Vulpecula, the ten-tailed Mystic Silver fox that Isis had rescued, seemed to have fully acclimated to life at the castle in a remarkably short time. She appeared to be having a wonderful time playing with the various members of Isis’s household.
She had grown remarkably attached to me as well as Isis. Every time I visited the castle, she would come bounding toward me with such joy that it was impossible not to find her adorable.
"Kyuu!"
"Hello, Vul. You seem to be doing well."
"Kyuu-kyuu!"
She wagged her ten tails vigorously, looking so genuinely happy that it brought a smile to my face. When I gently patted her head, she nuzzled against me affectionately, which was even cuter.
After playing with her for a while, I sat down in a chair with Vul nestled in my lap to chat with Isis.
"By the way, has Vul already started learning magic?"
"...Yes... only the simple ones so far... but she's using them correctly. Vul is... very intelligent."
"I see. That's impressive, Vul."
"Kyuuu~"
It had barely been a month since Isis brought her home, but I’d heard she had already mastered a fair amount of magic and could even read books.
If she could read, I thought written communication might be possible, but apparently, Vul was resistant to the idea.
"...I think... she wants to learn things like Humanization Magic... so she can speak... with her own voice."
"That makes sense. It must be difficult for her to communicate in her current form."
"...Yes... the structure of her vocal cords... makes it difficult. I believe... she's studying so hard because she wants to transform as soon as possible."
"I see... So you want to transform, Vul?"
"Kyu? Kyuu-kyuu!"
"...Huh? That's not it?"
It was strange—I felt as though I could understand exactly what Vul was trying to say, as if her thoughts were being translated into words. Even though all I actually heard were fox-like cries, the intent behind them came through with startling clarity.
Though I was a bit taken aback by the sensation—it felt different from how I communicated with Bell or Rin—I focused on Vul as she chirped and barked, clearly trying to get a point across.
"Kyuu-kyuu... Kyuu! Kyuu-kyuu-kyuu!"
"...Uh, wait. You don't want to use Humanization Magic; you want to actually become a demon? Isis, do you understand what she’s getting at?"
"...Hmm. If she doesn't mean it in a legal sense... then perhaps... 'Do you want to physically restructure your body?'"
"Kyuu!"
"Ah, that seems to be it. But what does she mean by restructuring her body?"
I could tell from Vul’s enthusiastic reaction that Isis had hit the mark, but I still wasn't sure what her ultimate goal was.
When I looked over at Isis, she seemed to anticipate my confusion. She gave a small nod and began to explain.
"...Like Anima... at Kaito's home. I think she wants to change... from a monster into a Beastman Demon."
"I see. Is that actually... possible?"
"...It is difficult magic... but it can be done. Among your acquaintances, Kaito... Noin also used that same magic... to restructure her body."
"Oh, right. The magic that let her be reborn as a demon after being a human..."
I tended to forget that fact, but since Noin had indeed transitioned from human to demon through Kuro’s magic, it was only logical that such a spell existed.
"So, Vul... you don't just want a temporary disguise. You want to have a permanent humanoid form."
"Kyuu-kyuu! Kyuu... Kyuu! Kyuu-kyuu-kyuu!"
"...Kaito, what did she say?"
"Well, it seems she doesn't want to rely on illusions or temporary shifts. She wants a real humanoid form, just like you and me, Isis."
Now that I thought about it, Isis and everyone in her court possessed humanoid forms. It was only natural that Vul would want to look like the people she admired. Having discovered the existence of such magic through her reading, she was now pouring all her effort into making that dream of a new body a reality.
A warm smile spread across Isis's face. She lifted Vul from my lap and held the fox close.
"...I see. I'm sure you can do it, Vul... but... don't push yourself too far. Try not to overwork yourself, okay?"
"Kyuu!"
Vul gave an energetic nod in response. I suspected that Isis could probably cast the spell herself and change Vul’s body in an instant if she wanted to.
However, she clearly wanted to respect the effort Vul was making on her own. I could feel a deep sense of maternal love in her—a desire to watch over the young one's growth without interfering unnecessarily.
I was certain she would step in if Vul ever hit a wall she couldn't overcome, but until then, she chose to believe in her. It was just as Alice and Lilliwood had noted—Isis had grown so much as a person.
As she spoke softly to Vul, she looked like a gentle, doting mother. Yet, at the same time, she carried the quiet dignity of a king who trusted and guided her people.