Wolves of Hader

Chapter 38

A strange standoff had occurred.

Instead of standing behind their adoptive father, Wundbark, the two Elins stood behind me.

To an outsider, it would look like two Drans were facing off.

"Can't you come over here!"

"Father, please let us go. Please?"

"We'll just follow Urald on a short trip."

All eyes, sharp as arrows, turned to Urald.

"Because of you, the kids have gotten free-spirited!"

"I can't say you're wrong, but let's be honest—they wanted to come with me even the first time I met them. Don't you remember?"

"We've been living fine for the past ten-plus years!"

"And what if the kids felt stifled all those years?"

Wundbark couldn't come up with a reply.

Urald added another word.

"In that cramped cave, just imagine how suffocated the kids must have felt. If only they could have run freely on the mountain, but you didn't even let them leave this clearing, worried they'd be seen."

"That's how I kept the kids safe."

"That was when they were little. Now, they've grown enough to protect themselves. You were confining them all these years for your own selfish reasons."

"I was just worried something might happen to them..."

Urald's expression was one of exasperation.

"Are you afraid the kids will leave you forever? You foolish friend. To them, you're a once-in-a-lifetime father. And yet, here you are, clueless about their feelings. Tsk, tsk."

Wundbark looked at the Elins.

The two Elins showed him gentle smiles. They just looked at their parent the way any child would.

"If you feel lonely without the kids, just live together. I get being afraid of starting a new life. But you have the kids, and me. We can make whatever you need, there's no shortage of food. What is there to worry about, my friend?"

It was like watching a different kind of father's love.

Somewhere between affection and obsession.

In the end, Wundbark's resolve crumbled.

"Introduce yourselves properly."

"Yes, father."

The two Elins finally stepped before Wundbark and bowed their heads in respect.

"I'm Bellen, and this is my little brother."

"Hello, I'm Lok."

Both were strikingly beautiful.

The blonde-haired female Elin was Bellen, and the silver-haired male Elin was Lok. Both were tall, but Lok a little taller.

Wundbark spoke.

"Bellen may look mature, but in human years she's just sixteen. Lok is fifteen. They know nothing of the world. The only things they've learned are some magic and hunting skills from me. Are you sure they can become the exceptional talents you're hoping for?"

"I can teach them."

"You yourself look young—can you really do it?"

Urald cut in before I could answer.

"Our young master here, I vouch for him."

"You stay out of it."

"All right."

"Hahaha! ... Oh, sorry."

Donnie burst into laughter.

Thanks to the two friends and Donnie's laughter, everyone ended up laughing together.

"Come in. It's humble, but make yourselves at home."

We followed Wundbark into the cliff cave.

Deep inside the rather long cave was a spacious area. It was a much cozier home than I'd expected.

Perhaps because it was built with Dran craftsmanship, the structure was extraordinary. A large central living room, and corridors branching off to bedrooms, storage rooms, workshops, and a bath.

The workshop was impressive, too.

Filled with rare tools and materials, intricate statuettes, and weapons I'd never seen before. There were unusual bows and swords as well.

"Take a seat. Bellen, would you bring some tea?"

"Yes."

"I'll help."

Smiling, bellen headed to the kitchen.

Donnie followed after her, perhaps feeling awkward being treated equally to me.

Soon, a wonderfully fragrant tea was served.

As we'd come to discover during our stay here, it was truly surprising that Elins lived in this place.

I'd thought Elins only existed across the far sea, on the Aindel continent.

/ / /

We talked at length with Wundbark.

The Elin siblings and Donnie seemed to be getting along well—their conversation was often interrupted by laughter.

"You can cast a Weight Reduction enchantment, right?"

"I only have enough material for about four. Planning to lighten that large sword belonging to your friend Donnie?"

"Yes, that's right. Where can I get more Weight Reduction materials?"

"You'd have to visit a Dran village. The nearest is in the western Arshaire mountains. It's quite far from here, but there are places in the southern Arshaire as well."

"Do Drans only live on the Arshaire Continent?"

"There is a Dran ancestral village in the central Beltern Continent. But that's really hard for you to get to, so let's leave that out."

Urald spoke up.

"If you go with me, getting Dran materials won't be hard. Though, I must admit, even I get tired on long journeys these days."

"Tired? In human years, you're barely in your forties."

"Try going traveling with short legs like ours—you'd get tired too!"

"Fair enough!"

"Hahahaha!"

A burst of laughter changed the subject naturally.

"Mind if I look over the materials carefully?"

"Of course."

Wundbark produced the materials.

"So this is a Divine ore. There's no way the divine order would just hand this over. I suppose you're not keen to answer how you got it?"

"No."

"It's lacking in divinity, isn't it?"

"Of course. This material only has a strength amplification effect. On its own, it isn't a holy material."

"So what is it used for?"

"It's for using its amplification properties. It can boost and extend magic or abilities temporarily. It can be applied to sword techniques or magic, and depending on how it's used, even to wide-area techniques."

"And the divine order revered something like this as holy?"

"It amplifies divinity, that's why."

"If the order found out, it'd be a catastrophe."

"They'd be turned upside down."

Wundbark nodded.

He might not grasp the full intent, but it seemed he'd understood the basic principle.

The Divine ore, stolen from the divine order.

This material would be used for buff skills and wide-area skills in my plan.

Used as weapon material or a strengthening agent, it exerts great power.

"This core stone will go into all equipment and accessories we're about to make. But we'll have to keep the source hidden."

