Chapter 225
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 225
Quite some time passed.
The wolves cycled through wary, relaxed, and frightened in rapid succession.
"It’s because they’ve all become cowards," Arka, the chief’s friend, said apologetically. "I’m sorry, my friend. The wolves weren’t this cowardly even ten years ago. But as time passed, their bodies weakened, and their minds decayed right along with them. It’s a tragedy."
"How could they stay the same in an environment like this? Living creatures are bound to change, even if nothing else does. The world today is far too harsh on all life. You must have suffered greatly as well."
"I’m glad you understand."
As Arka sighed, Gargal, the chief, approached them.
"Don’t say such depressing things to our guest."
"Since you won’t listen to me ramble, I have no choice but to talk our guest’s ear off, do I?"
"But what about our Wolf Tribe’s pride..."
"Pride doesn’t fill empty bellies, Gargal."
"Groan..."
Gargal’s groan was somewhere between a whimper and a growl. Age wasn’t a particularly important concept for the Wolf Tribe, and it didn’t factor into their relationships. Even so, it seemed a seven-year-old’s life experience was no match for a thirty-five-year-old’s.
Gio’s heart warmed.
"You two get along really well."
"You have a... peculiar way of speaking."
"Doesn’t it suit me?"
"It suits you too well. It’s making my fur stand on end."
"The human equivalent of getting goosebumps, I take it?" Gio chuckled. "Your fur looks perfectly fine to me."
"It’s just a figure of speech."
Letting out another groan, the wolf chief quietly lay down beside Gio, who was far smaller than him. He seemed mindful of the sleeping pups. Seeing how he made absolutely no sound despite his massive size, it was easy to see why he had become chief at the young age of seven.
"You’re always so silent."
"You’re certainly generous with your praise."
"I only say it because there’s no wolf as quiet and swift as you."
"Why else would I be the chief?"
"I know, but I wanted to say it anyway."
"There you go with those strange words again..."
Gargal mumbled and closed his eyes. Though they hadn’t known each other long, Gio naturally began stroking Gargal’s forehead and scratching his chin. It must have felt good, as Gargal’s face relaxed completely.
"Mmm, yes. That’s great... Under the ears, too, please. Ah, right there."
"You’re a demanding customer."
Gio grumbled playfully but kept scratching. Arka watched Gargal with amused eyes before lying down beside Gio as well. She didn’t expect him to scratch her, too; she just seemed to find the sight of the two of them amusing.
"I heard humans are excellent at scratching fur. It seems that was true."
"Humans are perfectly built for putting any beast at ease."
"When you say things like that..." Arka whispered, "...you don’t seem human."
"Is that so? Then what do I look like to you?"
"Something imitating a human."
"That might be true."
"You keep saying things like that."
"Because I always embrace every possibility."
To put it nicely, he was open-minded. To put it bluntly, he lacked a backbone.
Since he had evolved into a portrait, the title of 'ordinary human' had long since sailed away from him. But Gio, at least, was open-minded enough to think differently.
"Anything is fine."
It was enough for them to see him however they wished.
"Don’t we all live trapped in our own worlds, anyway?"
"Your fondness for difficult, ambiguous words isn’t very human-like, either."
"Then I suppose I’m not human."
It was fine not to fit neatly into a single category.
"......"
"I respect you all."
Gio had no intention of defining himself with a single label. He never had, and he never would. Why should someone as versatile as him, who could become anything, live trapped within a single image?
That wouldn’t be very fun.
* * *
Having heard the rumors, a fox came to visit.
"Would you perhaps be willing to show us mercy as well?"
"Well, this is a surprising reaction," Gio marveled. "Do the foxes here also know how to transform into humans?"
"Ah, it may not be much, but it’s the magic we excel at! Our ancestors used this technique to great effect when they waged war against humans, and it seems the skill was passed down to us. Haha!"
"But why transform into a human to come see me?"
"To win your favor, of course! Creatures are quickest to open their hearts to those who share their form. Though there are exceptions, it’s an ancient and universal trait."
"Ah, I see."
