Raising a Wolf in the Academy

Late at night.
“Urghh!”
Joints stiffened from sitting all day crackle, filling the office with noise.
It’s as if I can hear a voice complaining, ‘What are you trying to do, sitting until this hour?’
But what can I do, now is not the time to worry about my joints.
“How much is left?”
I sit back down and check the completeness of the magic I’ve been creating.
Perhaps as a reward for waking up early and working even on the weekend.
The characters densely filling the paper were approaching the ideal form I wanted to implement.
“Just a little more and it’ll be complete… but I can’t do it in this state.”
If I make even a small mistake in the finishing touches, all the work I’ve done so far could be lost.
I decided to take a break and pet Whitey.
“It’s also time to feed Whitey anyway.”
I open the sack and scoop out a generous amount of pet food.
I head to the bedroom with the bowl full of pet food.
‘I hope it’s been doing well on its own.’
As it was work requiring a high level of concentration, I had no choice but to leave Whitey in the room.
Of course, Whitey seemed good and understanding of my words, but.
There’s always a slim chance.
‘If I had known this would happen, I should have bought toys at the store back then.’
Thinking I should visit the store again later, I opened the bedroom door.
But.
“…..”
Whitey’s condition was a bit strange.
Given its personality, it should be wagging its tail and approaching me by now.
It’s just lying on the floor in an awkward posture, staring at me.
‘What’s this, is it hurt somewhere?’
Worried that it might have injured its leg while playing alone since it couldn’t get up, I approached closer.
Fortunately, I could see that it wasn’t like this because of an injury, but…
“Whitey?”
“….!”
It flinches when I call its name and looks up at me sheepishly.
Just before, I was worried thinking it might be hurt.
But now knowing the truth, its behavior reminds me of a child caught doing something wrong.
I quietly raise my hand and point to the bookshelf.
The bookshelf with a gap exactly the size of one book.
“What’s this?”
“…..”
As if it knows nothing, it turns its head away and pretends to be indifferent.
While doing so, it presses its body closer to the floor, but.
Does it know that thanks to that, I could pinpoint where the book was hidden?
-Swoosh
“….!?”
I put my hand under Whitey’s belly.
The warmth and soft belly fat characteristic of animals gently wrapped around my hand, but now wasn’t the time to feel such things.
“Heck! Heck!”
As if sensing what I was about to do, it pressed its body even closer to the floor, but.
Despite such efforts, it easily gave up the grimoire it was sitting on under its belly.
“Whitey, what’s this?”
“…..”
When I hold the grimoire in front of its eyes, as if knowing it did wrong, it quietly lowers its head.
Its ears and tail drooped, revealing its owner’s emotions.
Seeing this, my will was about to weaken, but I barely managed to pull myself together.
It’s not like I enjoy creating this atmosphere.
If I don’t properly scold it for today’s incident and let it slide, something bigger might happen next time, so I have no choice.
Although Whitey might become afraid of me because of this, it was better than it getting hurt.
I grab its chin to face the grimoire and speak firmly.
“This is no-no. You shouldn’t eat it. Understand?”
“….?”
As if not understanding why it shouldn’t eat it, it tilts its head slightly.
‘I didn’t want to go this far, but for education’s sake…’
I slowly bring the grimoire to my mouth.
“….?”
“Ah~”
While making a sound with my mouth to get Whitey’s attention.
And when the grimoire is close enough to my mouth…
I bite it!
“….!?”
Showing signs of surprise as if it didn’t expect this.
From now on is important.
“Ugh… Argh!”
I grab my throat and roll on the floor as if in extreme pain.
I thrash my legs about, making it look like I’m having a seizure.
That’s right.
I’m trying to do mirror therapy now.
If Whitey were to chew or tear up the grimoire while I’m away, it would be a big problem.
To prevent this, I’m putting on a passionate performance, sacrificing myself—
-Bang!
…There was a disaster where my shin hit the corner of the bed in the process, but I don’t stop my act.
“Arghhhh!”
Let’s say it’s rather good that I could scream realistically.
‘Whitey… your owner is this sincere for you…’
Thinking it should have understood by now, I stop acting and get up from the floor.
It’s not that I’m stopping because I can’t bear Whitey’s gaze looking at me as if I’m pathetic.
…Anyway.
“Now.”
To check if it understood properly, I bring the grimoire to Whitey’s mouth as a test.
“….!”
Only when I saw it recoil and move its body backward in disgust could I feel relieved.
At least it won’t try to chew or tear up these expensive grimoires while I’m gone.
“Good. Whitey, let’s eat now.”
Seeing it rush to the food bowl as soon as I finish speaking, it must have been very hungry.

