Volume 2

Chapter 82 : The Wolf and the Daughter, Part One

“Hiss… huff…”

On the empty lawn of Hydra Mansion, Hitana trudged forward with a grimace.

Her bulging muscles trembled constantly, her long legs seeming unable to straighten with each bend.

Sweat drenched the tall, fair girl’s delicate face, veins bulging on her neck, proof of the immense pressure she endured.

Not far off, Flamel’s trio of Contract Heads observed the wolf girl inching forward step by step.

“It’s impressive every time I see it.”

Laurence, perched on Tyr’s shoulder, the Head of Strength, stroked his long rat whiskers, marveling, “Miss Hitana’s talent and spiritual essence… aren’t they a bit too unreasonable?”

“Adaptation, immunity… truly remarkable,” Tornado nodded.

The top-tier sorcerer narrowed his eyes slightly, “But in my view… her spiritual essence goes beyond that. Remember Tyr’s last test on her? Under that pressure, she seemed to have some potential for ‘transformation.’”

“The key is her mindset.”

Tyr, silent until now, suddenly spoke, his voice like low thunder from a towering, godlike warrior.

“Her thirst for victory, her pursuit of strength, her confidence in mastering and taming it, and her unbreakable resolve…”

“A girl from a remote village, yet possessing the mindset to reach the pinnacle—this is her greatest treasure.”

“…That’s odd, now that you mention it”

Laurence scratched his rat's head, “Before meeting the young master, wasn’t Miss Hitana just a village girl? Sure, she had some schooling, but still a village girl. Where did that personality come from?”

“A strong person’s qualities are innate,” Tornado crossed his arms, saying with utmost arrogance in a calm tone, “I could create spells at six, Tyr could tear apart coyotes at four, and the young master has despair-inducing dominance in nearly every field… Does that need a reason? It doesn’t.”

“Talent and mindset aren’t the same thing, Tornado.”

“When a mindset is exceptional enough, it becomes talent.”

The man and rat chatted idly, while the focus of their discussion, the wolf girl, let out a skyward roar, suddenly breaking into a run.

But just as she made the three Contract Heads’ eyes widen slightly, she flopped face-first onto the ground, panting heavily.

“…Three minutes, fifty-six seconds.”

Tornado stroked his chin, “Six seconds faster than two days ago. At this rate, she’ll hit a bottleneck in half a month.”

“She’s only a third-tier Throne, after all… Wait, Hitana’s a third-tier Throne?”

Laurence exclaimed dramatically, while the most responsible Tyr said gravely, “That’s enough for today, Hitana. Rest well.”

“Okay…”

The wolf girl, sprawled on the lawn with her tongue half-out, responded weakly, “I’ll just lie here for a bit, Uncle Tyr, don’t mind me.”

The fresh scent of grass tickled Hitana’s nose, and the sticky sweat on her face felt less bothersome.

Nothing beats… flopping down after a hard workout.

Like after a night of sparring with Anselm, curling up on his chest to sleep, heh heh heh.

Hitana squinted, humming softly, but just thinking of that scene turned the slight coolness into heat again.

For Hitana, devouring strength-building nourishment and joyful interactions with Anselm were already the unending happiness of her life.

In a way, she was like a dog—content as long as she was fed, hydrated and played happily with her master, free of worries or sorrows.

A blissful, easy life dulls the mind, but honestly, how many in this world would willingly choose hardship over such carefree enjoyment?

Marina never criticized Hitana’s growing laziness, first because she never slacked in training herself, and second… wasn’t this the life they’d worked so hard for?

Of course, that was just Marina’s view.

For Hitana, what she wanted wasn’t just this.

Squirming a bit, Hitana propped herself up, stretching her tall, toned body. Her muscles moved, bones popping crisply.

“Should I train a bit more… It’s so boring without Anselm.”

On the now-empty lawn, the girl lifted her shirt to wipe her face, her defined yet not overly exaggerated abs glistening with sweat.

