20 Let's learn first.

Hey, what are you doing?

"I don't know, why are you here now?

"I don't know, why are you here now?" An urgent meeting was held with the whispering members of the Ragdoll Squad.

They also noticed that Ilias was acting unusually. 　

"Ilias has been off duty since the middle of the day, and we haven't been able to contact him until now. And now he's here?

It took my men a long time to find him, and it must have taken him a long time to get to this place.

It's a path through the forest, didn't you leave a guide?

Oh, we were all asleep in the cave when we heard the boy was safe. ......

I was teaching the boy how to release his magic. ......

So you've been scouring the forest all night long, haven't you?

We all glanced at the Iliad.

What's wrong with you all of a sudden? Hahaha.

Back to the strategy meeting.

"Boy, do something!

"Kid, do something!" "You're better off with Kara and the others!　They're your superiors!

Not that one, he's just like my wife before the explosion!

You're here to save the monk, you should be the one to do something about it!

"I'm here to help you, so you'd better do something!

And then they're pushed out in perfect coordination.

Remember this!

Now, I have no choice but to face the Iliad.

Let's think about what's on Ilias' mind right now.

He was working in the morning, and then suddenly he was off duty.

The reason is not clear, but what he did after that is unclear.

After we were abducted, Mr. Van contacted Grandpa Kara and organized a rescue team.

He was not in contact with us at that time, in other words, he was not at home.

If Mr. Ban's men couldn't find him, then we should assume that the Iliad was moving from place to place.

Why was he looking around off-duty, looking for someone who had gone on an adventure outside the country?

He searched the country during the day, and Ban's men finally found Ilias and called him.

If it were up to Ilias, he would've come running.

But he was only given a rough idea of where to go and no one to guide him. I was forced to enter the forest.

Night fell, and we continued our search while we were doing other things in the black wolf village.

When we finally found him, everything had been resolved, and there before us was the person we had searched for so long and worried about.

When you get to this point, emptiness seems to take precedence over anger. .......

I'm sorry to have worried you.

This is not the time to think of a detailed strategy, you should apologize first.

"Oh, how worried you must be.

I hug Ilias.

"What are you--

Unlike when I hugged the girl, Ilias's body was hard, and most of all...

Ouch!

It felt as if he had hit a rock. No, this is not the time to be thinking about that.

Hey, Gallery, don't whistle at me!

Thank you for looking so desperately for me until I was in such a state of disrepair.

No, well, ...... that's what people are supposed to do. ...... That ......

It's a good idea to overact, say thank you, and let the momentum wash over you!

I'm really sorry. I'm so sorry, I'm so happy.

"...... Oh, thank God you're okay.

I felt the danger fade from Iliad.

All right, all right!

Now we can go home safely!

I'll be sure to follow up with him afterwards and buy him a good meal and drinks at Dog Bone.

"Well, that's settled, then. "Well, that's all settled. But if Ilias had arrived in time, the matter would have been settled much sooner.

No, no, you said that if the Iliad had been there, everything would have been resolved by force, and that would have made things worse.

That's true.

You're right.

You're right.

What's the point of having that conversation at this time?

I heard you muttering, "Oh, no.

Hey.

I heard a smarmy voice in my ear.

I tried to run away, but for some reason I couldn't move.

"Yes, sir.

I'm holding onto Ilias and he's frozen in place.

Rather, Ilias has his hands around my back and is holding me firmly in place.

What is this, it's so hard I can't even shake it!

Is it steel restraints or something?

Is it true what they say?

No, no, it's ......

Tell me the truth.

...... There were some complicated circumstances that I wanted to discuss with you, and I was hoping that we could work something out rather than use force. ......

"You're glad I'm not here.

No, no, I didn't mean it. ...... I slipped up. ...... Ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch!　No, no, no, no, no!　Hey, idiot, you gorilla--

My ribs and spine are screaming.

Oh, I've seen this guy on TV before.

I think Bearhach--

I lost consciousness with a nostalgic memory.

"Oh my god.

I'm sorry. I understand the situation, but there's a way to say it.

On the way back to the forest, Ilias walked ahead of the others.

