Kouga - Prince of Irogu - Moon End

Kouga - Prince of Irogu - Moon End

Chapter 7 - What's Been Protected Continuously

After safely capturing the rebels, Kouga-sama and I returned to the castle. As soon as we arrived, a servant told us that dinner preparations were done. 

Kouga: After that sort of thing... The truth is, I thought about holding a banquet tonight to welcome you. 

MC: For me...!? I'm sorry. 

Kouga: You don't need to apologize. The reason I called you over here was to thank you. Now then, let's go. To the banquet. 

As Kouga-sama walked off happily, I followed him from behind while looking forward to the banquet. 

......

At the banquet, the prepared food was extravagantly tasty as they looked colorfully beautiful. 

MC: Thank you very much. It was very delicious. 

Kouga: Right? All the food in Irogu is delicious. This land is blessed with good water from the rain that's always pouring. 

MC: The rain... It's an important blessing, right? 

Kouga: That's right. The medicine that I make is like that. It's thanks to that blessing that it can get made. 

MC: I see. So, you make a medicine for your kingdom. 

Kouga: Yes. It's an important medicine... My kingdom calls it, the chosen medicine. So, it needs to be protected. Therefore, a barrier has been placed for defense. So that it wouldn't be used for evil. A long time ago, before I was born... There hasn't been any protection for generations. 

I listened to Kouga-sama about the development of this kingdom and his own thoughts. It showed that there was certainly a lord that has continuously protect this kingdom very dearly... 

Chapter 8 - Targeted Water Well

The night of the extravagant banquet turned to dawn. Once I got dressed as I remembered last night, I noticed how noisy it was in the castle corridor. 

(Did something happen?) 

When I slowly opened the sliding door... 

There were a lot of people running around in a panic. Since I was curious, I spoke to one of the servants. 

MC: Um, excuse me. Did something happen? 

Servant 1: Yes, actually... 

The servant furrowed his brow and spoke. 

Servant 1: The rebels that were in captivity have escaped from the cell... They poisoned Irogu's treasured water well. 

MC: ...!

(No way... The water well has been poisoned...!) 

I could feel the blood inside my body being drained. After I bowed to the servant for telling me, I ran over to where Kouga-sama was. 

When I quickly ran to where he was, he was listening to the servants' report with a stern expression. 

Kouga: ...I see. 

Prison Guard: My deepest apologies...! It was beyond my power...!

The prison guard had injuries on his body and was bowing while groveling on the floor. Everyone around Kouga-sama's room had serious looks on their faces. 

(The situation is so tense... But, I wonder how the water well got poisoned...) 

Then, when Kouga-san noticed me, he widened his eyes. After a while, he calmed down... 

Kouga: That's enough. I've heard enough of your report. Go get your injuries treated. 

After Kouga-sama thanked the prison guard and servants, the conversation ended. Then... 

Kouga: Feeling uneasy? Come here. 

When he signaled me to come over, I did what he said. 

MC: Kouga-sama. About the poisoned water well... 

Kouga: Yeah, it's a big problem... 

Kouga-sama furrowed his brow and deeply sighed. 

MC: Are you okay? 

Kouga: Not really... It's fortunate that no one drank the poisoned water. But, we can't let it create severe damages... It's going to be hard to detoxify the water well. 

He tried thinking of a good idea while looking up. 

(I wonder if there's something I can do to help him during such a troubling time...) 

MC: Kouga-sama... Is there anything I can do to help? I'll be happy to do whatever I can if it's within my power. 

Then, Kouga-sama made a soft expression, but... After that, he quietly shook his head. 

Kouga: To detoxify it, we need to do some special prayers. I... Without Saiga, I'm unable to do it. 

MC: ...I see. 

(That might be the best way, but...) 

MC: I may not be much help in detoxifying it, but... Aside from that, please let me know if there's anything I can to help. 

Kouga: You... You're so kind. 

MC: I don't know if it's kindness... But, it's probably because you told me how wonderful this kingdom is last night. I want to protet this blessed kingdom more than anything else... 

Kouga: Hmm? What? 

He stared at me with his big, adorable eyes. When he did that, I became really embarrassed to say my next words...

MC: ...I want to help you, Kouga-sama. 

I made that response as my voice faded off in the end. Then, Kouga-sama smiled widely. 

Kouga: I see. Then, since I'm going to be hungry from doing prayers, so I'll leave it to you to bring me some tasty snacks. 

MC: ...! I understand. You can count on me!

Kouga: ...

After finding a way to be of some help, I became enthusiastic as Kouga-sama looked very mature... 

Chapter 9 - Ohagi with Lots of Bean Paste

To counteract the poison in the water well, Kouga-sama went to do some prayers. As I was walking down the hallway with Kouga-sama, that was heading to the baths for the purification ritual, I spoke. 

MC: It's pretty strange... 

Kouga: Hm? It is? 

MC: Yes. It's not that easy to get close to Irogu's treasured water well. How did they poison it? 

Kouga: Hmm. The men that we caught were also practitioners. 

MC: ...!

Kouga: They used magic to curse the water well. 

MC: No way...

Kouga: ...They're part of a gang that wants to use this kingdom's medicine for evil. Those guys have never stopped since the old times. 

MC: Since it's a curse, I guess that means I can't be of any help... 

Kouga: There's no need to mope about it. Your feelings are enough for me. 

When I turned towards Kouga-sama after he said that cheerfully, he showed a carefree smile to me. 

(How strange... Just that smile is enough to reassure me a little.) 

Kouga: Aside from that, bring me some snacks that have a lot of bean paste in them! Got it? They must have bean paste in them!

MC: Okay, I understand. 

