Chapter 12
Chapter 12
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Invitation to the Wolf Den
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The news that a guest from the Magic Tower had arrived sent Ramen rushing breathlessly to the annex.
But Billy turned down Ramen's offer to host him in the main building and chose the annex instead—the place where Ed spent most of his days.
He then settled into a seat as naturally as if he owned the place.
In the small reception room attached to the annex.
With a table in the center, Billy lounged on one sofa, while Ed and I sat awkwardly opposite him on the other.
Ramen had already been shooed away. It had been so satisfying to watch his eyes, sparkling at the thought of a major guest, cloud over with disappointment.
I was racking my brain over what to say and how when Billy spoke first.
"I heard you're a vicious sheep."
His unexpected opening made my eyes widen. Did he think I was bullying Ed?
'Am I done for today?'
My grip tightened on the sofa as my body moved on its own. Just as I was about to respond, Billy's voice cut in again.
"You seem to prefer sitting on the floor over the sofa."
His gaze shifted to me, half-hidden behind the sofa. Clear curiosity shone in his eyes—like he was looking at something fascinating.
'I'm not doing this because I want to.'
What could I do? It was instinct. Rising from the floor with all the dignity I could muster, I boldly climbed onto the sofa.
Perching precariously on the edge took real effort to stay balanced.
Ed hadn't said a word since earlier. He just kept eyeing the strange man claiming to be his uncle.
'If a choice window pops up here, it'll be the last moment of my life.'
I'd just sworn to myself to avoid talking about Ed as much as possible—praying no choice window appeared—when Billy asked,
"Ed—so, my nephew—how has he been living here?"
"Uh, well, how he's been..."
Did he know Ed had been sold here as a slave? Billy's eyes, once relaxed, had darkened. Meeting that gaze head-on choked the words in my throat.
"Ed has..."
Please, please!
Okay, this wasn't so bad. This level of options...
'Wasn't bad... right?'
I hung my head, eyes darting. Then I spotted Billy's spotless shoes—not a speck of dust.
That reminded me of what he'd done moments ago.
"This is punishment for calling my nephew slave trash."
A chill swept through me, blood turning to ice.
'Back then, that jerk Jeb called him a slave, but not slave trash...'
So if I picked any of those options, would I end up treated the same? All of them dismissed Ed as a slave—would I be next?
"Lady Morton?"
Ah...
Today was the day I got axed.
* * *
Billy recognized his nephew at first glance. The face was a dead ringer for his late brother, taken too soon.
Seeing it made him want to pat himself on the back for acting on the rumor of a "young wolf sold to the Morton Family."
He figured Ed's wariness was natural. His own looks didn't make for a great first impression anywhere.
What surprised him was how the sheep—Ed's supposed owner—stuck to him like glue.
He'd sent letters to the Magic Tower on behalf of a bought slave, so maybe she treated him decently? But he'd worried about the opposite too.
That's why he'd asked how Ed had been living here.
"Can't you tell? No owner could treat him better than I have."
"...Huh?"
A crack appeared on Billy's ever-composed face, which rarely showed surprise.
'Something's off from the letters and communications.'
She'd feared him from the start, and now she perched on the sofa's edge, bluffing boldly—it was almost funny.
"Unexpected."
He meant her personality was a surprise, but the odd sheep seemed to take it differently.
Her face drained of color, turning ashen as she bowed her head deeply.
'Is she crying?'
Worried she'd been scared to tears, Billy rose and approached Lami. As he knelt on one knee beside the sofa to check her face,
"Don't come closer!"
Ed, who'd been silent, shot up and dashed over, arms spread wide to block him.
'Ho.'
Protecting his owner? That answered how he'd been treated here.
Billy straightened with a grin, gazing down at his nephew—grown so bravely—with satisfaction.
"Ed, your father was the head of the Wolf Territory and patriarch of the Rub Family."
He wasn't one for gentle explanations to kids, so this was as kid-friendly as he got.
"You're the sole heir to the Rub Family. So you have to come back with me."
That was the most detail he could manage.
Finished, Billy assumed Ed would follow without question.
No matter how well-treated, slave life here versus heir to a family influencing the entire continent? Worlds apart.
Even a child would grasp that difference.
