CH 12

“Brushing?” Clyde and the two magicians’ stunned voices were heard. With a look of disbelief, one of them continued, “Brushing a ferocious and terrifying demon?”

“Yes. Carefully and gently.” Ashley nodded.

Six hundred years ago, the Black Wolf was often brushed up by a dexterous black gorilla. She remembers him squinting comfortably. Surely, the black wolf must like it.

When she nodded with content, she heard the sharp voice of Jeanne, “Miss Ashley, is this a joke? It’s a demon beast, you know? Not some dog that’s running around the streets!”

Ashley frowned, “I know.” After all, he was the black rabbit’s source of admiration.

“Brushing the beast…” In contrast, Hank had an amused smile.

Clyde thought deeply with his brows furrowed, “Let’s try it.”

Jeanne glanced at him, “Please wait, Master Clyde! This is far too much of a joke!”

“I know, but we haven’t made any progress for the past four years. For now, let’s do what Ashley suggests.”

Jeanne bit her lip in frustration.

“Alright. Let’s now get right to it–”

“Oh, wait a minute!” Ashley stopped Clyde’s words when she suddenly had a thought. Under their attention, Ashley slowly walks forward to the black wolf. The black wolf was curled up with its eyes shut. He looks the same as he did six hundred years ago.

‘Mister Black Wolf. It’s me, the black rabbit.’ She tried to talk with him in her mind. She heard that higher demons are able to understand human language this way, ‘Won’t you please wake up? I want to speak with you.’ Hoping he might get up, she pleads to the black wolf desperately, but there was no response at all. His bushy tail and ears were just dangling without any strength.

‘It’s impossible after all…’

It was impossible for the helpless black rabbit since she had no power at all.

Her gaze turned to the side in dismay and saw Jeanne and Hank staring at her at the corner of the stalls, stunned. 

Ashley expressed her disappointment, “I’m sorry, I was not able to do it.”

“—what?”

She suddenly went in front of the wolf and stood there quietly. In the end, she had a sad look on her face, “I couldn’t do it.”

‘Where did Lord Clyde go?’

Only the two figures of the magicians were there. Clyde was suddenly gone.

“I’m here.” A voice suddenly came from her side. She leaped back, startled.

“You didn’t have to react that way.” He chuckled.

She doesn’t hate him. She’s trying to get used to him step by step, so don’t get too close. There was such an expression on her face.

“It’d be dangerous if you suddenly go in front of the black wolf. It may be asleep, but you never know what might happen.” 

He got close to Ashley as he was worried about her. That’s right. Clyde is a good man. He was trying to protect her, which she was grateful for.

‘Quickly get used to him.’

Clyde chuckled amusedly at Ashley’s determination again. The revived Hank brought a large leather bag full of tools from the washroom. While searching, he asked Ashley, “What kind of brush do you need? Hard bush? A stiff brush?”

“…do you not have any soft bristles?”

‘Why are hard ones the only choices?’ she wondered while she made her way towards him.

Clyde, who was left, saw it. The moment Ashley turned from the wolf, its nose faintly moved. For the first time in four hundred years, the sleeping beast reacted.

“Then, I’d like to use the stiff brush.” she said as she held the brush with an oak handle.

“I understand.”

Hank, who is also holding a brush, looked thrilled as Jeanne was standing at the side with a pout.

The wolf is about a hundred and fifty centimeters long and weighs about forty kilograms. Six hundred years ago, it was more muscular, but now it looks rather skinny, which is natural since it has not eaten in four hundred years. She could see the ribs over its belly and her chest ached.

Though, she never imagined that she’d be able to touch the black wolf, a warrior she favors, after being reborn. Her chest heaved with emotion. With a brush in hand, she was about to sit down next to the wolf when she heard Clyde’s voice.

“I told you it’s not safe to go near him. Just tell me what to do from a distance.”

“But

“But, what?”

“I want to…do it myself.”

“Brushing? By yourself? Then, you don’t mind if I stay close, do you? I have to protect my fiancée in case something happens to you.”

It’s understandable from his point of view, but that kind of thing makes her want to run far away.

‘Endure, endure. You can get used to it.’

Clyde chuckled seeing Ashley struggling, “I understand. Well, have Jeanne stay by your side. Please, Jeanne.”

“Really!?” She was happy that she couldn’t help but raise her voice. Honestly, it was fine whoever except Clyde. In front of the glowing Ashley, Jeanne’s face scrunched and nodded as she reluctantly said, ”–Yes.”

Ashley crouched down beside the black wolf and brushed along the flow of its fur. The body had lost weight, but the fur was still as thick as ever. It was truly fluffy. It was said that the wolf has been asleep for a long time, but it seems that Jeanne and the others were frequently washing him. The brushes were good and there were no fleas.

‘Jeanne and the others are so nice. I never thought that I’d be able to touch Mister Black Wolf like this. I’m glad that you’re alive.’

As Ashley gleefully brushes the fearsome beast with joy, Jeanne asks with her eyebrows raised, “Aren’t you afraid of demons?”

“I’m not afraid of them.” Rather, she loves them.

When she answered with a smile, Jeanne snorted as if she wasn’t convinced. Then, she remembered something and once again put on a proud smile.

“As I said before, I never thought that Master Clyde would choose Miss Ashley. Master Clyde could have been engaged to any woman who would have been better qualified.”

“That’s right, isn’t it?”

It is absolutely true. Even she had thought and preferred that it should be someone better, she had a more important question to ask Jeanne. 

“Do you like rabbits, Jeanne?” She tried to check the hidden earrings behind her long hair again.

Jeanne was surprised and hastily covered her ears, “No way! I don’t like it!” She seemed a little flustered, but she clearly denied it.

“Is that so…”

‘I  thought we were on the same page.’

It’s a pity. Ashley’s shoulders slumped as Jeanne’s eyes widened and then turned her gaze away.

The three of them brushed them carefully and the black wolf’s fur became glossy.  It seems that each thick fluffy fur  shines. Unfortunately, it didn’t wake up and there was no reaction at all. 

Ashley mumbled in disappointment, “He didn’t wake up.”

‘I thought he liked this.’

Since back at the demon kingdom, the black wolf had a very nice smile towards the black gorilla, who was brushing his hair.

“It seems like it was no good.” Clyde said. His words were harsh but his tone wasn’t. With a smile, Clyde asked Ashley, “What’s next? What do you want to do?”

“Next…”

That’s right. She has to figure out what’s that next thing to be able to wake up the black wolf. She’s not going to let him die like this. She thought hard and then,

“That’s right! How about giving him a bath?”