My spirits brightened up by such an innocent request. After that, while he was in front of the baths, Kouga-sama waved his hand adorably as we parted ways. 

......

Since then, I decided to make some ohagi* as a refreshment for him. When I went to the kitchen, I offered to make the ohagi. Then...

T/N: Pounded glutinous rice with red bean paste around it

Chef: Yes, of course. Kouga-sama will be grateful. 

MC: Thank you very much...!

After the chef eagerly agreed, he taught me how to make sweet ohagi. 

(Since this is my first time making it, I might be a bother to the people in the kitchen, but... I'll do whatever I can to make it.) 

Then, the ohagi ended up looking misshapen, but it was full of flavor... 

Last Chapter - A Soothing Moment

With the ohagi that I made for Kouga-sama in my hands, I walked into the forest, where he was doing his prayers. 

(Ah... Kouga-sama is over there...) 

Kouga: One, two three, the good and the unknown...*

T/N: I had a hard time translating Kouga's prayer since it was entirely in hiragana, so please bear with it if I translated it wrong

Deep in the forest, there was a bonfire burning and as Kouga-sama was in the center, he was concentrating on praying. Right next to the shrine that was in front of Kouga-sama, there was a huge water well. 

(How much longer is he going to continue this... He's sweating a lot...) 

As I watched his sacred form, I really wanted to do something, but I kept silent. I gently put the ohagi down and waited for a bit. 

......

Kouga: Picture the bright sun... Picture the earth's soil... Our written prayers from ancient times... 

A lot of time has passed since then... 

As most of the servants were watching, he continued his endless incantation. 

(Geez... I wonder how much time has passed...) 

While feeling gravely worried, I watched Kouga-sama from a short distance. Then... 

(No way... Kouga-sama, his complexion is...) 

I saw his skin turning pale like paper as soft fur was growing on it. At that moment... 

Kouga: Let it all out from the mountains... 

With those last words, Kouga-sama's prayer stopped. Then... 

MC: Kouga-sama...!

Servant 1: Kouga-sama! 

Servant 2: Oh, no! Kouga-sama is...!

As it felt like time was going by slowly, Kouga-sama collapsed. Everyone supported his body and quickly picked him up. 

Servant 1: Take him to his room immediately...!

While Kouga-sama was unconscious with a pale face, I returned to the castle with him as he was being carried away in a panic. 

The servants requested me to look after him until he wakes up. 

(Even so... He overdid it...) 

I was told that the power that he used to detoxify the curse would make him lose his human form. So, right now in front of me... Instead of his human form, he was in the form of a small fox, but it doesn't change the fact that he's Kouga-sama. 

(Still, he's even smaller in his fox form... How fragile...) 

My heart tightened in pain.

(Please... Wake up... Please...) 

......

Before I knew it, it was time for the sun to set and it's orange color made the drizzling rain shine. 

MC: Kouga-sama...

I said that as I was waiting for him to wake up. Then, at that moment... 

Kouga: Mm... Mmm... 

MC: Kouga-sama...!

After his beast eyes blinked repeatedly, they slowly opened. Even though his eyes were very different than usual, it was clear that he was the adorable Kouga-sama inside when he looked at me. 

Kouga: Mm... I... 

MC: You collapsed while you were doing your prayer... 

Kouga: I see... Also... 

Kouga-sama's black fur covered body trembled a little. 

Kouga: I overdid it. How pathetic of me... I didn't want you to see me like this... 

MC: ...Why? 

Feeling down, Kouga-sama curled up on top of the futon and hesitantly looked at me with his cute round eyes. 

Kouga: If you got charmed again... You're going to call me cute, right? 

MC: ...!

he sounded a little sour. 

(He does look cute, but...)

MC: Even so... I heard that it's troubling to do prayers in your human form. 

Kouga: Well, I'm even smaller like this. Which makes things pretty troubling. 

MC: ...!

When he said that... I suddenly let out a chuckle. 

(At a time like this...!) 

Kouga: ! How rude! Don't laugh... 

(MC: I-I'm sorry...! But... Um, I'm aware of how rude this'll sound, but... Just seeing how cute you've become... makes me happy. 

Kouga: ...!

After hearing my words, Kouga-sama's ears perked up. Then, he turned around and quickly sat down properly. 

(Ah, in this form... It's like the time when he was sitting on top of the cushion.) 

When I thought of that, he has strangely gotten cuter. 

Kouga: Happy, huh... You're strange. 

KMC: Strange... You say? Wanting to hug cute things isn't strange... Ah!

I was about to cover my mouth after that taboo word came out, but... 

Kouga: Hmph...

Kouga-sama hopped up and sat on top of my lap. 

MC: ...!

(S-So cute...) 

Kouga: You can pet me. I'm feeling weak right now. So, get comfortable as much as you want...!

I looked down at the cute and soft Kouga-sama on my lap. Despite how prickly he was being, he was behaving well while sitting on me. 

(He really is cute... I want to touch him.) 

With his approval, I nervously reached out towards his beautiful black fur. 

MC: ...! So soft and silky...

It was the first time I've felt such a nice sensation like this... 

(What should I do? I want to keep on petting him like this forever...) 

Kouga: ...Being in this form in front of you... How humiliating... 

After saying that, Kouga-sama instantly eased up. 

MC: But, you're amazing enough. And also... cute. 

Kouga: Cute this, cute that, I'm letting you say that while I'm weak. Hmph, once this is over. I won't be in this... form. 

(Kouga... -sama?) 

I looked at him when I softly said his name in my head. 

Kouga: Until I get my strength back... I'll be taking... a break. 

Kouga-sama held my lap as he closed his eyes... 

(I'm the one who's getting some comfort, but...) 

I wished that I could at least give some comfort to Kouga-sama for a while... 

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