A Slip, a Save, and Puppy Heaven
“Danger!”
Just as my toes slipped and my body tilted into the void, a sharp cry rang out, and someone yanked roughly on my shoulder. My off-balance body offered no resistance, pulled straight toward them. Thanks to that, I barely managed to regain my footing without tumbling off the tree.
What the hell just happened?
I instinctively turned at the presence behind me. Had someone saved me from falling after I got startled by the loud noise? Whatever the case, I should say thanks first. Right before I could express my gratitude to this mysterious savior, a sudden thought made me hesitate.
Wait, if they hadn’t startled me in the first place, I wouldn’t have slipped at all, right?
Come to think of it, they were probably the one who’d yelled “boo!” to scare me. If anything, they owed me an apology.
First, calm down and assess the situation.
The one who’d startled me and then saved me on a whim was now peeking cautiously right behind my back. In their haste to grab my shoulder, they’d ended up pressed against me like an unintended back hug.
To check who it was, I turned my head slightly—and sure enough, my guess was spot on.
I figured there’d be more dark elves after seeing that one surrounded by wolves earlier.
The person beside me had all the hallmarks of a dark elf: pointed ears, dark skin, and long gray hair. She spoke first.
“Sorry, I thought you were Nairak slacking off again and was just messing with you…”
“Nairak? You mean the dark elf way over there with the baby wolf?”
“Oh, right, introductions first. I’m Bellis. Like you said, that’s Nairak resting over there. We came to look after the wolves.”
Bellis glanced at the distant wolves, let out a relieved sigh, and turned back to me. But one part of what she said stuck out.
Look after the wolves?
The boy she called Nairak earlier hadn’t exactly looked like he was tending to them. He’d been lounging around, tickling a baby wolf’s belly and giggling. “Playing” seemed more accurate.
Bellis added an explanation to my unspoken question.
“Normally, we round up the wandering wolves with a bell, then take them out for food and exercise. But this guy? If I don’t nag him, he just flops down and does nothing.”
“So you came to check on him and spotted me by chance?”
“Yeah, or more precisely… I mistook you for Nairak. Thought he’d climbed a tree to from me today, so I was gonna prank him as payback.”
Nairak’s hair was a dark shade of blue. I reached up to check my own—yep, similar enough. And yeah, spotting someone hiding does make you wanna mess with them. I’d done the same to Silleia when she hid behind the sofa.
With that evidence, I mentally acquitted Bellis and listened as she continued.
“But you’re human, right? Humans don’t come here often—especially not alone. What brings you?”
Only one reason to be here: solving the elves’ problem to clear 2F. Drive off the ferocious beasts or eliminate the source of evil, as Ivelin and the Elder said.
But spilling that to Bellis felt off.
The elves said outside the World Tree’s blessing, the air’s thick with demonic energy—hostile vibes, monsters everywhere.
Looking around, though, it was nothing like that. A peaceful rural mountain path untouched by humans, bathed in warm sunlight.
And these dark elves are supposed to be half-feral and violent, but we’re chatting just fine. That’s already weird.
Time for a vague excuse.
But what would she buy?
“Uh… I was tracking wolf prints and ended up here?”
“Oh yeah, you were watching them earlier. Want me to introduce you?”
She bought it?
I’d just blurted out the first thing that came to mind, but it worked. Bellis even invited me to see the wolves up close.
I wasn’t I was curious about dark elf life anyway. Following once shouldn’t cause issues.
“It’s not like I have to see the wolves, but if you’re asking, I guess I have no choice.”
Absolutely not because I wanted to pet baby wolves or play with them. This was for intel to take back to the elf village.
I followed Bellis to where the wolves were. Even with our arrival, the elf boy called Nairak just lay there with them, totally chill. Bellis glared at him scratching his belly like it was no big deal.
“I told him to walk the wolves and give them baths, and he still…”
At her grumbling, Nairak jolted upright. How many times had this happened? Still half-asleep, eyes barely open, he started making excuses.
