The overlord of the gods is interrogating the alien female spy.

　"Hmph, do you think we're fools? We can't even find someone this big hiding there?"

　She was still arrested.

　Those people had discovered her long ago; they had been just teasing her for fun all along.

　She was thrown into a cage. What will become of her next fate?

　"It's so boring."

　The birch forest seemed very long; they walked for a whole day without ever leaving it.

　The birch forest at night brought with it a chill, and the dreadful bandits gathered around the campfire to eat meat and drink wine, but still felt it wasn't enough.

　"Hey kid, aren't you from Letania? Play a song."

　The broken Lytanian language was spoken by a fierce Liberian man.

　"Haha, you've really had too much to drink, Leon. She's just a little kid who hasn't even grown a beard yet. What kind of grand music could she possibly play? Do you think she's some kind of music master from Gaul?"

　Those around him, hearing his words, couldn't help but laugh at him. They seemed completely unconcerned about the quality of Letania's music.

　"..."

　She couldn't understand what they were saying, but she could sense their emotions.

　These despicable robbers not only murdered her family, but also insulted everything about them.

　Her harmonica was tucked in the small pocket on her chest; it was her birthday present last year, and this year's birthday... would probably never come.

　"Dad...Mom..."

　Seeing that she really didn't seem to know how, the men ignored her and continued drinking.

　What can she play?

　She only knows that one song... When her father taught her, he told her that if her family ever encountered a crisis, she could play this song, and someone would surely come to help them overcome the difficulties.

　But such a story must be just Dad bragging when he's drunk. If such a good thing really happened, why has it ended up like this?

　The girl quietly placed the harmonica to her lips and played the tune, her heart filled with sorrow, which brought tears to her eyes.

　The sight of the poor little lamb crying and playing off-key tunes in its cage greatly satisfied the robbers' sense of superiority, causing them to burst into laughter.

　"Who's disturbing the peace in the middle of the night?!"

　Suddenly, a wolf howl rang out, accompanied by a pack of wolves surging in like shadows. An unbearable roar shattered the tranquility of the night, or rather, the noise.

　Some people were drawn over by the girl's awful singing.

　The campfire was scattered by the strong wind, and the embers drifted in the darkness. The girl's eyes saw such a magnificent creature.

　A huge shadow slowly approached from the darkness of the birch forest. The bandits had already put on guard, but because they not only did not immediately surrender but also dared to draw their swords, the wolves pounced on them, tearing them apart and killing them.

　The screams reminded her of her family last night. But compared to the grief of last night, the girl felt an indescribable sense of relief welling up inside her.

　"Ouch——!"

　The wolf pack is satisfied when they see blood and obtain their prey.

　The creature guarded in the center by the wolves, the magnificent Lord of Beasts, also revealed his form by the campfire.

　His jet-black mane was as deep as the night sky, and his white scales and strong body inspired awe. Beneath his beautiful horned crown were golden eyes that shone like the sun.

　It's even brighter than her eyes.

　The girl thought to herself.

　What will happen to her next? Will she also be killed by these wolves?

　“Your Majesty the Great Primordial Celestial Venerable, there is a poor child here.”

　A wolf saw the lamb that was locked in a cage.

　It was Lytanian, a language she could understand, but with a slight accent.

　"Ok?"

　The enormous beast pressed its massive head close to the cage, its eyes filled with intense scrutiny, as if it saw the harmonica in its hand.

　"Was that awful tune you played just now?"

　song……

　The girl then remembered his earlier questioning; it seemed her music had disturbed him as he was trying to rest.

　"Yes, it is me... the great... um, the Primordial Celestial Venerable... Your Majesty."

　She wanted to deny it, but under the scrutiny of his imposing eyes, the girl obediently held her harmonica in her hands and admitted her mistake.

　"Hmph, seeing that you've been honest enough, I'll forgive your mistake. Give me your name and home address, and I'll have someone send you back."

　His casual exhale was like a strong wind, making the girl's hair all messy.

　"..."

　Why aren't you answering? Are you mute?

　Seeing that she remained silent, the enormous beast pressed for more information.

　"Yes, I'm sorry... Your Majesty..."

　I, my family, are all dead. Killed by those people just now… I have no home anymore.”

　Large tears fell from the little lamb's golden eyes. She covered her eyes with her small white hands, but she couldn't wipe away the tears.

　"Hmm? Hmph, you're really unlucky."

　But the beast in front of her wasn't the type to comfort people; his words only made the girl cry even harder.

　"Enough. If you cry again, I'll eat you up."

　"Uh...wu..."

　The enormous beast merely grazed the edge of the cage with its claws, tearing a gap large enough for a person to pass through.

　"I'm going to Kazdel as a guest. You brat, if you don't want to die here, you'd better come along."

　"Ugh."

　Watching the wolf pack and the huge beast gradually disappear into the distance, the girl thought about his words, grabbed her harmonica, quickly wiped the tears from her face, and ran after him.

　"Little girl, what's your name?"

