Ch.69The Wolf Cub’s Tree (1)

# The Wolf Cannot Be Tamed

A wolf cannot be tamed. A tamed wolf is no wolf at all. It is a devil wearing wolf’s skin, and should rightfully be killed and burned.

– A proverb among the Empire’s farmers

* * * * *

Two days had passed since they left Emmaus.

The head of the Emmaus Security Bureau couldn’t assign a coachman, but he used his modest influence and personal funds to provide good horses.

They were young military horses that had been injured and couldn’t serve on the front lines anymore. They were well-trained, intelligent, and quick to understand. They followed Kain’s inexperienced commands intuitively, despite him being practically a novice coachman.

The only issue was that, having been discharged recently, they hadn’t fully shed their military discipline. Perhaps they remembered the days of carrying riders across the wasteland as if it were their own territory. Once they built up momentum, they tried to expend all their energy at once.

If there had been only one person riding on their backs, it might not have been a problem. But now they were pulling a mail carriage. And on roads in poor condition, if the horses ran at full speed, both cargo and passengers would be in disarray.

For that reason, Kain used a different approach. Whenever the horses seemed to get too excited, he would stop the carriage to let them drink water or graze.

The slow journey was not only for the horses but also for the three injured people. Kain was the most severely injured, but Lily and Maria weren’t in perfect condition either. While there were no serious injuries like broken bones, they all suffered from bruises, slightly strained ligaments, muscle pain, and abrasions.

But Kain knew that the best thing would be to rest in stable accommodations.

The carriage rocked up and down according to the shape of the road, with vibrations transmitted directly through the hard wheels and the chassis that lacked any shock absorption.

That’s why Kain decided to push on to Grönbruck, even if it meant a bit of hardship.

Named for being built near the bridge over the Grön River, it was a beautiful city boasting magnificent scenery of lakes, mountains, and rivers.

It was only natural, then, that the Empire’s Southern Academy in Grönbruck excelled in art, aesthetics, and literature.

It was also where Professor Osrant Koch, an expert researcher on the Seven Heroes who had published several works about them, taught.

Finally, Grönbruck had not only a Security Bureau branch but also a Royal Guard Bureau contact. Kain planned to submit his report to Anna there and then secure an appointment with Professor Osrant.

“So we’ll need to push the carriage hard for at least three or four days. It’ll be a difficult journey, but…”

Kain trailed off apologetically, but both Maria and Lily agreed with his plan.

They reasoned that if they were going to rest, it would be better to do so comfortably in a stable place, rather than spending one day here and another day there, which would only be more uncomfortable.

The horses were full of energy, but it was the people who were getting tired. The three took turns sitting in the driver’s seat. Maria was anxious, claiming she had no experience as a coachman, but after observing how Kain and Lily handled the horses, she was able to follow suit without much difficulty.

None of the three complained. In truth, they had no energy to complain. What happened in Emmaus had been both a shock and a source of pain for everyone.

Maria didn’t like this situation. All three had worked hard and saved people, so they should be proud instead. That’s why she actively praised Lily.

“This young lady was amazing. She rode through Emmaus with a torch in one hand and a halberd in the other, without even holding the reins. Cutting down monsters like butter was routine, and she waved her torch while shouting at people to head for the exit.”

Then Lily would tell how Maria had burned monsters with holy fire to inspire courage, and how she had severely scolded the dazed Holy Grail Knights, leading them to evacuate the citizens of Emmaus together with the Imperial Army.

Kain quietly listened to the two women. He needed their testimonies to write his report for Anna, as he himself had been close to the scene but didn’t know the overall situation in the city.

“It’s all thanks to you.”

Lily and Maria comforted Kain whenever they could. They told him that although his name might not make it into the history books, he had done something heroic.

Like everything else they said, this too was true. If Kain hadn’t broken free from the shadow of fear and played his flute to awaken people, the casualties in Emmaus would have been much higher.

“Because you overcame your fear and awakened the people, many lives in Emmaus were saved.”

Kain wrote that down as well.

Reports should be objective and straightforward. Even when describing one’s own actions. From that perspective, Kain wrote about what he had done, and what Maria and Lily had done, as objectively as possible, maintaining distance.

Even if there were mistakes, there was no need to worry. The Imperial Southwestern Army Commander, the Holy Grail Knights, and the White Blood Knights would all submit their own reports. Anna would naturally obtain those reports without difficulty and make a comprehensive judgment.

Therefore, Kain wasn’t concerned about whether his report was exaggerated or boastful.

After all, what happened in that city was extremely chaotic. Errors were inevitable. The important thing was simply to record what he had witnessed in a calm manner.

