-Interlude special wolfman squash in a lemon sauce-

I almost reached my destination.

After running non stop for three days i have finally reach it.

….

It's already long time ago since i come here but this place doesn't changed at all...

A peaceful life secluded without a care of world.

There's some children playing around, but i didn't see my son anywhere...

I suppose there's no way the next clan chief head would be play around with other children.

Thinking of doing my job as soon as possible and leave, i come to the center hall.

“Hah, look who came here. Isn't it that loser that have been banished from the village?”

Some group of 5 wolfman approaching me.

Looking at them, it must be the strongest group of hunter in this village led by Darada.

One of them approach me with sinister grin.

“What is this cowardly pup coming back for? Are you trying to beg to allowed coming back into village?”

“if that's true, forget it. Darada is the clan leader now. You pathetic dog just go leave and die somewhere else”

Hearing that i start to make a sharp look.

“I thought my son is gonna inherit the village?”

Hearing that they grin.

“HAHAHA! Do you think a son of coward can inherit the clan? It's already decided that Darada-san will lead the clan instead!”

“Yeah yeah, your pathetic boy already under darada thumbs and out. You won't even be recognized by him!”

Ahh, i see...

Since i have been banished they decided whatever suits them and control the clan whatever they want huh.

I heard their explanation. The leader of clan is decided by strength instead of blood now. So Darada which is the strongest in clan probably getting the highest position here.

Although he’s just a muscle head, but the reason i came here is not to complaint.

I better finish this job soon or else Miho sama will cut me into a piece that even my mother won’t recognize..

“Bring me to Darada then. i declare my intent to do “ sacred duel” with him”

Hearing that they freeze.

“Sacred duel” is the duel that decide the leader of the clan.

The previous chief and a challenger duel each other and the winner become the new chief without any need of formalities.

However, the fate of loser is decided by the winner. Even of he got killed in spot they won't be able to refuse.

By using the divine artifact that our clan passed in generation “the judge” it would ensure that the result of duel is fair and true.

The loser is bound by the judge power and will have to obey the request of winner.

Should the loser try to resist, they would be punished by the judge. In worst case, death.

Because the loser must obey the winner even if the demand is death, most people didn't even dare to suggest the duel unless they’re extremely confident with their power.

Hearing this,

they started to laugh

“Pfft, HAHAHA! A loser that not even dare to hurt a rabbit DARES to challenge Darada in sacred duel”

“Did your head becoming messed up from leaving the village for so long?”

I ignore their laughing and continuing instead.

“Although i have been banished, i’m still technically the clan leader. Surely there's no objection there?”

Hearing that they got annoyed instead...

“Now heree, lookie here nameless wolf-chan. Just where and how did you think you can do whatever you want here huuh? You've been away for so long and you dare to claim you're still clan leader?”

I only lightheartedly replied.

“I Am not nameless anymore. I have found a master and received the name Tuvalu. Call me that from now on”

They got laughing hard hearing my name instead.

“Tu..tuvalu? HAHAHA! He really messed up badly in head. Just because you had his blood in vein did you think you're some kind of great hero or something?”

Ignoring them, i start to move to main building instead.

But one of them stopped me.

“Waait! Just where and what do you think you’re doing haa? We never said we allow you to come in!”

Useless...

I have no time, if you still get in the way i won't be so kind and take you down before Darada.

“I accept”

But i got stopped by someone else voice coming from the main village building.

“! Darada-san!”

Hearing his voice, everyone else start to bowing.

A large wolf with grey fur coming out.

Just by his presence alone those guy that looks so arrogant didn't dare to even speak.

It seems like he got bigger than the last time i saw him.

“If this banished outsider wants to die, then i’ll grant his wish. Prepare the ring”

Fuh...

I'm glad he got a easy to read personality as usual.

With this, i might be able to avoid death by my master.

It won't be funny if i got killed for not doing my job instead from the enemies.

Hearing what Darada said, those guys running like a panicked dog while preparing for the duel stage.

