Chapter 808 - Chapter 4: Countermeasures in the North ⑤
Once breakfast was over, we set out on our return journey. The wolf possessed by the male demon was found immediately near the settlement.
Food is scarce in the winter. In the settlement, they make dried meat from wild boars caught in the autumn. Apparently, wolves and foxes lured by that scent approach and end up getting caught in traps. Most of them end up as fur, but it seems there was one that had just been caught. We all went to see it.
The wolf caught in the trap had its right hind leg snagged by a rope and was hanging from a tree. It was dug in deep around the ankle, so it couldn't escape. As we approached, it twisted its body in the air, trying to flee from the trap while barking and howling.
"There's another one."
Scarface, who had overslept significantly this morning, was looking at a thicket a short distance away from the settlement.
"A pair?"
"Most likely. The one caught in the trap is the female, and the one watching from inside that thicket is the male."
According to the two who had recently become a pair... though the husband is currently away on business... wolves also form couples.
Wolves treasure their families. It probably stayed behind because it hated the idea of escaping alone. I was told that it would likely attack if we got any closer.
"Let's investigate a little."
Saying that, Scarface chanted something toward the wolf hanging by its right hind leg. It was likely a Charm.
The wolf went limp. Its eyes rolled back, and its tongue lolled out from its half-open mouth. Was it sleeping, or had it fainted?
Next, he cast a Charm toward the grove. There was a rustling sound. A single wolf emerged from the thicket.
"I've manipulated both of them. Possess them and investigate."
"Understood."
When Scarface gave the instruction, the apprentice slipped into the male wolf. The possessed wolf grew a size larger, and its fur color became darker. It was a vivid transformation.
"Poppy, try possessing the female."
"Eh? Me? I can't. I've never done a wolf before."
"I've manipulated it and knocked it out. It should be fine now. Give it a try."
"I... I wonder if I can?"
"There's no harm in trying, right? Just give it your best shot."
"T-That's true. Alright, I've been taught all sorts of things by the Water Dragon, after all. I must have grown!"
That's impressive. Water Dragon-sensei would surely teach her gently.
Poppy raised her right hand and spoke in the language of the Demon Race. Then, she slipped smoothly into the wolf caught in the trap. She successfully possessed it!
"Gyaun, gyaun, gyaun!"
Suddenly, the female wolf began to thrash. Did it fail?
"Ah, I forgot to remove the trap. Sorry, but could you cut that rope and treat its leg?"
I see. That should have been done first.
Scarface supported the body, and Bonnie cut the rope with a knife. When I cast Heal on it, it jumped at me and licked me all over.
I was happy, in a way, but I ended up covered in drool.
"A-Are you okay? Does it hurt anywhere?"
"Wafun!"
It sat down obediently. It seemed to be fine.
The other one also came close and crouched beside the wolf Poppy was possessing.
"Does that pair have any children?"
Scarface asked immediately. If there were children, we couldn't just take the parents.
"Wan. Wan."
"Kuuun."
The reactions were already completely like a dog's.
Fortunately, there were no children.
"What should we do? It's a wolf pair. No children. I recommend taking both of them back as they are."
"Understood. I don't know if they'll get used to us, but we'll manage somehow."
"It'll be fine. The one possessing them can influence the wolf's consciousness so it doesn't recognize Gwyn-dono as an enemy. If you're so inclined, you can become as close as a pet dog."
"Really! That's great. Please do so by all means."
"Understood. Hey, you heard that. Work on the consciousness of the wolves you've possessed. Make them understand that the humans here are not their enemies."
"Wan!"
The two wolves bowed their heads simultaneously. It looked like they were thinking about something.
Before long, Poppy's side stood up and bit the clothes she had been wearing. The other one remained in its posture but turned its face toward us.
"It seems to be finished. Poppy, the clothes please."
"A-Ah, yes!"
I ran over, spread the hem of the clothes, and draped them over its head. Poppy slipped out from the head and stood next to the wolf while wearing the clothes. Bonnie took clothes over to the male one. When it emerged in its pitch-black demon form, it busily accepted and put on the clothes. These were the green marble autumn/winter versions, same as Scarface's.
"You can do it if you try, can't you?"
"You'll be able to do it normally from next time. You've caught the knack of it, haven't you?"
"Yeah. Thank you. But, I'm a cat, after all. Everyone dotes on me when I'm a cat."
"Fufu, I'll leave what you do up to you."
He was smiling while stroking the female wolf's head. This pair was also getting along well. It's a good thing.
