of your health, everyone.

Sorry for the wait. Here's the second part of Ayame's chapter.

１１ ～Ayame's Perspective～

Body fluids splattered around.

What emerged from Bertha's back was an arm that looked very much like a human's.

While I was wondering if it didn't hurt, another one came out.

The two arms that sprouted grabbed the gray fur of the wolf.

As if pulling itself out of water, the upper body of a girl was pulled out with a splash.

"…As I thought, this form is more comfortable."

Speaking in a low voice, the upper body of the girl turned to face me.

I had already seen this form earlier, but if I hadn't known, I would have been shocked.

Bertha, who had been a 'wolf with tentacles growing from her waist' until just now, now looked like a 'girl with a monster's lower body that was part wolf and part tentacles.'

In terms of atmosphere, it's close to Gerbera, I guess?

Thinking about it that way, I might feel a bit of familiarity.

Her black hair, soaked in mucus, hung limply, and beneath it, the face of a girl with slightly bad eyes stared at me expressionlessly.

Her amber eyes were clear and very beautiful.

She's probably about the same age as the masters.

Her face resembles the masters more than Shiran.

That's where she differs from Gerbera, it seems.

≪Is this Bertha's true form?≫

"Yes. My king calls me 'Scylla.'"

The response came in a calm voice.

Even so, my whiskers tingled.

Something inside me was saying, "Scary, scary."

Probably not as strong as Gerbera or Lily, but she's definitely quite powerful.

If we hadn't talked like this today, I would have been trembling.

But I already know Bertha isn't a bad person, so there's no need to be afraid.

"…You're bolder than I thought."

As I looked up at the girl's face high above me, Bertha said in a slightly impressed tone.

≪What do you mean?≫

"If you don't understand, it's fine."

Bertha shook her head slightly.

The tentacles, soaked in mucus, rippled in response.

"More importantly, your hands have stopped."

Oh, right.

I was in the middle of eating.

"A little fog is starting to come in. Our noses will be enough to get us back, but it's not ideal to have our vision obscured. You should eat quickly."

As Bertha said, the scenery around us was starting to blur slightly.

The night sky was already cloudy tonight.

If we couldn't see around us, it would be a problem, as Bertha said.

I decided to focus on the food in front of me.

Bertha also started eating with her wolf's head.

Occasionally, she used her human body to peel off annoying skin.

That's so cool. It's really convenient.

With wolf or fox hands, it's not that easy to do.

≪Hey, Bertha.≫

Once I was somewhat full, I opened my mouth.

Bertha, being so big, still had a lot to eat, so I thought I'd talk to her while she ate.

≪Bertha, you've eaten a lot and gotten stronger, right?≫

"Yes. Of course, that's not the only reason, but—"

≪Did you get this form by getting stronger?≫

"Yes."

≪Then, then. Can I become like Bertha now?≫

While the wolf's head was focused on eating, the girl's upper body turned to face me.

"Do you want to be like me?"

≪Yeah. I want to make the master happy.≫

"…Make him happy?"

Bertha narrowed her eyes in confusion.

"Why would becoming like me make your master happy?"

≪Well… When we become cute girls, the master is happy.≫

I heard Mina and Rose talking about this while I was sleeping on Mina's lap.

I was half asleep, so I didn't hear the details, but I remember they were talking about something like that.

"…I see. So there are cases like that."

Bertha murmured after hearing my answer.

It was a voice so low it was almost a whisper.

I tilted my head.

Bertha, with her lowered tail swaying, looked somewhat envious.

But that feeling quickly disappeared, and Bertha asked me.

"However, your master is human, right? Is this form acceptable to him?"

≪That's fine.≫

I could answer with confidence on this point.

It would be nice to be like Lily, but I think it would be okay to be like Bertha.

I know the master has been getting along well with Gerbera, who has a monster's lower body, recently.

≪The master will be surprised, I think. Can't I do it?≫

"Hmm. Yes…."

Bertha showed a thoughtful expression.

She growled seriously.

I've been thinking this for a while, but Bertha looks like Gerbera, but her personality might be more like Rose.

She's very serious.

I can see that she's seriously considering it for me.

The wolf's head continued to eat, though.

"It's impossible to take the exact same method as me."

After a while of eating, Bertha spoke.

"This is due to my own characteristics."

≪…I see.≫

Too bad.

It won't be that easy, huh?

"But…."

