Chapter 78

One night, Kurato, who had skipped his promotion exam, muttered to himself that maybe he didn't need to take any exams anymore. Estia, lying next to him, naked under a blanket, heard his words and, without sleeping, stared at him with a gaze that seemed to look far into the distance, including Kurato.

"...If you have power, and can prove it, life is easier. Especially if your background is unstable, you know."

She said this in a small voice. Being from North Baruk and unable to return to Baltis, and with no job prospects in Maranova, Estia had no choice but to become a prostitute. Perhaps to her, Kurato, who could take the promotion exam, seemed to be in a different world.

Kurato didn't try to persuade her; the words just slipped out as if they were falling.

After finishing his painting, with nothing much to do until the ship arrived, Kurato suddenly remembered this and decided to take the exam again, descending from Dragon Mountain. This time, Shiro and Azurona were with him. They would stay one night at the monster stable for the practical exam, and the rest of the time, Kurato planned to camp with them. He didn't want to be too cautious.

Kurato thought that the attendants of the Moon Goddess were hardly seen in Maranova.

On the 65th day of the White Moon, Kurato, who had already registered for the promotion exam the day before, was heading to the guild for his second lecture. As usual, he encountered the female staff member at the guild entrance, who had tried to buy the leather from the Mist Black Horse at a low price from Kurato before. Unlike before, she stepped back before Kurato could bump into her, and they ended up facing each other at the entrance. She glanced at Kurato's face, snorted, and was about to walk past with a look that said, "Of course," but then stopped abruptly.

"--- I heard you failed the last exam."

Kurato swallowed the words, "How do you know?" Talking to this woman only made him feel gloomy. But the female staff member ignored Kurato's mood and continued.

"Rogues trying to become Seven Stars, the world is coming to an end. Besides, even if you become a Seven Star without the support of the Moon Goddess's attendants, I doubt you'll get any work."

Kurato had become somewhat famous among the Maranova branch staff due to the duel at the guild, the confrontation with the Moon Goddess's attendants, and the loss of their support. But Kurato, who didn't know this, thought that the female staff member was probably still hurt by the first encounter.

"--- What's wrong with being a rogue?"

Kurato couldn't help but speak. The female staff member made a surprised sound and then twisted her lips in a mocking smile.

"Ha ha ha ha, are you serious? Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha."

With a deeply unpleasant smile, she entered the guild without saying anything more. Kurato felt as if a crow had defecated on him in the morning as he stepped into the guild.

The second lecture went smoothly. Unlike last time, no one was hostile to the instructor, Bella Marquetty, but there were more people, over thirty. This was because the end of the year was approaching, and many were rushing to meet the graduation requirements of the Seven Star exam.

As the young men and women, still somewhat tense, filed out of the room, Kurato followed them out of the guild.

Except for the female staff member, nothing unusual happened. Neither the Moon Goddess's attendants nor Joseph appeared, and there was no contact from the guild. Fanfu, whom Kurato had killed, was no longer a problem, but Dawi, who had tried to interfere with Kurato and Fanfu's duel and was stopped by Shiro, could be considered in violation of the agreement. Kurato didn't care if Dawi didn't make any further contact. Killing Dawi now wouldn't change anything.

However, Kurato was suspicious that the guild, which had signed the agreement, said nothing. Perhaps the guild didn't care about a promise with a rogue hunter. Kurato thought that if the guild didn't make any contact before the exam ended, he would take the initiative, though he wasn't enthusiastic about it. He hurried through the dimly lit streets toward the monster stable where Shiro and Azurona were waiting.

Shiro's pride was wounded, and he was filled with humiliation and a sense of defeat.

It happened while he was lying in front of the earthen hut Kurato had built, after finishing his dinner of meat, as usual. Snowflakes were falling, and while it might be a bit cold for Kurato, it was comfortable for Shiro, who didn't feel the cold at all.

Suddenly, "it" revealed its true nature, baring its fangs.

Shiro, not knowing what was happening, was toyed with. Over and over, he was played with.

The shadow of "it," illuminated by the fire spirit, flickered in his vision. No matter how many times he tried to look away, he couldn't help but notice it.

He couldn't stand it anymore. Shiro's large, round white front paw reacted like a spring-loaded toy.

*Thud*

There was no sense of satisfaction. The target, a dark green mass, slipped away smoothly.

Shiro didn't react. He thought it was ridiculous. But.

*Thud*

It slipped away again. Despite not wanting to react, he was drawn in. Being drawn in was frustrating, but so was being able to escape. It could only escape because he wasn't serious.

*Thud*

The dark green mass, which seemed to be mocking him, dodged again.

*Thud*

*Thud*

*Thud*

*Thud*

*Thud*

He finally caught it. He wouldn't let it go.

Shiro grabbed the dark green mass with both front paws and bit down.

Suddenly, he noticed a leering gaze. He looked up in surprise. Kurato, with a sly smile, and Azurona, tilting her head as if to ask, "What are you doing?" were looking at Shiro.

Shiro let the dark green mass fall from his mouth. He felt as if he wanted to crawl into a hole.

The dark green mass that Shiro had been biting was the end of a giant cat toy that Kurato had made. Kurato found a piece of rubberwood about the length of his arm among the low rubberwood bushes he had used to make a scrub brush, and tied the remaining mane and tail of the Mist Black Horse and the mane of the Green Mane Dragon to the end.

Kurato made it as a way to relax between painting sessions. It was usually tucked into his belt and served as a good self-defense weapon that wouldn't kill weaker races but could repel them. It looked like a strange weapon.

Shiro had only thought of it as a new weapon until now.

But it was a demonic weapon that Shiro couldn't ignore. He could easily catch the cat toy if he tried, but it was ridiculous to play with such a thing. However, his instincts reacted, and he couldn't resist. The struggle between his reason and instincts led to him chasing the cat toy at a speed that Kurato could react to, only to have it slip away.

Catching it felt humiliating, as if he was being rolled around in Kurato's palm. Not catching it felt humiliating, as if he was being toyed with by Kurato.

For the first time, Shiro cursed his instincts.

While Shiro was suffering, Kurato, who had picked up the cat toy, was about to swing it again. But immediately, Shiro's tail pressed down on Kurato's arm, as if to say, "No more of this." Shiro glared at Kurato. The demon, or rather, Kurato, grinned lecherously and, with a flick of his wrist, switched the cat toy to his other hand and swung it again.

Shiro tried to endure it. But as the dark green mass moved from side to side, his eyes and ears reacted.

He tried to look away, to flatten his