Ilias walked ahead of the others in the forest on the way home. He drew his sword and swatted away any bushes that got in his way.

When he loses consciousness, Kara carries him on her shoulders.

"It's pretty pathetic that he fainted like that.

No, that would be hell even for us.

I think it would have been more effective on us on our backs.

"And it's armor. There's nothing to be happy about.

I lifted my sword to cut down the tree in the way.

Oh, it's stuck again.

I smash it with its scabbard and snap it.

It seems that the scabbard has been accumulating rust lately, and the sword is sometimes stuck in the scabbard.

There is no problem with the scabbard, but I have to take it to the blacksmith as soon as possible.

"Grandpa Kara, Grandpa Bol, did you say something?

"No, ...... nothing, ...... nothing, .......

But what did he mean by "gorilla" at the end?

I can imagine it was some kind of swear word, but I'll ask him next time.

I heard what happened. He was doing everything he could for the girl who was now watching him from the back of the van.

When he told me the girl's story, I understood his point.

If he had been shown the girl's condition, he probably would not have been able to restrain himself.

He would have drawn his sword, blackmailed the Kuro Wolves, and forcibly taken her out.

He would have acted as if he didn't want the girl to stay in hell even for a second.

That said, the way he said it--what was that all about?

Anger, frustration, loneliness, ...... which emotion prevailed?

I was just venting my frustration at being searched for so long and having it end in nothing.

But what are the feelings that remain now?

"You could have asked me.

It suddenly slipped out.

Fortunately, no one seemed to have heard me.

Oh, I see.

He came from a different world.

I'd be lying if I said I didn't think that was special.

There's a lot of other things he's done that catch my eye.

I'm interested in him.

I want to see more of what he does, up close.

I want to be part of it, to be a part of it.

But he's not trying to be dependent on me.

He says the whole reason he's doing this is to raise money.

I'm thrown into a different world and I have nothing.

Isn't it permissible to be more lenient with others?

When he hugged me, when I tightened my hold on him and hugged him back, I realized something.

He was more fragile than I had imagined, much more so than most adults.

He was no better than a woman, no worse than a child. 　

From his point of view, the power of those around him must seem threatening.

It's not just the bad guys. It's not just the bad guys, it's the knights, it's me, it's .......

But on the other hand, if they were on your side, you'd be glad to have them.

Is this a good workout for you?

If I can become dependent on him, I will be able to grow more as a knight.

I have only been following a vague path so far, but it would not be a bad idea to go with such a goal.

I imagined him begging me to take the sword in my hand and I had no choice.

"...... What am I thinking?

This is more delusion than imagination.

Shaking his head lightly, he quickened his pace.

But what should I do after that?

It would be conspicuous if I took the girl inside the gate.

Should he take her to the barracks and clean her up first?

After that, well, he'll take care of it.

I have to tell him about the new tribe.

It'll go peacefully and without conflict.

I'm sure His Majesty will do no wrong.

Another busy day through the forest.

"Oh, I forgot about the invitation!

◇

My back hurts a lot. What the hell is that gorilla?

I came to my senses in the barracks.

Kara and the others are back to their jobs.

Mr. Ban has gone to explain the negotiations with the Kuro Wolves to Lord Ragdoll.

"Leave the rest to me," he said. There's nothing to worry about for now.

There are no sub-humans in this country, but it seems that there is no discrimination against such people.

The problem is that the old-fashioned way of thinking about gender roles is still intact, but that's okay for now.

It is true that there are countries where sub-humans live as a matter of course, but only when there are settlements nearby where only sub-humans live can they come and go.

No such settlements have been found in Taze, and only humans have inhabited this territory so far.

Perhaps in the near future, we may see the Kuro Wolves doing business in the market here in Taize.

Well, it's about time.

Ilias is currently washing the girl in the bathrooms of the barracks. He tried to strangle his benefactor right in front of him, and she resisted, but his resistance was in vain and he was taken away.

It would have been hard to escape if he had been grabbed by that monstrous power.

From time to time, I could hear shouting and the sound of magic power being released, but I didn't care.

Just when I thought things had quieted down for a while, Ilias arrived.

"Oh, you're finally done?

