Chapter 42: Shadow Wolf

[What… are we going to do…]

[You truly… seem desperate…]

[It looks like… something’s wrong… with the young one… at the center of the group…]

Elatria.

They observed the Shadow Wolf Clan that had arrived here, trying to understand the trouble they were in.

[Let us… contact… the servant… of the Great Being…]

[Yes… the decision… isn’t ours… to make…]

Their role was simply to guard this place.

They had no authority to decide whether or not to allow others into the territory.

@Grrrroooooowl~!

Elatria, with its sturdy build, trembled the leaves and let out a low howl.

This was the agreed-upon contact signal with Chuchu.

A signal would have been sent to the Elataria Branch that Chuchu possessed.

Pop!

“Chuchu?”

From a small burrow outside the lair, Chuchu poked its head out.

[A guest… has come… to the lair…]

“Chuu?”

At the mention of a guest, Chuchu tilted its head again in curiosity.

Sniff sniff.

Twitching its nose, Chuchu distinguished the scents drifting in from outside the lair.

“Chu!”

Then, its eyes suddenly sparkled.

Scurry!

Chuchu darted outside the lair at lightning speed.

“Chu!”

In front of Elatria, a pack of six Shadow Wolves had gathered.

No, to be precise, including the tiny pup carried in the mother’s mouth, there were seven wolves in all.

“Awoooo…!”

“Owooooo!”

Upon spotting Chuchu, they all howled in unison.

It was because they sensed the mana of the “Great Being” emanating from Chuchu standing before them.

“Awooo-!”

(Great Being. Loyal servant. We greet you.)

The Shadow Wolf who seemed to be the leader flattened itself before Chuchu and let out a mournful howl.

“Chuchu!”

(Yes. What is it?)

Chuchu, wearing a solemn expression, stared at the Shadow Wolf prostrated before him.

“Owooooo…”

(My pup. Is very sick.)

“Chuuu!”

(Your pup…?)

In response to Chuchu’s question, the mother Shadow Wolf, still holding her sick pup in her mouth, stepped forward.

Thud.

“Kiing, kiiiing…!

The mother placed the sick Shadow Wolf pup before Chuchu.

It was a little bigger than Chuchu.

However, from Seojun’s perspective as the master of the lair, it was barely the size of two fists put together—a tiny creature.

“Chu…!”

The sight of the whimpering Shadow Wolf pup was etched into Chuchu’s clear eyes.

A small, adorable being.

Yet it looked as if it might stop breathing at any moment—so frail and weak.

A rush of emotions flooded in: compassion, pity, sorrow.

“Chuchu!”

Chuchu immediately turned back toward the lair.

His mind was filled with the urgent thought of reporting this to his master, Park Seojun.

***

‘I’ve leveled up seven times.’

The effect of Nagatarra’s Core.

It was incredible.

With this, my level was now 44.

At level 40 and above, I’d be treated as at least a mid-ranked superhuman wherever I went.

And I’d achieved this in less than a month.

Such a rapid leveling speed was unheard of, and probably never would be again.

‘Let’s go.’

I raised my head and looked at the third passageway.

I had a strong feeling that I’d be able to access it now that I’d broken through level 40.

Just as I was about to take a step—

“Chu!”

Suddenly, Chuchu, who had gone out through the burrow, rushed back and blocked my path.

“Hm? What’s wrong?”

I’d never seen Chuchu look so frantic before.

“Chuchu! Chuu—Chuchuchu! Chuuuuu!”

Chuchu gestured desperately, trying to explain something to me.

“There’s… a sick wolf pup… outside?”

“Chuchu!!”

Chuchu nodded at my words.

So there were guests outside?

The one who answered my question was Arkeron.

[Arkeron, seven unidentified entities are approaching the outskirts of Elatrium.]

“Seven of them?”

[Yes. Their combat ability is not at a threatening level, but we are monitoring them.』

“Hmm.”

I stroked my chin.

They didn’t seem particularly dangerous.

It looked like they’d come here seeking help.

“You said the pup is sick? Do you know what’s wrong?”

“Chuchu! Chuuuuu—Chuchuchu!”

Chuchu gestured and explained again.

“Its vitality is running out?”

“Chu!”

“It doesn’t seem to be a disease or an injury. Can we even treat something like that?”

“Chuchu! Chuuu~!”

At my words, Chuchu pointed at Popo.

It seemed he meant that Popo’s bodily fluid could heal the pup.

After a moment’s thought, I made my decision.

Let’s help them.

I didn’t know how they found this place, but with their pup’s life hanging by a thread—

Even though they were beasts, I could imagine how desperate they must feel.

“I guess we’ll have to give them some of Popo’s fluid since we can’t bring them in.”

Unfortunately, there’s no entrance here.

I didn’t see any way to bring them inside.

The only option was to take the fluid out and heal the pup there.

…Or so I thought.

[Master. I believe I can bring it in.]

“You can?”

[Yes. According to my scans, the entity is small enough to pass through the dimensional rift I opened.]

Oh.

I see.

It must be quite small.

“Then bring it here.”

[Arkeron. Executing your command.』

Ziiing!

Arkeron opened a dimensional space and slipped out of the lair.

And before long—

Ziiing—!

The dimensional space opened again, and Arkeron set down a being about as tall as itself before me.

The being’s body shimmered, its form shifting like shadow and mist.

But looking closely, I could see it was shaped like a wolf pup.

‘So this is a Shadow Wolf.’

There was a mystical aura about it.

“Kiiing…”

But.

