Henderson Scale 1.0: Due to a fatal derailment, reaching the ending has become impossible.
This is Alternate Ending Ⅱ.
A girl named Elise was deeply regretting her actions.
She regretted obsessing over her hairstyle before leaving home, even though no one would see it, which caused her departure to be delayed. She regretted forgetting the amulet her grandmother had given her to ward off wolves. And most of all, she regretted spotting some strawberries beyond the tall pine trees she had been explicitly told not to cross and deciding to go after them.
“If only I hadn’t done that… No, if I had just avoided any one of those things, I’d be at home eating dinner right about now,” she thought.
With the sun completely set and barely any moonlight reaching the forest floor, Elise had lost her way home. And now, she was about to become the “dinner” instead.
Huddled against a tree root, tears streaming down her face, she found herself surrounded by wolves. These wolves, with their fierce expressions, were nothing like the sheepdogs she cared for at the nearby ranch.
Staring into the hungry eyes of the wolves, Elise realized her imminent death. Despite the wolves sharing the same golden eyes as her two beloved dogs that would often lick her face, their gazes were entirely different—eyes filled with dark delight upon finding a small, suitable prey.
However, the wolves hesitated to immediately pounce on her.
This was because wolves are cautious creatures. Even though Elise was a child, as a Human, she was relatively larger than the usual prey they hunted. The wolves were well-aware that near the small ones, there was often a much larger one present, and to them, humans were something to be wary of.
Even minor injuries could be fatal for them since they had no access to medical care. And so, they carefully evaluated their prey, always cautious.
Eventually, they realized that no larger protector was going to appear, and they instinctively knew that the frightened girl before them wouldn’t be capable of defending herself.
An easy prey. There was no question about it now. The wolves began to circle, howling to egg each other on, before one of them cautiously stepped forward.
It was a magnificent female, the alpha of the pack, leading the hunt. She knew that even such small prey could sometimes put up a surprisingly strong fight. Hence, she leaped forward intending to deliver a clean, decisive bite that would instantly kill the girl, eliminating any resistance—
But mid-air, she collided with a radiant golden streak emerging from the darkness and was violently knocked away.
Tumbling across the ground, kicking up dust twice or thrice before regaining her footing, the wolf prepared to snarl at the unexpected interloper who dared interrupt her meal. However, she, along with her pack mates, found themselves captivated by the divine aura of the being that had thrown her back.
That golden light, emerging silently from the bushes, emanated from the magnificent fur of a Great Wolf. Its coat gleamed as if it carried light that banished the shadows, reflecting the color of the moonlit sky. Its piercing, intellect-filled eyes were an impossibly deep blue, like an endless summer sky.
Confronted with this presence, the wolves immediately lost any fighting spirit. They still possessed the instincts that Humans had lost during their pursuit of wisdom.
Their instincts whispered: fighting this Great Wolf, let alone opposing it, was something they were not supposed to do.
The pack began to slowly edge back while the Great Wolf never took its eyes off them. Yet, it never attacked when they turned to flee. It simply watched them leave, its gaze unwavering until it confirmed that the wolves would not return.
Once the presence of the wolves had vanished, the Great Wolf turned its attention to Elise.
Even under its piercing, azure stare, the girl did not react with the same fear as the wolves, as if her brain wasn’t quite processing the situation. As she gazed up at the majestic and divine beauty of the Great Wolf, all she could do was whisper, “Beautiful…”
Its presence was far too different from anything she had known. In the face of such divinity, fear and despair were meaningless. All small beings like herself could do was merely take in its magnificence.
The dazzling Great Wolf moved closer, gracefully gliding through the spaces separating it from the girl. Then, it extended its tongue from its fanged mouth, gently wiping away Elise’s tears, the remnants of her emotional anguish.
Inexplicably devoid of any animalistic mustiness or excessive saliva, the softness of the tongue somehow calmed Elise, and her tightly wound nerves snapped. Everything went black before she even realized what was happening.
When she awoke eventually, she found herself wrapped in an unusual warmth and encased in a sweet, unknown floral fragrance.
Upon opening her eyes, she found herself surrounded by delicate gold, the gleaming fur of the Great Wolf.
“Kyaa!?”
