Hello Scrolls and Nazarins, Mr. Bones, I bring you another chapter of my fanfic The One Who Came Back.
Here I present a new OC character at the end of this chapter there are more explanations.
Lupusregina goes to visit her friend and makes surprising discoveries.
With you
The One Who Came Back
Chapter 46: Discoveries
Yuri Alpha walked down the main street of the City of Carne, holding a clipboard in her hands and heading towards the town hall.
Lupusregina recognized her from afar; she rarely came to the city, so this was a unique opportunity for a prank. She decided to turn invisible, ready to give her sister a scare, but suddenly she was attacked.
"What?! Let me go!" she shouted, trying to remove what was clinging to her back.
A strange scene unfolded where a small, furry thing was bouncing in the air. It was challenging for Lupus to pull the creature away because it was very fast.
"What are you?" Lupus asked excitedly after dispelling her invisibility, looking at the small, furry thing that showed sharp teeth.
"It's a child, Lupusregina, put her on the ground."
"Why is she... why are you here, Yuri?"
"I came to talk to the mayor. I would like to open a new school. E-Rantel is already overloaded."
"And why the little furry thing?" Lupus asked, looking at the child who ran and clung to Yuri's leg. She seemed like a small animal, except for the fact that she was wearing clothes and walking on two legs.
"The child can't stay with the others; she's too strong, and today's schools have many humans. But it seems she doesn't get along well even with other demi-humans."
"That's because she's not a demi-human; she's a beastman, a fox-type beastman," Lupus clarified.
"What's the difference?" Yuri questioned.
"It would be like saying that elves and humans are the same," the servant replied, becoming invisible again.
"Hmm! That makes a lot of sense, especially since she was found during the campaign in the Draconic Kingdom."
"It was the Royal Army that... her parents? You know..." Lupus asked, seeing the scar that disappeared amid the child's fur.
"No, the invasion was actually an expansion, so there were civilian groups settling. When they heard about the arrival of the Royal Army, these civilians wisely tried to flee. However, the beastman army didn't handle well those who realized the folly of fighting against His Majesty. Entire villages were found massacred by their own kin."
"So, she has no one."
"No, but... what are you doing, Lupusregina? I hear you walking around me, and why are you invisible?"
"She can see me."
"What? Who?"
"Her, the little furball, she can see me. I thought it was because of the smell, but she can see me," Lupus said, smiling, then bared her teeth. The child showed hers, and when she displayed her claws, the girl imitated her while staring directly into the eyes of the invisible servant.
"Incredible!" Lupusregina exclaimed, picking up the child under her arms. "She can see the invisible!"
Then the child reached out her arms to the invisible servant and said, to the surprise of the two sisters.
"MOMMY!"
"What?!" They both exclaimed.
...
A while later
"VULPES! IT'S TIME TO GET UP!" came the shout from the kitchen.
The fox girl stretched, rolled her slender body out of bed, and began to dress. She was as tall as her mother, and if she continued to level up, she would probably grow even taller.
Wearing her maid outfit, she entered the kitchen. As always, no one noticed her, so she sneaked up to the nearest victim and...
"BOO!"
Entoma spat a web that crossed the room, hitting the opposite wall and forming a net.
"STOP THAT, GIRL! I swear if you weren't my niece, I would have cocooned you and sucked your fluids."
"I love you too, Aunt Entoma," Vulpes said, kissing the Battle Maid's cheek. "You can blame it all on parenting errors," she said, looking at her mother, who just smiled from the other side of the table.
"I don't know how you can do this without invisibility,"
"I had great teachers, Aunt Entoma. How are the girls?" Vulpes said as she kissed each of her aunts on the cheek.
"They're fine, still on a mission outside the kingdom, which always worries me," Entoma replied as she nibbled on a golden apple.
"Don't worry, dear. They've learned everything they could, and they are my first and best students," Solution said.
"HEY!" exclaimed Vulpes, receiving only a wink from Solution.
"You weren't the only one to teach something." Narberal Gama complained, indicating each one at the table. "Entoma taught entomancy since they showed magical abilities, I taught attack spells, CZ weapons, Yuri personal defense, and Lupusregina healing."
