No Entry Except for the Master - Chapter 72

Ever since Ravie became king of the werebeasts, some of the more ferocious predators had harbored resentment. Traditionally, the title of king had always gone to powerful carnivores. To them, the idea of a prey animal—especially a rabbit, considered the weakest and lowest—succeeding the throne was unacceptable.

So they made it a daily habit to seek her out and nitpick over the most ridiculous things, throwing tantrums as if looking for a fight. And yet, despite all their bluster, they never dared challenge her directly—afraid of the spirit’s power that came with the title of king. Instead, they resorted to petty jabs and sly sarcasm.

Ril sighed at his own helplessness and gently pulled away from the Ravie he held in his arms. Her wide, innocent eyes looked up at him. At first, her attention had only felt like a nuisance—yet now, he understood why he secretly looked forward to it.

He brought his forehead to hers and gazed into her eyes. They trembled ever so slightly.

“Will you come away with me? Just the two of us?”

“…You know how ridiculous that sounds, right?”

“I know. But I’m going to keep asking anyway.”

Ril’s gentle smile met her trembling voice. Their lips touched softly—like handling delicate glasswork—and the kiss grew deeper, sweeter, more consuming.

Though the wind battered fiercely at the windows, the air inside was flushed with heat. A foggy haze clouded the panes, blurring the world outside. The wind, as if heartbroken, soon drifted quietly away.

***

Ril had no intention of leaving those arrogant predators unchecked. Ravie had been nothing but fair to all, showing no favoritism. Yet they insisted on special treatment, claiming superiority within the tribe. To Ril, they were nothing but dead weight dragging society down.

Though he had lost his name and origin, not all of Ril’s knowledge from the human world had vanished. The werebeasts were physically superior to humans, and possessed the spirits’ power—but their civilization lagged far behind.

Ril argued that they needed to engage with humans, to open themselves to exchange and evolution. Otherwise, the day might come when it would not be communication but domination by humans.

At first, the werebeasts scoffed. It sounded like needless fearmongering. The spirits’ power wasn’t so weak, after all. But as Ril continued, his arguments began to take root—especially given that he, living proof, had slipped past the spirits’ barrier once already.

One by one, the tribal chiefs came to see Ravie. Most were powerful predators—ironically, they were the ones most open to cooperation with humans. They feared being surpassed if they remained stagnant. Better, they reasoned, to engage while still in a position of strength. Thus, werebeast society split into two factions: the progressives and the conservatives.

A general assembly of all tribes was called. Presided over by Ravie, it was decided by majority vote—and the progressives won. Even those who had harassed Ravie daily now made up part of that camp.

That night, Ravie wandered the beach with a heavy heart. The tide greeted her like an old friend, waves lapping warmly at her feet.

“What do you think?” she asked.

“Yeah. The assembly ruled to try it, but… I’m still not sure if it’s the right path.”

The spirit fell silent in thought. Even among spirits, opinions were divided. Many were friendly toward humans, but others resented the environmental destruction they brought to the continent.

Besides, the creator god had only ever granted the Raphélia Archipelago to the spirits. Some spirits feared for their werebeast charges venturing beyond divine protection.

“That’s a heavy answer,” Ravie replied with a wry smile. A breeze softly patted her shoulder in comfort. She sat on the beach, hugging her knees and resting her chin atop them. Gazing blankly past the horizon, she felt both hope and anxiety stir within.

<Don’t worry. We’ll always love you.>

“Mm. Thank you.”

The spirit sat beside her. Though he leaned in as if to rest on her shoulder, he couldn’t feel anything. He recalled the tender moment he had once watched through a window—two bodies entwined in closeness he could never have.

As he studied Ravie’s profile—her long lashes, her soft lips—the ache of unattainable desire welled up again. But the spirit restrained his longing.

He partially opened the barrier protecting the island. Through the passage he created, the werebeasts and humans became truly aware of one another for the first time, beginning a cautious exchange.

There were stumbles, as with any new endeavor—but Ril, acting as mediator, smoothed the path with tireless dedication. Gradually, relations stabilized.

And then there was Ravie—the werebeast king who made everyone fall in love. As gentle as a spring breeze and as radiant as the sun, her very presence melted the hearts of humans.

Eventually, the werebeasts formed an alliance with a small city on the continent’s edge near the Raphélia Archipelago. With stable cultural exchange and the flow of human advancements, the werebeast society also began to evolve.

And all the credit returned to Ravie—the werebeast king.

Which had always been Ril’s true goal.