Chapter 346

Professor of Curses Sechrit.
The self-proclaimed master of curses, he’s also the one who cast the alien curse that bound Ronan’s body.
He was an outlier among the geeky faculty at Pileon Academy.
“Wasn’t that—— obviously human until you lectured at the Pileon a few months ago?”
Even Varen, who had never been a big fan of noodles, was realizing that now.
He asked cautiously as he pecked at the campfire.
Sekrit sat across from him, licking and grooming his dirty tail.
“I’m sure he did. I have a few students who are allergic to fur.”
“Then it looks like—.”
Varen trailed off.
Sechrit’s appearance now was the perfect Wearfox.
The fluffy fur and floppy ears that sprouted all over its body made it hard to believe it was once human.
“It’s so cold in the north, I’d rather just change my skin than bundle up. It’s times like this that I envy the Cham people.”
Sekrit’s hobby was traveling around the world collecting curses and trying them on himself.
Unless you were Ronan or Iril, you’d be dead or insane in a heartbeat, but I’ve done it enough times that I can take a dozen or so curses in stride.
“Uhm–yes, you’re amazing in so many ways.”
“That’s great. Thanks anyway. I’d have freaked out if it weren’t for you. I have a different mouth shape, and it’s not always easy to chant correctly.”
“Aha. So.”
Sekrit snapped his mouth shut in exasperation.
Varen suddenly understood why the brilliant mage was being chased by a woolly wolf.
Unlike humans, their protruding muzzles were bound to leak.
“What brings you all the way to Heeran, Professor?”
“Alas, it’s to get the ingredients for the curse or the harm. There are many medicinal ingredients that can only be found here in the north. The stuff of folklore.”
Sekrit was visiting the north on a regular basis.
It wasn’t just the supply of materials.
For Sekrit, who spent two years in the north to thwart a Barca plot, the north is a second home.
“Still, it’s better to be chased by wild animals. Bandits can be a real nuisance if you get caught in the wrong place.”
“Are there still bandits out there?”
“They’ve disappeared from the cities, but they’re still showing up in the outlying areas. The swordsmen are working hard to eradicate it, but security is still unstable on the fringes. Even if the underlying cause is gone, it will take time to cure.”
Sechrit’s mouth is twisted.
The north had long been plagued by turbulence, from imperial oppression to the curse of Barca, and had yet to regain full peace.
The lands of the north were too vast, even if the Grand Swordsman Zaifa was leading the wandering Sioux to restore order.
Time will tell on this one.
Sechrit said.
“Then what brings you to Heiran? You don’t look like someone who’s traveling or researching.”
“Hmmm. I mean, I don’t know how to explain this to you.”
“It’s okay, tell me. Did you get kicked out by your wife? Haha, I’m kidding, of course. Nothing like that could happen to a married couple like you.”
“Huh!”
Varen sucked in a breath.
I didn’t expect to be found out so quickly.
Seeing his reaction, Sekrit frowned.
“Oh my God, really?”
“Curvy–I’m ashamed to say, yes. I don’t think I’ll be able to get in until I lose weight.”
Varen clutched his mane and recounted his tale of woe.
Until his wife’s persecution, the arrival of the headmaster Kratyr, and his fall here in Heiran.
Looking Varen up and down, Sekrit nodded.
“Hmmm. Now that you mention it, you’ve definitely gained weight. Your already round body has gotten fuller.”
“Ugh. I never thought a professor would say that—.”
“You’d have to be blind to recognize it. This is serious, by the way. If you’ve come this far, you’re not going to lose weight anytime soon.”
“What?”
It was a slap in the face.
His smile gone, Sekrit’s expression was grave, like someone with cancer.
Varen’s eyes widened.
“Uh, why?”
“That’s because you’re a werelion. I’ve seen my fair share of Sioux in my travels up and down the North, but I’ve never seen an obese werelion before.”
Sekrit sighed.
Having spent so much time in the body of a man, he couldn’t understand it.
You may have heard of bearbears and bearcows, but the purely carnivore-based Sioux didn’t put on much weight.
“I know a werelion, and they’re supposed to be the strongest race alongside the weretigers. A race that can eat a cow a day and still gain muscle instead of fat, what kind of life have they been living?”
“Ugh. That’s—.”
Varen shook his head.
There were too many suspects.
An avid baker, he would consume enough bread and sweets to feed fifty humans in a single day.
The complete lack of stress also played a role.
Ronan’s weight has been on a steady upward trajectory ever since he stepped down as advisor to the express adventure club he organized.
Sekrit said, poking Varen in the stomach.
“Hmph, that fluffy thing could make a good business as an exotic bed concept. It must have been accumulated over time, like layers of earth. It’s a shame it’s going to be ruined—a shame, a shame, a shame.”
“I’m sorry, I’ve done wrong, please stop, can’t you do something about it?”
“It’s not impossible if you make the effort to cut to the bone. A month of eating nothing but meat and vegetables will make that balloon belly go down a bit, but it’ll be a ridiculously short time to make the progress you want, and you’ll probably be back to your old self by this time next year.”
“What the—!”
Varen’s face contorted in despair.
I’d only spoken to him a few times, but Sekrit wasn’t much of a liar.
And since he had lived in the body of a waterman, his words would be highly accurate.
“Alas—.”
Neither of them spoke, so I could hear the blizzard raging loudly.
The fire was almost out of wood for the bonfire.
After a long silence, Sechrit spoke up.
“—It’s not like there isn’t a solution. Just one. There’s a way for you to get back to being the cool kid on social media during your vacation.”