This little wolf looked as if it might stop breathing at any moment.

[The pup looks so sick!]

“Popo”

“Chuuu.”

“Its life force is almost completely depleted.”

Everyone let out sighs of pity.

What could have happened to such a small, young creature?

And how did they know to come here?

“Popo, do you think you can revive this little one?”

“Popo!”

Popo stepped forward with a resolute (•_•) expression at my words.

“Popo!”

Popo hugged the Shadow Wolf pup tightly in his arms.

“Kiiiiing…”

A faint whimper came from within Popo’s embrace.

With that sound, Popo completely wrapped the pup up.

“Let’s hope it heals well.”

At my words, everyone nodded, hoping for the best.

‘Hmm. In any case—’

I stood up.

This was all I could do for the Shadow Wolf pup.

The rest would depend on Popo’s healing power and the pup’s will to survive.

‘Let’s check out the third passageway.’

I glanced back at the Shadow Wolf to check on it once more, then headed straight into the passage.

***

Pop!

A transparent barrier blocked the entrance to the third passageway.

As if passing through jelly, my body slipped right in.

‘Just as I thought!’

Starting around level 40, you could enter the third passageway.

Step, step.

I quickened my pace and entered the room.

Before long, the scenery unfolded before my eyes.

“Wow!”

I couldn’t help but exclaim at the sight of silver waves shimmering before me.

Thunk, thunk!

I tapped the silver-glowing wall with my hand. It made a sound that was both light and heavy.

On the surface of the ore, which gleamed with a silvery glow, powerful magical energies were densely gathered and slowly circulated.

I recognized it at a glance.

‘Mithril.’

Yes.

One of the most expensive ores in existence.

It was Mithril.

“The real Minerals Room has finally appeared.”

As everything unfolded just as I’d hoped, a thrilling rush of dopamine shot down my spine.

As I went deeper inside, I found piles of Mithril ingots stacked like mountains.

“My goodness.”

How many tons was this?

In a space that looked about 10 meters by 10 meters, Mithril ingots were stacked 7–8 meters high.

At a glance, it looked like well over several thousand tons—an astonishing amount.

‘This is insane.’

Rare Dragon Lair.

The scale is on another level.

‘It’s a shame there’s no Orichalcum or Adamantium.’

But that’s good, in a way.

If they exist separately, then Orichalcum and Adamantium would also be present in such quantities—enough to fill a room like this.

“Heh heh heh.”

A delighted chuckle slipped out before I knew it.

I hurried out and brought Vellerin here.

“My goodness!”

Vellerin covered her mouth with both hands at the dazzling spectacle of silver waves before her eyes.

“With this, you can make Exploration Drones, right?”

“Yes~! Not just Exploration Drones, but almost any equipment! As long as we have enough magic stones!”

Vellerin was clearly excited.

There was even a hint of flirtatiousness in her voice.

Maybe it was because she was a born blacksmith—she seemed completely entranced by the Mithril before her.

“Then start by making an Exploration Drone.”

“Yes, Master! As you command!”

She eagerly picked up several Mithril ingots.

Then a thought struck me.

‘Isn’t the Mithril in the Rare Dragon Lair even more special than normal Mithril?’

After all, weren’t all the spiritual herbs from this place unique?

There was no reason the Mithril would be any different.

“Ah! That’s right. The Mithril here is the best of the best! Compared to regular Mithril, it’s much purer, stronger, and has higher magic conductivity!”

Just as I thought!

My guess was correct.

‘Alright. Let’s put this up for auction too.’

I picked up a Mithril ingot.

It looked to be about 10cm x 10cm x 30cm in size.

It must have weighed around 12kg.

‘Nice and heavy.’

With a satisfied smile, I put it up at the auction house.

When listing it, the introduction of the Mithril Ingot was described as <Magicain’s Mark, Mithril Ingot>.

Once word got out, the price would skyrocket.

‘If this goes as I expect, I’ll be able to sweep up all the spiritual herbs and elixirs in the Platinum Lounge even faster.’

Which means—

My leveling speed would accelerate even more.

Good.

Let’s hit the jackpot!

With excitement, I headed back to the lair.

“Huh?”

The Shadow Wolf pup that Popo was holding…

***

At that time.

The Shadow Wolves were restlessly pacing in front of Elatrium, anxiously staring in the direction where their pup had disappeared.

『Wanderers… What has happened… to your child… for it to end up… in such a state…』

One of the Elatria watching over them asked with pity in its voice.

“Awoo… Awooooo!”

[The Grim Reaper… that being… sigh… such a tragic…]

This was the story.

The Shadow Wolves.

They had originally been a family group of ten.

Then, the youngest was born.

They rejoiced at the birth of their Youngest and resolved to become an even larger family.

“An interesting… being indeed…”

That was when the Grim Reaper appeared before them.

He realized that the traits of the Shadow Wolves were similar to his own.

He took the Shadow Wolves with him and conducted all sorts of experiments.

In the process, three family members died.

And even the newborn Youngest, after having its life force tampered with, was driven to the brink of death.

“How pitiful… Still… you managed… to find your way here…”

“Awooo…”

Just as the Shadow Wolf was about to explain how they had managed to find this place—

Ziiiiiing!!

The dimensional space opened again, and Arkeron—the one who had taken their pup—appeared.

“Awooooo!”

“Owoooo!”

“Awooo-!”

All at once, the Shadow Wolves rose and stared at Arkeron’s mouth.

With an indifferent gaze, Arkeron addressed the wolves.

“Your pup is—”