Chapter 349
Chapter 349
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 349
Chapter Title: Side Story 33. Beasts (5)
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The interior of the crude stone building held no trace of delicacy whatsoever.
The long corridor seemed endless, no matter how far one walked.
Built by beastkin, everything around was excessively tall and spacious.
“Huff... huff... I didn’t expect it to be this bad...!”
Baren, leaning against the wall, caught his ragged breath.
It had been exactly ten minutes since he escaped the prison.
His hairless skin, slick with sticky sweat, was far from a pleasant sensation.
‘This is awful. How do humans even live like this?’
His flabby, overcooked flesh had finally tripped him up.
The frigid Alcalto Valley had been practically paradise.
The building’s constant temperature felt like a steam room to Baren, who’d turned into a pig.
‘Should I just strip now...? No, no. I can’t do that.’
The thick layers of clothing weren’t helping.
Baren was currently wearing the Northwind Squad’s signature red coat.
He’d stolen it from the largest of the three he’d just dealt with.
The front, stretched taut, looked ready to burst at the slightest prick of a needle.
A mask covered his face down to just below his nose.
This, too, was looted from the squad members. It was so sweltering he felt like dying, but its effectiveness made it impossible to ditch.
“Hey, what’s for lunch today?”
“My piss.”
“Cut the crap.”
As if to prove his disguise, two squad members passed by without a second glance.
Chatting idly, they paid Baren no mind.
‘Security isn’t as tight as I thought. Lucky break.’
Once his breathing steadied, Baren started walking again.
His goal was the leader’s location, but without exact intel, he had to scout on foot.
As he tried to keep his gait as natural as possible...
“Woooaaah!! Kill him!”
“Good one! Beast bastards!”
Cheers erupted from not far away.
Baren turned his head.
Through half-open double doors, red light seeped out.
“That’s...”
Baren walked toward it, entranced.
His were-lion instincts guided him sharply.
The thickening scent of blood quickened his pulse.
‘No way.’
The distance closed in no time.
Stepping through the doors, red light poured over his head.
A sweltering gust dampened his bangs.
“...!”
Baren froze, surveying the scene.
It was an age of barbarism.
In the vast plaza-like space stood a pentagonal steel cage at the center.
Dozens of Northwind Squad members surrounded it, frenzied.
“Wolf boy loses, we’re stuffing you!”
“I bet my whole lunch on this!”
Apparently a leisure spot, everyone wore light clothing.
The squad members laughed, shouted, or hurled food while urging death or surrender.
Inside the steel cage, a were-deer and werewolf clashed in bloody combat.
“Ah... how could this be...”
Baren sighed at the sight.
The beastkin tore and clawed at each other, utterly naked.
The sandy floor was soaked in blood.
Broken teeth and claws glittered like pebbles.
Slash!
The were-deer screamed as claws raked its eye.
“Myeee! M-my eye!”
“J-just surrender already. I’ve got a wife and kids waiting...”
The werewolf stammered.
His muffled voice held no fight left.
The brawl had been fierce; one arm hung limp and mangled.
The were-deer pulled its hand from its eye and lunged.
“Don’t make me laugh. I have to go back too!”
“Gahk!”
The werewolf toppled backward, waist gripped tight.
He thrashed to rise, but it was futile.
Born from a massive reindeer, the were-deer lacked fangs and claws but boasted enormous bulk.
“Kill him before he turns it around! Deer bastard, you know how much I bet!?”
“Execution! Execution! Execution! Execution!”
The crowd roared.
The were-deer in mount position raised its right arm high.
Its hoof-like fist glistened with blood.
“D-don’t do this... we were chatting and eating together just yesterday.”
The werewolf ceased struggling, pleading.
His muzzle, broken long ago, twisted unnaturally.
A hit like that meant no survival.
The were-deer groaned.
“Grooo... ughhh...”
“Friend, please!”
The voices around still demanded a finish.
Failing to kill here meant death for him.
The were-deer squeezed its eyes shut.
Bam!
The trembling fist slammed down from mid-air.
“...!”
No reversal.
The heavy blow pulverized the werewolf’s face.
Slowly withdrawing his fist, the were-deer murmured through sobs.
“Sorry... I’m sorry.”
