Mario remained perfectly still.
The forest had gone quiet once again.
Even the distant cries of magical beasts seemed to disappear, as though the entire forest was waiting to see what would happen next.
Roughly thirty meters away, beneath the shade of an ancient tree, a pair of brilliant violet eyes stared directly at him.
Neither side moved.
Mario had already learned something after nearly a month of hunting.
Not every battle needed to be fought.
Some creatures attacked the moment they saw prey.
Others observed first.
This one belonged to the latter.
“…Appraisal.”
A translucent blue window appeared before his eyes.
Fenrir
Level: ???
Status: Friendly
Condition: Healthy
Description:
A legendary magical beast possessing overwhelming physical strength and an exceptional affinity for magic.
Recognizes the authority of the Master of the Estate.
Mario blinked.
“Friendly?”
That was…
Unexpected.
The enormous wolf slowly emerged from the shadows.
It was far larger than any wolf found on Earth.
Standing nearly as tall as Mario’s shoulders on all fours, it possessed beautiful silver fur streaked with faint purple lines that shimmered whenever mana flowed through its body.
Its eyes radiated intelligence.
Not animal instinct.
Intelligence.
It stopped several meters away.
Neither growling nor baring its fangs.
Simply watching.
Mario lowered the Formless Bow.
“If you’re not here to fight…”
“I’m not interested in starting one.”
Silence.
The Fenrir tilted its head slightly.
Almost as if it understood every word.
Then…
It began walking forward.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Mario didn’t move.
Running would accomplish nothing.
Drawing a weapon would likely ruin whatever was happening.
So he simply waited.
The Fenrir stopped directly in front of him.
Its massive body cast a long shadow across the forest floor.
For several long seconds…
Nothing happened.
Then…
The wolf slowly lowered its head.
Mario immediately understood the gesture.
Respect.
Acceptance.
Perhaps…
Even acknowledgment.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
“So…”
“The Sage wasn’t the only one living out here.”
The Fenrir looked up again before giving a quiet rumbling sound that resembled a satisfied growl.
Mario cautiously extended one hand.
The wolf didn’t resist.
His fingers gently brushed through its thick fur.
Much softer than he expected.
The Fenrir closed its eyes for a brief moment.
It actually seemed to enjoy it.
Mario chuckled.
“I didn’t expect that.”
For the next several minutes, neither moved very much.
Mario simply sat beneath the nearby tree while the enormous wolf rested a short distance away.
The atmosphere was strangely peaceful.
Eventually…
Mario broke the silence.
“I suppose I should call you something.”
The Fenrir looked toward him.
“Hmm…”
He studied the wolf’s violet eyes.
The faint purple glow surrounding its body.
Its calm demeanor.
Then the name came naturally.
“…Luna.”
The wolf blinked once.
Its ears twitched.
No resistance.
No dissatisfaction.
Mario smiled.
“I’ll take that as approval.”
Almost immediately…
Luna stood up.
A gentle wave of mana spread outward.
Purple light wrapped around her enormous body.
Mario instinctively took half a step back.
The light intensified.
Then…
It disappeared.
Standing where the massive Fenrir had been…
Was an enormous Maine Coon cat.
Mario stared.
“…”
The cat lazily stretched before sitting down elegantly.
Its luxurious silver fur carried the same faint purple streaks.
The violet eyes remained exactly the same.
Its fluffy tail swayed proudly behind it.
Mario rubbed his eyes.
“…Seriously?”
The cat let out a small, satisfied meow.
Then calmly walked over before rubbing its head against his leg.
Mario looked toward the sky.
“I don’t think you’re fooling anyone.”
Another meow.
“If anything…”
“…you’re even more spoiled looking now.”
Luna ignored the comment entirely.
Instead, she jumped effortlessly onto a nearby boulder before grooming one paw with complete dignity.
Mario laughed.
The sound echoed quietly through the forest.
It had been…
A long time since he laughed so naturally.
“…Appraisal.”
Transformation Magic
Allows the user to freely alternate between their true form and a disguised form.
Current disguise:
Maine Coon Cat.
Purpose:
To conceal identity while traveling among humans.
“Now that…”
“…is practical.”
Walking through modern-day Japan with a giant Fenrir would be impossible.
Walking through the Philippines?
Even worse.
A Maine Coon, however…
People would simply assume she belonged to an exotic cat breed.
Much easier.
As if proving his point…
Luna suddenly leaped onto his shoulder.
Or at least…
She attempted to.
Mario barely caught the oversized cat before both of them toppled sideways.
“…You’re heavier than you look.”
Luna blinked innocently.
Mario sighed.
“I suppose I’ll need stronger shoulders.”
The cat responded by curling comfortably into his lap as though she had lived there her entire life.
“…You really chose your owner quickly.”
Luna closed her eyes.
Apparently, the conversation was over.
The journey back toward the farmhouse felt noticeably different.
Luna walked beside him for a while.
Sometimes ahead.
Occasionally disappearing into the trees before silently returning several minutes later.
Mario didn’t worry.
This forest was her home.
If anything…
He was the visitor.
When they reached the wooden fence surrounding the farmhouse, Luna suddenly stopped.
She stared quietly at the property.
Then crossed the invisible barrier without hesitation.
Nothing happened.
Mario raised an eyebrow.
“So the Estate recognizes you as family.”
That made things easier.
Luna casually wandered toward the vegetable garden.
She sniffed several magical plants.
Ignored them.
Then found the porch.
After circling twice…
She curled into a sunny spot near the entrance and promptly fell asleep.
Mario laughed.
“…You’ve already claimed the place.”
He entered the farmhouse and poured himself a glass of water.
After everything that had happened over the past month…
Finding the hidden cave.
Inheriting the Sage’s research.
Awakening his Mana Circuit.
Meeting Luna.
It almost felt unreal.
He leaned against the kitchen counter.
“I came here looking for power.”
His eyes drifted toward the sleeping Maine Coon outside.
“…Didn’t expect to come back with a roommate.”
Outside…
One violet eye slowly opened.
Luna looked toward Mario.
Then quietly closed it again.
The corners of Mario’s lips lifted.
For the first time since beginning his second life…
The farmhouse no longer felt empty.
End of Chapter 18