Office Romance with a Werewolf - Chapter 162

He had been nothing but impressed with the former officer ever since he met him. For some reason he was completely dedicated to serving him and Nida, and was doing as much as possible to help them return north as soon as possible. He knew he didn’t have malicious intentions, because he had Robert secretly question him and a few others while disguised before leaving. After thinking for a moment he told Nida his idea, and with no argument from her, approached him.

“Ranz, I want to talk to you for a moment.” The officer quickly walked over, and said,

“What do you need my king?” Randell looked him over, and asked,

“Do you wish to be stronger?” Ranz was confused for a moment, then said,

“Yes your grace, it was a dream of mine to reach the pinnacle of strength in my youth. I gradually threw away such a foolish dream when I learned how the world worked, and now I only hope I’m capable enough for your highness.” Randell nodded at his words, then said,

“Meet me tonight in the palace, I have something I want to give you.” Ranz was confused but promised to be there when Randell wanted him to be. After that he went back to work, but his mind kept wondering what his grace wanted to give him. This bugged him for the next several hours, before it was finally nightfall. He then traveled to the palace, and found Randell, Nida, and the former officer waiting for him in the courtyard. When he arrived he kneeled,

“I apologize for making you wait your grace.” Randell shook his head, and replied,

“Not at all, if you were busy then it meant more work got done, and that’s not something to apologize for. Now then Ranz, before I give you what I intend to, I need to ask you a few things. First, do you swear to always serve me and mine?” Ranz wasn’t sure why his grace was asking this, as he answered the day they met as well.

“Of course, from now until I die your grace!” Randell nodded, and asked,

“Do you swear to protect us with your life, and always ensure the safety of my family?”

“Yes your grace!” Randell nodded, there were probably more specific oaths he should’ve thought of, but these were what he was most concerned with at the moment. He also listened to Ranz’s heart rate and breathing to determine what he was feeling, which was one of the reasons he chose to go to the abandoned palace where it was so quiet, the other was to avoid witnesses. He then said to Ranz,

“Hold out your hand.” Ranz was confused, but did as his king commanded, before Randell swiftly sliced his palm open with a knife. Ranz flinched, and looked at Randell with confusion on his face, before he saw Randell do the same to his own hand. He panicked slightly, because he didn’t want to watch his new king potentially maim himself, before Randell suddenly grabbed Ranz’s hand with his. Ranz was growing more confused by the second, before suddenly,

He suddenly felt pain in his entire body.

THUMP

Next thing he new Ranz got an insane headache for a brief second, as his senses became fine tuned almost instantly, and his eyes turned a vibrant orange.

When he recovered from whatever happened, Ranz also realized that he now felt immensely stronger, and as if something was struggling to get out. He hesitated for a moment, before throwing caution to the wind and let out whatever it was. Thick black hair started growing all over his body, he grew even larger, and his fingers and toes sprouted sharpened claws on each one. His mouth became filled with razor sharp teeth, and his strength soared even more.

Ranz threw his head back, and loosed a mighty howl, as if challenging all those who would dare stand against him. Then he turned his gaze back to Randell, his king. Randell started releasing a slight pressure, and Ranz who felt so mighty, started back into down in the face of him. He felt ashamed, ashamed at his own foolishness in the face of his ruler, but when he looked at him, Randell smiled. Ranz started changing back, and Randell swiftly threw a prepared cloak over him. After reverting back, he started hurling whatever was in his stomach, even more shamed from doing so in front of the king and queen. Randell kneeled down, and said to Ranz,

“It passes as you get more used to it, and it’s probably normal to feel so invincible when you first transform.” Ranz listened as he continued hurling. When he finished he turned back to Randell, and said seriously,

“Your grace, I can never repay you for the strength and power you have given me, thank you.” Randell however shook his head and replied,

“If you wish to repay me, then make good on your promise to protect my family, and ensure no harm ever befalls them.” Ranz turned to look at Nida and the officer, and recalled that Nida was expecting. He then swore internally, he would never repeat his failure with his own daughter. No matter who it was, human, beastman, dwarf, elf, mortal or God, he would never let any harm come to the ones his king trusted him to protect. Seeing the resolution in Ranz’s eyes, Randell smiled again, and said,

“Stand then, my new brother.”

When Randell woke after the full moon, he didn’t return to the city, but instead started moving towards the meeting point. Waiting there already was Lady, juswa, Robert, and the dwarven army. She looked at him with half closed eyes, and said,

“You seriously couldn’t wait for us to arrive?” Randell just shrugged in return, as she still didn’t know why he and Nida were so desperate to act. They planned to explain that night however, while also contacting world tree and Hilda to inform them of what happened the last week. They then caught up a bit while waiting, and a few hours after lunch time the head of the caravan of the freed slaves came into view.

At its head was Nida, Angel, and Ranz, who now carried an even larger aura of intimidation after turning into a werewolf. Right behind them was almost every dwarf they freed, as they informed them who they were meeting with. Seeing their kinsmen, the dwarves in the caravan let out a cheer, and started hurrying forward. When Nida got to him Randell immediately pulled her into his arms, and nodded his thanks to Ranz. She then started catching up with Lady, while Angel looked quite shy at the moment surrounded by all the new people. After a few minutes Randell said,

“Let’s go somewhere quieter, we have to discuss our travel plans.” They looked confused as they all thought they were taking to labyrinth again, but Randell just gestured to an isolated area, and they started a meeting. The attendees were Randell, Nida, Angel, Ranz, Lady, Juswa, Robert, and Yvan; Nida also pulled out the mirror, and used it for the first time since before Randell got captured. He looked at those gathered and the ones in the mirror, and said,

“First of all we need to explain the exact details of what happened the last couple of months, so that everyone is one the same page.” They all nodded, and world tree started first, reporting any significant events that happened while they were gone. Thankfully except a few more beastman refugees, nothing of note happened. Then Lady and Juswa started reporting what happened in the tunnels.

Apparently when Randell and Nida didn’t bother with the corpses of the monsters they killed it drew others when the meat started rotting. That combined with the entire company of dwarves, they had to fight nearly continuously since leaving. It was mostly just because of the magic muskets that they didn’t have many casualties, however there were many injuries, including Lady and Juswa themselves. Then not long after they arrived at the exit Nida found them alone, and explained that Randell got captured. When she heard they couldn’t help him right away, she then fled back towards Laro before they could stop her.

This was the first time world tree and Hilda heard about him being captured, so they both looked at him intensely wanting details. Randell sighed, and started explaining what happened after the two of them arrived at Laro. He talked about going to the colosseum, the slave auction, and finally when he saved Angel. When he got to the part where they captured him, several people looked at him through half closed eyes. But when he mentioned that the one who was always torturing him was Lady, the ones from the village became alert.

“Lady was there?!” World tree demanded. Randell nodded and explained,

“He said something about getting caught, and was about to be sold in the city.