You're finally awake, it was hard for you to listen to me when you were unconscious.

The girl's arm is in Iliad's hand.

The girl's arm was in Ilias' hand.

It's just that the girl is being dragged helplessly away.

It was horror enough.

The girl notices us and rushes towards us, whimpering.

Ilias had done his job and let go of her hand. Then the girl charged at him with such force that she hit him in the stomach.

"Whoa!

I forgot. She's also a black wolf.

She's not trained, but she's got the right specs.

The girl who had been washed no longer smelled.

Her whole body is clean, and her skin is whiter than before.

Her hair is shining, even in the daytime.

You're beautiful, but you'll stand out like a sore thumb.

"Yes, just being a subhuman makes you stand out, but this hair is too conspicuous.

At any rate, I got a large towel and wrapped it around my head.

I think it'll be okay.

I've also covered up his ears, so you can't even tell them apart at a glance.

His tail is not visible because it is covered by the man's jacket that he is currently wearing.

However, there is nothing I can do about the fact that her buttocks move when she shakes her tail.

It will stand out anyway. Let's compromise on this and take her to Maja. With possession, she'll be able to communicate.

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing.

Well, that's what I was thinking, too.

We'll take the girl and move on.

On the way, Ilias broke the ice with a look of realization on his face.

"Well, if I don't tell you now, I might miss another opportunity.

"What is it?

"Well, Lord Raggedy said he'd like you to attend the ceremony to award the prize for defeating the bandits, followed by a standing reception.

No, thank you.

I know, the honor of being invited to such an occasion is-- Wait a minute.

He grabbed me by the shoulders.

The law of inertia causes the body to move forward, but since the shoulder is fixed, the body floats for a moment.

It hurts, it breaks, it breaks!

Why, it's an invitation in recognition of your achievements!

I don't like to show off. I don't like to show off. - Get off me, you're breaking me!

Oh, God.

I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not.

I'm not sure if it's a good idea, but I think it's a good idea.

I'm not sure what to say, but I'm going to say it.

It's not just for your career. It's not just about getting ahead, it's a clear achievement that builds your credibility.

"That's true even if you're not a knight. If you want to live in this world, achievements are a great weapon. If you're weak and have no position, you'll have a hard time!

"Oh, you know what I mean. You know what it means to stand out as a freak.

I think it's not fair to bring this up, but it's the only way to explain it.

The Iliad is a woman who has achieved great things as a knight.

And what kind of problems does that cause?

"It's ......, but I'm still--

The only reason you're able to do what you do is because you have friends you can count on.

Ilias keeps his mouth shut.

The reason why Ilias has been able to maintain his current position is not only because of her ability.

Ilias has been able to maintain her current position not only because of her own abilities, but also because of the help of Lord Ragdoll and the Ragdoll Squad, who have recognized her abilities and assisted her.

If it weren't for them, I'm sure that Ilias' mental state would be...

"Can't we rely on ...... and the others?

Of course not. Grandpa Kara, Maya, Ban and Ilias are all people I feel I can rely on.

So...

Hey, relax a little.

You know, relax a little." He tugged on both cheeks of the girl who was staring at him anxiously.

I've only been in this world for about a week, and I'm in a position where I don't know my way around.

The girl's funny face is used as a shield to continue the conversation.

"We don't even know who our allies and enemies will be. We don't know who will be our friend or foe. We need to carefully assess who we can rely on and how much we can rely on them.

......

This is not to say that the Iliad is wrong. It's just that I'm a coward.

Cowardice ...... you ......

It's obvious. I came into this world and suddenly I almost died.

The bear and slime attacks have been in my dreams for the past few days.

So has the murderous intent of the bandits.

"I know I can rely on the Iliad, but I don't have the courage to rely on him. In order to protect myself, I don't want to stand out and make more enemies. That's all.

You can't rely on us yet: ......

The Iliad can't trust his life to someone he's only known for a few days, can he?

That's ...... true, but...

It's a convenient thing to say, but the person I'm relying on the most right now is you, Ilias.

Mm ......, that's not ...... very fair of you.

That's why I'm not inviting you.

Well, ...... Lord Raggedy had ordered me to persuade you to join, but I guess I'll have to give up.