“What? Is that really true?!”
“Yes. But it’s going to be hard to accept. Look, Varen, do you really want to lose weight?”
“Of course, I’ll do anything to lose this devilish fat mass!”
Varen clenched his fists.
Honestly, I didn’t care if it ruined my appearance, but I didn’t want to worry my wife and children.
I was also getting to the age where I needed to take care of my health.
Seeing the look of determination in his eyes, Sekrit pulled something out of his backpack.
“Okay. I’m sure you’re up for it. Come here.”
“Hmm? What is that?”
Varen scowled.
In Sekrit’s furry hands, she held a spice jar filled with white chalk, nameless herbs, and colorful powders.
Instead of answering, Sekrit moved the chalk.
In an instant, a geometric battlefield, a magic circle, was drawn around Varen.
When I placed the herbs on a specific spot, a blue light rose up from the magic circle.
Sekrit smiled in satisfaction at the sight.
“Okay, I’m going to put a curse on you that will turn you into a human. It’s a pretty powerful curse, so don’t move from your spot.”
“——Yes?”
“Literally. Humans are a much easier species to gain and lose weight than werelions. I guarantee you’ll be back to your normal weight in this cold.”
“Now, wait a minute, Professor. What do you mean, a human being? What do you mean, a human being?!”
Varen frowned.
I said I’d do anything, but this was out of the question.
Sekrit ignored his panic and continued to chant.
The body didn’t move if it was already in progress.
“I’m glad I was able to pay off the debt so quickly, and the herbs I got were just what I needed. Let’s get started, then.”
“No Professor, listen to me, what the hell is this—!”
Varen was about to say something.
Finishing the spell with a flourish, Sekrit sprinkled Varen with the powder from the spice jar.
The light from the circle grew stronger, enveloping Varen’s body.
“This can’t be happening! Kaaaaaat-!!!”
A guttural scream shook the cave.
The evil glow was twisting and reforming Varen’s flesh and bone.
The light faded, and silence descended on the place.
In the distance, the howl of a woolly wolf mourning the loss of a companion echoed mournfully.
****
The next morning.
“Stop. I can’t go any further—ah, Sekrit.”
“Loyalty. Long time no see.”
“Yeah. How are you guys doing?”
The sky was clear.
Sekrit smiled as he was greeted by the werewolf soldiers.
It’s been over a decade since I’ve known them.
Heavily armed men guarded the entrance to the Alcalto Valley today.
“You seem to be in a good mood, is that what you’re here for today?”
“That’s right. It’s risky, but the best quality comes from here.”
“Always be careful. If something happens in there, it’s hard to come to your rescue.”
The soldier said in a serious tone.
The Alcalto Valley was a frequent stop for Sékrit.
The sharp icy ravines and forgettable monsters that jumped out at you were dangerous, but it was a place you had to come to for irreplaceable materials.
“Don’t worry, I have the power to protect myself.”
“Well, since you’re a wizard—what about the human next to you?”
“Oh, it’s my friend who’s here to help out. Say hello.”
Sechrit punches the man standing next to him in the side.
The soldiers’ eyes narrowed at the sight of such an unusual creature.
The first thing I saw was a handsome face.
His sharp features and the dark brown beard that covered his lower jaw were handsome, even from a human perspective.
The rich hair that cascaded down to the nape of his neck reminded me of a lion’s mane.
So far, so good-looking, but unfortunately, the man had a fatal flaw.
“You’re a nice-looking fellow, but—.”
“Hmm, I hope you didn’t just change your hair, what’s your name?”
The soldiers snickered.
The face and body are out of proportion.
It’s like a cherry tomato on top of a watermelon.
It’s hard to tell if it’s an ape or a human, given its sturdy, meaty body.
The soldiers were genuinely concerned for his well-being, and each time he had to fight back the tears that threatened to fill his eyes with sorrow.
The man replied with a grimace.
“——I’m Varen.”
“That’s an unusual name. I believe the Duke of Brynnhills over there was also named Varen. Was it Varen Hanasir?”
It’s panasir, not hanasir.
Varen swallowed the words that had risen to his throat.
Because now he was just a fat guy, not the Great Warrior Lion.
After identifying themselves, the soldiers let the two men in.
Sekrit chuckled as he walked among the sheer cliffs.
“Don’t worry, Varen. I’m sure it will work, and the flesh will melt away like spring frost.”
“—I hope so.”
“Just follow me. How is the human body?”
“It’s the worst. It’s cold—your visibility is reduced—nothing is better except your hands.”
Varen sighed.
He was reminded of just how superior the Wearlions were.
I was physically weaker, but the pain of obesity was still there.
Even the auras that had briefly made him superhuman were difficult to manifest due to the changes in his body.
The most serious problem was the cold due to the lack of fur.
Dressed in three thick coats, Varen looked like a snowman in leather walking around.
Sekrit laughed.
“C’mon, you’ll get used to it. By the way, you’re going to need to say a few prayers to the gods on this trip.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“We’re very weak right now. My tongue twitches when I chant, and you can’t even speak Auror, so if we’re attacked by monsters, we’ll be in trouble.”
“Hua, you’re right—it would be good to move with caution.”
Varen shuddered, the entire Alcalto Valley was lawless except for the entrance, and he didn’t want to imagine encountering the enemy in this state.
Maybe he’d get used to it, but for now, he didn’t have the confidence to fight a single boar, let alone a wolf.
I’ll also have to watch my breathing.
Varen had just regained his composure when he started to walk away.
“Kahahaha! Stop right there, you lovely moneybags!”
“Ah.”