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

Chapter 53: The Job of Removing Poisonous Plants 2

(Christopher’s Perspective)

We move quickly from place to place, with Fenrir-sama leading the way by creating a path of ice. The ice horses that Grea-sama and I are riding navigate it very skillfully, making our travel fast.

In front of me, the princess’s silver hair bounces. This sight is something I’m sure I will never forget.

There aren’t too many points where the poisonous plants are located.

The green fairies had apparently hidden them quite cleverly so as not to be detected by Fenrir-sama. The magical circle at this point was hidden inside a tree hollow. I can’t help but sigh at their meticulousness.

“—Ah, cat willow.”

“Please don’t touch it.”

The princess tried to touch the soft tip of the cat willow with her finger, and I had to speak a bit sharply. It pains me deeply to see her ears droop like that… but this cat willow is different from the usual type.

The cat willow, which should be gray, is blackened. The black, fluffy fruit doesn’t have any poisonous appearance, and I understand why she might want to touch it.

“This is a poisonous tree that has undergone an unusual transformation. Now, how should we deal with it? Oh!”

A strong gust of wind blew, causing the cat willow to roll away while making meowing sounds. This is problematic. If the seeds hide under the snow, the poisonous trees might sprout again, polluting the soil.

“Tornado!”

Using wind magic, I created a whirlwind to gather the cat willows back near us. They voiced their displeasure with loud meows as they were swept up in the wind.

“This has poison, right…? If we could somehow recreate it, could we protect it?”

“Princess, is it possible?”

“I think it might be possible with the tears of a pearl, even though it’s quite cute.”

Her thought process is already adorable and precious; I’m truly grateful and feel like my heart is being cleansed.

I can only offer words of encouragement to the princess, who is feeling down about whether saving it due to its cuteness is shallow.

“Considering its adorable appearance, I think it won the princess’s sympathy. If it can be effectively utilized, I believe it’s fine to proceed that way. It’s a choice permitted by the princess’s abilities.”

“I feel much better now.”

Her relieved smile is undoubtedly a treasure of this world.

“Bury a pearl at the base of the cat willow… and flow magic into it.”

The cat willow tree is enveloped in transparent ice and frost. It seems to be reforming from its roots.

“It seems like the rolling cat willows and the trunk are connected by green magic. The former green fairy told me this. So, if we purify the base, I have a feeling there will be changes in these black cat willows too.”

The princess stopped the flow of magic for a moment and explained to us with care.

“A feeling… Fenrir’s intuition should be valued. El.”

Fenrir-sama gave us this lesson. Grea-sama and I took those words to heart with great interest.

The black cat willows began to change.

With their long, black fur fluttering in the snow, they transformed into a large feline creature. The closest resemblance would be a black snow leopard.

…All our eyes went wide.

…The princess was also astonished.

The black snow leopards, with their ice-blue eyes, looked at the princess and rubbed against her with meows.

“Wow!? It’s… ticklish. Oh, it has a faint scent of spring greenery. Wow!”

The princess, surrounded by the black snow leopards, frolicked with them.

…The surroundings are in a blizzard?

…There’s no actual harm, but it feels like a blizzard in atmosphere.

When I turned to look, I saw Fenrir-sama and Grea-sama watching the princess with blank expressions. It’s frightening! It’s beautiful! Frightening! Is this jealousy from being beasts!?

Both of them really love the princess.

I do too.

Ah, there’s a nosebleed. Excuse me.

“El? Do you think these creatures can be tamed?”

Fenrir-sama’s voice suddenly became very gentle, but the overly beautiful smile was frightening…

The black snow leopards bristled their fur and backed away from the princess.

That’s the right move! You saved your life!!

“Yes, Fenrir. Let’s have these cat willows become guardians of the snowy mountains.”

“Hm?”

“They seem to be able to detect poisonous plants.”

Under Fenrir-sama’s stern gaze, the black snow leopards expertly located the poisonous plants and ate them all.

The princess was surprised that they were herbivores.

Everyone’s beast ears twitched and growled. It’s clear they are conversing with the cat willows.

I can’t communicate with the mountain animals.

Feeling a bit awkward about being left out, I waited patiently for the discussion to end.

“Christopher. These creatures, being based on El’s tears, are intelligent and adept at eating poison. It seems they will eat the poison released by the green fairies.”

“Is that so?”

Fenrir-sama said that the black snow leopards would finish the poisonous plant collection we had planned to do.

“El is truly lucky in this regard.”

“It’s just a random change, so I didn’t adjust it myself… I feel a bit embarrassed being praised so much.”

“Luck is part of skill!”

I sincerely said this to the princess. Since Mishela is also quite lucky, I believe it’s not entirely wrong.

Those without skill cannot make good use of luck when it comes their way.

The princess is truly amazing for achieving results beyond expectations.

The princess released the guardians into the snowy fields.

They ran off in all directions, with former green fairies riding on their backs.

Even though they had been instructed by their former master, they went off to clean up after themselves.

“Unexpectedly, we have some free time. That’s good. Christopher, you said you had no plans after this?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

I answered Fenrir-sama.

“Then, let’s head to the mountain peak. Actually, there’s an ice altar made by El that hasn’t been shown to anyone in the kingdom yet. Since you’ve come all this way, I’ll show you.”

“Really!? I’m honored!”

An ice altar at the top of the snowy mountain.

There could be no better stage for worshipping Fenrir-sama.

And hearing that the princess made it makes me even more moved.

A joint effort by Fenrir-sama and Grea-sama… … My chest hurts a bit.

“Shall we go?”

We swiftly ascend to the mountain peak like the wind.