How to Raise a Dumb Wolf - Chapter 53

At noon the next day, in the forest.

“…Recent reconnaissance reports indicate troubling activity in East Duke and West Duke, though we do not yet know what they intend. Neither Gilbert nor Maxi is easy to deal with. As princes, those two… no, I suppose we must call them kings now. In any case, both have serious defects of character. The old king raised them to be far too arrogant, entirely without compassion or morality. Admittedly, one cannot expect much skill at parenting from a king who gave his realm to his daughter simply because he favored her, but raising two sons with such severe problems is still a rare achievement. Queen Shali Grey does not share those particular flaws, but she is indecisive and insufficiently forceful, which places her at something of a political disadvantage… Is raising children truly so difficult? Look at you, little Katie, little Kate, and little Kallen. Did I not raise all of you perfectly well… Les, are you listening?”

The Beast Emperor’s questioning voice sounded directly in his ear. Les could almost picture His Majesty twitching his tail in mild displeasure. He pulled himself together and made a soft sound deep in his throat. “Mm.”

“Do not lie. Remember that I can see you.”

Carter III spoke with solemn composure. After a pause, he added, “Even if I could not see you, I would know what you were thinking from your voice alone. You are a wolf cub I raised, Les.”

Les: …

Carter III said, “Repeat what I just told you.”

Les swallowed and answered, “There are troubling movements in East Duke and West Duke. King Gilbert and King Maxi are both morally bankrupt and untrustworthy, so we must be especially wary of them. The old king had no talent for raising children. And…”

“And what?”

“…”

“So the only part you failed to hear was the part about how I raised all of you?!”

“…”

A long silence followed. Even the Beast Emperor could not help feeling that he had raised this wolf for nothing. Still, Les had at least heard the most important points. Carter III merely sighed.

Les spoke guiltily. “I am sorry, Your Majesty. I…”

“Never mind. I am something of a father to you, after all.” The Beast Emperor sighed helplessly again. “I have no children of my own. You are no different from Kate, Katie, and Kallen; all of you are as good as my own children. A father does not hold such things against his child. In any event, although a peace agreement currently exists, we still cannot relax our guard completely. The darkfolk may yet tear it up… East Duke and West Duke in particular are entirely capable of using their independence as a pretext to begin another war, and it so happens that neither of their rulers can be trusted…”

After pausing for several minutes, the severity in Carter III’s voice eased, and the atmosphere grew somewhat lighter.

“Of course, there should be no immediate problem. None of the three Duke states has recovered economically. Even those two conceited fools, Gilbert and Maxi, are not stupid enough to pick a fight they cannot possibly win. We probably need not worry for another two or three years. Besides, you are in Wold now. You might reach the Duke states faster than we could travel there from within our own borders… Do you understand what I mean, Les?”

Les paused, then nodded. “I understand, Your Majesty,” he said softly.

“Good. I have never pressed you about this, but you cannot remain abroad in wolf form for the rest of your life, and I would not advise you to try.”

“…Yes.”

Hearing that brief but firm promise, the Beast Emperor’s heart softened despite himself. He knew Les was not one to make promises lightly and that he was loyal to his country. Yet it was precisely that nature which sometimes made Carter III worry about him and ache for him all the more.

“Very well. That concludes our business.” Carter III closed his eyes and continued gently, “Now let us speak as father and son about your affairs. Les, what were you thinking about when your mind wandered just now? What happened? Have things with that girl been going badly lately?”

Courting a woman in animal form could not possibly be easy when he could reveal neither his identity nor even the fact that he was beastfolk. No one understood that better than the Beast Emperor himself. The very fact that Les had not returned from Wold was proof enough that matters were not proceeding smoothly.

Carter III waited patiently for Les’s answer.

“No, I…”

Les hesitated for several seconds as he organized his thoughts.

“It is nothing in particular. She only seems troubled by something related to me as well, so I…”

Les meant the coat.

When he remembered seeing Aisha stare into the wardrobe, Les could not help blushing at his own presumption. For one instant, he had imagined that Aisha might care about him at least a little. Yet the moment he thought it through, the truth seemed obvious: she was merely troubled because she could not return something he had lent her.

Steadying himself, Les said, “So I… intend to see her again.”

“That is good.”

Because Les spoke so vaguely, the Beast Emperor did not know precisely what had happened. He merely nodded.

“Spending time together is important. The more you talk, the better it will be for your relationship. If I could, back then I too would have liked to… Never mind. Are you certain you do not need me to come to Wold and help you?”

Once again, the Beast Emperor let a sentence trail off without finishing it. Les did not press him to explain and merely shook his head.

