The skilled adventurer, Crow, stared at the piece of parchment in his hand. The northern entrance to the Great Forest Sea of Suiou. A deep fog hung thick, and it was dim even though it was daytime. The damp air clung to his skin. His four companions were murmuring restlessly behind him. "[serious] Is this really it? The S-rank subjugation request?" Crow scratched his short-cropped brown hair and looked at the parchment again. It was an official subjugation request form from the Pelgrim League. Target: Demon Wolf Garumu (Individual Name: Perolil) Threat Level: S-Rank Bounty: 500 gold coins 500 gold coins. An outrageous sum, the kind you'd have to convert into copper coins just to comprehend. When Crow found this request at the tavern, he thought it was a joke. But the one posted on the bulletin board bore the genuine League seal. It wasn't a fake. "[excited] But hey, Crow. They say all the victims ended up perfectly healthy." Lucas laughed, his bow slung over his shoulder. A slender young man skilled in swift movements. "[laughing] If it's just a beast that licks, our Steel Fangs have nothing to fear." "[serious] ...Well, yeah." Crow rolled up the parchment and tucked it into the pouch at his waist. This five-person party, the Steel Fangs, was a Silver-rank adventurer group. Led by Crow, with the mage Tina, the shield-bearer Baron, the healer Elza, and the archer Lucas. They had a track record of completing numerous dangerous requests. "[serious] I'll explain the plan." Crow crouched on the ground and began drawing a diagram with a twig. Everyone peered in. "[excited] First, Lucas will be the decoy. If you walk conspicuously through the forest, that ridiculously huge wolf will come to you." "[excited] Yeah, leave it to me!" "[serious] Lure it to this point. We've set paralysis traps here. And from above, Baron will launch a net." "[serious] And then I pin it down, right?" Baron set his thick steel shield on the ground with a thud. A large man, solidly built like a bear. "[serious] Right. Once its movements are stopped, Tina finishes it off with her magic." "[serious] Understood. I'll prepare an explosive flame spell." Tina gripped her magic staff, her long black hair flowing. "[gentle] I'll be in the back, ready to heal, as always." Elza said with a gentle smile. A kind-hearted girl with her blonde hair tied back. The battle plan looked perfect. But it had one fatal flaw. —It contained absolutely no contingency for what to do if everyone got licked. Crow raised his head and looked around at them all. "[excited] Alright, let's begin! Those 500 gold coins are ours!" That's not how it turned out. ―――― Lucas walked conspicuously through the forest. The sound of stepping on dead branches. The smell of damp leaves. Birds chirping in the distance. (Is there really an S-rank monster in a place like this?) Lucas muttered inwardly. No matter how high the bounty, it was S-rank. Normally, that's something for Gold-rank or higher parties to handle. That's when it happened. —Rustle. The bushes shook. "[surprised] !?" Lucas readied his bow. What emerged slowly from the bushes was—a giant wolf. Its shoulder height easily exceeded two meters. Its jet-black fur, covering its entire body, gleamed strangely in the sunlight filtering through the trees. Sparkling, as if it had trapped starlight within. And then, carried gently on the wind—a floral, pleasant scent. "[surprised] It's huge... but, somehow, it looks incredibly fluffy..." The arm holding his bow went slack. Yes. That was the Demon Wolf Garumu—Perolil. "[excited] Yay! Found the next customer!!" Perolil began walking towards Lucas, happily wagging his tail with a swish-swish. His fur swayed fluffily with every step. Immediately, the remaining four burst out. "[angry] Now, the net!!" Baron aimed the cylinder hanging at his hip. With a *thwump*, a thick hemp net was launched. It tore through the air, about to envelop Perolil—but. Perolil leaped into the center of the net himself. *Fwoof.* His thick fur absorbed the net's impact like cotton candy. Furthermore, using his four legs skillfully, he pulled the tangled net back towards himself and threw it back at Baron. "[surprised] Whoa!?" Baron tripped over his own net and fell with a heavy thud. The next moment, Perolil placed a giant front paw gently—but with an unshakeable firmness—onto Baron's body. Pink, squishy paw pads pressed down on Baron's chest. "[cold] Got the first one." And then, a giant tongue meticulously licked up Baron's face. "[crying] Stooop!? Crow, help meee!!" Baron's scream echoed through the forest. Crow hurriedly drew his sword. "[angry] Get away from Baron!!" But Perolil didn't stop. Rather, after finishing Baron's face, he began diligently licking the arm visible through a gap in his armor, then his neck. In less than ten seconds, Baron's screams changed. "[surprised] W-wait... isn't my arm super smooth!? The old scar that was there until just now is gone!?" Listening to that confused voice, Perolil was already heading for his next prey. He circled behind Tina, who was trying to chant a spell, without a sound. "[surprised] Huh, no way, so fast—" Before she could finish, Perolil's tongue licked up her face. The floral scent filled Tina's nose. "[crying] Noooo! My magic! I can't concentrateee!" "[excited] Nice skin! It's not as good as that elf kid I licked three days ago, but it's pretty good!" After finishing licking Tina, Perolil captured Elza and Lucas next, as if teleporting. He pinned Lucas down with one leg and entangled Elza with his tail. "[scared] Eek... s-stop—" "[laughing] I can't anymore... somehow, I just don't care anymore..." Lucas had already given up. *Lick, lick, lick, lick.* Only the sound of relentless licking echoed through the forest. The floral scent spread throughout the area. "—This ends now!!" Crow put all his strength into slamming his sword against Perolil's flank. A full-power strike from Crow, a Silver-rank swordsman. And yet. —*Fwoof.