Chapter 20
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: Blood Wolf -2
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We walked.
Before we knew it, we had arrived at my sister's house.
The place my sister had built in Seoul's Gangnam District was less a house and more a mansion. Come to think of it, she was a renowned Awakener. It wasn't strange for her to earn this kind of money.
I was a bit tense, but Ellie didn't seem to mind at all.
"Ellie. Have you ever been to a house this big before?"
"Pardon? I was originally a dragon noble, you know?"
Oh, right.
She treated herself like a maid, so I sometimes forgot.
Anyway, now that we were here, it was time to get some straight answers.
"So. How did the Blood Wolf end up staying at my sister's house?"
It was a question I tossed out as I sat on the parlor chair. It wasn't hard to read the expression on my sister's face as she sat across from me.
Bloodstains didn't wash off easily, no matter how much you hated them.
Having lived with her for so long, I could tell.
That was unmistakably a troubled look.
"If I said I picked her up off the street, would you believe me?"
"Picked her up off the street?"
What a joke.
"Even so, she's a Number 7 monster. You expect me to believe one just shows up out of nowhere like that?"
"It's possible."
"Ellie?"
"I was on the street when I was first summoned, after all."
I started to say something but paused to think. I'd definitely first seen Ellie at home.
"How did you get in?"
"I opened the window and put it back after."
"That's why no one noticed."
Ellie giggled as she popped a jelly into her mouth. Shamelessly brushing it off like this was a skill she'd picked up since coming to Earth.
"So, picking her up off the street isn't that far-fetched."
"Yeah. And she was always so free-spirited, after all."
In that case, I had no choice but to take Ellie's word for it. With no memories of my own, it was hard to argue either way.
"Anyway. She wants to meet you."
"Her name?"
"Ulfs."
"Ulfs..."
It was a terribly familiar name. Probably because some instinct stirred in me when I met Ellie and Prostia.
Anyway, if she was here to see me, I should meet her.
"Alright, I'll go get her. Wait here a sec."
The parlor door closed, leaving just me and Ellie.
"Ellie."
"Yes?"
"What kind of girl is Ulfs?"
"Hm."
Her chewing stopped.
Those jaws worked for a good while before spitting out an answer.
"She's free-spirited."
"I heard that part."
"Oh, right?"
Ellie scratched her head.
"And she loves to fight."
"Fight?"
"She really loves battling strong opponents."
Sounds like that's her personality.
And the most important part.
"She's strong, right?"
"Yes. Incredibly so."
"How strong?"
"She fought me a hundred times and won fifty."
I must have let out a hollow laugh at that. So she wasn't just strong—she was Number 7 level.
Having felt the power of a Number 7 firsthand just days ago, I felt a twinge of fear.
"She can't stand staying still."
"I see."
"And."
Her voice lowered.
"She really likes Master."
"Me?"
"Yes."
Ellie nodded.
"Back in our original world, she was always stuck to Master's side."
"...Really?"
"With me and Lady Prostia."
Another jelly went into her mouth.
"But you don't remember now, do you?"
"Yeah."
"That's okay."
Ellie beamed.
"You'll get along great once you meet!"
I nodded and looked up at the ceiling.
'Ulfs.'
I'd find out soon enough.
'Just please don't be too much trouble.'
Footsteps echoed from the hallway then.
Quick footsteps, rushing over.
"Master!"
The door burst open, and a red-haired girl came bounding in.
Petite and adorable.
Perky wolf ears and tail.
Blood-red eyes.
Those eyes sparkled the moment they saw me.
"Master!"
The girl charged.
"It's me! I missed you!"
She threw herself into my arms.
Her small body wriggled against me.
"Uh..."
I was flustered.
"I came because I missed you, but I didn't know where this was!"
Her tail thumped the floor, leaving red afterimages.
"Then some weird lady picked me up!"
"Lady?"
"She doesn't seem bad! She's warm! Lots of tasty stuff too!"
Her tail wagged even faster.