It was coiled around her protectively, like it had been cradling her unconscious form against the dark night, the forest’s chill, and the lurking shadows.
Aware of her awakening, the Great Wolf gently rose, releasing her. The cold night air wrapped around her small trembling body, and she felt abandoned and lonely in the freezing world.
However, the Great Wolf did not leave. Instead, it bent down, gazing at her, inviting her to climb on its lowered neck.
“Will… will you help me?” Elise asked hesitantly.
In response, instead of nodding, the Great Wolf blinked its gem-like blue eyes.
Tentatively, the girl mounted, and the Great Wolf elegantly rose without so much as a wobble. Each of its steps was gentle, offering a comfort far exceeding her previous experience on horseback while sitting on her father’s lap.
The Great Wolf moved with unfaltering resolve and confidence, and after swaying gently on its back for a while, the girl realized they were heading in the direction of a path she had hoped to find.
What seemed like an endless journey through the forest had convinced her that she’d never find her way back. Yet, the Great Wolf reached her cold eternity in mere minutes.
She’d be going home! Joy sparkled in her tear-filled eyes as her grip on the wolf’s neck tightened.
When they finally arrived, she noticed a light still burning in her home, usually long asleep by this hour, indicating that her family was still awake.
“The house! I’m back! I managed to come back!?”
The Great Wolf gently lowered her, its head bowed to help her dismount, then stepped back.
At the sound of her voice, the door creaked open, revealing her father standing there, likely returning from a night of hunting. Holding a nearly extinguished torch in his work clothes, his presence was followed by a mother with swollen cheeks from crying, and even her grandmother, her frail legs moving with surprising speed.
“Ah, Elise!”
“Ah, gods! We thank you!”
“Elise! Is it really you!? You’re safe!?”
As she was enveloped in her parent’s arms, Elise tried to introduce her savior, the Great Wolf. However, when she turned around, all she saw was a soft golden glow dissolving into the shadows—nothing more.
【Tip】 Across much of the Threefold Empire, wolves are widespread, but most of them are pack wolves characterized by their gray and black fur.
“Aah, that must have been a Sending Wolf…”
“A Sending Wolf?”
After enduring several scoldings from her parents and lectures from the nearby adults who had assisted with the hunt for days, the girl finally found some peace. She approached her grandmother to inquire about the mysterious Great Wolf she encountered that fateful night. Now, she was curious—what exactly had that wolf been?
It was much larger than any dogs she’d seen, yet it had an unmistakable divine aura. Thinking her knowledgeable grandmother might have some answers, Elise posed her question.
Indeed, her grandmother was aware.
“Yes, it’s a Sending Wolf, a fairy that is spoken about fondly in tales from long ago… a benevolent fairy who helps lost children, travelers, and adventurers when they’re stranded in the forest.”
“A fairy? But it was a wolf…”
“Yes. The wolf was brought by the fairy. Your own grandfather, may he rest in peace, was also once saved by a Sending Wolf when he was just four years old. At that time, he mentioned there was also a cute black girl accompanying it.”
“Maybe it was because you were such a good girl that the fairy brought it for you,” her grandmother smiled as she stroked the girl’s dark golden hair, reminiscent of ripened rice stalks.
“A Sending Wolf… it had fur that looked like the moon, and it was a really big wolf!”
“Yes, yes. But if the Sending Wolf saved you, we must express our gratitude. Next autumn festival, we must offer ice confections out in the woods.”
“Ice confections?”
“That’s right. Sending Wolves have a fondness for them.”
“But… wolves like that?” Elise asked curiously.
Her grandmother laughed, replying, “Probably because they have a sweet tooth!”
“Strange…”
Despite her skepticism, the girl resolved to save her allowance, determined to offer ice confections in the forest come autumn…
【Tip】 Also known as Moonlight Wolves, Sending Wolves are both folklore and a tale told in the southern regions of the Threefold Empire. In more recent times, they are recognized as actual fairy beings, known for darting through the bordering forests of manors, guiding lost children and wanderers back to their homes or roads. Their fur is rumored to gleam like the moonlight, and while there once were many adventurers hunting them for their pelt, none ever returned, leading to the abandonment of such pursuits today.
