Chapter 44 – Fangs of the Black Wolf: Reunited

Chapter 44 – Fangs of the Black Wolf: Reunited

— Roxy Migurdia —

After discovering the location of Zenith and Lilia thanks to the Great Empress Kishirika, our group consisting of Elinalise, Talhand, and I immediately set forth south towards the Millis Continent and eventually Millishion, where Paul and his group were hopefully still stationed.

That was nearly half a year ago.

The journey wasn’t particularly difficult with our combined adventuring experience and fighting power, as well as my knowledge of the Demon Continent, but we still felt a sense of urgency due to Zenith’s precarious position.

With our timeline lining up perfectly, we were able to cross the Great Forest shortly after the end of the rainy season, though we could tell that something odd had happened in Zant Port... ah, well, that wasn’t our problem, so we ignored it.

Quickly making it to Millishion, upon entering the grand Adventure Guild headquarters, we were quickly met with the shocking news that Paul’s group, the ‘Fittoa Search and Rescue Squad’, had been disbanded.

Luckily, we were able to find out it wasn’t due to Paul’s death, but that still left us in an unfortunate situation, unsure of what to do next.

Which was where we found ourselves now.

Sitting in a bar, pondering over our next move.

“Well... I guess we’re shit out of luck, eh?” Talhand said, stroking his beard.

“It is quite inconvenient...” Elinalise muttered. “I want to get Zenny as soon as possible, but with a group this small...”

Indeed.

The Begaritt Continent, much like the Demon Continent, was a harsh land, full of monsters and bandits.

And unlike the Demon Continent, where I hailed from, none of us were knowledgeable about the land nor the customs.

So it would be an arduous journey, to say the least.

And even once we got to the labyrinth the two Greyrat women were trapped in, it would be presumptuous to assume that we had the firepower to clear such a place.

So... what now?

Would we hire someone?

We knew from Kishirika that Leon was in the Great Forest around five months ago, and considering how he had likely only stayed there for the duration of the rainy season, he was likely in the Central Continent by now.

Maybe we could go to him?

He would surely fill in the frontline attacker position we needed...

“You guys...”

As I heard a familiar male voice, all three of us turned to look at who had just entered the building.

“Paul?” Elinalise said, surprised.

“Elinalise... Talhand... Roxy...” he continued, stunned. “What the heck are you three doing here?”

“Searching for Zenny of course,” Elinalise said, standing up. “We saw your message back in the Fittoa region right after that disaster occurred.”

“Y-You guys... you were searching for her?” Paul asked, his words dripping with emotion.

“Yes,” I nodded. “Speaking of, we found out that she and Lilia are alive, as well as all your children.”

Paul sighed in relief. “I see... Leon didn’t tell me he met you guys.”

Huh?

What did he mean?

I expected him to show a more... emotional reaction.

Perplexing.

“We... didn’t meet Leon, Paul,” Elinalise said, her tone also showing her confusion. “We just passed him as we ventured into the Demon Continent, we believe.”

“You didn’t?”

Great, now Paul was confused too.

This was turning into a troublesome affair.

“Then... how could you know that Zenith and Lilia are alive?” he asked.

“We met an... interesting figure,” Elinalise said. “She was able to tell us where all your lost family was, such as Leon being in the Great Forest, and Zenith being in-”

“The Begaritt Continent. I know,” Paul said, interrupting her.

...He knew?

What in the world was going on here?

“I’m assuming this ‘interesting figure’ is the same one Leon met then,” he said, sitting down at the table. “It seems that we have a lot to talk about.”

I see now... Paul must have met up with Leon during his journey towards the Central Continent and told him about Zenith and Lilia’s survival.

Quite the coincidental turn of events.

“More importantly, for searching for my family... even after I ended up breaking up our party... thank you,” Paul said, getting on his knees in front of Elinalise and Talhand. “And thank you too, Roxy.”

“Ah, don’t mind it!” I said, waving my hand.

