The Sulking Ice Mithril Wolf (Fenrir)

The mansion’s garden was bathed in the morning sunlight.

The Pegasus Mireine and her foal Ciel were eating leaves and grass from the field.

The Unicorn was drinking water from the spring. Spica, the small Almiraj, was nibbling a red fruit from an apple tree branch.

Besides them, several White Uribō had come as well. They had grown bigger than the last time I saw them.

They might evolve into White Boars eventually.

Liricia and I stepped out into the garden.

“…Hm? That huge-bodied Fenrir isn’t here.”

“That is strange. I wonder what happened?”

“Let’s ask.”

I walked straight down the path extending from the mansion entrance and entered the field.

Then I spoke to Mireine, who was eating grass.

“Do you have a moment, Mireine?”

“Oh, good morning, Alec-san, Liricia-san. Is something the matter?”

“I can’t see Fenrir anywhere. Do you know if he went somewhere?”

“Ah, him. —He is over there sulking.”

Mireine spread one white wing and indicated the corner of the garden.

There stood a rock cave hut made by piling up stones like a little shed.

At first glance, nothing seemed different.

However, on closer look, the entrance to the rock cave hut was covered by a white cloth.

No, it was slowly expanding and contracting.

Fenrir was stuffed inside the hut in a tight little ball.

—What is he, a cat?

I asked Mireine, who was standing nearby:

“When you say he’s sulking, what happened?”

“It seems he had a quarrel with Teti-chan. That person acts all high and mighty, after all. —No matter how long they live, everyone is really not much different from children.”

“I see. Thanks. I’ll try talking to him.”

“Yes. And please make sure to tell him to eat properly too. I don’t think he ate dinner last night.”

“Got it.”

“Thank you very much, Mireine-san.”

Thinking that Mireine sounded like everyone’s mother, I went with Liricia toward the rock cave hut.

Because people had apparently been coming around the grounds in the forest, I thought I would ask Fenrir to guard the place.

Morning sunlight poured over the mansion garden.

We came to the rock-built room in a corner of the garden—the rock cave hut.

Inside the rock cave hut, a huge wolf covered in white fur was lying down.

I went close and spoke to him.

“Fenrir, do you have a moment?”

“Not a lot of one.”

Fenrir answered at once in a sulky voice.

Exasperated, I let out a sigh.

From beside me, Liricia asked in a tender voice:

“Fenrir-san, has something happened?”

“Muu…”

“If you do not wish to say it, you do not have to… but the one Teti-chan trusts most is Master, you know?”

At Liricia’s words, Fenrir let out a frustrated growl.

Then he slithered out of the rock cave hut and, still lying on the ground, turned his face toward me.

His large eyes were moist, as if troubled.

“I beg you. Could you help mend my relationship with the chief?”

“I don’t mind, but it’ll be impossible unless I know what happened, right?”

“Mm… true enough. The truth is…”

Fenrir began to explain while lying there limply on the ground.

Apparently, Fenrir had told Teti that since she was the next “Chief,” she should conduct herself accordingly.

He had also apparently told her not to bow her head even to me, and advised her that she was my equal, or rather above me in status.

Then Teti pushed back and, apparently, said something like this:

“Listen, okay? You’re saying I don’t have to obey Alec-sama because I’m the top one here, but Alec-sama is my benefactor, you know?”

“I serve only a chief without the slightest blemish. If you are the chief, you must behave like one.”

“Then let me ask you this. Where were you and what were you doing when I was being tortured and nearly died? The one who saved me was Alec-sama, you know?”

“Guh…”

“Coming afterward, doing nothing, and then criticizing Alec-sama is something even a goblin could do, right!? Acting all high and mighty! —I don’t even want to talk to you anymore!”

Apparently, after saying that, Teti washed her hands of him and stopped speaking to him entirely.

Fenrir rolled his huge body around on the ground. There was none of his usual dignity to be seen.

“What am I supposed to do…?”

“Well, from Teti’s point of view, you actually haven’t been of any use at all. I’ve helped her a hundred times more than you have, right?”

“Guh—!”

“In that case, be useful to Teti and me.”

“W-what should I do?”

“It seems people have been snooping around the mansion. So I want you to command the wolves nearby and guard the mansion and the sanctuary. But do not kill anyone, alright? I want to avoid anything like sacred beasts harming humans.”

“Will that improve the chief’s mood?”

“If you’ve been useful to me, Teti will probably be pleased.”

At my words, Liricia nodded too.

“Teti-chan loves life here. If you protect the sanctuary, I’m sure she will reconsider.”

“I understand. I need only lead the wolves and protect the surrounding area, yes? A simple task.”

Fenrir got to his feet and stretched lightly. His dignified giant body flexed, and his silver fur fluttered in the wind.

Then he took off running, creating icy footholds in the air as he ran over the forest.

Watching his back recede, I let out a breath.

“—Alright. That solves one problem.”

“Yes, as expected of you, Master.”

“Next is the Dwarf territory—though before that, the method for解除 of the slave contract, and Puchi Eli.”

“Let us stop by the Adventurer Guild as well and look over the requests.”

“Ah, come to think of it, I feel like there was a wolf-subjugation request posted. It’d be good if we make it in time before they get wiped out.”

“Let us check whether it has become a large-scale subjugation.”

Liricia and I nodded to each other, then returned to the mansion so we could head to town.