My Werewolf System

Chapter 1586: The Price of Trust

The transition to life within the Werewolf camp was a total immersion for Gary, Kai, and Lupus. Under the watchful but welcoming eye of Steve, the Werewolf leader, they were permitted to live just like the others in the pack.

It wasn’t a guest experience; it was full integration into their society. They hunted for food alongside the main hunting parties, carrying heavy loads and mastering the subtle art of tracking prey through the wilderness. They assisted in the construction of various communal buildings and structures, their non-Werewolf skills proving surprisingly valuable.

In fact, the three of them frequently offered suggestions to the camp for improvements and efficiency. Kai was particularly engaged in this. He advised them on how to construct their houses in specific, structurally sound ways.

It seemed he possessed a surprising fondness for architecture, or perhaps a deep, specialized knowledge, to the point where he knew precisely how to build houses in particular slots and positions, using only the locally sourced materials, yet ensuring the buildings would remain standing and sturdy against the elements. With the Werewolves’ naturally careful craftsmanship and superior strength, Kai’s designs were something they could easily implement, leading to noticeable improvements in the camp’s resilience.

However, Kai himself had admitted to being slightly worried. He was essentially passing on knowledge that hadn’t been discovered yet in this version of the world. He was giving them advanced architectural concepts now, well before the timeline seemed right. Despite this potential disruption to the natural order of things, he had ultimately decided to disregard his own concerns.

The biggest reason for this decision was his own growing theory about the world’s technology. He figured that, due to the world already knowing and utilizing magic, or Qi, as they currently understood it, there must have already existed advanced technology, or at least powerful replacements for the technology that existed in his world.

He theorized that the world’s mundane, material technology must have only started to truly advance and become a focus of human ingenuity once magic was lost, forcing people to find a technological replacement for the lost powers and abilities. If that was the case, then giving them architectural tips, while perhaps premature, was ultimately a minor contribution to a world that had bypassed conventional development centuries ago.

He tried to explain and discuss his intricate theory about the progression of technology and magic with Gary and Lupus, but both of them either seemed completely uninterested or simply didn’t understand what Kai was going on about.

Gary would nod absently, more focused on the smell of the nearby cooking fire, while Lupus would simply grunt, preferring action to abstract thought. Kai often had to resign himself to keeping his complex intellectual curiosity to himself.

On top of physically integrating themselves into the camp’s daily routine, they also went out on missions with Steve. They quickly noticed that all the Werewolves who participated in these tasks were volunteers, driven by duty or a need for supplies. There were two distinct types of missions they undertook.

One category was working as highly specialized mercenaries, completing complex quests for Guilds or organizations that found certain tasks too difficult or dangerous for their own members. The Werewolves, with their superior strength and tracking abilities, were uniquely suited for these high-risk jobs.

The other, and arguably more vital mission type, was when they received news or hints of a fellow Werewolf being out there in the land, usually trapped, captured, or in danger. These were immediate rescue operations.

The three of them took part in both types of missions, giving Steve a chance to evaluate their character under fire. During the larger mercenary quests, the trio got to see the type of weapons that were currently in use across the world. As Gary had expected, he recognized the kind of weapons the Dark Guild had utilized in his time, and saw them being used among the various people they encountered. They also managed to fight a tremendous number of different beasts, something they never thought was possible given the sheer variety. It was no wonder the world had such a large and diverse population of Altered.

In these dangerous situations, there were often beasts that gave even the powerful Werewolves trouble. When that happened, almost like a sixth sense, Gary had repeatedly stepped up to the plate. He would rush into the thickest part of the fight, helping those in Steve’s pack, pulling them out of danger in the nick of time, and fighting the most dangerous opponents head-on, completely disregarding his own safety. Kai, meanwhile, was invaluable in a different way, often coming up with detailed strategies for the group, or even offering crucial warnings about potential ambushes or traps while they were on their missions. As for Lupus, he was quickly becoming well-known and respected for his raw, unadulterated strength and ferocity, proving his value simply by overpowering their foes.

When the three of them went on the harrowing rescue missions, Steve’s observation of them became even more intense. He noted that none of them were shy about getting their hands dirty. They saw truly cruel things done to their captured brethren: Werewolves that had been brutally captured, those that had their precious fur ripped off for sale, and even those who were being used as grotesque meals among rich, debauched nobles as some kind of rare, special delicacy.

The depth of anger that Steve witnessed among the three newcomers was genuine. They weren’t faking their outrage. He personally witnessed them not only freeing the captives but also decisively taking out the humans responsible for the atrocities without a hint of hesitation or mercy.

With all of this unwavering loyalty and brutal efficiency demonstrated, Steve’s wall of caution slowly began to crumble. He started to trust them.

Eventually, he even showed them his own family members, his children, who were quite young and were living humbly in the camp among everyone else. Given how constantly busy Steve was managing the entire camp and its security, they would have never guessed who his family members were, as he often didn’t even have time to play with his own children. It was the ultimate show of faith.

After weeks of this trial period, Steve had made a definitive decision. He called the three of them to the same remote, familiar fighting grounds at the top of the mountain to have a final, crucial talk.

It would be a lie if the group didn’t say they felt nervous. Even though they had experienced a lot and were slowly getting used to the restrictions on their bodies in this new world, they still didn’t think they were strong enough to go against Steve should he suddenly turn on them. The power difference was massive.

“I have seen everything the three of you have done since joining this camp,” Steve began, his voice surprisingly soft yet resonant in the quiet mountain air. “And I have to say, I have been able to witness your true nature in action. Especially you, Gary. Despite the chance of you getting seriously hurt, you risked yourself time and time again for our pack, for people you barely knew. I can’t thank you enough for that sacrifice.” He paused, then inclined his head in a deep, respectful bow.

“So, I have made my decision,” Steve stated, straightening up with a resolute gaze. “Whether you are crazy or not, whether your story of being from another time is true or not, it’s not for me to decide. As long as you mean no harm for this camp, I will help you. I will tell you everything I know about Unzoku.”

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