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Cloudy with occasional rain. The dreary weather still lingered.

Maybe because of that, finding food was becoming difficult, and more and more kids from the slums were creeping around, trying to scout out Noche and Filia’s base.

You’d think they’d just go out and search for food on their own instead of wasting time like that, but I guess there are people who think it’s easier to steal from someone who already has it.

I can understand that way of thinking, but it’s not something you should try against someone you can’t beat.

In any case, since it was dangerously dangerous, I was no longer allowed to go out alone.

Of the four of us, I’m the weakest.

That’s not to say I’m particularly weak, though—I’d like to point out that the other three… especially Sufi and Noche, are just absurdly strong.

Those two can sprint a hundred meters in about seven seconds. When it comes to raw strength, they wouldn’t lose to most boys their age either. They might not have much talent for magic, but beastfolk make up for that with incredible physical abilities.

Lately, Sufi and Noche have been racing each other whenever it isn’t raining, and sometimes it escalates into what looks like parkour videos I saw in my previous life.

They climb walls taller than themselves with ease and leap across the rooftops of the ruins.

They have abilities that are incomparable to those of ordinary children their age.

Even so, they wouldn’t stand a chance against grown men who are used to violence. If we were attacked, the only option would be to run.

■■■

Today was the rainiest day we’d had in the past few days.

“Oh-ho, you weren’t kidding. There really was one.”

It was early afternoon. We’d filled our bellies with preserved food and were lazing around, wondering what to do next.

Then, from beyond the downpour—rain so heavy it was impossible to see outside—they came.

Leading the group was a scruffy, stubble-faced man with tangled, unkempt hair. There were four of them in total, clad in worn leather armor, its scratches and stains telling the story of countless real battles survived.

At his hip hung a short sword in its scabbard. Resting his palm on the pommel, the man brushed back his wet hair and flashed a filthy grin, baring his teeth.

“See, see?! Told you we weren’t lying, Goren!”

Behind the men, the usual gang of slum kids who’d been spying on us peeked out, their faces plastered with ingratiating smiles as they spoke up to the leader.

“……”

Filia shrank beside me, trembling, while Sufi and Noche stepped forward, their tails bristling.

There was no doubt in anyone’s mind that this wasn’t going to end peacefully.

“Yeah, good work finding them.”
“Dirty or not, that’s white fur, not gray—and females at that!”
“Looks like our luck’s finally turned.”

That exchange told me everything I needed to know. They must’ve heard from those kids that we were here and had come to snatch us.

So that’s why those kids had been so fixated on me. They’d probably figured I looked weak enough to be taken easily, failed to pull it off themselves, and decided to sell the information to someone higher up.

Sufi edged back, putting herself between me and the men, shielding me with her back. The intruders were armed, and the only exit was already blocked.

Ah, I messed up. I should have moved our base much sooner, back when they first took notice of us.

I dragged trouble right to our doorstep, and now Noche and Filia are caught up in it.

“Who’re you lot, nya?”
“We’re bodyguards working for the big shot who runs the South Alley. Word is, our boys’ve been getting looked after by you folks. So here’s the deal—hand over those two mutts, no fuss, and we’ll leave nice and easy.”
“……”

With a *clank*, one of them loosened his sword in its scabbard.

All of us instinctively turned our eyes to Noche.

She’d taken in a complete stranger, someone with no ties to her, and this was the result. Four armed men were standing in her home; logically, cutting ties with us would be the obvious choice. Even if Noche decided that, we’d have no right to blame her.

Since their target was us, the two freeloaders, there was a good chance they wouldn’t stop at capturing us. Their *sound* was dark and twisted; these were people who cared only about immediate profit.

That’s exactly why—Noche and Filia should abandon us.

I gathered a handful of gravel, its noise swallowed by the rain. Tugging the tattered cloak draped over Sufi’s back, I got a quick glance from her, followed by a small nod.

Once they got close, I’d blind them, and Sufi would carry me as we made a break for it, slipping past them and vanishing into the underground tunnels under the cover of the rain.

At times like this, I was grateful we could understand each other, even without words. Watching our enemies’ movements, I caught Noche’s strained expression as she glanced our way.

…We’d just started to grow a little closer. This situation was a bit of a shock, but I couldn’t resent her for it.

Because this was simply inevitable.

I met Noche’s gaze and gave a small nod. There was no need for her to risk herself for a passing stranger; we’d handle this on our own somehow. Sufi, too, hated the idea of Noche and the others getting hurt on her account.

“…Haa.”

Maybe my thoughts got through, because after a moment Noche averted her gaze with a small sigh.

“—Filia! Emergency, nya! Take the little sister and run!”
“Eh!?”
“Hurry, nya! Elder wolf! You can fight a bit, yeah!?”
“I’m Sufi! And yeah, a little!”

I was still reeling from Noche’s words when Sufi’s face lit up and she gave a firm nod.

Before I could protest that this was reckless, Filia beside me gave me a hard yank.

“Ah—uh, uh! Alice, hold on tight!”
“Fili—”
“There’s a secret exit.”

Her whisper was so faint that only a beastkin’s sharp ears could catch it. Sufi’s ears twitched for just a moment, showing she’d heard it too.

“Oi, oi, you stupid or something? Just so you know, we’ve got no reason to let you live. All we need are those two white wolf brats. Best be smart about this.”
“Hah.”

The man’s words, audible as I clung to Filia’s back, were cut off by Noche’s derisive snort.

“You’re the stupid one, nya.”

With a gritty sound, she dropped into a low stance, her black tail swaying just above the ground.

“—Like hell I’m sellin’ out my pals, nya! Get lost already, nya!”
“You idiot!”

In an instant, everything erupted into motion.

Noche leapt forward, bravely brandishing her claws, while the man drew his sword to counter her. There was no hesitation in his movements—if things went on like this, she’d be cut down for sure.

I seized the opening in his breathing and hurled the gravel I’d been clutching.

The target was his face. Just as he started to move with focused precision, the spray of grit made him flinch. Even with all his training, he couldn’t stop a reflex; the eye that took the brunt of it snapped shut instinctively.

“Guh!?”