Ragnar arrived at a massive cave nestled deep within the forest with the two women resting in his arms. From the outside, it appeared no different from any ordinary cavern. Only after stepping inside did its true nature reveal itself.
Two enormous stone doors swung inward on their own, welcoming him home.
Beyond them, the interior resembled a noble's residence far more than a beastkin den. The walls and floors were carved from polished stone that reflected the warm glow of enchanted lamps. Everything was surprisingly clean and meticulously maintained.
Without stopping, Ragnar climbed the staircase, passing several rooms before arriving at his own.
Inside was another chamber dedicated entirely to bathing.
A large stone tub occupied its center, constantly supplied by a magical crafting skill that endlessly purified, refilled, and drained the water whenever required. Such conveniences were common creations of high-ranking craftsmen.
Still carrying the unconscious girls, Ragnar stepped into the steaming bath before lowering himself into the bubbling water.
The heat washed over his body.
The girls, however, remained completely still.
He watched them carefully.
"..."
Soon, both women let out quiet groans of discomfort.
The transformation had begun.
Shion's long blonde hair slowly lengthened until it brushed against her lower back. Her lips parted as small canine fangs emerged. Her body subtly matured, her figure becoming softer and more feminine as gentle curves formed around her waist, hips, and thighs.
Then...
Two fluffy wolf ears emerged from the top of her head.
Sophie's transformation mirrored Shion's.
Her black hair became longer and silkier while her own pair of wolf ears appeared. Her figure also became more refined, though less curvaceous than Shion's.
Ragnar's grin widened until his own sharp fangs became visible.
"It fucking worked."
He couldn't help laughing to himself.
'Finally.'
'I don't know why it took me so many attempts to actually complete the Siron Process.'
Feeling the connection between himself and the two women, Ragnar immediately noticed something else.
"...I'm exhausted."
It wasn't ordinary fatigue. Rather, it felt as though something fundamental had been expended. He instinctively understood the reason.
For now...He couldn't create any more direct members of his own bloodline through the Siron Process. That limitation would recover eventually, but not immediately.
Still...He didn't mind. This alone was worth it.
"I was going to need capable subordinates eventually anyway." His old man had already arranged for him to attend the academy in the near future. Honestly... Ragnar wasn't looking forward to it. Bloodshed. Combat and carnage were what he enjoyed.
The thrill of hunting strong prey not so much. Those ranked among the very top of his favorite pastimes. The academy, on the other hand, was full of powerful nobles with even more troublesome families standing behind them. Constantly slaughtering people there would create nothing but headaches.
He clicked his tongue.
"...Troublesome." Fortunately... The two women before him would make life considerably easier. Someone needed to handle all the tedious work he had no interest in doing, and ofcourse ease his stress in more sensual ways.
A few moments later, both women stirred."Mmm..." Sophie was the first to awaken. She slowly opened her eyes before instinctively smiling when she saw Ragnar sitting beside her. Only after glancing around did she realize they were submerged in a large bath.
Something felt... Different. She turned toward Shion.
"...Shion?"
Her eyes widened. Shion looked just as shocked. They silently stared at one another, each noticing the wolf ears, longer hair, sharpened fangs, and tails belonging to the other. Before either could speak... A pair of hands casually squeezed their tails. Both women jumped before instinctively looking toward Ragnar.
He chuckled. "Calm down. I'm sure you're both confused, so let me explain."
...
It took quite some time. Ragnar explained everything from beginning to end. The Siron Process. His unique ability. The formation of a pack. The bond now connecting the three of them. Neither woman interrupted him and instead, they silently examined themselves.
Their ears twitched. Their claws caught the light. Their tails instinctively swayed behind them. Neither could fully believe what had happened. Eventually...
Both suddenly realized they were still completely naked. Shion's face immediately turned bright red. "M-My Lord....Where are we?"
Ragnar leaned comfortably against the edge of the bath. "My temporary home."
Sophie blinked. "...A Silverfang village?"
Ragnar shook his head. "No. I live some distance away. About a day's travel from the nearest city. I was banished when I was a child. I have servants who maintain this place, but otherwise I live here alone."
Oh..."
Shion hesitated before speaking again."...May I ask why? If it's too personal, you don't have to answer." Ragnar simply laughed. He found their reactions interesting.
Despite everything that had happened... Neither woman seemed horrified by what they had become.
Confused? Certainly.
Embarrassed? Definitely.
But they weren't disgusted. Nor did they resent him. That...Was genuinely surprising. After thinking for a moment, Ragnar climbed out of the bath. He walked toward a strange metallic fixture mounted against the wall.
Rather than releasing water, it produced streams of warm air. Additional vents opened from both sides, surrounding him with heated currents until every drop of water vanished from his body. "...Convenient." He pointed toward the two women.
"Your turn." Both blushed before quietly following him.
A few minutes later, all three had finished drying themselves and changed into fresh clothes prepared by Ragnar's servants. The transformation had only enhanced the girls' beauty. Their long hair flowed naturally behind them, blending almost seamlessly into the soft fur of their wolf tails. Their newly sharpened fangs appeared elegant rather than frightening.
Shion wore a fitted cream-colored dress trimmed with gold that perfectly complemented her blonde hair. It hugged her newly developed figure while allowing her tail to move freely behind her. Decorative silver chains rested lightly across the fabric, serving as elegant ornaments rather than restraints.