"That's easy enough."

Wundbark picked up the next material.

This time, it was a spirit stone.

"I've never seen a spirit stone like this."

"Bellen and Lok should feel comfortable around elementals."

"That's right. Elin and elementals have been together since ancient times. Give me a detailed explanation—that way, we won't fail."

"We're happy to."

I began explaining the materials to Wundbark.

I only explained the uses and effects, not where I got them, nor exactly what I'd make from them.

First,

Four types obtained in Ta-iki.

First, [Spirit Stone.]

A level system material.

I'd given some to Donnie and Urald, and had ten left. I planned to give one to Russell, and the rest depended on whom I meet in the future.

Second, [Low-rank Spirit Stone.]

This goes to the soldiers. A weaker elemental force, but I could imbue them with a skill I had created. Even soldiers would possess a small amount of magic power.

Third, [Magic Crystal.]

A special material granting persistent effects when infused with magic power.

Its main use was as a skill book. After imbuing an effect, you could carry it to raise your stats, or use it for equipment enhancement.

Fourth, [Shrinking Magic Stone.]

The pirate ship, currently in a shrunken state, would be restored once I returned to the fortress.

A pair still remained.

Next,

Materials obtained on the demon island:

[Sap of Life.] [Fruit of Agility.]

[Petals of Strength.] [Vein of Strength.]

These were both buff ingredients and magical materials for equipment.

They could be engraved in accessories or taken to boost one's strength and speed.

The sap of life was intended as a healing skill ingredient as well.

I explained to Wundbark how to make best use of each material: what weapons and gear to create, what effects accessories should have.

/ / /

On the fourth day of meeting Wundbark—

He had already begun crafting.

The three of us—Wundbark, Urald, and I—had spent days designing, then decided to make a test item.

During those four days,

I had become quite close with Bellen and Lok.

"How did you come to live with Wundbark?"

Bellen hesitated before answering.

"If father knew we were telling you, he'd be upset."

"I'll keep it secret."

"Elder sister, I think it's okay if elder brother Roger knows."

Bellen hesitated, then spoke.

"We were slaves originally."

"Slaves? Did Wundbark rescue you?"

"Yes. If you go to the far south of Arshaire, there's a fortress named Kallaga. Not just us, but many Elins who'd lived in slavery for generations were there."

It was a startling tale.

The southern edge of Arshaire meant the very southern tip, near the Yan continent.

"How did Elins become slaves?"

"After the ancient war, there were Elins who couldn't return home. The heroes grew distant; the demons remained. So the Elins had to find a place to hide and, by chance, ended up among the Tak beastkin."

"Tak beastkin?"

"Yes. There were so many more Tak than Elin, so they could only end up as their slaves. Elins didn't get along well with Tak anyway; mostly, they worked as farmers."

"And humans?"

"We were born there, but had never seen a human. We'd never seen Drans, either—father was the first. We only learned later that there was a Dran village not far from Kallaga fortress."

That matched what Wundbark had said a few days ago: that there was a Dran village in southern Arshaire. It was extremely far from the fortress, in the southern hemisphere.

"How did your father rescue you?"

"There was a war between the Drans and the Tak. Actually, kallaga Fortress itself was built by Drans. Our father found us during one of the battles and took us with him."

"Are there still Elins there?"

"Yes. There are several villages, and ours had hundreds living there."

"Do you want to go to the Aindel continent?"

"No. Our race abandoned us long ago."

Bellen and Lok seemed so human.

I'd heard that true Elins are said to be emotionless, a cold-hearted race.

"You said your father taught you magic and hunting. Is there anything you're especially good at?"

Bellen and Lok looked at each other.

They'd probably never had a comparison before.

"I know some basic magic and summoning."

"Summoning? What's that?"

"Little birds made of light appear. Father calls them elemental summons, but you need a staff."

That staff seemed to house a spirit. Even the Elins exiled on the continent must have had their own elementals.

Perhaps that elemental had followed the siblings.

"Then Lok, you must have an elemental too?"

"Me?"

"You said you hunt with a bow, right?"

"Yes."

"Bring it here."

Lok went to his room and brought out a white bow.

I took it and examined it briefly.

Embedded in it was a small, sky-blue stone.

There was the elemental.

"Huh? The stone just flashed."

Almost immediately, the spirit with me and the one in the bow began to resonate.

I took the chance to convey my will to Lok's bow spirit.

It was an Elin's magic bow.

Well, it had been crafted by Wundbark, but with the spirit stone embedded, it had become an Elin's magic bow.

Lok's elemental in the bow listened to me.

"All this time, you were just using it as a regular bow?"

"Yes. I wish a spirit had accompanied me like it did with Elder sister."

"You always had one. It was just waiting for you to grow."

"There's really an elemental in this bow?"

I handed Lok the bow.

"Take it, steady your mind, and breathe with the spirit. Then ask it for an arrow."

"Huh?"

"Just try it."

Lok stood still, eyes closed.

After a moment, the stone in the bow glowed. The light seeped out and began to orbit around him like droplets.

Then, suddenly,

Lok drew the bow.

Srrr—

An arrow of light formed.

"Lok!"

"Wow! An arrow appeared!"

Ting—

The light arrow shot straight and embedded itself in the wall.

Everyone's jaw dropped.

The power was weak for now, but just being able to summon an arrow of light was enough.

The two Elins' classes had been decided.

Bellen was a mage and summoner.

Lok, an archer and marksman.