The Excommunicated Saint Wants to Lose

Humans and monsters cannot communicate with each other through speech.
It’s natural, given the unbridgeable gap between language and howls.
At best, they can communicate somewhat through body language.
In fact, didn’t the strange bird near the abandoned temple grant my request just by seeing my hand gestures?
But it’s difficult to exchange detailed opinions.
There are differences in intelligence, and the body parts used are different, so there are limitations to body language.
Then, is it impossible for humans and monsters to communicate?
No.
There was a surprisingly definite method.
Violence.
A force that any creature with instincts can only fear or enjoy.
Fists and feet are better communication tools than language.
Claws and teeth are the best language that makes howls seem ridiculous.
Therefore, to communicate with monsters, one must first show who is superior through violence.
It was a kind of hierarchy establishment.
“Please analyze its movements.”
Might as well give it my all.
Violence was more effective the more overwhelming the difference in strength.
-Do I really need to help? It’s already scared.
The shock must have been great, as Woof-woof was trembling in fear.
It was pitiful, but I had to be cold-hearted.

“I need to subdue it completely so it won’t bite again.”
-You used to at least try to become a friendly saint! What happened to you while I was asleep? Can I read your memories? Ah, you said I can’t. I’m really curious…
Another bout of chatter activated.
I let it go in one ear and out the other as I approached Woof-woof.
“Don’t come!”
Immediately, a large mouth wide open rushed at me.
As if to tear off my head whole.
However, even sharp teeth aren’t that threatening.
They can’t even leave a scratch on my body most of the time.
The large mouth bit my shoulder and shook it violently.
It tries hard to tear it off in that state, but the recovery speed was much faster.

Woof-woof, who had been struggling, finally detached its mouth and moved away from me.
As if the courage it had barely squeezed out had disappeared again.

“Monster…”
Who’s calling who a monster?
I need to teach it manners quickly.
“You shouldn’t attack others recklessly.”
I planted my fist in the face of the creature backing away.
Its large body collapsed at once and fell face down on the ground.
I thought it would withstand a few hits.
It didn’t live up to its size at all.

-As expected. You’re more than enough without me stepping in.
“Indeed.”

Although I woke it up, the Sun Catcher wasn’t much help in combat.
In most cases, I alone am sufficient.

That’s not to say it’s useless, though.

-Clitia-nim, it seems it’s not over yet. Be careful.
As the Sun Catcher warned, Woof-woof’s condition didn’t look good.
Its body shaking as if vibrating.
Then suddenly it became even larger.
Its head went up.
It grew so big that it would hurt my neck to look up.
Its size increased at least 10 times.
A slight expectation rose.
Isn’t there a saying that weight class is a bully?
-Don’t be pleased, be careful!
“Alright.”

A giant front paw fell towards my head.
It was just a simple pressing motion, but given its size, it was a brutal attack.
This would be dangerous if I let it hit me.
I raised both hands and expelled mana as if pushing it out.
Expansion of aura.
Red aura enveloped the giant front paw as if invading it.

Its movement stopped.
It struggles, perhaps confused, but that only tightens the aura more.

I twisted it violently in that state.
The front paw twisting into a strange shape.
A cry of pain echoed through the valley.

“Does it hurt?”
I jumped high and planted my fist in its giant jaw.

Strong enough to make my arm tingle.
“So be careful from now on.”
The giant body slowly tilting.
Eventually, it met the ground with a thunderous sound.
This should really be the end now.
I lightly landed on the ground and watched as Woof-woof returned to its original size.
It didn’t seem to have any intention to fight anymore.
It had become a tiny puppy again, lying limply without moving.
“How disappointing.”
I had hoped for a picture of it fiercely confronting me and driving me into a crisis.
Contrary to expectations, it was extremely weak.

Still, I had definitely instilled manners, so shouldn’t I be able to communicate in earnest from now on?
-Clitia-nim? This is not the time for such words.
“Why?”
-Look at it.
When I glanced at Woof-woof, its body was shaking slightly.
Is it trying to transform again?
Only after getting closer did I realize what was happening.
“Sob… hic…”
Woof-woof was sobbing.
So pitifully that I felt guilty.
“…Did I do something wrong?”
-Usually, it’s the fault of the one who made it cry.
Even though it attacked first.
It’s unfortunate, but there’s nothing I can do.
Come to think of it, wasn’t I fighting with a child?
“What should I do?”
-What else? You should comfort it.
“I’ve never done that before.”
-This is your chance to experience it. Come on, hurry.
Unable to resist the Sun Catcher’s urging, I picked up Woof-woof in my arms.
“Did it hurt that much?”
I gently stroked its head.
Fortunately, it wasn’t afraid of my touch.
“Don’t cry.”
Only after comforting it for quite a while did the sniffling sound finally decrease.
“Are you okay now?”
“…I’m sorry.”
It’s not a completely bad-natured creature.
Unexpectedly, it apologized readily.
“It hurt when you bit me, right?”
“It didn’t hurt.”
Compared to the bombardment Riella poured down, sharp teeth were no more than a prickly acupressure.
“I was so scared of you that I did it without thinking.”
“It’s okay, but don’t do it again next time. Understand?”
“I understand.”
Although it went a bit awry, communication was established.
Moreover, I taught it manners, so it couldn’t be better.
“You… are unexpectedly a kind person.”
Woof-woof burrowed deeper into my arms.
Its wariness completely gone, it even yawned.

