16. The World of the Apocalypse
After pondering for a while, Han suddenly spoke up.
“System.”
As if anticipating Han’s question.
The system’s response flowed out effortlessly, without even being asked.
[The survival chances of these young ones are slim. There is nowhere around here for them to rely on. Therefore, the only options awaiting them are to freeze to death or starve to death, but it seems highly likely that they will freeze to death within a few hours.]
…Truly ruthless.
Even though that level of outcome could be expected by anyone without such detailed explanation.
Therefore, this time, he decided to phrase the question slightly differently.
“If I were to take these young ones and raise them… could they be tamed?”
[The probability of this scenario is also extremely low. They may be obedient in their youth, but once they reach adulthood, everything changes.
In some cases, there is a sufficient chance of sudden aggression surging in the adulthood stage, leading to the caretaker being harmed unexpectedly.]
I see.
Indeed, monsters are monsters.
The lineage known as monsters consisted of fierce creatures that could not be compared to ordinary beasts. Despite appearing merely as larger, barking animals on the surface, inside, they were monsters that would devour anything that moved.
However, Han was not a hunter.
He was not as ruthless as to mercilessly stab them even if they were young monster cubs.
It was also a reflection of his civilian nature.
“Well, then raising them to a certain extent, letting them grow to a certain point, and then sending them away when it’s safe enough, would that be okay? Not too risky, right?”
[If it’s at that level, it should be within manageable limits. However, Dire Wolves grow rapidly, typically reaching adulthood in less than a year, when their aggressiveness manifests.]
A year.
At that, he chuckled bitterly.
“…That should suffice.”
Honestly, even the parents of these creatures were dead.
Although someday these creatures might become enemies, he wanted to at least allow them to enjoy life as much as they did in their youth.
Of course, I know well that this is an unnecessary meddling.
Perhaps, for the two elves who are so different, this could be dangerous.
Hunters who are well aware of the danger of monsters would undoubtedly choose to kill them immediately to eliminate future threats.
In reality, Han knows that the former option is wiser.
“But even though I know it in my head, it’s not an easy choice to make.”
These creatures were living beings.
If Han had a personality that didn’t hesitate to kill something, he would have probably dreamt of becoming a hunter long ago.
Being a hunter is not just about being able to do something because you can, nor is it something anyone can do just because they have the qualifications.
Having observed his parents since childhood, he knows this well.
Han made a decision.
He summoned his large hand and headed towards them.
Swish.
Han gently stroked the heads of the two large direwolves with his massive hand.
“…?”
At that moment, the hazy heads of the two direwolves, who had been motionless with their breath fading, lifted.
Han’s hand was illuminated in their eyes.
He pointed with his finger to the young chicks in the den.
“Can I take care of those little ones?”
His question was not directly conveyed through his voice to the monsters.
“……”
Nod.
However, the two direwolves slowly nodded their heads.
It seemed as if they understood his thoughts.
In fact, the answer had been predetermined from the start.
At least for the two direwolves.
Even if one were to be a cruel tormentor and abuser, there would be no hesitation from their perspective.
If there was someone willing to take care of the pups, they would have allowed it, even if it wasn’t Han.
In the eyes of these creatures on the brink of death, if there was a way to save the pups, that would be the only option.
Han hoped his true thoughts would be conveyed to them.
He gently caressed the creatures, now quickly cooling down, for the last time.
“Yes, I will take care of them. At least until they can stand on their own. But only until before they start biting people. After that, even I won’t be able to handle it.”
Just that alone brought a deep sense of relief to their eyes.
Perhaps Han seemed quite trustworthy.
Direwolves.
As their heads finally slumped down, their gazes fixed on the young chicks in the den, they passed away.
“Kiki! Kiki!”
The creatures seemed to find something odd in the motionless parent figures.
The once silent creatures, now constantly whimpering, seemed to find the stillness strange and nudged the parent direwolves while making these sounds.
One of the three had been continuously licking the cold, stiff faces of the parents with its tiny tongue.
However, within the cold snowflakes, their breath ceased, and their body temperature quickly cooled down.
Whether monster or human, death brought the same cold stiffness.
As the parents were gradually covered by the falling snow, the young ones whimpered incessantly.
“Hmm?”
Swoosh.
Han cautiously embraced those creatures.
His large hands cradled three younglings.
In the moment they were held, the young ones surprisingly closed their mouths and obediently nestled in his hands.
As if they instinctively knew that submission to Han was their only way to survive.
“Come with me.”
With them in his embrace, he soared into the sky.
***
Han’s return was not long after that.
