Chapter 107

[GRRR...]

The Fenrir cub began drifting off in Woojin's arms, looking drowsy.

“It's a good thing the dress the Fairy Queen gave me can open a gate to the fairies' forest.”

“It feels like a bit of a waste when it only has three uses... Still, thanks to you, we got the cub treated quickly.”

“You're very welcome.”

Pleased by Woojin's praise, Setsuna gave the hem of her dress a little tug.

Name: Fairy Dress

Grade: A

Description: A dress the Fairy Queen has cherished since childhood. It is said to have been woven from special thread made by feeding morning dew to a queen spider's silk.

Grows along with its wearer.

▶ Defense +150

▶ Increases resistance to nature by 15%.

▶ Increases skill effectiveness by 10%.

▶ Skill: Queen's Prayer - Opens a gate to the fairies' forest. Can only be used in a town. (2/3)

“Maybe she knew something like this would happen when she gave it to me. Don't you think?”

“You might be right.”

Woojin had returned to the Kingdom of Tekan in the predawn hours. Knowing he would have to head back, he had not bothered going all the way to House Balan's manor. Simply reaching the city entrance was enough to use Queen's Prayer.

“Shall we head back?”

“Yes.”

NEIGH...!!

Woojin pulled on his horse's reins.

“Out of the way! Move!”

Just then, a mounted soldier shouted at him.

CLIP-CLOP! CLIP-CLOP!

Woojin hastily turned aside. The courier's horse narrowly missed him, racing past without slowing.

“Hyah! Hyah!”

He had not particularly expected an apology, but Woojin glared in displeasure as the soldier rode off even faster instead.

'... What's that?'

He could see a small white flag behind the galloping soldier's back.

* * *

“Hah...! Hah!”

Back at Fenrir's Den, Woojin was startled by the exertion cries coming from inside the cave and hurried into a run.

BOOM!

CRASH!

The thunderous impacts that followed made him worry something might have happened.

“Are you all—!”

The moment he rounded the corner and saw the nest, he was at a loss for words.

“Oh! You're back? I didn't expect you so soon.”

Contrary to his fears, Aswell sounded thoroughly delighted.

“... What are you doing?”

“Ha ha, nothing much. I thought I might as well play with her rather than just sit around waiting.”

[GRRR.]

Fenrir licked Aswell's cheek with a tongue larger than his face.

“Ha ha, all right.”

Aswell stroked her fur as he spoke. Apparently, they had become friends already.

“Fortunately, the treatment is finished. The queen said the cub should recover completely after taking this medicine for about a month.”

Woojin set the cub down at the foot of the nest, then took out the pills the queen had given him and placed them beside it.

“I see. How did this happen in the first place?”

“Well...”

Woojin hesitated to answer.

TAP.

Fenrir lightly nudged his side with her nose, as though telling him it was all right.

“The queen asked whether the cub had ever left the den.”

“Hmm?”

Aswell looked at Fenrir, and she nodded.

“She said these injuries... weren't simply caused by nature.”

“Then what?”

Woojin hesitated a moment before speaking in a low voice.

“Humans did this.”

GULP.

Taken aback by the unexpected answer, Aswell swallowed hard.

“That can't be... What sort of bastards would...”

“Are there any alchemists in the area? The queen said the injuries were caused by alchemy.”

“Alchemists...?”

Aswell fell silent at Woojin's question, apparently thinking something over.

“I heard a large number of alchemists recently entered the Kingdom of Esten.”

“The Kingdom of Esten?”

“Yes. They've built a large structure near the Great Forest. Perhaps they've begun some new research.”

“Hmm...”

“If they've seen Fenrir, this could become a serious problem.”

Until now, all three kingdoms had revered Fenrir as sacred. But if they had tried to use her as an experimental subject instead, it meant the mystical beast's sanctity meant nothing to them.

“Fur and teeth.”

Woojin relayed the Fairy Queen's words to them.

“She said those are the most important ingredients for tracking arts.”

“Then what they're after must be...”

Aswell looked at the mother Fenrir.

“I'll have to select a few skilled people and have them lie in ambush. Stationing too many troops here would only give away her location.”

“That's a good idea.”

“The cub's treatment is finished, and I've made more progress than I expected... We can head back now.”

'He's made progress? Could it be...?'

“Something quite interesting occurred to me while I was playing with Fenrir.”

He called it playing, but considering Fenrir's power, an ordinary person would have had to risk their life.

'That's good. He was originally supposed to discover his secret art while fighting Fenrir.'

Fenrir had died in the process. This time, however, she had survived, and Aswell had gained his insight too. Two birds with one stone.

No, counting the treatment, three birds.

[GRRR.]

Seemingly reluctant to see Aswell leave, Fenrir pulled something out of the nest.

“What's this?”

To Woojin's surprise, what she carried in her mouth and dropped on the ground was the very same [Wolf Ring] he possessed.

“That's also the key to a stone wall deeper inside the den. The soul of Kala, the founding king, rests there.”

Woojin looked at the ring as he spoke.

“You'll probably be able to claim a reward.”

“No need. I wanted Fenrir's friendship. I didn't do this in the hope of receiving any further reward.”

Aswell shook his head at Woojin's words.

“Hmm.”

CRUNCH!

“...!”

Aswell had been turning the ring over in his fingers. In an instant, he crushed it.

“Wh-what...?”

“I don't know what the reward might be, but as a subject of this kingdom, I cannot intrude upon the founding king's resting place.”

His unexpected action left Woojin speechless.

