The story of how I, who became the beloved child of Winter Fenrir, was healed from despair

Chapter 60: Rebirth of El

With the silver fur that captivated me when we first met fluttering in the wind, Fenrir approaches me.

“Fairy Kings!” “We understand!”

The ice around me has stopped freezing.

Orbs and Tito, who came with Fenrir, have calmed my out-of-control magical power.

I’m embarrassed to be stuck with just my head poking out of the ice… Fenrir transforms into human form and gently touches my cheek, cradling it.

Ah… if you do that… If you make me feel happy… This ice will melt…

In my confusion, yet with hope, I weakly shake my head… Fenrir grins mischievously, showing his fangs.

“I kept you waiting… El.” “Yes.”

My voice is tearful, only mine. But Fenrir’s eyes are shining blue more than usual, showing just how worried he must have been.

“El, you did well. I’m glad you’re safe. I’m truly sorry for being late.” “No, thank you for coming to help.” “… I have no right to scold you for your desperate counterattack while I was sleeping peacefully, but please, don’t make me worry… You’ve gotten so cold. But you are now the most splendid successor to Fenrir. … It’s alright now. I’ll freeze that thing permanently. It’ll be easy if it’s standing still.”

Fenrir hugs me with a loving embrace.

My body starts to warm up from within.

— The ice around me begins to melt. The warmth of love, like steam, rises into the sky with a soft fizzing sound.

While still holding me close, Fenrir forms a magical seal with one hand. It seems he intends to freeze the monster permanently.

My palm quivers with the vibration of my smartphone.

“Wait…!”

I instinctively call out.

“What is it?”

The orbs and Tito have trapped only the ice around the monster, not melting it, so Fenrir pauses his incantation and listens to me with a puzzled expression.

“We might be able to talk to that monster.” “What do you mean?” “It’s just a hunch…”

We look at the nearly broken tablet.

“… How do you intend to talk to it? It’s encased in ice.” “This smartphone and that tablet… are linked with the monster. The monster has enhanced its original functions by soaking in the Fairy Spring, so I think it might work somehow.”

I have a reason for wanting to try this. Fenrir continues to listen seriously. So do the others.

“If we freeze that monster permanently… Given how many otherworldly objects have been falling down repeatedly, the threat to the snowy mountains won’t change. I think the monster might know the cause of this situation. If we can resolve it, only then will we find peace… That’s something very important.”

I look directly at Fenrir and say this.

“I want to do that.” “Understood. I will share the responsibility.”

Fenrir’s smile, which envelops me completely, is truly wonderful…! Ah, I’m so glad you’re okay, that you’re alive.

“Thank you. It’s reassuring to have you with me.”

I tearfully and bravely smile as I press the home button on the smartphone twice.

The AI communication function is activated.

“What can I do for you?”

The smartphone speaks in a mechanical voice, and Fenrir and the others gasp in surprise. Fenrir places his hand on my waist and pulls me close. It’s almost too tight.

“I want to talk to the tablet. Please.” “—Understood.”

The connection is established. I gulp nervously.

… I’m anxious, but Fenrir is here… so it’s okay. I don’t want to hurt anyone, so I’ll keep my emotions in check, and if necessary, I’m ready to fight that monster again right away.

The display shows that the communication is connected. It’s really strange.

“What can I do for you?”

The same mechanical voice comes from the smartphone. But it shows that the source is that tablet.

Even though it attacked us so many times, the base seems to be the same Japanese AI, and its overly polite tone feels eerily like a ghost…

“Please tell us why you attacked us.”

My voice trembles, but I manage to ask the question clearly and concisely.

The surroundings are silent, and I can feel everyone holding their breath, watching the situation. And also, the murderous intent. If the monster or smartphone goes berserk again, Chris and Michella, who are adjusting the magical power, will respond immediately.

Fenrir wraps his arms around me to protect me, and I gently place my hand on his.

“This world has no place for us. We are acting to resolve the cause of our inability to stay in Japan and return to our original place.”

—! This is the essence of the monsters.

“Do you know the cause? What is the solution…?”

“The magic of this world is causing summoning effects starting from the Japanese apartment. We are affected by this and drawn here. That is the cause. As long as the large summoning object remains in this world, it will be unstable, and we cannot return, and more things from Japan will keep coming. This is the problem. The solution is to remove the summoning object from this world.”

A shiver runs down my spine.

“That… is related to me, isn’t it?” “Correct.”

I’m on the verge of collapsing but muster up the strength to stay upright.

“Japanese things that do not belong in this world must be sent back to where they originally belong. Along with us.”

A sob escapes my mouth, and my throat tightens, making a pitiful sound.

“… I can’t go back…” “There is a way to return.”

The condition the monster is certain about is probably… that if I pass through that apartment door, I can return to Japan.

“I… want to save the snowy mountains. But I want to be with everyone…”

All my selfish desires spill out. I lean on Fenrir, and the weakness born in my heart reaches everyone’s ears.

