Chapter 363: Fenrir’s Home
They would hear things like "Thank you" and "You worked hard."
Their efforts would even be rewarded.
Naturally, that motivated them.
"So what kind of rewards do you get?" Raon asked.
"Apples!"
"Fish!"
"Ah. Yue wants apple sweets, and Rui wants a meal made with fish."
Albe translated for them.
Honestly, the rewards sounded incredibly simple.
But perhaps that was enough for children.
Then again, these two had always loved food more than anything else.
"Well, if that’s enough to motivate them, then I guess it’s fine. Sorry to dump this on you, Albe."
"It’s fine. Actually, every time I give them a stamp, I earn points for myself too."
He had thought ahead.
Since Albe’s rewards depended on helping the children complete their tasks, he naturally found himself cheering them on and praising them.
He needed more points than the children did because he earned them more easily, but he still found it rewarding as their older brother.
"Come to think of it, you’ve started calling him Cari now."
Until recently, Albe had always called him Caribert.
Lately, however, he had started calling him Cari like everyone else.
"His real name is Caribert, sure. But the one living here is Cari. Qiong Xing give him home and family, and Caribert became Cari. And, well... he started calling me big brother too, so I figured it was okay."
"I see. If you’re both happy with it, then that’s all that matters."
Albe’s head was immediately rubbed roughly in praise.
He swatted the hand away.
"Cut it out."
Was this rebellion?
"When Qiong Xing does it, you never complain."
"Qiong Xing is different!"
Apparently Qiong Xing was exempt from whatever rule this was.
Raon had absolutely no idea why.
"...I don’t get it."
"Come on, come on. Rui and Yue, aren’t you supposed to help wash Fenrir next?"
"We’re washing him!"
"We’re washing him!"
"He’s even asking for things like that?"
Raon could not help but be impressed.
Entrusting something like that to Fenrisúlfr was quite a request.
Then again, it almost felt as though Fenrisúlfr had been assigned as the twins’ playmate.
Seeing how happy the children looked, Raon decided it was probably fine and headed off to take care of his own work.
...
Fenrisúlfr could only smile wryly as the twins happily washed him.
"I was thinking of giving the children some simple jobs whenever I’m not around. Would you help me with that too, Fenrir?"
"I do not mind."
Knowing Qiong Xing, Fenrisúlfr had assumed he would never ask for anything unreasonable, so he had agreed without hesitation.
He had not expected this to be what Qiong Xing meant.
The twins had washed him before when he needed to clean blood from his fur, but he never imagined it would happen again.
Meeting this family had been both a coincidence and a miracle.
Normally, hardly anyone, whether human or magical beast, would willingly approaching him.
Most who saw him would only draw their weapons and attempt to kill him.
Yet Qiong Xing had defeated him in an entirely different way.
He had declared that they were family.
Even after being bitten and injured during their first meeting, Qiong Xing had not become angry.
Instead, he had healed his wounds and shared his magic power.
Fenrisúlfr had been shocked that such a person could exist.
At the same time, he had worried that someone so kindhearted might be taken advantage of.
Then Qiong Xing had hugged him, buried his face in his fur, and happily declared how fluffy he was.
That simple affection had completely disarmed him.
Before he realized it, he had become part of the family because Qiong Xing wanted him there.
At first, Fenrisúlfr thought that once he became a contracted beast, there would be nothing left to worry about.
Then Qiong Xing was kidnapped.
When Fenrisúlfr rushed to rescue him, he found him crying and begging for help.
For the first time in his life, Fenrisúlfr understood what it meant to feel powerless.
The sight of tears on Qiong Xing’s face filled him with regret.
He hated himself for not arriving sooner.
When he apologized for being late, Qiong Xing simply thanked him for coming to save him.
That response left an even deeper impression.
Seeing Qiong Xing injured made Fenrisúlfr realize he could have lost something precious.
For the first time, he felt genuine fear.
Only then did he understand how important Qiong Xing had become to him.
The way Qiong Xing smiled and said he loved him.
The way he buried his face in his fur and happily called him fluffy.
The way he would return from hunting and always be greeted with a warm "welcome home."
Without realizing it, Fenrisúlfr had gained a place to return to.
A home.
"...Help me."
The trembling plea still lingered in his memory.
Seeing Qiong Xing covered in his own blood had filled Fenrisúlfr with uncontrollable rage.
He had sunk his fangs into the man responsible without hesitation.
Even now, he often wondered whether things would have been different if he had arrived sooner.
If only he had been stronger.
Perhaps Qiong Xing would never have been hurt.
"Fenrir, I was saved because you were there. Thank you, Fenrir. Thank you for coming to save me."
If Qiong Xing had blamed him, Fenrisúlfr could have apologized.
But instead, he was thanked.
After hearing those words, there was nothing left for him to say.
He could only press himself against Qiong Xing’s small body.
Feeling that warmth, the warmth he might have lost forever, was when he truly understood what family meant.
"Fenrir, does it feel good?"
"Did Fenrir get clean?"
The twins carefully scrubbed him with all their might.
Though not as skilled as Qiong Xing, they were doing their best.
Fenrisúlfr let out a soft sound in response.
Once they finished drying him off, the twins proudly declared the task complete and ran away smiling.
Adorable children who resembled Qiong Xing.
Even after watching their mother get hurt right in front of them, they had accepted Fenrisúlfr as family and still smiled at him like this.
