Chapter 107
Chapter 107
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 107
Chapter Title: Spirit Contracts and Ominous Flags
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[Grrr...]
The baby Fenrir began drifting off to sleep in Woojin's arms, looking all drowsy.
-Thank goodness. The dress from the Fairy Queen had that effect to open a door to the Fairy Forest.
"It's only good for three uses, so it feels a bit wasteful... but thanks to you, we could treat him that much faster."
-No problem at all.
Setsuna tugged lightly at the hem of her dress, clearly pleased by Woojin's praise.
Name:Fairy Dress
Rank:A
Defense:+150
Nature Resistance:+15%
Skill Efficiency:+10%
Skill: Queen's Prayer - Opens a door to the Fairy Forest (limited to villages). (2/3)
A dress the Fairy Queen cherished from her youth. Said to be woven from special thread made by feeding spider queen silk with morning dew.
Grows alongside the wearer.
-She must have given it knowing something like this might happen. Right?
"Yeah, looks like it."
Having returned to the Tekan Kingdom in the late hours of dawn, Woojin didn't bother heading all the way to the Balan estate since he planned to head back anyway.
Arriving at the city entrance was enough to activate Queen's Prayer.
"Shall we head back?"
-Yes.
Neigh...!!
Woojin tugged on the horse's reins.
"Get out of the way!! Move!!!"
At that moment, a soldier on horseback yelled toward Woojin.
Clop-clop― clop-clop―!!!
Woojin hurriedly twisted his body aside.
The courier horse that had nearly collided with him sped past by a hair's breadth without slowing down.
"Hyah! Hyah!!"
Woojin hadn't exactly been expecting an apology, but he shot a displeased glare at the soldier accelerating away.
'...What the hell?'
He spotted a small white flag fluttering behind the galloping soldier.
"Hah...!! Hmph!!!!"
Back at Fenrir's nest, Woojin jolted at the shouts echoing from inside the cave and broke into a run.
Boom―――!!
Kaboom―――!!!
The thunderous roars that followed sparked worry that something might have gone wrong.
"Everything al...!"
The words died in his throat the moment he rounded the corner and saw the nest.
"Oh...! You're back? Didn't expect you quite so soon."
Contrary to his fears, Aswell's voice brimmed with delight.
"...What are you doing?"
"Haha, nothing much. Just couldn't stand waiting around, so I was playing a bit."
Fenrir licked Aswell's cheek.
It was a tongue even larger than his face.
"Haha, got it."
Seemingly already thick as thieves, Aswell stroked Fenrir's fur as he spoke.
"Good news—treatment's done. The Queen said a month of this medicine should make him good as new."
Woojin set the baby Fenrir down at the base of the nest and placed the pills from the Queen beside him.
"So, how'd this happen?"
"Well..."
Woojin hesitated in answering.
Poke.
Fenrir nudged his side lightly with his snout, as if to say it was fine.
"The Queen asked if the cub had ever gone outside the nest."
"Hm?"
Aswell looked at Fenrir, who nodded.
"These wounds... they're not from anything natural."
"Then?"
Woojin paused, then murmured gravely.
"Humans did this."
Gulp.
Aswell swallowed dryly, caught off guard by the unexpected answer.
"No way... What kind of bastards...?"
"Any alchemists around here? The Queen said it was alchemical damage."
"Alchemists...?"
Aswell fell silent at Woojin's question, deep in thought.
"I did hear recently that a bunch showed up in the Esten Kingdom."
"Esten Kingdom?"
"Yeah. Looks like they're starting some new research—built a massive structure near the Great Forest."
"Hm..."
"If they spotted Fenrir, that's big trouble."
The three kingdoms had always revered Fenrir as sacred.
But if they were trying to use him as a lab rat, it meant his divinity meant nothing to them.
"Fur and teeth."
Woojin relayed what the Fairy Queen had said.
"Most crucial ingredients for tracking spells, apparently."
"Then it's definite—they're after..."
Aswell glanced at the mother Fenrir.
"I'll pick a few skilled hands for an ambush. Too many troops would give away our position."
"Smart plan."
"Cub's treated, and I've gained more insight than I dared hope... time to head back."
'Gained insight? No way...'
"Playing with Fenrir sparked some fun ideas."
Playing, he said—but facing Fenrir's power, any ordinary person would be risking their life.
