Sanshita's Side

The griffon—also known as the ruler of the skies—was a first-class, fearsome monster.

It was one of the strongest species of monsters alongside dragons and vampires, a creature spoken of in hushed, fearful tones, categorized as a calamity-level beast. And yet… sometimes, griffons were depicted as allies of humanity.

There were once heroes and warriors who had been acknowledged by griffons, granted the honor of riding upon their backs as they soared through the skies.

As these stories became legends and fairy tales, being a griffon rider grew into a symbol of prestige, and those recognized by griffons earned the respect of those around them.

It was an interesting paradox—griffons were both objects of terror and beacons of hope for humankind.

However… among all the griffons that had ever coexisted with humans, none had been treated quite like the one living in the town of Akoup.

Beloved by all as a third-rate griffon, a punching bag, and a pet, the griffon known as Sanshita was also one of the members who had passed through the gate in search of breaking his own limits.

Though he was now widely adored, from children to the elderly in Akoup, Sanshita had never been particularly remarkable among griffons.

In fact, he had always been an outlier.

Unlike dragons, who lived in solitude, griffons were relatively social creatures.

Possessing high intelligence, they demonstrated a certain level of societal structure, forming packs and often moving in groups.

In the place where Sanshita was born, a pack of around thirty griffons lived in a nearby cave, led by a boss. They shared food, took turns keeping watch, and maintained an organized community.

Yet, despite being part of this settlement, Sanshita was always alone.

He barely communicated with others, and most griffons avoided him.

The reason lay in his origins.

—He was the child of the former boss.

His father had fought against the current boss and was slain.

As a result, the entire pack treated Sanshita as a pariah.

He could have harbored hatred toward the boss who killed his father, but fortunately—or perhaps unfortunately—Sanshita had been too young at the time to understand.

Instead, he was grateful to have been raised properly and allowed to survive.

Still, that place never felt like home.

Yet, he lacked the strength to challenge the new boss and claim revenge.

So, upon reaching maturity, Sanshita made a decision.

He left the pack.

『Well then… what should I do now…?』

He had never been particularly strong-willed.

After witnessing his father’s tragic fate, he never once considered forming a pack of his own.

Thus, he resolved to live alone, hunting to survive.

Through trial and error, he discovered that the most efficient way to secure food was to target human cargo.

By letting the humans escape rather than killing them, they would return, time and again, carrying more supplies.

Having grown accustomed to this method, Sanshita lurked near roads, attacking human fright wagons—until he was finally punished by Ivy and Shannon.

Beaten to a pulp, Sanshita was tamed by Ivy and became a subordinate to both Bruno and Ivy.

Though a lot had happened, he had to admit—his new life wasn’t so bad.

『Thinking back on it… maybe all I ever wanted was to connect with someone.』

After leaving the pack, he had made it a rule to avoid killing intelligent creatures.

He only hunted mindless beasts and monsters without intellect.

Perhaps, without even realizing it, he had simply been yearning for communication with anyone, regardless of whether they were griffons or not.

Life in Akoup as Bruno’s familiar had changed everything.

Griffons were feared as monsters, yet also revered as symbols of heroism.

At first, he had been met with fear.

But once he was named "Sanshita," for some reason, people suddenly began treating him with friendliness (of course, those who mocked him were dealt with accordingly, though he made sure to hold back to avoid causing trouble for Bruno and the others).

He received food offerings, as if he were being honored, and begrudgingly allowed children to fluff his belly when they asked to pet him.

Then, with the arrival of Rey and Icicle, his position was suddenly threatened—life in Akoup was nothing short of eventful and exhilarating.

And it was all thanks to Bruno, who registered him as a familiar, and Ivy, who had thoroughly beaten him down.

『Bruno and Ivy… I owe them more than I can ever repay. And most of all… I want to stand beside them.』

But deep within, Sanshita still carried the instincts of a griffon.

The blood that craved battle urged him to follow Bruno and the others into the battlefield.

To stand beside them.

To repay his debt by being of use to them.

And as a griffon—to fight formidable foes yet unknown.

Sanshita stepped through the gate.

What awaited him on the other side—

『Huh? Where… is this…?』

He found himself in an unfamiliar forest.

Yet the trees were not scattered randomly, but arranged in a structured pattern, spaced evenly.

Clearly, this was a cultivated forest, shaped by human hands.

In the center, a single, towering tree reached so high it seemed endless.

『That’s… huge…』

Its peak was nowhere in sight, and the tree itself emitted a faint glow.

Such an otherworldly tree—he had never seen anything like it.

『Mii!』

『A-Ah! Ivy!』

Just as he was at a loss for what to do, Ivy appeared before him.

Like with Bruno, her form was slightly translucent—a phantom projection.

『Mii!』

Floating lightly through the air, Ivy flew forward.

Sanshita followed her.

The trees remained evenly aligned, their bases smoothed down, forming a primitive but deliberate pathway.

As he walked forward, a group awaited his arrival.

『Are those… elves?』

『Mii!』

Ivy nodded vigorously before advancing toward them.

After a brief exchange, she motioned for Sanshita to follow.

『You must be Sanshita. We have already heard the details from Lady Ivy.』

『This elf—he’s speaking directly into my mind!?』

Sanshita usually communicated through gestures with anyone besides Ivy and Bruno, but somehow, he could understand the elf’s words.

Apparently, this too was the power of magic.

『I am Araeda, a High Elf. As per Lady Ivy’s request, from today onwards, you will undergo magical training here in the elven village.』

As a first-class monster, Sanshita possessed a formidable body and high magical resistance.

These abilities stemmed from the vast reservoir of mana within him, which allowed him to breathe fire, harden his claws, and perform simple magic.

Yet, he had never truly understood the essence of magic.

And so, Ivy had arranged for him to train under the elves.

『Lady Ivy… you did all this for me… (sniff)』

『Mii!』

Waving cheerfully, Ivy's phantom faded away.

As he watched her image disappear, Sanshita’s eyes welled with emotion.

Then, after taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes—

And when he opened them again, they blazed with determination.

『Just wait for me! I swear—I will succeed!』

Thus, Sanshita embarked on his journey to grow stronger—