“Huh? Master Han?”
Approaching Han’s large hand descending from the sky, Irina came closer.
The two kids, Zion and Yumina, did the same.
Han gently landed on the lush grass field.
Soon, as he released his grip, the young beings hidden in his hands were revealed.
Wolf cubs.
Gasps escaped the elves and Irina.
“This… this can’t be.”
A faint sense of wariness flickered in her eyes.
She realized these young ones were no ordinary animals.
“Master Han, are these perhaps wolf cubs…?”
With a knowing smile, Han replied.
‘You already figured it out.’
Yes, Irina. They are the cubs of the dire wolf pack you encountered.
From Noble mtl dot com
It was around that time.
“Hmm?”
The young cubs stirred from their slumber, their eyes slowly opening.
Rubbing their sleepy eyes, they yawned and turned their heads around.
But it was brief.
As the cubs spotted Irina standing before Han, they eagerly approached her, nuzzling her legs and whimpering.
They nuzzled her legs and whimpered.
Making cute gestures and playfully being affectionate.
“Hmm, hmm!”
While the kids and Irina stood motionless.
Only Han took action.
Swoosh!
It was then.
Han showed some actions through his own hands.
He made a gesture as if measuring the heads of the youngsters.
It was a gesture that indicated a request to raise them only until they reached the height between Ilina’s knees and waist.
It meant, in interpretation, that they should be grown only until they reached this level.
She smiled wryly.
“…I see.”
Ilina, who had been communicating with Han all this time, couldn’t help but understand.
It was as if she could guess why Han had brought these youngsters.
“Do you mean that the Lord wants us to raise these kids only until they can stand on their own?”
“Oh, is it a difficult task, Ilina?”
Even though he asked, in truth, Han already knew the answer.
It would be a difficult task.
It was only natural. They were nothing but monsters.
To the elves, they had been enemies since birth.
But contrary to Han’s worries, Ilina just smiled brightly.
“Indeed, the Lord is truly kind.”
She nodded her head in agreement.
“I understand, Lord. I will take responsibility and take care of these children.”
“Oh…! Indeed, Ilina!”
(Thumbs up!)
In response to those words, Han once again raised his thumb towards her.
Whether Han’s gesture was amusing or not, Ilina covered her mouth and smiled.
But she was thankful as well.
She knew that it was never an easy choice.
For the elves, monsters were ultimately adversaries who threatened their territory.
But this time, Ilina chose the option he desired.
“Come here.”
She and the two children opened their arms.
Upon this, the young Dire Wolves hesitated for a moment, then approached and nestled into their embrace.
Lick, lick.
The little ones seemed to be licking the faces of the elves with their small tongues.
“Ahahahaha! It tickles, stop it!”
Sion and Yumina seemed to feel ticklish from such actions and squirmed.
But even so, a visible smile lingered on their lips.
Han silently watched their interactions.
It was fortunate. Truly.
***
Elves mostly have a vegetarian diet.
They love the forest and nature.
Gaining vitality from the forest, living alongside it.
The tales of elves were not much different from reality.
In the modern world where Han lived, fantasy novels or rumors that one might typically encounter seemed to have an unexpected effect.
Was it a mere coincidence?
It could be. Or maybe not.
The world was vast, and hunters had experienced many things beyond dungeons.
Retired hunters, as a hobby, had long been active as novelists, adding a touch of reality to their experiences and publishing them as novels.
Perhaps even the content about elves that Han had read in fantasy novels might have been inspired by the anecdotes hunters encountered from the other side of the world.
Well, whatever.
Han was currently observing that the lifestyle of the elves was not significantly different from what he had heard.
Crunch!
“Wow! This apple is incredibly sweet!”
“Isn’t it? I was amazed the first time I tried it too.”
Irina and the children were enthusiastically eating apples.
The children and Irina, amazed by tasting an apple for the first time in their lives.
Han quietly observed them and muttered under his breath.
“Indeed, the main diet of elves is mostly vegetarian.”
[Originally, elves’ main diet consists of vegetables. However, due to the harsh environmental conditions of the Frey planet, it is very difficult to survive by solely sticking to vegetarianism, so a considerable number of elves have changed their nature to carnivorous.]
“So, they had to change their nature to that extent… They had to live so harshly?”
[Yes. The young elves in front of you, who have almost stopped being vegetarians and now mix meat in their diet, are the next generation after those who couldn’t change.]
“Then… What happened to the older generation of elves who couldn’t change?”
As he asked, Han couldn’t help but notice.
It was because even he had already drawn a conclusion.