It’s cute.
I was wrong to hit such a creature harshly.

By the way, how did Riella come to raise this?
It’s illegal to raise monsters as they’re unconditional subjugation targets.
Moreover, most intelligent monsters belong to the Demon Lord’s army.
Even if they’re young, if they have the ability to make intellectual judgments, they can be treated as executives.
Someone like Woof-woof wouldn’t be strange to have deep connections with the Demon Lord’s army.
At least it makes more sense than being raised as a pet.
It seemed there was a complicated backstory.
“How did you meet Riella?”
At my question, Woof-woof tilted its head slightly before answering brightly.
“I don’t know!”
Indeed, cheerfulness and knowledge had no relation.
“Try to recall when you first met.”
“I can’t remember anything.”
“Not at all?”
“No. Everything before meeting Riella is completely black and I can’t see it.”
Black memories.
Something feels fishy.
It wasn’t a natural phenomenon.
Could it be under memory manipulation magic?

It’s a tricky magic to handle, but Riella should be able to do it without much difficulty.
It was the most plausible guess for now.
However, I couldn’t grasp what the purpose might be at all.
I kept racking my brains, but in the end, I concluded that I had to extract it directly from the person involved.
There probably won’t be any shady inside story anyway.
If there were, she wouldn’t have entrusted Woof-woof to me.
“Riella is kind, right?”
“Yes. She always gives me delicious things and plays with me.”
“I’m sure she does.”
If by any chance Riella belonged to the Demon Lord’s army, I was planning to attack without hesitation.
Just like when she bombarded me.

I lay on the platform, blankly staring at the sky filled with stars and moon.

It’s less beautiful than the night sky I saw in Serda.
But it’s still a scenic view worth taking in.
No matter how I think about it, magic was too useful compared to aura.
Magic is useful in all directions, while aura is only used for cutting and breaking things.

For powers that use the same mana, the difference is too great.
I felt more regretful because I couldn’t learn magic due to lack of talent.
“I’m back.”
At that moment, a door appeared in the air and Riella walked in.
With a face laden with fatigue.
“Where’s Woof-woof?”
“Here.”

Woof-woof was sound asleep using my thigh as a pillow.
What happened to being scared?
Now it’s reached the point of following me around constantly.
“You’ve become friends already? Even the vice tower master hasn’t been able to befriend it yet.”
“It just happened.”
“Wonders never cease.”

I casually threw a question at Riella, who was looking at Woof-woof with a fond smile.
“Where did you bring it from?”
“……”
The smile melted away.
It was a change of expression that turned my guess into certainty that she was hiding something.
“Tell me quickly.”
Riella closed her mouth and stared at me.
With a dark gaze as if she didn’t want to speak.
“Don’t want to answer?”
I concentrated the mana in my body into my right hand.
“You’ll want to.”
Violence is a shortcut to the correct answer.
Just as I was about to extend my fist, a natural truth serum, Riella put her hand on my shoulder.
“What’s so funny?”
Now that I look, Riella was trying to hold back laughter.
“There’s no way I would enter an evil den like the Demon Lord’s army.”
“Then?”
“I let you meet because you were so desperate to find it. Don’t tell me you haven’t noticed yet?”
At that moment, one possibility crossed my mind.
“Don’t tell me this is the sage?”
“Fool. Why do you think I suddenly told you to take care of it?”
A magic ultra-genius dog monster sage.
It was the height of confusion.
No wonder it took me so long to realize.

“Oh noble sun, no matter how important ability is, a monster being the sage is a bit…”
“It’s not a monster.”
Riella smiled meaningfully and gently woke up Woof-woof.

“Mmm… I want to sleep more.”
“It’s me. Wake up for a moment.”
“Ah, Riella! Are you done with work?”
“You haven’t shown your true form to this person yet, right? Show it.”
Woof-woof nodded vigorously.
“Yes. This person can be trusted!”
And then it immediately jumped into the sky.
No, it flew in the sky.
With wings that sprouted on its back.
Soon after, its body grew larger.
Not just increasing in size like before, but its appearance changed too.
Golden scales.
A large pair of wings.
A body resembling a lizard.
It had the appearance of a race commonly called the ‘magical race’.
“I told you. An ultra-genius.”
Pleased with my surprised reaction, a beaming smile spread across Riella’s face.
“How about it? Surprised?”
“…Yeah, you bitch.”
Woof-woof was a dragon.