"But when they reached the age to choose a school, they preferred your favorite godmother's "Art of Assassination"", Solution said proudly while swallowing her golden apple. Then she saw how Entoma seemed upset. "Don't worry, dear. They're fine. You always worry too much. They're coming to Vulpes's birthday this weekend."
"Oh, okay, that's fine."
"Solution, don't forget to spit out the seeds; they need to be planted. Now, changing the subject, Vulpes, what level are you at?"
"I'm not sure, Aunt Yuri," the girl said, looking at her tail, which split into three. "I think I'm between level 40 and 50. Lady Aura says I might gain another tail when I reach level 50... probably."
"That should be soon then. As predicted, you might acquire the ability to shape-shift when you reach this new level, which should be useful in your rogue class, I believe. What are you going to do today?" Yuri Alpha asked.
"Today is escort duty. The Governor is visiting Lizard Town for business with the new mayor, and we need to pass very close to Tob, so they think it's best to be cautious."
"I'm coming too!"
"No, Mom, please. I know The Governor Enri is your friend, but if you're with us, it won't let me do my job properly."
"Alright, so I'll wait for you in Lizard Town?"
"Thank you! What do we have for breakfast?"
"The same as every Friday," Lupus said, placing a golden apple on the plate.
"Idun apples... again." The fox girl grumbled.
"Don't complain, little one. Look at your Aunt Entoma; she would certainly prefer to eat a nice, plump arm."
"Don't treat me like a child, Mom. I'm 80 years old, and Aunt Yuri doesn't eat."
"You ARE turning 80. Yuri is an undead; she doesn't need golden apples to... 'live' forever. And look at me, how do you think I keep this figure?"
"You're a werewolf," the fox girl murmured.
"VULPESREGINA BETA, are we going to have the same discussion every week? Werewolves age too, you know? Now, if you eat quickly, I can still make a batch of bacon for everyone."
"Yay!" Vulpes, the youngest Battle Maid, celebrated.
"Wow, I'm pretty sure I didn't cause this much trouble when I was younger."
Then all the Pleiades stopped what they were doing, looked at Lupusregina, and burst into laughter.
"What?" Lupusregina said.
...
Back to the present days
"What did she call me?"
"I believe I heard her say 'Mommy,' I think she's confusing you with her lost mother."
"Hey! I'm not a mother."
"Mommy! Mommy!"
"No, I'm Lupus, not..."
"Mommy! Mommy!"
"Give it up, Lupusregina. From what I know about demi-human children, they only start developing the logical part at this age. Before that, they use mostly their instincts, probably the same for her, and she hasn't said more than that yet."
"What are you going to do with her?"
"At the Institute? She'll have to be isolated; she's a danger near the nursery, and she doesn't socialize with other children, perhaps a summoning can keep an eye on her until we find a better solution. Since you're here, Lupus, you can take care of her for a while. I need to deal with the mayor."
"Alright, but I'm not sure what to do."
"Be... kind."
"Okay, then furball, what shall we do?"
'Oh, I feel like I'm making a big mistake,' Yuri Alpha thought.
Inside the mayor's office
"Paperwork, paperwork, so many things to do," Enri said after putting her son back in his crib and leaving him in the care of the goblin nanny in the room next to her office.
"Madam Mayor, the Director of the Orphan Care Institute is here to see you; she has an appointment," the secretary announced.
"Oh! Yes, please ask her to come in, and bring some tea, please. Thank you."
"Good morning, Madam Mayor. I am Yuri Alpha, Director of the Orphan Care Institute."
"Good morning, Director Alpha. I am Enri Emmot, it's a pleasure to meet you! Please, have a seat. So, what brings you to our city?"
"I've come to discuss the development of the City of Karne, specifically in the area of education."
"Oh! We already have schools, but I understand that we may need to build another one soon. So, what is the cause for concern?"
"Actually, it's about future planning. I am authorized by His Majesty to request the construction of a new Institute here in Karne."
"But our city is still very small, we don't have that many residents, and now with no major conflicts happening, we don't have that many orphans unless there's an imminent war!"
"No, there are no plans for the next few years, but given the speed of expansion of both cities and the converging directions that seem to indicate their growth, we believe that both cities should be connected by an umbilical cord in less than five years, and in ten, they will be a single metropolis surpassing Arwintar."