The Beast Emperor did not sound disappointed. As though he had expected the answer, he said, “I see… If you encounter difficulties, there is no need to be embarrassed about asking me for help, my child. Ah, yes. Let me give you some good news. Our new agreement with Helman has been signed and will be announced publicly in due course. Beast and Helman have agreed to open their borders to a limited extent. Ordinary citizens and merchants will be permitted to travel freely between the two countries once they obtain a travel permit. Naturally, a soldier appearing within Helman would still be somewhat unusual, but I can approve a special permit for you. From now on, you may use your human form in Helman when appropriate.”

The news stopped Les short, just as Carter III had expected.

Watching the giant wolf’s astonishment through the image before him, the Beast Emperor smiled with satisfaction. “Well? That is good news for you, is it not?”

Les did not know what to say. His emotions churned. Deeply moved, he opened his mouth, but ultimately managed only, “…Thank you, Your Majesty.”

“You are welcome.”

Les did not know that, in the palace, Carter III was gazing at his image with fatherly affection.

“If you find it difficult to make progress beside her in animal form, you may now consider giving up the pet approach and find an opportunity to begin courting her properly. Being a pet… is simply too difficult. As I have told you, my child, I hope you… will have no regrets.”

…

After ending his conversation with the Beast Emperor, Les rose and transformed into his human form for the first time in a long while.

He looked at his hands. As a beastfolk, both his human and animal forms were equally himself; there was no particular distinction between them. Yet after remaining in animal form for so long, his human body felt somewhat unfamiliar.

Perhaps… His Majesty was right. As long as he remained beside her as a giant wolf, Aisha would never feel anything for him beyond affection for an animal. Pal’s claim that he had once left his master had also laid useful groundwork for the giant wolf’s eventual departure.

But… if the “Les” beside Aisha disappeared now, she would… surely be very sad.

Les fell silent for a moment and clenched his fist.

He would wait until it became necessary. For now… he did not need to do it yet.

Setting that particular idea aside for now, Les strode out of the forest. He knew where Aisha was.

He always knew.

…

That day, Aisha emerged from the Free Arena and saw a figure standing beneath a large tree outside. She rubbed her eyes once, then rubbed them again. When the man with long silver-gray hair, half veiled by the dusk and the tree’s shadow, still did not disappear, delight flooded through her. Almost instantly, her heart began to pound.

Aisha herself did not know where that strange exhilaration came from. She knew only that the indescribable happiness sent her blood racing through her veins.

Before her mind could catch up, Aisha found herself already running happily toward him. “Major General Wolf… Mr. Wolf! May I ask whether you…”

Les had still been hesitating over the most natural way to approach and greet her. He had never expected Aisha to run to him first, and he froze. Before he could think further, however, his gaze suddenly sharpened.

When their eyes met, Aisha quickened her pace. She was almost upon him now, her smiling eyes fixed on his face, and so she failed to notice what was approaching from the side.

It all happened in an instant. Even lightning itself might not have understood what occurred. Just as Aisha prepared to stop before Major General Wolf, he abruptly stepped forward, closing the safe distance between them until they were almost touching. Before Aisha could comprehend what was happening, she cried out as he caught her by the waist and lifted her into the air.

At the same moment, the two half-grown brown bears racing each other—whom Les had thought were about to collide with her—nimbly changed direction while still some distance from Aisha and sped away like the wind.

In their wake came the astonished stares of everyone nearby.

Wold’s central plaza lay directly in front of the Free Arena. It stood close to the market and contained a fountain and a children’s play area, so the entire area was crowded. Such an eye-catching action, combined with Aisha’s cry, caused numerous people nearby to turn and look.

Perhaps it was only an illusion, but the plaza had been so noisy that people could not speak to those beside them without raising their voices, yet it suddenly fell miraculously silent. A wordless circle seemed to open around the two of them.

One second seemed to last a year or two. Finally, a young woman who recovered her senses declared confidently to her companion, “A couple! They are definitely a couple! They must not have seen each other in ages!”

“Wow. That’s intense.”

At the same time, two little boys ran over just to whistle at them, then scampered away giggling.

As a beastfolk, Les possessed exceptional hearing and heard every word around them clearly. Aisha, still held aloft, had instinctively placed her hands on his shoulders to steady herself. She blinked at him, apparently unable to make sense of her present situation.

Those clear hazel eyes nearly stopped Les’s heart. Realizing that he had made an error in judgment, he felt the tips of his ears grow warm. Turning away to conceal it, and without knowing what possessed him, he then quite naturally…

Set Aisha down on a branch of the large tree behind him.