The male wolf came beside the female and licked the leg that had been caught in the trap.
"Wan!"
"Kuuun!"
"Wan wan!"
There was some kind of exchange, and then the male one came over to me.
"Jeanne healed its injury, right? It told him that. So I think it wants to thank you."
"I-I see."
It thrust its snout forward, so I stroked it.
"It's fine now. You all are not their enemies."
At Scarface's words, Gwyn-sama approached.
The two wolves stood up and wagged their tails.
"Here, you must be hungry. Eat this."
He took dried meat out of his storage bag and gave it to the two wolves. The wolves ate without hesitation.
"How is it? You've become friends, haven't you?"
"Yeah, I'll take these two back with me. Let's take both of them along during that rat extermination as well."
"That's a good idea."
"Yeah, I'm getting excited just imagining it."
The conversation was becoming largely about their personal interests, but it seemed like things would wrap up well.
We delivered Scarface to the Boar Sanctuary and Poppy to the Water Dragon's temple, then returned to the royal palace.
"Father, Mother, please look!"
As the King and Queen jumped up and lined up as usual, Gwyn-sama showed off the two wolves. The two wolves, having been taught that there was no need to harbor hostility while possessed by the Demon Race and having received plenty of dried meat from Gwyn-sama, were completely attached to him. On top of that, perhaps because their tension was high from flying through the sky, they were wagging their tails excessively and circling around Gwyn-sama with "wan wan" barks.
"My son. Where is the demon who will cooperate?"
He didn't even ask about the wolves. Well, that makes sense. We hadn't talked about him bringing back tamed wolves. That said, both of them were smirking as they looked at the wolves. They definitely noticed.
"We have successfully formed a contract. Details after we land."
"I-I see. In that case, I shall wait in the audience chamber."
No sooner had the King spoken than he descended all at once. It was a dive so steep you'd think he'd been shot down. The Queen was much the same.
When we went to the audience chamber, the Crown Princess had also arrived. One could immediately see the high expectations of the Finis royalty.
When Gwyn-sama brought the two wolves in, the three of them were smirking at the wolves in unison.
"Gwyn. Surely those wolves aren't...?"
Poppy was a cat. She was far from the image of a wolf. However, the original goal was a wolf. No matter how you look at it, they were saying it while knowing the answer.
"Abyss, come out!"
When Gwyn-sama called out, a demon emerged from the male wolf. As usual, it was a pitch-black figure. It could have been humanoid, but the visual impact was different.
"Oh! To think from a wolf... You really can possess a wolf."
"A wolf... This is wonderful."
"It's lovely, isn't it?"
These people really do have specific tastes.
"Forgive me for being in your presence."
When Gwyn-sama offered the clothes, it deliberately and slowly pulled the green marble autumn/winter version over its head. After tightening the waist cord and finishing dressing, it took on a human form... that is, its face became human. Short-cropped black hair. A sun-tanned, intrepid face. Single-lidded eyes, looking like a young warrior with a firm mouth.
"I am the demon who has received the name Abyss. I have formed a new contract with Gwyn-sama. It is a pleasure to meet you."
The demon who identified himself as Abyss stepped forward in front of the throne and stopped before them. He lowered his right leg and crouched slightly, then placed his left hand on his chest and bowed to the two of them. It was a formal human bow. Gwyn-sama must have taught him.
The name Abyss was given by Gwyn-sama. Incidentally, the name of the male wolf is Daybreak, and the female is Twilight. If a female demon to possess the female wolf is found, he apparently plans to name her Chaos. Very thematic.
"Oh! You say your name is Abyss? Splendid. Gwyn, as expected of my son. You did well to bring him."
"Abyss. We are glad you came. We welcome you."
All three were overjoyed. They approached together and took the demon's hand while introducing themselves.
"Abyss... It's a fine name."
The Crown Princess clasped her hands in front of her chest and was looking at the proud Gwyn-sama with an entranced expression.
Hmm, as expected of Saxburg-san's older sister.
Gwyn-sama explained the series of events that occurred at the sanctuary. Meeting Scarface, Poppy fulfilling her wish, meeting Abyss and forming a contract, and finding the two wolves and bringing them for possession...
"So, Poppy has been blessed with a child."
The Queen bit onto that part.
"Yes. That is the case."
"Oh, how delightful. To think Poppy would have a child."
The Queen and the Crown Princess hugged each other in joy.
"Mother-in-law, I would like to give Poppy some kind of celebratory gift."
