Otome Game Mob Villain

Chapter 767

As the magical wave raged at its center, Azteca's entire body became covered in reddish-brown fur, the same color as his hair.

His whole form rapidly transformed into that of a horse, and the moment his hands and feet became four horse's hooves, he let out a neigh, reared up on his hind legs, and then stood firmly on the ground.

"...Well, something like this."

As the raging magical wave subsided, standing there was a massive 'Red Hare Horse,' its entire body covered in bristly red hair standing on end, glaring with sharp eyes.

And then, he grinned fearlessly.

"A-amazing. So this is beastification form transformation."

Unable to contain my curiosity, I ran over, and Azteca, now in horse form, blinked in surprise.

"Ridd. Aren't you scared of this form?"

"Eh, why would I be? This is such a cool and wonderful beastification. I'm amazed and impressed, but there's nothing to be scared of."

As I said this, unable to contain my excitement, I laughed, "Ahaha, this is incredible!"

According to Sandra, 'beastification' is classified as a racial magic unique to beastmen, making it impossible for other races to use.

Since we have the children of the Second Knight Order in Baldia, I've gathered various documents and researched beastification thoroughly.

But I never imagined such a transformation existed.

It seemed similar to the giantization of 'beastification' shown by Kamui and Hapis in the Bear Tribe and Ox Tribe territories, and the form transformation Azteca had just demonstrated.

But Kamui and Hapis never mentioned it, and Karua and Toruba's beastification wasn't much different from theirs.

Probably, theirs was still within the realm of 'beastification.'

Thinking this while facing Azteca, I reached out to touch him but stopped myself.

"Ah, I'm sorry. By the way, may I touch you a little?"

"Haha, special exception. Go ahead."

"Thank you so much!"

As I smiled with genuine delight, Azteca snorted and looked away.

"If you're going to touch, hurry up."

"Y-yes. Then, excuse me."

As I slowly touched Azteca's torso, there was a sensation of being pushed back by his bristly fur, but the texture was very gentle.

If Shadow Cougar, Cookie's, fur is fluffy 'mofumofu,' then Azteca's fur is fluffy with a bit of firmness—one might call it 'mofumoffu.'

I gulped audibly and unconsciously reached out with both hands, burying my face in his fur.

"Ha-waa. This feels so good. I feel like I could fall asleep like this."

"...Hey, what are you doing?"

"Ah...!?"

Hearing Azteca's low voice, I quickly jumped back.

"I-I'm so sorry. Your magnificent 'mofumoffu'—I mean, your coat—was so wonderful, I just got carried away..."

As I scratched my cheek and smiled wryly, Azteca burst out laughing, "Fufu, ahaha!"

While I tilted my head in puzzlement, he grinned.

"You're really an odd one. If an ordinary human saw my transformation and was glared at like that, they'd either be paralyzed with fear or scream and flinch. Look behind you."

"Huh, behind me?"

Turning around in confusion, I saw Gedding staring at me and Azteca with wide eyes.

Moreover, Capella and Tink, who should have been at a distance, were now nearby, shaking their heads.

"...Lord Ridd, do you not feel any of Lord Azteca's presence?"

"Eh, what presence?"

Asked by Gedding, I didn't particularly sense any killing intent or frightening aura.

Well, I do feel some magical pressure, but still.

"Um, I feel some pressure. But it's nothing to be scared of, right?"

As I asked back, Capella and Tink sighed.

"Lord Azteca, in his transformed state, emits magical pressure that would make an ordinary person cower."

"As Mr. Capella says. To bury your face in Lord Azteca's body and wear an expression of bliss while being subjected to such magical pressure up close... I'm beyond surprised; I'm just dumbfounded."

"Eh, really!? B-but, I don't sense any such presence at all?"

I activated my detection magic field in confusion, but still, no presence.

Looking at Azteca, he burst out laughing, "Haha."

"Ridd. You probably honed your keen eye for seeing the essence of magical power through your deathmatch with Elva."

