Ch.2323. Wolf (3)

Two wolf corpses, one dark gray and one white, lay sprawled on the ground.

Not only had parts of their fur been dissolved by a green venom, but their entire bodies were scorched by lightning, and there were even puncture wounds from fangs in their necks… Yet the corpses still maintained their form.

Their identity was, naturally, the mid-rank Fen Wolf corpses I had killed myself.

In this world, corpses of mid-rank or higher monsters are treasures of considerable value.

The bodies of monsters with powerful physiques possess an incredible durability that’s hard to believe possible for living flesh. This is because their magical conductivity is maximized through the continuous flow of magical power and aura.

Additionally, just as the remains of magical beasts with fire-breathing abilities retain vestiges of that power, granting resistance to flames or imbuing flame-related magic, mid-rank corpses with special abilities become infused with a portion of their mystical essence.

Thus, corpses of mid-rank or higher are precious materials for crafting excellent equipment…

By the same principle, the mid-rank Fen Wolf corpses before my eyes hold considerable value.

In particular, the mystical essence remaining in Fen Wolf corpses relates to defense and durability. While the bear fur cloak I’m currently wearing is excellent, it could never compare to a new cloak made from a mid-rank corpse.

Therefore, I was about to contemplate what to make with these corpses… but first, I discarded the basilisk’s shell, cast a light spell to prevent the corpses from rotting, and proceeded forward in search of life energy deeper in the cave.

[…It’s horrible.]

[Yes. Many corpses. All human corpses.]

The deeper I went into the cave, the more I noticed bloodstains and various animal bones, including human remains. There were also partially eaten body parts of humans and beasts.

The scene was too chaotic to be the dining area of magical beasts with human-level intelligence.

Perhaps… beyond mere feeding, these were traces of personal emotions like hatred being vented.

And in the deepest part of the cave.

Perhaps due to its proximity to the earth’s veins—the ley lines?

This place maintained an unusually dense concentration of magical power, rare in this forest lacking in mystical energy… essentially the mystical heart of the forest.

What I found there was a nest. A lair of life energy, designed for excellent insulation with animal hides and dried grass.

“…Kyaeng (Who)?”

Noticing my presence, a puppy-like wolf cub peeked its face out from the straw, squirming slightly.

This wolf cub, so small and cute that the word “squirming” perfectly described it, barely old enough to be weaned from its mother’s milk… somehow didn’t appear to be in good condition.

At that age, it should have been able to toddle around, but it was merely crawling with difficulty. I could even hear its labored breathing, small wheezing sounds reaching my ears.

Looking at this wolf, I fell into thought… and suddenly realized that the cub’s condition resembled a disease I had read about in an elven ancient text in my mother’s library.

‘…Magical power excess syndrome? Can that actually happen?’

Magical power excess syndrome. Rather than being caused by a pathogen, it’s more akin to diabetes—a condition that occurs when the magical power in the body exceeds the maximum amount the physical form can accommodate.

To explain the body’s magical power capacity with a simple analogy: it’s like a balloon and water. As more water (magical power) fills the balloon (body), abnormalities begin to occur, and if the amount of water becomes too great, it eventually bursts with a pop!

And now, the problem afflicting this wolf stems from its immature body being infused with a massive amount of magical power.

For magical beasts, environments with a certain concentration of magical power are essential for growing into powerful species, but areas like this small cave where magical power leaks from the ley lines are somewhat excessive.

Even an adult might have endured it, but… a cub barely a month old couldn’t possibly withstand it.

Thus, I began to contemplate how to deal with this small magical wolf that had appeared before me.

In principle, beasts that have eaten humans… or killed and consumed sentient beings should be immediately put down upon capture.

I’ve heard stories in both my previous life and this one about predators developing a taste for human flesh and transforming into man-eaters, causing severe casualties. This is especially true for cases involving Fen Wolves.

The Beast of Gévaudan incident had “officially” claimed 3,000 victims.

Add to that the various related incidents, undiscovered victims, and those left as “cause unknown”—how many would that total?

In other words, without a compelling reason, I should rightfully kill this little squirmer, but…

‘…What should I do with this.’

As fate would have it, this little cub before me was one of those extremely rare cases with a “compelling reason.”

Being barely weaned from its mother’s milk, it had no experience eating humans. While Fen Wolves are intelligent, they aren’t inherently evil by nature, and this small wolf couldn’t possibly have participated in any acts of slaughter.

Moreover, right now, this creature is slowly dying because its body cannot withstand the excess magical power… For the sake of giving it a proper burial, showing a little mercy wouldn’t hurt.

“Make your choice.”

“…Ki, kiing (Ch-choice)?”

“Yes. Will you form a contract with me, who killed your parents, and survive? Or will you die right where you are?”

Despite its youth, it was still a magical beast descended from divine beasts. Therefore, this Fen Wolf cub could understand the meaning of my words, and surprisingly, it didn’t seem to harbor any particular hatred toward me for killing its parents who had treated it well.

“…Kiiii (I don’t know). Kae, kaeng kkeeng (B-but I want to live).”

No, rather, it’s more accurate to say that while it had high intelligence, it lacked the wisdom and experience to fully grasp and understand the situation, creating an imbalance.

But regardless, since it expressed a desire to live, I respected that wish—and chose the method available to me right now that could save it.

“It’s an animal companion contract. Don’t resist.”

“K-kii (Y-yes)…”

That is, an animal companion contract.

※ ※ ※

This animal companion contract, now my third, proceeded quickly.

Our souls intermingled and bound together, establishing a mental connection between our spirits.

My two previous contract experiences provided the foundation for me to handle this contract with familiarity.

As always, “something” transmitted from this small wolf settled within me, spiritually enriching my mind.

The strengthening of bestial mystique with three animal companions now cannot be overlooked as a benefit.

Additionally, the power I gained from this contract was enhanced magical control ability.

Not only could I operate my internal magical power more efficiently, but I also gained the ability to cloak myself in external magical power, which had been impossible before.

…If asked whether this is a necessary ability for a druid, I might tilt my head in uncertainty, but having more tools at one’s disposal is always better.

Meanwhile, as always, these changes were not limited to me alone.

Naturally, this Fen Wolf also began to change under the influence of my relatively higher-grade soul and the wild mystique… but somehow this transformation seemed far different from the changes my previous two companions underwent.

That is… the species itself was changing?

‘…???’

Even as I was bewildered by this incomprehensible situation, the evolution occurring in the Fen Wolf cub continued smoothly.

Its skeleton expanded, muscles grew. The originally gray fur turned black, and chain-like blue tattoos of unknown origin appeared on its skin.

This change was not merely cosmetic—it was a transformation at the species level.

The Fen Wolf… was no longer a Fen Wolf.

As a result of evolving to obtain a body that could withstand the vast magical power it contained, the Fen Wolf cub had transcended the framework of magical beasts and reverted to the form of its ancient ancestor.

In other words, the species of this corgi-sized wolf I was holding in my arms was identical to its ancient ancestor, Fenrir.

A monster that could reach high-rank status simply by growing, a divine beast that independently contained the mysteries of the wild and beasts within itself.

Therefore, I came to a conclusion. …Since it’s all good anyway, I might as well focus on how to treat this Fenrir cub.

‘…Do you have a name?’

[…No.]

‘Alright. Then I’ll call you Lobo. How’s that?’

[Lobo… I like that name.]

No further words were necessary between us, now able to understand each other’s hearts through the animal companion contract.

And so, Lobo, the wolf who had evolved into a Fenrir, joined our group as a member.