Bertha continued.

"I've fought various monsters and eaten their corpses. Among them were those who could change their bodies through transformation abilities or disguise their forms with illusion magic."

≪Like a Doppleganger?≫

"Yes. That's a typical example of the former. In the case of a Doppleganger, the ability to change into anything is a characteristic, but there are also those who can change into a specific form. Changing parts of the body to metal, growing wings, or altering the skeleton. Some of them had human-like forms."

≪A specific form… like Bertha?≫

"Yes. Transformation itself is a relatively common characteristic. Additionally, illusion magic was used by fox-type monsters. With training, there's a possibility you can use these in your own way."

≪Really!?≫

"Yes. Why don't you try it?"

≪I will!≫

I jumped up and spread my fluffy tail wide.

I'm getting excited.

If I dress up as a human, will the master be surprised?

Okay, I'll do my best!

＊＊＊

"…You don't have the talent."

≪Oh no!≫

A little while later, after finishing her meal, Bertha's words shocked me, making my ears and tail stand up.

≪Does that mean I can't use it from the start? In terms of monster abilities?≫

"No. Your magic power is moving slightly. It doesn't seem to be a matter of innate nature."

Bertha, who answered, had been helping me while eating.

She told me about the abilities she had seen in various monsters she had fought and watched me try them out, teaching me one by one whether they seemed feasible or not.

We gradually eliminated the ones that seemed impossible, and it was good to find out that some transformations might be possible, but the "lack of talent" comment came at the end.

"You can use transformation, but the amount of magic power moving is too weak."

In other words, lack of talent.

I understood.

≪…I see.≫

My tail drooped.

≪I don't have the talent. I am the weakest among the master's familiars, after all.≫

"Don't be so down."

Perhaps because I was so dejected, Bertha's voice softened a bit.

"Besides, whether you're weak or not is irrelevant in this case. It's certainly disappointing that you couldn't achieve your goal… but don't misunderstand. What I said was specifically about transformation and illusion. It doesn't apply to other areas."

≪Is that so? But I am weak, after all.≫

"You're just lacking in magic power because you haven't had enough time to grow. You will eventually surpass that big spider in strength."

≪Huh!?≫

My drooping tail perked up.

I was that surprised.

"It's not that surprising. For example, our king's power is the ability to create his own pawns. Therefore, he can't make a familiar that is 'too strong to control.' However, there's an exception: 'even if it's strong, it can be controlled if it has no will.' Your master's power is the opposite. The fact that you met the conditions at such a young age means you have great potential."

≪Eh, um?≫

Bertha's explanation is difficult.

But at least, I understand that I'm being praised.

Conversely, I don't really understand the explanation itself.

"You've been through quite a bit of turmoil even at a young age. Connecting with your master at such a young age will have a positive impact. If you have the potential to surpass it… well, it would be something like the vine parasitizing your master."

≪Asarina?≫

"Yes. The special nature of that vine is due to the soil it sprouted from. In that sense, it is a miraculous existence."

Wow, I don't really understand, but Asarina is amazing.

…It's great, but I'm reaching my limit of understanding.

Ignoring my inner voice, Bertha continued her explanation.

"But, its origin is also its limitation. Given the poor soil, its talent will not fully bloom. Generally, plant-type monsters are suited to illusion magic, so it might be better to develop that… What's wrong?"

≪…Oof.≫

"Ah, sorry. Was it a bit too difficult?"

Noticing my dazed expression, Bertha chuckled.

"Anyway, you will eventually master transformation. Even if it's a weak point, you have the potential to do it."

She said this in a tone that seemed to be convincing herself.

To be honest, I only understood about half of what she said… but regardless of the logic, it means I can do it if I try hard, right?

If that's the case, it's simple.

≪Got it! I'll do my best!≫

"Yes, it will take a long time, but keep at it without giving up."

With a high-pitched declaration, Bertha also encouraged me.

≪I wonder if the master will be happy.≫

Thinking about the future, I felt excited and my heart leaped.

Just imagining it makes my tail wag.

I'm looking forward to that moment.

I can't wait.

Bertha said it would take a long time, but how long is that?

Tomorrow?

The day after tomorrow?

The day after the day after tomorrow?

Hmm… I don't know, but will it take longer?

≪Hey, Bertha. I have a question… Hey? Bertha?≫

Feeling cheerful, I called out, but I was puzzled.

