“Where are you going?”
As I flinched and turned my head, Thierry was approaching, sweeping back his wind-ruffled hair. I happily grabbed Thierry's hand.
"Rood suddenly slammed into the door and ran over there!"
"Looks like he went for a walk alone."
Thierry replied nonchalantly and took my hand. Then, naturally, placing his other hand on his hip and leaning his face closer, his languidly lowered eyes came into view.
Saying this wasn't the time for this, I covered his mouth with both hands and pointed toward the forest path with my chin.
"No! Seeing how frantically he ran out, something definitely happened!"
"...So, you're saying we should go?"
"Of course I have to go! What if something happens if I send him alone?"
"I told you, there's no need to worry about the dog."
Thierry muttered in dissatisfaction. But he could not back down. He stepped back, pulling away the hand that was fussing around his waist with lingering affection.
"Are you really not going?"
"...Okay, I'll go. But please give me just one kiss."
"This isn't the time for this. If you come with me, I'll do anything for you."
"Really? Anything?"
Why are you opening your eyes so awkwardly... Did I make a mistake? I nervously rolled my eyes.
" No. Of course, only to the extent I can accommodate."
"Of course you can listen to it."
"Yes?"
"You said it was urgent; let's hurry."
"No, what on earth are you thinking, suddenly acting so enthusiastically..."
"It wouldn't be fun if I told you now. I'll tell you right away when I get back."
It's still not fun...?
I raised one eyebrow and excitedly followed Thierry, who was walking ahead. Actually, to say I followed him was an understatement; I was practically being dragged along because my hand was holding it.
Still, I felt relieved that we were able to leave right away without wasting any more time.
I felt immediately relieved knowing that Thierry was coming with me, so I composed myself and quickened my pace.
However, a moment later, Thierry stopped abruptly and frowned. I blinked at his gaze as he looked down at me.
"...I should have done it alone."
“Yes? Why?”
" It looks like they are fighting."
"Huh, is it Rood?"
If that's the case, you shouldn't stop; you should go faster!
I grabbed his hand and urged him to hurry. However, no matter how hard I tried, Thierry wouldn't budge.
"I can't just let him go alone again; this is a dilemma."
Instead, he furrowed his brow and sighed, as if intending to send me back first.
"Uh, I'm too scared to go alone!"
"Then I'll drop you off and come back by myself."
"That takes too long. What if something happens to Rood? I'll stay right by your side like last time. Let's go right away. Okay?"
"Please," I grabbed his arm desperately. He glanced down at my hand, which was gripping tightly as if he would never let go, then looked up at the sky.
"Ah. This is really not working out..."
My pitiful face was reflected in his red eyes as he looked down at me again.
"...Don’t ever fall."
"Yes!"
I widened my eyes, which had been shining with longing, and answered clearly. Worried that he might change his mind, I answered quickly and simultaneously crossed my arms with his as if to hug him.
Although he looked reluctant, Thierry immediately started walking again. I heard him muttering that it was a big problem to keep losing like this, but I just pretended not to hear and kept walking straight ahead.
It was around the time I was getting close to the area where I usually met the brown wolf.
Ppfft!
A dull sound was heard.
"Kkegaeng..."
Crying and growling sounds mingled and came in succession. As I flinched, Thierry pulled me behind his back.
"Stay right behind me."
"Yes."
I immediately grabbed his waist tightly.
We cautiously took one step at a time toward the source of the sound. They were fighting so frantically that they didn't seem to notice we were nearby, so I peeked my head out to try to assess the situation.
“It’s all different..."
However, Thierry's reaction was faster than I could see.
He suddenly clenched his molars tightly and exuded a murderous aura. In an instant, a chilling energy enveloped the surroundings.
Cautiously looking ahead at his serious demeanor, I ended up covering my chin and mouth. I let out a silent scream.
"Ro, Rood..."
