chapter 224

Chapter 224

“Gio?”

With Sancalute draped around her neck, Juhyeon tilted her head as she greeted Gio.

“Has something happened? You said you wanted to rest for a while, so I didn’t set any separate schedule, but... are you perhaps bored of being in the cabin?”

“I will never have a day when I grow bored of being in the cabin, even until I die.”

“Then what brings you to our house today? Usually you send a letter before you come like this, but there wasn’t one. Is there something you want to say?”

“Have you ever raised a dog?”

“Ah, n-no...?”

A dog, all of a sudden?

“A dog?”

“They’re cute puppies.”

“Hold on.”

This felt ominous.

“What are you trying to say?”

“I found cute puppies, and I wasn’t sure how I should help them.”

“If their parents are with them, the parent dogs will raise them on their own.”

“They said they’re hungry.”

“This demon hag, you really...”

“I will assume I misheard.”

“You heard correctly.”

“No.”

“No, Gio.”

Juhyeon wore an awkward expression.

“I know it’s really strange for me to say this to you, Gio, but... you can’t just touch young animals when their parents are nearby. Where did you even see puppies for you to say that?”

“I saw them in the ruined Avilas Rainforest. The hometown of I, Argio, that I’ve mentioned before—the demon den once called the Black Forest. A good opportunity came up, so I paid it a visit.”

“You saw puppies there? Are you sure they were puppies? I’ve heard about how dangerous and infamous that place is from you, Gio, and no matter how I think about it, it doesn’t sound like you’re talking about ordinary puppies.”

“...”

“Gio?”

The portrait, resting its chin on its hand, soon spoke boldly.

“Is it a sin to find cute things cute?”

“...I suppose not?”

“And feeding a hungry beast—surely that isn’t a sin either, right?”

“...Maybe...?”

“Then I am innocent.”

“It would be best if you explained first, and then claimed you’re innocent.”

“Oh, come on.”

In the end, the portrait’s hair dyed red.

“I came to share something cute, and you’re going to be this cold? You’re going to hurt my feelings.”

“How is it that as the days go by, you keep getting better at lying without even wetting your lips.”

Because of the black paint heavily overlaid across the center of the frame, she couldn’t tell where its gaze was directed, but just the fact that it had transformed into Argio—suited for pushing through stubbornly—was enough to show how forced this whole situation was.

“So what exactly are you trying to do?”

“My dear Juhyeon, you need not worry about anything.”

“Does it not occur to you that I’m doing this because I want to worry?”

Groaning and hesitating, Juhyeon asked on.

“...You’re not doing something that endangers the world’s safety, are you?”

“Oh, my. Why would you say something so scary?”

“That reaction is so contrived it’s making me even more anxious. What do you want me to do?”

“As I said earlier, I only came to share very pleasant information.”

“The fact that you found puppies?”

“Yes—an adorable family led by a boy head of household who’s now seven years old.”

Argio declared.

“They are my children as well.”

“...Would that be Honey’s case, or Dana’s case?”

“If we must split hairs, Dana’s, but they were the ones who first called me Father, so isn’t it an even closer relationship than that? We’re family proven by history.”

“What kind of scam are you trying to pull on an innocent seven-year-old boy head of household?”

“This is all something that becomes blood and flesh.”

“Whose blood and flesh does it become?”

Silence fell.

“...”

“...”

Narrowing her eyes as she stared at the portrait, Juhyeon asked,

“Is this connected to that Demon King Project?”

“Perhaps?”

“Take it easy.”

Even if she said that, Juhyeon did not think Gio was some wicked divinity who would rain pain and wrath upon the world. He might be an evil god only in name, but the most evil act in his life’s achievements would be something like “feeding people until they get indigestion.”

“If you can introduce them to me later, please ask them to make time.”

In the end, Juhyeon accepted the situation without much resistance.

“If it burdens you, Gio, or that... boy head of household? then you don’t have to. It’s just that if I build ties in advance with an existence that’s already receiving such great affection from you, I feel like I might be able to help somehow as your manager.”

“Once we’re a bit closer, I’ll ask for their understanding.”