That hill was a mysterious one. From its gently sloping peak, one could simultaneously admire both the blurred outline of the moon and the sun, neither ever setting, creating an eternal twilight.
Basking in the gentle glow of an eternal dusk, I settled into my customary spot at the base of a great old tree and commenced my daily grooming routine.
What, exactly, was the error in my existence?
Was the first misstep receiving “eyes” instead of “lips” when it seemed practical to do so?
Then, I realized I had been “given too much” by the fairies, and before I knew it, here I was.
I am the Twilight Hill’s Fairy Wolf. Gone is the small human child from some manor. All that remains now is this “I” who has lost count of how many years have passed since becoming a fairy.
Upon becoming a fairy, I realized just how burdensome they truly are, far more so than I had imagined when I was human.
Bound by instincts etched deeply into my soul, I can’t help but act without restraint.
That’s why, perhaps, I couldn’t simply leave an injured child in the forest.
And even though I’ve been scolded by my fellow fairies for overstepping—”don’t go too far”—I still can’t stop.
An adventurous child lost on an outing, a child searching for strawberries who has lost track of time, a child abandoned by their parents with no hope of return… None of them can I abandon, I must always help.
Even venturing so far to aid adventurers must stem from some lingering remnants of admiration, though I do feel regret. Even when reprimanded by the higher spirits, I just can’t stop… it’s truly pathetic.
“What’s got you into such a daze?”
As I idly watched my fellow spirits dance around the hill, Ursula tumbled into my lap. Her playful antics with my fur no longer rouse any frustration. We used to chase each other around quite often after I fell into this state, but now, in hindsight, it feels like distant past.
“Nothing, just reminiscing a bit.”
“Really? Weren’t those days good enough to reminisce about? Honestly, you’ve gotten quite accustomed to this form haven’t you?”
Of course. It’s been hundreds of years since I become like this.
During that time, the Threefold Empire hasn’t changed much. There have been a series of wars and internal conflicts, yet the Empire has continued to thrive, expanding its territory. Despite the rapid changes in human activities—new farming tools and enchantments created—the essence of humanity remains unchanged.
For better or worse.
Among all that constancy, I, left behind, have become simply this “I,” detached from my past as the human child. I no longer even mourn that loss. Memories of my parents and childhood friends leave only a faint feeling of loneliness.
Ah, now I can’t even remember their names. All that remains are fragments—a hue of their hair, a kind voice, the warmth of a hand. The only remnant of my old life is the cherry-colored ornament adorning my ear.
Well, it can’t be helped. I no longer remember who I was or where I came from.
With a melancholic sniffle, the gentle breeze on the Twilight Hill made my earring tinkle softly.
“Ah, here he comes again.”
Whenever my earring rings, there is always a visitor. It’s usually someone who was once of great importance to me, a figure shrouded in moon-like luminescence. They come to me swinging a terrifying sword, intent on taking away this “I” altogether.
An incredibly terrifying sword, one that, for some reason, feels deeply nostalgic.
Today, after all my work, I wasn’t in the mood to confront her. Not only because I lacked the energy, but because meeting those eyes always causes my heart to wildly flutter, leading to an overwhelming desire to obliterate anything silver, green, or blue, which is quite a mess.
Or did I just imagine destroying them? Or perhaps I failed? Or did I do it after all?
No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t figure it out. So, I leaped to escape from my mysterious visitor.
Sending wolves are troubled spirits aiding others. Their steps can cross space itself, traversing the despair of those lost to return them home. And these steps have brought this despairing someone to me.
“Whaat!? Come on, is this all there is after I came this far!?”
Leaping into the gentle moonlight, I found myself in a deep, unknown forest. There, I encountered a man clad in black, a figure that oddly sparked feelings of nostalgia within me…
[Tip] A certain someone, no matter the circumstances, always comes with purpose. The bodhisattva who put him here ensures, no matter how twisted his path becomes, he will never go astray entirely.
This world’s line stems from accepting the offer to trade eyes with Ursula from a previously requested version.
If we compare this to an exploratory game, it’s a side character’s ending. The named character that players now scratch their heads on—”How do you kill this thing?”
Given the busy season, I’ve been finding it hard to get time off, which has complicated work progress.
For now, I kindly ask for your patience and understanding. Apologies.