"So the administration already foresees new schools outside of your current area," the mayor pondered.
"Not only that, I should inform you that it is in the Kingdom's interest to expand all administrative capacity in Karne and its facilities."
"Again?!"
"Yes, again, and even the Dragon Frost landings will increase from one per week to one per day next month. We expect a new influx of residents from the Dwarven Kingdom, and the Runecraft forges outside Azerlisia will be permanently centralized here. We believe that the few in E-Rantel will be maintained only for greater exposure of the art and maintenance."
"We have few options to expand the city. The farmlands are to the northeast and east, to the north is the great Tob forest, and since the new preservation laws were implemented, we can't deforest more than we can replant. Even with druidic magic, it still takes years for an area to become self-sustainable; the soil needs time to recover from accelerated growth. So, only the south, towards E-Rantel, is left for expansion."
"The Sorcerer King and the administration are aware of the village's agricultural tradition, but as your agriculture has always been subsistence-based, we believe that with the new developments, Karne's industrial and commercial potential will dominate, and with the taxes collected, the city's supply will be guaranteed."
"I believe that the existing farms will not be vacated for this new growth, at least not for now?" Enri interrupted Yuri Alpha's explanation.
"There is no forecast for evacuations for the next 50 years. The projects will be reviewed annually, of course, but I believe that the next two generations will still have their farms maintained."
'Predictions for decades, plans that can take generations to happen, the Sorcerer King's vision is divine!' the mayor thought, wondering if she would see any of these things happen in her lifetime.
Enri's thoughts were interrupted by a familiar scratching at the window. Only one person would do that on a third-floor window, her... friend, who usually did something strange on the outside.
"How long has it been since you last visited me, Lupus? But you won't be able to scare me after all these months," the mayor commented nonchalantly, not taking her eyes off her desk.
"I don't know what you're talking about, Enri-su," Lupus said, appearing next to Yuri Alpha.
"What? If you're here, then who?"
Enri turned toward the window and was startled by what she saw. Standing outside was a small, furry creature with sharp teeth, licking the glass in a frightening manner.
"AAAAAaaaah!" the girl screamed, almost falling over the table.
"Hahaha! So, that's where you are, you little rascal. Come here with me," Lupus said, opening the window and letting the fox child in.
"Who is she?!" Enri asked, taking a cup of tea and drinking a shaky sip to calm down.
"She's my daughter!"
"Pfffff!!! What?!!!" Enri spluttered.
"You thought you'd be the only one showing up with a child?"
"But, but you weren't even pregnant the last time I saw you! How? Who's the father?"
"I thought I would give you this news differently, but the father is... NFRIEA!"
"WHAAAATTTTTT?!!!"
"Hahaha! Just kidding! By the Supreme, you're gullible, girl!"
"Don't joke about these things, Lupus!" the friend complained.
At that moment, Yuri Alpha gave Lupusregina a knock on the head.
"OUCH! What?"
...
Days later in Nazarick
"Hello, girls, how are you this morning?"
"Well, Lupus! And you, dear?"
"Very well, Solution. What do we have to eat?"
"The usual, bacon, waffles, ears, fingers, cakes..." recited CZ in her monotone voice.
"Hmm, I think I'll get a portion of bacon and go back to my room and..."
"Ouch! THERE'S AN INSECT BITING MY LEG!" Narberal Gama complained as she held the child by the scruff of her neck.
"What is this?"
"Oh! What's this?! I don't know?! Let me take it outside," Lupus said deviously and quickly picked up the escaping child.
"Stop right there, Lupusregina Beta, what do you think you're doing?"
"Me? Noooothiing..."
"First, in these past few weeks, you've been taking the child from the orphanage for hours, just to play your pranks, and now you bring her inside the Great Tomb for some reason."
"I don't know what you're talking about, Yuri, this is a completely different child who spontaneously appeared here."
Then the fox child grabbed Lupusregina's cheeks.
"Mommy!"
"Oooown!" all the Pleiades said together.
"I want to know how you're going to explain this to our lord."
"It was just a joke, Yuri, I didn't..." Lupus's words were cut off by the summons.
"Lupusregina Beta, report to the throne room immediately."
