Chapter 13

The Wolf

Stop.

Stop.

Stop.

That was all I could think of then.

I tried to fight... I really did. I clawed, I bit, I ran, but they always got to me. Then it repeats. I wasn’t sure if they purposely let me get away, but at some point, I no longer had the strength to play their game.

Maybe they’ll get bored of me, was what I thought.

Maybe Jead will finally stop laughing and let me go.

....That didn’t happen, but something else did.

I was delirious, but I remember hearing a voice. A woman’s voice. The scouts had returned, thus the shouting, and then the fight. Someone got killed, his spine crushed by the giant’s bare grip, and another got stabbed to death. Nile... she was the only one left.

I wanted to help, but how?

What could I do, when the most I could manage was lift a finger...?

I lost consciousness at some point, and when I woke up, the ground was dyed in red, as was my body.

It hurt to move, and it hurt to breathe. Even so, I stood up. My legs were shaky and my balance off.

Then I spotted her not far away. Unlike Hemmy whose belly was cracked open, or Oude whose limbs were barely left, Nile’s body was comparatively unscathed... other than the large bite mark on her throat and the blood pooling out of it.

I limped towards her, stepping on blood and other.... stuff... which made squishy sounds as I stepped over them. Every step of the way, my body screams at me to stop, but I had to do it. I knelt down beside her, gazing over her mesmerizing eyes... one last time.

I remember.....

I remember being in her arms, wetting my face with her tears. Even now I remember her tight grip on me, hugging me like she wouldn’t ever let go, all the while whispering to me,

“It’s alright... I’m here...”

Her voice was husky and her arms were shaking. Still, she held me...

“It’s okay... you’re okay...”

I wanted to reply to her. I wanted to wipe the tears from her face... to let her know I was okay.

Then the fight started... her grief turned to anger, directed towards the people who caused my torment. She protected me... like a mother protecting her cub, she fought.

She was so brave. So strong, and so... beautiful.

And now... here she was, her lifeless eyes admiring a nonexistent sky, arms limp at her side as if she was asleep.

Closing her eyes with my hand, I leaned down and put my face near hers, taking one last look before kissing her forehead.

...Thank you.

That was the last of Nilantis... the flower who had the heart of a lion.

I looked over the scene of macabre once more. The ground was red, adorned with human entrails. Limbs... scattered over pools of blood.

...Did you do this?

I spoke to the presence behind me.

「 ....Yes. 」

I turned around and faced him.

Blood was seeping out from his maw and his lustrous white fur now a sinister red. No doubt, he was the culprit to this massacre.

...Why?

「 ........... 」

Staying silent, he only turned his head towards something. I followed his gaze, and there I saw, lying on the ground....

His face was mangled and his clothes torn, but I will always recognize those eyes.... the eyes that mocked me as I voicelessly scream... the eyes that were alive and staring back at me. He was breathing. Jead was still alive.

I slowly approached him, all the while keeping contact with his stare. I gazed down at him and saw... fear, in his eyes. Why?

Why are you scared now, after everything you did to me?

Even now, towards him, I.... what is this...? I’m no longer afraid of him, instead what I’m feeling is... anger. Not the anger that boils the blood, nor the rage that drives you mad. No, it was the anger that burned cold... one that would stay as long as I live.

I put my body down on top of him, straddling him as I leaned close to his face. He was barely breathing, barely alive...

I pushed my ear against his chest, feeling the weak thumping of his heart.

You did a lot, you know...

I trace my fingers up from his chest, up his neck and to his face. As I caress his cheek, I studied his eyes that quivered in fear. It was a strange feeling... because the last time I remembered, our positions were reversed.

How did it feel? Did it feel good? You seemed so.... ecstatic...

I kept throwing him questions that I know he’ll never answer. It wasn’t out of spite. Rather, I was truly curious on why he did all those things.

Does it feel good to hurt people? To abuse the weak from a position of power...?

I put my bloody thumbs on his eyes and started to push.

Hey... answer me...

His body started squirming beneath me, but I continued anyway. I continued even as his mouth made gurgled screams and his eyes started making squelching sounds.

You said it was a “need”... does it torment you not to do those things?

“Pl...ea...se... s...to..p...”

Eh? Stop?

I... said the same thing back then. I screamed at him to stop, over and over... but he continued anyway, and it didn’t even have anything to do with how I’m mute...

“...Pl...e... *gurgle* “

....I get it.

I put my hands away, put my forearm on his throat and placed my weight on it, blocking his airway. He jolted and squirmed, his arms shaking as he tried pointlessly to lift them.

