Chapter 18 : In Pursuit of The Wolf Witch Part 8

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The next morning, I woke up on my bed in my human form. Remembering what had transpired last night, the embarrassment returned to me. There was no way I could show my face to Dietrich-sama but I also couldn’t just go on and pretend nothing ever happened. 

I quickly got dressed and went straight to meet with Dietrich-sama. 

“Good morning, Melodia. I’m so happy I got to see you first thing in the morning!”

“……. Good morning.”

“What’s wrong? You don’t look well?”

Dietrich-sama jumped onto the couch and used his paw to pat the spot next to him, beckoning me to sit beside him. I followed his wish and sat down next to him. 

“Umm… Last night, you saw me, right?”

When I asked him about that, Dietrich-sama averted his gaze away from me. I was a little hurt seeing his reaction. I already heard about how a lot of people feared the beastman. Being a beastman was completely different than being cursed into a wolf like Dietrich-asma. 

“Umm… I….”

“I-I didn’t see Melodia’s underwear.”

“I’m not talking about that. Or rather, judging from your reaction, you saw my underwear, didn’t you?”

“………….”

“Dietrich-sama!”

“I saw!!”

“…………………”

Somehow, I felt tired already. I didn’t come here to question him about whether he had seen my underwear or not. 

“Dietrich-sama, why…..”

“No, I mean… If I may be honest, it was a very cute pair of underwear.”

“I’m not trying to ask your thoughts about my underwear.”

“Then what is it?”

“You saw me in my beast form, didn’t you? It was frightening, right?”

“No, you were adorable.”

“……….”

“Did you reject my marriage proposal because you’re a beastman?”

“No, that’s not it.”

“Then why?”

“I already told you why yesterday, didn’t I? I…. I…..”

Unable to speak, drops of tears started to fall from my eyes. All this time, I had pretended I didn’t notice but I was actually lonely. That was why it was hard for me to be with Dietrich-sama. 

“I just don’t want it anymore.”

“You mean you don’t want me? If there’s something bad about me, I will fix it so please tell me what it is.”

“That’s not it…. I don’t want to be alone anymore. If I keep staying by Dietrich-sama’s side like this, I will become swayed by your kindness. I won’t be able to bear it if I lose you.”

“That won’t happen. I will always be with you, Melodia!”

“You’re lying! All the people I’ve loved, they all disappeared from my life! My father and my mother… Fulmoff too, they all disappeared!”

“I won’t disappear!”

“You will disappear too!”

“I will never ever disappear!”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Because…. I’m Fulmoff!”

What did he just say? Dietrich-sama is Fulmoff?

I was too stunned to speak. 

“I fell under the witch’s curse and was running desperately for my life with my body full of wounds when Melodia picked me up. You then named me Fulmoff.”

“Di-Dietrich-sama, are you really… Fulmoff?”

“That’s right.”

“Why didn’t you tell me right away?”

“That’s… Because… It’s a matter of a man’s pride… How do I say it….”

I didn’t really understand why but it seemed Dietrich-sama had his own reason that made him unable to tell me. I shouldn’t force him to tell me why. 

“That one month I spent with Melodia was like a dream. You picked me up even though I was so filthy and you even devoted yourself to nurse me back to health. You held me ever so tenderly in your arms. I didn’t know any other girl that was so overflowing with kindness like you. I wanted to marry you immediately but before I could say it, you already proposed to me first. I thought our love was mutual.”

“Please wait a minute. By proposal, do you mean the words I uttered to Fulmoff?”

“That’s right. Melodia, you were the one who said it. That we would always be together.”

“Ah…..”

Yes, I think I’ve said something along that line. But… How did “we will always be together” become a “marriage proposal”? Dietrich-sama is jumping to conclusions way too far. 

“Ummm… I….”

“I was really happy. That was why I pledged to keep my chastity and take Melodia as my bride.”

“Ahh…. I see….”

