Chapter 31
Chapter 31
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: Wolf and Princess
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Just like in any city,
Larphentia had inns where one could handle both lodging and meals.
Among those inns, the most famous was Brown Inn, run by a man named Camel Brown. It was a longstanding establishment in the industry, having been in the innkeeping business since the days of his great-grandfather.
A woman stepped into that inn. She had radiant golden hair like molten gold and beautiful eyes like embedded emeralds. She was the kind of woman who would draw eyes wherever she went.
“Welcome. Will you be dining, or staying the night?”
“Bring me whatever this place does best. I didn’t get to try it last time.”
“Our inn’s signature dish is roast thrush glazed with our special sauce. The sweet, harmonious flavor is just perfect.”
“Then one of that, and a bunch of other stuff that’s worth eating. And a glass of your best liquor.”
The princess set down a few silver coins. The server grinned widely as he took the order.
This time, no one stopped her, and Camel Brown himself was too busy managing the inn to pay her any mind.
No one would have guessed that this was the same leper from just a few days ago. Soon, the drinks and food arrived, and the server presented them with a welcoming smile.
“Enjoy your meal!”
The princess slowly tore off one of the thrush’s legs and bit into it.
She chewed steadily. It was good. But not as good as she’d hoped.
She would never forget the taste of that potato soup from that day, and she would never taste another delicacy to rival it.
Even the most famous dish at this small town’s inn was, to the princess, just decent enough.
‘Now that I’ve tried it, it doesn’t live up to the hype.’
Of course, taste aside, she was hungry,
and above all, obsessed with eating.
Naturally, her hand moved the fork with practiced grace. That speed caught Camel Brown’s eye.
“Who’s that guest?”
“No idea. Wherever she’s from, she’s stunning.”
Camel and the server didn’t realize the princess was the leper from days ago. So their gazes toward her were utterly friendly.
The server’s eyes held a hint of desire, but Camel was simply pleased. He was happy just seeing someone enjoy his inn’s food. Anyway, he gave the server instructions.
“She looks good even just eating. It’ll help promote the inn. Go to the kitchen and have them bring out some donkey meat as a complimentary service.”
“Huh? Boss, that expensive stuff?”
“Do it.”
If the inn’s most famous dish was roast thrush, its priciest was donkey.
Donkeys weren’t raised for meat, so few people ate them, and the price reflected that. Still, regulars always ordered it because it was that delicious.
“What’s this? I didn’t order it.”
“Please try it. It’s the pride of our inn, our top menu item. It’s free—just give us your honest opinion after tasting it.”
“I’ll dig in gratefully.”
The princess accepted without hesitation.
Truth be told, she hadn’t planned any revenge on this inn anyway, but this one plate of donkey meat quenched even her last bit of resentment. She eyed the large chunk of meat with longing, then tore off a bite with a sizzle.
Chewing tough meat like this was a privilege of the healthy,
something she hadn’t realized back when she took it for granted.
Here in this inn, without being chased out or humiliated, able to eat such delicious food without a care for her body,
it was truly moving, and life felt joyful. Suddenly, life was enjoyable.
She’d learned what could only be known through loss, but it was a lesson she never wanted to learn again.
‘Ah, so donkey tastes this good?’
Each bite brought the chewy texture, with juices and sauce dancing in her mouth. The princess wasn’t a carnivore like Roca, but she’d been forced into a herbivore’s life lately. For her body’s sake, and all the more because of her circumstances.
Tasting meat again felt like something worth selling her soul for.
She was reminded once more why people can’t give up meat. Even deer occasionally eat birds—how much more humans? Her body cheered at the flavor.
‘Sure, it’s all thanks to the Saint’s money, but I’ll repay it tenfold when I return to the palace.’
Even if the national treasury was empty and the imperial family short on funds, repaying a few dozen silver coins was no issue.
Especially now that she could regain more than her former position.
“You’re supposed to be packing, and here you are just eating.”
An irritated voice snapped her out of her reverie. The princess, savoring her meal, scowled. The wolf who’d snarled at her from their first meeting—and still did—reflected in her eyes.
They say don’t bother even a dog while it eats, but this girl was truly dog-like.
“And it’s on your master’s coin.”
But what came out of her mouth wasn’t nonsense—it was spot on, leaving the princess speechless.
The princess wiped her mouth with a napkin and smirked. Grappling seriously with this little one would mean losing—for her. That was a child’s privilege. Nothing was more pathetic than an adult fighting a kid for real. Even winning would just earn her scorn.
“If you’re gonna eat, come join me. It’s too much for me alone.”