"No! I'm staying with Lady Lami!"
Whoa—Billy stumbled, caught off-guard by the reply.
* * *
Unexpected? He thought I hadn't taken proper care of Ed, right?
I wanted to say I'd done my absolute best, but more explanation was impossible.
His piercing golden eyes—chilling and intense—locked onto mine, forcing my head to bow.
Yeah, I was terrified.
Then Ed stepped between us, arms outstretched to block Billy's approach.
My head snapped up from its fearful slump.
'What did Ed just say?'
He'd refused to go with his uncle—to stay with me?
'...Why?'
I couldn't recall treating him that well. Sure, I'd tried my best, but how much would a kid appreciate it?
Even if I'd fed him well, let him sleep soundly, and eased his workload for points, the choice system probably wiped it all out. Yet...
'He recognized my efforts...!'
All that work hadn't been for nothing. Seeing him shield me like this brought a surge of emotion.
With Ed acting this way for me, it proved I was a good owner.
'I'm saved! No more worrying about dying.'
Relief hit—my life was secure—and joyful tears welled up.
"You must cherish Ed a lot."
"Pardon?"
"Getting so emotional at the thought of him staying with you."
Well... the tears meant something else, but I hadn't known Ed felt that way about me. It was touching all the same.
Billy's reaction suggested he now fully believed I cared for Ed.
No more Morton Family annihilation. I'd saved this wretched house—and my precious neck!
'Of course I cherished him.'
I wanted to shout it. My voice brighter, I opened my mouth to speak—
'Huh? What's this?'
Bang! Fireworks burst in a flash, the status window glowing bright.
The first thing I saw: fewer choice windows. My eyes widened involuntarily.
'So now I can say kind things to Ed freely?!'
Noticing Billy staring oddly, I clamped my grinning mouth shut. Then the next reward caught my eye.
Favorability bar unlocked?
"Lady Lami, what's wrong?"
Ed, still blocking between me and Billy, stepped aside and asked. Turning to him, something new appeared in my vision.
A small, horizontal rectangular gauge floating above Ed's head like a game character.
'This is Ed's favorability toward me...?'
Shocking that it was only 25%—even after earning a reward.
"Oh... it's nothing."
I answered Ed without thinking. Answered freely, no interference. I nearly jumped off the sofa screaming.
I couldn't express the joy here. Instead, I clenched and unclenched my fists, lips pressed tight, swallowing the thrill up to my chin.
Then I noticed Ed and Billy staring like I was some weird beastkin.
Ahem.
Straightening my posture with a cough, I addressed Billy about Ed, heart still racing.
"How could I not cherish Ed? It's such a shame he has to return to the Rub Family now. I wanted to do even more for him."
Oh my gosh!
Words came out just as I wanted!
10% reduction meant random chances where choices skipped—not just one in ten.
A rush of relief and exhilaration hit, like exhaling after holding my breath to bursting.
Inside, I was dancing wildly—but outside, my body stayed prim and proper on the sofa.
'But what's the point of a favorability bar now?'
Ed would go to the Rub Family with his uncle, and I'd live comfortably in the Morton Family. Marry some innocent sheep when the time came.
Somehow... it felt ominous. Really ominous.
"No need to feel sorry."
"Huh? Why...?"
To my dumb reaction, Billy flashed a fleeting mischievous smile before dropping a bombshell—not a suggestion, a declaration.
"Because Lady Morton, you're coming too."
What...?
"Wh-where to...?"
Billy looked at me like I'd asked the obvious.
"The Rub Family estate, naturally."
So... he was taking me to the wolf den too?
Me... a sheep?
"What do you mean?! Why would I go there...!"
I slammed both hands on the table and shot up, yelling. What was this wolf babbling about?!
Despite my outburst, Billy stood tall, utterly unshaken.
His sly grin and slow return to his seat felt like slow motion.
Looking up at me from his seat, he whispered sweetly,
"The kid wants it. Come with us."
His gaze shifted to Ed. Following it, I saw Ed with his small fists clasped at his chest, face brimming with anticipation as he watched us.
"But..."
"I want it too."
"Pardon?"
Why you too?!
"Come with us, Lady Morton."
Billy fixed me with eyes screaming, 'You will, right?'