I should’ve remembered sooner that Fenrir was the name of the legendary giant wolf. But maybe because this is another world, I took everything for granted.

The Fenrir Family members weren’t human to begin with. They resembled Earth’s werewolves—only shifting to wolf form under specific conditions. This race was originally a branch of the Beastfolk, but they later allied with humans. After interbreeding, they became the first generation of the Fenrir Family.

Post-interbreeding, Fenrir Family members could not only wield magic but also control their wolf shifts. With internal regulation over generations, most retained roughly half-pure bloodlines…

Of course, I’m no omniscient being and didn’t know these details. I can describe them now only because during the fight, Senior Rachel subconsciously passed information to me, easing a trace of my doubts.

But honestly, why would Senior Rachel bother with that…

Transformed into a wolf, Senior Rachel unleashed overwhelming power. She completely dominated the Black Beasts on every front. With lightning’s aid, she wiped out all nearby Black Beasts in under five minutes. After sniffing the ground carefully, she dashed toward the school gates—likely searching for Julia.

So now I was alone. What should I do?

Most Black Beasts inside the school had been cleared by Senior Rachel. Staying here was far safer than venturing into the unknown outside.

The situation resembled a zombie apocalypse movie. Black Beasts originated similarly to zombies—but with a key difference. Victims weren’t turned by bites; only those specifically targeted by Black Beasts transformed. This hinted at intelligence.

Compared to mindless zombies, these Black Beasts were far harder to handle.

As I pondered my next move, the classroom door behind me swung open. My teacher stepped out casually, her glasses back on her nose. Her clones had vanished completely.

“Teacher…”

“Let’s go. To the central region of the Empire!”

“Huh? Why? Isn’t it fine to stay at school?”

“The academy can’t operate under these conditions. The Black Beasts that appeared here had been lurking for a long time…”

“How did you know that? If you knew earlier, then you—”

“I just found out. When I visited Mars… You know he’s bedridden from the Dark Overlord’s corruption. That’s the lurking I meant. Last night’s gathering was actually a conspiracy…”

Infected by the Dark Overlord’s power, Mars had been completely delirious during her visit. His servants confirmed he’d shown no signs of recovery. This suggested his adopted son was also likely corrupted—though controlled more thoroughly than Mars himself.

Teacher had planned to warn the gathering attendees. But Mars suddenly succumbed to irreversible Beastification Sickness. In an instant, her mentor became a Black Beast…

“So Mars was your teacher?”

“Where else would I have learned magic?”

“Fair enough…”

“I’d intended to test my new method to counter the Dark Overlord’s power on him… But it was already too late…”

Her voice dipped low, thick with sorrow. It was the first time I’d seen my teacher grieve for someone.

I froze, unsure how to handle a girl’s tears.

Maybe… head-patting would help?

I reached out and gently stroked her hair. A few stray cowlicks on her head instantly shot upright, startled by my touch.

“What are you doing?! As a student, patting your teacher’s head? How disrespectful!”

She kicked my shin lightly, then huffed, cheeks puffed. “Never again! Pack your bags—we leave in five minutes!”

“Yes, yes!”

The kick didn’t hurt much. She wasn’t truly angry—just hiding behind tsundere tendencies. Why would this icy woman suddenly act like this? Girls really baffle me…

***

“Julia! Julia! Julia!”

Rachel called out, following the scent trail until she halted at a dark alley entrance. Julia’s scent lingered strongly here—she’d stayed awhile. Worse, Rachel caught a hint of blood in the air.

She glanced around. Most nearby houses lay destroyed by Black Beasts, no survivors in sight. This spot was barely hundreds of meters from the Holy See’s Holy Knights garrison. Julia must’ve been ambushed while seeking their aid…

“Julia… please be safe!”

Rachel’s glowing eyes pierced the alley’s darkness as she stepped inside.

Deep within, she found Julia slumped against a wall, gasping for breath. A faint scratch marred her right calf—likely from a Black Beast’s attack.

Rachel’s senses were razor-sharp. She felt Julia’s aura shifting rapidly—from human to Sorceress.

“Julia!”

“Rachel! Don’t… don’t come closer!”

Julia noticed the giant wolf beside her but felt no fear. She knew Rachel could shift forms.

Her terror wasn’t of Rachel—it was of herself. The Dark Overlord’s corrupting power gnawed at her sanity. She feared becoming a Sorceress and hurting her only friend.

Rachel understood Julia better than Julia realized. Though the student council president seemed strong, she was secretly timid. Without Rachel’s encouragement, Julia would never have run for president.

Without hesitation, Rachel approached. Ignoring the Sorceress aura radiating from Julia, she carefully licked the wound on Julia’s calf—unfazed by the Dark Overlord’s taint in the blood.

“Rachel! Are you insane?! Do you know what you’re doing?!”

Julia screamed, trying to push Rachel away, but her limbs refused to obey.

“I know exactly what I’m doing…”

Rachel lifted her head, meeting Julia’s eyes. “When I was lonely, you were the only one who befriended me. If you become a Sorceress… condemned to eternal solitude… I know that pain. I won’t let you bear it alone. Won’t let you be hunted by so-called heroes!”

“Rachel…”

Rachel blinked. Crimson blotches spread across her glowing eyes—the Dark Overlord’s power invading her body. Unlike others, she didn’t resist it. She accepted the corruption.

“Julia, climb on…”

Rachel gently licked Julia’s tears away, but they kept flowing.

“It’s my choice… And this way, we’ll always be together. Isn’t that what you wanted?”

Julia wiped her tears frantically, then nodded hard. “Always… together…”

Summoning her last strength, Julia clambered onto Rachel’s back.

“I know your stamina, Julia. If you became a Sorceress alone… I doubt you’d escape this place alive.”

“Mm…”

Curled against Rachel’s warm fur, Julia’s pain eased slightly. As consciousness faded, she murmured like a whisper.

“Rachel… you’re such a fool… But… thank you…”