Wolves of Hader

About three hours had passed.

I sat there in a daze, still in shock.

I had only just barely opened my eyes two hours earlier.

At that moment, I couldn't believe my own eyes.

Around seventeen? Maybe fifteen?

White children were sitting inside the carriage.

Their clothes were extremely fancy yet unbearably uncomfortable.

The colorful hues of their outfits, and utterly incomprehensible hairstyles.

And a stifling, pungent perfume that stung the nose.

They looked just like medieval nobles.

But not like the kind of nobles seen in movies—more like nobility from some strange country.

"How are you feeling?"

I couldn't answer.

The girl who looked about seventeen seemed to be 'my' elder sister. Could I really be the youngest among these kids?

The boy stared at me.

It was a rather condescending gaze.

By contrast, the girl's look was nothing but warm.

"We're almost there."

I nodded without realizing it.

I wasn't sure what was going on, but for now, I decided to just observe what they did.

Surely these kids weren't paid actors.

Leaning against the carriage wall, I looked at my body.

White skin with downy brown hair. Small hands.

About thirteen years old, maybe.

Was I sick?

I was extremely thin.

My legs were so frail they felt like they'd break with a touch, and my body was just as frail.

My hands were so pale and slender, they showed no sign of hard labor.

If this was Rac's world, it would mean I had entered another player's body.

But I'd never heard of such a case. In Rac, you always brought your own body when you entered.

But if this was reality...

It would mean I'd entered someone else's body.

So then, where did my original body go?

I glanced around the carriage.

The boy who practically oozed privilege was gazing out the window with a bored expression.

The girl sitting next to me was reading a book.

No matter how I looked at it, it felt medieval.

Why were these kids dressed like this?

This was no longer a question.

My current appearance.

The sight of myself as a child was itself shocking.

It didn't feel like Rac, nor did it feel like reality.

Hee-hee-hing—

With a vigorous whinny, the carriage stopped.

Then a tremendous noise erupted.

"Waaaah!"

"Long live Lord Hader!"

"Oh, great star of protection!"

"Welcome to our village!"

Deafening cheers and applause exploded.

It seemed this family was some grand noble line. We must have arrived at a village, and countless people had gathered to greet us.

The girl helped me into a fur coat.

The boy practiced putting on a serious expression.

Then the carriage door opened.

"I'll carry the young master myself."

"All right, Russell."

The boy got out first, followed by the fur-coated girl.

Unlike the immature-looking boy, the girl moved with elegant poise.

Then a hulking man entered and carefully picked me up.

Had this body always been so frail?

The giant cradled me and laid me down on something like a small cot. Then, several men lifted the cot I was lying on.

"Serve the young master well. He has just passed a critical moment, so do not let him be exposed to the cold."

"We understand."

The cot began to move.

A man named Russell was walking beside me.

He wore leather armor and a fur-lined cape.

Was this what they called a knight?

The men carrying my cot were dressed in medieval garb as well.

If I hadn't actually been in a child's body, I might have genuinely mistaken this for a film set somewhere.

I lifted my head slightly to look ahead.

There were four carriages in all. The wagons were loaded with baggage, and people who looked like servants were moving things.

As we moved, all sorts of villagers appeared alongside, warmly welcoming us.

Despite the cheers, there weren't actually many villagers, and their clothes were quite shabby.

But who was the original owner of this body?

I was surely in someone else's body, but I couldn't access any memories about this kid.

"Do you want to see the scenery?"

It was the man named Russell.

A bushy beard. Strong eyes.

No way to guess his age.

When I nodded, Russell stacked a few pillows to prop up my torso. The view ahead became much clearer.

The first thing that caught my eye was a majestic, snowy mountain range.

Beneath it was something like a vast wall, and below that stood a dark fortress. Our party seemed to be headed toward that fortress.

"We'll live here from now on. It's a bit cold, but very peaceful. They say there aren't even any violent monster tribes here. Some say you have to go very deep in to find the giants."

