VOLUME 2: INTERMISSION – CYNTHIA’S ADVENTURES I
Status
Name Cynthia
Race Gray Wolf
Level 45
Cla.s.s Pup
Possessed Skills Gale Strike; Charge
Divine Protection None
Attributes None
Uuu…
Uuu.
“GURUuu…”
I can’t believe I performed so horribly in front of dad…
He patted me on the head as if nothing was wrong, and I ended up wagging my tail as a result, but… I was shocked. Who could’ve thought that crab would pull off such an underhanded trick at the end?
Uuu.
I can’t call Gastra stupid anymore.
Even though I’m supposed to be the older sister who should protect him!
Sigh… What to do? Dad’s not around because of the meeting.
Hmm?
Is that a friend I smell?
Well, dad is busy, so I’m sure it’ll be fine if I go out and play.
Wow, they’re running really fast on two legs.
Oh! They might know of a way to run on two legs!
If I can learn how to run on two legs, I’ll be a lot more like dad!
Kicking off against the branches and pa.s.sing through the gra.s.s, I chased after the two-legged friends.
Huh? Where did they go?
“…And just when I was wondering who was following us.”
Suddenly, I was taken by the neck.
Hey, stop it!
“GURUuu.”
“Oh, sorry. This isn’t how a lady should be treated.”
L-Lady!?
“Woof!?”
Gently, I was brought back to the ground.
Whew, as I thought, I just can’t be at ease unless my feet are firmly rooted on the ground.
“That’s right. You might be small, but you’re a wonderful lady.”
Oh! So I’m a lady!
“Let me introduce myself, friend. I am Mido. Mido of the werewolves, also known as the tyrant.”
Mido, huh.
He put me back down gently, and he doesn’t seem to be a bad person. I guess I should at least remember his name.
“Woof!”
Cynthia!
“I see, so your name is Cynthia. What an odd name. Was it an elder who named you?”
Hmm? Elder? What’s that? Is he talking about that wrinkled green guy?
“Woof!”
My dad named me! My name means ‘Lady of the Lake Sh.o.r.e’!
“Oh, so you’re dad named you. He seems well-learned. I would like to meet him, but…”
Hmm? Oh, right!
“Woof!”
Teach me how to run on two legs!
“A way to run on two legs? My, you ask some hard requests, Lady Cynthia. But why ever would you want to run on two legs? Isn’t it faster to run on four?”
Unconsciously, my ears and tail drooped. I wonder if he’ll laugh if I say I want to be more like dad.
“Woof…”
It’s a secret.
“A secret, huh. You know, while I might look like this, I’m a man who keeps his word. Won’t you tell me that secret? If I know the reason, I might be able to teach you better than if I didn’t.”
Oh, so that’s why he wants to know. But what to do…
“Woof?”
Don’t tell anyone, alright? Promise?
“Of course, I swear it on my honor. I would never do something to embarra.s.s a friend.”
Then I guess I can tell him.
“Woof!”
It’s because dad also runs on two legs! I want to become more like dad!
“…”
Huh? Why is he so quiet all of the sudden? And why is he making a difficult face? I know he promised not to tell anyone, but surely that doesn’t mean he won’t talk anymore, right? I mean how is he supposed to teach me if he doesn’t talk?
“Friend… won’t you come with me for a bit?’
I wonder if dad won’t mind me being gone for a while. The sun’s almost set too.
But I also need to learn how to run on two legs…
“Friend, if my guts are right, this might be your last chance to secure your happiness.”
What!? So this is my last chance?
“Woof!”
Let’s go then!
“Ok then, hop on my shoulder.”
I jumped on Mido’s shoulders just like I did with dad.
“Don’t fall now.”
Of course.
“woof!”
◇◆◇
Fast! Mido said running on four legs is faster, but if it’s possible to run this fast on two legs, wouldn’t it be fine?
“We’re almost there, young lady.”
“Woof!”
Right!
