Meeting At Last

After defeating the Tyrant Boar, I returned to the manor with the wolves.

It was dusk.

The manor garden, where long shadows fell, was still wrapped in warm afterglow.

I explained the situation to Mireine the Pegasus.

“So that’s what happened. The White Boar tried to attack humans, so I killed it.”

“My… how terrifying. To think that even after constantly being bathed in Alec-sama’s Serâge, it still became trapped by the darkness in its heart.”

“The darkness in its heart, huh…”

“No matter how much one is influenced by those around them, the direction of evolution works toward fulfilling one’s own desires. …That one always viewed everything only through strength.”

“I see… Is Spica going to be all right?”

The small horned rabbit, the almiraj, looked rather fragile. She seemed like the sort that might easily fall into darkness.

But Mireine narrowed her eyes and smiled.

“She will be fine. Spica-chan is growing into a good girl. Ciel and Teti are good children too.”

“That’s good to hear. …Fenrir, make sure you don’t attack the white animals.”

“Very well. Leave it to me.”

At that moment, the sub-device I was carrying trembled.

When I answered the call, it was Kou.

‘Masta, I have a favor, Masta.’

“What is it, Kou?”

‘Want to have meetiiing with wolfies?’

“Fenrir?”

‘Nope, normal wolfies. More exactly, Dire Wolves.’

“Hm? —Ah, right. Before, you were an animal-type dungeon, weren’t you? Sure, go ahead and meet them as much as you like.”

‘Yaaay, thank you. Then I will make a passage now.’

A huge hole opened in the path running straight from the manor to the gate.

A staircase with a slope leading down underground appeared.

—From the other side, this could practically turn into a pitfall.

“Kou, later is fine, but put the entrance to the underground beside the manor entrance, and make it so people can enter the underground from there. At this rate, it’s dangerous for the children.”

‘Okayyy!’

Mireine, who had been listening nearby, fluttered her white wings and smiled.

“To immediately think of the danger of the children getting hurt truly is just like Alec-sama.”

Liricia too placed a hand against the chest of her white nun’s habit and swayed with delight.

“Master, thinking about everyone living in the manor like this is wonderful!”

I had been praised for something that felt so ordinary that I said, a little embarrassed,

“Well, it’s right in the middle of the path and there isn’t even a fence.”

Even Fenrir spoke with shining eyes.

“What are you saying? The strong are apt to judge by their own standards. Now that you mention it, if one fell into this hole from the ceiling side of the underground passage, it would be quite a drop. If it had been the frail chief, she might have suffered a grave injury. To notice this danger so quickly truly is just like you, Lord Alec.”

“Thanks, Fenrir… and Kou apparently wants to meet your subordinates. Is that all right?”

“Of course. …I should meet this so-called administrator once as well.”

“All right. Then follow me.”

With Liricia and me in front, we went down the stairs to the underground.

A clean, rectangular passage filled with blue-white light.

The wolves followed behind us in a pack.

When I looked back, the wolves’ brisk pawprints had marked the white floor like maple leaves.

“If we’re going to enter the dungeon directly from aboveground, we’ll need some kind of setup to wash or wipe their paws.”

“A footbath or paw-wiping mat might be nice. Let’s talk to Kou-chan about it later.”

“Let’s do that.”

We walked through the passage and came out into the pillar-lined hall.

Kou’s spherical form was enthroned in the inner hall.

When I brought the wolves before Kou, Kou’s surface began flashing with a pale blue light.

“Ahh, just as I thought… wolfies. How nostalgic.”

“Kuun.”

A Dire Wolf, one size—no, two sizes—larger than a Great Wolf pressed itself against Kou’s sphere.

Light ran across Kou’s surface in delight.

“So fluffy, such fluffy time~ …You survived so well. I’m happy—really, truly happy!”

“Wan!”

The huge wolf wagged its tail and rubbed its head against the sphere.

It was not as large as Fenrir, but it was still a big wolf.

Perhaps it had spent all this time fighting to survive, because like a battle-hardened mercenary, its body was covered in old scars.

As if to show the scars, patches of its fur had turned white there.

Kou’s voice sounded slightly tearful, so I asked,

“Was it an old acquaintance?”

“Yes. Back when I was an animal dungeon, this was the Dungeon Master.”

“Ohh, I see. It did well to survive this long.”

As if answering my question, the wolf let out a “Kuon!”

Kou translated.

“The last order was ‘Run, and survive,’ so it took its companions and did its best through rain and wind and everything. That’s the kind of thing I want to be!”