I wanted to say something, but my mouth wouldn't open.

It seemed not by my will, but the child who owned this body originally had trouble speaking.

"You need to get better soon. Then you can hunt with the soldiers and train in swordsmanship with the first young master."

"I... what illness do I have...?"

"Stop!"

The cot carrying me stopped.

Russell, standing beside me, looked at me in shock.

As if he'd seen a ghost.

"Did you just speak?"

"Uh, but..."

Russell's jaw dropped.

"Tell the family head! The young master has spoken!"

"Family head! At last, our young master—!"

Why all the commotion?

I still couldn't figure out the situation, but decided to just go with the flow.

Whatever was happening, it didn't seem like they meant me harm.

A huge commotion broke out.

The boy and girl from the carriage rushed over, hugging me and fussing, while a crowd gathered, staring in amazement.

Most of all, a middle-aged man pushed through the crowd.

He had a gray beard and snow-white hair.

I'd only answered his question.

His eyes welled up with tears as he grabbed my hand tightly.

The girl hugged me and sobbed, and even a few servants wiped their eyes. The man called Russell's eyes grew red as well.

"Let's go quickly. Today is a day of celebration."

At the middle-aged man's words, the cot was lifted again, and a path opened through the crowd.

We moved straight along it. By my side were the boy, the girl, and Russell, sticking close like guards.

/ / /

It was quite a spectacle.

I was seated on something like a sofa made from wolf skin, with countless people watching me.

Every single one of them was as brawny as could be. All wore black fur capes with swords at their sides, some with hideous scars on their faces.

On the whole, they gave a barbaric impression.

It looked like none of them had washed in days, with a sweaty, animal stench. Beards growing wild, hair a tangled mess.

It was a wooden-floored hall, yet everyone had muddy leather boots.

In front of these men stood the middle-aged man.

Behind him were the boy and girl.

The middle-aged man spoke.

"The terrible fever last night turned out to be a blessing, after all. I couldn't sleep for fear you might be lost to us again, but who could've imagined that your speech would suddenly return?"

I didn't ask if I'd originally been unable to speak.

Although my body was only the youngest of this family, the fact that someone else was inside made me worry it might be discovered.

"Did I... almost die?"

"Not only is your speech restored, but you're even formal in your words. That's right, your heart stopped briefly last night. I never imagined we'd see such a miracle."

The boy interrupted.

"Don't you remember nearly dying the year before last, too?"

I shook my head.

The boy continued.

"Hey, were you just pretending not to talk to get father's attention? You couldn't stand, were an idiot, and now you act like you couldn't even speak."

"Ross. Be kinder to your little brother."

"I'm sorry, father."

The middle-aged man looked at me again.

His gaze was filled with complex emotions.

A blend of love and resignation, perhaps.

This time, I spoke first.

"Where am I?"

"Here?"

The middle-aged man looked around at the others.

The men's expressions instantly darkened. Russell seemed to catch on and drove everyone out from the hall.

Soon, only the middle-aged man and I were left in the hall.

He spoke.

"Many things happened while you were bedridden. Yes, this is the eastern part of the continent, where we'll be living from now on. I was tasked with defending this eastern region. The weather's cold, but it should do you good, so I'm just happy."

"What country is this?"

"Country?"

Perhaps it was a strange question.

He continued.

"Of course, this is our country."

I nodded.

It didn't seem like the middle-aged man was the right one to get information from. No one knows their child as well as a parent.

"I'd like to rest for a while."

"Yes, you should. Rest well."

He tucked the blanket around my chest, then looked back twice as he left the hall.

Alone, confusion and questions surged up inside me again. How on earth was I supposed to interpret all this?

After about ten minutes,

The girl entered with a bowl, and behind her, the boy quietly slipped into the hall as well. I'd been waiting for them anyway.

Dealing with kids would be easier than with adults.

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
It seems it's possession and not reincarnation.
I was wrong... He wasn't a baby, he's 13 but extremely weak...
【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】