The sharp smell of metal stung my nose, waking me up.
Where are they?
There was no one around me. I glanced here and there, making sure, and then I saw three women standing not far from my position.
My sister, bestie and the Beta were standing in the middle of a pile of monster corpses.
Hm... no wonder the smell of metal is so strong.
I got up and approached the three of them.
"Morning, bestie. How did you sleep last night?"
She greeted me with a smile, her body drenched in monster blood. It made me a little uncomfortable, seeing her smile in that condition.
My sister came closer. She immediately checked my entire body, lifting both my hands, checking my stomach, down to my legs.
"Ah… thank goodness. It seems no mosquitoes got through."
Heh… mosquitoes? She fended off monsters and mosquitoes?
On the other side, I saw Beta, who didn't look okay. She looked tired, but… could it be Beta fought too? I didn't know.
I took out my notebook and wrote something for the three of them.
"You all stink. Go clean yourselves. Especially you two."
I pointed at bestie and Beta. Both of them were bathed in monster blood; the smell of metal was very strong on them.
"What about me? How do I smell?"
I didn't point at her, not because she didn't smell, but because it was faint. She didn't smell like metal like the others; her clothes were also clean.
"Sister, you smell like burnt."
I wrote a second time for her. She sniffed herself after I told her she smelled burnt.
"Alright, hurry up and clean yourselves in the river."
"Okay…"
"Don't go anywhere, okay?"
"Luckily, I brought soap."
Bestie just obeyed, while my sister asked me to stay put. As for Beta, she was very prepared, having brought soap.
I didn't know what kind of soap it was, but she had clearly anticipated this, or maybe she just wanted to be clean and smell good at all times.
This is terrifying…
I glanced around. Various kinds of monster carcasses, from animal types, plant types, to…
What is that?
Behind the pile of monster carcasses, I saw something moving.
I approached it slowly, a little hesitant and scared because it might be a monster that was still alive.
Eh... a cat? Or a dog?
A small creature emerged from behind the pile of carcasses. I didn't know what kind of creature it was, because at a glance, it looked like a dog but also a cat. Its body was small, its fur was white, and it had a long tail. It approached me and rubbed its body against my leg.
It's adorable.
I tried to pet it, and almost fell, but luckily I managed to stay up thanks to my cane. It's just that my bag fell.
Come on, just a little more…
I tried to pick it up, and as soon as I managed to grab it, the book inside, along with my things, fell out.
What the… argh. Now I have to pick them up one by one. If I knew this would happen, I would have just sat down to get it.
There was no choice; I had to sit down to pack them up. A cigarette, tiara, pen, notebook, and…
Hm... the book is open.
I saw the book was open to a page. I reached for it and read it.
Page 034, huh... let's see what it's about. Eh, but wait, wasn't there no page 034 before?
Before reading the contents, I flipped the page, and sure enough… the pages before and after it were blank.
I had never opened or flipped it like this. This was the first time, because previously I only opened it and was fixed on the specific page my teacher instructed.
Alright, now what are the contents?
APPELLATION: Fenrir Argentus
TITLE / EPITHET: The Gentle Protector, The Fang of Justice, The Nine Vows
CLASSIFICATION:
* Primer: Legendary (Essence source: Concept of justice and protection of the weak)
* Status: Active (Entity activity state: Always wandering, seeking someone to protect)
* Scale: Local (Entity influence range: Intensely focused on one individual or small group)
* Level: BOUND (Conceptual level: Bound to its moral code to protect the helpless)
ORIGIN: It was born from the first selfless act of protection. When the first strong creature chose to defend the weak from a predator, not from territorial instinct, but purely from empathy, the moral weight of that act created an anomaly. Fenrir Argentus is the embodiment of that anomaly—the universe's answer to oppression.
FORM / ESSENCE: Its essence is Absolute Conceptual Protection. Its true form is a colossal white wolf with nine tails that flow like mist, radiating an aura of calm and unshakable strength. However, to approach and accompany its "ward," it more often manifests as a small, unremarkable white dog, faithfully following them wherever they go.
APPEARANCE & PERCEPTION: To its ward, its presence feels like a sudden, inexplicable sense of safety in the most terrifying moments. The world's threats feel distant and dull. Cruel words lose their sting, and the ill intent of others feels hollow. For the oppressors, the encounter is far more terrifying. As they try to harm the weak, a small dog will suddenly transform into a giant wolf emerging from thin air, its growl feeling like the weight of a mountain pressing on the soul.
DOMAIN / INFLUENCE: Its domain is protection and personal justice.
* Passive Influence (Sanctuary Aura): It creates an invisible "field of sanctuary" around its ward. Within this field, the concept of "harm" is actively suppressed. Weapons may jam, attackers may stumble, and lies intended to hurt will sound unconvincing.
* Active Influence (Fang of Justice): When faced with a direct threat, its nine tails can move independently to disarm, create shields, or ensnare attackers without killing. Its bite is said not to tear flesh, but to "sever" the malicious intent from a person's soul, making them feel all the pain they had ever inflicted on others.
VULNERABILITIES / COUNTERMEASURES: It is a protector, not a god, and is bound by a strict code of ethics.
* Only Protects the Weak: Its mandate is absolute: protect the helpless. When its ward becomes strong, capable of self-defense, or—most importantly—becomes an oppressor themselves, the bond will instantly break and Fenrir Argentus will vanish, seeking another soul in need.
* Cannot Protect from Self: It is a shield against external threats. It is powerless to protect someone from their own bad choices, self-destructive acts, or natural illness. It can stop an assassin's blade, but not a poison drunk willingly.
