It wasn’t a puppy that I picked up.
The morning after I picked up the puppy, I brought the now-clean pup into the living room during morning tea time.
“Jo, have you decided on a name?”
When Brother Noel asked me that—
“She’s a girl, and when the light hits her fur, it looks silver... So how about Pearl?”
“That’s a cute name.”
Mother agreed, too.
“You’re Pearl now. Nice to meet you.”
As I said that and stroked the puppy, she suddenly gave off a radiant light.
““““““““Eh!?””””””””
(I’m Peawl. Hyello~)
““““““““Ehhhhhh!?””””””””
“J-Jo, what did you do!?”
Brother Noel asked, but I couldn’t think of anything that might’ve caused this.
“Th-this time I really didn’t do anything! Right, Brother Gene?”
“Y-yeah. You just used some first aid to treat the wounds... That’s all, I think.”
“Last time it was overlapping skills, wasn’t it? You didn’t do that again, did you?”
Father asked, and I thought about it.
“I gave her first aid, warmed some milk, gave her water, then some bread porridge... That’s not weird, right?”
“Water? Was it Aqua’s water?”
“I was careful this time, Brother Noel.”
“Then why did this happen?”
“Young lady... Just to confirm, did you warm the milk yourself?”
Grey asked.
“Yeah, I did. Why?”
“Just maybe... but while you were warming it, were you thinking about something?”
“Hmm? What do you mean, Grey?”
Father also looked puzzled.
“Well, remember how when Young lady used Search on the tea I made before, it turned out to have a minor healing effect? Even though all I did was try to brew it deliciously. So maybe... the milk you warmed also gained some effect...”
“I see. What do you think, Joan?”
“Hmm~ I guess I did think something like, ‘I hope she gets better quickly’... maybe...”
“Oh! There might still be some left in the stable!”
Saying that, Brother Gene dashed out of the living room.
He returned shortly with a small amount of milk.
“Search Open”
[Warm Milk] Heated cow’s milk.
Effect:
Supplements calcium deficiency.
Satisfies mild hunger. Promotes restful sleep.
Note:
Because Joan warmed it with a charm,
it now has a healing effect.
It can even heal minor bone fractures.
““““““““Ahhhhh—.””””””””
I messed up again. I really messed up again~.
But it’s just a healing effect... Isn’t that still technically safe?
Still, everyone’s stares hurt...
“... Tehee~.”
“‘Teehe~’ is not an excuse! Honestly.”
Brother Noel, if you’re low on calcium, want some milk?
“Hey hey, Jo. Wouldn’t we know more if we used Search on Pearl?”
“Oh, right. Search Open”
[Pearl] Fenrir.
1 month old (around 3 years old in human terms)
Contractor: Joan.
Status: Healthy.
Note:
A Fenrir pup separated from her parents.
Was attacked by a Dire Wolf in Crimson Woods and was on the brink of death, but escaped thanks to Joan’s skill.
Now able to converse with humans due to forming a contract.
Will be able to change size freely when grown.
““““““Fenrirrrrr!?””””””
“Huh? So she wasn’t a dog. Then this wasn’t my fault, right?”
“No, no, bringing home a magic beast—especially a Fenrir—is just unthinkable!”
“You say that, Father, but I thought she was just a puppy. Brother Gene, you did too, right?”
“Y-yeah... I thought she was a dog.”
“But if she’s lost, shouldn’t we return her to her parents?”
Mother’s words made me realize, and I asked Pearl:
“Pearl, do you need to go back to your mother and father?”
(Nuh-uh. I don’ have a mommy or daddy no more. So I gonna stay wif you, Jo-an.)
“Huh? They’re not around?”
(Uh-huh. I don’ know ‘bout my daddy, just mommy. But den a big wolf came. Mommy said she’d protect me, and she neva came back.)
“I see... Then this time, I’ll protect you.”
(Tanks. I’ll pwet Joan too.)
“Master, based on what Pearl just said and what was shown in the Search, it seems Dire Wolves have appeared in Crimson Woods. That’s...”
“Yeah, that’s serious. And if a Fenrir parent was taken down, even if post-birth... Grey, report this to the Monster Subjugation Unit immediately. Nancy, go call Elle.”
““Understood.””
“Now then, Pearl. I’m Joan’s father. Welcome. Just one question—did you see only one of those big wolves? Or were there a lot, like a pack?”
(Jo-an’s papa? Nice ta meet ya. Umm, mommy said there were lots of wolves.)
“I see. Thank you. You were very brave, Pearl. But you don’t have to worry now—we’ll all protect you here.”
(Ay. tanks.)
After that, Father immediately submitted a Dire Wolf subjugation request to the Adventurers’ Guild.
The next morning, the Monster Subjugation Unit arrived in the Lampail territory.
Together with the private army and adventurers, the Dire Wolf subjugation mission in Crimson Woods began.
What do you think about this chapter?