Well for now, let’s put that matter aside first. Right now, I’m already feeling so happy I got to meet with Fulmoff again after I thought I’d never be able to meet him ever again. 

“U-Umm… I have a favor to ask…”

“What is it?”

“May I hug you?”

“Yes. You can hug me as you like. You can also snuggle and cuddle with all you want.”

“Thank you very much!”

I then hugged Fulmoff…. No, Dietrich-sama with all my might. He was so warm and fluffy, just like the Fulmoff in my memories. This feeling, this touch, it was the best. As I kept on touching and stroking Dietrich-sama’s fluffy fur, the tears that had been flowing from my eyes, disappeared off to somewhere. 

“I’m so glad… So Fulmoff is still alive.”

“I couldn’t bring myself to leave you but… My younger brother is waiting for my return.”

“I see… But why didn’t you come to see me after that?”

“I’ve been meaning to meet you but… If I come to meet you and get you tangled up with me, the Wolf Witch will set her eyes on you. With that possibility in mind, I couldn’t come to meet you again.”

Apparently for the next several years, Dietrich-sama trained everyday so he could master the technique to fight the witch. 

“When the time finally came for me to meet with Melodia, Melodia was revered as the miraculous saint.”

Dietrich-sama then immediately prepared the arrangements for me to be transferred to the First Cavalry Unit. He even set up favorable terms and treatment for me. 

“I’ve never been as impatient before.”

“I see… But what was it with the marriage proposal right after we just met….?”

　──Fu~ What an interesting girl. I will take you as my bride. 

It was a very shocking marriage proposal. 

“A-Ah… That’s… Please just forget about that…. I was so overjoyed I got to meet with Melodia again that the words just slipped out of my mouth. I must’ve looked so condescending and superficial, right? I’m sorry.”

“No, it’s alright.”

Looking back, it was actually a pleasant memory to remember. Not everyday you could get to hear a marriage proposal like that. 

“Melodia.”

“Yes?”

Dietrich-sama was staring at me more seriously than usual.

“I won’t stay in this form forever. When I return to my human form, will you go out with me on the premise of marriage?”

Dietrich-sama put extra emphasis on the word ‘on the premise of marriage’. When he said he’d break the curse, he must be implying the time after we defeated the Wolf Witch. At that time, I might’ve been released from the grief of losing my parents too. It might be an impossible feat to defeat someone the family had been fighting against for years to no avail but if we actually managed to do it, then I guess I might as well get married to him. 

“Melodia, is it a ‘no’ after all?”

“Umm… That… If you’re alright with me then…”

“Melodia!!!”

“Kyaaa!!”

I fell back on the couch after Dietrich-sama rammed himself straight toward me. I took on the impact with an open arm, hugging him back in the process. 

“Melodia!! Melodia!! I-I’m… I’m so-… So happy!!”

“Ca-Calm down, Dietrich-sama! Some-… Somebody, help!~~”

“Big brother!”

I called out for somebody and Gilbert-sama immediately came rushing in. He rushed over to us and peeled Dietrich-sama who was sticking to me. 

“Big brother! Don’t be hasty! It’d be hard to do it in that form!”

Just what is hard to do in that form? 

I was curious about what Gilbert-sama was implying but I felt like I shouldn’t pry even further. 

Dietrich-sama flailed and struggled as Gilbert-sama held him up by the upper half of his body. Dietrich-sama then retaliated back. 

“Heeey! Gilbert, let me go! Finally, finally Melodia opened her heart to me! At least let me sniff her! Let me go!”

“A normal human won’t go around sniffing a woman’s scent!”

“Gilbert, have you never thought of sniffing the scent of someone you love?”

“Th-That…. M-Maybe once in a while is fine I think!”

…………. Absolutely not.

How do I say this… These two brothers… They’re no good….

In addition, with the way Dietrich-sama was sitting on the floor while pleading for Gilbert-sama to listen to him… He looked like a dog with his owner.