How to Raise a Dumb Wolf - Chapter 9

It happened so suddenly that Aisha felt as if she had gone to bed in one world and awakened to find the name Tina Killott everywhere she looked.

In the newspapers. On public noticeboards. In the mouths of children racing along the roads and merchants gossiping at the market…

Within an astonishingly short time, the name spread to every corner of Philray. No—perhaps not merely Philray. Overnight, it seemed to sweep across all of Auni County, the entire Kingdom of Ryan, and even the whole Helman Federation. The celebrated general’s name flew alongside the thrilling news of victory into every region of the southeastern Ring Continent.

Only hours before, General Tina Killott, wearing a silver helm and silver armor, had ridden a magnificent black horse at the head of her personal guard and cut straight through the darkfolk ranks. Rumor claimed that her soldiers’ morale had risen so high, one almost feared they might lose their minds and start fighting themselves. Their battle cries shook the heavens. The darkfolk were driven back ten kilometers (about 6.2 miles) in a single night and, according to the latest reports, were still retreating.

Tina Killott herself had led the charge. With extraordinary courage, she thrust deep into the enemy formation and drove her spear through the chest of a renowned darkfolk commander.

It was a magnificent frontal victory.

The darkfolk were no easy enemy. In terms of inborn advantages, they seemed the favorites of the gods. They were tall and powerful, with enormous wings upon their backs and a natural gift for flight. They could cross the Divine Sea in a single night. Some darkfolk possessed wings as much as two meters (about 6.6 feet) long, vast enough when spread to blot out the sky.

They also had the highest proportion of magically gifted people among the three great races—nearly one in five, twice the rate found elsewhere. If not for the imbalance between male and female births and the resulting scarcity of their population, which placed them at a disadvantage in manpower against both humans and beastfolk, their superiority would have been greater still. In the earliest ages, physically frail humanity could not contend with them at all. Only the larger-bodied beastfolk peoples might have caused them a little trouble.

In short, while the beastfolk held the darkfolk in check over the long term, humans appeared confined to minor maneuvers along difficult border terrain. People desperately needed a victory in open battle to lift their spirits. After so many years of numbness and disappointment, Tina Killott was the one who delivered the triumph for which everyone had longed.

She had not become famous that day, of course. She had simply never caused a sensation on such a scale before. In an era when far fewer women than men joined the army, due in no small part to physical differences, the valiant General Killott had attracted attention for years. Aisha had known her name and some of her deeds since childhood.

The general had already won several important victories, and her life possessed all the qualities the public considered legendary. The only daughter of a military family, she lost her father to war when she was young. Her mother remarried, while Tina inherited the title of countess, earned by generations of her family’s military service, and grew up in her father’s house under the care of servants.

The young countess refused to let her family’s glory end with her. She studied diligently from childhood and graduated from Wold Military Academy at nineteen. She enlisted that same year. Rather than cling to her noble rank, she began as a noncommissioned officer and proved her strength on her own merits.

By then, four years had passed since the humans and beastfolk signed their peace treaty, so Killott’s battlefield had always lain in the north against the darkfolk. Troubled times never lacked opportunity. Over the next twenty-one years, she took part in hundreds of battles, large and small. Now forty, she had risen to lieutenant general. Everyone said that if she truly defeated the darkfolk and ended a war that had dragged on for decades, a higher noble title might be difficult to obtain—but promotion to full general was well within reach.

A woman holding the rank of general.

Nothing like it had happened in the centuries since the military system was established. The thought alone was stirring.

On the day the news arrived, Aisha heard at least twenty different versions of Tina Killott’s victory at school. Tina became a national idol overnight. No fewer than fifteen girls changed their career choices that day and announced plans to join the army—even though some of them could barely run one circuit around town.

It was no exaggeration to call Tina Killott a miracle. Her achievements had long surpassed her father’s, and after this battle, scholars across the federation were racking their brains to compose biographies of her.

Aisha did not mind hearing about Tina Killott. She too was delighted by a human victory. But a woman general remained far removed from ordinary life. When a new engagement began several days later, people stopped discussing the subject with such frenzy, and Aisha did the same.

There were more immediate, important matters in her own life that required attention.

Namely—

Her post-graduation preference form.

The form had been distributed after the Harvest Festival. In principle, students were supposed to complete it as soon as possible so teachers could understand their plans and arrange individual courses and guidance accordingly. The interval between the festival and formal graduation was less a period of study than a transition, designed to connect each student with the next stage of life and help them adjust to a new environment.

Nearly all of Aisha’s classmates submitted their forms within a week. As she watched, her own anxiety grew. Her father had promised to consult her mother and send suggestions, but no letter had arrived. Aisha herself had no particular plan. The more forms her classmates handed in, the more restless she became.

The result of that anxiety was distraction even while changing the giant wolf’s dressings. Her hands stopped halfway through winding a bandage. Only when the worried wolf leaned over and nudged her arm with his head did Aisha come sharply back to herself.

Soft amber sunlight fell across the giant wolf’s clean, fluffy gray fur, lending it a gentle and unusual sheen. His gaze was very tender. His beautiful blue-gray eyes resembled lake water scattering some strange light.

“Oh, sorry.” Realizing how long she had been lost in thought, Aisha hurriedly resumed her work. She finished the last few turns of bandage, then reached for the old wrapping on another injury. “I was thinking about something…”

“Awoo?”

The giant wolf sounded as though he were asking a question.

