103. Problem

103. Problem

“Seol-gu…! Don’t melt!”

“Kkiiing….”

For some reason, I can’t use magic. Panicked, I grabbed Seol-gu, who was slowly turning into a puddle, and looked around.

But there was nothing around that could cool Seol-gu down. What should I do? If it continues like this, Seol-gu will melt.

“I, I’ll blow air with my mouth. Hold on with this! Hoo- Hoo-“

“Kkang….”

I inhale, and exhale. I inhale deeply, and exhale again.

Seol-gu seemed a little better when I blew air, but there was a limit to how hard I could blow with my small mouth.

“Hoo, hoo… Heek, hi, I’m tired.”

In the end, I collapsed from exhaustion without being able to refreeze Seol-gu. I just realized now that blowing air also consumes a considerable amount of stamina.

“Kkiiing.”

“Huk…!”

Seol-gu weakly lifted his head and licked my cheek. Then, slowly melting, he became a puddle of marshmallow.

I can’t let Seol-gu turn into liquid like this. Isn’t Seol-gu my precious friend?

But, what can I do if I can’t use magic?

Of course, I have no doubt that I am a strong and powerful wolf even without magic. But no matter how strong or tough my body is, there was nothing I could do at this moment.

I am helpless. To think I have to watch Seol-gu melt like this.

I lifted my head. There were my father and sister, watching Seol-gu with worried eyes.

Yes! This is it!

“Sister! Dad! Please help Seol-gu…!”

I pleaded with my sister and father. I believed that since they are adults, they could surely do something.

As I looked at my sister with teary eyes, she and Dad started talking intently about something. Because I was hiccuping through my tears, I couldn’t hear what they were saying properly.

Soon, after their conversation ended, my sister and Dad picked me and Seol-gu up and ran quickly somewhere.

There was a shop there. I couldn’t read the letters on the sign, so I didn’t know what kind of shop it was.

My sister and Dad hurried into the shop and demanded something from the manager. The manager, flustered by our sudden appearance, brought something and placed it on the counter.

It was… a fan.

A small portable fan, about the size that would fit perfectly in my hand.

It had a strap at the end that could be attached somewhere, and the overall design was round and pink, exuding cuteness.

The manager held up the fan and promoted it.

“Even though it looks like this, it has the latest technology that stops working immediately when it touches skin or hair. So there’s no need to worry about your fur getting tangled and pulled out, and the design and color are perfect for a young girl….”

“That’s enough, how much is it?”

“Ah, yes! You’re quite generous. The price is only….”

When the manager stated the price, Dad frowned and said.

“The price on the tag is different from the price you quoted.”

“Ah, that’s-“

“Did you think we couldn’t read because we’re suin?”

The manager broke into a sweat. Dad growled lowly, threatening the manager, and eventually, the manager sold the fan at a much lower price than originally quoted.

My sister snatched the fan from the manager’s hand and handed it to me, explaining how to use it.

“Press this button to turn it on. Press it again to turn it off.”

“Yes!”

I quickly turned the fan towards Seol-gu, who was melting.

With a “Vwoong-” vibration, the fan blades began to rotate. A strong breeze was emitted.

Seol-gu’s fur was blowing wildly.

It’s small, but powerful.

I heard that it wouldn’t tangle fur if it touched, but seeing the blades spinning so fast, I felt a little scared.

I carefully aimed the fan at Seol-gu, paying close attention to ensure Seol-gu’s tail fur wouldn’t touch the blades.

“Kkang.”

“Huk… Seol-gu! Are you okay now?”

“Kkang kkang.”

After cooling Seol-gu for a while like this, at some point, Seol-gu suddenly stood up. He had finally shed his weak fox appearance.

“That’s a relief!”

“Hek hek.”

When I hugged Seol-gu tightly, Seol-gu wagged his tail and licked my face. He seemed completely refreshed now.

Phew….

This foolish fox.

How long do you intend to worry a wolf? What would I have done without my sister and Dad?

As expected, this is why foxes are no good.

“Hehe… I’m so relieved.”

“Kkaheung.”

From now on, I can just use the fan like this whenever Seol-gu feels hot. It’s a bit troublesome, but it’s not a difficult task.

