Two figures walked along the highway leading to the free city of Nebrica. One was a jet-black giant wolf, its shoulder height approaching a full five meters. The other was a silver-haired elf girl walking beside it. [excited] "I can see it now—Nebrica! Those city walls are freakin' huge!" Perolil's golden eyes sparkled as he wagged his tail furiously. Every time his paws pressed down on the cobblestone road, his pink toe beans made a soft, squishy sound. [sad] "*Sigh*... I just hope you don't cause another uproar this time." Miriru let out a deep sigh. It had been five days since they left the forest. Her emerald-green eyes were clouded with exhaustion. She had somehow managed to keep Perolil in check during the journey, but once they reached the city... Just imagining it gave her a headache. However, as they drew closer to the city, Miriru's expression shifted to one of bewilderment. Something was off. Knights in white armor were lined up on both sides of the highway. Their numbers easily exceeded eighty. Unfamiliar flags were arrayed in rows atop the city walls. The crest of a pristine shield and sword gleamed coldly under the afternoon sun. [surprised] "What in the world... Why are there so many?" Miriru stopped in her tracks. And then it happened. —*Step*. A man appeared standing atop a raised platform at the center of the wall. His short-cropped black hair was streaked with silver. Sharp, cold gray eyes locked onto Perolil with unerring precision. Commander of the Clinaden Knight Order, Regulus Vahn. He raised his right hand and brought a voice-amplifying magical device to his lips. [cold] "—Halt, Garm individual Perolil. And you, the elf girl." A heavy, iron-like voice resounded throughout the entire city. [cold] "We are the Clinaden Knight Order. We are those who value hygiene and ethics. A filthy existence such as yours shall never be permitted to tread upon the clean paving stones of this city." Regulus unconsciously adjusted his left glove with his gloved right hand. The motion was excessively meticulous. The adjutant standing beside him gave a quick *spritz* of disinfectant onto his armor. [cold] "Withdraw immediately. Otherwise, we will capture you by force." The color drained from Miriru's face. [scared] "The Clinaden Knight Order... The ones who have it out for Perolil..." She hadn't expected them to be lying in ambush with such a massive force. Every piece of their equipment was polished to a like-new shine, and their formation was utterly flawless. —*This is really bad.* But Perolil himself was gazing up at the city walls, his fluffy tail swaying back and forth. [excited] "Awesome! You guys came out in such huge numbers just to see me?! Alright, I'm gonna lick every single one of you!" [angry] "Th-That's not it! We're surrounded, don't you get it?!" Miriru shouted desperately, but Perolil was already dashing toward the city gate. That was when it happened. [gentle] "Now, now, do wait just a moment." A sultry voice called out to stop them. Before anyone knew it, a woman was standing beside the main gate. She had glossy, short reddish-purple hair and alluring amber eyes. She appeared to be around forty years old. Clad in an expensive-looking crimson dress, she wore a smile—but her eyes were narrowed as if appraising her prey. [gentle] "Stranded in a place like this—you seem to be in quite a predicament. I am a merchant here in Nebrica. Felicia, of the Miele Trading Company. If you wish, I can guide you through a secret passage to avoid the knights' eyes." Miriru looked at Felicia in surprise. (*I've seen that face somewhere before... Right, she's the one who runs that big beauty product trading company in Nebrica.*) [sad] "That would be... very kind of you, but why help us?" Felicia gave an elegant laugh. But her eyes weren't smiling. [gentle] "Oh, I simply can't ignore people in need. Come now, this way." Perolil stared intently at Felicia's face. [excited] "Hey, your skin's all rough and dry! If I give you a lick, it'll get super smooth and glossy! Can I do it?" Felicia's smile froze for just an instant. [sarcastic] "*Fufu*... You do have quite the sense of humor." She clicked her tongue inwardly. This was a walking mountain of gold coins. Being licked by such a vulgar beast was absolutely out of the question. However, as bait for capture, it was perfect. (*If I sell that fur, how many hundreds of gold coins would it fetch... No, the saliva is even more valuable.