The Shadow Wolf
『What... shall we... do...?』
『They truly... seem desperate...』
『The young one... at the center of the pack... appears to be in trouble...』
The Elatria.
They had discerned the plight of the shadow wolf pack that had come to this place.
『We should... contact the great... one's kin...』
『Yes... the decision... is not ours to make...』
They merely served as guardians of this realm.
They held no authority to decide whether to admit outsiders into the territory.
@Grrrrrr-!
A sturdy Elatria trembled its leaves, emitting a low growl.
This was the signal system agreed upon with Chuchu.
The signal would have reached the Elatria branch in Chuchu's possession.
Pong!
“Chuchu?”
Chuchu poked its head out from a small burrow outside the lair.
『Guests... have arrived at the lair...』
“Chuu?”
Chuchu tilted its head again at the word "guests."
Sniff sniff.
It wrinkled its nose, discerning the scents wafting from outside the lair.
“Chu!”
Suddenly, its eyes sparkled.
Patpatpat!
Chuchu dashed out of the lair at the speed of light.
“Chu!”
A pack of six shadow wolves had gathered before the Elatria.
Or rather, seven, including the tiny pup clutched in the mother's jaws.
“Awoooo...!”
“Woooo!”
They howled in unison upon spotting Chuchu.
They sensed the mana scent of the "Great One" emanating from Chuchu, who had appeared before them.
“Awoooo-!”
(Great One. Your loyal servant. We meet you.)
The leader-like shadow wolf prostrated itself flat before Chuchu and howled.
“Chuchu!”
(Yes. What is it?)
Chuchu regarded the flattened shadow wolf with a stern expression.
“Woooo...!”
(My pup. Is in. Great pain.)
“Chuuu!”
(The pup...?)
In response to Chuchu's question, the mother shadow wolf carrying the sick pup stepped forward.
Thud.
“Kiiing, kiiing...”
The pup shadow wolf placed before Chuchu.
Slightly larger than Chuchu.
But from the lair's master Seojun's perspective, it was no bigger than two fists put together—a tiny thing.
“Chu...!”
The whimpering pup shadow wolf lodged itself in Chuchu's clear eyes.
A small, cute being.
Yet it looked precarious, as if it might breathe its last at any moment.
Pity, sympathy, sorrow—a rush of emotions surged.
“Chuchu!”
Chuchu immediately turned toward the lair.
Its mind was filled with the thought of reporting this to its master, Park Seojun.
***
‘Leveled up seven times.’
The effect of Nagatara's inner core.
It was tremendous.
My level was now 44.
Once in the 40s, I'd be treated as at least a mid-tier superhuman anywhere.
And I'd achieved it in less than a month.
An unprecedented, miraculous leveling speed—unheard of before, unlikely ever again.
‘Let’s check it out.’
I looked up at the third passageway.
The place where my instincts strongly told me I could access after breaking level 40.
The moment I took a step—
“Chu!”
Chuchu, who had gone into the burrow, rushed back and blocked my path.
“Huh? What's wrong?”
This was the first time Chuchu looked so urgent.
“Chuchu! Chuu- Chuchuchu-! Chuuu!”
Chuchu gestured wildly, explaining something to me.
“Outside... a wolf pup... is sick?”
“Chuchu!!”
Chuchu nodded at my words.
What? Guests outside?
Archeron answered my question.
『Keron. Seven unidentified entities have approached the outskirts of Elatrium.』
“Seven of them?”
『Affirmative. Combat potential does not warrant alarm, but we are monitoring.』
“Hm.”
I stroked my chin.
They didn't seem very threatening.
And it looked like they'd come seeking help.
“The pup is sick, right? Any idea what's wrong?”
“Chuchu! Chuuu- Chuchuchu!”
Chuchu gestured again to explain.
“Its life force is depleting?”
“Chu!”
“Not a disease or injury. Can we even treat that?”
“Chuchu! Chuuu-!”
At my words, Chuchu pointed at Popo.
It meant Popo's fluids could heal it.
I pondered briefly, then decided.
We'd help.
I didn't know how they found this place, but the pup's life hung by a thread.
Even beasts—I could imagine their burning desperation.
“Can't bring it here, so maybe give them some of Popo's fluids.”
Regrettably, no entrance here.
No way to bring it in.
Have to send fluids for healing.
...Or so I thought.
『Master. I believe I can retrieve it.』
“You?”
『Yes. Scans indicate the entity is small enough to pass through my dimensional slits.』
Oh.
Pretty tiny, then.
“Bring it.”
『Keron. Executing command.』
Viiiing!
Archeron opened a dimensional rift and headed outside.
Soon after—
Viiiing-!
Another rift opened, and Archeron placed a creature the size of itself before me.
The being flickered like shadow and mist, without a clear form.