It took a few minutes before he stopped writhing. At that point, I can no longer see his eyes, but feeling his heart again, I knew what happened to him.

I looked up at the black skies as I heaved. It was the first time I killed someone.

「 ....Why? 」

Huh?

I looked back at the wolf, tilting my head at his question.

「 Thou kill’dst him. Why? 」

....If you knew what he did to me...

「 I know... what that personage brought unto thee. Wherefore didst thou grant him mercy? 」

I... didn’t give him mercy...

「 Thou of all knowest... ‘twas mercy to give him a prompt end. 」

Mercy.... I guessed it was a relatively quick death for him, unlike what he would’ve done to me. However, I didn’t think what I did was in line to “mercy”.

「 ...I kill’d thy friend. Art thou not in ire? 」

I looked at Nile’s corpse as I thought about it.

The wolf killed her, yet I didn’t feel an ounce of wrath. Instead, all my rage was directed to the now dead person. If anything, my only regret was that she didn’t die earlier... before they did to her what they did to me.

....What’s the point?

After searching for it, I found my dress a fair bit away. They had the decency to not rip it off of me, it seemed. It was the only clothing not completely drenched in blood, so I put it back on.

Then I turned at him again and spoke to him,

thanks... for saving me. Goodbye...

Leaving those words, I started walking away, only to collapse a few steps away. As I clawed the dirt in pain, the wolf went beside me and lowered his back.

...Go away.

「 Thou needst avail. 」

No, go away.

「 Dost thou wishest to survive, little lass? An so, dismiss thy ego and bethink thyself. Dost thou wishest a rat’s end, bawbling and bechev’d? 」

Why are you talking like that? Do you even hear yourself?

「 ......... 」

Fuck off. I asked you to go with us last time, and you clearly refused.

「 ...Thou art angsty, and ‘tis dangerous to prowl the maze in such fare. Where did the bird go? 」

He’s gone, alright? And I don’t care that he’s gone. What I do care is you... bothering me. Fuck... off....

Then I passed out again.

When I opened my eyes, I was on the wolf’s back.

....Let me down.

「 Let thyself down, canst thou not? 」

................

I gave up when I realized I couldn’t even lift an arm, much less stand up on my own legs.

As he traversed the maze with me on his back, he spoke to me,

「 I shall go with thee until the bird is found. Until then, we will tarry together. It would be wise to acquaint each other, therefore. 」

...........

「 Dost thou hast a name? 」

...Do you?

「 ....Eretz, 」

he replied,

「 my name is Eretz. 」

=== === ===

=== === ===

I wake up to find Farica’s worried face in front of me. Her hand is on my cheek, as if she was just caressing me.

“Sorry, I just.....”

Mm...?

“...Was it... another nightmare...?”

...It’s another one of her looks. What is it, worry? pity?

Now that I think about it, I may have dreamt of something... rather than a nightmare, it’s probably just a bad memory haunting me. Ah well, all’s good now.

“I have nightmares too... ever since that night, when they attacked my home...”

Oh, umm....

Oh, crap. What should I say?

“Oy, wuss. Has she woken up yet?”

Latasha walks into the room, a smile plastered on her face as soon as she sees me.

“Come on, we’re having breakfast!”

She runs up to me and grabs both of our arms, dragging both me and Farica out of the room.

Aren’t you being too excited...

Then again, she was some kind of sheltered noble, so missing out on lunch for a couple of days must’ve been hard.

Going outside the room and into the hallway, I properly watched the surroundings; the stone bricks, the erected towers built onto the walls... I hadn’t a proper look last night, but this place does seem like a “fort”. It may be small, with only one common hall and a dozen other rooms, but this place seems like it would hold out on a small-scale attack.

When we walk into the common hall, there’s less people than I thought there would be. All the girls are there, though.

“Ehh... the commander is here?”

Following Latasha’s stare, I notice the commander eating at one of the long tables. He notices my stare and our eyes meets briefly, before we both go our own businessses. I might be just me, but I feel like he’s been avoiding me somehow...

“I still can’t believe we’re keeping that a secret...” (Latasha)

“But... it’s better like that, right...?” (Farica)

“Honestly, I don’t know. I don’t usually deal with this stuff.”

They seem to be talking about the same thing I had in mind... that is, what the commander said yesterday, before we arrived at the fort. I believe his words were....

(In order to prevent panic and unnecessary aggression within the guild, military, or the local populace, I judge it better to keep the matter of the cergian demon between ourselves.)

