Changes in the West
A month had passed since the new year began, and the biting cold sweeping through the western reaches of the empire only grew fiercer. Frost-covered fields and snow-blanketed roads were naturally deserted, allowing the massive silver wolf charging straight west from the imperial capital Asrian to go relatively unnoticed.
Of course, there was an even bigger reason for that.
"Ignore roads, straight line, comfy."
In a forest clearing under the cover of night, where darkness blanketed everything and even the starlight was dimmed by cloudy skies, Luna stroked Wolrang's chin with a pleased expression as it lay sprawled before the crackling campfire.
"Khm."
The wolf didn't seem to mind, simply closing its eyes without pulling away. But its tail wagging furiously betrayed the solemn act it was putting on.
Thankfully, Luna didn't point it out, just chuckling softly as she pulled its head into a hug. A gentle rub on its muzzle was the cherry on top.
"Good boy. Yeah, you did great."
"Khm."
The sight of it keeping a straight face while its tail spun like a propeller was utterly ridiculous.
'What, does your tail have its own personality?'
Even as he thought that, Tiny carefully modulated his soul wave to keep it from reaching his spirit companion. It was a minor trick he'd picked up as his soul power grew, but handy in moments like this.
Still...
"......You definitely weren't like this before."
Distracted by fine-tuning his soul wave, he couldn't stop the words that slipped out unconsciously.
"Kyung!"
No? Hah...
While Tiny had been buried in training, this guy had soaked up all the attention in the capital.
- It's a wolf spirit! The Light Knight's...
- Whoa! So cute!
- They say it can shrink and grow like that.
As proof of the Light Knight's presence in the capital, countless people had trailed after it as it roamed the mansion and palace grounds.
The problem was that all the praise and attention seemed to have given the wolf some weird new habits.
Normally, it should have been dashing around basking in the moonlight by now...
"Good boy. You useful, a lot."
Even with Luna's oddly phrased praise and pets, it just lay there demurely, tail whirling like a windmill. Tiny could feel its smug satisfaction through their bond.
"......Gone soft on the praise? Or the cuteness?"
At his mutter, Wolrang's brow twitched.
"Kyung!"
No? Just protecting the small, weak human?
'Keep the tail still if you're gonna act all dignified.'
As Tiny narrowed his eyes at his spirit, Luna shot him a glare instead.
"Wol, cute kid. Why stare like that?"
Come to think of it, this girl had her own quirks. She hadn't been this bad in his past life.
"Before that, Luna—can you fix that choppy way of talking?"
He broached it carefully, only to get an unexpected reply.
"Speak long, in training, tongue cut off."
Tiny could only bow his head.
"......Sorry. My bad."
"No, will try, to fix."
"No, it's not really bothering me. Sorry anyway."
"Speech makes brother see sister as young. I sister."
No, that's 'cause my mind's in its thirties...
He had plenty he wanted to say, but her determined expression shut him up.
'Sister...'
An unexpected blood tie. Learning the truth wasn't bad at all.
But seeing her still brought another face to mind.
- Tell Tiny he's doing great, Wol. Say I'm proud.
'Proud...'
He recalled Cloi's image from the palace, shared through Wolrang. It eased the regret of not seeing her in person, a little.
A presence he wanted confirmation from, in both past and present lives. A life milestone. And another...
'Noona.'
- Huh? Why the hand? Uh...? Hig... ma... war...? Noo... na? Noona!? Ahahaha, Tiny!
- Thanks from me too. You'll come to the wedding, right?
When Wolrang delivered the message with its paw, her request came back. He couldn't enter the palace himself but promised to watch and celebrate from outside—yet ended up missing it.
Even for that, he felt guilty.
'May you be happy this time.'
Tiny wished it from the heart. No more fake smiles like in his past life. May his lifesaver, who became his milestone, shake off that old misfortune completely.
He truly hoped so.
'When I return, keep that smile.'
Lost in thought, he suddenly felt Wolrang nudge its muzzle right in his face.
"Krung."
"Huh?"
"Kyung!"
"Oh... You want praise too? I gave plenty on the way..."
"Krrrng."
Soul wave no—say it out loud.
"Hah..."
Definitely picked up weird habits, he thought, but chuckled and stroked its muzzle anyway.
"Yeah. Thanks to you, we hit the border in three days. Keep it up, Wolrang."
Only then did it rumble contentedly and flop down, while Luna curled up on its fluffy back and dozed off. Watching them, Tiny sank into a strange sentiment.
One more certainty dawned.
"Everything can change..."
A theme he'd never pondered in his forward-only past life. Back then, everything was cut-and-dry. Kill villains and monsters, distribute their loot to the innocent victims.
'That was it.'
But witnessing changes from his actions post-regression—the shifts in Wolrang, Luna, Cloi—stirred his heart.
Even sparing Raphtan, whom he'd have smashed on sight, stemmed from some unknown echo.
Compared to his strict past self, he was softening up—but it didn't feel bad.
'Like my horizons are widening...?'
Smaller body than before, yet seeing farther. If he summed it up...
'...Yeah.'
Not bigger body—bigger person.
Separate from martial prowess, realizing it felt like true growth.
"I'm doing good."
A smile crept up, chest puffing out—until a voice made him flinch.
"Why, suddenly, smug?"
"Eek!?"
Luna, whom he'd thought asleep in Wolrang's fur, watched him with a sly look. Eyes gleaming like she'd caught him