As I tore through the scroll, the world around me flickered for a moment before stabilizing into a familiar sight—my bedroom in the Academy where I’ve been mooching off for years.
‘Looking at this place, it’s not half bad as a job… if only the workload wasn’t so ridiculous. But now’s not the time to think about that.’
I quickly shoved aside the random thoughts bubbling up in my head and focused on what mattered most right now: the massive iron cage that had transferred along with me. More specifically, the creature inside it.
Without warning, the landscape around us changed, leaving the wolf pacing back and forth, clearly disoriented. Watch how its fur flows silently with every swift turn of its head—it’s mesmerizing.
To still be thinking about work while staring at such a magnificent creature… Academy, you scare me. You really do.
While I was lost in these trivial musings, the wolf continued scanning its surroundings. Despite an overwhelming urge to scoop it up and roll around in bliss, I reminded myself that as a professor of this academy, I must overcome such base desires.
Clearing the darkness from my heart, I calmly turned my gaze toward the wolf. Judging by its behavior earlier in the shop, it seemed to have quite an affectionate nature.
‘Still, why was it left alone like that? Maybe there were reasons on their end.’
The key point is, no matter how friendly this creature may be, adapting to such a sudden change in environment wouldn’t come easily—not without some degree of confusion.
Especially given how it’s currently still surveying its new surroundings…
‘Of course. Guess I’ll just wait until it calms down on its own.’
In unfamiliar situations, external help can sometimes do more harm than good. That realization came after days of struggling within this possessed body.
So quietly, I slipped out of the room, leaving the wolf to adjust and calm itself.
‘I left the cage slightly open too, so once it gets comfortable, it might venture out a bit.’
…But please, don’t mark your territory. Pretty please.
“Well then, since we’re letting the wolf adapt on its own, let’s get things ready.”
After all, moving day calls for something special, doesn’t it? For today, I prepared top-grade meat. Though it’s my first time cooking for an animal, it should be better than whatever pet store food they’d give him… probably.
Anyway, closing the door as silently as before, I headed towards the kitchen through the mountain of paperwork littering the office.
“How in the world are two people supposed to handle this much paperwork in a week…?”
Thank goodness my teaching assistant is so kind; otherwise, I’d have quit long ago.
I always feel apologetic working alongside her on professor duties. She smiles and says it’s fine, but that just makes me feel worse.
“Seriously, our president has lost his mind…”
Who else would think to cram a bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen into an office?
It’s not like all professors’ offices are designed this way—it’s just mine. Why? Because I once complained about how hard it was to leave due to the piles of documents.
“Damn it… Is this really fair punishment for complaining?”
I can still vividly recall when he transformed my office like this, saying “Now you can take care of everything here. Perfect, isn’t it?” Yet despite this massive renovation, the root issue—the sheer volume of paperwork—remains unresolved. The problem of constantly tripping over stacks of paper persists.
‘Though neither then nor now am I grateful, and I doubt I ever will be…’
That said, in this particular situation, it’s somewhat helpful. Being able to cook nearby saves time.
Of course, the disadvantages far outweigh the advantages…
Shaking off these pointless thoughts, I opened the fridge and pulled out ingredients. Untouched yet gleaming with luster, they landed onto the chopping board.
Tension gripped my right hand holding the knife.
“All right. Let’s begin.”
Preparing the welcome feast for the wolf.
Showcasing the culinary skills honed during my bachelor days post-possession.
—
The cooking didn’t take long.
Although, the kitchen now desperately needs remodeling.
Half the cutting board burned to ashes, the other half covered in patches of ice crystals—the sole witness to this disaster.
Don’t ask why the meal ended up normal despite the state of the kitchen. When dealing with premium meat worth ten thousand gold per piece, anyone could end up like this.
“I… am not good at cooking…”
Reflecting on it, the only thing I cooked during my bachelor days involved dumping tons of chemical seasonings. Stuff that numbed my tongue so I couldn’t taste anything.
Obviously, I couldn’t add those kinds of things to the wolf’s food.
Thus, the kitchen suffered significant damage.
“But I managed to make something edible. That’s what matters.”
Deciding to pass the cleanup duty to future-me, I resolved to enjoy the present. Even though I could already hear future-me crying somewhere, I ignored it and carried the finished dish back to the bedroom.
