CH 21

Clyde looked at the black wolf with a smile. It finally woke up. 

The black wolf that stood motionlessly finally spoke, “You were the young royal back then, aren’t you? Your name is Clyde, right?”

“Ah.” He suddenly remembered that the way the demon beast would speak is directly to his mind, “Ah, that’s right.” He slowly answered, nodding.

“You’ve grown up.” it chuckled. It spoke to him as if it was an older acquaintance, though it is indeed a hundred years older.

However, Clyde was more concerned about something else, “Is your body alright?”

“I guess.”

“I’ll get you some water. What would you like to eat?”

“I don’t want anything.”

Nothing? He quizzically looked at the black wolf.

“My lifespan has long expired. No matter how, a demon can’t even live for six hundred years. The reason I’m still alive is because I have been sleeping this whole time.”

It was able to survive this long due to him using the minimum amount of energy necessary. After all, even if it is standing with a dignifying presence, its body still looked thin and its ribs are visible. Then, waking up this way would not be good for it.

Clyde felt his heart tighten at the thought. He had to hurry.

“I want to know the precise meaning of your words when you saved me when I was a child.”

What it said back then was, “I want to go to the soul of the demon king.  But, I’ll die at this rate and will never get there.”

Clyde looked straight at the black wolf. It looked big then, but not so much now.

The black wolf also stared back at him in silence. Perhaps, realizing his resolve, it eventually started to speak, “―I heard from the demon king before he died. If one wants to be with him even after death, one has to die at a certain place. If I die at that place, the demon king will guide me after death. However, with my current powers, I am unable to get there.”

“I will help you with that even if I fall. I am a descendant of the hero.” Clyde said with vigor. He was confident. 

However, the black wolf’s face did not change,“―the problem is the location of where one has to end their life. It’s where the demon king was born. It’s somewhere within the Demon kingdom, but I can’t remember the place.” Its voice was filled with sadness, “No matter how much I tried to think about it, I just can’t remember it. For me to be like this, I must be unworthy to go to the demon king…” its face drooped with gloom.

Clyde realized the reason that the black wolf was sleeping on its own will. Was it out of remorse?

‘Was it…’

He was shocked.

‘Where was the demon king born?’

Clyde doesn’t know where either. Or rather, no one knows.

‘Oh no.’ 

His heart fell into despair. Although the wolf did awoke, if he let it die like this, taking over the Sargent title would’ve been meaningless. 

“Is there anyone who knows about this? Perhaps in written records or something―!” As he said those words, at the back of his mind, he knew that there was no such thing. 

The black wolf said knowingly, “Most of those in the demon kingdom should have known about it. However, all are dead except for me. Besides, there is no clear written record in the demon kingdom. Everything is handed down orally. That is why there are no written documents found.”

“That can’t be…” Clyde sat down with his head on his hands, his body became weak. There have been countless times where he felt frustrated of his incompetence, but he felt it most painfully now.

“―I’m sorry.” he groaned in a hoarse voice. 

He is unable to repay the favor.

*   *   *

The black wolf stared at Clyde, who was sitting in front of him, groaning out a sorry.

‘Sorry.’

He was really sorry. The black wolf had been asleep this whole time, but he was not entirely unconscious the whole time. Although his body was asleep, occasionally, his consciousness would be alert. That was why, fourteen years ago, he was able to immediately get up and save Clyde when he was almost killed from the sudden outburst of his magic powers. 

The black wolf is a demon, but he has no desire to take revenge on the descendants of the hero. Of course, he did have those thoughts right after the demon king lost his life, but now it’s different.

For one thing, it originally didn’t think well of the demon kingdom invading other countries, and when the demon king died, the brave hero did not let him suffer and pierced its heart without a single thought. Besides, none of his comrades are left.

When the black wolf was wandering alone in the northern mountains, the prince of Tolfa saved its life. That was why he saved Clyde back then when he was a child. He has golden hair, green eyes, and well-defined features. Clyde was reminiscent of the prince of that time.