Jeez, that was an embarrassing feeling.

Especially when I found myself sometimes thinking about his son in... certain ways.

Certain ways that were much too shameful to reveal.

“No, please... especially when you have even fewer ties to us than these two, thank you,” he nodded in my direction. “Though... did you get injured or something? What’s with the eye patch?”

“Ah, this...” I then ran my finger over my left eye. The one that had been turned into a Demon eye thanks to the Great Empress Kishirika.

“It’s... a goal, you could say,” I said, smiling softly. “You can blame it on Leon’s influence.”

While I had yet to take control of this new power, I was able to use it to some extent. It was especially useful when studying how the mana flowed through my spells.

But the world was still a little too bright when I had it uncovered, no matter how much I tried to suppress the mana flowing into it.

So for now, it was the eye patch.

“Oh... I see... sorry?” Paul said, a bit confused.

“Well, aside from that, it’s only natural we look for her, right?” Talhand said. “That little Leon made us a true family, even if it was only for a year.”

“Indeed. While I have no care for you, I do have quite the attachment to Leon and Zenny,” Elinalise said, getting up as she stood over Paul.

“And speaking of Zenny...” her usually kind or flirtatious gaze hardened as she glared down at the man. “It seems that you picked up another wife while I wasn’t looking. You do remember what I said, right? What would happen if you betrayed Zenny...”

“Y-Yeah... I know, but until I save her, put off killing me, alright? Please?” Paul said, clasping his hands together in prayer.

“...Fine. But this isn’t the end,” Elinalise said, flipping her hair before she sat back down.

“Now... the Paul I knew would be drowning his sorrows in women or alcohol right about now, but you have a good look on you,” Elinalise said. “Did something happen?”

Paul rubbed the back of his head with an embarrassed smile.

“Ah, well, you could say that... a lot of it actually happened in this bar if you believe it!”

Paul then went on to explain his and Leon’s first... unfortunate meeting, as well as their reconciliation and his attempts to get in the good graces of his daughters during their month-long stay.

But to think I missed Leon by a week... I was quite saddened by that.

“That’s not true,” Elinalise shook her head. “You’re also a great cook. Too bad you have a gambling problem, else you would be the perfect husband.”

“Aye, I’m not sure if that’s a compliment or not...” Geese sighed, rubbing the back of his head. “But damn... to think our party would get back together again... though Ghislaine and Zenith aren’t with us, it’s still nice to see.”

Talhand nodded to Geese’s words, while Elinalise and Paul both smiled softly.

The Fangs of the Black Wolf... to think I would be so close to such a famous party.

Wait... wasn’t I basically a part of it at this point?

I wonder what the me who had just left Ranoa would think of me now.

“Well, let’s meet back here tomorrow morning, alright?” Geese said. “If you’re anything like the Paul I knew from back then, I wouldn’t trust your preparations at all. Bet you don’t even have any spices for cooking meat, do ya?”

Shaking his head in disappointment, he then started heading out the door. “Well, see ya! And don’t you dare be late!”

With his departure, Elinalise then sighed.

“Well, I think we should be finding ourselves a place to stay for the night,” she said before licking her lips. “And as for me... well, it’s been a few days on the road, so I wonder just how sinful I can get in the Holy Country’s capital...”

...I was glad we were only staying a night in Millishion.

I didn’t want to get branded a heretic due to her... activities.

“That sounds about right for you,” Paul said, shaking his head with a fond smile. “But I should go tell the other two the new plan. Ah, and I should also introduce you, but if we book our rooms together for the night, we can just do it then.”

As Paul began to head out, I inexplicably felt the need to call out to him.

“Paul,” I said, walking up to him. “About Leon...”

My words trailed off into a whisper as I griped about what I was about to ask, fiddling with the brim of my hat in anxiousness.

Why did I feel the need to ask this question?

And why was my stomach turning in anticipation of the answer?

“Is Leon... together, with that Eris girl?” I asked.