"W-what do you mean?"

As I tilted my head, Azteca brought his face close to mine.

"Just what I said. Magical power is also life force. To a greater or lesser degree, it always contains the user's emotions. You unconsciously read the emotions residing in that magical power and see through the opponent's essence... you could call it the 'Keen Demon Eye' or something. You're probably developing such an eye."

"An eye that sees through the opponent's essence via magical power, huh."

I hadn't been aware of it, but hearing it put into words like this, something clicked.

Lately, during training with the children of the Second Knight Order, I'd felt something—a sense of the flow of magical power from those I faced.

I had a feeling of unconsciously sensing threats.

I thought it was just the 'intuition' I got from my detection magic field, but it seems it wasn't just that.

"Normally, you only get a glimpse of that kind of eye after training magic and physical enhancement for many years. Whether Ridd has exceptional talent, or..."

Azteca trailed off suggestively, then peered intently into my eyes.

"...Whether you glimpsed the realm of 'Seimashindo' and drew forth magical power that endangered your own life. It might shorten your lifespan, but your eyes would be honed in a short time."

"...!?"

His words, hitting so close to the mark, made my heart skip a beat.

'Seimashindo' refers to the idea that 'life force is the source of magical power, indicating the endless path following the gods'—it's a kind of philosophy in this world's magical studies.

The concept isn't very common, I'm told, but it was also the catalyst for my learning the magic of recalling memories, 'Memory.'

Probably, it's the philosophy closest to the essence of magic.

'Whether you glimpsed that realm and drew forth magical power that endangered your own life. As a result, it might shorten your lifespan, but your eyes would be honed...'

This is precisely what I did in my deathmatch with Elva.

To deduce all this from a brief exchange...

As expected, this man is not to be underestimated.

I slowly lowered my head, then let out a "Fufufu..." laugh, clutching my stomach and narrowing my eyes as I chuckled.

"Ahaha. Azteca, what are you saying? I may be acting as my father's representative, but I'm still just a young child. I'm honored that you would say such a thing, but you're overestimating me."

"...Is that so. Well, I'll let it slide."

As he snorted dismissively and shook his head, I straightened up and looked at Gedding. "Ah, that's right."

"If it's not too much trouble, could you please instruct him in 'beastification form transformation'?"

"Yeah, that was the plan from the start."

As Azteca nodded, a gentle magical wave erupted around him.

Then, his form began to change, and in an instant, he returned to his human shape.

Fully back in human form, he cracked his neck and let out a tired, "Ahh..."

"Form transformation is pretty tiring. Now, Gedding, was it? My teaching is strict. You ready for that?"

"Just what I wanted. I look forward to working with you."

And so, under Azteca's instruction, Gedding's training in beastification form transformation began.

The instruction was very strict, but Gedding desperately clung on.

And that evening, just before sunset, he managed to master the form transformation.

"Hah... hah... Lord Ridd, how is it?"

"Yeah, amazing. It's amazing, Gedding."

His form after transformation was a black horse, covered in jet-black fur.

I ran over, touched his body, and upon feeling the 'mofumoffu' fur, exclaimed "Uwaa...!" in awe, then said, "By the way, I have a request..."

"Gedding, if you're okay with it, can I ride on your back?"

"Of course. Please, go ahead."

Gedding, in horse form, crouched down, and as I straddled his back, he slowly rose up on all fours.

"Hoh, not bad. Honestly, I thought mastering it in a single day was impossible."

As Azteca murmured in admiration, Gedding, with the setting sun behind him, raised his front hooves and neighed.

Savoring my joy, I looked straight at Azteca and pointed to the sky.

"There is no such word as 'impossible' in the Baldia dictionary."

"Haha, is that so."

Glancing at Azteca shrugging his shoulders, I buried my face in Gedding's back while still straddling him, delighting in the 'mofumoffu' fur, and was filled with awe at the new possibility of beastification form transformation.