“Speaking of, if he’s off messing with Mingfuluo… how’s he gonna do it?”

Recalling Mingfuluo’s utterly broken appearance, the wolf girl shivered.

“Back then, in Anselm’s eyes, I didn’t look that pitiful, did I?”

Hitana couldn’t accept herself ever showing such a shattered look, with eyes like glass beads—pathetic weakness!

Though early conflicts with Mingfuluo made Hitana want Anselm to teach her a harsh lesson, after a few interactions—especially during the birthday hunting event where Mingfuluo’s cooperation made it a blast, plus her comically tiny stature—Hitana no longer held any real grudge.

So, seeing Mingfuluo in that heart-shattered, pitiful state stirred a bit of pity in Hitana.

She knew better than anyone how miserable the outcome could be if you fell into Anselm’s hands, especially a malicious Anselm.

If I weren’t so cute, obedient, understanding and utterly charming to Anselm, I might’ve ended up like Mingfuluo. Close call…

Heading toward the mansion to wash up and collapse onto Anselm’s bed for a rest, Hitana muttered to herself as she walked:

“Should I try convincing Anselm not to go too hard on Mingfuluo… He does seem to value that little runt a bit, right? She’s already pitiful enough like that, no need to do anything more, yeah? What if she completely breaks?”

Pondering this, the wolf girl made up her mind to persuade Anselm to go easy on Mingfuluo, to leave her a way out. It’d be better for everyone, wouldn’t it?

So magnanimous, so generous—worthy of me!

Hitana nodded proudly and happily, humming a tune as she headed into the mansion.

As she walked, her expression suddenly shifted.

Sniff, sniff sniff—

The girl’s nose twitched, her demeanor growing serious, her steps quickening.

She caught Anselm’s scent.

For Hitana, who was always glued to Anselm’s side, she could pick up his presence within five hundred meters without even using the Head of Wind’s power—just her natural senses could detect even the faintest trace of him.

Anselm returning to Hydra Mansion wasn’t an issue. The problem was—

Why didn’t he come find me first?!

Sure… it’s not like Anselm had to be with her all the time, but even when they weren’t together, he wouldn’t just leave her hanging in the mansion!

Did Mr. Flamel finds Anselm?

Or was Sister Elnilisa chatting with him?

It couldn’t be that annoying Ivora, could it… No, no, none of their scents were present.

The world’s breath flowed endlessly, delivering the information Hitana sought.

…Huh, a strange scent.

Kind of like Mingfuluo, but… not quite her?

What’s going on?

Anselm was with someone who smelled like Mingfuluo but wasn’t Mingfuluo… and didn’t come find me?

Miss Hitana let out a low, angry “grrr” from her throat—not directed at Anselm, of course, but at this mysterious intruder.

Some thief from who-knows-where… damn it!

Where’s Lina? What’s Lina doing?

Why isn’t she keeping an eye on who’s around Anselm?!

Hitana broke into a run, charging toward Anselm’s location with deep hostility.

In the main house, the maids watched as Hitana stormed through the door like a whirlwind, too fast for them to even greet the well-liked, cheerful girl before she vanished.

“Third floor… Anselm’s… bedroom?!”

Hitana’s eyes widened, her crimson pupils blazing with fury.

Anselm’s bedroom was practically her territory, off-limits to anyone except his family, Marina, and the elusive, untouchable Ivora!

As a girl well aware of Anselm’s desires in that regard, Hitana didn’t mind who he slept with or where, but… not just anyone could lie in that bed!

I spent so much time, so much effort, making that bed smell entirely of me!

No way I’m letting some random wildcat mess it up!

Even if Anselm… even if Anselm insists, I won’t allow it!

The wolf girl’s gaze darkened ominously. If things were that bad, she’d outlast this unknown wildcat in endurance—she’d never lose in that!

Once the wildcat was worn out, she’d tie her up, hang her from the ceiling, and make her watch!

