The Demon Saint is Missing, so I Ran to Another World

Soulmates (Part 1)

**Greg**

When we entered the vicinity of the city of Fangborough, it felt like I was in a different place.

"..."

I guess I'd been used to the 'day' side of Cherflammen, because I was creeped out when we arrived at the city, which lie in the 'twilight' zone. See, unlike in Darkmoor—which was 'alive' and full of economic activity even though it was well inside the 'night' region of the land, the city of the werewolves was a silent one. There were no walls that enclosed the settlements, and all the wooden houses never had upper floors, nor there was light shining in any of those.

If I'm new to that city, I'd mistake it for a ghost town.

As we walked along the streets, which were actually dust paths carved by the everyday use of people and caravans since time immemorial, I saw rustic sculptures of either stone or wood origin that dotted the sides of the city avenues and its corners. There were also pristine gardens in some of the homes, complete with bamboo pipes that drew and guided water into and from the natural ponds. I'd say, Fangborough was like an Edo-period Japan in the middle of an early modern/industrial European setting.

In any case, the servants from the most influential of the Tambara families met with us at the city's 'gates', marked by a wooden arc of crude construction. They told us to come with them, for the clan's elders had prepared a feast to welcome us, and also, in appreciation for safeguarding their children's lives, as well as delivering their first victory of the war. As for our prisoners, they were led to another place, perhaps a dungeon of sorts; I'd deal with them later.

Exhausted, and hungry, my orc, goblin and Usarved companions obliged. Soon, the servants led us to a big house at an elevated center of the city, where the clan elders awaited. While the soldiers were given accommodations around the reception hall—complete with food and drinks, they took me to the main building itself. And the moment I stepped inside...

"Ah, and so, the victorious human head scholar graces us with his presence!" an elder announced. "Come and have an audience with us, the elders of the Tambara. Eat, drink and be merry of your accomplishments!"

I could only stare at the clan elders, who numbered for about ten or more individuals. They gathered around a fire pit, together with the Lord Gracchio, who was gesturing for me to hurry and sit beside him.

I guess the demon head scholar is still afraid of the Tambaras...

Then, the servants served the festive food and drinks. The merrymaking began, and everyone forgot that we were in the middle of a conflict. Nevertheless, the longer I looked at the Tambara elders, the more I get to be reminded of a person awfully familiar to me...

"Ruro..." I muttered.

At once, one of the clan elder's ears perked up, and spoke, "I see that you remembered our most famous—and hated—tribe member."

"Eh?" I was taken aback by what she just said, "What do you mean?"

"Ruro of the Wolf, the current Beastman Saint and a former princess of our tribe," the elder reiterated.

"Your tribe? I thought the Wolf tribe of Chersea died off long ago!"

She nodded, complete with an amused smile on her lips, "Indeed, let's say that it is true, for we are not exactly the pure Wolf tribes-folk anymore. Those with pure blood were murdered by that saint, and they went extinct a few ages after the eleventh human-demon war. However, before they disappeared on the face of Cherwind, a young she-wolf escaped to this land. Later on, she connected with a kind, and gentle Usarved noble, and their union brought forth to our people, the Tambara."