No one knew, other than me and Sallis, that this was done in part of the deal. In other words, it was for my sake.

Some drifters disagreed at first, but after hearing the commander’s sound reasoning, they all complied. Basically, once he used words like “local safety”, “retaliation”, and “demonic aggression”, everything made sense. After he promised to personally report to the higher ups, no one had problems. Demons are, afterall, threats of national level and should be handled as such, which means reckless actions are thrown off the table.

That’s the logic, at least. It would seem entirely logical to bring this up to people who knows what they’re doing, so everyone bought it. However, I don’t know if he would actually do that. If he did... he would essentially break the deal and I would be put at risk if an action is made against Lyrfanas.

..........

I think I’ll put faith in the commander for now. If it happens that the deal is shoved to the grinder, then I’ll just have to somehow avoid getting kidnapped by the spiders.

Ah, more importantly, the fort seems to have a decent stock in their pantry. On the tables, there’s a huge pot of soup, filled with mostly potato and salted meat. Needless to say, the taste is euphoric. We’ve passed the most crucial time, so everyone seems to be in a jolly mood.

Ah, come to think of it... I wonder where they put the prisoners?

“Oh, that reminds me... Hey, vintage! Where did you put the bad guys?”

“.....We sent most of them ahead to Tarnlake last night.”

“Ah, I guess it would be safer for us?”

“That’s right.”

............

I’m grateful with the timing, but... even the commander couldn’t escape from her nicknames, huh. She really reminds me of a certain someone with that habit of hers....

“Wow... how could you talk to him like that?” (Farica)

“Huh? It’s fine, isn’t it?”

“But, don’t you think he’s a bit... scary?”

“Eh? Why?”

The commander is...?

He is a little stern, both his face and actions are. Ah, I see. For little girls like her, he’s probably somewhat intimidating.

“....Farica?”

“Mm-hm?”

“Why aren’t you eating your peas?”

“Umm...”

“They’re good for you.”

“...I see.”

“Could it be that you don’t like green peas?”

“..............”

“I can feed it to you if you want to.”

“N‒No thanks...”

“I mean, I will feed it to you.”

“....No...”

Then, while Farica is being force-fed, Luise appears behind us. As our eyes meet, he winks at me flirtatiously. I just smile back at him, not knowing what to do.

“...What do you want, rake?”

Latasha asked as soon as she noticed him, her spoon still in Farica’s mouth.

“I want to talk,”

he answered. His tone and expression turned serious, so it might be something important.

“Well, words away, then.”

She replied with that beguiling smile of hers.

“I mean in private, Tasha.”

“Hmm... don’t worry about Farica. She’s a good little girl who eats her peas, aren’t you, Farica?”

“I wod sbik a worrb.” (Farica)

“See? And I guess I don’t have to ask you, whitey.”

You’re so rude.

Luise sighs on receiving her reply, then looks as though he’s thinking about it for a moment.

“...If you say so,”

He replied.

“I say so.” (Latasha)

“...It’s about why you’re here.”

“Oh, that again.”

“Tasha, please. It’s dangerous for you to be away from District Cardinal. Does Henley even know you’re here?”

“Oh, shut up, rake. You’re not the boss of me.”

“I’m sure your friends are curious as well, right?”

“ *gulp* I am!” (Farica)

“Wha... who told you to talk!” (Latasha)

“Oh, shut up, Latasha. You’re not the boss of me.”

“Hey, you....”

Stopping her sentence midway, Latasha turns her head to look at me.

“Don’t tell me, you too...”

Eh?

Not really, though. Whatever story you have is yours to tell, and I’m not particularly curious. But... if I tell her I’m not interested, somehow it feels inappropriate instead...

.... *nods*

“Is that so... *sigh* Alright then, I’ll tell you, but only if you lay off me.”

“Sure.”

Luise replied with his trademark smile.

“...I was on my way to meet the Duke of Igwall.”

“....Eh?” (Farica)

Duggov Iguall..?

“....What?” (Luise)

At that instant, his eyes went wide.

“...Redrik Vane? You can’t! He’s a dangerous man, you know that!”

“Just because his father is a madman doesn’t mean that he is, Luise.”

“You know that’s not why I said that, Tasha.”

“Whatever! You promised not to spray my face about this, didn’t you?”

“I’m worried for you... as a friend. And why would you meet him, anyway?”

“.....None of your business.”

“Could it be... a betrothal?”

