Re: Tales of the Rune-Tech Sage

Chapter 41: Wolf Family That Transcends Racial Hatred

CH41 Wolf Family That Transcends Racial Hatred

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Sweat streamed down Alex’s back as he locked eyes with the two adult wolves.

Their bodies were tensed, muscles rippling beneath sleek fur. Their eyes gleamed with raw killing intent—and yet, beneath that wrath was a silent warning.

Hurt our cubs... and die.

Alex gulped.

He glanced at the cause of this predicament—the five wolf cubs sprawled out across his body like he was a living mattress.

He had been so focused on meditating, recovering from his buff-induced fatigue, that he’d completely tuned out the outside world. His instincts hadn’t even flagged the cubs as a threat—so his focus had remained inward, allowing them to climb on him without resistance.

One cub had nestled between his crossed legs. Another had coiled on his thigh. Two more had curled up lazily on each shoulder.

And the last one—the largest of the lot—had climbed on top of his head, sitting there as if it were the crown prince of some imaginary kingdom.

’You’ve got to be kidding me...’

Alex’s mind raced.

He needed a solution, and fast.

For a brief second, a dark idea flashed through his mind—take the cubs hostage to escape.

But he dismissed it instantly.

The two adult wolves—mama wolf and papa wolf—were late to peak Class 2.

They could turn him into a pile of flesh before he could even think about running.

Right now, the only thing keeping him alive was the wolves’ unwillingness to endanger their young. But if they were forced to choose between losing one cub or all five?

He didn’t doubt for a second—they would tear him apart.

Even if he somehow did escape, he’d be hunted across the forest. There’d be bad blood between them. And a feud with a high-ranking wolf pack? That was basically a death sentence in these parts.

No. That was a problem for another fool.

He needed a smarter way out.

But every plan he conjured came crashing down under the weight of a single truth:

He didn’t have the power to make any of them work.

He wasn’t fast enough to outrun the wolves. Nor strong enough to subdue them.

Any move he made now would only create a bigger problem for later.

In short—

He was weak.

’Hmm...? Weak?’

An idea struck him.

’Yes. I am weak. I’m not a threat. That’s the truth. I just have to make sure they see it too—especially when it comes to their cubs.’

As Alex carefully adjusted his posture, trying not to disturb the sleeping pups, the adult wolves continued watching him—silently, warily, deadly.

But unknown to him, they were also trying to understand him.

They had no idea how this strange two-legged creature had infiltrated their territory, let alone entered their den. No beast had ever done such a thing before—not in living memory.

Not when their den was protected by multiple Class 2 wolves... and when both of them were direct subordinates of a fearsome Class 3 Overlord.

No sane beast would dare intrude upon them.

And yet, this one had.

He didn’t look dangerous.

He didn’t smell like a predator.

He hadn’t harmed the cubs, either.

In fact, he seemed more confused than anything.

The mother wolf narrowed her eyes, her killing intent slowly dimming. The more she looked at this strange being, the less sense he made.

He wasn’t acting like prey or predator. He was just... strange.

She glanced at her pups, still curled around the two-leg’s body, fast asleep and utterly unafraid.

Not one of them bore a scratch.

She tilted her head slightly.

’What exactly are you?’ She wondered.

The mother wolf narrowed her eyes.

The way her pups behaved—calm, affectionate, utterly relaxed—didn’t make sense. Her mind raced through possibilities.

Illusion? Control? Sedation?

Those were the only reasonable explanations. Because if this strange creature had not done something to them... then the only other explanation was unthinkable.

That he simply wasn’t a threat.

But that was absurd.

If he wasn’t a threat, how had he infiltrated their territory?

How had he entered their den—unnoticed?

No creature, beast or otherwise, had ever dared come so close to their young. Not without being reduced to meat and bone.

So... what was this thing?

Papa wolf leaned forward and sniffed each of the cubs, searching for injuries, strange scents, or foreign traces of magic.

Nothing.

He glanced sideways at mama wolf, confused.

Nothing made sense.

Still, the fact remained—the cubs were unharmed. They weren’t frightened or dazed. No residual traces of toxins or foreign mana clung to their bodies. They looked... content.

Involuntarily, the wolves’ killing intent lessened—still present, but no longer suffocating.

Their caution, however, remained razor sharp.

Because no matter what, the strange being was still too dangerously close to their children.

Then—

Alex made his move.

He silently channelled the aura of his maternal bloodline—the Sun Wolf.

It wasn’t a full release—just enough to let his presence shimmer across the den like a scent on the wind.

The reaction was immediate.

Both wolves stiffened.

Their ears perked.

Their hackles didn’t rise... they lowered.

Their eyes widened, and their pupils dilated as the subtle but unmistakable pressure of a Transcendent Wolf Bloodline wafted off the strange, furless two-legged being.

They blinked, stunned.

He looked nothing like a wolf... and yet, in that moment, he felt more wolf than many of their own kin.

And before they could even process the confusion, the cubs stirred.

”Mmhrr...” One yawned lazily.

Then another. And another.

Soft whines filled the air as they stretched and blinked awake, completely unaware of the tension in the room.

Alex almost cursed aloud at the sheer nonchalance of the little furballs.

’Seriously? You’re waking up now? Your parents nearly skinned me alive thanks to your naptime!’

Still keeping an eye on the adults, Alex carefully reached for one of the pups curled on his shoulder. With slow, deliberate movements, he lifted it and placed it gently on the den floor.

He didn’t miss the way mama wolf’s gaze tracked his every motion.

When the pup landed safely on the ground and didn’t yelp or cry, Alex exhaled.

’Okay. That’s one.’

He repeated the process with the second cub. Another sigh of relief.

Then came the last one—the biggest cub—the self-proclaimed ruler of his scalp.

When Alex reached up, it whined and dug in, clearly unwilling to surrender its self-proclaimed throne.

He didn’t want to be too rough.

So, he gave the wolf parents a helpless look.

***