Even so, these two had helped him.

They had helped him without trying to stop him.

His precious, beloved children.

As he held the two who had cried themselves to sleep, the two wolves who are now restored to their original color approached him.

"They are preparing food now. Once it is ready, you can eat together with us."

When he added, "You must be hungry, right?" one of them licked his face with its long tongue.

The wolf was now covered in drool.

He could only hope it had not mistaken him for food.

"Fwaa..."

Letting out a yawn at the pleasant weather, Qiong Xing gently leaned against the wolf that lay down beside him.

"Hehe, so fluffy. It feels nice."

Since it did not seem to mind, he relaxed his entire body.

"Thank you for understanding. I am glad I was able to help you."

Because they had understood his intentions, they could now rest together like this.

Even if he had healed them, just as Albe had said, there had been no guarantee they would not kill him.

"In the end, we were both saved by our children."

At that moment, the image of the injured pup standing protectively overlapped with Cari who had tried to shield Qiong Xing.

"Your child is very brave and kind as well."

"Woof!"

The wolf barked as if to say of course, looking incredibly proud.

"My children are amazing too, you know? They take after their papa. Very brave and very kind."

When Qiong Xing said they were his pride and joy, the wolf nodded as if it understood.

No matter the world, doting parents were the same everywhere.

...

"How did you know Rui and the others were holding back their tears?"

"Hm?"

It was something that had been bothering him for a while.

Even though Albe and the others had been on the verge of tears worrying about Qiong Xing, the twins had not said anything nor cried, and had simply followed his request.

"I thought it was strange that they did not cry when they saw you covered in blood."

If they had cried, it would have been difficult in its own way, but Rui had held Albe and the others back as if to say no, and Yue had helped Qiong Xing when he could not move.

"I do not know why they held it in, but I could tell right away that they were."

Why?

"They were not smiling, were they?"

"I do not think anyone would be smiling in a situation like that."

The only ones who could smile in a situation like that would be someone insane or someone with a death wish.

"No, not that. Their faces. These kids go expressionless when they are holding things in."

"Ah..."

Now that he thought about it, their faces really had been blank the whole time.

Even after everything was over, their replies had sounded normal, but their expressions had shown neither smiles nor anger.

"Their voices sound so normal that even Joa took quite a while to notice."

Because he had been so worried about Qiong Xing, Albe had not properly looked at their faces either.

He had assumed they were fine just from their voices.

"I am supposed to be their big brother..."

He felt down for not noticing, but Qiong Xing laughed and reassured him that even their father, Joa, had not realized, so it was alright.

"From now on, just pay attention to it from time to time. By the way, is it alright to feed these two cooked meat?"

When asked whether it was fine to give them prepared food, Albe could not give a clear answer since it was his first time seeing Fenrisúlfr as well.

"Are you really going to help them?"

"Is that not alright?"

"..."

It was not that it was not alright.

He just did not like it.

"Can you not forgive them?"

"...Yeah."

Even now, the image of Qiong Xing collapsing was burned into his mind.

It had only turned out alright because Qiong Xing could use healing magic.

If he had not been able to, he would have certainly died.

There was no way Albe could accept keeping the very Fenrisúlfr that caused that by their side.

"They probably will not attack again. Even so?"

"What kind of guarantee is that? They might attack again at any moment. Unless you make them into familiars, there is no way."

If they were bound as familiars, they would not be able to harm their master, but otherwise, there was no knowing when Qiong Xing might be in danger again.

"What is a familiar?"

Good grief.

"It means exactly what it sounds like. It was a magical creature that follows you. Depending on the creature, in exchange for their power, the contractor has to pay a price."

"A price?"

For low level creatures, it was not that difficult, but for something like a Fenrisúlfr, even Albe did not know.

"Unlike forcing them into submission, a magical creatures chooses to form a contract by its own will. That is why the contractor has to offer something equal in return."

"A price... would money work?"

Thud.

If it were that simple, no one would have trouble.

"No. Well, maybe there are some like that, but usually it is magic power."

Unlike ordinary beasts, magical creatures fed on magic power, which was why they were so strong and resilient.

"So what I am saying is... what are you doing?"

"Hm? What do you mean, I am feeding them..."

No way.

The moment Qiong Xing touched the wolf, Albe sensed the flow of magic power and could not believe his eyes.

Qiong Xing was smiling gently as he gave them his magic power, even asking, "Is it good?"

Honestly.

There were no words left to say.

This must be what it meant to be speechless in exasperation.

Perhaps thanks to receiving their fill of Qiong Xing’s magic power, the wolves’ previously emaciated bodies quickly regained their strong majestic forms and their fur shining brilliantly.