Chapter 56

Great success makes people arrogant.

Perhaps because the previous expedition had ended too easily, Conrad and Edwin seemed to regard the current situation as little more than a game of territorial expansion.

“Still… they’re not entirely thoughtless. They do know how to use their heads.”

Edwin was making every effort to secure the Order’s Alliance’s support. That alone meant he recognized, at least to some extent, the dangers of the demonic realm.

If the Alliance provided substantial backing, a capable supreme commander led the army, and the campaign was conducted with meticulous planning, then achieving the Duke’s ambition would not be entirely impossible.

So declaring the expedition doomed from the outset might be premature—

“…And yet, I have a feeling it’ll turn out that way.”

Woojin turned his head.

In a corner of the training hall, Rex was dragging large sandbags, whining as he went. He had once again tried to cut corners and had been caught by Bow, earning himself even harsher drills.

Those who rely on petty tricks eventually pay a heavy price. Edwin and Conrad would likely be no exception.

“Still, the training has shown results.”

Time passed steadily.

The second expedition would take some time to begin. With nothing else to occupy them, the wolves were put through daily drills without fail. Through relentless training, their strength and stamina had grown somewhat.

A meaningful improvement.

But the wolves themselves were clearly gloomy.

The demonic beasts around the frontier city had been completely wiped out, leaving no hunts to enjoy. Combined with the daily grueling exercises, they were mentally exhausted.

“It’s about time for a reward.”

After finishing the day’s training, Woojin gathered the wolves together.

He reached into his coat and withdrew two inner cores. Though some time had passed, they still looked as fresh as newly butchered meat.

“Rex, Misha. Come take one each.”

The two called wolves stepped forward. The other two—Sean and Yan—licked their lips enviously.

“I’ll take care of you two later.”

After reassuring them, Woojin fed one inner core to Rex and one to Misha. As planned, Stonehide’s went to Rex, and Chainsickle’s to Misha.

Sensing their value, the wolves chewed carefully before swallowing.

Then the anticipated change occurred.

Crack—

Misha’s body shifted. With sounds like joints stretching apart, her legs lengthened noticeably, her build becoming leaner and sleeker.

The transformation filled her with excitement. She bounded around energetically, her movements faster and lighter than before.

“She inherited Chainsickle’s ability.”

A swift body.

It granted increased speed and a lighter frame. Not explosive acceleration like a burst of instant speed, but superior in stability and sustained agility.

Misha had successfully inherited the ability.

In contrast, there were no immediate signs of change in Rex. He merely stood still, blinking.

“…Did it fail?”

Just as disappointment crept in—

Yaaawn.

Rex suddenly let out a long yawn. His head drooped repeatedly, as if sleep had overtaken him.

Woojin understood at once.

“Sleep well.”

Rex nodded as if in reply, moved to the corner of the hall, curled up, and soon fell into a deep slumber. The other wolves gathered around him protectively.

Woojin remained at the training hall as well, carefully monitoring Rex’s condition.

Two days later—

Tick, tick—

A strange sound came from Rex’s body, like a chick tapping at its shell. His hide turned ashen gray, and cracks spread across it.

The other wolves panicked at the sight. He looked as though he were dead.

Woojin chuckled and reassured them.

“Don’t worry. Just watch. You’ll go through this someday too.”

Demonic beasts that consumed multiple inner cores evolved into stronger beings. Rex had always been stronger than the others, so his moment had come sooner.

Crack!

The gray hide along his back split open. From within, a crimson wolf emerged, as though shedding its skin.

The new Rex stood tall and imposing—larger and more powerful than before.

Woojin examined him.

“His rank has clearly risen.”

His size hadn’t changed drastically, but the aura he carried was entirely different. It was hard to believe he was the same wolf from two days prior.

Still, one thing bothered him.

“…Where did the tentacles go?”

The tentacles Rex once had were nowhere to be seen.

At that remark, Rex puffed up proudly and crouched slightly.

Thwack!

Four tentacles burst from his back. Not only had their number increased, but he could now retract and extend them at will.

Moreover, Rex had gained a new ability.

Crack—!

Brown stone began to coat the tentacles. The same ability once possessed by the dark-affiliated priest they had faced.

Woojin reached out and touched one.

“Very solid. And flexible.”

But how strong was it?

Woojin raised his right hand. His palm was soon covered in gray scales.

“Hit me.”

At the command, Rex swung a tentacle and struck Woojin’s palm.

Bang!!

A thunderous impact rang out. Woojin stepped back a pace. The scales did not shatter—but the force was sharper than expected.

“I’ll call it Stone Whip.”

The results exceeded expectations.

Woojin smiled in satisfaction and repeatedly patted Rex’s head. The leader of the pack had acknowledged his strength. The other wolves looked on with envy.

Rex’s pride swelled further. His head rose stiffly. In this moment, he was the most triumphant of victors.

Just then, Bow returned after finishing his errands.

“Has Rex awakened?”

“Yes. He’s grown very strong.”

Woojin spoke proudly. Bow examined Rex with Mind’s Eye.

“Indeed. He has changed beyond recognition. He’ll be able to hold his own anywhere now.”

Even the old monk was impressed. Bow rarely offered praise. He reached out, intending to pat Rex’s head.

Smack!