Sophie's attire mirrored the design but in black with deep blue accents. Though her figure was gentler than Shion's, the dress suited her equally well, emphasizing her graceful appearance without appearing excessive.
Ragnar quietly studied the two of them."...Not bad." The girls instinctively smiled at the praise. Whether they realized it or not... They found themselves wanting his approval. Ragnar sat comfortably upon a large couch before motioning for them to approach. Both women obediently knelt before him without hesitation.
Not because they were forced to. The instincts of the newly formed pack simply made it feel... natural. Ragnar rested his chin against one hand before asking calmly,
"Now then...Tell me. What were two human adventurers doing so deep inside beastkin territory?"
Sophie nodded before answering.
"A guild mission, my Lord. We were tasked with gathering several rare materials—Black Heavy Metal Ore, Soul Grass, and the fruits of the Mana Soil Trees."
Ragnar nodded.
Those materials were valuable. Alchemists paid enormous sums for them, so it wasn't surprising that the Adventurers Guild regularly issued requests for expeditions into the Fanged Forest.
"I see."
He rested his chin on one hand before looking at the two women. "Then answer me something else." His silver eyes calmly swept over them.
"You both accepted becoming my subordinates remarkably quickly. More than that..." He paused for a moment before continuing. "...before I even offered you a choice, I could already smell your desire. Even while facing death, you were aroused."
The girls immediately blushed. "Why?"
"Why surrender your lives so easily? And why were you willing to mate with me?" Silence filled the room. Neither woman answered immediately.
Eventually, Shion lowered her gaze. "My Lord... I doubt our answer will satisfy you."
"Speak." She took a slow breath. "Beastkin... elves... fairies... even vampires and incubi... every race knows your people are naturally beautiful. Many beastkin are also... renowned for being exceptional lovers."
She smiled awkwardly."And..." She met Ragnar's eyes.
"I truly do think you're the most handsome man I've ever seen. I've seen beastkin slaves before. I've met elves and even incubi during my travels... but none of them compare to you."
Ragnar blinked once."...Is that so?" He sounded more puzzled than pleased.
Shion nodded. "It isn't flattery." Ragnar remained quiet before asking another question. "That explains the attraction. It doesn't explain why you're both so calm after becoming beastkin."
"You slept with me and you changed species. Most people would be horrified." This time Sophie answered. "My Lord... the answer is actually quite simple."
She folded her hands neatly in her lap. "When our companions died... we already accepted that we would die as well. You could have killed us at any moment but you didn't. You gave us a choice. Whether we became your servants, your slaves, or even your women... all of those futures were preferable to becoming another corpse in that forest."
She smiled bitterly. "Humans are weak. Unless someone is born into one of the great bloodlines or evolves into a higher form, a high human, our lives are short. Our opportunities are limited. Most of us spend our entire lives struggling just to reach the next tier before dying."
She looked directly at Ragnar. "Long-lived races have opportunities humans can barely imagine. If serving you gave us even a chance to become stronger...then that chance was worth taking."
Ragnar slowly nodded. Their logic wasn't unreasonable. "But that still doesn't answer everything." His gaze sharpened slightly. "You weren't surprised after the transformation. Most people would panic. Neither of you did."
Shion exchanged a glance with Sophie before speaking again. "We were surprised, my Lord. Very surprised, but transformations aren't completely unheard of."
She tucked a strand of blonde hair behind one of her new wolf ears. "Vampires create their own kin and certain beast races can pass on bloodlines. There are even skills capable of permanently altering someone's body. Becoming a half-beastkin through... your method..."
She blushed heavily. "...is certainly something we've never heard of, but the concept of changing races isn't impossible."
Her hand slowly rested against her abdomen. "And...When I swallowed your essence...Her face turned scarlet....and when you claimed me, and finished inside me...I felt something, it wasn't painful or frightening. It felt... warm."
"As though something that had always been missing suddenly became complete."
She looked at Ragnar with genuine confusion. "The bond forming between us wasn't forcing me. It simply... felt right. I still can't explain it, but I don't resent it. I never have."
Sophie nodded in agreement. "I felt the same thing. The bond is always there. It becomes stronger whenever we're close to you. It isn't oppressive but more of... comforting."
She smiled faintly. "As strange as that sounds." Ragnar quietly observed them for several seconds.
"So. You both wished to become stronger, that was your real goal?"
Both women nodded. "We wanted to enter one of the great academies," Sophie explained. Zenith Academy or even a further dream like Midvest Academy. Anywhere that could change our futures. Without talent or backing, people like us would never be accepted."
She looked around the room before returning her gaze to Ragnar. "But as your subordinates...our future suddenly became limitless." Silence returned. After several moments, Ragnar finally leaned back into the couch.
'I still don't fully understand how Siron works...but it seems anyone who genuinely accepts becoming part of my pack adapts naturally to the transformation. A useful feature.'
He had no interest in consoling frightened recruits or forcing loyalty through fear. If the skill itself eliminated that problem... "...Convenient."
He looked at the two women again before giving a satisfied nod. "Very well. I understand."
There were still questions he could ask. There always would be, but digging into people's emotions had never interested him.
As long as they were useful...
That was enough.