“H-Huff! H-Huff!”
“If I’d known you’d like it this much, I would’ve made it sooner.”
Just a moment ago.
After finishing a short meal with Eisha and washing off the meat smell that had seeped into my skin…
I realized I hadn’t named the wolf yet.
Name.
A means of defining oneself.
The difference between a pet and a regular wild animal could arguably be said to come down to having a name.
…And yet, this important thing had still not been given to the wolf after hours of being brought here.
“Is it right that he doesn’t even have a proper name after being here for hours?”
Someone seemed to be shouting in my mind.
Thus, thinking it wasn’t too late even now, after 10 minutes of deliberation…
I finally decided on a name for him.
Vanilla.
Snow.
Snowflake Shaved Ice.
…Even Dudong was considered.
But the one chosen from among countless candidates was “Hwanyang.”
“I came up with it, but what a stylish name. Should I have opened a naming shop?”
It’s appropriately cute, captures his features well, and is easy to call out.
Could there be a more perfect name?
Just imagining how happy he’ll be makes the corners of my mouth rise.
“Alright. Let’s go.”
The meat smell should be washed off by now.
After changing clothes, I left the bathroom and headed toward the room.
When I opened the door, Hwanyang greeted me.
“…Actually, it was less of a greeting and more like…”
An expression as if asking why I left him alone while doing something outside.
“Well, I wanted to surprise him by waiting a bit longer, but…”
Not much time had passed since then, but it was true I had left him alone in the room.
Rather than giving some lame excuse, it seemed better to just tell him his name quickly.
And the result was…
“H-Huff! H-Huff!”
Very successful.
At first, he tilted his head left and right as if pondering its meaning.
Then, realizing it was his name, he started wagging his tail wildly and ran around the small cage.
The suspicious wife’s gaze towards her husband…
Had long turned into the adorable eyes of a pet looking at its owner.
It was also the moment when my slight worry of “What if he doesn’t like the name?” completely melted away.
“H-Huff! H-Huff!”
Pure joy without a hint of unpleasantness.
Watching him made me smile too.
I could feel the fatigue from paperwork and kitchen cleaning disappearing just by looking at him.
“This is why people keep pets, huh.”
“Awoooo—!”
So pleased, Hwanyang started howling towards me.
Standing on his hind legs with his front paws on the cage bars, it was as if he was saying…
“Are you really not going to pet me?”
Though his intentions were transparent, there was no reason not to oblige.
I jumped into the cage as he wished and started petting him vigorously.
Supporting his chest with one arm and placing the other on his back, I moved it up and down.
Of course, not too roughly—otherwise we might end up in the same situation as before—but slowly.
“Pet pet!”
“H-Huff Huff! Awooo—!”
As the gentle strokes continued, Hwanyang opened his mouth towards my neck.
If it were an ordinary wild wolf, I’d need to back away immediately, but this guy is my pet wolf.
He won’t bite me hard.
…Probably.
“Crunch!”
As expected, Hwanyang didn’t bite down seriously.
Without the heat from his mouth, I might not have even noticed he bit me.
It didn’t leave any tooth marks.
“Of course, I knew it would turn out this way. No need to panic about getting bitten.”
From the store until just now, Hwanyang has shown friendly behavior towards me.
People who know would understand—this light biting is a sign of affection from wolves.
It means “I won’t harm you.”
Thinking we’ve grown closer made my petting grow stronger.
However…
“Tick”
“Tick”
Something kept getting in the way of my movements.
Thinking about it, Hwanyang had been wearing rags since the store.
“…Should I take them off?”
Because of these, I couldn’t pet Hwanyang comfortably, and he seemed to dislike it too.
There’s no way he could take them off himself due to physical limitations—it must’ve been uncomfortable.
Why did they put these on him at the store?
They weren’t enchanted and didn’t seem like something he liked.
“Just take them off. If it was really important, he would’ve told me.”
