Ren slowly raised his hand, inch by inch, reaching out to touch the dark grey fur of the wolf.
The moment his fingers made contact, the softness and thick smoothness of it made him almost forget to breathe.
Only now did Ren truly grasp its size.
The wolf stood nearly waist-high to a grown man, its large and solid frame like that of a warrior who had survived hundreds of battles.
Those sharp golden eyes never left him, watchful, yet not hostile. And most importantly, it didn't growl, didn't flinch, didn't pull away when he touched it.
"So soft…" Ren mumbled, so surprised he had to say it out loud.
A hint of boldness began to seep into his movements.
He gently rubbed the wolf's head, then stroked along its neck.
Its head was so massive that, if it opened its jaws, it could probably fit Ren's whole head in there with ease.
But Ren didn't stop.
Humans… always had this strange instinct to pet any large creature that didn't try to kill them right away.
The wolf remained still, no, it even leaned its head slightly forward, as if welcoming the touch.Its ears twitched, and its tail began to stir, then sway gently, as if cautiously accepting the affection.
It seemed… it was enjoying this too.
"You look hungry… wanna try this?" Ren whispered, rummaging through his inventory and pulling out a small jar of honey.
He never forgot how it tasted, so he always kept some stored away.
He poured a little honey into his palm and held it out.
The wolf slowly leaned forward, sniffing a few times as if inspecting the scent, then without hesitation, gently licked it.
Ren chuckled softly, feeling the warm tongue and damp breath of the beast against his skin.
Seconds later, its huge tail began wagging enthusiastically, thumping against the ground again and again.
"Tastes good, right?"Ren didn't even get to finish his sentence before the wolf suddenly pounced.
"Wait...wha, hey… hey!!"
He didn't have time to react.The wolf's heavy body toppled him backward, sending him sprawling onto the ground.Its tongue licked all over his face and neck, making him curl up in helpless laughter.
"H-Hey… stop it…"
"That tickles… ha....seriously, that tickles!"
Laughter burst out of Ren's mouth, clear and bright, as if he hadn't truly laughed in a long time.In that moment, he didn't feel alone or abandoned, just him, a massive creature, and a strangely warm comfort in the depths of the forest's third floor.
"So here you are, kid."
A familiar voice came from behind, making Ren spin around in surprise. It was Aisen.
Immediately, the wolf stopped licking and raised its head.
Its ears perked up high, as if catching a familiar signal. Then, without hesitation, it leapt toward Aisen.
"Whoa there, kiddo, easy now." Aisen laughed, already crouching down with open arms, ready to receive the expected tackle.
The giant creature crashed into his chest like a child, rubbing its head against Aisen's chest and wrists, its tail wagging so fiercely it nearly became a blur.
Ren pushed himself up, face still damp with slobber, looking both stunned and unsure how to respond.
Aisen glanced over and laughed.
"Looks like you two hit it off, huh? It doesn't let just anyone get licked, you know."
Ren blushed, panting as he muttered, "It's not like I let it lick me…"
"Your face says otherwise." Aisen narrowed his eyes, grinning smugly.
"The Shadowfang Envoy isn't the type of creature just anyone can bond with," Aisen said while gently stroking its thick, smooth fur, eyes following the wolf's every move.
"Few people… ever make it react like this."
Aisen's expression softened, then shifted into something more contemplative.
He bowed his head slightly, resting a hand atop the wolf's head, slowly stroking it, as if trying to convey some silent comfort.
"Poor thing… you're even lonelier than the rest of us, huh…"
The words were carried by the wind, faint and quiet, but they left behind a deep, aching sadness in the air.Aisen gazed into the creature's eyes, eyes that seemed to understand everything he was saying.
"…I'm sorry," he whispered, voice suddenly hoarse. "I couldn't do anything for you…"
Ren stood quietly behind, watching in silence.
His gaze landed on the hand Aisen had placed on the wolf's forehead, a gentle gesture from a man who, until now, had only ever shown indifference or sarcasm.
The wolf lay still in Aisen's arms, no longer guarded or wary.
Its pale golden eyes shimmered with warmth… and perhaps, a sorrow that few humans could ever truly notice.
Ren said nothing.
Only the sound of the forest wind whispered through the camp, carrying with it the chill of nightfall and a quiet loneliness that slipped into every breath.
"All right…"
Aisen gently pushed the wolf aside after a while. "I almost forgot, I haven't told you where you're sleeping yet."
