38

Chapter 38

Chirp, chirp—.

I can hear a lark singing somewhere.

I can't let my guard down. This is the Demon Beast Forest, a place teeming with magical beasts and monsters that easily defy imagination.

That lark's song is, ridiculously enough, a lure used by some massive, unknown creature to attract prey. Conversely, if you hear a loud noise in the Demon Beast Forest, nine times out of ten, it's a relatively weak creature trying to drive out a predator that has entered its territory.

The only other possibility is the overwhelming howl of a truly massive monster. If you're caught in that, you're doomed. Just kneel reverently and accept your death. How could anyone beat some lunatic who has the guts to scream and annoy the Five Kings?

Of course, within the next 500 years, I plan to hunt one of the Five Kings and become even stronger than in my previous life to prepare for the future war.

Anyway.

"Wow, you're looking pretty scruffy. How many days has it been since you last washed? Hmm, though do wolves even wash?"

"Grrr...."

"What! It's no big deal! You're not going to die from not washing for a day or two! Of course, I value cleanliness very much, but you can't expect a demon and a beast to be on the same level, right? Still, let's wash up once we find a lake or something!"

"Bark! Bark-bark! Grrrr...!"

"Why the sudden barking? Is it because I'm too loud? Still, please stop barking! A wolf that snaps at its owner is a bad wolf!"

"Bark-bark-bark! Bark-bark! Demon! Die!"

"Oh boy, no manners at all. Well, you can slowly learn the etiquette between master and servant from me! Now! Let's shake hands as a sign of working hard together!"

I reached out toward the Wolf Girl trapped in the iron bar cage, slipping my hand through the cold bars.

Her reaction was violent.

"Grrr! Bark-bark-bark-bark! Stay away! Rawr!"

Snap-!

Perhaps startled by the sudden intrusion, the Wolf Girl tried to bite my hand. I quickly pulled my hand back before she could land a hit.

Phew, she's definitely not obedient. How did Lilith turn such a wild thing into an emotionless machine?

...Actually, the method is simple. You just beat them all day long. Then starve them, beat them again, beat them if they don't listen, and beat them whenever they're in sight or get on your nerves.

Then they either commit suicide or wear down while enduring it. This Wolf Girl might look fragile, but she is of royal blood. There's no way she'd choose suicide.

Of course, I won't choose that method. That might have ‍‍‌‌⁠⁠‌‍‍‌⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠‌‌‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠been the way in the past, but I was reborn after receiving the baptism of love from the Saint.

I need to make the Wolf King my servant, and a relationship built only on violence without loyalty isn't safe. I wouldn't be able to trust her with my back.

"Alright, if that's how you want to play it, I have no choice."

"Grrr...."

"First, let's start by introducing ourselves. We'll get closer over time. You understand me, right? What's your name?"

"Kyak! Demon! Get away! Bark!"

"Is your name Kyak? Hmm, okay. Kyak, I look forward to working with you!"

"Bark-bark! It's not Kyak! Stop calling me something weird!"

"It's not? Then what's your real name? I won't know unless you tell me."

I know her as 'Wolf King Rua'.

But that probably isn't her real name. Lilith likely gave her that name for convenience.

"Grrr...!"

Seeing how she bares her teeth without even recognizing her owner, I doubt she'll tell me easily.

"Oops, come to think of it, I haven't told you the most important part yet. Alright, let's settle this first."

I reached deep into the sack I had tucked away. I shoved my arm in up to my shoulder and rummaged around to find an item.

A long stick touched my fingertips. I gripped it between my index and middle fingers and pulled my hand out of the sack.

Swish-!

What came out was a magic wand about three spans long. A magic tool specifically for magicians, also known as a Magic Stick.

I waved the magic wand in front of the Wolf Girl's eyes.

The Wolf Girl was extremely wary of the long wand she had never seen before. It was understandable. She must have been beaten mercilessly in the auction house with clubs that looked similar to this wand.

I reached back into the sack and pulled out something else. Holding raw meat dripping with blood in the hand opposite the wand, I waved that in front of her as well.

"...! Grrr...."

Perhaps due to her instincts, saliva pooled at the corners of the Wolf Girl's mouth. However, as if she didn't want to show weakness to me, she kept her teeth half-bared. Her growling grew slightly weaker.

Looking at her, I wore a smirk and spoke.

"We're going to do something fun now!"

"Grrr...."

"Every time you do something wrong, I'll give your forehead a whack with the magic wand! Instead, if you listen to me, I'll give you a reward! This meat, right here!"

"Bark!? Bark, bark-bark! Nonsense! Who do you think you are!"

"Haha, you don't like that? Don't worry! You don't have a choice!"

The most common method for training a wild beast: the carrot and the stick.

People say that when training a dog, a carrot is enough. That it's best to train them by giving rewards when they obey and withholding them when they don't.

I agree with that. Why? Because they're dogs! Dogs naturally follow humans!

However, the wolf before me is fundamentally different from a dog. To train this utterly ferocious beast, both sweet rewards and severe punishments must be applied thoroughly.

Plus, I'll add a bit of the 'love' the Saint taught me. Though the Saint's love and my love might be quite different.

"Now, I'll give the first command. Little one! What is your name?"

"Kyak...! Bark-bark! How dare you give orders to a king!"

"This is a command, so you're not supposed to disobey. Do you still not get it?"

"Bark! Bark-bark-bark... yelp!"

Crack-!

I struck the Wolf Girl's forehead with the magic wand. Not enough to break a bone, but enough to hurt as if her head were splitting.

"Yelp! Yelp! Yelping!"

"Alright, I'll ask again. Little one! What is your name?"

"Whimper, whimper, whimper... bark!"

Crack-!

"Yelp! Whining...."

"Hmm, let me ask again. Little one! What is your name?"

"Whimper... Grrr."

Crack-!

"Yelp! Whine! Whimper!"

Maybe a triple strike—hitting the same spot over and over—was too much. The Wolf King clutched her forehead, rolling on the prison floor in agony.

I eventually have to let her out, but first, she needs to complete this first command.

"You're only hurting yourself by resisting. Little one! What is your name?"

"Grrr... I-I won't give in...!"

"Give in? Is 'Give In' your name? No way!"

Crack-!

"Yelp-! Whimper! Whine-whine!"

"Tell me your name properly! Little one! What is your name?"

"Uuuuu...."

The key here is the power struggle.

Just like when I was teasing Lilith earlier, I have to show her that I will never be defeated and will never back down.

Furthermore, I must make her realize that no matter how she reacts, the result will never change, and in the end, she's the only one who gets hurt.

Through this, I will break her stubbornness and pride.

That is the primary goal of this training.

Crack-!

"Ack! Why—why are you hitting me! Bark!"

"Because you're over the time limit. Hmm, perhaps you'd prefer not to be hit?"

"Bark-bark! Of course I do!"

"I see! Then why aren't you answering properly? I thought you were the type who enjoyed being hit for staying quiet! What was the word? A masochist? A maso-wolf?"

"...! Bullshit! Stop talking bullshit!"

"Wow! A wolf telling me not to talk like a dog. As if you're not from the same family."

"Bark-bark! Don't confuse the two! Don't compare a mere dog to a wolf!"

"What are you talking about, you beastly demi-human. If you want that kind of respect, just tell me your name! Then I'll recognize you as a clever wolf!"

Crack-!

"Bark! Yelp! Yelp!"