Chapter 241 – Discipline
Cecilia and I were climbing the mountain range to the east.
It’s not a steep slope, so we could just walk through it. Beautiful flowers were blooming and the air was clear. It was so leisurely that it felt like I was hiking in the high mountains.
At least this distracted us from the tragedy that occurred in the Holy City of Orphen a little.
As a warrior, it is important to maintain a clear state of mind. If you keep dwelling on the past and it ends up disturbing your mind, you will not be able to demonstrate your true potential.
It’s a good atmosphere. I inhaled deeply and felt calmness seeping within.
It’s good to be able to concentrate. Greed spoke to me while I was thinking so.
『That guy stay put』
[Seems like it. All the way from the coast.]
『Perhaps they get it and leave you alone?』
[It probably wants to attack me even when I’m asleep.]
While I was talking with Greed, Cecilia seemed interested and joined the conversation.
[Are you talking about the monsters?]
[Yeahh, probably the one when I came here.]
『I’m pretty sure…it’s a monster called Fenrir?』
[Yeah. it bit me and drank my blood voraciously.]
『It couldn’t forget that taste, so it comes back for more』
As I was getting my strength back, I could feel Fenrir’s presence. It was following us closely, keeping a certain distance.
I’m sure it’s trying to hide its presence. However, at the stage where everyone senses his presence, it is not an enemy to struggle against.
[What should we do? We can’t leave it like this.]
[Just like Greed said, it’s staying put…I’ll do something about it.]
『Will you need me to lend you a hand?』
Cecilia sat down on a rock and took a rest. Greed and I went to hunt the Fenrir. I’ll settle this little karma.
Changing the black sword into a bow, I aimed at the large rock where the Fenrir was hiding.
『Not using Bloody Ptarmigan?』
[That’ll be overkill. I don’t have much status to use it anyway.]
I’ll pierce the whole big rock and finish it off. Release the magic arrow!
Fenrir didn’t notice the magic arrow. It seemed that it never expected to be attacked from such a far away position.
The magic arrow broke through the large rock and hit the Fenrir.
I heard a high-pitched dog bark to signify that.
『Did that do it?』
[No. My Gluttony skill isn’t activating.]
It’s a pretty smart fellow. It dodged the arrow at the last minute.
It jumped out of the large rock in a panic and fell down the slope due to its own momentum.
[Let’s give chase.]
『End it quick』
I fired a few magic arrows with my black bow, this time intending to finish things off.
As I was thinking that, Fenrir’s movements stopped.
[Hmm? What… is that!?]
It was showing its stomach and wagging its tail frantically.
『Doesn’t that look like the pose a dog take to show its obedience?』
[You mean it’s surrendering?]
『Probably』
Hmm… Even though it was trying to eat me, the fact that it begged for its life makes it look more like…an animal rather than a monster.
『What’s next then? Finish it off?』
[Nah. Maybe the Fenrir was originally a beastkin. If it’s not trying to disturb us, we don’t need to kill it.]
『Just don’t blame me if it bit you in the ass later on』
For now, I tried addressing the Fenrir.
It ran towards me, wagging its tail. I changed from a black bow to a black sword and prepared to counterattack just in case.
Fenrir came up to me and once again took a submissive pose.
『Looks like it has completely submit.』
[I think it’s begging for its life more than anything…]
Cecilia approached, as if looking at something interesting.
[What happened? Weren’t you supposed to defeat Fenrir?]
[Yeah, but it turned out like this.]
[Arara, are you going to keep it?]
[Eee, do we need a monster pet now?]
[Then, kill it?]
Fenrir was squealing with round eyes.
Damn, you’re so cowardly… you didn’t look like this when you attacked me.
[I don’t trust it yet. But, I’ll see how it goes.]
[Then, I’ll help too. This is the first time I’ve seen a monster get attached to anyone.]
[Don’t feel sorry for it. It’s just begging for its life to be spared.]
[It’s wagging its tail. If looking at it as a big dog, I think it’ll be fine.]
[Well, if you say so…]
[So what will the name be?]
[Maybe… dog?]
[『You’re the worst!』]
Cecilia and Greed were turned off by my naming sense. I mean come on, it’s the monster that tried to kill me.
I had no attachment to it at all.
『It can’t be helped. I’ll name it. Crown Ekaterine Marlboro Max. Be honored!』
[That’s a long name! Too long. Don’t give it a name that makes people bite their own tongue when trying to call it.]
Cecilia said with a look of inspiration on her face.
[How about shortening it a little to just Max?]