Tears dripped from his remaining eye.
Kneeling, he stared at his friend’s mushy face.
The spectators erupted in thunderous cheers upon the verdict.
“Wooo! Awesome!!”
“Tch, useless dog bastard.”
Some cheered, others spat curses.
Winning bettors scooped cash from the tables.
Fetters and manacles reapplied, the were-deer was dragged from the arena.
Baren, stunned for ages, ground his teeth.
“I didn’t expect it to be this bad...!”
The cruelty exceeded imagination.
Humans harboring such malice toward their own kind was unbelievable.
He’d barely restrained his urge to charge in throughout the duel.
‘Rescue the professor first.’
That resolve alone kept him in check, for Secret’s sake.
Staying with this hell’s operator was unbearable.
Perfect for intel gathering amid the crowd.
As Baren regained composure to move...
“Hey, new face?”
“...!”
A female squad member called out.
In a tank top, coat tied at her waist, she cooled her flushed body.
She’d been eyeing him since he entered.
“From Olga’s crew? Cute eyes—lower the mask.”
“Th-the mask?”
Her figure would whistle at for humans, but Baren only felt dread.
No choice; he hesitated, then lowered it.
“...Alright.”
“You...!”
Her eyes widened.
“Wh-what’s wrong?”
Baren swallowed hard.
This was a rotten situation.
Killing her to silence would summon pursuers immediately.
No way out.
As he braced for battle, aura stirring...
“Knew it—you’re ridiculously handsome. Bet you had fun outside.”
“Pardon?”
Baren blinked in confusion.
She ogled his face like treasure, nodding.
Realizing, he stammered.
“Th-thank you. Just joined.”
“Must’ve come while I was on leave. No way I’d miss a flower boy like you. Why so bundled up?”
“Hm? Not that much... oh.”
Baren nodded.
An optical illusion from the extreme contrast.
No one’d guess his slim face attached to that bloated body.
“I... get cold easily.”
“Cold? Guess I run hot. Still, you’re overdoing it. Like a balloon.”
“Ahahaha...”
She poked his side playfully.
Her grin brimmed with fondness.
She’d freak if she knew it was all fat.
She continued.
“Alright, newbie. Like bloodbaths? Beasts fighting.”
“...Not my taste. Too brutal.”
“Nah, you’ve only seen low-tier stuff. Free tonight? Come watch a match with me. Newbies miss the champ.”
“Champ?”
“Yeah. Killer leopard. Undefeated since capture. First beastkin I found sexy.”
She gestured wildly.
Like gladiators, this place had its star.
Clawing the air, she scratched Baren’s chest.
“Makes sense, though—his origins. From Zaypa Turgeng’s armed guard.”
“Z-Zaypa!?”
“Yep. Caught him solo on mission. Psycho—killed over ten even sleeping.”
She shook her head, queasy.
Baren’s eyes bulged.
If his ears didn’t lie, armed guard of Zaypa.
‘That changes everything...!’
The fog ahead cleared.
He’d heard endlessly of the armed guard’s fame.
Only the elite among hardy northern beastkin warriors joined that glorious unit.
His wife Nemean hailed from its predecessor, the Dawn Squad—no doubting their prowess.
Only issue: contact.
A scheme dawned; Baren muttered inwardly.
‘Sorry, dear. Not kin, so forgive me.’
It stabbed like needles at his heart.
Now, he’d do unforgivable things as a married man.
She still eyed him with clear interest.
Resolved, Baren acted.
“Miss.”
“Wh-what?”
Instantly.
Baren yanked her wrist, pulling her close.
Bodies pressed; her face flushed crimson.
“Y-you... what’s this?”
“Don’t like? I’ll let go.”
“...Not that.”
She averted her gaze.
Her soft eyes were hard to meet.
In were-lion world, handsome as Baren stayed handsome human.
She twirled her hair with her free hand.
“Hey, wanna go to my room? Nothing till dinner.”
“Sounds good. But one favor.”
“Favor...?”
“Yes. That leopard guard.”
Baren leaned in close.
Breaths mingling, she gasped.
Unaware of his obesity, she saw a tall, dashing hunk.
The hunk whispered.
“I’d love to see his face now. Think you could arrange it?”