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2. Regan
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A dog.

That was the first thought that came to mind.

‘Now I can finally raise a puppy.’

I don’t have to be lonely anymore!

With my ability, I can now be loved. By this dog, just like by other animals!

I can finally fulfill the dream I’ve been wishing for throughout my time on Earth…!

Only after her pounding heart calmed down did Haniel regain some of her rationality.

That’s when she realized the house-sized animal before her was closer to a wolf than a dog, and in fact, it wasn’t even a wolf but a more wild-looking… unfamiliar creature.

“My goodness.”

An otherworldly beast. A predator two or three times her size.

‘Is it dead?’

Haniel gulped.

Could it be that the animals had detected this wolf and were trying to pull her away?

The… for convenience’s sake, “wolf”… lying outside the shimmering boundary.

The black wolf was soaked in red blood, wounded from somewhere.

Judging by the multiple indentations in the ground and surrounding bushes, it seemed as if it had been chased by something or someone and tried to escape into the territory boundary.

‘Is that why the alarm went off?’

Haniel narrowed her eyes at the bloody smell wafting over.

It must be dead. The bleeding seemed severe enough for the smell to reach where she stood.

But…

Rustle. Haniel stepped outside the boundary that protected her.

And she extended her white hand, placing it on the wolf’s neck.

“…It’s still alive.”

It was warm.

She could hear very faint breathing, and looking closely, the fur was rising and falling.

The wolf was definitely alive.

‘I need to take it with me.’

Haniel’s golden eyes flashed with a strong conviction that she must heal this wolf.

It wasn’t because… seeing it up close, despite being soaked in blood, it was more beautiful than anything she had ever seen, arousing her possessiveness.

All the way here, animals had tried to hold her back, and it was uncertain what had happened here.

But simply because she thought that this wolf, like herself and all other living beings, was an animal in need of someone’s help…

‘Come to think of it, I had emergency medicine in my pocket.’

Haniel quickly examined the wolf’s wounds, applied hemostatic agents to the affected areas, and took all possible immediate measures.

Then she brought a stretcher she had left nearby and somehow managed to load the wolf onto it.

“H-heavy!”

Even carrying a bull would be lighter than this.

Using all her strength, she finally loaded it completely, and the wolf let out a whimpering sound between labored breaths.

It seemed to feel pain even in its semi-conscious state while being loaded like baggage.

Seeing this, Haniel stroked the wolf’s muzzle and whispered.

“I will definitely heal you.”

I will definitely heal you and keep you in my home, by my side.

And you will love me, and I will love you as my pet.

Let’s live like that. Okay?

As dog and owner!

If the wolf could have opened its eyes at this moment and seen Haniel’s greedy expression, what would its reaction have been?

Fortunately or unfortunately for this massive creature.

The wolf seemed to be calmed by Haniel’s fervent voice, stopping its whimpering and going limp.

Then Haniel pulled the cart carrying the wolf.

The cart moved barely and slowly with the heavy body, but it wasn’t difficult at all.

Heave-ho, heave-ho. The anxious gazes of animals followed Haniel as she moved diligently.

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Wolf.

Or “Blackie,” or perhaps “Blackina.”

The black beast lying on the wooden floor revealed a much more majestic appearance after the blood was cleaned off.

Its glossy black fur was like velvet, and the massive body hidden beneath was tightly packed with delicate muscles, radiating heat that could be felt when approaching.

It was a noble and beautiful creature that in many ways didn’t match the shabby temporary name Haniel had given it.

‘I wonder if it will growl when it hears its name after waking up?’

She could still feel the finger that had been bitten by a dog in her previous life tingling…

In any case, having someone to care for makes a person feel fulfilled.

With a wolf in her house that she had to look after, Haniel’s daily life became busier and more energetic than before.

Her days, always excited lately, were generally filled with schedules of guarding her house more strictly and treating and caring for the wolf.

Making potions good for wound treatment. Going out to gather potion ingredients.

And staying by “Blackie or Blackina’s” side to care for its wounds.

“Saedol, are you sulking?”

Since she hadn’t been able to communicate much with Saedol because of this, the blue bird seemed to have become quite upset with Haniel.

Or perhaps there was something else bothering it.

Saedol, who used to fly in chirping even before she beckoned, had been sitting far away from her, just glaring, ever since the wolf entered Haniel’s house.

At a distance where it seemed she could reach out and touch it, but it could also fly away at any moment.

‘…Can a bird make an expression of annoyance?’

Cold sweat formed at Haniel’s temples.

It’s not even human, yet its expression makes her feel the need to explain herself.

“You know I had no choice, right? I have to protect my home. And with it lying there all wounded like that, what was I supposed to do, just leave it? Also, I don’t know if I told you before, but I’ve always dreamed of having a pet… a dog in my own home. No, that’s not to say you’re not my pet… No, really, I do love you. I do love you, but in a different way… Oof!”

Chirp!

Saedol struck its face with its wings, pretending to take flight.

Haniel held her cheek with a dumbfounded expression.

‘S-Saedol… hit me?’

It doesn’t hurt, but it feels like I’ve been slapped… no, I was slapped.

“You slap me for that?”

Chirp!

“Bad bird. Bad bird!”

Screech!

Saedol, which had been making sharp cries instead of its usual melodious sounds, let out a scream.

It was a sound that felt like her eardrums would burst. As Haniel covered her ears, Saedol quickly closed its beak, seemingly aware of its mistake.

…

After glaring for a while… Whoosh! It turned its head and flew away.

Flutter.

“…It left.”

It will come back… someday?

It was a bit worrying, but she decided to believe that.

‘Saedol doesn’t seem to like the wolf… but there’s nothing I can do.’

It’s natural to become sensitive when a strange animal enters one’s territory.

So it was understandable that it would be angry like that, which made Haniel just sigh.

Since the wolf had arrived, even the other animals that used to hover around just to see Haniel’s face once had completely disappeared from the area.

Of course, they would come hesitantly when called loudly, but they clearly showed signs of avoiding this place where the wolf was.

Indeed, the reason the animals had tried to stop Haniel that day was because of this wolf she had picked up.

‘But it’s so cute. Why?’

Today again, the wolf did not open its eyes.

Since the severe wounds it had suffered were completely gone thanks to Haniel’s potions and care, it was probably just a matter of physical strength now.

Whistling, Haniel came to the wolf’s side and gently combed through its glossy black fur.

Fluffy.

“It’s really so soft.”

The texture of the fur was uniquely soft.

Haniel leaned her head slightly and sniffed. Sniff, sniff.

She expected it to smell like a dog, but instead of a dog smell, it had the scent of grass and trees.

A somewhat bitter scent, like a forest full of conifers.

Haniel rubbed her face against its side and slowly blinked.

‘But no matter how I think about it, it’s strange…’