“Thank you for watching over our late king.”

[GRRR.]

Fenrir seemed even more pleased by his action and repeatedly licked his cheek.

[Aswell has earned Fenrir's trust.]

[Fenrir wishes to form a contract with him.]

'Huh...'

Was it because he had chosen not to take a reward? Fenrir had offered to form a contract first.

“I would be deeply honored to have a great Sacred Spirit at my side.”

Clearly pleased by Fenrir's gesture, Aswell placed a hand over his chest as he spoke.

[Fenrir is forming a contract with Aswell.]

[The Sacred Spirit Contract is beginning.]

Pure white light began rising around Aswell.

[The contract is complete.]

[Aswell Balan can now use a portion of the power of the Primordial Sacred Spirit - Fenrir.]

“Fascinating.”

As power filled him to the brim, Aswell opened and closed his fists, examining his body in wonder.

[GRRR.]

Just then, the cub woke up, nestled against Woojin's leg, and rubbed its cheek against him.

[Fensir wishes to form a contract with you.]

“... Huh?”

Woojin could not help being startled by the cub's unexpected gesture.

“So your name is Fensir.”

[YIP!]

The cub gave a remarkably spirited cry, as though it had enjoyed a refreshing nap.

CRUNCH.

Chewing up the medicine Woojin gave it, Fensir let out another bark.

[The Sacred Spirit Contract is beginning.]

Light like the glow around Aswell moments earlier began spilling from beneath Woojin's feet. Perhaps because Fensir was still a cub, it was much smaller than Fenrir's, but the power it radiated felt even more vibrant.

[The contract is complete.]

[You can now use a portion of the power of the Primordial Sacred Spirit - Fensir.]

▶ Trait: Ancient Knowledge - Increases understanding of skills.

▶ Skill: Primordial Descent - Calls forth the power of a Sacred Spirit for a set duration.

“... Huh?”

At that moment, Woojin felt his mind clear. Was this what had surprised Aswell?

▶ Skill: Bolton Secret Art has risen by one rank.

▶ Dexterity requirement met.

▶ Second Form unlocked.

▶ You have learned Second Form - Raging Waves.

▶ Skill: Dragon Heaven has risen by one rank.

▶ Level requirement met.

▶ Second Gate unlocked.

▶ You have learned Second Gate - Strike.

“It seems your eyes have been opened as well.”

“Yes...”

“The wisdom of the Sacred Spirits is astonishing. I thought Seven Kills was a sword art with no further room for improvement...”

Aswell looked immensely satisfied as he spoke. Woojin felt exactly the same.

'At last... a new skill.'

[You have successfully advanced your sword art within the three-day time limit.]

[Quest complete.]

[Quest Name: Training with the Sword Emperor]

Once the skill advancement was finished, another notification sounded.

[Both skills have been advanced.]

[You have exceeded the required results.]

[Reward tier increased.]

[Reward - Trait: Keen Senses]

Trait: Keen Senses

▶ Detects danger approaching from blind spots.

Woojin could not help being delighted by the succession of exciting rewards.

“I'm counting on you.”

[YIP! YIP!]

As though sharing his excitement, Fensir began hopping around him.

“Focus on getting better for now, all right?”

Barely seeming to listen, the cub continued bounding about energetically. Fenrir nodded in its place.

“Well, we'd best be on our way.”

At Aswell's words, Woojin said his goodbyes as well. Fenrir and Fensir wagged their tails at them, as though seeing them off.

WHOOSH!

As they left Fenrir's Den, Woojin spotted the Dungeon Board standing at the entrance. When he reached toward it, notifications appeared.

[This dungeon has not yet been cleared.]

[There are no rankings on the Dungeon Board.]

'People might come to fight Fenrir for the time attack.'

He felt that protecting Fenrir and Fensir would become increasingly important as time went on.

“It would be good if we could move Fenrir's home someday.”

“Hmm, yes. If she wishes it, we will.”

“Yes. Preferably somewhere closer to the kingdom.”

“Understood.”

'Anyway, I couldn't go back to the stone wall because of Aswell...'

He had never imagined Aswell would destroy the ring that served as its key. Had he used the ring to go inside, he probably would have received a reward but been unable to form a contract with Fenrir.

There was no telling which was better. But a player would have had to choose one or the other.

'I'm the exception, though.'

He had another ring, brought over from the other world.

'When I have some time to myself later, I'll go back to the stone wall and collect the reward.'

Aswell had refused it, but Woojin thought differently. Giving up something he could obtain would be foolish.

In that spirit, he needed to find out about the rewards in the other enticing dungeon he had left waiting, as soon as possible.

'Once we get back to town, I should spend the morning investigating Kaisha's tomb.'

There was so much to do. But he did not dislike the situation. It meant he was growing that much stronger.

“Oh, right.”

As they rode along together, Woojin told Aswell what had happened before dawn.

“There was... a mounted courier?”

“Yes. He was riding so fast... I nearly had a serious accident.”

“Did he happen to be carrying a flag?”

“Yes. A white one.”

Woojin nodded at his question.

“... We must hurry.”

“What's the matter all of a sudden?”

“There are four signal flags used on the Kingdom of Tekan's borders. Green means all is peaceful, yellow means alert, and red means combat.”

And the last one.

A white flag meant an emergency.

“Something seems to have happened to the border guards.”

“Hyah!”

Aswell urged his horse to greater speed.

RUMBLE...

Dawn was breaking. Yet somehow, dark clouds began covering the sky before the sun could.

War clouds were gathering.