Yeah, I'll get it.

"What?

I love this face.

I'd like to be cautious, but it's not safe to put my benefactor in a bad position.

If it was just an invitation, I'd decline. But the Iliad is on the line, isn't it?

No, that's true, but it's ...... true, isn't it?

"Well, I'm indebted to you. You owe me that much, don't you think?

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah?

The confused face of Ilias.

Funny face, but don't laugh. He'll squeeze you again.

"If it was an order in the first place, tell me first. We're working people.

"I'm sorry, ...... hmm?

Ilias looks unconvinced, but since he has achieved his goal, the topic is closed.

I'm not sure what I'm going to do about her name.

He lightly pats the girl on the head and asks Ilias for advice.

"Name?　You never told me her name.

In the village, she's known only as the Abominable Child. The parents died a few days after he was born, but no one would have known if he had been given a name.

So ...... I'll have to give him a name then. You're the son of the Kuro Wolf Tribe. ...... How do you pronounce black in your world?

"Oh, black, koku, black...

If the possession technique is working, it takes a certain amount of consciousness to communicate Japanese.

If it's a word you don't know, it's left as it is, but if it's a known word, it's translated by itself.

"It doesn't really fit the image of ....... What about white?

If you want to combine white, black and white, there's always Byak.

"Ummm, ...... wolf?

"Row, wolf, wolf, wolf lore, the most famous one is Fenrir. Also known as Flosvitnir, Vanargand.

Well, it's a name I'd rather avoid, considering its meaning.

"Wolf" has a nice ring to it.

"But most people who call themselves Wolves in this world are men.

Hmmm ......, how about ...... wolfe with those letters?

It's a little bit like Wolf with a lowercase letter, but it's definitely softer.

But isn't this just a girlish way of adding a child to Taro to make it sound like Taroko?

But I don't mind the sound.

"Wolfe...... is not bad, that's decided.

He looks into the girl's eyes and speaks to her.

From now on, you are Wolfe, and that is your name.

"Uh-uh. ...... Uh-huh?

Ulphe. Ulphe.

Urufe. ...... Urufe!

Apparently, he likes it.

Ilias and I looked at each other and laughed.

Today is the beginning of a new life for this child, Urfe.

I took her to Maja, who was happy and ruminating her name over and over.

Lord Ragdor is the King of the Targs.

Lord Ragdor was in the office of Marith, King of the Tars, telling him the story of what had happened.

He said, "I didn't know there was an unknown tribe of subhumans in the Tarzian territory with a long history. The fact that there are so many uncharted territories should be an issue for us in the future.

Yes, and the person who discovered it is a merchant from this country named Ban and a collaborator of the said Lord Ratzel.

I'm sure you'll be pleased to know that he's been able to help us defeat the bandits, write about the Demon Lord, and now discover the sub-human. Did he accept your invitation to the dinner party?

I checked with Lord Ratzel the other day, and he had not yet accepted, so I gave him leave of absence until he did.

"Haha, that's going to be tough for the stubborn Lord Ratzel. If it's too difficult, you'll have to move.

Yes, sir.

If that doesn't work, I'll sneak out of this room and go see him myself. Take it easy.

"I'll have to make an effort, sir.

Lord Raggedy laughs bitterly and Marith laughs merrily.

Ban, the merchant, has requested that we trade with the Kuro Wolves on an equal footing, but their numbers are small compared to ours.

What does it matter? They're long-time residents of this territory. It is reasonable, but not humane, to suddenly tax and exploit those who have lived without our protection. Let them do what they want until they want to be under us.

"If you ask me, it's a rare forest, and if we use it for good, it could benefit the country.

Let the man who discovered it sip his honey. He deserves it.

"As you wish.

Marito walked up to the window, standing tall.

There's someone who can make a difference in this country.

I can't wait to meet him.

It's more exciting than meeting a beautiful noblewoman.

If the collaborator had been a woman, I might have even fallen in love with her. I'm a curious king.

Marito smiled at the thought of a man somewhere in this country.

"Yes.

"Okay, it's done. No mistakes.

Maja's possession went off without a hitch. I'm not hoping for any side effects, am I?