“I see. You’ve had it rough. From now on, live in the manor garden and help with security. You won’t have to worry about food anymore. I’d appreciate it if your numbers didn’t increase too much, though…”

“Wan!”

“You are to obey my orders well too.”

“W-wan.”

Under the pressure of Fenrir, the Dire Wolf replied with its tail lowered.

In the meantime, I took the Great Boar corpses out of the magic bag and dropped them onto the floor.

They were absorbed into the floor one after another. The reason for feeding them in all at once was to have the troublesome butchering done for me.

“Fenrir, don’t bully your subordinates too much—and Kou, separate them into hide, meat, and proof-of-subjugation parts. We’ll sell enough meat for ten of them. Three boars’ worth goes to the wolves. We’ll eat the rest ourselves. Whatever remains uneaten, use it as dungeon materials.”

“Okaaay. Can I give the wolfies a feast to celebrate our reunion?”

“Yeah, feed them… I see. Can you manage the wolves’ meals too?”

“I can.”

“Then give the remaining meat to the wolves at appropriate times too.”

“Yes indeed. Then let’s get this paaarty started right away!”

For some reason, the dungeon lighting flashed wildly.

Then, with a puff of smoke, a whole roast bird appeared on the floor.

It was giving off delicious steam. But it smelled like boar meat.

Not just one—several appeared in front of Fenrir and the other wolves too.

Kou spoke in an emotional, teary voice.

“Please enjoy~!”

“Wan!”

The Dire Wolf gave a light hop and bit into the roast bird.

Its tail was wagging furiously. It seemed delicious.

Kou’s surface too flickered happily.

—They seemed close. I should probably let them meet freely from now on as well.

Liricia at my side too wore a gentle expression and smiled.

When our eyes met, she nodded, her silver hair swaying.

“Kou-chan, can you install a footbath and a paw-wiping mat at the underground passage entrance and the manor entrance? Then it would be fine for them to meet whenever they want.”

“Really, Masta, Missus? I can do it, I can!”

“Then I’m counting on you. —That’s good, Dire Wolf. Keep taking care of Kou from now on too.”

“Kuun!”

Even while eating the bird, it looked up at me and nodded again and again. Such a good boy.

—Maybe because it was so obedient, it felt a hundred times cuter than Fenrir.

That peaceful atmosphere was suddenly shattered.

The Dire Wolf emitted a pale blue light and swelled in size.

A dazzling radiance lit up the hall. The pillar shadows stretched darkly.

Kou’s bewildered cry rang out.

“Wolfie!? What happened!?”

“Awooooo!”

“Are you okay, Dire Wolf!?”

I asked while shielding my eyes with my hand.

But there was no reply from the wolf.

When the light subsided and I opened my eyes, there stood a pure white wolf. It had grown larger than before.

Not as large as Fenrir, but still about the size of a carriage.

Liricia looked through her monocle and shouted.

“An A-rank Sacred White Wolf—White Fang, Master!”

“It evolved!? …Why all of a sudden?”

“It must be because it ate food packed with Serâge! As expected of your power, Master!”

Liricia said that in an admiring voice, one hand against her chest.

Fenrir nodded deeply.

“It is likely the result of carrying a single desire for a long time and continuing its training. It had already begun changing into white fur, so its evolution was only a matter of time. Well done.”

“Yaaay, wolfie, amazing! Fluffiness level up!”

Kou squealed with delight.

White Fang narrowed its eyes and rubbed its cheek against Kou’s sphere.

The wolves approached White Fang one after another, rubbing their noses against it as if offering congratulations.

The gentle atmosphere continued.

But then my stomach growled, jarringly out of place.

Rubbing my stomach, I gave a wry smile.

“More importantly, that smells way too good and now I’m hungry.”

“It’s a little early, but shall we have dinner?”

“Let’s do that… Ah, but before that, I should probably turn in proof that we defeated the Great Boars.”

“We obtained a huge amount of boar meat today, so there’s a dish I’d like to try making. If I at least get the prep work done first…”

“Ah, sorry. You’re always the one cooking. I’ll go by myself.”

“No, it makes me happy when you eat what I make, Master! —Yes, understood. Then, please have a safe trip.”

“I’ll be right back.”

“I’ll be waiting after putting my heart into it.”

Liricia smiled, her drooping eyes narrowing.

—It was a smile that made me feel I had to come back as fast as I possibly could.

After that, leaving Kou and the others to deepen their friendship, I headed to the Adventurer Guild.

By the way, I had a door installed at the underground entrance so that wind would not get in.

I also had traps set up so that unauthorized intruders could be dealt with.

I felt the manor had become more secure than ever.