*) In that opening— Perolil slipped right past Felicia. [whispers] "Ah—wait!" Felicia's voice was in vain. The massive body accelerated at an unbelievable speed and plunged straight into the central plaza. There, a crowd of onlookers who had gathered to see the knights' cordon was packed together in chaos. [excited] "Grand opening special! Free licking service—!! Fluffiness guaranteed!!" Perolil's war cry echoed through the plaza. His first target was a plump, middle-aged male merchant. [scared] "H-Hiiiieee?!" Perolil lightly pinned the merchant down with his front paws, then brought his gigantic tongue down on the man's face—*Sluuuurp*!! [crying] "Stop—stop it, please!! It's disgusting!!" The merchant struggled with tears in his eyes, but he was no match for Perolil's strength. Behind the ears, the nape of the neck, all the way to the top of the head—he was thoroughly and stickily licked all over. Thirty seconds later. [surprised] "H-Huh...? My skin... it's so smooth?" When the merchant stood up, his face was astonishingly glossy, without a single blemish. The onlookers who witnessed this scene split into two completely opposite reactions. [scared] "What the heck is that, gross! Run!" [surprised] "Wait, hold on... Didn't that guy's skin get incredibly beautiful?" [laughing] "Me too! Do me too!" People fleeing in panic, people approaching out of intense curiosity, people frozen in terror. In the blink of an eye, the plaza devolved into utter pandemonium. [crying] "Please stop it! Stooop!!" Miriru chased after him desperately, but she couldn't keep up with Perolil's massive body and speed at all. All she could do was run around from behind, shouting, "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" [excited] "You're next!" Perolil captured his seventh target—a passing old woman—and began licking her wrinkled face. Up on the city wall, Regulus Vahn's mouth was twitching uncontrollably. [angry] "...As I thought, negotiation was meaningless. That thing is the very incarnation of filth. A blasphemy against the pristine world." He raised his trembling right hand high. [angry] "All units, activate the 'Shackles of Purity'!! Cleanse this plaza of its defilement immediately!!" At his command— The knight order's special forces, who had been lying in wait at the four corners of the plaza, activated their magical restraints all at once. The cylindrical devices placed on the ground roared to life, and magical light surged through them. —*FWOOSH*!!! Multiple white nets were launched at sonic speed from all directions toward the center point. [surprised] "Huh? What's this—" Perolil, having just finished licking the old woman, lifted his head—and his vision was filled with nets. *Fwoomp*. A complete encirclement from every direction. The jet-black fur was covered by nets of white, special fibers. Magic circles were inscribed on the nets, and the moment they made contact, magical power was forcibly suppressed. Perolil's massive body lurched and tilted. [surprised] "Eh, wait, I can't move—" *BOOM*!! The supreme fluff was slammed to the ground. [angry] "Secured!! Don't move!" More than ten knights rushed over and wrapped him further with chains over the nets, binding him round and round. [surprised] "No way... I can't break out of this at all. They're serious..." For the first time, a look of bewilderment surfaced in Perolil's golden eyes. [angry] "You too! As a companion of a dangerous beast, you are suspected of complicity!" [angry] "Wh-Why me too?! I was trying to stop him! Pay attention and watch properly!" Miriru protested, but the knights silently bound her slender wrists. (*How unreasonable... But I should have known it would come to this.*) Miriru bit her lip and simply hung her head. The chaos in the plaza turned to silence. The residents stared fearfully at the restrained giant wolf and the elf girl. Regulus slowly descended the stairs from the city wall. He stood before the incapacitated Perolil. In his gray eyes swirled anger, and more than that—something old, an emotion resembling pain. [cold] "...A filthy existence like you defiling a clean city... will never be forgiven." His gloved right hand unconsciously pressed down on the area beneath his sleeve. Only Miriru saw that fleeting gesture. (*That man... Could it be...*) [excited] "Hey, your face is all rough and dry. I really wanna lick it. Let me lick it." At those words from Perolil, Regulus's entire body trembled. [angry] "...I will never, ever forgive you. You, above all." Clenching his back teeth, he turned his back. [cold] "Take them away. These two shall be subjected to public execution tomorrow." —Public execution. At those words, the plaza buzzed with murmurs. The two were dragged off to a stone-built facility polished to a pristine shine. The heavy iron door of the prison closed with a grinding *screech*... The sound lingered unnervingly in the ears. [angry] "I have the right to a proper explanation! I'm innocent!" Miriru's shout echoed off the stone walls and faded into the distance. One shadow watched their figures, careful not to be noticed by anyone. Felicia Miele hid her mouth with her hand and let out a small laugh. [gentle] "*Fufu*... They've been caught. Well done indeed." She gave a quiet order to the subordinate waiting beside her. [whispers] "As planned, infiltrate one of our people into the detention facility as a cleaner. First, collect samples of the saliva that fell on the floor. Analyzing its commercial value is the top priority." [serious] "As you command." The veil of night enveloped the free city of Nebrica. In the now-empty plaza, only the remnants of the Shackles of Purity remained, gleaming coldly under the moonlight.