Aisha nodded, subdued. “Mm… my future plans…”

But her gloom did not last. She soon recovered enough to smile and stroke his back. A chain of pleased rumbles rose from the wolf’s throat, and his response made Aisha happy.

After more than two weeks together, Aisha was certain that she and the giant wolf shared some sort of understanding. She had also learned that he was remarkably intelligent.

He seemed almost able to grasp her meaning. Once they agreed on a time, he always waited at the appointed place. Yet this was the forest’s edge, and no one else from town had ever caught sight of him. That meant he knew to hide deep in the woods between meetings and return only at their appointed time.

Apart from their first encounter, he was always clean. As his injuries healed and fewer bandages remained, he looked more and more like an exquisite work shaped by nature itself: immense, yet perfect, every muscle filled with strength and vigorous life. Had she not seen him with her own eyes, Aisha could scarcely have believed that the depths of this familiar forest had nurtured such a marvelous creature.

He possessed a remarkable understanding of people. Perhaps because he knew Aisha had helped him and meant no harm, the giant wolf began to answer her words with small sounds as they grew closer. Sometimes, he almost made Aisha believe he truly understood her. Recently, with his wounds healing rapidly and the minor injuries along his back nearly gone, Aisha had even taken afternoon naps leaning against him on quiet days off.

She lowered her head and removed several more lengths of bandage. Still, the gaze upon her never moved. Aisha had no choice but to look up again. Sure enough, she met the giant wolf’s blue-gray eyes. They seemed to hold worry and hesitation.

Could he still be concerned about her feelings?

Aisha gave him an easy smile and tried to look as lively as possible.

“Mm… You probably don’t understand these things. This is my last year at school, so I’m almost a graduate. I have to fill out a form about what I want to do in the future, but… I haven’t decided yet.”

Les: ?

He had not expected Aisha to be troubled by such a matter. Of all people, mages had the least reason to worry about their future. Nations offered them scholarships and even living stipends. Their only concerns were entering a better school of magic, finding a better mentor, and refining their craft.

…Could she be struggling to choose a teacher or school?

Yes, that made sense. For a mage with an innate gift, the decision would indeed be more difficult…

The giant wolf’s gaze deepened as though he were genuinely considering the problem for her, warming Aisha’s heart. With no relatives nearby, he had dispelled her loneliness. He was almost another, very special member of her family. Even knowing that he was merely an unusually intelligent animal, Aisha still felt that she had someone beside her.

Then, without warning, a weight fell against Les while he was still thinking about magical education. He looked down and found Aisha’s face buried with a soft *whump* in his fur. She even rubbed her cheek against him with complete ease.

He knew she meant nothing unusual by it and had acted only from distress. Even so, heat climbed into his face. He suddenly felt an urge to take human form, gather her into his arms, and stroke her hair.

Les became inexplicably agitated.

Then Aisha raised her head. Youth and vitality glowed in her profile. Her eyes shone as if all her worries had disappeared. The expression stirred Les again. It felt as though nothing inside him could hide from her, and he found himself at a loss.

But Aisha merely stood, packed her things, and smiled.

“There, that’s everything. Let’s meet here again tomorrow. Sorry, I’m a little tired today. I want to go home early and rest.”

Sometimes, after finishing his treatment, Aisha lingered beside the river. Those moments were precious to Les. Her voice was lovely. There was something indescribable in the sight of the wind moving through her hair. When she leaned against him, she weighed very little, yet he could feel her warmth.

Les did not dislike spending more time alone with her. But today, it seemed, those moments would not last.

Unsure whether what he felt was disappointment or something else, Les sat up and remained motionless, watching her.

As on the day they first met, Aisha wrapped her arms around his neck in farewell. Les tensed by instinct, but in the end she only kissed his neck and left. He did not notice that his tail wagged several times beneath the kiss.

…

That night, the feline emperor contacted him by magic as usual. After half a month of adjustment, they had established a fixed time for their conversations. Carter III asked about Les’s injuries, how he was faring, and his plans for the future. Les answered truthfully, as always.

Then he fell silent for a moment.

“Your Majesty, I… have something I would like to ask of you.”

Life had shaped Les into the model soldier. Combined with his natural temperament, it made him independent and quiet. He did not complain even when gravely wounded. Cast into an unknown forest, he could survive on his instincts for combat and survival alone. Hearing Les ask for help was therefore a genuine surprise to Carter III.

“…How rare, Les. But I am pleased.”

Pride and delight colored the feline emperor’s voice. The orphaned wolf he had personally raised had chosen to rely on him. Clearly, Les regarded him as powerful and trustworthy. In his golden, resplendent bedchamber, Carter III lifted his head, and his frame—all twenty-eight jin (about 31 pounds) of it—seemed to grow taller at once.

“What do you want?”

Les swallowed. Then, with considerable awkwardness, he said, “Could you investigate mages with innate gifts? Ones willing to accept students—preferably with gifts related to healing…”

The feline emperor: “…”

Les: “…”

The feline emperor: “…I raised you for twenty years and never knew you were a mage.”

Slightly embarrassed, Les explained stiffly, “Not me. It is…”

“That human girl?”

“…Yes.”

Silence followed on the other end. Then His Majesty seemed to sigh.

“You cannot speak in front of her, can you? Even if I send someone to investigate and find a mentor, how will you tell her?”

“I…”

Les could not continue, because he had no answer.

“You know that yourself. And yet you still want to help her?”

Another sigh sounded across the connection.

“Les, have you perhaps… developed feelings for that girl?”