It's no small thing, I'm sure.

By the way, this possession was also replenished with magic power.

The thought of running out of magic power at the Kuro Wolves' place is horrifying.

"Wolfe, do you understand me?

Ilias called out.

Wolfe looked a little surprised, but nodded his head and answered.

"Okay, say something.

"Uh, yeah, yeah, I'm good.

I don't feel like I'm failing.

That's rude. Don't be rude. I'm not a little boy.

Can't you at least feel a little guilty for my mistakes?

Wolfe is puzzled that he has the words to express himself.

I had explained it to him beforehand, but it's no wonder he's confused when he actually feels it.

Until now, she had only been able to shake her head.

"Uh, uh, well, uh, urufu is urufu.

Wolfe looks at me and speaks in confusion.

"This way, I'm in.

Oh, yeah.

What about you?

I see. You're wondering what to call me.

It's good to let him call you by your name, but he's younger than you. I'd hate to have to imitate the Iliad by calling you by your first name.

What should I call him?　I could have him call me brother, but something's different.

Dad, no.

Master ......, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.

Why don't you call me darling?

That's a dangerous thing to do.

I blocked Maja's comment and thought about it.

Think about your future relationship with Wolfe.

Naturally, I intend to support Wolfe so that he can live on his own.

I'm prepared to take on that responsibility, and I have.

I intend to teach her many things.

That's why.

"Teacher, master.

You're so high and mighty.

Leave me alone.

Sir? Sir?

I don't care what it is.

Sir, sir, sir, sir, ...... sir!

All right, that's what you call me now.

Shishou!　Shishou!　Shoo! Shoo!

Wolfe called out in amusement.

If you think about it, Master could be translated as Master. Would you have preferred that?

No, I prefer the Japanese style.

In Japan, the image of a bar master is too strong.

Now, let's think about what we should do in the future.

First of all, I have to think about the food and clothing of the Wolfe.

"Of course I don't mind. I'm willing to take your place if you're willing to bear the burden.

"I'll pay the rent, please.

The spare room in Ilias' house became Wolfe's room.

I think I can manage to eat. If I can take advantage of Godz, I won't need money for the time being.

Then there's clothes. It's not good to be wearing men's clothes that are too tight.

Are you even wearing underwear?

Maja. Can you tell me how to get Wolfe to stop releasing his magic?

No problem. If you have an abundance of magic power, it's not a problem if you let her release it frequently, and then it won't be a burden on your daily life if you keep it under control.

This should take care of the hair emission problem.

I still think the clear white hair stands out .......

I don't always wear a towel on my head anymore either, but I haven't heard much about it so I guess it's not a problem.

The rest is clothing. ......, let's bring that in first.

"Wow, she's cute!

I brought Cyra.

It was my day off, so I went to her house and called her.

How did you know where she lived?

"Well, exchanging addresses is the first step to friendship.

He ignored Ilias' questioning look.

So, can you make some clothes for Wolfe?　You can't sell special clothes in this town where there are only humans. If you're going to commission me to make something, I thought it might be a good idea to practice on Sylar.

"Wait, this is getting my creative juices flowing!

Wulfe was a little confused by the excited Sila, but he finished taking the measurements.

"Well, Wolfe. You've been able to talk to others through Maja's possession magic. But you'll never be able to stand on your own if you keep relying on possession. I know, Ilias. I'm aware that I'm talking to myself as well, so stop looking at me like that.

I hope so.

The first thing you need to do is learn the language and common sense. That's why I'm asking you, Maja!

She sat Wolfe down and held a piece of parchment and a pen in her hand.

This is what a pupil looks like.

"Boy, do you remember what you make him call you?

"I'll teach you how to live. I'll teach you how to live, but I'm a beginner in language and common sense. So, Maja, please!

So I'm sitting next to Wolfe.

I don't mind, but something doesn't add up.

It's not that I can't learn the language on my own, but it's faster to learn common sense.

And so the arrangements for welcoming Wolfe were made.

Since I have not gained anything so far, I have to make an effort to gain something from now on.

There is no happiness waiting for her.

Nevertheless, I will support Wolfe so that he can have a good life.