'Perfect. In the story, he awakened his secret art fighting Fenrir.'
And Fenrir died in that version.
But this time, both lived, and Aswell got his breakthrough. Best of both worlds.
Make that three birds with the treatment.
Fenrir rummaged in the nest regretfully at the news of Aswell leaving.
"What's this?"
What he dropped from his mouth onto the ground was none other than Woojin's [Wolf Ring].
"That's... also the key to the stone wall deeper in the nest. Where the soul of the founding king, Kara, rests."
Woojin eyed the ring.
"You could claim a reward with it."
"Nah. I sought Fenrir's friendship, not extra prizes."
But Aswell shook his head.
"Hm―."
Crunch!!
"...!!"
He fiddled with the ring for a second—then shattered it instantly.
"Wh-what...?"
"No idea what the reward is, but as his subject, I can't go barging into where the first king's soul lies."
Woojin was speechless at the unforeseen act.
"Thanks for protecting the former king."
'Whoa...'
Perhaps because he forwent the reward.
Fenrir was the one proposing a contract first.
"Having a great spirit by my side fills me with gratitude."
Aswell placed a hand over his heart, clearly thrilled by Fenrir's gesture.
Pure white light began gathering around Aswell.
"Incredible."
Aswell clenched and unclenched his fist, marveling at the surging power as he examined his body.
At that instant, the waking baby Fenrir nuzzled against Woojin's leg and rubbed his cheek.
"...Huh?"
Woojin couldn't help but be startled by the baby Fenrir's unexpected move.
"So your name's Pensir, huh."
Seeming refreshed from a good nap, the little guy let out a spirited bark.
Crunch.
Pensir chewed the medicine Woojin offered, then barked again like a proper king.
A light similar to Aswell's earlier began flowing from beneath Woojin's feet.
Smaller than Fenrir's, befitting a cub, but the energy felt even more vibrant.
"...Huh?"
In that moment, Woojin's mind cleared like a fog lifting.
Was this why Aswell looked so shocked?
"Looks like you've opened your eyes too."
"Yeah..."
"The spirit's wisdom is astounding. I thought Seven Kills was perfected beyond refinement..."
Aswell beamed with satisfaction.
And Woojin felt the same.
'Finally... new skills.'
✓ Both skills upgraded.
✓ Exceeded standards.
Reward upgraded:Trait - Sensitive Perception
Amid the rush of exciting rewards, Woojin couldn't help but grin.
"Looking forward to working with you."
Pensir bounced around him excitedly, matching his energy.
"You focus on recovering for now, got it?"
Pensir ignored him, still full of pep, but Fenrir nodded in his stead.
"Alright, time for us to get going."
At Aswell's words, Woojin bid them farewell too.
Fenrir and Pensir wagged their tails as if seeing them off.
Whoosh―!!
Exiting Fenrir's nest, Woojin spotted the dungeon board at the entrance.
When he touched it,
'People might come for Fenrir in time attacks.'
Protecting Fenrir and Pensir would grow more crucial as time passed.
"It'd be nice to relocate Fenrir's lair someday."
"Mm, sure. If he wants."
"Yeah. Somewhere closer to the kingdom, ideally."
"Got it."
'Too bad Aswell wrecked my chance to check the stone wall...'
No way he could've predicted the ring—key to that door—getting smashed.
Using it for the reward probably meant no Fenrir contract.
No telling which was better.
But players had to choose.
'Not me, though.'
He had another ring from that world.
'I'll swing back for the reward when I get time.'
Aswell passed, but Woojin wasn't letting freebies slip.
Same went for the tasty dungeon rewards still pending.
'Back at the village, I'll investigate Kaisha's grave first thing tomorrow morning.'
So much to do.
But he didn't mind.
Meant he was growing.
"Oh, right."
Riding together, Woojin mentioned the dawn encounter to Aswell.
"A courier horse...?"
"Yeah. Came charging so hard... nearly a disaster."
"Was he carrying a flag?"
"Yes. White one."
Woojin nodded.
"...We need to hurry."
"What happened?"
"Tekan's border signals have four flags: green for peace, yellow for alert, red for battle."
And the last.
White meant emergency.
"Something's up with the border guard."
Hyah―!!
Aswell spurred his horse faster.
Rumble...
Dawn broke, but storm clouds blanketed the sky before the sun could rise.
The air reeked of war.