Chapter 18
Everyone had gathered inside the cave, eyes scanning through the bags Chris had brought back.
"I'm telling you...the place is full of humans," Jake said, spreading his hands wide.
"You know," Elarixa muttered while flipping through clothes, "I think you might have the same brain as Nekubuki." She pulled out a lovely dress. "Ooh, I like this one."
Jake stood up, glaring. "You trying to say I'm dumb as him?"
"Now, now…" Nekubuki said, holding up an elegant outfit. "I'm not dumb. I'm just free-minded."
"You're just dumb, that's all," Logan cut in flatly.
"Wait,how did you enter the capital naked, Jake?" Sophia asked.
"Simple," Jake said proudly, folding his arms. "I didn't enter."
"Then how did you see the capital?" Solvian asked.
"I hid inside Chris's bag."
"So… you did enter," Thessaria said, rising with a pile of clothes.
"Yeah, I did!" Jake shouted back.
"Then why say you didn't?"
A deep voice cut through the chatter.
Everyone froze.
Ethen stood behind them.
He finally wore clothes.
A black shirt, black pants, and clean white sneakers.
"Who picked these?" Ethen asked, pointing at his shoes.
"I did," Jake said proudly, one hand on his chest.
"You should've been the one to inherit the name Headless," Ethen said dryly, walking toward his stone-carved chair.
For a moment, silence filled the cave—until Jessica spoke softly,
"You look amazing."
"Thanks," Ethen replied, sitting down. "They make me feel like some cool guy."
"You are cool," she said, smiling.
He chuckled. "Thanks." Then his tone hardened. "Alright pick your clothes before I burn the rest."
Everyone hurried to choose their outfits and disappeared into their rooms.
Seraphine leaned against the wall. "You do hold more control than anyone else in this forest, huh?"
"I grew up here," Ethen said quietly. "After…"
"That reminds me of a rumor," Chris said suddenly.
"What rumor?" Lucien asked.
"They say there was once a man who cast his own child into the Forest of Banishment for being weak."
Jessica froze. Her body trembled. "What kind of human would send their child into this kind of place?"
Lucien stayed silent, staring at Ethen.
Black hair… red eyes… the lazy posture… the glare of command.
It was unmistakable.
He looked exactly like their father.
"Was it..." Lucien started, but stopped as Ethen's piercing eyes locked onto him.
That single glare was enough to freeze his voice in his throat.
"What is it, brother?" Jessica asked.
"N-Nothing," Lucien said quickly. "Let's just wait for the others to show off their outfits."
Just then, a loud echo filled the cave.
"Ladies and gentlemen…"
The light dimmed. Smoke rolled across the floor.
Chris reached for his sword, Seraphine readied her staff but Ethen didn't move.
"This is the moment we've all been waiting for!" the voice boomed.
"Everyone, get ready!!!" Chris began, but Ethen sighed.
"Sit down, won't you?" he said lazily. "It's just Lucas. He's been wearing clothes longer than all of you."
"Oh, you're right!" Seraphine said, laughing nervously as she sat down.
"Thank you for clearing the confusion, my lord," the voice continued theatrically.
"Now, for tonight's main event! Introducing the first and last born of the Dire Wolves!
He's funny, he's loud, and he's a complete disaster when angered...
Ladies and gentlemen, give it up for the one and only… Nekubuki!"
Red eyes glowed from within the smoke-filled room.
Footsteps echoed.
The glow came closer, brighter, fiercer
Until he finally stepped out.
---
To be continued…