Contrary to the sly, underhanded image of a typical swindler, the self-proclaimed chief of the Fox Tribe was remarkably direct. Gio stared at her quietly.
...And yet, she still gives off the impression of a swindler. That’s impressive in its own way.
Was it her sharp, slanted eyes? Or perhaps that thin smile? Her features certainly played a part, but the overall aura she exuded was sly and incredibly suspicious.
Though that was exactly what made it interesting.
"So you came to see me while imitating a human?"
"I know it’s incredibly rude to say this upon our first meeting, but the Fox Tribe is starving too!"
The Fox Tribe chief’s human face quickly darkened.
"And the Wolf Tribe aren’t the only ones with pups who haven’t reached adulthood. The adults have built up a tolerance, so they won’t die no matter what they eat, but the pups have very weak immune systems. They acquire a minimal tolerance to poison in their mother’s womb... but it’s only enough to keep them from dying the moment they’re born."
"My, what a sad story."
"Yes. To be honest, I brought this up hoping to gain your sympathy. But I am not lying. Above all, the Fox Tribe is not as sturdy as the Wolf Tribe. Nor can we neutralize poison by researching things like the crows do."
The Fox Tribe chief laughed awkwardly.
"All we can do is try to build their tolerance by feeding them the right amount of poison at the right time. But too many pups die before they even reach that 'right time.' If this continues, I fear the Fox Tribe will... face extinction. That is why I have come to you."
"Hmm, baby foxes are indeed very cute. I would love to see your adorable children. Would you invite me? If I visit in your name, as chief, I believe it will ease the foxes' anxiety quite a bit."
"Ah, of course! If you would only grant us permission, we will do our absolute best to serve you!"
Her groveling was truly a sight to behold.
"......"
Though she was trembling.
"Tell me, Gargal."
"...I don’t think it’s my place to interfere."
"I’m merely seeking a second opinion."
"Very well. I’m listening."
"Do you think it would be alright for me to make more friends here?"
"...That is..."
Gargal, chief of the Wolf Tribe, glanced from the crimson human, who was smiling as usual, to the Fox Tribe chief, who turned pale and trembled whenever she thought he wasn’t looking. He had never seen his rival react like this before.
But I understand.
Gargal nudged the crimson human’s back with his snout.
"...Help them."
"Oh? Are you sure about that?"
"We had no future anyway. At best, our only path was to find a way to die with as little pain as possible... to search for the warmest, most comfortable grave."
Though seven was by no means old, Gargal was the strongest and most discerning among the wolves, which was why he had become their leader. He often acted clumsy, but he was no coward.
Even so, he tucked his tail like a coward in front of Gio. It wasn’t that he didn’t understand why, but they had no choice. The future was dark, and though the outstretched hand was crimson, it was gentle.
"We want a future."
A wolf would do anything for its family.
"Only with a future can we make choices. Only then can we have even a sliver of opportunity. We already know we can achieve nothing by dying like cowards."
"And so," Gio smiled, "you will take the hand of the Evil God?"
He didn’t think they were ignorant of his identity.
They might have been at first, but as time went on, everything must have seemed increasingly bizarre.
For starters, it made no sense for a human—a creature from history, believed to be extinct—to suddenly appear out of nowhere surrounded by silk, gold, and silver.
Furthermore, from their very first meeting, he had wanted to hear the world’s history, and the only things he showed interest in were related to the 'Evil God.' Even if his appearance had been lost over generations of oral history, there were plenty of other things to terrify them.
Just like student Cha Ah-ra in the past, everyone was frightened of me as a portrait.
Was it because they could sense a status on a completely different dimension?
And he had piled up mountains of poison-free meat, which shouldn’t even exist in this dimension anymore.
At the very least, he was a powerhouse capable of crossing dimensions, highly likely to be a figure from ancient history, whose sheer presence forced the mighty Wolf Tribe to tuck their tails. A wicked divinity dripping with the scent of blood.
"......"
"......"
At worst, he was the 'Evil God' from history. At best, an entity of equal standing.
"You seem very afraid of me."
"...That is true."
Gargal could see Rami, the Fox Tribe chief, desperately trying to hide her terror. Though weak, her kind possessed minds that spun faster than any other race, yet she had still come all this way in her capacity as chief.
