Chapter 61. Prairie Wolf
“Hello.”
Radel greeted as he entered the grade representative office.
It was already the second grade representative meeting.
“Look who it is! Isn’t it the Black Falcon Dormitory's fixer?”
“Welcome, junior!”
The upperclassmen who were already there welcomed Radel happily. They were the 2nd-year representative, Anesha Holton, and the 3rd-year representative, Pasion Tetry.
Radel scratched his head at the words of his seniors, who were cheering at the sight of him.
“It’s a bit embarrassing. Have you heard the rumors?”
“Of course. You have no idea how small the academy is.”
Anesha laughed as if she found it amusing.
“We told you to help your friends, and you did it so perfectly, didn't you? We were impressed too.”
“That’s right. I’d say we learned a thing or two.”
Anesha and Pasion had heard Radel's story from Professor Marianne. They heard that thanks to Radel's efforts, the atmosphere in the Black Falcon Dormitory had improved.
Professor Marianne's satisfied smile, thinking they had chosen the 1st-year representative well, was a bonus.
“Actually, thanks to your advice, seniors, I was able to get closer to my friends and persuade them to take the mana training lecture.”
“That’s amazing. So you prevented the class from being canceled?”
“Yes, it's all thanks to you, seniors.”
Radel bowed his head deeply towards his seniors.
The 4th-year representative, Shartea, who had been watching from the side, spoke up from where she sat quietly.
“You’re the one who listened to your seniors’ advice and acted on it.”
Shartea remembered the ridiculous advice Anesha and Pasion had given.
At first, she had wondered what he was trying to do, but it was also fascinating that he had produced a decent result in his own way.
“It was commendable behavior for a grade representative.”
“Sh-Shartea-senior is praising a junior?”
“Is the academy going to collapse tomorrow?”
Shartea's expression hardened at Anesha and Pasion’s fuss.
Flick, flick!
A silent scream echoed through the grade representative office.
Shartea gave each of her juniors a flick on the forehead and returned with a composed expression to speak to Radel.
“On top of that, you persuaded your friends and saved a lecture that was about to be canceled. I believe it was a helpful act for the academy.”
“Thank you, senior.”
Seeing his seniors get hit one by one for teasing Shartea, Radel thought he must be polite.
As if pleased by Radel's serious attitude, Shartea opened her mouth with a slight smile.
“The Founding Anniversary Hunting Competition next week, I can look forward to it, right?”
“Pardon?”
As Radel blinked, not knowing what she meant, Shartea explained.
Starting next week, there would be the Cretian Empire's Founding Festival, so the academy would also be on break for a week, and the royals attending the academy would return to the Imperial Capital to participate in the hunting competition hosted by the imperial family during the festival.
‘No classes during the Founding Festival!’
He should be resting comfortably in the dormitory at a time like this.
Radel felt disappointed about having to return to the Imperial Capital.
“I don't know about anything else, but now that you're the grade representative, I’ll trust that you’ll show a great performance.”
Shartea's aura as she said that with a smile was unusual.
The seniors, who had collapsed after being flicked on the forehead, could be seen avoiding Shartea’s gaze and sending some kind of signal to Radel.
‘Junior, I’m rooting for you.’
‘You must come back alive!’
Radel felt a sense of doubt watching them.
Surely, it wasn't a matter of life or death if he didn't put on a great performance, right……?
* * *
Cryptozoology class.
The 1st-years were gathered in front of the academy's stable.
Coming to a place they had never been to while learning Cryptozoology, a small sense of anticipation bloomed in the hearts of the 1st-years.
“The time has finally come to learn taming.”
Professor Donton Murr also appeared in unusually neat attire.
“Welcome to the stable, you novices. This place is like a playground for Cryptozoology majors!”
However, no sooner had Professor Donton finished speaking than the sound of a beast was heard from one side.
It was a low but fierce growl.
- Grrr!
‘The word playground doesn’t seem to fit…….’
However, as if Radel was the only one who heard it, everyone else was looking at the stable with curious eyes.
A student raised their hand and asked a question.
“Professor, what kinds of magical beasts are inside the stable?”
“Haha! You all look like you’re dying of curiosity! Good, I'll show you my cute magical beasts!”
Thud!
When Professor Donton waved his hand, the stable door opened, revealing the inside.
Inside the spacious stable, rare and hard-to-see magical beasts were showing off their well-groomed appearances.
A horse with beautiful wings, or a pure white horse with a spiral horn, gracefully turned its head to look at the students.
“Oh my gosh, it’s a Pegasus! There’s a Unicorn too!”
Inette, who was taking Cryptozoology with Radel, exclaimed in admiration.
It was the same for the other 1st-years.
Seeing the mystical magical beasts, it seemed their curiosity and passion for Cryptozoology were soaring.
However, Radel felt something was strange.
No matter how much he looked around the stable, he couldn't see any beast that would make such a fierce growl.
‘Then where did that growl I heard earlier come from?’
Just then, a giant iron cage at the back of the stable caught Radel’s eye.
It was covered so the inside couldn't be seen, but he could tell that something enormous was inside.
- Grrrrr!
The low, heavy sound was coming from inside there.
Radel couldn't ignore the sound, so he approached Professor Donton and asked.
“Professor, are your cute magical beasts in that iron cage at the back too?”