Paul widened his eyes before his lips spread into a smile.

“Heh. Yeah, he did mention her being my ‘future daughter-in-law’, and there was also that kiss...” he shook his head fondly. “While I entered the game a little earlier, young love is still nice to see.”

I felt my body freeze as Paul continued talking about his youthful exploits.

I... knew it.

Leon was too amazing to stay with someone like me.

I’m sure that for a child, I was pretty and cute, but once he got to see other women, and know what a true female body looked like, there was no room for me in his mind.

Haa... right. I expected this.

So... why?

Why does it... hurt so much?

“-oxy? Oi, Roxy!”

“Hwah!?” I sputtered, jolting out of my thoughts.

“I said I wanted to talk to you about something,” Paul said, quieting his voice. “Privately, if you don’t mind.”

Looking back at Elinalise and Talhand, who were both looking at us with interest, I nodded before following Paul out of the tavern and into a nearby alleyway.

Still blank in muted shock from the new information, my mind didn’t even try to imagine why he would want to talk with me.

“Right. This should be good enough,” he said, turning back to me with a serious look. “Roxy... I have a favour to ask of you.”

“...Yes? What is it?” I asked listlessly.

“You see... god, Leon’s gonna be pissed at me, isn’t he?”

Shaking his head, Paul continued, “You see, before we left, Leon and I decided to have some father-son bonding time by sharing a drink, but... well... Leon hadn’t really gotten drunk before, so he went a little... overboard.”

Oh?

“That must have been quite a sight, to see the usually mature Leon like that,” I nodded. “But... how does this concern me, exactly?”

“I’m getting there,” he said. “Well, when we were talking, we eventually got to the topic of... women. He... mentioned Eris, of course, as well as that Sylphy girl, but he also mentioned... you.”

...What?

“Well, I’m sure you remember his crush on you from back then, right? It was obvious for anyone to see,” he said, smiling fondly. “But that crush... well, it didn’t go away. In fact, from the look on his face, I would say it grew to something more.”

Wait wait wait... what?

“And, well... I can tell he’s serious about you. God, he said some embarrassing things, haha!” Paul chuckled to himself, wiping a tear from his eye.

Wait, Leon is serious about me?

He... remembers me?

He... is attracted to me?

Does he... love me? Still? After all this time? Despite my immature body?

The thought made my heart race, accompanied by a pleasant tingle that shot down my spine and a heat that flushed my face.

Paul calmed down his laughter and looked seriously into my eyes. “So, please, when you two meet up again, I ask that you let him... down... easy...”

His words trailed off as a shocked expression came onto his face.

But that surprise only lasted a moment before a wide grin spread across his face.

“Well, I’ll be... That’s my son,” his prideful smile dimmed into a worried frown. “Though... I don’t know how Zenith will take this...”

As Paul began mumbling, “Will Zenith take it easier on me now that her son has two women, or will she punish me for influencing her innocent Leon?” I found myself lost in my own thoughts.

And the thoughts were wonderful.

Being with Leon... was that truly a possibility?

No, it must be.

He might have had that Eris girl already, but that didn’t matter.

After all, the man standing in front of me had two wives, so it was only in Leon’s blood.

And while I may not be the first to be with him, I was his first love, so I wouldn't lose in any way...

Wait, what am I thinking!?

Tipping my hat down to hide my flustered state, such thoughts continued to go through my mind.

They were embarrassing, childish, tender, warm, and... oh-so romantic.

Perhaps that was why my lips had unconsciously curled into a smile.

The future seemed quite uncertain, especially with our group’s upcoming journey, but one thing was clear.

Considering we will be leaving for Begaritt tomorrow before embarking on a quest through the perilous desert, it will likely not be for a while, but Leon... I cannot wait to see you again.

And so, with my heart aflutter, our reunion with Paul marked the start of another journey. One to reunite the final two members of the Greyrat family I have grown so close to, and the very family I hoped I would be joining in the coming years.

Not that I would openly admit that though.