Chapter 47
Chapter 47
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Wolf of the End
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"So, where can I meet this Rishir fellow?"
"Master Didoa knows. That's why we're assigning Master Didoa to you. Plus, Master Didoa will handle awkward conversations with humans on your behalf. For free! How kind is that guide? Come on, say thanks."
"Thank you. Now I have a connection to Rishir."
"Master Didoa, I was talking to Gadena, not you."
"..."
Gadena had suddenly been saddled with Didoa by Meltas.
He was waiting for her at the mage tower's main gate.
Because Didoa had rushed off somewhere, saying there was something she absolutely had to grab.
A short while later.
"What the hell is all that?"
Gadena looked flustered at the sight of Didoa emerging with a huge bundle of luggage.
Was she planning to set up a makeshift lab in his quarters?
"Gifts."
Didoa replied with her usual emotionless expression.
"Gifts?"
"Showing up empty-handed might upset Rishir."
"..."
Gadena decided not to pay any unnecessary attention to this half-demon Rishir fanatic.
He didn't wait for the grunting Didoa struggling with her bundle and started walking ahead.
"Before heading to his place, we have somewhere to stop."
"Somewhere?"
"I'll be joining up with my companions there. But a word of warning: she's a high noble, so mind your manners—no reckless behavior."
"Won't a half-demon like me make her uncomfortable?"
"She's magnanimous. As long as you don't commit any faux pas, there'll be no issue."
That was the end of the necessary conversation.
Gadena shut his mouth and quickened his pace, putting distance between him and Didoa.
As an elf, he instinctively felt disgust toward the half-demon's murky aura.
"Gadena."
But Didoa quickened her pace to close the gap and spoke to him.
"Master Didoa. Let me say this now: your half-demon aura disgusts me. I can't promise to act normally, so for your sake, I advise keeping your distance."
"Ah. I'm fine. I'm used to people hating me."
Whether it was sincere or not, Didoa continued regardless of Gadena ignoring or dismissing her.
"Gadena, have you ever visited a friend's house before?"
"I don't understand the point of the question."
"It's my first time. Visiting Rishir's place will be the first time in my life going to a friend's house. So, any advice? I want to leave a good impression on Rishir."
"..."
Excited about her first visit to a friend's house, Didoa kept chattering nonstop afterward.
Rishir this—
Rishir that—
By the time Gadena resolved to magically block either his ears or Didoa's mouth, they had arrived at their destination: Gadena's lab.
"Master Didoa. Your aura might contaminate the lab, so wait outside."
"Okay."
Didoa accepted Gadena's door-blocking without question or complaint.
It was all too familiar to her.
A moment later.
Gadena emerged from the lab with his companions.
Rapita Ye Royeh, princess of the Great Forest, cloaked head to toe in luxurious black robes.
Her hulking knight escort, Gondola.
And Master Adventurer Drapon, with a massive scar across his face.
Among them, Gondola scowled fiercely at Didoa standing by the door.
"Why's a half-demon here?"
"She's Master Didoa of the Gray Tower. She's agreed to mediate as Rishir's acquaintance."
"Rishir's that human you mentioned? A human hanging with half-demons. You sure about this, Gadena?"
"..."
Gondola openly showed his revulsion.
Gadena couldn't respond lightly.
He usually discriminated against and scorned humans openly, but among elves, he was actually progressive.
He lived in a human city and had at least some interactions with humans—that said it all.
Gondola was different.
As a high-status figure in the elves' holy land of Great Forest, he held conservative views fitting his position.
He placed the highest value on elven identity.
Gadena discriminated against humans but saw them as equals in stature.
Gondola, however, viewed other races as inferior to elves.
Especially half-demons with their turbid auras—they had the worst reputation.
Gondola vented his complaints, saying he'd held back long enough.
"Frankly, I'm still skeptical. Needing human help? Is this really our best option?"
"Gondola."
Rapita's voice calmed him.
"How rude, with the people who'll help us right here."
"...My apologies."
Rapita bowed politely to Didoa.
"Master Didoa, was it? Sorry. Our Gondola can be a bit emotional."
"It's fine. I'm used to it."
Rapita nodded in satisfaction and looked over the group.
"Seems we're all here. Shall we head out? Oh, Drapon?"
"Yes?"
Rapita had lent Drapon the artifact 'Blue Veil' when asking him to capture the spirit.
The elven treasure purified the wearer's aura to purity. She'd lent it to a human out of worry that human baseness might affect 'that child.'
"Just to remind you, that cloak is an elven treasure. Infused with the World Tree's sacred energy. Please, use it with the utmost care."
"..."
Drapon immediately understood why Rapita brought it up.
He'd been wearing the Blue Veil since trying it on earlier; he removed it and stored it back in the pouch Rapita had given him.
So the human's base aura wouldn't unnecessarily taint the elven treasure, as the elf princess wished.
"Thank you."
Rapita elegantly returned the courtesy to the human who perfectly grasped her intent.
"Now, let's go."
Rapita maintained absolute distance from the half-demon and human throughout the journey.
Rapita Ye Royeh thoroughly despaired at her situation.
'Lending the Blue Veil to a human, and now traveling with a half-demon.'
Having to stay in filthy humans' cities.
Having to cater to inferiors.
At first, she felt self-loathing every moment, but now she just wished this nightmare would end quickly.
If she could swiftly rescue 'that child' from this horrific place and return to Great Forest, Rapita was willing to do anything.
As part of her ritual to calm and compose herself, Rapita thought of 'that child.'
The blessed being who inherited only the greatness of the Great Wolf King and the Wind Archspirit.
Half-spirit Perin.
That child didn't belong in such a filthy place.
The deepest heart of Great Forest. The world's most sacred spot.
She deserved to bask in the World Tree's divinity.
'Even now, Perin must be tainted by this filthy city's aura...'
Impatient, Rapita pressed Drapon.
Of course, she never forgot to maintain the dignity of a noble elf outwardly.
"We'll pull in suitable candidates on standby from the guild, meet this Rishir, hand over the magic stone, and immediately begin the pursuit."
"..."
Rishir.
Rapita inwardly sighed as the name of the human Gadena recommended came up.
Was this really right?
Using a human's aura to lure that child.
Gadena was an excellent specialist, but suspiciously soft on human matters, making him unreliable.
As her worries compounded, Rapita found herself already inside Drapon's guild building, following him.
Drapon led Rapita to Deputy Master Dupona's office, saying the first person to meet was there.
The moment she entered the office, Rapita doubted her eyes.
"Perin!"
Filthy human structures.
Filthy humans.
All else was irrelevant.
Only that lovable wolf filled Rapita's vision.
Rapita rushed toward Perin.
The wolf was nestled in a human's arms.
'How is she in contact with Perin?'
Rapita felt a brief unease but brushed it off.
For now, she wanted to savor this joyful reunion.
"Come here!"
It was then, as Rapita tried to snatch Perin from the human's arms.
-...!
Perin, who had been purring contentedly belly-up, furiously bit Rapita's hand.
"Whoa, she's not food!"
The man holding Perin, Rishir, startled, pulled Perin away from Rapita.
-...
Perin instantly calmed as if nothing happened and settled back into his arms.
"..."
Rapita stood there, mouth agape, unable to process the situation.