My thoughts didn’t last long, and my actions were quicker.
“Swish!”
With a simple undressing magic, I removed the rags Hwanyang was wearing and threw them far away.
“Awooo—!”
Now freed from the confining rags, Hwanyang started moving even more energetically.
“So they were bothering you, huh.”
Thinking I did the right thing by removing them, I kept petting without stopping.
Definitely easier to pet without those annoying rags getting in the way.
By the way…
That store seemed pretty decent, so why did they have the animals wear such rags?
“Maybe they didn’t have good heating?”
Considering it’s summer though…
“Eh, whatever. Let’s enjoy the moment.”
Any complicated thoughts were shoved aside by the sensation of touching fur without any interference.
There wasn’t even space in my mind to store this feeling.
*
How much time had passed?
Though I reached a state of flow and didn’t feel tired…
If I kept petting all night, tomorrow’s me would surely suffer.
“Regrettably, it’s time to sleep… wait a sec.”
Right as I was about to drift off thinking today isn’t the only day…
A brilliant idea popped into my head.
“What if I can keep petting Hwanyang while sleeping by hugging him?”
Perfect.
Let’s do it immediately.
Lifting Hwanyang up and heading towards the bed.
It’s spacious enough for one person and one wolf.
“…”
Realizing what I’m about to do, Hwanyang wags his body in approval.
“Yeah, Hwanyang. I’ll hug you all night.”
“!!!”
Excited beyond control, I lay down on the bed with him.
Stretching out my arm to support Hwanyang’s chin.
Using the remaining hand to stroke his soft mane while closing my eyes.
“Oh, that’s right. Almost forgot this.”
-Suuuuep, ha.
“?!!?”
A strong but not unpleasant animal scent filled the air.
I’ll be able to sleep peacefully for a long time.
*****
While the professor drifted happily into dreamland…
The wolf in his arms—now named Hwanyang—wasn’t so fortunate.
Being suddenly given such an absurd name…
And then stripped and fondled recklessly—anyone would react similarly.
‘Die, die, die…!’
-Crunch! Crunch!
Savage sounds kept coming from near the professor’s neck, but not a single drop of blood appeared.
Though knowing it was futile, he continued anyway.
It felt like he wouldn’t be able to endure if he didn’t do something like this.
“Damn it… This bastard knew…”
No matter how much he twisted his body…
The arms tightly holding him showed no signs of loosening.
Taking a slave out of the cage without issuing a command to stay put…
The implication was clear.
Mockery.
Somehow, the professor knew he bypassed orders to escape.
That’s why he’s doing this.
Go ahead and try to escape if you can.
Push away this arm and get out if you can.
What kind of escape can you dream of when you can’t even handle a single arm?
“Shit… Shit!”
At first, he thought the professor was trying to force himself.
Removing his clothes with a lewd smile, groping him everywhere, then heading to the bed…
But now, he wished it had been that.
Because he wouldn’t have to feel this powerless helplessness.
He could’ve fueled his fighting spirit with the anger of being violated by the man.
The professor’s breath touched his neck.
The strands of hair brushing against his cheek when inhaling and exhaling were disgusting.
Most importantly…
Being unable to do anything while trapped in his embrace…
Feeling utterly incapable of stopping or avoiding this made him despise himself—
“No, no…”
Shaking off the crumbling heart.
“Not someone who gives up this easily… This powerlessness, someday I’ll return it tenfold to you… No, to all of you.”
Once again, he fiercely bit the professor’s neck.
Pouring all his remaining strength, ready to break his teeth if necessary.
“Grind! Grind!”
Though similar to earlier, the results were slightly different this time.
Faint wounds visible.
“Yes, you’re human too… Not some immortal monster…”
Even the tiniest scratch was enough.
Having confirmed the presence in front of him was human and could be killed, the wolf fell asleep with that conviction.
Dreaming of the day he’d sink his fangs into that human’s neck.