“Yes, thank you.”

This person’s words and actions might be rough and careless, but even the winds he stirred up were not. Even now, weren’t both the rich and the poor doing good deeds while crying out the Black Cloak’s name?

‘In the end, it won’t become something bad.’

Juhyeon trusted Gio, her foolish friend.

“I’ve been learning to cook lately, so come visit when you have time. If you tell me what food that seven-year-old friend likes, I’ll make it too. I felt bad that I’ve only ever received things from you.”

“A meal you serve yourself, Ms. Juhyeon—I’m very much looking forward to it.”

Argio chuckled softly, and his hair soon dyed black again.

“Then I’ll visit again when I have the time.”

“Yes, take care.”

“May you have a peaceful day.”

“...”

And then the portrait vanished.

“...Hmph, puppies, huh.”

What kind of food can canines eat again?

* * *

“Hey, friend! I’ve come!”

“Oh.”

The wolf waiting at the meeting place swayed as it approached.

“Thanks for what you gave me last time. I couldn’t give the seasoned ham and the jerky to the pups, but the chunks of meat you set aside specifically for the young ones were a huge help.”

“I was wondering what to do with all the leftover meat, so it was a big help for me as well. You see, for someone who cooks, you always want your storeroom to be neatly organized.”

“You said it was meat from a Golden-Step Sheep...”

The wolf was amazed.

“It wasn’t contaminated, so everyone liked it.”

The wolf tribe and the other species had survived until now by striving to avoid and neutralize poison as much as possible, but creatures outside of them could not escape the “plague” said to have spread out from the Black Forest.

Its aftereffects even threatened what many creatures could eat. Even if the wolf tribe wanted to hunt and eat other animals, the beasts of the Black Forest were ferocious, and even their flesh was soaked in poison.

Even if the adults, who had built up some resistance, could endure it, the young pups were another matter.

“There was nothing you could hunt that wasn’t dangerous...”

“Then how did you prepare what you usually feed the pups?”

“The parts with the strongest poison are usually the prey’s blood, so we would chew the meat to drain some of the blood, then pass it on to the pups. It was far more effective than using tools or herbs. We’re not the sort whose minds work well like the foxes or crows, after all.”

“That must have been tiring.”

“If we didn’t do even that, our wolf tribe could not have endured until now. It’s been seven years already since Mother, who was chieftain, returned to nature, so we have no choice but to work even harder.”

“As expected of a boy head of household...”

“Even if I tell you not to say it like that...! The wolf tribe is recognized as an adult at two years old. Even if our lifespan is long compared to ordinary wolves, we grow too fast to be compared to humans! I’m not a kid!”

“To lead your tribe at such a young age, and still be this dignified.”

“Grrrr... Woof! Woof-woof!!”

Only after it even let out barking did Argio stop teasing it.

“My apologies. Seeing your reactions, I couldn’t help but get mischievous.”

“I can’t tell if your personality is good or bad...”

“If I had to say, wouldn’t it be the bad side?”

Since he was an evil god, after all.

“May I visit your village again today?”

“...As you saw already, the wolves won’t exactly welcome you.”

“I know well. I understand.”

“Yeah, understand. In times like these, a creature with a human shape approaching—everyone’s just startled, that’s all. We grew up hearing so many bad stories about humans...”

“I fully acknowledge human patheticness.”

“If you put it that way.”

“More than anything, didn’t the children like me very much? After my last visit, I promised those little ones I would show my face again, so please do not make me into a cold and vile person.”

“No, didn’t I already allow it? Don’t say difficult things.”

The wolf moved its huge body and headed for the “village.”

To prepare for any possible danger, they had dug a massive burrow and lived inside it. In a forest where everything was soaked in poison, if they wanted to survive while raising pups as well, they had no choice but to create as large an empty clearing as possible.

“It must have been truly hard to dig this. Impressive.”

“Well... It’s true we’re not as talented at digging as the fox tribe. And our bodies are much larger than the fox tribe’s, so it must have taken considerable effort. It’s something to be grateful for to our ancestors.”

