Kedil couldn’t wait any longer. Even though he could anticipate what his father might do, lingering in the restaurant felt terribly cowardly.
The wolf, sitting like a statue by the door, turned its head to look at Kedil. Its fierce gaze seemed to read his mind. As Kedil pushed open the restaurant door, the wolf leaped into the corridor, as if it had been waiting.
Kedil followed the wolf, who sniffed the ground, towards the corridor. The wolf raised its silver tail and advanced without hesitation, eventually reaching a small door. Being in a secluded part of the castle, it felt unfamiliar even to Kedil.
Thump! Thump!
Sounds of something falling and crashing echoed consecutively. The wolf stepped back, then howled at Kedil as if urging him forward.
As if telling him to open the door.
Turning the doorknob, it seemed locked from the inside. Through the gap in the door, the lord’s cries and begging could be heard. Kedil took a few steps back, took a deep breath, and rushed towards the door.
Bang!
With just one hit, the latch was torn off, and the door shattered. Kedil fell into the room along with the broken door. The butler and the masked men, who had collapsed in front of the door, groaned in pain.
“Ah…!”
Kedil quickly got up and cleared the door. Only then did the chaotic scene before him become visible.
The hero, with long ash-colored hair flowing, stood holding the Holy Sword. His eyelashes were dense, hanging down temptingly over his lowered eyes. Dust settled on the white blade due to the wind caused by the broken door.
In the dim light illuminating the smoky scene, with the foul air and scattered bodies, the pale hero’s wrist still bore harsh marks from being tied.
Kedil’s gaze slowly lowered to the hero’s ankles. There, lying on the floor, bleeding profusely, was his father.
Although the trembling body indicated that he was still alive, a black despair settled in Kedil’s chest.
“Come here.”
At the stern command, Kedil’s knees involuntarily trembled. After the silvery fur brushed past his legs, he realized he was not the one being called.
“Wait here.”
The hero, without holding the sword, gently petted the wolf with his free hand. The wolf lowered its ears, accepting the touch, and whimpered, rubbing its black nose against the hero’s palm.
“I’m fine.”
Kedil closed his eyes tightly and moved forward. As his large body bent down, his knees touched the cold ground.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
“Hero…”
A soft breath brushed against his ear.
“Kedil Winderton.”
The emotionless voice bound Kedil.
“Swear that you had no involvement in this incident.”
A frigid palm on the cold floor made Kedil’s body even lower. It wasn’t just the chilly surface; an icy feeling seeped into his bones.
“I-I swear. But earlier, when you were leaving the restaurant, I thought something dangerous might happen.”
He had to grab his father by force if necessary. No, he should have honestly warned Leon not to follow his father, as he might harm Leon. Hesitating led to the situation getting to this point, so there was nothing to say if he and his father were to receive orders for a joint suicide.
He felt a movement. Mercifully, it seemed like he would do the beheading himself.
Kedil closed his eyes with a readiness not to wriggle unpleasantly. The sound of footsteps approached without any indication of haste.
There was a sound of something falling.
“Take this.”
Instinctively opening his eyes, a gleaming object that should be received appeared in his field of vision. A silver ring with an embedded turquoise gem sparkled, lying right in front of his kneeling knees.
It was the family ring passed down through generations in the Winderton family, owned by the Marquis.
Kedil couldn’t dare touch the ring and only swallowed dry saliva. The short-necked throat that was clearly visible due to the short hair felt chillingly cold.
“Put it on, Young Winderton.”
The trembling man barely managed to pick up the ring with his shaky hands. His hands were larger than his father’s, so he had to put the ring on his ring finger, not his thumb.
“Handle the situation here yourself, and quietly come to Mirakiki’s hut after the matter is settled.”
“I… I…”
“I’m providing you with an opportunity to prove that you weren’t involved. However, your father won’t get a chance.”
As Leon approached further, Kedil’s gaze fell on worn leather shoes. The pants were short, revealing ankles and the peachy bones slightly. The swollen peachy bones were a faint pink. Just looking at the feet made Kedil hold his breath.
“You think you can handle it on your own?”
“…Yes.”