Rood stood bleeding under the large tree where he sometimes came to rest. It looked like he had been in a fierce fight.
Wolves were seen surrounding Rood in a standoff, and there appeared to be far more fallen wolves than standing ones. In fact, even the standing wolves didn't look to be in very good condition.
If I had to pick the most decent wolf among them, it was the brown wolf baring its teeth behind Rood.
With a swoosh, Thierry's sword was drawn from his waist with a chilling sound. The wolves, who had been baring their teeth at Rood, suddenly began looking around nervously, not knowing what to do.
Unlike the threatening howling sound, the wolves looked clearly intimidated.
Grumble!
Fierce flames erupted from Thierry's sword, extended as if pointing at the wolves. A hot wind enveloped the surroundings, and the air heated up intensely.
'But Rood is over there... What are you going to do with the fire?'
I rolled my eyes nervously. But that was only for a moment; making my worry futile, I saw the wolves swiftly turn their backs and run away.
They looked so desperate that the sight of them fleeing in a panic was truly heartbreaking.
I ran toward Rood without delay. The brown wolf behind Rood still let out a low howl, as if keeping him in check.
"Rood! Uh, what do I do? The blood..."
The smooth black fur was covered in damp blood. Rood let out a long breath, as if sighing, and lay face down, resting his face on my palm as I reached out my trembling arm.
"Is it a territorial battle?"
"A territorial fight? No, why would Rood go out of his way to..."
"Or maybe it's because of that brown wolf."
"Ah."
At Thierry's nonchalant words, I smirked and looked at the brown wolf. Unlike just moments ago when it had bared its teeth, the brown wolf was now noticeably calm and fidgeting beside him as if keeping an eye on Rood.
"That could be the case. He helped Rood once before, too."
"I see. Then let's go for now."
Unlike his dry tone, the hand wrapping around my shoulder was affectionate. I looked up at him once, then lowered my gaze back to Rood.
"Rood, can you move?"
"Kaing..."
"Can't move? What should we do? Uh.
What can we do? We can't stay here any longer, and we need to get treated quickly..."
I looked up at him, not knowing what to do. Thierry, who had been looking down at me intently, showed signs of annoyance and shifted his gaze to Rood.
“...You are not allowed to go out anymore.”
As the hand on my shoulder was withdrawn, Rood was lifted high into the air. Thierry, who had a massive build and was exceptionally large compared to the other wolves, lightly lifted Rood and immediately slung him onto his own shoulder without the slightest change in expression.
Immediately, a wary howl escaped from the brown wolf. I looked down at the brown wolf as if to say it was alright and stroked Rood.
"It's okay. We are Rood's family."
"They won't even understand, so leave them alone. From the looks of it, they don't seem like they're going to fight."
"Still, Rood understands what I say, doesn't he?"
"That's only possible because it's this guy."
I followed closely beside Thierry as he strode back, constantly stroking Rude.
Then, the sound of footsteps following behind pierced my ears.
"Ah, is that so... Huh? She's following me."
I looked back and forth between that brown wolf and Rood, smiling awkwardly.
Could it be that Rood is getting a partner too? But what am I going to do when I return to the Empire...?
Fortunately, Rood's wounds were not deep. It seemed he collapsed at the end simply because his stamina was depleted from fighting so many wolves, and thinking of the wolves lying around him, I thought it made sense.
It looked like there were at least a few of them at a glance, but he took them all on by himself.
'If our Rood had lived in the wild, he would definitely have been the alpha... I don't know if he takes after his owner, or if they just met because they are similar types.'
I stroked Rood, feeling uncertain. The way Rood purred and rubbed his head against me like an excited cat made me let out a laugh.
"He's such a sweetie at times like this..."
"If the dog is gentle, then what about me?"
Thierry, who was sitting very close beside me and fiddling with my other hand, asked a question. The atmosphere was as if he were implying that he was the gentler one, but I was dumbfounded because it looked like he was trying to keep me in check.
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