Rex swatted the approaching hand away with a tentacle. Bow took a step back.

Woojin froze in shock.

“…Has this fool lost all sense of fear?”

Bow smiled kindly.

“Ho ho… His independence has grown quickly.”

He laughed heartily.

But the monk’s eyes were not smiling. They seemed to be contemplating how best to prepare the wolf.

Rex glared boldly at Bow.

Only then did Woojin grasp the situation.

“So he’s still holding a grudge from training.”

Because Rex had kept cutting corners, Bow had made an example of him through punishment. From Rex’s perspective, it had been humiliating—his pride crushed in front of the other wolves.

Now that he had gained a new ability, Rex wanted to repay that past humiliation. From the sidelines, it was rather absurd.

“…He thinks he can beat Bow.”

Come to think of it, Rex had never truly been struck seriously by Bow. Having mastered Stonehide, he must have assumed that defeating one old monk would be simple.

Bow looked over and smiled.

“May I educate Rex a little?”

“Yes. I leave him to you.”

After answering, Woojin added to Rex,

“Go on. Fight with everything you’ve got.”

“Grrr!”

Rex snorted fiercely and drew upon his newly acquired power.

Crack—!

His entire body became coated in brown stone, like a living wolf-shaped statue. With four stone whips extending from his back, the sight was formidable.

To an uninformed onlooker, it might have seemed that the old monk was in grave danger.

But that was laughable.

“Yelp! Yipe!”

Before long, pitiful cries echoed through the hall. Each time Bow’s palm struck, Rex shrieked in shock.

Bow’s attacks penetrated the surface and struck the interior. Even clad in stone, Rex could not block those palms—and if Bow truly exerted himself, the stone hide would shatter easily.

“Why did he pick this fight?”

Watching the one-sided lesson, Woojin pondered. Rex was usually perceptive and rarely made such foolish mistakes.

“…Drunk on power. He forgot his place.”

Even while being beaten, Rex continued baring his fangs. He was practically begging for more punishment. Had he tucked his tail and fled, Bow would have stopped much sooner.

Sudden strength had bred arrogance. That was dangerous. Rex’s greatest weapon was not his Stone Whip, but his cunning.

“That needs correcting.”

Bow seemed to agree.

Smack! Crack!

Bow’s palm struck again and again. Curled up, Rex whimpered until, at last, his tail tucked between his legs.

After the beating concluded, Bow approached Woojin.

“It seems Rex has entered adolescence. The timing fits.”

The wolves, including Rex, were young—adolescent in human terms. Gaining power at such an age had stirred competitive pride.

“We should correct it before it turns into a bad habit.”

“Have you a method in mind?”

“I know a suitable tutor.”

With that, Woojin immediately brought the person in question to the training hall. Then he set the stage.

“Rex.”

He beckoned. Rex approached sullenly, still sore from the earlier beating.

Woojin made an offer likely to tempt him.

“Look over there.”

He pointed. Rex turned his head. A slender young woman stood in view.

“If you defeat her, you won’t have to undergo training anymore. I’ll speak to Elder Bow myself.”

“…Grrr!”

Rex’s mood brightened instantly. There was no way he could lose. The woman looked weak, almost absent-minded.

Rex braced himself again. Woojin then addressed the person beside him.

“Cindy.”

“Yes.”

Cindy gave her command.

“Rachel. Transform into a leopard.”

Crack—

The woman standing before Rex suddenly expanded, becoming a massive spotted leopard. The beast yawned lazily and turned its head toward him.

“……”

Rex lowered his gaze.

The leopard strolled forward and approached the crimson wolf.

Lick.

The leopard ran its tongue once across Rex’s face—like marking a snack for later, though in truth it was a gesture of affection in leopard fashion.

Even so, Rex stood frozen. He did not dare provoke her.

Seeing that his senses had returned, Woojin gestured for the leopard to step back. The fight was already decided.

“You still have a long way to go. Don’t grow arrogant.”

“Whine…”

Rex’s adolescence was brief.

He had simply been unlucky in his opponent. Rex had grown strong—strong enough.

To celebrate his evolution, Woojin bought the wolves an abundance of expensive beef. Rex seemed unusually dejected, so Woojin made a point of praising him repeatedly.

“With one or two more solid abilities, you could hold your own even against that leopard.”

At that, Rex glanced sideways, then pointed a paw toward Bow, who was meditating nearby. He seemed curious whether he might one day defeat him.

“Unlikely. If you don’t want another beating, restrain yourself.”

“Whine…”

Rex sighed deeply. He clearly longed to defeat the monk at least once—but had just learned how harsh reality could be.

Still, the situation was positive. The fact that his gaze now turned toward greater opponents was proof of growth.

“…Perhaps we should join the second expedition.”

Rex’s evolution had stirred Woojin’s ambition. If they joined the campaign and gathered more inner cores, the wolves could grow rapidly.

The problem was that the second expedition might well be a leaking ship—one slowly sinking with time. If they failed to withdraw at the right moment, they would be dragged down with it. Was boarding such a vessel wise?

Woojin sought Bow’s counsel.

“What should we do?”

Bow gave a faint chuckle.

“That seems a meaningless worry.”

“Why?”

“You are merely searching for justification. Are you not itching to leave this dull city and hunt demonic beasts?”

“….”

Woojin had no rebuttal.