Chapter 4

We arrived! The Great Forest!! And she dropped me off in a place that’s incredibly deep inside! I haven’t even done anything yet and I’m already tearing up!

But seriously, this forest is massive. It took several minutes just to get through the initial stretch after we entered.

Well, I guess I should focus on the crowd in front of me rather than my regrets…

Standing before me was a pack of wolves. Their numbers were… roughly 20… no, if I included the ones who kidnapped me, it was more like 34.

That’s quite a lot. A normal wolf pack usually has as few as three or as many as ten members, but with nearly three times the maximum size, it meant either their Pack Leader was incredibly strong or they were just a huge family. If I misread the situation, I might end up getting swarmed.

The one that looked particularly dangerous was the biggest wolf in the center with some white fur mixed in. That was probably the leader.

Ah, this is bad. Really bad. What’s bad is that they were already surrounding me and growling in unison.

“My daughter, what is this human? Why have you brought him here?”

“I brought him because I took a liking to him.”

So these two were father and daughter. And man, this was awkward for me.

“I am asking for a reason.”

“I told you, it’s because I liked him. That is the reason.”

“That is not a reason!!”

Gah! What was that? Just being hit by his gaze felt physically painful!

And daughter, don’t just brush it off like it’s nothing—just how strong are you?!

This is no good. I have zero confidence that I can survive in this forest… everyone around me is way too powerful.

“Hey, you!! Where did you meet my daughter!?”

Now the target was on me! Even if you ask me where…

“I met her at the ranch where I work!”

“And how did you meet!?”

“It started when I helped her out while she was caught in a trap!”

“My daughter could easily break a human-made trap!!”

“This wolf told me it was a game where she pretended to be caught in a trap!!”

“That again…?”

Ah, the Pack Leader’s intensity just plummeted. He was acting all weirdly aggressive, but now he’s calmed down.

Wait, hey, wolf girl, what’s with that look? And why are you poking me with your snout?

“Don’t say unnecessary things.”

Unnecessary? I couldn’t help it. Your old man is terrifying…

“Anyway, take that thing back to where you found it.”

…He really sounds like a father troubled by his daughter bringing home a stray pet.

“I refuse.”

“…What use is that thing? He has no strength, no magical power. What do you plan to do by bringing such a being into our fold?”

“He is a ‘Tamer.’ I thought perhaps he could make Grandfather feel even a little better.”

At that, the Pack Leader looked at me with a gaze that seemed to be sizing me up. Then the topic of the wolf grandfather came up; sounds like there are some complicated circumstances here.

“You think this thing can save my father-in-law? He is at the end of his natural lifespan. Not even that human can save him.”

“I brought him here to find that out.”

I didn’t fully follow, but was the wolf grandpa on his deathbed? And she kidnapped me because she wanted to know why? Was that the gist of it?

Well, if I didn’t join the conversation, it didn’t seem like we’d be moving forward.

“Sorry to interrupt the family squabble, but could you let me see the old man? I just need to examine him, right?”

“Insolent brat, watch your tongue!!”

“The one who brought me here wants to help that old man if he can be saved. But if it’s his natural lifespan like you say, then there’s nothing I can do either. Regardless, let me see him first.”

“Ryu?”

She looked at me with curiosity, but this was the quickest way.

“…Fine, then show me what you can do. However, leave once you have finished the examination.”

“I don’t mind, but I need information. Tell me your species, the old man’s age, and since when he’s been in this state.”

The Pack Leader clicked his tongue, turned his back, and said only one word: “Follow.”