Chapter 15
Healing the Wolf Pup
Marcus glanced between the contract and Castian’s face before scoffing.
> “The Duke of Bernstein? Are you serious?”
His tone had changed since last night, but the hostility in his gaze remained. If anything, his wariness had only grown.
When Castian silently nodded, Marcus’s eyes narrowed further.
> “You’re saying you’ll ban hunting in the Golden Forest?”
> “That’s the plan.”
> “I assume there’s a condition—like getting what Duke Ségar wants.”
> “Correct.”
Marcus paused, clicking his tongue in frustration.
> “If you need my power, then bring a recommendation from the High Priest. Surely a man like you could secure one or two.”
> “I’m in a hurry. I’d rather bypass the red tape.”
With that, Castian lightly flapped the contract.
Marcus hesitated again, but in the end, he looked away from the document.
> “No recommendation letter, no healing. I don’t treat nobles who come empty-handed.”
He had the power to spare but was determined not to give it.
Count Pilgrin had warned them—this man could not be bribed or threatened.
A wave of helplessness washed over me. Still, we needed Marcus. So, I stepped between the two men.
> “Um, Marcus? There’s an injured wolf pup in front of the Golden Forest.”
> “It’s still alive?”
His expression changed entirely. The hardness in his green eyes melted into deep, sincere sorrow.
Was it just me, or was his attitude toward animals far warmer than toward people?
> “Yes. But it looked like it was in pain. It kept crying…”
At that, Marcus frowned in distress.
He anxiously paced in place, then turned to Castian.
> “If you get me out of here, I’ll at least listen to what’s so urgent.”
> “Fine.”
Castian agreed without hesitation.
Sure, it was a one-sided trade—freeing Marcus just for a conversation. But stuck in a cell, we didn’t have better options.
We returned to the outskirts of the Golden Forest with Marcus.
When we arrived, the wolf pup lay collapsed, completely drained of energy.
> “Oh no, little one…”
As Marcus opened the pen and reached in, the pup bared its rice-sized teeth and let out a tiny growl.
It even bit Marcus’s hand as he lifted it, but he didn’t flinch. He gently placed the pup on his lap.
And then, a brilliant light radiated from his hands, warm and golden like sunlight.
It was a divine glow—sacred, radiant.
The pup was bathed in it, and soon after, it leapt from Marcus’s lap and began hopping around, head tilted curiously, tail wagging like a tiny propeller.
> “Yip yip!”
It nuzzled Marcus’s hand, seemingly in thanks.
Marcus smiled with such gentleness, caressing the pup’s head.
The harsh, foul-mouthed man suddenly looked every bit the priest guided by divine will.
It was heartwarming—but there was no time to be sentimental.
> “It looks like it’s not hurting anymore. That’s such a relief!”
> “Relief? If it can’t return to its pack, it’ll die anyway.”
> “Then why not take it back?”
> “And how would we find its pack in that vast forest?”
Marcus gestured toward the expansive woodland. The towering trees stretched endlessly into the distance.
> “Maybe it can find its own way?”
The fluffy pup yapped cheerfully as if answering for me.
I chose to believe that bark meant, I can do it.
> “If we leave it in the forest, maybe other wolves will come for it?”
Marcus shook his head, pointing toward a nearby wolf’s carcass.
> “They saw what happened. You think they’d risk coming back?”
I had no response. That wolf must’ve died trying to save the pup.
Marcus yanked the arrow out of the corpse with a scowl. The beautiful creature had been killed by a human trap. It left a bitter taste.
Then, raising his voice in frustration, Marcus hurled the arrow to the ground and glared at Castian.
> “This is why I don’t treat nobles. They only care about their own lives. Even if I heal them, they just endanger others.”
> “But Castian is different. He said he’d ban hunting in the Golden Forest.”
I stepped between their gazes again.
Marcus only snorted.
> “And when this is over, what if the Bernstein family starts hunting them again? Nobles’ promises are worthless.”
Such deep disdain.
What happened between him and the nobles of this world?
Could that wound ever be healed?
Still, I couldn’t give up.
> “Castian is different. Our duke stopped the Demon King’s return. He’s the one who’ll save the empire—and the world!”
The moment I mentioned the Demon King, Marcus blinked in surprise.
> “So the rumors of black mages preparing for his return were true?”
> “Yes. That’s why we need your help, Marcus.”
I clasped my hands together and pleaded with sincere desperation.
I was sure he understood by now—if the Demon King returned, both humans and wolves would be doomed.
But Marcus just glanced between Castian, the dead wolf, and the whimpering pup before speaking again, this time with heavy cynicism.
> “And you think you can save the world when you can’t even save this little life? Dramatic. If the world’s fated to fall, so be it. God’s will.”
Wait, what?
Was that seriously something a priest would say?
He was so twisted—it was maddening!
He had world-class healing powers and yet acted like this?
I stared at him in disbelief, resisting the urge to smack him upside the head.
What were we supposed to do with this guy?
I even banged my fists against my head, trying to think—but only one idea came to mind.
> “Lydia, that’s enough. We’ll just get a letter from the Emperor.”
Castian gently removed my hands from my hair, soothing me.
Wait, what?
Before I could react, he leaned in and kissed the back of my hand.
I pulled away and glared at him.
Now was not the time.
Castian only smiled innocently.
I shoved his hand away and marched back up to Marcus, planting myself right in front of him with arms crossed.
> “If I save the pup, you’ll save our duke. Deal?”
Marcus tilted his head and looked past me toward Castian.
> “This urgent matter… was he the patient?”
When I nodded, Marcus looked stunned.
Admittedly, Castian didn’t look particularly ill—aside from being a little pale.
> “His heart’s barely beating.”
> “His heart…?”
> “Just answer me—if I save the pup, will you save him?”
Marcus kept tilting his head, then finally said nonchalantly:
> “Fine. Deal.”
> “You promise? You can actually do it?”
> “Of course. But how do you plan to save the pup? You’re not planning to raise it, are you?”
> “Raise it? No. I’ll return it to its pack—like you said.”
> “And you can find its pack?”
> “I can’t. But he can.”
I pointed at the wolf’s corpse.
Marcus turned to me in confusion.
Instead of explaining, I walked over to the dead wolf.
No one else was around. Good.
I took a deep breath and reached out toward the body.
I hated this, but there was no other way to convince Marcus.
Please, wolf… just help me. Just for a moment.
> “Answer my call.”
A swirl of violet smoke rose from my palm, enveloping the wolf’s corpse.
And then—
From the golden corpse rose a spectral wolf with shimmering bluish-gray fur.