Then Latasha stands up and grabs me and Farica’s arms.

“Come on, time to go.”

“Eh?” (Farica)

Eh?

“Tasha, pleas—“ (Luise)

“I have nothing more to say, rake. Let’s go, Farica.”

“Ah, y‒yes...”

Just like that, Latasha walks away while dragging us, for the second time this morning. I look behind and see Luise there with a dejected look on his face.

Hey, Latasha...

“Just ignore him, whitey.”

But.... the meat is‒

“Let’s go.”

............

“Is it okay to leave him like that?”

Farica asked once we’re outside the room.

“It’s alright. He won’t mind.”

The meat....

“But to have someone like him worry for you... as expected of a lady from District Cardinal.” (Farica)

“Nah, really, it’s just... wait, what do you mean by ‘someone like him’?”

“Oh, well... I overheard the guards making a fuss about it this morning. They called him ‘Wolf of the Snow Forest.’”

“Hah! He is a wolf, alright. And girls like you are the sheeps.”

“They said he’s a prodigy drifter, youngest of his class and such.”

“Well, he might be a little good with a sword...”

“And there’s also... you know...”

“...What?”

“Don’t you think he’s handsome?”

“Wha— I told you, didn’t I? Don’t get tricked by his face, he’s really a rake!”

“But...”

“Come on, Farica. Why’re we talking about him when we can do stuff?”

“Umm... like what....”

Looking around, the girls are all chatting happily with either themselves or the elated guards. Basically, there’s nothing to do but gossip around here.

“Like... a walk! Let’s take a walk. My legs are so stiff after such a long time sitting on wagons.”

--- --- ---

“Okay, lights off, everyone! We’ll depart in the early rays tomorrow!”

Following Kaelyn’s lively instructions, the girls stops the chatter and goes to their makeshift beds. The room we’re using is one of the larger rooms, probably reserved for important guests and such.

Following a weird unspoken rule, a special space is given to the three of us, and I certainly don’t mind since it means more room, especially with how I sleep. Apparently I trash around in my sleep, and the two suffered for it.

“I‒I don’t mean it’s annoying or anything... my point is, it can’t be helped that you have nightmares...”

That’s what Farica said after telling me about my demeanors. I glad that she doesn’t mind, but the way she says it... she’s not making me out as some kind of tragic heroine, is she?

She fell asleep almost immediately after that. Meanwhile, even if I try, I can’t sleep. I don’t know why... maybe it’s because of how I woke up this morning. For a minute then, I thought I was back in Purgatory, and it made me... anxious. And now my instincts are back, keeping me awake because my body thinks I’m in danger...

Latasha hasn’t been back either since our walk, probably alone somewhere, staring at the moon.

*sigh* I might as well join her.

Now then, let’s...

“Mmm...”

Oops. This position is... she’s clutching me with all her might. How do I get up? Oh, right. I’ll use the pillow. Carefully, and slowly replace myself with the pillow....

“...............”

There you go. Sleep tight, you cute little thing.

Going outside, the night breeze pricks my skin, especially around the face where it’s not covered, so I put my hood on. I purposely avoid the patrolling guards because I don’t want to have awkward “converstations”, so I skulk around to find her.

After only a few minutes, I found her, sitting on the waist-high stone wall on the side of the hallway. Her figure is... enchanting, leaning with the pillar on her back, the moon shining on her lustrous hair. While she’s not technically a “princess”, the picture right now screams that she is.... as long as she doesn’t open her mouth.

“Who‒what the fuck, whitey! You surprised me, sneaking up on me like that!”

...Get my point? That picture is lost now.

“You should’ve said something. Geez...”

Uh... well, sorry.

“Can’t sleep?”

*nods*

“Why the hood? It’s night, in case you haven’t noticed.”

Well, it was cold, so‒ah, hey!

“There you go.”

...............

“It’s a shame that you need the hood at day. Such a waste of a pretty face.”

I could say the same to you. Your beauty is ruined by your mouth.

Suddenly, the atmosphere changes as she stares at me in the eyes, all serious. S‒She couldn’t possibly hear me.... could she? Crap, if she heard me...

“Listen, the thing I told you about this morning, I...”

Oh... What is it?

“...Nevermind.”

...What? Hey, now you’re making me curious.

“...You see, all my life I’ve been treated as some sort of princess. As the heir of House Ardent, I was given the best you could offer in the district, and trust me, that’s a lot.”

Uh-huh?

I nod away at her talk.