Though it was a strangled voice, Leon didn’t comment.
“Now then.”
“….”
“Now get up, and it would be nice if you could arrange for a carriage.”
Kedil hesitated and slowly lifted his head. As he raised his head as if praying to the heavens, his eyes met another’s. The Holy Sword had disappeared unnoticed, and the hero was smiling, just like in the courtyard.
“I’m just a little tired.”
***
As the butler fainted, Kedil had to urgently find a doctor. He apologized for making them wait and escorted Leon and the wolf to the carriage. He bowed his waist until the carriage disappeared from sight.
“…Ha.”
Leon sat in the carriage, swaying as much as when he came. He swept his ash-colored hair with his hand. The pale fingers touched his eyelashes, and then they flowed down smoothly.
He was really exhausted. It wasn’t just because of the effort.
“The Orion that Lord owns is a place where the Sacred Sword was embedded, right? They say the tourism income is tremendous.”
“You fool. Fine. If you can’t make the hero fall, I have another way.”
The conflict with the villagers over the wolf was bearable. The fear of the wolf was understandable, and ultimately, they received apologies from Jacky and Gemini.
But this incident brought severe fatigue. The conflicts he faced during the disaster, and right after the disaster, were recreated. Many people sought Leon’s power and influence. Some wanted to involve the hero in matters unrelated to disasters, and there were repeated attempts to kidnap Leon by those who didn’t know his abilities.
The poor demanded endless protection from the hero, and there were also those who wanted to assign him the role of a power figure.
Leon, who had obtained a vast territory, was a target of various intentions. People tried to involve the hero in events unrelated to disasters, and there were repeated attempts to kidnap Leon by those who didn’t know his abilities.
Living peacefully in the cabin for the past few years, suddenly facing such an incident again was surprising.
Clink.
The wolf, sitting on the ground, rested its head on Leon’s knee and met his eyes. The almost non-blinking blue eyes shone vividly even in the dark carriage. Leon playfully played with the wolf’s neck like he was playing a piano.
“Do you worry about me?”
The wolf didn’t react.
“Is your hind leg still hurting?”
Still no response. The wolf only emitted a faint whining sound while looking straight into Leon’s eyes. The wolf approached closer, increasing the area of contact. Thanks to its body temperature, Leon’s body warmed slightly, and only then did he realize that he was feeling cold.
“You’re worried about me.”
The wolf quietly licked Leon’s palm. Smiling in response to the comforting gesture, Leon continued.
“I’m fine. I know there are more good people.”
Disaster reveals the true nature of humans. Someone who tried to exploit Leon couldn’t succeed. However, more people were grateful to Leon and wanted to help him. Even hiding his traces and living in the cabin, Leon did not forget this fact.
“Days like these are not easy to remember.”
Leon’s fingers played with the wolf’s neck like playing the piano keys.
“I should think about retirement.”
Grandma, who supported Leon when people were flocking to him, took Leon’s side when they gathered at the time of crisis.
“Also, the village head and Mr. Demis are there too.”
Even when the villagers turned away from Leon, they were the first to approach and strike up a conversation. Demis even took care of the fallen Leon at his home for several days.
“Mr. Jacky and Mrs. Gemini are not bad people.”
As three flawless and large eggs wrapped in a handkerchief came to his mind, laughter broke out in his simple and sincere heart.
At that time, the wolf bit Leon’s hand without causing any pain, as if he was being grumpy.
“I know, you haven’t forgotten either. It’s because saying something dramatic at the end.”
Leon, with the wolf’s face wrapped in his hand, lightly kissed its snout. Thanks to the wolf’s body warmth, the cold had completely dissipated.
The silvery wolf had truly become a precious presence to Leon. Perhaps it was because, unlike humans, it didn’t demand anything.
The wolf was always by Leon’s side, hobbling on its legs, but still following him, rolling around consistently cute. Today, the lonely alley would have been much colder if not for the wolf, making it warmer.
“I’ll get to know more about you.”
Leon tapped the cover of the book placed next to him.
“If you really are the Silver Wolf from the book, I’ll help you find your pack. You might want to live with your family.”
But you are his family Mr. Leon