I could already picture the joyous scene of the wolf leaping with excitement upon seeing this meal.
Fueled by anticipation, I entered the room, only to see…
The wolf sitting quietly inside the cage again, seemingly calmer than before. The cage remained exactly as I’d left it open.
‘Huh. Are wolves normally this well-behaved?’
Though curious, recalling how it acted affectionately towards me at the shop made me decide this one was simply special.
‘More importantly, this is more pressing.’
My magnum opus in cooking history… albeit merely grilled expensive meat.
Regardless.
“Alright, look over here.”
I gently caught its attention. A pair of golden eyes shifted to meet mine.
“What do you think I’ve brought?”
Naturally guiding its gaze to the plate in my hand.
“…?”
Confusion clouded those golden orbs. Of course—it’s expected. With the spell of cognitive dissonance cast, the wolf, unable to pierce through magic, wouldn’t be able to see the plate or its contents.
After thoroughly enjoying its puzzled expression, I placed the plate on the floor. The pair of eyes followed my hands downward.
“…!”
Judging by its reaction, it seems to have grasped what this is.
Could it be that even magic can’t block an animal’s keen senses?
-Tap
As soon as the plate fully touched the ground,
The spell dissolved, revealing the grandeur of the food within.
“!!!”
‘Definitely wyvern meat. Works perfectly.’
Wyverns. Some distant cousin of dragons. So rare that even specialized hunting teams barely catch a glimpse of their claws, let alone capture them. This time, thanks to connections, I managed to snag some meat after a successful hunt.
‘Sure, it was costly, but… still.’
If this can imprint me as a good owner to the wolf we’ll be sharing the future with, it was worth it.
‘But why isn’t it coming out?’
The cage remains open. There’s no way it hasn’t noticed.
Yet it stays put…
‘Does it think this isn’t its food?’
That could be it.
Wolves are loyal creatures. If this one recognized me as its owner back at the shop, it might think I’m bringing this delicious-looking meal for myself.
In such a scenario, assuming it’s meant for the owner would be natural.
‘If it thinks this isn’t for it, I need to correct that perception.’
If it doesn’t recognize it as its own, I’ll make it clear.
Carrying the bowl I set down, I stepped into the cage.
“…!?”
Startled, the wolf showed signs of unease as I approached. The scent is overwhelming this close.
-Gurgle~
Its stomach growled audibly from smelling the food, yet it deliberately averted its eyes from the plate.
Seems like loyalty overrides hunger.
‘Let me free you from this torment.’
Silently setting the bowl down, I spoke.
“I made this for you. Don’t hesitate, eat up.”
“…..!!!”
No sooner had the words left my mouth than the wolf lunged toward the bowl.
-CHOMP CHOMP CHOMP!
For a while, the only sound in the room was the wolf chewing and swallowing the meat.
Considering how little pet stores likely feed animals, its restraint until now was extraordinary.
Having acquired such a cool, loyal wolf feels like all my past efforts weren’t wasted.
However…
-CHOMP CHOMP CHOMP!
Watching Hwanyang dive face-first into the plate, greedily eating even the plate itself…
-CHOMP CHOMP CHOMP CHOMP!
A certain thought won’t leave my mind…
-CHOMP CHOMP CHOMP CHOMP CHOMP!
Every time that ‘CHOMP!’ echoes, watching his mane sway gently…
Maybe… maybe I could bury my face in his fur too?
‘Would it be okay?’
If this wolf patiently waited for my permission before touching the painstakingly crafted wyvern meat…
Wouldn’t it willingly offer its fur to its beloved owner?
‘They say not to bother dogs while they eat, but this is a wolf!’
Flowers blooming within my brain as self-justification runs rampant.
‘No, I can’t. I must resist… How can I betray him so easily after he held himself back earlier?’
For a moment, I almost succumbed to temptation but managed to hold back. Earlier, he didn’t touch the food until I gave explicit permission.
Even animals have that much self-control; how can I fall prey to such petty temptation?
-CHOMP CHOMP CHOMP!
-Sway Sway
But… but maintaining composure becomes impossible under the blatant allure of that swaying tail.
‘Can’t… hold on any longer!!!’
-CHOMP CHOMP CHOMP…?!
***
‘What the hell is this guy doing?!’
