For the second day in a row, I went out in search of the dark wolf, this time alone. Gobkichi and the others were busy training with their newly acquired familiars.
Due to my past life experiences, I had managed to quickly master riding, though the ability to communicate with the familiars also helped significantly. To make riding easier, I had crafted reins, saddles, and stirrups from spider silk and leather. Once Gobkichi and the others got used to them, they would find riding more comfortable. Still, the sight of an armed Ogre riding a gray bear was quite an impressive rig. I wondered what would happen if we armored the hind bears as well. It seemed like an exciting prospect.
Today, my Aura Sensing picked up the scent of dark wolves within its range. As a result, I successfully captured eight dark wolves and one alpha dark wolf. The speed, stamina, and maneuverability of the dark wolves were impressive, though not quite on par with the hind bear. I hadn’t anticipated that the hind bear, with its massive size, would be able to weave through the trees with such agility.
Initially, the dark wolves were defiant, baring their fangs and resisting capture. However, when I glared at them while activating my various dominance abilities, they quickly turned submissive, wagging their tails like friendly dogs. It was somewhat endearing.
Afterward, I manipulated their brains to turn them into my familiars, as I had done before, and then returned to the base. I assigned the eight dark wolves to Hobsato’s lightly armed Hatred unit. Although the goblins struggled to ride them initially, just like Gobkichi and the others, they would need to persevere for the sake of the future.
As for me, I spent time bonding with Jiro, my hind bear. Meanwhile, Saburo, the alpha dark wolf, became my loyal companion. Both animals turned out to be quite adorable, which was a source of comfort. The sight of Redhead Shorty and the alchemist looking so content while petting them was a far cry from their former ferocity.
Moving forward, I planned to increase the number of familiars so they could serve as bodyguards for the blacksmiths. As for the remaining elves, two more men and two women finally succumbed. The last to resist were the two former guards. I handled them as gently as the others… Okay, perhaps I was a bit rougher with them.