Is she really that desperate?
Even the conflicts among the beasts had nearly vanished over the last ten years. It would be disastrous if they lacked the energy to protect and raise their newborn pups because they were too busy fighting each other. The anxiety of not knowing when they might go extinct was particularly severe for the Fox Tribe.
And in the midst of it all, a 'human' had appeared.
"I am still afraid, but..."
"But?"
Hearing that benevolent, coaxing voice, he finally made his decision as chief.
"You treated us like friends."
A wolf does not abandon family, nor does it betray a friend.
"So, could you not help us just a little more?"
"Hmm..."
"There’s no point in the Wolf Tribe surviving alone. Our endurance only has meaning if those annoying foxes and proud crows survive with us."
"You speak quite beautifully."
"I-If you don’t want to, then forget it!"
"Ahahaha!"
Gio vigorously rubbed the wolf’s face. He couldn’t help himself; the wolf was just too admirable and cute.
"You really are a coward!"
What was there to fear about this seemingly weak human that made them act like this?
"Chief of the Fox Tribe, what should I call you?"
"Y-You can call me Rami! It’s not an alias; it’s my real name. If you give us a chance, I swear we will all do our absolute best to please you!"
"Do not worry. I do not extract oaths so easily."
Gio was a rather gentlemanly Evil God.
I’m actually quite pleased that my notoriety has spread this far.
He never denied his identity as an Evil God. In fact, he loved it. A river of blood forged from his own blood and that of his enemies was something a wicked divinity ought to welcome, and instinctively, he had no choice but to do so.
Unaware of the slightly troublesome future this would bring, Gio smiled warmly.
"I thought I’d been forgotten by history. It warms my heart to see everyone still knows of me."
"Your tastes are rather peculiar..."
"Gargal, if you have something to say, speak up."
"I-I didn’t say anything."
"If my friend says so, then so be it."
Gio turned back to Rami, the Fox Tribe chief.
"Lead the way."
"Ah..."
"I shall grant you the help you desire."
In return, Gio wanted only one thing.
"And let us be friends."
Let’s live happily.
* * *
With a flutter of wings, a crow landed before Gargal, who had been left alone.
"Is that your decision?"
"Elder Valp."
It was Valp, the Crow Tribe chief.
"A thick scent of blood wafts from him. He grants mercy for his own amusement and feels not a shred of compassion for his enemies. If he truly is the 'Erased Wrath'... his feelings toward us will not be pleasant."
"......"
"Even if he is not the 'Erased Wrath,' it is the same. That is no human. He is a massive force of nature—of wrath and pain—merely imitating a human. Yet he lies so easily, which means he is a wicked rebel, not one who submits to fate. Are you truly fine with this?"
"I have chosen a future."
"I see..." Valp felt a pang of regret. "Do you truly believe he can distinguish between a friend and a slave?"
At the words of the elder who had offered him help, both big and small, since his youth, Gargal blinked slowly. It wasn’t as if he didn’t fear this magnificent, blood-scented entity imitating a human.
It would have been easier on my mind if he were just a ghost.
Yet hot blood clearly flowed through him, a beating heart could be felt, and he even possessed a tongue to taste and a stomach to be filled. Faced with those privileges exclusive to the living, Gargal’s resolve weakened.
In the end, Gargal accepted the existence of that crimson entity.
"He offered our pups his protection."
"It might be a wicked protection."
"But above all, he smelled of sunshine."
"...Sunshine?"
"It was a savory and sweet scent." Gargal closed his eyes gently. "Warm, soft, and fluffy..."
He could still smell it vividly.
"...A scent so comforting I wanted to devour it."
"Wolves truly are foolishly intuitive," the crow let out a deep sigh. "I understand your intent."
"Are you leaving?"
"I must observe him further if we are to secure a future of our own."
"Go safely."
"Take care of yourself as well."
Flutter!
The crow took flight.
"......"
Gargal stared in the direction of the Fox Tribe.
"...Anything is better than now."
Compared to a world of nothing but death, pain and wrath were far better options.