"There's no tent left in the camp, so you'll have to bunk with me. Mine's near the southern edge, just head straight toward the flagpole with the red cloth."
He stood up, brushed the dust off his sleeves, and flashed his usual grin.
"Anyway, I've got things to do. See you later."
The wolf silently stepped closer to Ren again. Ren said nothing, he simply reached out and softly stroked the thick, smooth fur around its neck.
The words Aisen had just said kept repeating in Ren's mind, that seemingly simple apology cutting through the air like a blade.
Ren lowered his head, his hand continuing to gently stroke.
He didn't know what Aisen had gone through.
He only knew... there was sadness in that man's eyes when he spoke to the wolf.
Right then…
A series of footsteps echoed from behind.
Ren lifted his head, alert. He stood up, turned around… and froze.
Three figures silently emerged from the sparse tree line behind the camp. The pale moonlight cast long shadows along the ground with every step they took.
At the front was a female Elf with long lilac-colored hair, the soft purple hue fluttering quietly in the wind like morning mist.
She wore a sleek black light armor with a metallic sheen, hugging the lean yet commanding figure of a seasoned warrior.
Her eyes were sharp like an unsheathed blade, proud and distant, as if she had stepped out from a noble High Elf lineage, completely contrasting with Aisen's careless and disheveled demeanor.
Beside her were two unmistakable faces.
Asuna and Kirito.
All three stopped as their eyes met. No one said a word.
In that moment, time itself seemed to stop.
The rustling wind ceased, the flickering firelight from the camp faded.
Only the three of them… and Ren remained.
After everything, they were face-to-face again. In a completely different setting.
"Who are you? Why have I never seen you before?"
A cold, steel-like voice rang out.
In a flash, a purple-black blade was at Ren's throat.
Ren froze, barely able to react.
Her movements had been so fast, he had only caught a blur, a motion born of instinct, filled with killing intent.
"I…" Ren began, his voice still unsteady.
"Wait!"
A familiar voice shouted. Kirito quickly stepped forward, spreading his arms between them.
"He's a friend of ours. Not an enemy."
The Dark Elf girl paused slightly. A moment later, she slowly withdrew her sword, her expression suddenly a little unsure.
"…I thought someone was doing something shady to my tent," she muttered, letting out a small cough to mask the awkwardness.
"Ah… it's fine." Ren forced a smile, trying to calm the heartbeat still pounding in his chest.
"Didn't expect to see you here, Ren. Been a while, huh?" Kirito said with a grin, stepping closer.
"It's only been two weeks…" Ren replied, his gaze dipping slightly.
"Really? Felt like months to me…" Kirito scratched his neck, his tone a bit apologetic. "Still… I was a little worried when I didn't see you on the 2nd floor."
"Yeah, I had something to take care of." Ren replied briefly.
At that moment, Asuna spoke up, "You being here… means you've sided with the Dark Elves, right? Not many can even track them down."
Then she tilted her head slightly, her eyes narrowing as if testing a theory, "You think those Forest Elves are scum too, don't you?"
"Ah… actually…" Ren scratched his cheek, trying to maintain a forced smile. "That was… a pretty bad misunderstanding."
"Well then, let me introduce him," Asuna said, her voice gentle yet firm. "This is Ren, the friend we've often mentioned."
She nodded slightly toward Ren, then turned to the side. "And this is Kizmel, our current companion."
Ren nodded lightly. When his eyes met Kizmel's, he couldn't help but notice the aura of calm sharpness radiating from her, composed, perceptive, and quietly watchful like a true warrior.
Asuna too. She had changed… or rather, had returned to her true self.A lot must have happened during their conquest of the second floor.
Ren had heard much about it. Asuna had become very famous after the Floor One raid, and by the second floor, her reputation even surpassed that of the Black Beater, Kirito.
"I'm Ren," he said, extending his hand, his voice calm but tinged with caution. "Nice to meet you. I've heard quite a bit about you from Aisen."
Kizmel glanced at his hand briefly before reaching out and giving a firm, decisive handshake. Her expression softened, and the cold sharpness in her eyes faded.
"I am Kizmel, Royal Knight of the Lyusula Kingdom. A pleasure to meet you, Ren."
She paused a moment, tilting her head slightly. "Your name is much easier to pronounce than Asuna or Kirito's… I thought human names were always difficult to say."