The massive silver wolf, Garbage, led the way through thickets and trees. Once lush, the now shedding silver tail swayed from side to side in front of Leon.
“Recognize this honor, filthy human. You’re the only one who has entered the Silver Wolf’s territory.”
“No human has entered here to die either. Don’t pretend, Garbage.”
“Trash! Whose side are you on?”
“At least not on your side.”
As Garbage and Trash were too engrossed in wrestling, Leon didn’t feel the need to intervene in their conversation. He slightly slowed his pace for the wolf walking beside him, who was limping.
“Excuse me, both of you. Can we go a bit slower? He hurt his leg.”
“His leg?”
Trash, who was scratching Garbage, turned around. Deep blue eyes fixed on the hind leg of the wolf.
“There’s no way that happened.”
“Huh?”
“…Never mind. Well, let’s go slowly.”
They ventured deeper into the dense forest. The trees thickened, darkening the surroundings, and the sound of cicadas grew louder. Leon narrowly avoided poking his eyes twice on protruding branches.
“How much farther do we have to go?”
“Not much left.”
While Trash’s voice was soft, Leon momentarily stopped walking. A loud snap of a branch breaking underfoot echoed.
“What’s wrong, guest?”
Well, because something seems suspicious.
The surroundings were remarkably dense, and even though it was midday, darkness enveloped every direction. In this situation, it was far more disadvantageous for humans than for animals.
Moreover, with obstacles all around, it would be convenient to hide. If, by any chance, bloodthirsty silver wolves lurked nearby.
Leon’s intuition whispered danger. Think about it; the wolf was initially abandoned, left to bleed in the Mirakiki Forest. If the tribe had protected it, it wouldn’t have been so injured.
If… if it was its kin who attacked the wolf?
“Guest.”
In the subtle darkness, Trash’s eyes flickered.
“You’re quick-witted.”
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.
Leon quietly took a deep breath. It could be figured out later. For now, escaping safely with the wolf was the priority. Adnaid, help me…
“We’ve arrived!”
Trash leaped forward and brushed aside a branch that had been like a curtain.
Suddenly, as light poured in, they had to shield their eyes with their hands. When Trash and Garbage stood on the left and right and opened the branches like curtains, a bright scene unfolded.
“Welcome to the Silver Wolf Village, human guest!”
It looked like a painting.
Old trees stood tall, casting a benevolent shadow. Small clusters of silver fur balls bounced on moss-covered roots and the dirt ground. Pink mouths were wide open and young ones giggled, chasing each other. Proud parents scattered around, sitting and watching their young ones with content smiles.
The scent of fresh grass enveloped Leon. The moss underfoot provided a soft cushion, like a carpet. Thanks to the wide-open sky, warm sunlight conveyed a gentle warmth to the skin.
Unfounded suspicions crumbled instantly.
“Look at this.”
Leon, genuinely amazed, walked slowly forward.
“This is your hometown.”
Instead of meeting the eyes of the wolves, Trash snorted. Although the lack of a welcoming response was a bit odd, Leon was captivated by the playing cubs, rolling around in the dirt.
The fluffy cubs, with fur as soft as dandelion seeds, lifted their pink paws, playing a hunting game among themselves.
Then, noticing Leon, they came running with curious eyes, gleaming like fluffy balls. The plush tails of the cubs wagged wildly as they reached up, placing their soft front paws on Leon’s thighs. The fluffy tails of the cubs, like cotton, swayed energetically.
“Oh, so adorable.”
They were so cute that Leon wanted to put them in his mouth, just to play. Leon picked up the smallest cub, the one being bullied by its siblings, and held it against his chest.
“Maybe this one is still a baby? Huh? Look at these pink paws. Is this a yarn ball or a wolf?”
Grrrr…
While cooing and affectionately petting the cub, sharp teeth suddenly brushed past. Leon looked down at the wolf, which had bitten his thigh. It was the first time a wolf had shown its teeth to him.
“Why? It’s so small and cute.”
Keong!
The wolf barked fiercely at Leon and glared at the cubs gathering around. As its blue gaze swept around, the cubs, tails tucked, hurriedly ran back to their parents.