But on closer look, it faintly resembled a wolf pup.
‘So this is a shadow wolf.’
A mystical presence.
“Kiiing...”
However.
This pup looked on the verge of death.
『Baby looks hurt!』
“Popo...”
“Chuuu.”
“Its life essence appears nearly exhausted.”
Everyone let out regretful sighs.
What had happened to this small young one?
And how had it found this place?
“Popo, can you revive this little guy?”
“Popo!”
At my words, Popo stepped forward with a (•̀_•́) determined face.
“Pooo!”
Popo immediately embraced the shadow wolf pup tightly.
“Kiiiing...”
A faint whimper came from within Popo's embrace.
With that, Popo fully enveloped it.
“Hope the healing works well.”
Everyone nodded, sharing the wish.
‘Hmm. Alright then.’
I stood up.
This was all I could do for the shadow wolf pup for now.
The rest depended on Popo's healing and the pup's will to live.
‘Time to check the third passageway.’
I glanced once more at the shadow wolf's condition, then headed into the passage.
***
Pong!
The transparent barrier blocking the third passageway's entrance.
My body slipped through it like passing through jelly.
‘As expected.’
Level 40 was indeed the threshold for the third passageway.
Step step.
I quickened my pace into the room.
Soon, the scene unfolded before me.
“Whoa.”
I couldn't help but gasp at the rippling silver waves ahead.
Thump, thump!
Touching the silver-glowing walls produced a light yet heavy sound.
Moreover, immense mana densities circulated slowly on the silver ore's surface.
I recognized it at a glance.
‘Mithril.’
Yes.
One of the most expensive ores in existence.
Pure Mithril.
“The Mineral Room is real.”
As I'd hoped, a thrill of dopamine raced up my spine.
Deeper in, Mithril ingots piled like mountains.
“My god.”
How many tons was this?
In a space at least 10m x 10m, stacked 7-8m high.
Easily thousands of tons at a glance—an insane amount.
‘Crazy.’
Dragon's Lair.
The scale was on another level.
‘No orichalcum or adamantium is a shame, though.’
Actually, better this way.
If separated, those rooms must be overflowing too.
“Heh heh heh.”
A grin escaped me involuntarily.
I hurried back out and fetched Bellerin.
“My god!”
Bellerin covered her mouth with both hands at the silver wave spectacle.
“Can we make the scout ship with this?”
“Yes~♥ We can craft not just the scout ship, but most equipment! If we have enough magic stones!”
Bellerin was thrilled.
Her voice dripped with coquettishness.
A heavenly blacksmith—she'd lost her composure before the Mithril feast.
“Start with the scout ship, then.”
“Yes♥ Obeying Master's command!”
She bustled off, grabbing a few Mithril ingots.
A sudden thought struck me.
‘Isn't the Mithril in a Dragon's Lair more special than regular stuff?’
Why not? The spirit herbs here were all extraordinary.
No reason Mithril couldn't be too.
“Ah! Right. This Mithril is top-grade among top-grades. Far superior purity, strength, and mana conductivity to normal Mithril!”
As I thought!
‘Great. Let’s auction some.’
I picked up a Mithril ingot.
About 10cm x 10cm x 30cm.
Weight around 12kg.
‘Heavy.’
Smiling contentedly, I listed it at auction.
In the description: Madoje mark, Mithril Ingot.
Once word spreads, prices will skyrocket.
‘If it goes as planned, I can sweep up more spirit herbs and elixirs from Platinum Lounge faster.’
Which means?
My leveling speed accelerates too.
Perfect.
Let's hit the jackpot like this!
I headed back to the lair in high spirits.
“Huh?”
The shadow wolf pup Popo had embraced...
***
At that moment.
The shadow wolves anxiously gazed endlessly in the direction their pup had vanished, before the Elatrium.
『Wanderers... how did their child... end up in such a state...?』
One watching Elatria asked pityingly.
“Awoo... awoooo!”
『The Shadow Reaper... that being... such tragedy...』
The situation was this.
The shadow wolves.
Originally a family pack of ten.
Then the youngest was born.
They rejoiced at the birth, vowing to build a greater family.
『An intriguing... existence...』
Then the Shadow Reaper appeared before them.
He realized their shadow traits resembled his own.
He took the shadow wolves, conducting various experiments.
Three family members died in the process.
And he even tampered with the life force of the newborn youngest, driving it to the brink of death.
『Pitiful... yet they... found this place... well...』
“Awooo...”
The shadow wolf was about to explain how they'd found this place.
Viiiiing!!
A dimensional rift reopened, and Archeron—the one who took their pup—reappeared.
“Awoooo!”
“Woooo!”
“Awooo-!”
The shadow wolves rose as one, staring at Archeron's mouth.
Archeron opened emotionless toward the wolves.
『Keron. Your pup—』