“No, hear me out. I was gonna finish the rest after a quick nap before noon. A little break’s fine—”
Thwack!
“Gah!!”
Bellis didn’t even bother listening, slamming her palm into his back like it was nothing. Nairak rolled on the ground, clutching himself in real pain—not faking it, judging by his grimace.
Was that a bat crack from her hand?
I’d nearly fallen from her prank earlier, but this made that look tame. If she’d mistaken me for him and hit me… I stopped thinking about it.
Never cross Bellis.
Lesson for future me engraved. As I backed away unconsciously, she turned to me like nothing happened.
“Ignore him; he’s always like that. We were gonna check out the wolves, right? This way.”
I followed her to where the wolves lounged. The baby wolves I’d only glimpsed from afar were now close enough to touch as they frolicked.
Hand’s itching to pet them, but gotta hold back.
Touching without permission’s rude. Even cute pups are carnivores need caution.
Bellis dispelled my worries, bringing one over.
“This is Gamja. One of the tamest, so pet away.”
“For real? Just light belly rubs?”
“Yep. Watch me first.”
Gamja flopped down—name’s a bit corny for a wolf—but when Bellis reached out…
Woof! Woof!
Gamja barked like it rejected her and bolted back.
“?”
“She’s not usually like this…”
I stared at Bellis in disbelief. She stared back, equally baffled. Awkward silence hung until Nairak barged in.
“Heard barking—what’s up?”
His mere presence shifted the vibe. Or rather, the wolves’. The bored loungers perked up, eyes sparkling, crowding him eagerly. They rubbed against him first, unprompted. He ignored them like pests, heading my way.
“Wanna pet one? Try this guy.”
He scooped a random wolf and plopped it in front of me. Unlike with Bellis, it stayed docile no matter what.
If I touch it, will it bark like with her?
As I hesitated, Nairak urged me on.
“C’mon, pet it. They don’t bite.”
Trusting him, I gingerly placed my hand on its belly. Soft, fluffy fur wrapped delightfully around my fingers. A light stroke, and it wriggled happily, purring a soft growl.
Ahh, this is healing~
Lost in petting, I felt eyes on me. Other wolves wagged tails, waiting patiently.
“That tail wag means they want your touch. No favoritism worries.”
Bellis had snuck up, explaining. But could I trust her? The wolves clearly followed Nairak, not her.
Whatever—fool me once. I reached for another. They wagged in response, approaching slowly.
Wait, this isn’t what I—
They misinterpreted. Squeezing between my arms, they nuzzled my face.
“Haha, hey! That tickles!”
The baby wolves mercilessly furred my face. Soft fluff balls mobbed me; no escape.
If wolf heaven exists, it’s here.
Grinning amid the pups, a sudden voice snapped me back.
“Our wolves play with anyone—except one person.”
Nairak smirked at Bellis, obviously.
“…”
She’s pissed. Anyone can see.
Bellis’s face flushed; her fists trembled. Wolves rejecting her but loving me? Fair to feel left out.
“One hit today wasn’t enough to knock sense into you?”
She swung her arm wildly, charging him.
“Wait, sorry! It was a joke. Keep solving with violence, and it’s just a cycle—”
Thwack!
“Ow! You hit the same spot!!”
Knew it.
I chuckled at Nairak rolling, clutching his back. But one hit didn’t sate her; she kept swinging, heading my way.
“Wait, why me?!”
“…”
I did nothing wrong! Playing with wolves? And I did snicker at his jab, but that was natural—like a force of nature. It was funny!
Ignoring my protests, Bellis closed in. I backed away in sync, prepping to flee—
Something blocked my back.
“They say shared pain’s half the pain. Might as well both take the blame together.”
“Huh?”
Nairak grabbed my shoulders, trapping me. My back was wide open.
Thwack!
“Gaaaaah!!!!”