“Everytime a stranger knows my identity, they’d either want to marry me, kidnap me, or try to earn a favor from me. So know you know why I’d want to hide my real self. I mean, a noble is fine, but once they know I’m an Ardent... you saw how the drifters react, right? They get all protective of me, going on about how big of a deal it is if I get hurt. I’m sure they talked to you about that.”

Uh... they did.

“You... don’t see me like that, don’t you whitey?”

Her tone is sincere, so I smile at her and nod as a reply.

“Thought so... there’s something about you, whitey. Something that makes me feel like I can trust you... like you won’t ever lie or something.”

Uh, no... I’m actually a pretty good liar. There’s this system on Purgatory’s level two where I had to‒

“You and the little wuss both didn’t seem to change how you act with me after you knew who I am.”

Because I don’t know who you are. I don’t even know what an Ardent is.

“...Hey, let’s take a walk, whitey.”

She said as she jumps off onto the ground.

Again?

She sure likes walks, huh.

Then we walk on the corridors as Latasha talks about how confined she was in District Cardinal, and how her “butler” was way scarier than the commander.

“And then there’s this one time when he... whitey? Is something wrong?”

Nothing, it’s just...

For a while now, I’ve been looking over my shoulder because I feel like we’re being watched. My alarms keep going off, but there’s no one there.

Then my fears are proven true as we approach a dark part of the corridor where there’s no torches and the moonlight doesn’t come through. I see someone there, sprawled on the ground. It’s dark and you wouldn’t normally be able to see where that person is, but I can see him.

I stop walking and carefully tread towards him.

“Whitey? what is... hey, there’s someone here!”

You’re stepping on him...

Then she kneels down and start shaking his shoulders.

“Hey, dude. You okay?”

...It’s no use.

It’s dark, but there’s no mistaking it. That stain on his body came from the slit on his throat. It probably only took a few seconds. And also... I know that face.

Tomatoes...

Ah, I never did learn his name.

I grab Latasha’s shoulders to get her attention. It’s definitely recent, so the perpetrator might still be around somewhere.

“Whitey, what is it?”

There’s no time to waste, so I immediately grab her hand and start running.

“Whitey, what the fu—eh? On my hands... blood?”

Come on, we need to call someon‒Ofgh!

“Whitey!”

Ow... what the hell...? Something flew into my face. A... fist?

“Now, now, girls... do me a favor and don’t scream, alright?”

This voice, who... ah!

“Whitey! Let go of her!”

Hey, can’t... breathe...

This arm on my throat is... it’s skin is dark. It’s the southerner!

“I happened to hear you girls talking, and frankly, you came at the perfect timing.” (southerner)

“What do you want?!” (Latasha)

“Can’t you figure it out? I’m trying to escape, little girl, and you will be my ticket out of here.”

Well, now... how do I get out of this situation? I can try electrocuting him... or not. Not while I’m in his arms. Something, something...

“You care about this friend of yours? Don’t worry, I’ll let you trade places with her.”

“....No.”

...Thank god. She didn’t panic and was able to think with a cool mind. It’d be bad if someone of her position was to be kidnap‒

Ugh...!

Suddenly, his grapple becomes tighter, strangling my throat even more.

“If you don’t, she dies.”

“Wait, wait, wait! I get it, I’ll be your hostage! Let her go!”

“Good girl...”

Ah, that’s it. I’ll make my move as soon as he releases me.

“You promise you’ll release her?”

“I promise.”

“.............”

Then as Latasha walks near us, the man releases me. Now’s my cha—Gah!

That guy, he... he kicked me!

“Whitey! You black assfuck, why’d you.... mmphf!”

“She’s a pyromancer, which means she might burn me when I turn my back at her. Now, if you’ll be quiet for a while.”

Then he kicks me again while I’m down on the ground.

Augh! Bastard...

“Mmphf!” (Latasha)

“I thought a kick would be enough, but you’re a tough one, aren’t you?”

Yeah? I’ve had my times, and from my experience, people who hurt me don’t end well!

Then, as I am about to retaliate, a voice comes from behind him.

“Such a way to treat ladies. You’re a disgrace to us men.”

The attack came quickly, and the southerner barely dodged the slash. It’s not stopping there. A barrage of slashes comes at him and under the pressure, he lets go of Latasha to face his new adversary.

“...You.... are the one they call the Wolf?”

I run to Latasha’s side and as I help her stand, I observe the confrontation.

“That’s what they call me. My name is Luise, and I won’t forgive how you used violence against them,”

as he said so, he raised his arm and points his rapier at the opponent.