As it continued to sleep alone in the stables of the Sargent family, it desperately tried to recall the place where the demon king was born. However, he could not remember.  Unable to recall such a thing made it unqualified to go to the demon king’s soul. It would let out a cry in its heart as it blamed itself every time. It would probably be better for its life to end here, in the country of the hero’s descendants, alone.

If there were any demons who survived, they could tell where the location was. It always had that thought, however, it also knows that it’s impossible. There are no demons to be found. 

It has been four hundred years since the black wolf came to the stable, and it was surprisingly quiet. There were occasional times where it’d wake by a sudden impulse, but there was always silence. Most of the time, no one was around. If there was, it’d only be the family head, cleaning the place or watching the black wolf from afar.

It knew that its own existence was a hassle and a nuisance. No one wanted the black wolf to live. It felt lonely and forlorn. It couldn’t even remember the location of the demon king’s birth and just blamed itself.

It was only four years ago that things became a bit noisy around the black wolf. It was when Clyde took over the Sargent title and two magicians arrived. They did various things to try to rouse and wake up the wolf. They even tried awakening magic, even awakening magic from other countries were tried as well. Sweet or bitter potions and medicines were placed into its mouth or applied 

Clyde even desperately begged. “Please, wake up. Please.”

Over the next four years, his impatient voice became grim. It was probably because he sensed that the black wolf was running out of time. He even tried to recreate the situation at that time. Clyde even let his magic out alone. Still, the black wolf did not move.

He did more than the past heads of the family. Unlike in the past, it was left alone as a nuisance and a troublesome thing. He washed its body and clipped its claws, fired up the boiler when it’s cold, and placed its paws in icy water when it’s hot.

Still, the three of them must’ve grown frustrated with the situation since there was no progress. The magicians often quarreled with each other, and Clyde’s face grew weary. That all changed just recently.

A petite woman with soft black hair arrived. The way she shook and trembled reminded it of a small animal, a low-class demon. Perhaps due to that, when she came in front of it, it involuntarily woke up and its nose moved.

Moreover, the black wolf was surprised when she continued to carefully brush its fur.  The small animal-like woman sat down beside it as she happily brushed. Then, the magicians joined her and brushed its fur all over its body carefully, and for the first time in a long time, it felt very comfortable. It reminded it of the time when it was brushed by the black gorilla back in the demon kingdom.

‘Who is this woman?’

It tried to focus its consciousness. However, when it checked again, it could only smell the scent of a human. Despondent that it was a human being, it fell asleep with that thought. When it was placed into a tub for a bath, it was surprised and regained consciousness. The black wolf loves to bathe. Soaking into hot water was a bliss, especially when they gently poured water over the back of its head. It was truly soothing therefore its nose twitched involuntarily. It was in a good mood, so it was fine that the male magician poured water over its face. 

There were even vegetable dishes. How does this woman know that the black wolf likes vegetables? The potatoes, pumpkin soup, vegetable stir-fry, and more. Before, it only had cold raw meat in its mouth and it had a strong smell. It couldn’t bear the smell in front of it.

When the artichokes were placed into its mouth, its ears moved. Then, it was pumpkin soup. What is with these people? They mustn’t force-feed a sleeping creature. Still, it liked it, so it swallowed it down.

“He ate it! The black wolf ate the pumpkin soup!” the female magician said in joy. It was hard to believe that she is the same person as the woman who always had a stern face and acted in a harsh manner.

The male magician also had a smile on his face as he was holding the fan. He had been frowning all the time recently, but now he has a smile on his face. And then, there was Clyde. His exhausted body seemed to have regained its vitality and the way he looks at the small animal-like woman was full of affection. If they were to talk, she would run away. But it could be seen that he cares for her very much. 

The mystery is whether the woman understands it. Importantly, who is this woman who calls it, “Mister Black Wolf” with familiarity? She would pinpoint the likes of the black wolf. However, since the black wolf had no human acquaintances, it was probably just a coincidence. Also, she would often turn her head to it.

The air in the stables changed. Unlike before, it is very warm. It would be filled with cold silence, but now there would be bright voices bouncing around. Then, the black wolf woke up. Although it knew that there were no demons left who knew where the demon king was born…