When my magic wasn’t working, I genuinely worried if I would lose Seol-gu like this, but seeing my sister and Dad solve the problem so quickly, it seems adults are indeed different.

I want to become an adult soon too.

Like my sister, Dad, Mom, Uncle Polar Bear, and Lucy’s Grandma.

I want to become a cool adult that children like me can trust and rely on, not just someone strong with a big tail.

That would be a truly strong and powerful wolf.

To do that… first, I think I need to stop worrying my sister. I’m already aware that I cause a lot of trouble.

Yes… I need to be determined. From now on, I will truly become a good younger sibling who listens to my sister.

With this, I will take a step towards becoming a truly strong and powerful wolf…!

“Kkkhhh… Come on, Seol-gu.”

“Kkang.”

“… But where are we going?”

With firm determination, I turned around and looked up at my sister and Dad. My sister smiled, stroked my head, and talked about what was to come.

“First, we’ll find lodging. We can’t walk around until sunrise. After that, we’ll go talk about what William was doing… and then we’ll probably go home?”

“Yes! … Wait, so we’re not staying here for long?”

“Yes. Probably a day or two?”

I was astonished, my mouth agape.

After going through such a difficult and long journey to get here, we’re only staying for a day or two?

It feels unfair to return without doing much sightseeing. No, honestly, sightseeing doesn’t matter, but the thought of having to endure that boring walking and train ride again suddenly makes me want to cry.

Didn’t I just promise to be a good wolf who listens to my sister? The desire to postpone that promise for a few days is starting to sprout anew.

“Kkang!!”

“S-Seol-ah.”

I burst into tears and cried.

——

“Hmph.”

I’m sulking.

“Seol-ah, I’m sorry. Please stop being angry.”

“Hmph!”

My sister was walking while holding me. Considering what she said earlier, she was probably looking for lodging where we would stay for a day.

But what difference does that make? We’re only staying for a day.

After this day passes, the arduous journey of two weeks will begin again. Repeating walking and walking… truly a horrific and cruel torture!

I guarantee that even Buddha would get angry at this.

“Seol-ah… Uh… Yes! Do you want to eat delicious meat? There’s a lamb specialty restaurant right there….”

“Lamb?!”

As my sister spoke, my eyes widened, and I trembled like a leaf. I remembered the dream I had on the train a while ago.

Sheep.

How big, scary, and strong were they? With a single kick from their hind legs, I was sent flying far into the sky and became a twinkling star.

I refused to become a constellation in the night sky at this young age. I shook my head and tail vigorously, strongly expressing my refusal to my sister.

“No!!”

“Y-you don’t like it?”

Besides, I can’t use magic right now, and if I encountered such a monstrous sheep, I would surely be eaten in one bite. I didn’t want to see that future.

“Hing….”

So, why can’t I use magic? The stone reacts, but the magic doesn’t work.

To be precise, it’s not that magic doesn’t work, but rather that its power is so weak that it’s practically meaningless.

However, the translation magic was still working….

This is… yes, it feels similar to when I tried to use translation magic and the translator magic simultaneously. It’s like the magic capacity has reached its limit.

But before, even when using translation magic, I had enough capacity to use simple magic as well, but now it feels like it’s barely enough just for translation.

Why is that?

I can’t figure out the reason at all.

I wonder if I did something wrong.

… Did the stone find out I’m a wolf?

It’s possible. Until now, it used magic because I pretended to be a fox, but perhaps the stone finally realized my true identity because I kept talking about being a wolf.

Even the most foolish fox wouldn’t be fooled so many times. Of course, that’s how it is.

But… what should I do then?

I don’t want to give up the title of “magic wolf.” It’s cool. And I want to continue using magic because it allows me to do things other wolves can’t.

Maybe if I apologize to the stone, it will use magic for me. I took out a transparent stone from my tail and whispered softly.

“Stone… I was wrong. I’m sorry for pretending to be a fox.”

The stone remained silent. I continued.

“I’m really sorry. Won’t you forgive me?”

But the stone still didn’t react.

Usually, it accepts sincere apologies like this. Perhaps the stone is that disappointed in me.

“Kkang.”

I’m sad.

Although the period I’ve used magic isn’t actually long, it had a great impact on me during that short time, so its absence feels immense.

A fluttering heart.

I headed towards the lodging, held in my sister’s arms, with a heavy heart.