Chapter 42

Under the moonlight, in the midst of a treacherous gorge, Entia and I stand facing a black boss wolf.

"...Sis"

"Yeah"

Entia whispers softly.

I understand what she wants to say.

I realize that other black wolves have gathered around us, forming a complete encirclement.

"What did you just do, human?"

The boss wolf growls, eyeing the "rebar" I just created.

"Or, why can I understand your words, and you can understand mine?"

"It's magic. Just like you."

I don't say much, just that much.

The boss wolf snorts.

"Foolish human and the beast that aids you... Have you come to exterminate us?"

"I'm not sure yet. Hey, can I ask you something?"

First, I want to talk.

There might be some reason behind their actions.

"Where did you come from? Why do you attack the ranches and farms?"

"Hehehe... It's obvious."

The boss wolf chuckles at my question.

"We receive offerings from foolish humans."

"Offerings?"

"I am the descendant of the divine wolf, standing above all beings, both beasts and humans."

He looks up at the sky and continues.

"It is only natural for the lesser beings to offer sacrifices to me and my followers."

"..."

Hmm... His grandiose, somewhat pretentious way of speaking is a bit off.

It makes me feel uneasy.

"I don't really understand, but are you saying you attack because you want food?"

"It's atonement."

"Huh?"

"Offering sacrifices means they have committed a sin. In a sense, we are merely administering their punishment."

...What does that mean?

"And there is nothing more to say."

As he speaks, light begins to float around his black fur.

What!?

Suddenly, he's in a battle stance!?

"Feel the ugliness of your foolishness! Be consumed by the chaos of darkness!"

Stop it, that vibe!

It's like a middle schooler's delusion!

In an instant, the boss wolf leaps into the air.

At the same time, a wolf flying in from the side deflects the "rebar" I created with its claws.

Impressive.

They are well-coordinated.

As expected of a pack.

While I'm admiring this, a lightning bolt generated by the boss wolf in mid-air is launched at us.

"Entia—"

Before I can call her name, Entia is already in action.

She narrowly dodges the lightning strike.

Just as she does, I sense a presence behind me.

One of the wolves from the pack is charging at me.

"Tch!"

In an instant, Entia kicks backward.

The approaching wolf is sent flying.

But another wolf is already close.

"Ha!"

I synthesize an "aluminum pipe" in my hand and swing it.

Aluminum is much lighter than other metals.

Infused with magic, it swings faster than a "rebar."

This was just a quick strike to keep the wolf at bay, so it doesn't deal much damage, but it does knock the wolf away.

However, the wolves' wave attacks don't stop.

One after another, they leap at us.

It's endless.

"Where are you looking?"

Meanwhile, the boss wolf finishes charging.

"Perish!"

The surrounding wolves jump back.

A lightning bolt from the boss wolf strikes from above like a bolt of lightning.

"Ugh—"

In an instant, I create "rebar" to act as a lightning rod.

But as I throw it to the ground, I lose my balance due to its weight.

A wolf has bitten into the "rebar."

"Roar!"

Entia roars and leaps.

The lightning grazes past, striking the ground.

It was a close call.

Thanks to Entia, we avoid a direct hit.

I shake off the wolf clinging to the "rebar" and immediately give Entia an order.

"Over there, behind that big rock!"

"Got it!"

I point to a large rock in the gorge.

Entia leaps and quickly reaches the base of the rock, hiding behind it.

This should buy us a few seconds.

"Entia!"

I notice that part of Entia's front paw is blackened and singed.

"...Sorry"

"Don't worry, Sis. This is just a scratch. I am the descendant of the divine wolf, after all."

"Yeah, that's right."

Entia says this brightly.

I stroke his head while looking out from behind the rock.

The pack of black wolves is cautiously approaching us.

"But, claiming to be the descendant of the divine wolf without my permission is outrageous."

Beside me, Entia snorts.

"I'll teach them a lesson."

Seeing him like this, I smile.

"Yeah, that's right."

However, to do that, we need a way to break through this situation.

Is there anything...?

"...That's it."

I remember.

The new skill that awakened in me the other day wasn't just one.

Instantly, I open the status window in my mind.

I hope there's a skill that could be useful in this situation.