* The moment the sword touched Perolil's fur, it stopped with a pathetic sound. As if he had thrust it into a thick feather quilt. "[surprised] Wha... it's hard!? No, it's soft but hard!? What kind of fur is this!?" Perolil slowly turned just his head. His golden eyes looked down at Crow. "[excited] Because my fur is something I spent three days and three nights licking myself to perfect fluffiness. It can easily stop a blade." "[scared] Wh-whaaat!?" "[excited] You get a licking too!" Perolil casually pushed Crow down with his front paw. His tongue crawled meticulously from his flank to his entire body. "[crying] Gyaaaah!! I'm being violated!! I can't go on as an adventurer anymore!!" Crow's despairing scream faded into the depths of the Great Forest Sea of Suiou. ―――― Ten minutes later. The five adventurers sat slumped on the forest floor. Unable to fight. But not one of them was injured. On the contrary—everyone's skin shone with an unbelievable luster. "[sad] ...My skin... I had a burn scar from before. It's completely gone." "[surprised] Wait a sec, my elbow skin was always rough, but it's gone..." "[sad] I've been buying anti-aging magic potions for years... just like that..." Ignoring the five who were muttering in a daze, Perolil was a short distance away, contentedly licking and grooming his own fur. A small shadow watched the scene intently from the shade of a tree. —It was Miriru Erufinea. Her long silver hair swayed in the wind. Her emerald green eyes looked back and forth between the adventurers sitting in a stupor and the giant wolf licking its own fur. The nightmarish sensation from three days ago brushed against her skin. (More victims...) She thought that, but immediately shook her head. No. Those adventurers were a subjugation squad from the Pelgrim League. Elites who should have come here after accepting an S-rank subjugation request. And those people were completely wiped out in an instant. A chilling shudder ran down her spine. (—This power isn't just a personal problem.) The elf's rationality clicked into place in her mind. (Next, the entire city will be targeted.) Anti-aging. Detoxification. Healing. Sterilization, antibacterial, beautiful skin. That saliva, possessing seven effects. What would happen if it were scattered around the Free City of Nebrika? As an elf who valued cleanliness above all else, just thinking about it made her shudder. But at the same time, another thought arose. (Someone has to monitor him... minimize the damage.) That someone was herself. "[scared] ...Ugh." Her stomach ached sharply. Even though she hated it so much. Even though she had screamed and cried so much. (The unclean option yields the cleanest result...) At that contradictory conclusion, Miriru held her head in her hands dramatically. "[crying] Why did it come to this..." Even so, she took a step out from the shade of the tree. "...Perolil-san." Perolil stopped licking his fur and turned his head. Recognizing Miriru, he wagged his tail vigorously. "[excited] Oh, the elf kid from the other day! What's up?" Miriru, goosebumps covering her entire body, looked ahead resolutely. "[cold] I will... monitor your actions. I will accompany you so that you cause no more trouble." Perolil looked blank for a moment. "[surprised] You're coming with me?" "[cold] This is a choice of my own volition." "[excited] Well, do what you want. But hey, can I lick you again? I licked your skin three days ago, but I want a follow-up." "[angry] Absolutely not!!! That's the problem!!!" "[sad] Then, just your pinky." "[angry] Not even a single finger!!! Not even the tip of a finger!!!" Crow, the adventurer sitting behind them, asked in a trembling voice. "[scared] H-hey... is that girl serious about going with that monster...?" Without turning around, Miriru answered quietly. "[serious] I'm going. Please don't stop me." The two began walking towards the highway. Miriru looked up at the giant form walking beside her and said. "[cold] It's about sixty kilometers to the Free City of Nebrika. Please promise not to lick people indiscriminately along the way." "[serious] Hmm... I'll hold back until we reach the city." "[sad] ...Understood." "[excited] Once we reach the city, I'll lick everyone!" "[angry] That's why I'm telling you, that's not allowedddd!!!" Miriru's scream echoed along the highway. Carrying her immense regret, their journey had now begun. ―――― That same night. Free City of Nebrika, Pelgrim League Headquarters. The reception chief, Sonia Halt, read the express message delivered by hawk and let out a deep sigh. "[sad] ...Again." *'Steel Fangs, operation failed. Perolil currently heading south along the highway, accompanied by an elf girl.'* This was the third failed S-rank subjugation. The damage caused by Perolil only increased, yet no one could stop him. Sonia picked up the subjugation request form posted on the wall and rewrote the bounty amount written there with a pen. 700 gold coins. "[cold] ...I wonder if someone will do it for this." Just then, the counter bell chimed. She looked up, but no one was there. Instead, a single letter had been quietly placed there. High-quality paper, sealed with expensive wax. Sonia opened the seal with a dubious look. The moment she read the contents, her eyes widened. *'Not subjugation, but capture alive is desired.* *As compensation, we are prepared to pay 1,000 gold coins.* *Client: Miele Trading Company'* "[surprised] ...1,000 gold coins." By regulation, this wasn't a case the League could mediate. She couldn't accept it. Even though she knew that in her head, the amount was so enormous that the letter in Sonia's grasp trembled faintly. At the same time, in another district of the city, a group moved in orderly fashion. A column of armored knights advanced silently do