****(POV)

Recently I've been collecting information.

Nothing too troublesome in fact.

I have mostly just been walking around town.

Listening.

Just that.

Turns out that there are a lot of things that humans will dare to say when no one is listening.

Or at least that's what they think.

Let's just say there are many dumb humans in this city in particular.

For instance, not a single one has realized yet.

They all think of me as a weak wolf.

Hell, I've been mistaken as a dog at times too.

Mostly by drunkards but still.

Some people are just blind.

I still remember the days when humanity used to be full of powerhouses.

Ones that would have been able to detect my presence with a glance.

Well, to be fair it's not just humanity that changed.

No, the world itself did.

Compared to the last god's war, these times are truly peaceful.

Oh, there are undercurrents happening.

A few plans to overthrow a sect.

People planning to defeat some enemies.

Still, there is barely any hint of a war happening.

Well, the recruitment of soldiers has increased slightly.

So did the price of metal and food.

But it is not at a level where most would even notice.

I simply knew what to look for.

After all, I have experience.

Sometimes I feel old.

Like some remnant of the past.

Wondering if my presence in this world is even warranted.

But all that doesn't matter.

The king is here and I will follow him.

No matter what.

Recently he has been meaning to go to the diplomatic city of Eaglevein.

Why he wants to go there I am not exactly sure.

Think it reminds him of his past.

A past I still fail to understand.

Sometimes he mumbles.

Especially in his sleep.

Talking about knowledge foreign to me.

I still don't know where he came from.

I could ask him.

Get a conversation going.

But I am scared.

Me, the powerful me.

I am scared of ruining it.

He still hasn't realized how strong I really am.

Still haven't realized how strong he really is either.

Sometimes I just want to tell him about all of it.

But then I falter.

How will our relationship change once I do?

Every time he learns that a beast king can talk, he gets surprised.

I have seen how he interacts with the unicorn.

He does so more carefully than with me.

Whenever it's only us he simply speaks his mind.

Without any worry.

Would that change if I started replying?

Would he enjoy the dialogue?

Would he realize he s been mumbling and stop sharing his stories?

I feel like I have heard things he would never tell a soul.

I know for a fact he can use divine power.

Also that he is not from this world.

What kind of god is he?

How is he even in the earth realm?

What and who is he?

Every time I want to ask it, I stop myself at the last second.

I fear his reaction.

Would he simply tell me?

Would he become defensive?

Perhaps it would be pointless.

Some information is dangerous to possess.

Maybe that is why he doesn't tell me the entirety of it.

Maybe he is playing dumb and knows everything about me.

Maybe not.

Maybe he has his circumstances.

I don't know.

Sometimes I really feel like I should come clean.

But I also like how he is protective of me.

Not in a restrictive way.

He trusts that I will stay out of trouble.

Still. I don't know.

I have never been one that talked much in the first place.

Even back in the old days.

This is also one thing that makes all of it hard.

My specialty is divination.

Yet, I cannot divine anything about him.

I get the feeling that should I keep trying…

My ending would be a horrible one.

Quite like jumping into an abyss headfirst.

For now, I will keep observing.

I quite enjoy our current relationship.

Akin to family.

As long as I get to enjoy his barbecue I will be happy.

At some point, I used to have the best cooks at my beck and call.

Now I am traveling in the most destitute manner.

Eating half-burnt barbecue most of the time.

A flavorless one.

Funny how I still prefer the second alternative.

How many would go crazy if they knew?

Sometimes I wonder about the future.

About what we should do as a faction.

As the king's followers, we will do just that.

Still, what is even his goal?

I think he hasn't decided yet.

He talks about exploring this world a lot.

Afterward, he will take a stance I believe.

He will judge this world.

Then decide if it should exist.

That is what I have understood.

The current him unstoppable anyway.

Yet he plays the fool.

Or maybe he doesn't.

I think I am the only one that has caught unto his true nature.

A benevolent one, but not to be desecrated.

I don't know.

I truly don't.

All I know is that I want to remain at his side.

Support him to the best of my abilities.

Sometimes I wonder if he and I aren't in a similar situation.

I have reincarnated myself in this world.

I did what we call a false reincarnation.

Starting anew in a new body.

Keeping my memories intact.

I believe that my king could have done something similar.

Probably a complete one if he did.

Something extremely insane.

It would be like betting all in when the odds are against you.

The sheer power required to do such a thing...

Would mean that he was extremely strong at his peak.

When you are already at the top…

You can only go down.

Telling him about it would be utterly pointless.

It would be like telling a human that he is a dolphin.

He would either scoff at you or develop a mental illness.

Start acting like a dolphin without the memories of one.

As I'm thinking that I bump into someone.

It seems to be the guy from the test.

The one that tried ridiculing my master.

He seems drunk?

Also very angry…