　Walking among the wolves, the wolf that had previously spotted her asked her a question.

　“I…I am called Ines, Madam.”

　“Oh, Ines. Poor child, you must be terrified. But don’t worry, as long as you devoutly respect His Majesty the Great, His Majesty the Great will take care of you from now on.”

　"Thank you, Ms. Wolf."

　Your Majesty the Great Celestial?

　The girl's eyes fell on the huge beast in front of her.

　His body was so majestic, his scales and fur so beautiful, and every move he made drew people's attention.

　The girl didn't know how to express her feelings, but as long as she respected the man as the wolf lady had said, she would receive his care.

　Yes, if she had chosen to lie before, she wouldn't have been released now.

　“Agnese, you’re putting on an act in front of the children again.”

　Hearing what the wolf said, another wolf came over and spoke to her in a humorous tone.

　"Shut up! Zarro, you idiot."

　The mother wolf beside her didn't seem to get along with the other party, and bit her in one swift motion.

　"Calm down, calm down. Don't let such a small thing ruin the harmony."

　"Get out of here, Caesar. Don't come here pretending if you have nothing to do."

　"Alas... I didn't appreciate the wolf's good heart."

　The atmosphere among the wolves was very lively, which reminded the girl once again of life in the caravan.

　Her father, mother...

　"Your Majesty, the girl is crying again."

　A somewhat weary wolf approached the majestic chief of beasts and reported the situation behind him.

　"Tsk."

　A disgruntled snort rang out, and the wolf pack fell silent.

　The girl, who was wiping away her tears, looked up and found that all the wolves' eyes were fixed on her.

　Yes, did her behavior just now displease that huge, beautiful beast?

　Yes, he seems to dislike noise. His crying must sound terrible. Will she be abandoned if that happens?

　A person is in this cold birch forest... quietly waiting to die.

　The beast's long, powerful tail lashed out at her, and the girl had already closed her eyes tightly, awaiting the various tragic consequences she imagined in her mind.

　But no, the tail simply wrapped around her waist, lifted her gently, and tossed her onto the other's broad back.

　"keep going."

　At his command, the wolf pack resumed its previous liveliness, playfully fighting around him.

　"And you, what's your name again?"

　Are you asking her?

　The beast's back was very, very high, even higher than the pack animals she had ridden before. Its scales were so smooth that the girl had to hold on tightly to its beautiful, thick mane to keep her seat.

　“I am Ines. Great, um... Your Majesty.”

　“Ines. Oh, Ines. Since you can’t shut up, then tell me your story.”

　"Ugh……"

　Her story? Where should I begin?

　"What, you can't even explain your own background?"

　"No. I, I will tell you right away."

　As she thought about it, her father's words formed sentences in her mind.

　She imitated her father, trying her best to be brave and speak without panting.

　"My great-grandfather was a bard named Sam."

　"Hmm...hmm? Continue."

　"One day, he returned to his homeland, the land of music, the golden land of Letania, as usual. But on his way home, a terrible demon blocked his path. The demon had blood-red eyes, horns of terrifying black, and hair as white as moonlight."

　"The devil threatened him, saying he would take all his possessions and his life unless he could sing a song beautiful enough. My great-grandfather, upon hearing this, calmly took out his lute, and his melodious singing made the winged beasts stop and the pack animals leap, and soon put the devil to shame. But the evil devil was still unwilling to give up his covetousness of my great-grandfather's wealth—his beautiful voice. My poor great-grandfather was about to die at the devil's hands."

　"At this moment, a great hero appeared, with a body as majestic as a mountain and hair as smooth as the night."

　And his eyes, his eyes shone with a sun-like light that terrified even demons. Drawn by my great-grandfather's singing, and seeing this bard about to die at the hands of a demon, he couldn't bear it and subdued the demon. As a reward for my great-grandfather's courage and beautiful singing, he bestowed upon him a precious treasure. This treasure was later presented by my great-grandfather to the former emperor of Letania. This is the story of my great-grandfather, a valiant baron poet.”

　The girl probably understood why her father loved telling stories so much. Perhaps it was a talent for performance passed down from his ancestors, or perhaps it was because such eloquent talk could distract him. In any case, after the girl finished telling the story of how her great-grandfather made his fortune, she was no longer afraid and had suppressed her sadness.

　"Pfft hahaha!"

　But the enormous beast beneath him laughed.

　It seemed that the story she told was indeed a funny joke that made him laugh.

　"Wow, little girl, you have quite a talent for storytelling. Over the years, it's rare to find someone your age who can tell a story that makes His Majesty laugh so heartily."

　The wolf named Zaroo praised her. If it could truly be called a praise.

　"Indeed, the story you told me is quite amusing to me."

　The image of the bard that the girl had described, when brought up again, reminded him of her appearance once more.

　"Do you know what kind of treasure he obtained?"

　"No, I don't know. Your Majesty."

　The girl had never even seen what her great-grandfather looked like, so how could she know the truth of those stories?