At first, Sanshita was utterly terrifying to everyone. Every time he landed, people scattered and vanished.

But the fact that his name was "Sanshita" somehow helped ease the tension and fear among the townsfolk.

Soon, the fearless children, from a safe distance, began calling out to him: "Sanshita! Sanshita!"

Sanshita himself didn’t seem to care about being called by his name.

Over time, the townsfolk, realizing the griffon was under my control as per the lord’s decree, started to think:

“Wait, could this be our one chance to treat a griffon like a second-rate creature?”

Adults joined in, calling him "Sanshita," and as the name stuck, everyone began to feel a peculiar kind of dark amusement.

Eventually, however, guilt set in. Sanshita’s genuine and undoubting demeanor towards people softened their hearts. They started feeding him, and soon the perception shifted: "For a griffon, he’s kind of charming and adorable, isn’t he?"

Now, Sanshita enjoys being petted and fed by the townsfolk.

Though initially annoyed, he mellowed considerably once the feeding began.

Apparently, for griffons, receiving food is akin to receiving tribute from a superior. Sanshita seems to have concluded that humans are rather virtuous beings.

The truth of him being treated as a second-rate creature initially is probably best left unknown to him. There are some things in life one is better off not knowing.

"Hey, Bruno! Heading off on a job?"

"Oh, yeah. I plan to take a simple request and let everyone, including myself, take it easy."

"Just make sure to stay far from the city, alright? If anything happens, I’ll be sending the bill to the lord!"

Bidding farewell to Tom the butcher, I headed to the guild.

I had grown quite friendly with the people of this town.

Most of my acquaintances were from the Adventurers’ Guild or those who fed Sanshita, but I could still say I’d gotten to know a good number of people.

Despite having a griffon—practically a natural disaster—and Ivy, capable of easily taking one down, living peacefully like this was probably an extraordinary privilege.

It was noisy, but peaceful nonetheless.

As I savored my good fortune, I pondered where Ivy might be able to stretch her wings in peace.

With light steps, I moved forward.

"This spot should be fine."

"Mi!"

To the west of Akoup lies the Twilight Forest of Abaddon, a place teeming with magical creatures.

Interestingly, the creatures rarely leave the forest, maintaining an enclosed ecosystem within. This strange forest also serves as a natural barrier between the Margrave’s domain and the neighboring religious state of Célie, a somewhat aggressive nation.

They refrain from invading, likely because the forest houses second- and third-rank magical creatures in abundance.

I’d never ventured into the Twilight Forest before, but...

“Well, this was to be expected.”

Before me, a scene of complete destruction unfolded.

“Mi!”

Ivy unleashed a beam of light from her mouth, piercing a massive green scorpion whose tail alone was as large as I was.

With a *pew*, the beam not only annihilated the scorpion but also pierced straight through the tree behind it.

Ivy tilted her head, seemingly unsatisfied with her restraint.

“Gruu!”

Sanshita swung his claws at a wooden creature—a treant.

With a slicing sound, the treant was cleaved cleanly in two, leaving jagged marks where Sanshita's claws had struck.

“Garrr!!”

He followed up by spewing flames at two other treants behind it.

Though careful to avoid setting the forest ablaze, Sanshita’s attacks were remarkably restrained.

It seemed restraint came more naturally to Sanshita.

It’s easy to forget, thanks to his subservient behavior, but Sanshita is a first-rank magical creature feared even by the most hardened adventurers.

The monsters in the Twilight Forest posed no threat to him. He even looked disappointed as he surveyed the defeated treants.

“Mi!”

Ivy countered Sanshita’s flames, which had almost spread to other trees, with her water arrows.

Sanshita froze for a moment, realizing his mistake.

I’m so sorry, Miss Ivy...

"Mi."

Ivy nodded, as if to say, As long as you understand.

Though Sanshita enjoyed his moment of freedom, he seemed to realize that there’s always someone stronger, and he sulked.

“Come on, Sanshita. Don’t sulk. You won’t spot any monsters that way. How about catching something big for dinner? We could have a barbecue together.”

Y-you’re right. Up in the sky, no one can beat me! I’ll find us a grand feast!

With that declaration, Sanshita pushed through the trees and soared into the sky.

At least he seems to have cheered up a bit.

The dense vegetation might make it hard to spot prey from above, but I’m rooting for him.

For these two, the Twilight Forest seemed no different from an ordinary forest.

Now, I can finally relax and find a place where Ivy can return to her original size and rest her heart without a care.