"But I missed Master. Wanted to eat together. She smelled like Master's blood, so I waited."
The girl—Ulfs—stared right at my face.
"Master. Weren't you supposed to come get me sooner!"
Just like Ellie described.
Incredibly energetic. The kind that could sweep you up if you weren't careful.
But I had to be honest.
"Sorry."
"Huh?"
"I lost my memories."
"...!"
Her tail drooped.
"M-Master?"
"Sorry."
"You don't remember me?"
"I don't think so."
Ulfs floundered a bit before scooting into Ellie's lap.
"Ellie. Is that for real?"
"Lady Ulfs, Master has no memories right now."
"No memories?"
"Yes. It was the same for us at first."
"Then. We just get close again?"
She bounces back fast.
"Alright! Back to square one!"
Ulfs grabbed my hand.
"I'm Ulfs! Master's Summoned Beast!"
"Yeah. Ulfs. I won't forget this time."
"Looking forward to it, Master!"
She turned back to my sister, tail wagging as she waved.
"Lady! Thanks!"
Lady again.
My sister's brow furrowed.
"I'm not 'Lady'."
"But you're older—"
"Ulfs."
My sister's voice turned icy.
Ulfs perked her ears and tilted her head.
"Hm? Mad?"
"Hah."
My sister sighed.
"Whatever. I know your personality anyway."
Then she looked at me.
"Gi-hyeon."
"Yeah."
"You gotta pay for her keep."
"Her keep?"
My sister pointed at Ulfs.
"She's been crashing here for days."
"Not my fault."
"She's your Summoned Beast."
She had a point. I'd ultimately created the coordinates and path for them to come here.
"So, I've got a proposal."
"Proposal?"
"Yeah."
My sister glanced down at Ulfs.
"I want a practice match with a Number 7 monster."
"What?"
Ulfs's ears perked up.
"Match?"
"Yeah. With my Summoned Beasts."
Even as she said it, her eyes tracked Ulfs.
Half-doubting.
"I've always wondered. Is she really Number 7?"
"Don't know what Number 7 is! But I'm strong!"
"The girl who crawled into bed at night scared of the dark?"
"That's different from this!"
She bared her teeth in a grin anyway.
Her tail whipped wildly behind her.
Now Ellie's words made sense.
Ulfs loved fights and never backed down from one.
And ironically, my sister was the same.
Even back home, her competitive streak was infamous.
If someone was stronger, she'd clash head-on. If it could help her grow, she'd dive in without hesitation.
"I'm super strong! Master said I fought well!"
"Oh? When did I say that?"
"Not here. Somewhere else."
"Hmm... Doesn't matter."
The mood was getting tense.
Ellie just munched her jelly, watching like it was no big deal.
"Ellie, you gonna stop them?"
"It'll be fine."
Ellie said calmly.
"Lady Ulfs loves fighting."
"Really fine?"
"Of course. Just watch."
My sister and Ulfs.
I knew they were both strong.
"When?"
"Now."
My sister stood.
"We've got a training room in the basement. Let's do it there."
"Great! I'm ready!"
Ears and tail straight up. Totally pumped.
I shook my head at the sight.
"You're not seriously asking me to command, are you?"
"Duh? She's your Summoned Beast, and you're the Summoner."
"Whenever you wanna rag on my lack of talent."
"I never said a word."
"That's why it bugs me."
My sister stared at me after hearing that.
"Yeah, fair enough."
"So—"
"So you're saying I tortured my beloved little brother with false hope?"
...Right. My lack of talent wasn't her fault.
"Sorry."
"It's fine. Maybe I was too harsh. I wanted you to learn contentment in your place. Overreaching ambition... it just hurts you in the end."
"Harsh but... yeah, that was reality."
Until just a few weeks ago.
"Sis."
"Yeah?"
"Get ready. We're gonna win."
I scooped up Ulfs and headed out.
"Master?"
"Ulfs. Since we're doing this, let's win."
"Of course!"