The cub in Leon’s arms whimpered and, as soon as it was released onto the ground, rushed away hastily.
Leon stared down at the wolf, clenching his fist.
“Why are you suddenly acting out?”
The wolf snorted and stuck close to Leon, then, as if requesting something, it pawed the ground and licked its snout.
“Alright, alright.”
Bending over, Leon lightly kissed the wolf on its black nose.
“Okay?”
While stroking the wolf’s head and exhaling a long breath, he realized that the surroundings had become strangely silent. The chirping of birds and the barking of wolf cubs had disappeared, leaving only the sound of the wind shaking the branches.
Leon raised an eyebrow, glancing around subtly. Trash and Garbage, as well as about twenty adult wolves and fewer wolf cubs, were staring at them in a daze.
“Um… is that so. It seems like he really is the true protector of our kind.”
Trash took a step closer. The silence made his voice more resonant.
“I’ll formally introduce myself. I am Trash, the caretaker of the child you brought. The child’s godmother.”
“Godmother ?”
“If something happens to the child’s parents, the one in the pack assigned to take care of the child is me. The child’s mother designated me directly.”
“And the child’s father chose ‘me’ as the godfather.”
Garbage stepped forward. He looked disapprovingly at Trash.
“Are you trying to deceive us and take possession of the child?”
“I’m not lying.”
Leon, with his fist clenched, looked back and forth between the two wolves. Another argument seemed to be starting. Whatever the reason, the Silver Wolf tribe also seemed to have complicated circumstances.
The two wolves, glaring at each other, turned to look at Leon simultaneously, their intense gazes reaching his skin.
“Bringing a member of our kind was the human’s decision. The human lets one of us be chosen.”
“Humph. Unpleasant to be chosen by a human, but there’s nothing we can do.”
“Excuse me?”
“Now, human guest. Even without deep consideration, you should know who should be entrusted with the child. Are you going to entrust the child to a rude and disrespectful whelp like Garbage?”
“Choosing the immature Trash, who disregards tradition and rules, hasn’t shed blood on his head, and hasn’t even sired a cub after being rejected by his mate, is better than ignoring tradition and rules.”
“Look at this.”
Though Leon spoke up again, no one paid him any attention.
“Garbage, you are not qualified to take care of the child. How dare you presume to be the child’s godfather?”
“Aha, this is the problem with the youth. They say that you can’t see the dung stuck to your own butt!”
“Enough!”
All the wolves turned to look at Leon. He petted the wolf’s head after releasing his fist.
“Finding a family for the wolf is why I came all the way here. But who to live with should be decided by the person involved. Isn’t that right?”
The wolf had been silent throughout, except when it drove away the cubs from Leon’s side earlier. Was it confused by the sudden turn of events?
Leon once again kissed the wolf’s snout.
“It’s okay. I’m right here.”
Getting up with his knees straight, he looked at Garbage and Trash. Unlike before, his expression was firm and unwavering.
“I can’t ask you to choose right away. He just arrived here a moment ago. It takes time to decide which guardian to choose.”
Suddenly, the wolf stepped forward.
Everyone, including Leon, fell silent. The wolf raised its tail stiffly and approached Garbage. Joy flickered on Garbage’s face.
“Yeah, as expected, the young ones recognize me….”
Pat, pat.
“…What?”
Pat, pat!
Without room for misunderstanding, the wolf turned its head decisively and went to Trash this time. Trash proudly puffed out his chest.
“As expected, he definitely recognizes me because I was close to his mother.”
Pat, pat, pat.
“….”
The wolf leaped back to Leon after its clear actions. Then, with its beautiful eyes sparkling like jewels, it gently nodded its head.
No one could misunderstand the wolf’s intentions. In perfect silence, Leon scratched his head.
“Well… still, wouldn’t it be better to live with your own kind?”
I will live with you.
“No… You need to do a ritual or something.”
Yes, I will live with you!
i swear the names of these two is so disturbing, they sound like they’re insulting each other at every sentence
It was Cute, thanks for the chapter