However, Kain found it difficult to accept that he himself was a hero.

He didn’t omit his own actions from the report. But whenever he heard himself called a hero, doubt raised its head in his mind.

All he could remember was dodging, rolling, cutting down enemies, playing the flute, and Arianne dying before his eyes, along with the Knight of the Scabbard.

Like a fallen rock blocking a stream, Kain’s thoughts kept circling around Arianne and the Knight of the Scabbard, even when they wandered elsewhere.

Even now, driving the carriage under the rising moon, Kain was thinking about the Knight of the Scabbard.

* * * * *

After a light rain, the road beside the stream was damp. The horses walked leisurely, seemingly disliking the splashing mud, and Kain didn’t urge them on.

The carriage door opened quietly. Through the gap, Kain could hear Maria snoring loudly. After a moment, with the sound of the door closing, Lily moved to sit beside the driver’s seat.

“Did you wake up because of the snoring?”

“No. I couldn’t sleep.”

Lily was wearing tight-fitting leather clothes. Her only weapon was a dagger at her waist.

“The hardship should end by tomorrow. We should arrive around lunchtime. Then we can rest comfortably.”

“You’ve worked hard.”

“No, I haven’t really…” Kain replied awkwardly, but Lily didn’t seem to like that response. She gently wrapped her left hand around Kain’s thigh and shook her head.

“Why do you keep saying that?”

Kain was about to say it was nothing, but he decided there was no need to worry Lily further. So he just smiled. But Lily seemed determined.

“There’s something bothering you, isn’t there?”

“Many thoughts come to mind. Probably similar to why you can’t sleep.”

Lily moved closer to Kain. Their hips were almost touching.

“Do you know why I can’t sleep?”

“Because Maria’s snoring is too loud, because the carriage rocks up and down too much, because you need proper rest but can’t get it, because muscle pain is spreading. Anything else?”

Lily shook her head. She tossed her loose hair over her shoulder.

“Because your face is full of shadows.”

Caught off guard by the unexpected comment, Kain was at a loss for words. Lily’s eyes, filled with moonlight, received Kain’s gaze like a calm lake. Afraid he might fall in if he kept looking, Kain hurriedly turned his gaze forward.

“You rarely focus on conversations. I know that’s not because you’re tired, but because you’re deeply contemplating something. What are you worrying about so much? Is it something I shouldn’t know?”

“No. It’s not like that.”

“Tell me.”

Lily tried to rest her head on Kain’s shoulder. Remembering that Kain had full-body bruises, she pulled back in surprise, but instead pressed her body closer. She was so close that her breath flowed against his ear. Too close, to the point where he could feel her living, breathing body through the thin leather clothes.

“It’s a boring story.”

Kain evaded.

Lily snatched the reins from Kain’s hand. It happened so suddenly and lightly that Kain couldn’t react.

He tried to take them back, but due to the pain in his arms, legs, sides, and shoulders, he only managed a weak cry. His relaxed body pressured him, refusing to work more.

‘My goodness. I don’t have many days left before I follow old man Verneith.’

Ridiculously, that was the thought that came to mind. To suppress an empty laugh, Kain pretended to scold her sternly.

“What are you doing? Give them back.”

“Tell me.”

“I told you it’s boring.”

“Tell me that boring story. After hearing how boring it is, if I find myself too drowsy to bear it, I’ll give them back.”

“…Are you treating me like a storyteller now?”

“No.” Lily stared at Kain intently. Her gaze was so direct that Kain’s face reddened slightly.

“I don’t think of you that way at all. I just want to know more.”

“Why do you want to know so badly?”

Instead of answering, Lily looked ahead. One horse seemed to be walking a bit faster, so she lightly pulled the reins to correct it. Soon the horse matched pace with the others. Only after a long while did Lily provide an answer.

“Because I’m lonely.”

This time, it was Kain who was at a loss for words.

“Liking someone is a one-sided affair. You don’t need to care about it. But sometimes, I get sad. Like now… when you try to carry everything alone.

When I can see you’re struggling, but feel there’s nothing I can do for you. At those times, I feel a little lonely, like I’m standing in front of a closed door.”

The road flattened out again. Lily relaxed a bit more. From now on, the horses could find their way well enough on their own.

“It’s strange. Our bodies are so close like this. Why can’t our hearts be the same? If you still find it burdensome to have serious conversations with me, then tell me boring stories. Trivial stories. Useless stories. Because each story is new to me.”

Even the moon seemed to urge him to speak, twinkling brightly. The horses pricked up their ears, snorting. Kain didn’t like this atmosphere at all.

“You know it’s forbidden for a Security Bureau agent to try to find out another agent’s personal information.”