---

Name: Honda Mako

Skills: Alchemy Lv.2, Paint, Dialogue, Tame, Soil Analysis...

---

"...Tame?"

Tame, it's definitely written there.

What is it...? It sounds familiar...

"What does Tame do...?"

I try to activate the new skill, Tame, in my mind.

The status window changes, similar to when I activated Soil Analysis.

---

[Tame List]

■ Entia (Level 23) - Divine Wolf - Magic: Yes...

■ Boar A (Level 1) - Boar - Magic: No - Charge: Yes...

■ Boar B (Level 1) - Boar - Magic: No - Charge: Yes...

■ Boar C (Level 1) - Boar - Magic: No - Charge: Yes...

...

---

The new window lists these entries.

(...This is...)

These are all the animals I've touched and can communicate with.

It seems the first is the name, the second is the species, and the third is a simplified status.

(...Can I see the abilities of animals I can communicate with...?)

I decide to open Entia's entry.

---

■ Entia (Level 23)

Species: Divine Wolf

Magic: Yes

Attribute: Light

---

Sure enough, it shows Entia's basic stats.

If this is true...

"Hey, Entia. Can you use magic?"

"What!?"

Entia looks up, surprised.

"What do you mean, Sis?"

"Well, I just checked with my new ability, and it says you have magic power."

"Ugh... But I don't know how to use magic. I've never even thought about it."

Entia tilts his head.

Meanwhile, the black wolves are getting closer.

"We have to try, Entia."

Maybe Entia's unknown magic could be the key to breaking through.

I touch Entia's body.

"Sis?"

"Can I try to activate the magic inside you with my power?"

I remember the meaning of Tame.

It's a word I heard at a pet training class in a home center.

It means to tame or train.

Maybe I can help Entia develop his abilities.

"...Sis!"

As I touch Entia and try to move the magic inside him, he exclaims.

"I can feel it! I can feel the magic moving inside me!"

"Really!?"

"I think I can do it! Let's go, Sis!"

He shouts excitedly and leaps.

I quickly grab onto his back as we jump out from behind the rock.

The pack of black wolves is right in front of us.

"Hehehe... So you've finally given up. I admire your courage."

The boss wolf, standing at the back of the pack, says this.

"Don't be pretentious, fake!"

"...Fake?"

"Fake descendant of the divine wolf! I, the true descendant of the divine wolf, will punish you!"

"You...!"

The boss wolf bares his teeth and lowers his head, clearly angry.

"Perish!"

With a roar, his subordinates charge at us.

"Entia!"

"Got it! Let my magic fly!"

Entia focuses on the magic inside him and imagines releasing it.

Suddenly, a faint light emanates from his body.

"Huh?"

No, that's not it—

I feel a bad premonition and instinctively cover my face.

Entia's entire body emits an intense light.

He becomes a blinding source of light, illuminating the night like the sun.

"Ah!"

The light is overwhelming.

It's like a flashbang.

The wolves nearby scream and fall to the ground, likely blinded.

"...Entia, are you okay?"

"Hahaha! We did it, Sis! In the presence of the divine wolf's descendant, the enemy has all fainted from the brilliance!"

No, they're just blinded, Entia.

And this blinding light is Entia's magic...

Well, it is a light attribute, I guess.

Good thing I covered my face in time.

"Ugh..."

On the other hand, the boss wolf, whose subordinates have been taken out and who has also been exposed to the light, is staggering and panicking.

"You scoundrels, using a blinding attack at this moment is despicable!"

His vision is probably still blurry.

Still, he starts to charge up electricity.

It's our chance.

I quietly signal Entia.

"Where are you! Damn it! I can't see! Where did you—"

I synthesize "rebar" near the boss wolf and drive it into the ground.

"Ah! There you are!"

Mistaking the sound for our approach, the boss wolf releases his charged lightning.

The lightning strikes the "rebar."

But by then—

"Ha!"

"Ugh!..."

Entia's close-range strike hits the boss wolf's head.

The boss wolf staggers a few steps.

"You...!"

He collapses and faints.

"...Phew"

"Good job, Sis."

Thanks to my upgraded skill and Entia's magic, we managed to escape the crisis.