….

In no time at all, about all of the villagers is gathering here, even the elderly and those that cannot walked.

My former wife is beside Darada. It seems like she was already close with Darada.

That's good. It won't do any good if she bears grudge for me leaving her. Despite i have already not feeling any bond among us.

In his side, i seen a boy around 10 years old which probably my son.

...

He got a lot of bruise and scar in his body. Probably result of Darada trained him?

That man is merciless if it's about fighting so he probably got beaten up pretty bad.

Still, it seems like Darada had some expectation with him then. He won't train him this hard if he didn't have potential.

...

I looked at my son once more…

His expression is unlively, and he seems to not looked at me or anyone else. Just looking down.

I guess people expectation on him as next clan leader is harsh.

Where did i seen this expression before?

Ah, i see…

Its when i lost Sonya and lost my motivation.

I guess we’re really related after all.

Heh, fate is strange thing. seeing a son that i thought would never seen again.

I have to thank my master for this encounter.

“Ready yet?”

Darada ask me.

It seems like the preparation is done and all that left is the duel.

Perfect.

Not wanting to wasting any time, i replied to him.

“Anytime you are”

With a gong we start the duel.

…..

Five minute has passed….

Neither of us is attacking.

Everyone only silently watched.

Its Darada style after all. He let the opponent doing the first move in order to gauge their strength.

Since neither of us will start, i provoke him into action first.

“I’ll let you attack first. It would be cruel if you got beaten without a chance to showing off your abilities”

Everyone makes a noisy and surprise looked hearing i provoked that Darada.

Darada, which seen it as declaration of war start to scream.

“AWOOOOOOOO!!”

“EEK”

Everybody screamed.

When he was like this, it's proof that he’s considering his opponent as enemies, not prey.

By looking at me with bloodshot eye, he start to attack me

“GRAWOOO!”

He start to use his legs to jump and attack me from above.

“!”

But he missed.

After living by being pursued, i only trained the skill to hide my presence and avoiding fatal attack to my vital spot.

Thanks to it, i can easily respond for an attack this level.

“GRRAWOR!”

Not letting a breath, he keep attacking me with claw and fangs this time.

However, none of his attack hits. Only graze my clothes.

The audience is starting to cheer. Thinking it was unexpected that someone is able to hold on its own with Darada this long.

I would be alright keeping this up, but i have no time.

“!”

I move to his blind spot and touch him from back.

there...

I start to use Miho-sama technique that could make any beastman fall.

“GUH! ARGH.. UUGH...GUUH!?”

Darada looks in pain.

Everybody is dumbfounded that Darada is in pain from a simple touch on his furs.

Of course they have no idea.

Even i never expected that beastman have such a weak point after all

“woooo.. GRRH!,ARRGGH...GROOWR... ahnn...”

“!?”

Everybody seems surprised hearing some cute voice from that Darada.

Then i continue my attack,

from fur, i start my attack to his ears then tails.

“Aahn AH, OH, WOoo.. GHU! UHWO!?”

Then for finishing move...

“WOUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!”

Screaming like a female wolf in heat, darada howl his last cry.

….

The duel is over.

Seeing that Darada cannot fight anymore, the judge declares me as the winner.

However, there's no cheers at all...

Darada is unconscious with his eye only have white, while he peed from his pants.

The woman looked at me with a strange look while whispering each other, while the man looks pale.

Hmph, i understand your confusion.

I feel the same at first time when i saw Miho-sama first using this technique after all.

Although it seems like my pride took a great hit though.. But i have no other choice to quickly subdue Darada.

Then i continue to speak on villagers.

“EVERYONE, AS YOU CAN SEE I’M THE WINNER. SO FROM NOW ON I AM YOUR CLAN LEADER”

Everyone seems have no objection.

“HOWEVER, I HAVE NO DESIRE TO BECOME A LEADER OF THIS CLAN, FOR I ALREADY HAVE BEEN OWNED BY SOMEONE ELSE”

They start to get confused, but i continue.

