I was being chased by a werewolf and was saved by someone from the Kooshi Tribe named Lassie.
Nina and Philiana seemed to have noticed the gazes directed at us.
“Hey, are there other Kooshi besides you?”
“Yes, everyone seems to be wary of you. Basically, outsiders are not allowed in this village. That’s why we hide. You wouldn’t be able to reach here without me.”
I see, it’s true that this village with its strange atmosphere seems to need to be hidden from prying eyes.
“Let’s rest here. I have some questions for you.”
Saying that, she led us to a plaza with a table and chairs made of wood. It seemed to be a rest area. Piyo happily jumped onto a giant mushroom.
“Yay, it’s so fluffy.”
“Hey, be careful.”
Lassie suddenly disappeared and reappeared sitting on a chair.
“You must be tired, so please sit. You’ll need recovery magic, but before that, how about a drink? Hey, how long do you plan to keep hiding?”
She shouted towards a shady spot. After a moment, a tail poked out from behind the mushroom. Then, a cute, puppy-like face appeared as well. Was this small dog also a member of the Kooshi tribe? She didn’t resemble Lassie, though.
“You finally came out. I’ll introduce you to Hiroaki and his companions. I helped them because they were attacked by werewolves. Oh, and the wolves are not our companions.”
“Huh, ah, of course, we understand that.”
Even within the same canine family, we could tell the difference from werewolves. Then, the small dog that had been hiding in the shadows approached us on two legs.
“Hey, what is this? Who are these guys? You know the rules here, don’t you?”
“Yes, of course.”
Despite its cute face, it spoke with a firm voice. It seemed agitated.
“Then why did you bring them here?! What’s going on? I can smell the outside world on them. Ugh, it stinks.”
“Hey, what do you mean I smell?! You, a Kobold!”
Ah, right, Kobold. They were showier than the ones I saw before, based on their appearance, but as Nina said, their characteristics were similar to those of Kobolds.
“Y-You call me a Kobold?! How dare you, I am a Kooshi! Get out right now!”
Huh? He’s also a Kooshi? Looking around, I saw dogs of various sizes looking at us. In reality, it might be more accurate to call them small beastmen rather than dogs. Their appearances varied greatly. Some had long torsos, others had large ears, and some, like Lassie, were tall and human-like in form.
“I apologize, it’s my first time seeing Kooshi.”
“Hmph, I suppose so. We don’t show ourselves to humans. So, why did you bring them here? Are they the wolves causing trouble outside?”
What, he noticed? Of course, it’s something happening in their neighborhood.
“That’s none of our business. It’s more of a problem that outsiders are entering.”
“It’s fine, please, everyone, help these people.”
Even when Lassie tried to talk to them, the other Kooshi wouldn’t approach. They seemed very insular.
“I guess I have no choice. Now, show me where you’re injured.”
“Hey, why are you being so nice to us? Aren’t you afraid of being ostracized too?”
“That’s because I’m tired of it. Being cooped up in this small place, doing the same thing every day. I wanted some excitement. I was scared, but I gathered my courage and fought.”
Lassie replied while using recovery magic. Then she started asking us questions. Where we came from, why we were fighting.
“I see, that’s tough, but it sounds fun. I love the outside world too. Everyone calls me strange, but I often go into town. You know, I look like a beastman, don’t I?”
After treating our injuries, she led us to a place to stay. During that time, we were constantly being stared at. Inside the house, made of large leaves, were wooden furniture. The floor was covered with deer fur, and glowing flowers bloomed, giving it a strange feel, but we didn’t feel any coldness or heat.
“It’s a small house, but please make yourselves comfortable. Tell me more later.”
After Lassie left for a moment, I sat down on a nearby sofa. The cushions were soft, and my body sank into them. Nina also leaned against the wall and coiled up.
“This has become quite strange. It’s good that we were saved, but these Kooshi seem odd, don’t they? Elana, do you know anything about them?”
“Hmm, I’ve read about them. But this is my first time seeing one in person. They are said to be fairies that take the form of dogs.”
Fairies, that makes sense. The strange light and their appearances. This village must be powered by magic. At least we could escape from the werewolves for a while. I thought I had to rendezvous with the White Horn, but where in the world were we? In my desperate escape, I had lost track of where I had ended up.
And if this was a hidden fairy village, it certainly wouldn’t be on any map.
