Upon hearing Shia’s voice, Grulf ran off to greet her.
I could hear both of their voices by the entrance.
“Groof-groof.”
“You’re so excited, Grulf. There, there…”
“Grulf really likes you, huh?”
“Spirit beast wolves and beastkin wolves have the same ancestors, after all. We are kind of like relatives.”
“Groof-groof.”
Serulis had come back as well.
Perhaps they had been on a quest together.
“Grulf. Do you want a treat?”
“Groof-groof!”
“Grulf. Sit.”
“Grr.”
“Paw.”
“Groof-groof.”
“You’re so smart. Here, have a treat.”
“Gruff-guff.”
Apparently, Serulis was teaching him how to sit and give his paw.
I was a little worried about what she had fed him. But I guess it was fine, since Shia was there as well.
Shia knew a lot about wolves, not just vampires.
“You’re such a good boy, Grulf. How cute.”
“Gruff-guff.”
I could picture Shia petting Grulf.
“I heard that you shouldn’t touch them while they’re eating…”
“It’s fine if you do it while they’re young.”
“I see.”
“If anything, it is better to make them used to being touched while eating when they’re still young.”
“Okay. Then I’ll try petting him too.”
“Yes, that is good. Otherwise they could start biting people including their master.”
“Gruff-gruff.”
I had also decided to pet Grulf when feeding him.
After a while, Shia and Serulis came to the drawing room.
“Shia, Serulis. Welcome back.”
“Hello, Mister Locke. Who is this sweet child?”
“Hello… Nia?”
“Sister. Congratulations on your recent successes.”
Nia was polite even when talking to her own sister.
Though, her tail started to wag as soon as she saw Shia.
Shia’s tail was wagging as well. They were happy about this reunion.
And then Shia introduced her sister to Serulis.
Once that was done, Shia turned to me and bowed.
“I’m sorry that my sister was disturbing you while I was away.”
“No, she wasn’t bothering us. Don’t worry.”
“It’s kind of you to say that… Thank you.”
And then Shia turned to Nia.
“Nia. You shouldn’t have come here without saying anything.”
“But…”
“You have to tell me first, or it will inconvenience Mister Locke.”
“I’m sorry, Mister Locke. Sister. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
I said with a gentle smile.
And then Shia sighed deeply.
“Nia, why did you come here? Did something happen to father?”
“Father is the same. His life is not threatened.”
“Then you should stay beside him…”
“It’s because of that…”
“Hm? What do you mean?”
Shia tilted her head to the side.
Nia looked at her seriously.
“I too am the daughter of a beastkin chief. I must become a Warrior who can hunt vampires.”
“That is something we can consider once father is well again.”
“But when you were my age, you were already fighting alongside father as an Adventurer.”
“That’s true. So once father is better…”
“It will take a year at least for father to get better. That means it could take even longer. And father is getting old…”
“I see…”
Shia started to think about it.
As I was listening to them from the side, I now understood what Nia’s purpose was.
She wanted to become an Adventurer. And she wanted Shia to teach her.
If not, she could be waiting a year or even several years.
And given their father’s age, it wasn’t impossible that he would just end up retiring.
“Sister! Please teach me. Please!”
“But… I’m still inexperienced myself…”
Shia said with a troubled expression.
Shia was fifteen years old and already a B-Rank Adventurer.
She had probably started at around Nia’s age.
I asked Nia,
“By the way, how old are you?”
“I am eight years old.”
“Eight. You’re quite clever for your age.”
“Thank you!”
“She is still very, very childish.”
Shia said as she patted Nia on the head.
“Nia. What does our father have to say about all of this?”
“Father said that if I really want to take the first step in becoming a Warrior, that I should ask you, sister.”
“…Father always says such careless things… I am not yet in the position to be teaching people.”
This was an important matter in Shia’s tribe. It was not for an outsider to say anything about it.
However, there was one thing I wanted to say.
“Shia.”
“What is it?”
“I don’t know a lot about your tribe, but I do know that you are a brilliant Warrior. I guarantee it.”
“Ev-even if it’s flattery, I am happy.”
Shia said. Her face was red and her tail was wagging.
“It’s not flattery. I don’t flatter people when it comes to their abilities as Adventurers.”
Adventurers who get too confident because of flattery will only end up in danger. It happens a lot.
And so I avoided giving people a false sense of confidence.
You could not do it lightly, like you would call someone cute or say their cooking was good.
“Mister Locke. Thank you.”
“Sister. Please.”
Nia said again and then bowed her head.
“Alright, I understand. I will teach you to become an Adventurer.”
“Thank you, sister!”
And so Nia succeeded in becoming Shia’s apprentice.