Translator: Nox

Chapter 1

1

Prologue

Q. I opened my eyes to a pure white snowfield. What is this situation?

A. Hell, probably. Or heaven.

***

But it was too cold for heaven, and too quiet for hell.

‘What the heck is going on?’

I slowly recalled my memories. My last memory was of coming home late from work, as usual, setting my alarm for dawn, and falling asleep.

I had to prepare breakfast and a short note for Younger sister, and then…

I think I collapsed onto the bed without even taking off my coat, sinking into something between a faint and a deep sleep. And then I opened my eyes and found myself here.

Something was wrapped tightly around my body, so I couldn't move an inch, and everything in front of me was pure white… pure white…

‘Wow, it’s so cold I can’t even think straight!’

Somehow, I knew I was dead. In the moment my consciousness faded, I had a feeling that this was different from sleep. I hadn't slept properly for days because of work, and there were many times when I thought I was going to die.

It seemed that even the youth I thought was infinite couldn't withstand four years of overwork.

I was relieved, actually. If I died, I wouldn't have to work anymore. Younger sister was an adult now, so even though I felt sorry, I was too tired to keep going. I just wanted to quit everything.

I hadn't been able to rest easy for a single day in four years. I was crushed by the burden of having to take care of Younger sister.

I want to rest, I want to sleep…

That's what I was thinking when I closed my eyes, so why did I wake up alone in a snowfield?

‘Do they kill you again after you die? What a sick joke.’

This was obviously a setup to kill someone.

I was sure to die if I stayed like this. I hadn't been dead for long, and now I was about to die again. Tears welled up in my eyes. I didn't want to die again, but there was nothing I could do on my own.

I couldn't even move, let alone walk. Besides, it was so cold that my whole body was frozen.

‘Why don't they just end it quickly? It would be so much easier and better for everyone if they just killed me in one go…’

I blew a breath, and it rose up white and scattered. Since there was nothing else I could do, I focused on something like this.

‘Watching my breath dissipate is boring, huh? Heok…’

Just when I was getting bored of waiting with my eyes open for when I would die, a wolf with white fur appeared.

‘I asked them to kill me in one go, but I didn't mean I wanted to be eaten alive!’

A wolf! A real wolf! I had hoped it was just a big dog, but no matter how I looked at it, it was too big to be a dog.

Cold sweat ran down my back. I knew that animals were bigger than dogs, but I didn't realize they were this big.

‘Or am I just small?’

My thoughts must be paralyzed by the cold. I was alone in a snowfield, with a wolf right in front of me, and I was still thinking about other things. But there was nothing else I could do but think about other things.

‘It’s not eating me right away?’

I blinked twice. Was this how you greet a cat? It was better than doing nothing. It would hurt if I got eaten… Maybe it would be nice to me if I made a good impression. Then the wolf, which had been standing apart, came closer.

Wow, it must have been annoyed that I winked! I shouldn't have done that! I should have just acted calm and good! I tried to make a sound, thinking that I had hastened my death, but my lips were frozen and wouldn't move. Aagh.

It wasn't that I didn't want to speak, it was that I couldn't.

Contrary to my anxious heart, my facial muscles were already frozen and stiff, so I blinked slowly. The wolf, after sticking out its long snout and sniffing, tilted its head as if lost in thought.

That wolf might eat me, but honestly, it was cute.

‘If it’s cute… it might eat me. It must be hungry too…’

I was rationalizing that it might be better than freezing to death when I saw blood flowing from the wolf's leg as it began to prowl around.

‘It must have been injured and needed to replenish its nutrients.’

The wound seemed quite large. Red blood soaked the fur of its wide thigh, and I could even see the wound gaping open every time it moved. That must hurt. And it's so cute.

In the animal world, a leg injury is directly linked to life. Because it can't run away. The smell of blood attracts enemies.

‘I hope it gets better.’

Not that I'm in a position to worry about anyone else. But you never know. Maybe if its wound heals, it won't eat me.

Then an amazing thing happened. The wolf's wound began to heal quickly. I didn't know if this was heaven or hell, but maybe I was just having a daydream. The wolf stared at its leg, then collapsed to the ground.

Wow, wow, wow.

Fluffy! Soft! And a little stinky! But I like it!

When the wolf lay down behind me, the cold that surrounded my body subsided a little.

This wolf seems to think that I healed its leg. Is it trying to repay the favor? It wasn't me who did it, but I can't speak now, and I can't say it wasn't me, so I'll just shamelessly accept it.

‘But still…’

I had a feeling since a while ago, yes, I must be small. No matter how big a wolf is, it can't be several times the size of an adult woman.

‘I think I’ve become a baby. This is crazy.’

Who is it, that awful human who abandoned a newborn in this snowfield?

Thanks to the wolf, I don't think I'll die right away, but even if I can overcome the cold, people have to eat to live, so I'll soon starve to death.

The safest future I can imagine here is growing up in a pack of wolves like Tar*an or Mogl*.

Hey, are you female? Can you share some milk? I won't eat much. I promise I can eat very little. I've starved a lot when I didn't have enough to eat.

I couldn't tell if it was male or female in this situation where I could barely see its big head. Its tail fur was very fluffy, warm, and soft. It's okay even if you have teeth. I have to live.

I felt like I was going a little crazy as I muttered to myself.

But I couldn't stay sane otherwise. What, why am I here? Why am I a baby? Then is this thing wrapped around me Swaddling clothes? Who abandons a baby in Swaddling clothes in a snowfield? Who is that trash?

Am I really dead? Am I really? Is this a dream? It's too cold to be a dream.

‘More than that, is this even Korea?’

My head was spinning. Tar*an, Mogl*, Princess Won*, so where am I? What happened to me…

“Hooaeeng…”

My lips, which had been frozen for a long time, finally opened and a small sound escaped. That's right, I'm a baby. It was a very small and thin cry that I couldn't believe was my own voice.

Anyone would recognize this as a baby's cry. A baby.

The wolf heard the small cry and raised its head. Its large snout came closer and gently nudged my cheek, and its moist, large nose touched me. As if to reassure me.

Are you going to raise me as Princess Won\…?

Leaning against the wolf, who curled up and wrapped around me as if to comfort me, I steeled myself. I was ready to eat whatever the wolf gave me. Really, I hope you're female… Please, just let me drink milk until my teeth come in…

“I thought it was a wolf cub.”

Ah. A youthful voice.

I raised my eyes from within the wolf's embrace and looked ahead. Was she just five years old? The first thing I saw were golden eyes sparkling with curiosity. A gust of wind blew, scattering her fine golden hair. I thought I was dreaming for a moment. She was so pretty.

With the dazzling white snowfield behind her, the golden child said,

“What is this?”

It's a person…