Chapter 117: [Fairy Tale] He Has a Little Gray Wolf (42)

Mrs. Griffin lavished Asu with praise before finally allowing Asu and Ryder to return home.

Greed was nearly paralyzed with hunger.

Asu had been gone for several days, and Greed had already consumed everything edible in Ryder’s home. Yet, they still hadn't returned.

"Oh! Asu, you’re finally back! Why were you gone for so long? Why didn't you ask me to come along?" Greed complained.

"It’s clearly because you didn't follow us," Asu replied, pursing her lips. She took advantage of the moment Ryder wasn't looking to glare at Greed.

"Alright, alright, it’s my fault. I’m so hungry, Asu. Did you bring anything back to eat?"

"How can you only ever think about food?" Asu said with great disdain.

This immediately made Greed feel aggrieved. *As if you aren't the exact same way,* he thought, though he dared not say it aloud. If he angered Asu, he would be left without food again.

-

Harris and his group returned several days later than Asu and Ryder, having been blown off course by the dragon. They had been scattered to a distant town, far away from Red Hood Town, which explained the delay in their return.

As soon as they arrived, the news of Ryder and Asu’s exploits became known to everyone in Red Hood Town. It happened when Ryder went to the market to sell medicinal herbs and ran into Harris’s group, who had just returned.

"Ryder!" Harris shouted suddenly.

The people nearby stopped in their tracks, looking curiously at Harris and Ryder. In the past, whenever Harris called out to stop Ryder, it never meant anything good; it was certain that Ryder would be scolded. The townspeople assumed the same would happen now.

"Ryder, you and this young girl are true heroes! You actually managed to subdue that evil dragon!"

Harris had a naturally booming voice; with that shout, almost everyone in town heard him.

"That's right, Ryder! Even though you don't possess magic, you are truly impressive!" Harris looked at Ryder with genuine sincerity. "It was my fault before. But look, Ryder, since you're so strong, why don't you join us to hunt wolves? I really regret how I’ve treated you in the past."

As Harris and his men approached, Ryder pulled Asu’s hand and took a step back. He looked up at the tall, sturdy Harris, and for some reason, the sight reminded him of his own thin, weak frame. A surge of stifled frustration welled up inside him.

If anyone had been paying close attention, they would have noticed that the blue of Ryder's eyes had shifted, darkening into an inkier, more profound shade.

Asu, who had been standing beside Ryder, saw him suddenly step in front of her, blocking her view. She assumed it was because Harris was in front of them and Ryder was afraid he might discover he was a wolf.

She obediently shrunk behind Ryder, remaining silent. Even her tail tensed up, not daring to move an inch.

"I have to go... to sell my herbs. You—you are blocking the way!"

At the thought of Harris’s robust physique, a flare of anger rose from the depths of Ryder’s heart. His voice was significantly louder than usual.

Upon hearing this, Harris’s face flushed red. He lowered his head and said, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Ryder, I was wrong before. Please, take your herbs to the Knight’s Shop again!"

Ryder shook his head firmly and walked away, holding Asu’s hand.

Harris watched their retreating figures, his face filled with shame. Harris was the type of man who always respected the strong; in his eyes, Ryder and Asu were now formidable individuals worthy of reverence. After all, across this entire continent, there was no one who would not feel awe toward those capable of subduing a dragon.