The pa.s.sing wind feels nice. My tail is happily wagging.
We sure came far though. He better send me back home too. I can go home on my own, but it’ll take me a while by myself.
I hope dad doesn’t get mad. If he does, I’ll just have to blame everything on Mido. Right, let’s do that.
“WOooOF!”
Howls suddenly resounded from everywhere.
“We’re here.”
Hmm? We’ve arrived? I don’t think there’s anything here though.
“Mido of the werewolves has come to meet with the friends!”
Mido yelled right by my ears, so my head went dizzy. I almost fell off, but I managed to use my claws to keep myself from falling.
I complained, but Mido kept looking ahead.
Oh? You’re ignoring a lady? That’s pretty gutsy of you! I’ll show you!
I bit him, but then the thickets swayed. When I looked ahead, there were big friends up ahead.
That was my first time seeing them.
“GURUuu.”
I jumped off Mido’s shoulders.
I slowly walked, taking big strides forward while I looked up.
A friend looked down at me.
“Whose daughter are you?”
The words resounded within my head. It seems those words came from this guy in front of me.
Hmm… What do I say to this?
“GURUuu.”
I’m dad’s daughter!
“Fierce fang, do you know of this friend?” Mido asked.
The gray wolf shook his head.
“That would make this one a stray then. I found her in the south, not far from the araneae village.”
What is the name of your father? Your mother? What is your name?”
Arrogant b.a.s.t.a.r.d!
“GURUuu.”
Dad is dad! My mom is Reshia! I’m Cynthia!
Tell him! I tried to tell Mido, but when I turned, I saw him crying.
Huh? What’s going on? I made Mido cry?
That is not our name.
“So this child really is…”
Someone picked her up and raised her like a pet.
The gray wolf in front of me bared his fangs.
Huh? W-Wait a moment, isn’t this a bit scary!?
“There is no one from around here who would dare to do such a thing. Doing so is the same as a declaration of war, after all,” Mido said as he wiped his tears.
Huh? Is this wolf mad because Mido is crying?
Is it my fault? Huh?
“But there is someone who came here recently! Those goblins!”
Mido’s fangs are getting bigger. Huh? Even his body is getting bigger!? Why!?
Then the answer is clear
“…Unforgivable!! Unforgivable, those beasts!!”
That’s a scary pressure, Mido. My ears are ringing, and my tail is shivering.
“I’m gonna kill every single one of those gobs! They will pay for the sin of trampling on our friends!!”
Hmm? Goblin? Is he talking about dad?
“Woof!”
Stop, Mido! I love dad! My dad is strong! So don’t do anything!
“Don’t worry, little lady. I am also strong… I am the strongest of our tribe. I am the tyrant, Mido! Just wait here, ok?”
Don’t turn your back on me! Hey, Mido!
Huh? Where did he go?
Calm down, friend.
The gray wolf spoke again. Yeah, that’s right, stop him!
“You think I can calm down!? I’m going to b.l.o.o.d.y those goblins this instant!”
I’m saying we will also come with you
Mido stopped for a moment, but in the next moment, he burst out.
“Woooooof! I am glan, friend. Right, the enemy of a friend, is the enemy of all. I told him to come here in three days. Let’s kill everyone.”
Huh!?
He’s not an enemy!
“Fierce fang, I know I’m being selfish, but can you take care of this lady here? Can I leave it to you to teach her how to live as she should?”
Rest a.s.sured, I shall do as my friend asks
“Thank you, friend! See ya, little lady. I shall wipe away all the shame you’ve gone through!”
Everything happened so fast, by the time I came to, Mido was already gone.
W-Wait Mido!
Shall we go then, little fang? We have to say h.e.l.lo to your elders.
I’m going home!
Trying to resist, eh? What a cheeky brat.
The gray wolf carried me by the neck with his mouth.
Resistance was futile.
Tl Note: Friend this, friend that… And yet they forgot to do the most important thing a friend should do: listen.