The Cursed Forest Where I Was Exiled Had Somehow Been Designated As A Sanctuary. - Awakened to the Purification skill, I, Surrounded By Divine Dragons And Great Spirits, Become The King of A Nation - Episode 17

“Grrr, I love Master’s scent~”

Zess, who was suddenly knocked down by the beast-girl who appeared out of nowhere, somehow managed to persuade her and moved to their usual spot by the great tree.

However, even if we change the location, the situation doesn’t change.

The sun had completely set, and Zess and the others sat around the campfire.

The beast-girl took a position next to Zess, clinging to his arm and nuzzling against him, while rubbing her wolf tail that extended from her hips against him.

Following the wolf’s ears that bobbed up and down right in front of him with his eyes, and suppressing the impulse to pat its head, Zess asked with a troubled expression.

“What kind of way is that to refer to your husband?”

“Really? A husband is a husband. It’s my turn to take care of things!”

“……Yeah, I get that, but first, I want to know more about you.”

When Zess speaks, the girl’s wolf ears perk up.

And then, with eyes shining brightly, they broke into an innocent smile.

“Do you want to know about me?! Master, you like me!”

“Why does it have to be like this…?”

After such exchanges, Zess finally succeeded in getting the girl to reveal her circumstances.

Her name is Sonia.

It seems she is from a tribe of beastmen living outside the Great Tree Sea and is fifteen years old.

The reason I said “apparently” is because Sonia’s way of speaking was vague.

“My age? Probably fifteen! …Hmm? Maybe fourteen! Oh, sixteen is fine too!”

It was a remark that made me want to interject, but I let it slide to avoid derailing the conversation.

And then, I continued to extract more details about the situation.

Apparently, she was ordered by the leader of the group to go find a mate… a so-called partner.

Thereupon, she left the pack alone, and while searching for a mate, she stepped into the Great Tree Sea—where she developed a divine curse.

“I more or less understand the situation, but why do I have to become your husband? You don’t know me very well, do you? Yet, I’m supposed to be your… mate?”

After listening to the story, when Zess asked again, Sonia tilted her head and said, “Gau?”

“I know about you, my lord.”

“Huh?”

“Master, you defeated me! Master, you’re strong! I love you!”

Wagging her tail back and forth, Sonia speaks proudly.

While Sonia was explaining and I was confused, Yggdrasil, who had been silent until then, spoke up.

“Beastwomen choose mates who are stronger than themselves. Women who cannot find such a partner do not bear children, so the search for a mate is a lifelong endeavor.”

“Come to think of it, I read in a book that some beastmen are on the brink of extinction.”

Zess digs up the memories of the books he devoured while he was in the royal castle.

Among the beastmen, there are various types such as cats, tigers, foxes, and rabbits.

In terms of diversity, the beastmen are outstanding, but unlike humans, their diversity depends on the group rather than the individual.

A group that cannot adapt to the environment is destined to perish, but a group of beastmen with high base stats might perish without finding a mate.

If you’re going to perish, it’s better to date someone suitable; that’s something only a third party who doesn’t have such customs or instincts can say.

“…So, I was chosen as that pair. Why the hell?”

Even though he should have understood everything, a question mark still hovered over Zess’s head.

“I’m not strong, am I?”

I’m not bragging, but I’m completely hopeless at hand-to-hand combat, swordsmanship, and all other types of combat skills. I don’t have any combat-related skills either.

I can’t even say that I’m stronger than Sonia, who is a beastman.

“Why? Master, you’re stronger than me. You cleared up the fog I couldn’t defeat and took down the enemy with a bang! Master, who can defeat enemies I can’t, is stronger than me!”

“Hmm, I wonder if that’s really the case…”

Zess tilts his head as Sonia talks about her theory, gesturing widely with both hands.

“…Actually, Zess has a higher status. What she’s saying isn’t wrong.”

He must have seen Sonia’s status with the “Spirit’s Eye.”

Zess decided to accept Yggdrasil’s murmur for the time being.

Well, it’s true that when she pushed me down, it felt like I could break free.

It seems that Muscle D is not just for show.

As I was coming to terms with it, Sonia suddenly grabbed my hand.

“Alright then, my lord! Let’s go!”

“Huh, where are you going?”

“My pack! Master, I’m taking them home!”

The moment Sonia said that.

As if reacting to something, she lets go of the hand she was holding and steps back.

Between Sonia and Zess, several branches extending from the great tree pierced the ground like stakes, creating a boundary.

Sonia’s demeanor changed completely as she growled, “Grrr,” and glared at Yggdrasil.

“You! You intend to interfere with me and my husband! In other words, you’re an enemy!”

“That’s my line. Zess will live here with me.”

“Eh, wait a minute, both of you…?”

Ignoring Zess, who was bewildered by the sudden and tense standoff, Sonia calmly lowered herself, while Yggdrasil floated gently upward.

“Well, well, well, both of you, please calm down.”

Flora, who had been observing quietly until then, intervened, but Sonia and Yggdrasil’s murderous gazes pierced through her.

“Those cunning elves are trying to take advantage of the situation. If they interfere with my master, I’ll take them all down!”

“W-What? I didn’t mean to…”

Flora is flustered.

As Zess was pondering what to do at the ominous signs that a battle was about to begin, Sonia suddenly sniffed the air.

“Um, I brought your meal… were you busy?”

What Peter brought with him was a bowl of stew.

You must have brought it for Sonia.

Sonia, drawn by the scent, turned sharply to face Peter.

“Food!”

◆　◆　◆

“Munch munch munch, gulp, munch, … delicious! We’ll make you our chef!”

While almost finishing off the remaining stew, Sonia points at Peter and tells him.

The ominous signs of the earlier battle had completely vanished, and she was engrossed in her meal.

“Wait a minute, we are…”

“Of course, me and my husband!”

“Right?”

When Zess, caught off guard by Sonia’s words, asked, he received the expected reply.

Zess, while giving a wry smile, looked Sonia in the eye and clearly told her.

“Sorry, but I’m not going to be your mate, and I’m not planning to join your pack.”

“Why?”

“Why? Well, that’s because I don’t know you very well. Besides, I’ve decided to live by this great tree.”

When Zess said that, Yggdrasil let out a small laugh.

Sonia nodded and held her head in her hands at Zess’s words, but eventually, she suddenly lifted her face.

“Got it!”

“Finally, you understand.”

I let out a sigh of relief.

“Then I’ll live here with you, my husband!”

“That way?!”

Seeing Sonia, who was looking pleased with herself as if she had come up with a brilliant idea, Zess couldn’t help but feel disheartened.

“If you don’t return to the pack, your family will be in trouble, right?”

“Why? I’m doing well, and both Dad and Mom are doing well too! Everyone is doing fine, so there’s no problem!”

“Ha, this conversation isn’t getting through…”

Holding his head in his hands, Zess thinks.

After all, isn’t it strange to think that the values of the beastmen are the same as ours?

Having realized various things, Zess asks Sonia again.

“Are you really going to live here? I don’t intend to become your mate, but is that still okay with you?”

“Don’t worry! I decided!”

“……I wonder if it’s really okay.”

Zess sensed her determination and let out a deep sigh.

“Got it. If that’s the case, welcome.”

“Yay! I’m with my husband!”

Towards Sonia, who was hopping around, Zess raised his index finger.

“However! If you’re going to live here, there are things you need to do first.”

“……Master, it’s a little scary.”

To Zess, who spoke with a serious expression, Sonia flinched for the first time, her wolf ears drooping flat.