Bertha seemed to be in a daze and didn't respond to my voice.

Tilting my head, I watched, and finally, she blinked.

"…Sorry. I was spacing out."

≪Is something wrong?≫

"No, it's nothing."

When I asked, a bit worried, Bertha shook her head.

"Just, the fact that your master is happy when you turn into a human is strange to me."

I snorted.

≪Why is it strange?≫

"…My king doesn't particularly like this form of mine."

Bertha's girl's upper body placed a hand on her chest.

"I thought it was normal. So, hearing that your master is different was surprising."

≪Hmm, I see.≫

I tilted my head.

≪…That's weird.≫

Bertha's appearance is a bit scary, but I don't think it's something to be disliked.

Everyone is different… right?

I don't really understand, though.

≪…Hey, does that mean… Bertha was hiding this form…?≫

"Yes. By the king's order."

Bertha nodded.

"Besides, to be honest, I don't particularly like this form myself."

≪Eh? Really?≫

I widened my eyes.

I was surprised.

Bertha said this form was something she gained by getting stronger.

I thought she would naturally be proud of it.

But it seems that was a misconception.

Bertha looked down at her own hand, spreading her five fingers, expressionless.

"…Looking at this form, I can't help but think of the past."

There was something flickering in the depths of Bertha's amber eyes.

"Memories of failure from when I didn't even have a name. Every time I remember, I regret. Why couldn't I be Anton? Why am I Bertha? …I know it's pointless to regret, but—"

More than half of it was a monologue, and I didn't really understand.

Anton is Anton, and Bertha is Bertha.

Bertha can't become Anton, and vice versa.

It's strange to regret that.

So, maybe it means something else?

I think so, but I still don't understand.

To begin with, I don't understand why looking at her current form makes her think of the past.

I don't understand, I don't understand, I don't understand.

I understood nothing.

So, naturally, I couldn't say anything to help.

But listening to Bertha's words… I felt a pain in my chest.

Bertha is truly, from the bottom of her heart, regretting something.

That much, I could feel.

I couldn't say anything to help because I didn't understand, but I could feel her pain.

So, without saying anything, I walked over and licked Bertha's wolf's nose.

Bertha jumped.

The two wolf heads and the girl's face above them looked down at me in shock.

Her eyes were wide open, clearly surprised.

…Oh, wait.

Did I make her angry?

I meant to comfort her…

Did I do it wrong?

Oh no, oh no, oh no…

Just as I was panicking, Bertha's expression changed.

Her lips relaxed slightly.

Her tail wagged.

The tentacles also moved.

The air started to shift.

"…Thank you."

Bertha, who said this, scratched her black hair as if to cover up.

"And I'm sorry for burdening you with my incomprehensible complaints. This is the first time I've shown this form to anyone other than the king and his familiars, so I might have been a bit off."

Bertha seemed to be back to her usual self.

Ah, that's a relief.

I exhaled.

Bertha, who seems unfriendly and intimidating, has actually been very helpful to me.

I don't want her to be in pain.

"Let's head back. The fog is getting thicker."

≪Okay.≫

Relieved, I nodded to Bertha's words and followed her as she started walking.

…Oh.

I almost forgot to say one more thing.

≪Hey, Bertha.≫

I called out to Bertha's back, which was already enveloped in the fog.

"What is it?"

≪I like your form, Bertha.≫

Bertha's girl's face turned back, and her amber eyes widened.

≪I think it's really cool.≫

"…I see."

Her response was short.

But Bertha's tail wagged a little.

So, I wagged my tail in return.

It was a fun exchange.

We walked back together, enveloped in the fog that was gradually thickening.

≪Hey, hey, Bertha.≫

"What is it?"

≪Can you practice transformations with me again?≫

"Are you saying that just to get food?"

≪No, that's not it. I'd be happy if there's food, though.≫

"Then next time, let's go hunting together. I hear that balloon foxes are good at hunting, so I might learn a lot from you."

As we talked, the fog around us gradually thickened.

White, white, white.

The fog enveloped us.

It felt like the fog was hugging us.

—I didn't realize we were being caught up in an anomaly.

◆ Congratulations on reaching 100 chapters!

So, I'm going to do a character popularity vote for "Monster's Master" as I've wanted to do for a while.

For more details, check out the following activity report page!

http://mypage.syosetu.com/mypageblog/view/userid/316835/blogkey/1236206/