“Come to think of it, how does the crow tribe build their nests? They wouldn’t be able to dig underground.”

“As far as I know, they climbed as high up into trees as they could and built their settlement. They wove together branches that had been drained of as much poison as possible... Hmm. Since they don’t live all mingled together like we do or like the foxes do, perhaps there are ways it’s easier for them instead.”

“They don’t live together in a group?”

“Most birds are like that, aren’t they? I’ve heard it hasn’t been that long since the fox tribe started living in groups either.”

Even if they had gained wisdom equal to humans—or greater—basic animal habits and dispositions seemed to remain. Still, he hadn’t expected them to live separately even in a situation like this.

‘It seems safer to live gathered together, but if you’re scattered, the risk of being wiped out all at once is certainly reduced. Either way, there are pros and cons.’

As they chatted lightly, they soon reached the wolves’ burrow.

“Ahem.”

Clearing its throat, the wolf stretched its neck at the entrance and cried out.

“Awoooooooooooo—!!!”

“Awoooo...!”

“Awooooooooooo!!”

It was a signal that “family” had arrived.

‘At the same time, a signal that I am here as well.’

Wolves had keen senses, and even though they already knew each other’s identities, they still communicated this thoroughly—surely it was to soothe their family, saying, “It’s fine, it’s safe, I guarantee it.”

‘And separately from that, there would also be beasts that truly try to approach while hiding their identity...’

At times, the fox tribe had approached as a prank while pretending to be part of the wolf tribe, or else had stolen food, and in this Black Forest there were also beasts with the ability to mimic another target’s shape and voice.

‘In harsh times like this, there’s nothing wrong with being thorough.’

Such was the world.

“Come on, let’s go in.”

“Thank you.”

As he entered the huge cavern under the chieftain’s guidance, the wolves’ gazes followed him.

“...”

“...Grrrr...”

“...Whine...”

Some were wary, and some were frightened.

‘If there’s a commonality...’

Every single wolf feared Argio.

“...”

Smiling, he caught the hem of his black cloak and flicked it lightly. He was offering today’s prepared bribe, expressing that he had no intention of harming them.

In no time, a massive mound of meat piled up.

“Woof! Woof-woof!”

“Wheeeen... Hrrng!”

“Grrng! Woof!”

The first to welcome him were the wolf pups.

“Kids, just a moment...”

“I told you not to rush in like that!”

The pups who hadn’t even learned language yet didn’t know why their parents and relatives feared Argio.

He was a creature they had never seen in their lives, but they were children who had never even seen the fox tribe or the crow tribe. Differences in appearance couldn’t make them shy away.

“Woooong...”

“Oh my, how can you be this cute.”

Gio was moved by the pure, adorable sight of the wolf pups wagging their tails and greeting him as they came close. It felt like his heart, which had suffered from the terrifyingly obsessive mermaids and the harshly changed hearts of modern society, was being healed.

When the wolves flinched at that, the chieftain spoke.

“He is my guest. I guarantee his safety. Do not make the guest uncomfortable.”

The leader’s firm voice. At that, one by one, the mothers and fathers who had been holding their pups by the scruff set their children down on the ground.

In a world like this, it was terribly difficult to obtain clean, poisonless meat, so they, too, did not want to offend the “guest” if they could help it.

“...”

“...Hrrng...”

From among the hesitant wolves, the chieftain’s friend stepped forward.

“Welcome, guest. If you were displeased, I apologize.”

“Mm, not at all. I believe I am being welcomed well enough.”

“I’m glad you say so.”

Despite being thirty-five years old, the sturdy wolf seemed to be an elder supporting the young chieftain as well. She bowed politely, then came closer and bared her teeth in a grin as she asked in a friendly tone,

“Can you tell us your name today?”

“I believe I already said it.”

The portrait laughed.

“Call me Gio.”

Here, “Gio” was a word that referred to “beast.”

Arka let out a small sigh as if troubled. It almost sounded like a reproach. From her perspective, it was only natural—he was using an awkward alias when he could have used a perfectly fine name.

“That isn’t a name...”

“Why, it can be.”

In truth, he had no name.

(To be continued in the next part)