-Crunch munch
It eats well.
*
*
*
A little while after Whitey started eating.
The food bowl was emptied very cleanly, not even crumbs of pet food remained.
“Awoooo…”
After finishing dinner, Whitey let out a short yawn-like howl, then climbed onto the bed and curled up.
But that appearance seemed somewhat unsatisfactory.
Although it’s been less than a week since we met, how should I put it…
Something like an owner’s intuition kept ringing?
After thinking hard about what might be lacking.
‘Right. It’s a wolf.’
I could recall Whitey’s true identity, which I had forgotten because it was so gentle and well-behaved.
It was natural for it to behave like that after being kept in such a small room all day, given that wolves need a lot of activity.
‘What should I do about this…’
[Pet’s Health vs Making Magic for the Assistant]
The debate of the century was unfolding in my head.
The [Whitey Faction] strongly pressuring the opponent with the logic that ‘As a person, one must take responsibility for the life they brought in.’
The [Aisha Faction] counterattacking with the logic that ‘The magic isn’t complete yet, and it will surely become more troublesome tomorrow.’
The winner of this fierce battle without an inch of concession was…
‘We should go for a walk.’
It was the [Whitey Faction] that presented the logic ‘Just put off today’s work until tomorrow.’
To follow the result derived through a fair debate where my subjective judgment as the referee didn’t intervene at all.
I called the name of the wolf tossing and turning on the bed.
“Whitey, come here”
The white ball of fur that gets up abruptly and approaches prancingly as if it had been waiting just to be called.
I, when it came within reach…
“Heck Heck…!?”
Created a leash with magic and put it on in one go.
It writhes its body, seemingly confused by the foreign sensation on its neck.
Although my heart ached at that reaction, thinking it would get used to it if done often enough. I put on a muzzle with tears in my eyes.
“…..”

Its eyes looking at me seemed to say ‘Why are you doing this to me, owner?’
‘I’m sorry Whitey. But this is essential if we’re going for a walk.’
Instead of making excuses that wouldn’t reach it due to language differences, I tightened the muzzle even more firmly.
If it were to attack someone else during the walk, it was obvious that Whitey would face euthanasia at that moment.
Of course, how many people would be out and about at this hour, but.
There’s always a slim chance.
‘…Right, there’s always a slim chance.’
Just in case, I cast cognitive dissonance magic and invisibility magic on Whitey.
This should be enough.
“Alright. Whitey, let’s go for a walk.”
“Heck…”
I lightly grabbed the leash and led it.
It whined a little, seemingly disliking the foreign sensation on its neck and mouth.
But it couldn’t stop its tail from wagging slightly at the words “let’s go for a walk.”
The cool evening breeze blowing as we left the office was saying that now was the optimal time for a walk.
I should just go around the garden once or so.

A brief interlude here.
Currently, Whitey, after having its rags stripped off on the first night because being petted was bothersome.
Is in a situation where it hasn’t been provided with any clothes.
What this means is…
“Achoo!”
It’s enduring the cold night wind with a bare body.
Outwardly, it was acting obedient to make the professor let his guard down.
‘Someday, I’ll surely skin you alive—’
“—Achoo!”
But inside, it was sharpening the blade of revenge.
‘But where is this bastard going now? Surely not…’
On a dark night with no one around, one black mage and one sacrifice.
The two words ‘ritual’ popped up in her head.
‘Is the preparation already complete?’
She couldn’t believe it.
The preparation for a large-scale ritual targeting the entire academy grounds couldn’t be finished this quickly.
He said it was a walk before leaving the room, but how could she believe that.
‘What’s your purpose, contact with other black mages? Or…’
*
*
*
“Professor, do you perhaps… have a lover?”
“Pardon?”
‘?’