“Whitey, I’ll call for help. You stay and help him!”

As Latasha runs, the southerner starts to catch her, but Luise goes and stands in his way.

“I won’t let you hurt them.”

“...I don’t care if you’re called the wolf or whatever. Stand in my way, and you’re going to Thalvos’ side without ever knowing who killed you.”

“A dark skinned man with the Rattler’s mark, travelling north with a group of slavers? I know exactly who you are.”

“Hoh... then you’ve gut balls, boy.”

“The wolf is not afraid of the snake.”

I create a firebulb as they talk, then Luise put his arm in front of me. He looks at me and smiles as he says,

“I’ll handle this, little miss.”

Eh?

“Sometimes men wants to show off in front of pretty girls,”

He continued as he winks at me. Seriously, what are you doing at a time like this?

“It’s your choice, pup. Just don’t come haunting me after they put you in your grave.”

From his boot, the southerner pulls out a shortsword and holds it with his left arm. Then the two starts circling each other, testing each other’s footwork. I watch them, ready to intervene if things get bad while carefully keeping my distance.

“...Before that,”

Luise said,

“can I ask you something?”

“It’ll be your last words.”

“...What happened to Ripley?”

“Who?”

“The man who was guarding your cell.”

“Oh, that little guy...”

He grinned, his eyes flashing before continuing,

“I might’ve slit his throat or something.”

At that instant, Luise disappears from his spot and a slash comes down at the southerner. The latter manages to evade, but the attacks doesn’t stop there.

“Ghh... not bad, brat!”

“You’re one to talk, old man. This kind of fight isn’t your forte, is it?”

“I was killing lords when you were suckling on your mother’s hoots. Don’t talk to me about fights.”

“Aye... killing them in their sleeps, right? I wouldn’t call that a fight.”

They’re both ferocious. Luise’s rapier has longer reach, and he dances with it like he did in the Dread. He’s fast, and yet, his opponent is faster.

Armed only with a shortsword, he manages to either dodge or parry every of Luise’s attacks. His steps are quick and efficient, always moving to where Luise least expects he would. Even so, Luise still has the pace.

“Tch!”

As he’s being pushed back against Luise’s relentless attacks, he jumped over the wall into the courtyard. Luise promptly follows, not leaving a second break for his enemy, bringing his sword down as he jumps over.

There’s a mistep when the enemy dodged the attack and seeing a chance, Luise thrusts in. Instead of evading, the southerner steps in, parrying the attack at the base of Luise’s rapier, bouncing it away and leaving Luise open.

Luise!

I quickly make a firebulb, but at this pace...

“I got you now, boy!”

*click*

...............

“Who’s got who, now?”

With a triumphant smile on his face, Luise points the flintlock at the southerner.

“...That’s dirty, boy.”

“Is that something someone like you should say?”

After that, Latasha came back with the guards, and the escaped prisoner was put back into his cell.

“Shit... how did he escape?” (guard)

“I’ve heard tales about him that said he escaped the Five-Walled Prison on his own.” (Luise)

Meanwhile, after briefing the guards about something, the commander heads over to me.

“...You again. Why is it that stuff always happen around you?”

Hey, never asked for it.

“And... Luise. You did a good job.”

“...He offed Ripley.”

“I know... but you prevented our first lead on their guild in years from getting away.”

“...You think he’ll talk?”

“I don’t know, but I know for sure that he knows a lot. Finally we got the snake by its tail.”

“Snakes bite if you got them by their tail.”

“Hah! Always a smartass,”

The commander remarked as he walks away.

“....That a new sword, rake?”

“Ah, yeah. My old sword got split in half by a treewalker. Maybe I should get one like yours instead. Then again, something that big will slow me down. Anyway... “

Luise flexes his arm as he continued,

“it’s getting late. You should get some sleep, both of you.”

“Yes, yes....”

“Oh, and Tasha... about what I said this morning...”

“I know, rake. I’ll keep it on mind.”

Facing me, Luise leaves me another wink.

“...Goodnight, miladies.”

Then he turns and starts walking away.

“...What the hell was that, whitey?”

Umm... I don’t know.

His figure walking away is graceful, his steps light and firm, showing that he’s a trained fighter. His golden hair turns pale under the light of the moon, adding to his handsome charm. I could see also from the fight earlier... that he’s not an ordinary man.

The Wolf, huh...

Somehow... I have a feeling that he has big part to play in the future. A part in my plan to rescue them.

Well, we’ll see, I suppose...