“No thanks. I only eat what my master gives me.”
The princess was speechless at the girl’s proud puffing up.
It didn’t seem like something to boast about.
‘Come to think of it, the Saint doesn’t seem the type to keep slaves.’
She wore no collar as a beastkin slave should, and the princess had seen no slave papers. No signs of abuse either. The scars from her old rancher and slave trader had naturally healed away after multiple exposures to the sanctuary’s flames.
If she’d clung to the Saint and declared herself a slave, then this brat was truly out of her mind.
Even a human child was just human, not an angel—there was no reason for the princess to look kindly on a beastkin child.
She just recalled the old saying about striking a dog only after looking at its master and held back.
‘Having a girl like that clinging to him will just end up making the Saint suffer.’
When one person gets under your skin, everything about them becomes loathsome.
Even a footprint on the floor looks ugly. Suddenly, her first meeting with Roca came to mind—something she’d brushed off before. Back then, this brat had confidently yelled that she’d dump this trash herself.
How could this beast girl be so hateful?
Her appetite plummeted. The princess rose, leaving half her plate.
“What’s this? Ordering so much and wasting it? Greedy stomach, tiny gut? Didn’t your upbringing teach you not to waste food?”
Her fist clenched, but she held back, thinking of Kyle’s face.
Compared to the humiliations she’d endured, this was nothing. Feigning nonchalance, she gently patted Roca’s head. She ignored the girl’s sharpening glare.
“I appreciate it. Leaving some food for a pet is just good manners, right?”
“P-pet? You done talking?”
“Yeah.”
The princess giggled.
As expected, a kid was a kid—falling for such a simple provocation.
Solar and lunar mana flashed in Roca’s eyes, but the princess suppressed it with her own mana.
She still had a long way to go. The princess had used the Lineage Sapling too, lived longer, and accumulated more karma. Roca’s energy was effortlessly quashed.
“You’re done talking, little one. Even if you wag your tail like an obedient dog, do you think I don’t know your true nature is wolf? Before you devour the Saint, people like us have to help each other out.”
But inwardly, she was rattled.
Even with the Lineage Sapling, that mana level was no joke. Considering Roca’s age, who knew what kind of monster this wolf would grow into.
Perhaps even surpassing that rumored hero, Yurinel Rakfonシア. Pure speculation, but the potential was there.
“I don’t know why the Saint dotes on you and wants to raise you...”
Only then did the princess release the girl’s head. The girl’s tail trembled with humiliation.
The truth that she still couldn’t beat that old lady was bitterly harsh.
“I’ll be watching. Until I’m convinced you won’t harm the Saint.”
“Kyak!”
“Act as fierce as you want—you’re still just a barking dog. Looks like you don’t have the guts to bite.”
Only after a moment did Roca, who’d been growling, glare at the princess with chilling eyes.
“I hate you.”
“That’s great news.”
The princess laughed.
Her beautiful green eyes pierced Roca.
“I hate you too.”
She might wag her tail and rub against her master, but she was a dangerous dog. A mad hound ignorant of rank.
Roca was overpowered by the princess’s presence but scoffed. Now, she feared only one person.
The one who loved her and whom she loved—the only one whose scolding she feared.
She didn’t care about the rest.
*****
In the house that would soon no longer be mine, I lit a candle on the candelabrum and prayed briefly.
The candle’s flame surged fiercely for a moment, and the five flames atop the five candles merged into one blazing orb of light.
Every sanctuary candle holds the potential, by my will, to become a sanctuary beacon. The Lord granted this miracle with that possibility from the start.
Sanctuary beacon.
A lighthouse to pierce the darkness.
To spread the gospel beyond the extremes.
To go anywhere a beacon rises.
“This place has grown on me that much.”
Beyond the roaring flames, I saw my hometown.
Not an illusion born of longing. A sanctuary beacon existed there too.
By the Lord’s grace, the two beacons connected, allowing passage from here to there. But it consumed so much power that beacons couldn’t be placed anywhere.
An exhausted beacon reverted to a mere candle,
but until then, it would illuminate the entire city.
“Lord, watch over my journey to the North Pole.”
Gazing at the beacon, I simply prayed.
“I am here, and You are here. And countless nonbelievers dwell with us. They do not serve You, but please do not abandon them. Please guide them to help one another and open the future.”
May that holy fire warm all hearts. And may the Lord’s grace reach beyond me to everyone.
“Whatever I learn on this journey, I will not worry.”
For You are behind me,
and with Your great power protecting me,
everything will be fine.
Thy will be done.
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