Lily shook her head. Her hair flew roughly. With the reins gathered in her right hand, Lily suddenly grabbed Kain’s nape with her left hand.

“You bad man.”

And she kissed him. It was stronger and deeper than in the sculpture garden. Kain tried to push her away, but Lily bent her upper body forward as if pinning him down. With his aching body, overwhelmed by her momentum, Kain kept giving ground.

“Ha. Haah…”

Finally, Lily pulled her lips away. Her eyes sparkled with joy and pleasure.

“You… you really…”

“Yes. Ha, heu, I broke the regulations. But what does it matter? You were going to quit anyway, weren’t you? So, if you want to punish me, you’ll have to stay longer. So. Ha. Huu, either punish me, or…”

“You, the reins… mmph!”

Lily hooked the reins with her legs. With one hand, she pulled Kain closer again, and with the other, she placed her hand on his chest. Because of his injuries, Kain wore only thin clothes over his bandages, with just a cloak on top. Lily’s hand kept trying to slip between the gaps in Kain’s clothes.

“Haah. Huu…” Lily pulled Kain’s head toward her chest after breaking the kiss.

“Give me the reins.”

“Those military horses? Don’t worry about them. They’re well-trained, quick-witted, and above all, they trust me. Besides, I’m not interested in tamed horses. My interest is solely in wild horses. How should I tame a horse like this, so close yet so reluctant to follow?”

“Are you calling me a horse…”

“So stay longer and tame me. Or else, let yourself be tamed like this. You’re not resisting. Or perhaps you can’t?”

“You keep crossing the line…”

“Then hurry and punish me.” Lily whispered in Kain’s ear. “Hurry. Quickly. Otherwise…”

Kain widened his eyes. With his freed arms, he gently cupped Lily’s face and slowly pulled her closer. Lily didn’t resist. With her eyes wide open, smiling, she kissed him.

But the next moment,

“Heep?!”

She pulled back in surprise. Kain chuckled.

“What? That ‘book’ you said you read didn’t include this?”

“J-just, just now… how did you do that?”

So surprised and flustered, Lily couldn’t regain her composure.

“You keep acting up… want to be taught a lesson?”

It was as silent and stealthy as night falling to earth. Kain caught Lily’s upper lip between his lips. After holding her so she couldn’t move, he pressed, tapped, and rolled the tip of his tongue against it. He could feel the strength draining from Lily’s body.

But the next moment, as if she couldn’t yield anymore, Lily also gently bit Kain’s lower lip. Lips caught and catching. At the tingling sensation of their tongues touching, a strange moan resonated from deep within Lily’s body.

Hiccup.

Their lips parted. The moonlight pointed at their saliva-glistening lips and laughed.

Hiccup! Hiccup! Lily’s face turned bright red. It was so red it was visible even under the slender moonlight. Lily’s body trembled. From excitement, passion, and embarrassment. None of the books she had read contained anything like this. She had never felt anything like this in any of her previous experiences.

“Want to act up again?”

Kain, who had teased her, was taken aback. Though she was hiccupping and trembling, her eyes sparkled more dangerously than before. She looked like a hungry wolf.

Hot, dry breath escaped through her slightly parted lips. If there had been none at all, she might not have noticed, but this drizzle that couldn’t even wet the rim of a plate couldn’t satisfy her dryness. It only made her hungrier and thirstier.

Hiccupping and trembling, Lily approached dangerously close. She loosened her clothes slightly. She took Kain’s hand and pulled it gently. Kain knew she was trying to place it inside her clothes. He also knew that with his painfully tight grip and arms, he couldn’t reject Lily’s longing. What had started as a light teasing had turned into letting a wolf smell blood.

“…Wolf cub!”

Kain blurted out. Hiccup, Lily let go of his hand.

“…Did you just call me a wolf cub?”

Lily asked in disbelief. Judging by her expression, she looked like someone dragged to an unwanted surprise party. Her eyes suggested she would curse if she could.

“…For fuck’s sake. Really.”

A lamenting voice came from behind. It was Maria. Startled, Lily covered her mouth and patted her clothes. The door creaked open, and Maria jumped onto the carriage with a grunt. Even a cat couldn’t have leaped up so lightly.

“What’s this about a wolf cub? Fine. Let me hear this boring, boring story too. If it turns out to be nonsense rather than a wolf story, I’ll tie you up among those military horses.”

“W-when did you start listening?!”

“From when you opened the door and left.” Maria purred like a well-fed cat.

“My goodness. The mood was so good. Good enough to make even the head of a dead two-headed eagle look up! But what? Wolf cub? Fine. Tell us about that precious wolf story.”