* Paradox of Sacrifice: Its purpose is to protect the weak. If the ward (the weak) sincerely commits an act of self-sacrifice to protect another (or even to protect Fenrir Argentus), it creates a paradox. When the protected becomes the protector, it can confuse its essence and cause it to temporarily withdraw.
ECHOES IN HISTORY & MYTH: Every myth of a sacred animal or guardian spirit protecting a hero or saint in their childhood is an echo of Fenrir Argentus. The story of Romulus and Remus being raised by a she-wolf, or the temple guardian dogs in folklore, all share the same essence of protection.
WHISPERS / FRAGMENTS OF KNOWLEDGE:
* "If you see a small white dog following an orphan in the streets, don't bother the child. You won't like seeing the dog's true form."
* "His nine tails aren't for attacking. Each is a vow to protect: one for the orphaned, one for the outcast, one for the slandered..."
* "He doesn't give you the strength to fight back. He is the reason you don't have to."
Scribe's Note: After transcribe so many indifferent cosmic powers, this entity is a profound relief. Fenrir Argentus isn't a physical law or an existential horror; it is a moral law given form. Its existence implies that the universe doesn't just have rules; it has a conscience. It is the quiet, powerful proof that in the grand design of reality, a special place is reserved for protecting the most vulnerable.
A giant wolf, huh... I glanced at the little dog sleeping soundly, leaning against me.
I moved it onto my lap. It was light, and its fur was soft and thick.
Alright, now it's time to think about what this is. Its name is Fenrir Argentus, its form is a white wolf with nine tails.
He's very big for the size of one?... no wait, but it has nine tails. Maybe this is more accurate; he's very big for the size of nine-tailed wolf.
Hahaha... okay, okay, time to be serious because soon they'll be back and will probably bother me.
Broadly speaking, I understand from the description that this creature is a positive entity. It might be a monster, but it doesn't hunt; on the contrary, it protects.
Like it's written in the whispers.
"If you see a small white dog following an orphan in the streets, don't bother the child. You won't like seeing the dog's true form."
"His nine tails aren't for attacking. Each is a vow to protect: one for the orphaned, one for the outcast, one for the slandered..."
"He doesn't give you the strength to fight back. He is the reason you don't have to."
I glanced at the little dog on my lap.
Hahaha... that's impossible. Because I'm not a little girl, and besides, I don't even know if I'm an orphan.
"What is that, bestie?"
Ah, they're done. But unfortunately, the smell of metal still stings. This is probably because of the monster carcasses all around.
"Woah… a little dog. Where did it come from, little sis?"
The gazes of all three immediately focused on the little dog on my lap.
"Don't know, it was already here."
I wrote for her. My sister tried to pick it up.
"Eh, why?"
But the little dog refused. It immediately jumped back onto my lap.
"Hahaha… it knows who's a good person and who's a bad person. Look at me now, old witch."
Bestie tried to pick up the little dog, but just like what happened to my sister, the dog jumped back onto my lap.
My sister smiled.
"hahaha, a bad person… or maybe a wild creature that's bad."
They started to argue.
"Are you reading an entry?"
Beta came closer. She sat beside me and looked at the open book in my hand. It seems she was interested in it.
"This is a new entry. I've only just seen it."
"I see."
She fell silent after reading my writing.
"So, how did you find it?"
I answered her, explaining the chronology to her through a short note, and also telling her a little about the contents of page 034. Then she looked at me.
"This dog is Fenrir. Although it's still just a hypothesis, I think this book will automatically reveal an entry when an entity it has recorded is nearby."
"Why do you think that?" My sister interrupted.
"Because, look. Previously, these pages were blank. And your little sis, said that this page 034 is flanked by blank pages."
"Now, how do you explain the sudden appearance of this page? The answer is: when the entity is nearby. And look at the proof."
Beta glanced at little dog on my lap.
"So you mean to say, that this little dog that came from who-knows-where... is the entity recorded in that book?"
"Well, you could say that, although it's still just a hypothesis. It needs more proof and research to state it as fact."
"Then, is it dangerous? Little sis, if it's dangerous, I'll exterminate it right now, okay?"
"No, it's not dangerous."
Beta answered for me. But my sister still wanted confirmation from me. She looked at me.
I nodded to support the Beta.
"Just let it be, as long as it's not dangerous. Besides, I'm here, so you don't need to worry, bestie."
"Alright… I'll let it be for now."
The rustling sound of trees from deep in the forest was heard. Birds flew away, small animals like squirrels, rats, and rabbits ran.
"Something is approaching."
My sister and Bestie were in a guarded stance, sensing something moving from the depths of the forest.
The leaves swayed, the trees shifted as if something strong enough to make them move was there.
"A snake?"
A giant snake moved out from deep in the forest. Its head reared up. It looked in our direction.
"Be careful, old witch. This isn't something easy."
"You don't need to tell me, I know that."
Bestie moved forward with her greatsword, while my sister prepared her staff.Beta and I were in the back.
I wanted to stand, but I couldn't. I needed help for that, and besides,little dog was still fast asleep on my lap. I didn't have the heart to wake it.
My sister and Bestie were already prepared to fight, but the snake wasn't interested. It left without doing anything.
"Hahaha… it was scared of my greatsword."
"I don't think so. It must have been scared of seeing a creature wilder than itself."
The two of them debated about who was scarier. Beta beside me was just silent. She seemed to be thinking about something.
"It seems it really isn't safe to walk through the forest. If we want to continue, the best option is to go via the forest road."
Beta suggested, and I agreed with it. Even though there were many monster carcasses that they had managed to defeat, who knew what kind of monsters these carcasses would attract, for example, like that big snake just now.