Chapter 54
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 54
Chapter Title: Why Is This Your Wolf? -1
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Mid-to-late game in the Aslon Chronicles.
It was a time when the empire's downfall was rapidly advancing amid the crown princes' war for the throne.
The First Prince, having solidly secured his foundation, had taken the capital, while the Second Prince was driven to the outskirts.
Just as the next emperor seemed all but decided...
A black wolf over thirty meters tall burst up from beneath the ground.
To be precise, it was closer to a monster in the shape of a wolf.
Its body was covered in countless eyes and mouths, and instead of a tail, it had tentacles ending in blades.
An appearance more suited to cosmic horror than fantasy.
The First Prince, who had already spilled much blood in the battle for the throne, had no strength left to fend it off.
The empire, which had long reigned as a great power, was destroyed by the sudden black calamity, Garm.
'How is a beast even the protagonist couldn't handle trapped here...!'
At first, I wasn't entirely sure if it was really Garm.
It was pathetically small compared to the one in the game.
But aside from the size, its appearance was identical to Garm's, making it just as grotesque.
"Heinz, I'll take care of it!"
"Hold on."
I stopped Maribel and approached the iron cage.
Then, dozens of eyes plastered all over its body turned toward me in unison.
Anyone else would have freaked out, deeming it ominous and calling for it to be killed on the spot.
But if I'm being honest, the current Garm just looked like a uniquely shaped puppy.
The massive version was far more hideous, biologically repulsive in its visuals.
"No hostility even when I get close. Does it lack the energy to resist?"
Little was widely known about Garm's past.
Some records mentioned it was born from inhumane experiments by black mages and had luckily escaped.
It was then captured by the cult and subjected to reckless modifications, transforming it into the ultimate monster.
Considering how it died immediately after turning the capital to ruins, it was a wolf born of human malice, used, and then discarded.
"Are you thinking of releasing that thing?"
"If it's not dangerous."
I slipped my right arm through the bars of the cage.
Maribel cried out that it was dangerous and to pull back, but I pushed my arm in even deeper.
Even if Garm bit me and shredded my arm, I had an elixir as insurance, so it'd be fine.
"Kkiuung...!"
It looked like it could tear my arm off without a second thought, but instead, Garm backed away, fearing my touch.
I could practically feel its terror of humans in general.
Given its body full of wounds, it had probably been conditioned with ongoing abuse to fear humans.
As it strained to flee to the opposite side, pus burst from its body, oozing out.
Blood tears streamed from an eye on its flank—a heartbreaking sight.
"If it really wanted to, it could have broken out of this cage on its own."
It could have used those blade tentacles like a saw to cut through the bars and escape.
The reason it never tried was likely because every attempt brought merciless violence.
It was like elephant chain syndrome.
Despite having the strength to snap the chains, constant abuse had convinced it escape was impossible.
"Stay still."
Did it really not understand human speech?
I tried speaking gently, but Garm stayed huddled against the bars, trembling.
I lightly tapped its nose with my fingertip.
Surprisingly, the trembling eased a bit.
"That's it. I'm not like the other humans—I won't hurt you."
I tapped its nose once more, and Garm licked my finger with dozens of tongues.
The slimy sensation tickled, making me flinch, and it immediately fled to the corner.
It was just a slight surprise, so I beckoned it back, signaling it was safe.
Garm hesitated for a while but gradually approached.
When I laid my open palm flat, it rested its chin on it.
Teeth lined the underside of its chin, but this time I didn't flinch.
"Good boy."
I extended my left arm too, stroking its chin and head.
Its matted fur was stiff with blood, but the texture wasn't bad at all.
Garm closed all its eyes, joyfully accepting my touch.
I could sense its wariness completely melting away.
"Look at this guy. Super docile, right?"
"I'm sorry. Even knowing your insight is unmatched, I doubted you."
"Well, it does have the looks to warrant suspicion."
It looked like some alien creature from a distant dimension.
If I hadn't known about Garm, I might have found it gross and told Maribel to kill it.
Interestingly, killing this wolf wouldn't be a bad thing.
From my perspective, wishing for the empire's peace, Garm was a calamity.
To avoid future troubles, putting it down was the right call.
But the reason I tried bonding instead of killing was simple whim.
'If I can rehabilitate Garm and raise it properly, wouldn't that be pure gold?'
