Published: September 10, 2025
This is Satou. When it comes to sacred beasts, they are mentioned in various places such as myths and folk legends. However, some even include creatures like yokai or magical beasts, so classification can be tricky.
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"—Sacred beast?"
"Yes."
By the time we got used to life in Labyrinth City Selbira, Tama brought up that topic.
"You heard it from the scholar lady?"
"Scholar, huh?"
"Something like that."
Tama tilted her head lightly, not paying much attention to it.
"Sacred beasts are like unicorns or pegasi?"
"No, those are classified as phantom beasts, I think."
I answered Arisa’s question.
I haven't seen a Pegasus yet, but I recall the unicorn we saw in the Forest of Boruenan was considered a "phantom beast."
"Tama-chan, so what does the sacred beast look like?"
"Hmm, interesting."
When Lulu and Mia prompted her, Tama jumped up onto the sofa and began to talk.
"The lady said it’s a very divine beast—like a kemono."
"Kemono? Is it meat? Is it tasty?"
"You definitely shouldn’t eat the sacred beast!"
"That’s disappointing."
Pochi looked sad at Tama's sensible comment.
For some reason, even Liza, who was helping Tama down from the sofa, seemed a little disappointed.
"Master, you have a visitor."
At that moment, the maid Mitelna came into the living room.
"Visitor? What kind of person?"
"She’s a scholar named Lask from the Royal Academy in the Royal Capital."
Her name sounded like some kind of crispy snack.
I should try slicing some stale bread to make something like that.
"Could it be the person Tama was talking about—the one about the sacred beast?"
"Probably. Let’s meet her. Please show her to the reception room."
Leaving the guidance to Mitelna, I changed into proper clothes and then went to the reception room.
"Nice to meet you, Sir Pendragon. I am Lask, a lecturer at the Royal Academy."
She stood and gave a lady-like bow, which I returned.
"Actually, I’m looking for labyrinth explorers to help with my research—"
Lask glanced toward the door mid-sentence.
When I looked over, Tama and the others were peeking through the door gap.
"—You are the one from earlier?"
"Hi, big sister!"
Tama waved cheerfully.
"Are you acquainted with Tama?"
"Not really, but—are you the artist Tama?"
—Artist?
"Oh! Thanks to the guidance of God Tenion!"
Lask clasped her hands and prayed toward the sky.
She seemed very devout.
"This is also divine providence. Sir Pendragon, would you accept my request?"
"You said you want help with research, but what kind of request is it?"
Lask grasped my hand pleadingly.
"Chop!"
"Okay, okay, let go."
Mia severed that hand with a delicate hand chop, and Arisa opened the distance between me and Lask with motions like a traffic cop.
"Hehe, such cute kids."
"Yes, they’re my precious companions."
Arisa and Mia sat on either side of me.
Tama, who was mentioned earlier, was now behind the sofa with Pochi, climbing up and resting her chin on my head, looking all soft and relaxed.
"Getting to the main point."
"Right."
Prompted by Mia, Lask cleared her throat.
"I research rare creatures at the Royal Academy, and my current theme is 'sacred beasts.' To verify whether the legends about these sacred beasts are true, I need to go to the outskirts of the Marquisate of Ellet—"
"So you want us to escort the academic survey team?"
I didn’t want to be tied up for an unknown length of time guarding an academic team.
A few days would be fine, but that would be a bit much.
"No, that’s not it."
Lask shook her head.
"I have been studying at a desk in the Royal Capital. I simply cannot walk mountain paths where even roads are not maintained and monsters run rampant to conduct surveys."
Lask said clearly; her AR showed she was level 5.
At that level, accidents would be scary.
"Do you want us to do the survey for you? Or bring other people?"
Arisa asked on my behalf.
"The former. More precisely, I want you to do the preliminary survey."
"What do you want us to investigate?"
"The existence of the sacred beast."
If we searched the map, we’d know right away if it was there or not, but if not, I’m not confident I could keep my unique skills secret and convince them.