[Unbelievable.]
What woke the briefly unconscious Gezell was a resonating, distinctive voice. Without much surprise, Gezell sat up. The scenery around him had transformed in the meantime. Near him, there was an endless array of four-season flowers, unlike anything you could find anywhere else, blooming like the sea.
Underneath the clear sky, birds, flower petals, and butterflies fluttered together. The sky wasn’t just blue; it was a vibrant blend of various colors, vividly mixing like watercolors. Amidst the serene and beautiful landscape, Gezell, dressed oddly as if drawn from a distant world, sat alone.
The warm sunlight and the gentle breeze were comforting. The ‘White Wolf Forest,’ reminisced by Rensley several times as a place of danger, turned out to be, as he described, a beautiful place surpassing the imagination of an ordinary human, with Gezell sitting there like a disaster drawn from another world.
The owner of the forest, looking down at Gezell with an air of arrogance, spoke again.
[What foolish act did you plan by risking your life if I hadn’t intervened?]
“…I expected you to help, so I jumped.”
[What if I hadn’t helped you in the end?]
Gezell stood up, replying, “I staked my life on a spell that activates after the caster’s death. If I survive, it means I sought your assistance, and if I die, I intend to borrow the power of the afterlife.”
[Bold move. In your world, isn’t that equivalent to a curse? Once the spell is cast, your body and soul become the property of the reapers whenever you die. Do you know how agonizing it is for a human to become a slave of the afterlife?]
“I don’t discriminate much on means and methods once the goal is set. The situation was urgent, so I planned to deal with the consequences later.”
The giant white wolf snorted arrogantly. After looking down at Gezell with a sense of superiority, the wolf closed its eyes for a moment. A faint golden glow surrounded its body, and in the next moment, the wolf transformed into an elegant human woman with flowing platinum hair.
[Seems like a good deal for me. I’ve heard the story. The child named Rensley is in danger, right?]
“I will repay the favor throughout my life if you help me this once.”
[But aren’t you the king of the northern country called Aldrant?]
The wolf’s eyes narrowed. Even in human form, its growling voice was identical to that of a beast. Approaching Gezell with bared fangs, the wolf asked sharply.
[At that time, the child was fleeing from you. Why should I believe your words and help you?]
“Feel free to take my life if I lied.”
[I have no use for cheap lives traded around. I want that cute child. Fine. I’ll help you. After rescuing him, I will take possession of that child.]
Gezell did not immediately respond. The pumpkin-colored eyes stared silently at the wolf, and after a brief silence, he finally replied.
“Agreed.”
The wolf, looking at Gezell, chuckled and turned its body.
[You call yourself a king in the human realm, yet you make such presumptuous remarks. Did you think you could get rid of me once you rescued the child, breaking your promise?]
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.
“…Even now, I’m not powerful enough on my own. I came seeking help as a mere human. How could I harm you?”
[But you thought so. It’s amusing how a sorcerer can treat promises with otherworldly beings so lightly. That’s why it’s hard to completely sever ties with humans. Quite interesting.]
After taking a few steps, when the wolf gestured, a platinum throne suddenly appeared in the middle of the flower field. The wolf sat on it, leaning on the armrest.
[Judging by your wandering, you must know about the child’s abilities, right?]
“Abilities?”
[That child possesses the abilities of an Elementalist. That’s why I’m interested. As you may know, humans loved by spirits are extremely rare, and these days, such individuals are almost extinct.]
Elementalist. Gezell’s eyes widened at the unexpected revelation. He had only read about Elementalists in books and had never encountered one in person. As the wolf had mentioned, it had been centuries since anyone had discovered one, and nowadays, many consider Elementalists to be legendary figures from the distant past.
[Didn’t you know? Aren’t you also interested in that child because of those abilities?]
“…He was sealed.”
Gezell remembered the unease he felt when he carved the tracing spell on Rensley’s body. It was uncommon for an ordinary person to have a permanent spell on their body, especially one meant to block a manifestation rather than maintaining a specific function. Gezell had asked Rensley about it, but the latter seemed unaware of the details, leaving the matter temporarily unresolved.
