Demon Prince 37.1

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Chapter 37.1. The Fenrir Family

I'm eleven years old now.

Ai and Yuu have turned eight.

Both the school and the hospital seem to be doing well, and Tina and the others eagerly report back every day about what happened at school.

They talk about making friends or learning how to read and write.

It's cute how they never forget to report on the school lunch menu every day.

The teachers were mainly people who were government officials or former merchants, teaching reading and math.

For administrative and accounting tasks, we’ve hired people who used to work at merchant guilds and the like.

The ones who teach swordsmanship, physical training, and magic—basically the P.E. teachers—are mostly former adventurers, dojo owners from the city, or ex-knights.

Some seemed quite strict, so I was worried they might go overboard, but so far, everything seems to be going well.

As for the hospital, it was very busy at first, but now things have settled down quite a bit.

Most of the visitors are people with injuries.

Once someone is cured with magic, they rarely fall ill again unless there’s an epidemic or pandemic, so that’s less of a concern. But injuries happen daily.

This is a world with magical beasts, so adventurers and soldiers are always getting hurt.

There are currently no healing mages working with the knight orders or military units.

All the healing mages I’ve trained are working at the school, hospital, or training facilities.

The priority has been the treatment of citizens and the training of future mages.

Starting next year, we plan to gradually assign some of the trained healing mages to the military.

By the way, those who work at the hospital are mainly people who used to work with lower-level healing magic or sell medicinal herbs.

Since we took away their previous jobs, we’ve helped them find new work.

Now that the school is up and running and the healing mages are settled into their roles, I have a lot more free time.

These days, I spend it playing with Hati in the garden with everyone else.

"Here, go fetch!"

"Woof!"

I throw a frisbee I made, and Hati catches it in midair.

Even though she's still a wolf pup, her athletic ability is incredible.

She easily jumps over two meters high.

As expected of the divine beast Fenrir’s child.

She’s going to be scary when she grows up.

"Hm?"

"Woof?"

Hati’s ears twitch, and she sniffs the air.

Suddenly, she takes off running somewhere.

I chase after her in a hurry.

"Hey, Hati, where are you going?"

"Woof-woof!"

Hati responds as if saying "This way!" and heads toward the castle gate.

There’s some kind of commotion at the gate.

"What’s with you? I told you we’re here to see Hati."

"I’m telling you, you can’t just show up like this! You need to send a message in advance and come on the appointed day! You can’t just meet someone without a prior arrangement!"

"Why would I need that to see my daughter? I already told you we’d come by to check on her."

"That’s why it has to be on a set date! And ‘daughter’? Hati is the divine beast Fenrir! You’re clearly from the wolf tribe!"

"Hm? Ah, this form. I took it to match you all. This form is—oh."

"Woof!"

Hati suddenly jumps on a woman from the wolf tribe who’s been talking to the guard at the gate.

There are five other men and women standing near the gate with her, all of whom also seem to be from the wolf tribe...

"How’ve you been, Hati? We came to check on you."

"Woof-woof!"

"Indeed. After some discussion, we’ve decided that we’re all moving here. This way, we won’t be separated from family."

"Woof-woof! Woof!"

"Yes, yes, I’m glad you’re happy."

Their conversation sounds intriguing, but I should probably join in.

"Excuse me, but who are you?"

"Hm? Ah, it’s you. I’ve heard much about you from Hati."

"Hey! You can’t talk like that to Jun-sama!"

"It’s fine, step back. I’ll handle this."

I wave off the soldier, who still looks unsatisfied.

I’ll never get used to this whole formal attitude thing.

In my previous life, I was just an ordinary citizen.

It’s just not in my nature.

"My apologies. You wouldn't happen to be... Hati’s mother, would you—?"

"Hm? We met the other day, didn’t we? Oh, right, this is your first time seeing me in this form. I am the divine beast Fenrir. If I entered your city in my original form, it would cause a commotion. That’s why I’m in this form."

So she’s the divine beast Fenrir, Hati’s mother, who came to fetch her last time.

Then, who are the others behind her?

"Welcome. And who might those people behind you be?"

"Ah, that’s my family. Could you let us in for now? We can talk in a more relaxed place."

"Of course, this way, please."

I lead Hati’s family to my room.

I ask Noella to prepare tea for everyone.

Wait, can wolves even drink tea?

Well, they’re in human form, so maybe it’s fine?

"Will the drinks we’ve prepared be okay for you?"

"Yes, no problem. I sometimes come to your city in this form anyway."

"Really? For what purpose?"

"Just to pass the time. Also, there are many things humans make that we cannot, and some are quite convenient."