"Well then, according to the Special Ghostkind Management Regulations, Alice is under my care from today onward," Dante concluded like a closing statement after negotiating with Marn and the others.

"Honestly, I never expected little Alice to be a special Ghostkind capable of Ghoul Transformation."

"Kes, you've teased Alice-chan so many times these months. You're a real brave soul."

"Even Lem was trembling in fear just now."

"Your turn to speak, Kes."

"Hey, isn't Alice changing back to her original form?" Lem asked from far away, his voice trembling.

Sure enough, once I revealed my Ghoul Transformation form, our relationship could never return to normal. The hunters pretended calmness while talking to me, but except for Marn, the other three showed traces of fear and hostility in their eyes.

"This form looks cooler," Yulia said, clinging to me and gesturing to the hunters that I wasn't dangerous at all.

"After transforming like this, it's hard to change back to human form right away," I explained.

"Stay in Ghoul Transformation today. I need your help later," Dante said.

"No, this form is uncomfortable too."

"Is that so?" Dante lifted me into the air, examining me like a rare specimen. "I've never seen red tear marks like yours. And this silver hair—did Sister not realize her success? Are you actually that guy's child?"

"Dante, you monster, don't claim kinship with little Alice," Yulia jumped up and pulled me away.

"Aren't you human either, Dante?"

"Didn't I say that during my introduction? Hey, can I take off your clothes? I want to examine your Ghoul Transformation body."

Dante started pulling off my coat.

"No! Let go!"

Just then, as my modesty was threatened, I changed back to my original form. Dante sensibly released me.

The negotiation result: I, a special Ghostkind capable of Ghoul Transformation, must live under Dante's supervision. The two new Corpse Eaters were an unprecedented subspecies; their corpses must go to the military. But Dante had annihilated a Corpse Eater army en route, and those materials were split between Marn and him.

Dante had Yulia use a Magic Tool to message Von Officer: he'd be late, had captured a Fourth Category Ghoul Species, and other messy details.

Led by Dante dragging two huge corpses, we headed to his so-called Corpse Eater graveyard.

"I'm exhausted. Little Alice, transform and help out," Dante complained, pulling the corpses alone.

Clearly, Dante wanted me in Ghoul Transformation just to force me into hard labor, carrying these new Corpse Eater subspecies corpses.

Luckily, I changed back to normal form and could rightfully refuse.

"No, the corpses are too heavy. Weak as I am, I can't carry them. And stay away from me and Yulia—you stink."

We reached a small barren patch in the forest with over a hundred Corpse Eater corpses. Hunters took out tools and started working.

We set up a temporary camp beside the graveyard. Marn and the others spent three days filling the cart with the most valuable materials.

During those days, I told Dante everything I remembered about my birth, as he requested.

Dante reasoned I was likely a hybrid of human or Vampire and Corpse Eater, like the two corpses. The fire-breathing red one was a Fire-ash Giant Bear and Corpse Eater hybrid. The black one was probably a Horned Giant Beast from deep Sylia Forest mixed with a Corpse Eater.

"So, what about the remaining corpses?"

"Leaving them might accidentally spawn Undead Kind. That'd be a headache."

"Alice, transform into a Corpse Eater and eat them all."

"Don't joke, Mr. Dante."

"I'm serious."

Dante stabbed a dagger just above my heart—impossible to avoid. He was the type who'd bully you to death if you didn't stand up to him first.

I understood. Using the pain, I entered Rampage Ghostification state.

"If you stab me like this again, I'll fight back. What do you want me to do?" I silently transformed into Ghoul form and, annoyed, pulled out the dagger.

"Burn them all, like you roasted that red-skinned Corpse Eater days ago."

"I don't have that much magic power."

"You will in Ghoul form."

"Why don't you do it yourself?"

"I'm clueless about magic. So, trouble you. Yulia, set up a barrier big enough to cover the whole graveyard."

"I want payment. I want a sword when we return," Yulia immediately haggled.

"Fine. Work fast. Ensure the barrier locks everything inside. Is your magic enough?"

"Just about, I guess."

I unleashed crimson flames from the fire stone, nearly emptying all my Ghoul form's magic. Hell seemed to descend as raging fire consumed the graveyard. Yulia strained to confine the flames within the Corpse Eater burial site using her barrier.

Behind us, Marn and the other three stared dumbfounded at our combined magic.

"Where did you monsters come from?"

"We're the monsters you picked up," I puffed out my cheeks.

"Alice, no matter how you act in this form, it's not cute," Dante quipped with a bitter smile.

Ah, I'd accidentally acted normally toward Lem and the others. I forgot I'm now a real monster.

Half an hour later, my magic exhausted, I collapsed dizzily. Yulia was nearly spent too. Dante dashed into the dying flames at the perfect moment and returned with a pencil-sized silvery-white metal rod.

"It appeared. This time, I've hit the jackpot," Dante grinned happily, eyes seeming to turn into dollar signs as he emerged.

"What's that?" Yulia ran over curiously to snatch and play with the metal.

But magic-drained Yulia was no different from a human child. She was no match for Dante.

"Don't come closer. It's sellable high-grade material," Dante impatiently brushed her off, vaguely explaining.

I'd changed back to human form, lying on the ground. I stared at the cracked fire stone in my hand. After consuming too much magic in Ghoul form, I was too tired to move.

"I'm so tired, Mr. Dante. Take responsibility and carry me back." The hunters avoided me now, so I coyly begged Dante.

"Alright, let's pack up and return."

Marn seemed about to help me up but chose to ignore me with his companions. Satisfied with the cart, he declared the return journey.

"No, we must wait. For some reason, your old friend Von Officer is hurrying this way," Dante said, scratching his head like a fool.

Hoofbeats echoed from afar. A near-hundred-strong cavalry unit appeared, instantly surrounding us on military horses.

"Lord Dante, I rushed to assist with the Fourth Category Ghoul Species. Thank you for the intense fire light—it guided us straight to your location," the cavalry commander said respectfully after breaking from the encirclement and riding before Dante.