“It’s rare, but seals that the person themselves is not aware of are often placed to prevent curses or hexes. Nobles and royalty living with sorcerers sometimes cast such types of spells. So, without haste, I planned to slowly uncover the reasons without immediately releasing it.”
[A curse… not entirely inaccurate. I don’t know the circumstances, but that child had the abilities of an Elementalist sealed. He seemed completely unaware of possessing such abilities. He mentioned he never learned magic and had never attempted it.]
The wolf’s words filled in a crucial missing piece of the puzzle. Gezell could now fully grasp the whole story. If Rensley’s abilities were sealed, regardless of the intent or the one who cast the spell, the likelihood was high that it happened within the Cornian royal family. Felix commanded skilled sorcerers, trained soldiers, and the power of Elementalists. With such forces, a war was conceivable. While royal sorcerers existed in many countries, stories of kings having Elementalists as close aides were rare and almost nonexistent after a long history.
If Rensley had been taken for his utility, at least they wouldn’t harm him. With this realization, Gezell unknowingly breathed a sigh of relief. The wolf followed with a mocking snicker.
[Are you considering yourself a fortunate, young, and inexperienced human king? Obtaining the favor of an Elementalist is not an easy feat. Do you know why it’s difficult to find human Elementalists? Their births are rare, and those who contract illnesses or become weakened and die during the process of becoming Elementalists outnumber those who survive. The future I saw for that child was undoubtedly one of suffering, deteriorating until rendered useless.]
Gezell’s gaze turned cold and dark. The wolf continued without pause.
[So, I thought of staying here to protect and nurture him. However, that child rejected my offer and left this place… Now, unless you cooperate, it seems there is nothing I can gain by rescuing that child.]
“Except for Rensley Maelrosen, I promise to obtain whatever you desire.”
[There’s nothing among the possessions of the human realm that interests me. Your life is of no value to me, and even if you were to offer your entire kingdom, I have no interest.]
A tense silence hung between them. In the midst of the standoff, the wolf opened its eyes once again, giving a low laugh.
[But you’re not an ordinary human either. Very rare, indeed.]
“….”
[There is a presence within you that is not human. Why did you come to me instead of seeking help from that entity?]
“…The being within me does not understand the language of humans.”
Gezell was silent for a moment before speaking again.
“And our relationship is far from amicable.”
In the vastness of a world divided into numerous smaller realms, inhabited by diverse forms of life, it was challenging to easily distinguish between what was considered superior or inferior. Each entity possessed different powers and abilities. While the force within Gezell’s body was formidable enough to be called a deity, it did not establish emotions or a language system akin to humans. Coexisting in one body, sometimes safeguarding that physical form while on other occasions behaving unpredictably like nature itself, it made Gezell a “dangerous element” recognized as the guardian of the glorious continent by the royal family but always observed with uneasy eyes among those privy to the secret.
Summoning the force within was restricted to times of kingdom crisis, confined to a designated location within the royal palace, and conducted under the watchful eyes of high-ranking sorcerers and representatives of the council, all well aware of the truth. Rumors circulated on the continent that the summoning of the Duke’s familiar could only occur within the northern territories, and Cornia did not refute these rumors.
“Have you ever heard of a human voluntarily visiting another realm or creating a space between dimensions?”
[Impossible. Humans can only visit other realms when permitted, such as when the owner allows entry or when their lives have ended, departing for the afterlife. That is an unalterable principle of this world. If such a thing were possible, the individual would either not be human or would be a human-like entity. They may have made a pact or fused with a non-human entity to gain unauthorized abilities.]
“But have you ever heard of a human who, like you, has been a witness to such an event?”
[But you too are a witness, aren’t you? Impossibility and a low probability of possibility are entirely different.]
Gezell nodded. As if understanding what the wolf desired, he gazed silently at the other, acknowledging his understanding.
“After this is over, feel free to test anything you’re curious about using me. You seem interested in a special kind of human.”