『Hey, don’t shorten the name I took the trouble to think up.』
[It’s decided. From today onwards, your name is Max.]
The Fenrir, who was still maintaining a submissive pose, was given a name.
I patted Max’s belly. Be careful because I might get bitten.
[My trust level is 0… no, it’s still on the negative side, so please do your best to raise it to the MAX.]
[Woof!]
『That’s a good reply. You can look forward to this!』
Greed and Cecilia were favorable towards Max. While I became its de-facto owner, I didn’t trust it at all.
The Fenrir seems to be highly intelligent, and I couldn’t shake the suspicion that it was just acting. If it shows its true nature, I’ll be fine to let it eat a Bloody Ptarmigan.
Greed noticed this and said, sounding amused,
『The relationship between Fate and Max seems to be that of dead or alive』
[A momentary lapse in judgment can be fatal.]
[It seems like you’re quite traumatized by what happened when you were attacked.]
There is no food for Max. Therefore, I ordered it to hunt while also keeping watch of the surroundings.
[Okay, go!]
[Woof!]
It ran off cheerfully. Maybe it won’t come back. Fine by me though.
It’s much better than being followed and attacked in your sleep. This means that I can sleep with the pillow elevated. …I don’t have a pillow though.
[There he goes. I wonder if it’ll return.]
『Well, if the master-servant link with Fate is strong, I’m sure he’ll come back.』
[What is that? Don’t look at me like it’s up to the owner!]
Even after spending the night camping out, Max didn’t come back…
Cecilia said tactfully.
[Maybe he’s going far away to keep watch. I believe he’ll come back.]
[I think it’s a good thing that they don’t attack you anymore.]
『Okay, let’s leave without waiting for the useless dog.』
When I looked east from the top of the mountain range, I saw a thin white wall near the horizon.
The Great Wall protected by the High Elves seemed to be alive and well.
[There’s still a long way to go, but if we keep going quickly, I think we’ll be there by the end of the day.]
[That’s right. As long as we don’t meet any monsters.]
『Hey, look. That!』
When I looked in the direction that Greed had given me, I saw many corpses of monsters scattered around.
There are scars on everything that look like bites. Moreover, it was a relatively new injury. Considering the state of the wound and how much time has passed, it has probably been about half a day.
Cecilia said while looking at me.
[Max killed them to protect us.]
[Looking at the size of the bite wounds, it looks like it’s done by a Fenrir…]
『Then, why doesn’t he come back?』
[Don’t ask me!]
Do you know? No way… I wonder if it’s still hunting.
As I was thinking about this, Greed said with a wry smile.
『Apparently it takes after its owner. It’s very similar to how you always fly away like a bullet and never come back. On the other hand, it’s just like you when it comes to liking doing things in the shadows.』
[I… don’t think that’s the case.]
I feel like Aaron, Roxy, and the others said something similar. I just feel like it. I’m definitely not a bullet…I’m sure it’ll come back like a boomerang.
I’m still trying to return to the world where humans live, where Aaron and the others are waiting. Well, I need to make a bit of a detour because of Georg, but I can’t leave someone with a mortal sin skill alone like this.
Georg was obsessed with Gallia, what he considered as the holy land. I had a feeling that by chasing him, I would be able to find my way home.
Besides, Roxy’s whereabouts remain unknown. I must find her and return to where everyone is waiting.
While thinking about her, I focused and searched for magic power. That’s what I’ve been doing since I was washed ashore. Unfortunately, I couldn’t feel it at all on Louise Island.
What about Ines Island? I suppressed my mixture of anticipation and nervousness as I continued to search for Roxy’s magic power.
[I can’t believe it… you’re there?]
『Fate? What happe….this magic power! ?』
[Yeah, I can feel it from that Great Wall! Roxy is inside!!]
Seeing me happy, Cecilia also smiled happily.
[I guess you’ve finally found the person you’re looking for.]
[Let’s go right away! Let’s run through, Greed!]
『I understand that you’re in a hurry, but be careful. My impression is that these high elves are haughty beings』
Still, I couldn’t help but hurry. I descended the mountain range all at once.
Cecilia borrowed the power of the wind spirit and followed me.
[I will be the first to communicate with the high elves. I also want to inform them of the situation in the Holy City of Orphen. Forcibly entering is prohibited.]
[I know that the high elves are noble.]
[Good. The city of the high elves…I only know about it from books, so I’m excited in a different way than you are.]
The Great Wall that was on the horizon is getting closer and closer.
It seemed like a huge white wall was approaching from the other side.