"Oh dear," sighed Yuri Alpha.
Inside the throne room, Ainz awaited the arrival of the maid with concern. He had been informed that Lupusregina had been absent from Nazarick for hours on her days off, not on any immediate mission or duty, which was unusual.
Ainz's curiosity grew even more when he was informed by Aureole Omega that someone had accompanied the maid on her return to Nazarick, and she had not used the teleporters, choosing instead to take the longer route to her quarters. Aureole didn't go into details but mentioned it was a small, furry creature that was with the maid.
"If Lupus wanted a pet, she could have just asked..." Ainz thought aloud.
"Lord Ainz, Lupusregina Beta is here as ordered."
"Let her in, Decrement."
The Battle Maid entered the room, resembling a pet that knew it had done something wrong, her posture filled with regret.
"L-Lord Ainz, I come as requested," she said, falling to her knees. "I-I wish I could say that..."
"Stop, Lupusregina. I am aware of the situation, and it surprises me that you would want to hide something like this from me."
"I'm sorry, my lord, it wasn't my intention. I just wanted to play a prank on my sisters."
"A prank, you say, but it seems like you've been carrying out this 'prank' for several days, and you seem quite attached to the point of bringing it into our home."
"I-I didn't mean to neglect my duties to the Tomb, my lord. I just wanted to have some fun and give a little attention to the creature, and..."
"Don't refer to it that way. Even the smallest being deserves some respect. What kind of creature is it?"
"She's a fox-type, my lord, actually..."
"Hmm! A little fox, how interesting. Lupusregina, there are many stories about foxes where I come from, and they are highly revered in certain cultures. Hmmm... it's decided, Lupusregina Beta. As punishment for smuggling a being into the Great Tomb of Nazarick, you are now responsible for its well-being, now and forever! Remember, Lupusregina: 'you are responsible for what you tame.'"
"Yes, Ainz-Sama."
"Do you have a name for her?"
"No, Ainz-Sama, I have no idea what to call her."
"How about calling her Vulpes, Vulpesregina Beta," Ainz suggested, imagining Lupus as a good pet mother.
"The name is beautiful, my lord."
"May I see her?"
"Of course, Ainz-Sama, she's outside with my sisters."
"Decrement, let them in," Ainz said, imagining a little fox running around the hall. But to his surprise, it was the Pleiades who entered, chasing a child who cheerfully called out:
"MOMMY!"
"What?!?" the Supreme Being exclaimed.
After Ainz realized what he had unintentionally done, making Lupusregina adopt a fox child, he couldn't go back on it anymore. He even wondered how the maid had picked her up with so much affection - 'where does all this maternal love come from?' - thought the Supreme Being.
………………………………..
During the night, Lupusregina was in her bed when she felt something tugging at her blankets.
"Hmmm... Vuuulpex... Vulpesregina, you should sleep in your bed, there," she said, pointing to the bed next to hers.
"Mommy, bad, dream," the child babbled.
"Oh! Come here, dear. Mo... mommy will protect you."
...
Author's notes
Hey guys, what did you think of Vulpesregina? I wanted to thank Josemaría Combes for helping me with the idea that gave rise to this character.
About Vulpesregina, as a child she is Lupus' ideal companion in his games, which led her to become attached to the girl. When Vulpes is an adult, she will have multiclass abilities since she had classes with all the Pleiades and other inhabitants of Nazarick, receiving equipment for each acquired class, but its main category is Rogue for seeing the invisible and being very imperceptible.
As for the Apples of Idun, they do not appear in the original work, but as something of Norse culture, it should be obvious that such an item existed in Yggdrasil.
Which are the Apples of Idun, they are apples that the Norse gods had to eat periodically to have eternal life, in the game Ragnarock the bards would invoke a field of apples that would restore life to whoever was in it, I imagined that in Yggdrasil each apple would be a consumable item that would return life, mana and stamina instantly, with the change of world it literally became an apple that gives eternal life if consumed once a week, planting the seeds the sixth floor has an entire orchard to provide apples to the inhabitants of Nazarick and some servants who are not immortal such as: Entoma, Solution, Lupus, Vulpes, Tuare, Enri...
I hope you liked Vulpesregina Beta, a nice comic relief.