[Indeed. I’ve seen wizards fulfilling wishes using transient summoning spells or contracts, but a human like you is something I’m encountering for the first time.]
The wolf, not bothering to conceal its curiosity, furrowed its face lightly.
[Fascinating, but aren’t you an extremely peculiar one from the beginning until now? You already share your body with a force, and your life is pledged to the afterlife. Now, are you willing to throw the remaining half into my amusement? Bold, or lacking in thought?]
“Well…”
Gezell turned his gaze to the distant snowy landscape. The wolf’s flower garden was more beautiful than anything seen in a painting, and to Gezell, born and raised in the north, it was even more surreal. A few days ago, the heavenly lake he swam in with Rensley, and even the splendid gardens surrounding the palace by the waterside, seemed small and meager compared to this place.
If it were Rensley, he would have seamlessly blended into this beautiful scenery as if he had existed here from the beginning. Even if he hadn’t been born with the talents of an Elementalist, the wolf would have still been drawn to him. Rare, pure, beautiful, courageous, noble, hard to understand, distant, countless lives, deep secrets, traces of time and history woven into the land of humans…
In this world, there are treasures that cannot be measured by a single life – things that become one’s purpose. Gezell Jivendad was a sentinel, a guardian with the title of king, sworn to protect them.
“A country is but one means and method among many for humans.”
[…]
“If I can achieve my purpose and fulfill my role, I am satisfied. Right now, I want to save Rensley Maelrosen, and for that, I will do whatever it takes.”
The wolf nodded.
[Good, congratulations. You’ve succeeded in piquing my interest.]
“Well, I hope you hurry. I’ve heard that time flows slower here than in the outside world. While we’ve been talking, the clock in the human realm must be ticking away.”
[Impatient. It hasn’t consumed as much time as to be a cause for concern.]
As she stood up, the throne that supported her weight disappeared on its own.
[I’d like you to come with me. It’s been a while since I explored the human realm, and I also want to meet that child.]
Gezell, who only intended to borrow the power to open the door, blinked without a response.
“Why? Don’t you want to? If you come with me, you’ll undoubtedly be a significant force. I appreciate your cooperation.”
[Hmph.]
The wolf raised the corners of its mouth and snorted, turning its gaze away. She raised her voice.
[Oron!]
Gezell turned to look in the direction where her voice was directed.
Somewhere, perhaps having come out of hiding, there stood a boy who looked to be around nine or ten years old. However, unlike an ordinary human, he had ears like those of a dog on his head and a furry tail swaying behind him.
Unlike the white wolf with platinum fur, the boy’s fur was a slightly darker silver-gray, and his skin color was somewhat nondescript. The boy hesitated for a moment, covering his face, but he approached without backing down.
[Do you have something to say? What were you eavesdropping on while hiding there?]
[I was going to ask Mother for help if you kept refusing until the end.]
When the white wolf spread its arms, the boy ran toward her and was embraced.
[He saved me that day.]
[Hasn’t the debt already been repaid that night?]
[But I still wanted to ask for help.]
[You seem to like humans so much.]
The wolf mumbled as it held the child, then raised its hand. Brilliant and beautiful petals fluttered, creating a pattern. Gezell recognized that the magic the wolf used was of a completely different nature from their own, conducted in a language unknown to the human world.
Humans are weak, and the world they inhabit is small. Even if one were to study all the magic on the entire continent or even the entire world beyond the sea, they would not be able to fully understand the existence beyond them. Peeking into the small fragments permitted by those beings and deciphering their meaning was all that humans could do.
The wolf and Gezell stood together. The wolf put down the child it was holding and spoke,
[I’ll be back in a moment. Now that you’ve grown up, you should be able to guard this place alone even without me. Don’t go out until I come back.]
[Yes, Mother. Don’t worry about me.]
A hazy light enveloped Gezell and the wolf. Gezell’s expression, which had been stiff, finally softened. Having achieved his goal, there was no fatigue felt in his body. It was time to return to the path where he had exhausted all his magical power and even borrowed the power of dark magic.
Thank you!
I do hope the Wolf will not take Ren away from Gezell