“BECAUSE YOU GUYS ARE LIVING IN SECLUSION, MOST OF YOU PROBABLY NOT KNOWN THIS, BUT OUR FELLOW BEASTMAN IS A SUBJECT OF PERSECUTION ALL OVER THE WORLD INCLUDING WOLFMAN. AND WE HAVE POSITIONED AS THE LOWEST RACE AMONG EVERY OTHERS DEMI HUMAN”

They looked surprised like hearing it the first time.

“HOWEVER, MY MASTER HAD A PLAN IN ORDER TO TOPPLE THIS HIERARCHY.”

“THAT'S WHY I NEED YOU ALL. MAN WOMAN CHILD IT DOESN'T MATTER! ALL IT NEEDS IS YOUR DETERMINATION!”

“SO GATHER! GATHER UNDER THE BANNER OF MY MASTER! DEDICATE YOUR WHOLE BEING TO HER AND OUR RACE WILL BE KNOWN AS THE GREATEST IN THE WORLD!”

“FROM NOW ON, WE ARE NOT CALLING OURSELF THE WOLFMAN CLAN, BUT A PART OF THE DEVIL GOD ARMY!”

Everyone starting to listen.

“MY NAME IS TUVALU. I HAVE BEEN GRANTED THIS GREAT WARRIOR NAME FROM MY MASTER”

“SO TAKE UP YOUR CLAWS AND FANGS! AS THE RIGHT HAND GENERAL OF DEVIL GOD ARMY YOU ARE TO DEDICATE YOUR BEING FROM NOW ON TO YOUR NEW MASTER, MIHO-SAMA!”

“ANYONE WHO WILL NOT ACCEPT WILL BECAME ENEMY OF DEVIL GOD ARMY AND WILL SUFFER THE SAME FATE AS DARADA! ANY OBJECTION?”

All of them seems looking at darada condition with pale face and nobody have any objection.

“THEN WELCOME TO OUR ARMY! FROM NOW ON ALL OF YOUR EARS,HAIR, BODIES ALL ARE OWNED BY YOUR NEW MASTER. YOUR DEATH AND LIVES IS ALREADY OWNED BY YOUR MASTER. WITHOUT HER PERMISSION YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO HAND IT OVER TO ANYONE ELSE!”

“WE WILL START TO MOVE TOMORROW MORNING! PREPARE YOURSELF FOR HELL!”

“OOH!”

Everyone raised their arms. Most looked forced but nobody can object if they didn't want to end up like Darada.

Seeing them starting their preparations, i sigh some relief.

I’m glad i learnt about such a trump card from Miho sama. I probably cannot defeat him myself

The truth is darada is stronger than Tuvalu. So if he keep getting attacked he would get tired eventually. And his attack probably won't get through his thick fur.

Though let's ignore the fact that technique better of be sealed without seeing the lights of the day.

“Hmm?”

Inside his corner of view, a boy is approaching him.

It was his son.

“Ex..excuse me”

….

The boy seems like he doesn't recognize him.

Which is natural, he's probably too young to remember when he leaves the village.

The boy looks shy, but he braced himself.

“Can i..become like you?”

“!”

“Yes, yes, you can!”

It was happiness he never felt before.

He never thought he can ever talk to his son like this

“I’m glad, i’m still alive”

If he never meet his master, he probably won't feel like this anymore...

Increasing his already high loyalty, he start to cry a moment, but quickly wipe it out.

The boy look a bit confused but still continue his question.

“Then, then if i may ask?”

“What is it?”

“That technique that can beat even Darada, can you teach it to me?”

“…..”

“I.. i want to be stronger. If i had such a strong skill i would definitely become a man great enough to protect this clan. So please teach me that skill!”

“......”

He looks at Tuvalu with such a sparkling eye, like a kid watched at his hero.

Getting silent and seems troubled for a moment, Tuvalu seems absent minded for a second, then..

Seemingly brace himself, he smiled and replied

“That’s something, i will never allow you to learn”