On her patrol of the domain, Miss Hitana shed her cute dog-like charm, her fierce wolf nature taking over… though this wolfishness was somewhat misdirected.

You’d better pray Anselm hasn’t done anything to you, or else—

Bang!

Hitana shoved the door open, shouting, “Anselm! I’m here to find, find…”

“…find you?”

The girl at the door froze, staring blankly at the scene inside.

A strikingly handsome boy sat on the bed, a slightly petite but not childish girl in his lap.

He was patiently and meticulously combing her smooth blue-gray hair, tying it into cute twin tails.

Hitana stared at the girl, who looked back, her glossy-less purple eyes sending a chill through Hitana.

But after the chill came a flush of embarrassed irritation.

Mingfuluo… how could it be Mingfuluo?!

Though she’d caught a scent that was like Mingfuluo but not quite, Hitana had thought the latter was more likely.

—Because how could Anselm be interested in that tiny runt! I’m better than her in every way, even Lina’s way better, right?!

But why was it really her?!

Was Anselm that desperate?!

Even a mansion maid would be better than that washboard… though, for some reason, her hips are kinda curvy… No!

Hitana huffed angrily, “Mingfuluo, why are you here?!”

“…” The blue-gray-haired girl, sitting obediently in Anselm’s lap, tilted her head but didn’t respond.

Seeing her play deaf, Hitana pouted, unhappily asking Anselm, “Anselm, why… why didn’t you tell me you were back?”

“Hm?”

Anselm briefly shifted his attention from the girl in his lap, looking at Hitana with a teasing smile, “Jealous?”

“I’m not jealous of that little runt!”

Hitana crossed her arms, turning her head with a huff, “I just don’t want some shady wildcat crawling onto the bed I sleep in every day!”

Though she said that, after two or three seconds of silence, she sneaked a glance at Mingfuluo—whose glossy-less eyes somehow held an oddly captivating allure, her playful twin tails perfectly complementing her face, blending cuteness and maturity.

“An… Anselm.”

Growing more uneasy, feeling like Mingfuluo had unlocked some incredible new path, Hitana stammered, “You wouldn’t be into this kind of runt…”

“First, by normal standards, Helen’s just a bit petite, not a runt. Second…”

The young Hydra gently pressed his hand against the girl’s soft cheek.

She closed her eyes slightly, calmly taking his hand and leaning into it, making Hitana’s eyes widen in shock.

“Get to know her again, Hit.”

Anselm let the girl nuzzle his hand like a cat, smiling brightly:

“My daughter, Helen.”

At that moment, Miss Helen opened her eyes, reluctantly letting go of Anselm’s hand but still sitting on his lap, nodding politely to Hitana:

“Hello, Miss Hitana. As Father says, I’m no longer the puppet you knew.”

Hitana, completely stunned, heard her say:

“I am Helen, Father’s daughter.”

“…”

The girl rubbed her eyes, then rubbed them again, but the scene before her didn’t change—it was so real.

She clearly saw this woman, once cold as ice, never showing emotion, now… displaying a dazzling smile.

Helen… daughter?!

???

“And one thing—I need to correct Father’s mistake.”

Miss Helen, with her twin tails, suddenly leaned back, wrapping her arms around Anselm’s neck.

Her glossy-less purple eyes flared with a frenzied color, as if, having entrusted everything, she no longer cared even if she fell into the abyss.

After shedding Mingfuluo’s identity and embracing the life Anselm gave her as Helen, the emotions for Anselm sealed away three years ago—

Father can fulfill everything I hope for, so Father is… everything I hope for.

If I can give everything for what I hope for, then surely…

I can give everything to Father.

Her emotions, shattered and broken by the world, gained a twisted rebirth under the devil’s malicious scheming.

“Because there’s no blood tie.”

The frenzied Miss Helen kissed Anselm’s throat, then turned to Hitana, whose forehead veins were bulging.

“Not in provocation, but in genuine hope for that twisted relationship, she murmured dreamily:

“It’s… even better.”