“What? Hahahaha!”
Professor Donton laughed, bending back as if he couldn’t bear how commendable it was.
Then, he suddenly spoke seriously.
“Cute magical beasts? You say funny things, novice. Even if you noticed, it’s best not to even glance that way. They are not beings you can dare to handle.”
Professor Donton's words held a strong warning.
“You heard nothing. Don't even think about looking inside.”
Radel silently nodded.
There was always a reason for being told not to do something.
* * *
“Now, we will begin taming. Everyone’s ready, right?”
At Professor Donton's words that they would begin taming magical beasts right after a brief explanation, the 1st-years began to murmur.
“Can we try taming them now?”
Inette, who had been staring at the Pegasus and Unicorn as if mesmerized, had sparkling eyes, but most of the 1st-years looked flustered.
“Professor, this is our first time taming.”
“Of course, I don’t expect you weaklings to do well from the start. But don't worry! I’ve called some seniors to help you!”
As if he had been waiting for those words, Professor Donton shouted for someone.
Then, several seniors appeared from the bushes next to the stable.
They were Cryptozoology majors.
They were holding leashes in their hands, and at the end of the leashes were none other than giant blue wolves.
“Alright, let me introduce them! The magical beast you novices must tame today is the Prairie Wolf!”
Professor Donton explained that Prairie Wolves were much larger and more ferocious than regular wolves, but if tamed, they could be used as a useful means of transportation.
Radel’s curiosity was piqued at the mention that he could ride one.
However, Inette seemed displeased with the Prairie Wolf and grumbled in a small voice.
“I thought we were going to tame a Pegasus or a Unicorn, but it’s a Prairie Wolf!”
Then, a senior who was approaching Radel and Inette with a Prairie Wolf muttered slowly.
“Even a Prairie Wolf will be difficult…… What a bluff.”
Inette’s eyes flashed angrily at the senior's words.
Just as she was about to say something, Inette recognized the face of the senior who brought the Prairie Wolf and lost her strength.
It was because that senior was the 5th Prince, Venus Esven Cretian.
“Hello.”
He gave a half-hearted greeting in an unenthusiastic tone, then stroked the nape of the Prairie Wolf’s neck and said something to it.
It was impossible to know what they were talking about, but it was clear they were communicating somehow.
Seeing that, Inette whispered to Radel.
“He showed no interest in people, but I guess he likes magical beasts. Anyway, he chose a major just like himself.”
Hearing Inette's words reminded him of when he had run into him on his way to see the Emperor.
The 5th Prince who had stared at him intently, said, ‘You seem like you’d be a bit fun,’ and then disappeared.
He was a person whose thoughts were impossible to read.
“It says it’s ready to meet you. Let’s begin.”
Venus spoke to Radel as if the Prairie Wolf had given its permission.
Radel was flustered as he stepped in front of the Prairie Wolf, guided by Venus.
- Grr!
The Prairie Wolf growled at Radel standing before it.
However, to Radel, who had heard a lower, fiercer growl earlier, this was nothing.
‘The professor said earlier that seizing the initiative is important.’
He had to clearly show that he was superior.
Radel started a staring contest with the Prairie Wolf.
‘First, I must not look away.’
As he faced the Prairie Wolf for a while, a certain monster came to Radel’s mind. It was the Griffin he had faced while training at the 8th Prince's Palace.
Back then, he had only been thinking about provoking the Griffin to get hit somehow in order to upgrade his Troll's Heart.
But now, it was time to tame the Prairie Wolf before him.
It was a completely different situation from when he faced the Griffin.
‘He said not to be underestimated, not to instill fear, and not to startle it too much.’
A way to just break its spirit.
Then, an idea popped into Radel’s head.
‘You shouldn't do this to a puppy, but would it be okay for a wolf?’
Radel waited for an opening, then quickly approached and hit the Prairie Wolf on the nose.
- Yelp!
The Prairie Wolf, hit on the nose in an instant, let out a sharp cry and backed away.
Then it growled and glared at him.
‘Its gaze is still defiant.’
Radel clenched his fist again.
Next was time for discipline.
- Whimper!
Hit on the nose again, the Prairie Wolf stumbled on its hind legs.
Even though Radel wasn't hitting it hard, as it was repeated several times, it couldn't keep its senses straight.
When Radel raised his fist again, it even stealthily avoided his gaze.
After that, it was smooth sailing.
Inette, who was watching, couldn't believe the sight.
Looking at the other kids taming the Prairie Wolves, they were failing one after another, either getting startled by the wolves approaching and threatening them, or being ignored by the wolves for attacking too strongly.
But Radel had succeeded in taming it with just a few exchanges.
“That’s right, it’s much better when you’re this well-behaved.”
Radel scratched under the chin of the now-tame Prairie Wolf.
Venus, who saw that, had a faint smile on his lips.
“As expected, you’re fun.”
“Me?”
As Radel pointed to himself, Venus nodded without a word.
What part of him was fun, he wondered.
The notification that his Affinity had increased didn't appear, but he seemed to quite like Radel.
Radel didn't miss the opportunity and asked.
“Senior, by any chance, do you also know how to tame a Griffin?”
Since he had to return to the Imperial Capital next week anyway, he thought it might be good to give it a try.
Venus looked at Radel with interest.