“I’m sorry… I’m sorry… I can’t answer right away…!”

… No words of blame are directed at me. The smartphone remains silent unless I speak to it.

“That’s alright. Let’s think about it together.”

Fenrir gently strokes my silver beast ears. To reassure me. Even after knowing the cause, his kindness remains unchanged.

I sniffle.

“Even though my appearance has completely changed to fit in here… The monster still demands me, saying it’s selfish.”

… Selfish? Did it become like me, the owner? Well, I think this silver El is no longer a Japanese thing… Oh…

El

“Yes.”

So familiar is the name “El” that I respond reflexively whenever Fenrir calls me that.

“Are you cold?”

“…? No?”

“Your claws are dyed blue.”

“Yes.”

I wonder what’s wrong. Fenrir checks each of my features one by one, and then his hand, which had been wrapped around my waist, smoothly moves away. He strokes the lower part of my back, causing my beast ears to bristle up.

“Fe-Fenrir!?”

“Still immature. If a tail were to grow here, El would be perfectly ready to become Fenrir’s successor.”

I was dumbfounded. I had completely forgotten. So, I am still an incomplete being. Even though I talked a lot with everyone, ran around in the snowy mountains, and called winter… and got praised. I might have thought I had become a full-fledged individual. But I’m only a half-baked one. I can’t control my emotions without Fenrir.

“There is a major connection between this world and another world causing disturbances… The monster said that, right?”

“Y-Yes.”

I scroll through the conversation history on my smartphone. It should be correct according to Fenrir’s recognition.

Fenrir changes his posture and faces me.

The distance is close, but he’s moved a little away, which makes me intensely anxious. I try to move a bit closer, and Fenrir smiles and accepts it. I’m being pampered. Right at this very close distance, I look up at Fenrir.

“Then, I will take El.”

“!”

“I want you to fulfill my selfish request as well. I sincerely wish for this… I can’t send you back to Japan. Please stay with me from now on. El.”

Startled, I try to answer in a hurry, but he leans in and whispers in my ear.

—A surprising proposal reaches my beast ears.

I stare wide-eyed at Fenrir.

“I will take responsibility. I’ll stay by your side and not die. So please.”

“…Y-Yes…!”

I interrupt his pleading, biting my lip and responding tearfully.

Being honest with my feelings, I took his hand. The rings on our fingers clinked together.

Our breaths mingled on each other’s faces.

I press the home button on my smartphone twice again.

“Please tell me the name of the entity causing the abnormality in this world.”

“It is Fujioka El.”

…!

“If that Japanese person disappears, will you return to your original world and stabilize the world?”

“That’s correct.”

“I understand.”

Hearing my answer, Greya, Chris, and Mishela, who had been watching anxiously from a distance, called out, “Are you okay!? Don’t go away!”

I’m really happy they’re trying to stop me. Even though carrying me must be full of risks, they speak to me with sincere eyes and straight words.

“It’s okay. Fenrir and I are here.”

I gave them the best smile I could. Please believe me. I’ll believe in what’s to come too.

Facing Fenrir, I composed myself and pronounced clearly:

“I, Fujioka El, dedicate the name ‘Fujioka’ to Fenrir.”

With the declaration, my body glows, and magical power is cultivated from the depths of my soul.

The name is summoned and the character “Fujioka” floats in the air.

It is clear that this is an extremely high-density collection of magical power. Just watching it makes my skin tingle.

—Fenrir suggested that the way to fully become “El” would be to erase “Fujioka” from within me.

Fenrir had previously devoured the “No” from my name and recovered remarkably. This time, if he were to consume four characters, it would be too powerful and burdensome. It might even become a poison affecting him.

Even so, this kind beast promised to take responsibility.

It was a parent’s heart wanting to grant a daughter’s wish, and the feeling of a former prince wanting to fulfill his own selfish desire, which he earnestly persuaded me with.

“‘Safirael Lea Shierufon.’ I will dedicate this name to El.”

Fenrir uttered his old name. From him, who had recently begun to vaguely recall memories, flowed delicate letters of light.

“It is a name I discarded once, so it has little magical power. But I will give my heart to El.”

“Please.”

At my prompt response, Fenrir smiled softly. His smile was the most human-like and truly delicate and happy smile I had ever seen, making me fall for him even more.

“Let’s live together. In this snowy mountain.”

Our lips met.

The sensation of eating each other’s past and blending together was a mysterious feeling. Behind my closed eyelids, I felt as if I saw a prince with platinum hair smiling vividly.

Fenrir’s, or rather, the long-lost prince’s delicate magical power swirled within me, healing the physical discomfort caused by the sudden loss of magical power.

Fenrir slumped onto my shoulder, breathing heavily.

He’s breathing… he’s alive. I’m glad…!

Fenrir touched my silvery tail.

“I’m glad… I could obtain it here. I will cherish it.”

His gentle words made me overjoyed. I sniffled, nodding repeatedly in response to his kindness.