It was a disaster that left the imperial knights and mages helpless.
An enemy even the protagonist couldn't defeat.
Its growth was stunted, sure, but its horrific form was something you had to acknowledge.
If a calamity that demoralized players obeyed my words?
Shivers were already running down my spine.
"Gotta lock in that favorability."
I asked Maribel to cut the lock, opening the cage door.
Freedom was right there, yet Garm hesitated to step out.
But when I beckoned it, it began taking tentative steps forward.
As it cautiously poked its head out, I grabbed its cheeks and kneaded them vigorously.
I planned to stop if it seemed displeased, but it closed its eyes and accepted the touch fully.
While reassuring it with pets, I pulled an elixir from my pocket and handed it to Maribel.
"Just sprinkle it evenly over its wounds, right?"
"Yeah."
As I petted Garm, Maribel applied the elixir, spreading it wide with her hands.
In the process, she was petting its fur too, clearly enjoying herself now.
She no longer seemed repulsed by Garm.
"Like with Coco, you're planning to take this one in too?"
"Looks like it. We know it's harmless, but others will see it as dangerous."
"Then we should give it a name."
"Garm. That's its name."
"You even had the name ready in advance. I thought you'd give it something cute like Coco's."
"Giving it a cute name might just torment it in another way..."
For a moment, I was tempted to name it "Ball."
Pair it with Coco for perfect wolf synergy.
But out of respect for the original, I didn't change my mind.
"Alright, let's get out of here. If we linger, someone might show up."
"......"
"Maribel?"
Suddenly, Maribel turned her head toward the treasure vault entrance.
Garm twitched its nose and stared in the same direction.
Were they seeing something?
Looking at the entrance myself, I only saw the wine cellar—making me feel oddly left out.
"Heinz, you should hide nearby."
"What's going on?"
"Someone carrying intense mana is heading this way."
Maribel's expression turned deadly serious as she drew her adamantium sword.
An enemy serious enough to put her on edge.
There shouldn't be anyone of that caliber in Viscount Beld's household.
I'd already investigated every member beforehand, so no mistake there.
"Come to reclaim the escaped test subject, and what do I find? Strange bugs swarming around."
A chilling whisper from behind sent goosebumps over my skin.
The moment I turned, Maribel surged past me, swinging her sword.
But the voice, once behind, was now beside us.
A high mage who could use teleportation magic.
That explained her caution.
"Feisty bug."
"Heinz! Take Garm and run far away!"
"Can't do that."
As I turned at Maribel's shout, a purple magic circle glowed at my feet, chains bursting forth.
The chains slithered like serpents, wrapping and binding my body.
As Maribel turned to cut them, a blue-haired man blocked her path, summoning a barrage of chains.
"Cheap tricks like this won't work on me!"
Maribel spun in place, slicing through the oncoming chains in one stroke.
She then pulled a scroll from her pocket, tossed it upward, and slashed it clean.
Mystical energy poured from the bisected parchment, and the chains binding me vanished.
"Magic nullification scroll, huh. You carry expensive toys."
"Got burned badly by a mage once!"
After the Harcas incident, Maribel had prepared thoroughly against magic and artifacts.
Her resolve not to repeat the same mistake was shining through.
"Too bad, black mage."
"Don't spout nonsense. Can't you see the Blue Tower insignia?"
"If an insignia made you a Blue Tower mage, everyone would impersonate one."
"Tch! You see through my identity, so you must know us well."
"No normal mage would be hunting this thing, right?"
I pointed at Garm behind me, striking at the black mage's core.
He stared blankly before snapping his fingers.
A pitch-black hand emerged above, grabbing Garm.
As he mimed pulling his arm, Garm was reeled in like a fish on a hook.
"First, secure the test subject..."
"You sure? You'll regret it."
"Regret? You're the one with nothing to say after letting the subject get dragged off."
"I've decided to keep that kid. It's basically my property now. And you're trying to take what's mine."
"Worthless drivel."
The black mage gestured, tearing open a portal.
Intending to send Garm to an accomplice on the other side.
I watched the whole thing impassively.
"I'm pathetically weak, sure..."
But my money luck was world-class.
Towers of gold coins stacked high on either side of the black mage shook as if about to topple.
Then, cracks formed in the chains holding the chandelier above his head, slowly descending.
I finally felt just how insane the Ketchup Young Master's money luck curse truly was.