Chapter 99: 99
Nia’s Request
Upon hearing Shia’s voice, Grulf ran off to greet her .
I could hear both of their voices by the entrance .
“Groof-groof . ”
“You’re so excited, Grulf . There, there…”
“Grulf really likes you, huh?”
“Spirit beast wolves and beastkin wolves have the same ancestors, after all . We are kind of like relatives . ”
“Groof-groof . ”
Serulis had come back as well .
Perhaps they had been on a quest together .
“Grulf . Do you want a treat?”
“Groof-groof!”
“Grulf . Sit . ”
“Grr . ”
“Paw . ”
“Groof-groof . ”
“You’re so smart . Here, have a treat . ”
“Gruff-guff . ”
Apparently, Serulis was teaching him how to sit and give his paw .
I was a little worried about what she had fed him . But I guess it was fine, since Shia was there as well .
Shia knew a lot about wolves, not just vampires .
“You’re such a good boy, Grulf . How cute . ”
“Gruff-guff . ”
I could picture Shia petting Grulf .
“I heard that you shouldn’t touch them while they’re eating…”
“It’s fine if you do it while they’re young . ”
“I see . ”
“If anything, it is better to make them used to being touched while eating when they’re still young . ”
“Okay . Then I’ll try petting him too . ”
“Yes, that is good . Otherwise they could start biting people including their master . ”
“Gruff-gruff . ”
I had also decided to pet Grulf when feeding him .
After a while, Shia and Serulis came to the drawing room .
“Shia, Serulis . Welcome back . ”
“Hello, Mister Locke . Who is this sweet child?”
“Hello… Nia?”
“Sister . Congratulations on your recent successes . ”
Nia was polite even when talking to her own sister .
Though, her tail started to wag as soon as she saw Shia .
Shia’s tail was wagging as well . They were happy about this reunion .
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And then Shia introduced her sister to Serulis .
Once that was done, Shia turned to me and bowed .
“I’m sorry that my sister was disturbing you while I was away . ”
“No, she wasn’t bothering us . Don’t worry . ”
“It’s kind of you to say that… Thank you . ”
And then Shia turned to Nia .
“Nia . You shouldn’t have come here without saying anything . ”
“But…”
“You have to tell me first, or it will inconvenience Mister Locke . ”
“I’m sorry, Mister Locke . Sister . I’m sorry . ”
“Don’t worry about it . ”
I said with a gentle smile .
And then Shia sighed deeply .
“Nia, why did you come here? Did something happen to father?”
“Father is the same . His life is not threatened . ”
“Then you should stay beside him…”
“It’s because of that…”
“Hm? What do you mean?”
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Shia tilted her head to the side .
Nia looked at her seriously .
“I too am the daughter of a beastkin chief . I must become a Warrior who can hunt vampires . ”
“That is something we can consider once father is well again . ”
“But when you were my age, you were already fighting alongside father as an Adventurer . ”
“That’s true . So once father is better…”
“It will take a year at least for father to get better . That means it could take even longer . And father is getting old…”
“I see…”
Shia started to think about it .
As I was listening to them from the side, I now understood what Nia’s purpose was .
She wanted to become an Adventurer . And she wanted Shia to teach her .
If not, she could be waiting a year or even several years .
And given their father’s age, it wasn’t impossible that he would just end up retiring .
“Sister! Please teach me . Please!”
“But… I’m still inexperienced myself…”
Shia said with a troubled expression .
Shia was fifteen years old and already a B-Rank Adventurer .
She had probably started at around Nia’s age .
I asked Nia,
“By the way, how old are you?”
“I am eight years old . ”
“Eight . You’re quite clever for your age . ”
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“Thank you!”
“She is still very, very childish . ”
Shia said as she patted Nia on the head .
“Nia . What does our father have to say about all of this?”
“Father said that if I really want to take the first step in becoming a Warrior, that I should ask you, sister . ”
“…Father always says such careless things… I am not yet in the position to be teaching people . ”
This was an important matter in Shia’s tribe . It was not for an outsider to say anything about it .
However, there was one thing I wanted to say .
“Shia . ”
“What is it?”
“I don’t know a lot about your tribe, but I do know that you are a brilliant Warrior . I guarantee it . ”
“Ev-even if it’s flattery, I am happy . ”
Shia said . Her face was red and her tail was wagging .
“It’s not flattery . I don’t flatter people when it comes to their abilities as Adventurers . ”
Adventurers who get too confident because of flattery will only end up in danger . It happens a lot .
And so I avoided giving people a false sense of confidence .
You could not do it lightly, like you would call someone cute or say their cooking was good .
“Mister Locke . Thank you . ”
“Sister . Please . ”
Nia said again and then bowed her head .
“Alright, I understand . I will teach you to become an Adventurer . ”
“Thank you, sister!”
And so Nia succeeded in becoming Shia’s apprentice .