"Indeed, indeed, we must find something."
Looking at Abyss, he was standing there with his mouth agape, perhaps because he was too surprised. He probably never imagined that demons would be so loved by humans, especially by the royalty of a nation.
Leaving the gift for Poppy to the two of them, Gwyn-sama wanted to recruit a female demon to possess the female wolf. Of course, Difodor wouldn't do.
We had to find a new female demon, but regarding leads, there was the option of asking the Dullahan in Northern Gram.
"Since that is the case, Father, I intend to take these two wolves and go to Northern Gram. Perhaps a wife for Abyss might be found."
"Umu, by all means, go. I do not mind if it costs some money. I shall arrange it for you."
"Thank you very much."
It was decided immediately, and it was arranged that he would go with us, as we were already planning to go to Northern Gram anyway.
However, whether it's Poppy, Difodor, or Keira, the female demons I know possess small animals. I wonder if an individual can be found who can possess as well as Poppy, who is being taught magic by the Water Dragon. I have serious doubts.
"It doesn't have to be able to possess right away. The main thing is that Abyss likes her. For the time being, we can have her possess a cat or something and have the Water Dragon train her."
I see. It's just as Gwyn-sama says.
That night, there was a grand celebration with Abyss as the guest of honor. The participants weren't just the royalty. There were priests from the Archbishop of the Capital downwards, those in charge of epidemic countermeasures, the Priestess I met when I arrived... there were two more now... and even several prominent nobles. Beatrix also came, though a little late. Beatrix ignored Abyss and only asked about Poppy and Scarface.
"That demon..."
"He is Abyss. I want everyone to call him Abyss-dono as well. He is a knight of our country, after all."
Gwyn-sama corrected the words of the Archbishop of the Capital, whom I also knew.
It must be complicated for the priests. After all, the main deity of Finis is the God of War who was instructed by the Goddess to subjugate the Demon Race. However, the spirit of coexistence and co-prosperity itself is the same. And Finis has a culture of open-mindedly accepting even yesterday's enemies. In that respect, Abyss... is it just me who feels a bit embarrassed every time his name is called? I have to get used to it... coming alone to the base of humans who were previously hostile would likely earn him goodwill. Everyone watched the first contact intently.
"My apologies. Then, Abyss-dono. We should implement epidemic countermeasures on ships coming from the continent in cooperation with Abyss-dono, correct?"
"That's right. I'll have him handle the rat countermeasures."
"Then it will be a joint operation with us."
"I'll go with everyone tomorrow. I want to do a practical exercise for rat countermeasures by boarding a moored ship."
"Understood. Then, Abyss-dono, we look forward to working with you."
He bowed to Abyss with a smile.
"A-Ah. I look forward to it."
The opponent is a church priest. Abyss is the one who's intimidated.
Three days later, I also participated in the experiment at the harbor. The Henry Party and Beatrix also came, wanting to use it as a reference. All the priests who attended the audience yesterday also came to watch. Furthermore, there were even several nobles. They were likely those opposed to the port entry restrictions. For that reason, not only the Henry Party's bowls but also Finis's bowls were brought out.
The chosen merchant ship was apparently the same size as those that actually go to the continent. It was moored a short distance away from the harbor quay. It seems they went to the trouble of moving it from where it was moored. Even in the real thing, it has to be done before the rats land. It's practical.
We went to the target ship on the bowls, and the King and Queen were the first to land. Since it had been announced in advance that the King would board, everyone from the captain down was gathered and kneeling on one knee. After an exchange that seemed like a greeting, the crew was surprised as those who were in the sky landed one after another. Since the nobles remained on the bowls operated by magic soldiers wearing chainmail, it looked somewhat like they were coming in for a seizure.
They probably hadn't been told the details. After gathering the clearly anxious crew on the deck, Gwyn-sama finally landed on the ship, leading the two wolves and Abyss. At this point, Abyss was in human form. Wearing fine clothes and with a short sword with a gold hilt and scabbard studded with jewels at his waist, he looked like a noble. No, he was already a noble since he had been knighted. He held a long, thin rod-like object in a cloth bag in his right hand.
A surprised murmur spread among the crew who saw the two wolves.
When the wolves approached the crew while sniffing, some even tried to run away.
"H-Has something happened?"
Unable to bear it any longer, the captain asked Gwyn-sama.
"Ah, don't worry about it. It's just a little investigation."
That line. No matter how you think about it, it's bound to make them anxious.