A Predator Hunting a Predator

"Did you sleep well?"

My body felt heavy, weighed down by the exhaustion of thrashing around all night. Dragging my sluggish feet down the stairs, I spotted Tsuruka and Haruna sitting at the dining table.

"Yes..."

Haruna, who was chewing on a piece of bread, gave a half-hearted response to my morning greeting. Though her hands were busy stuffing the bread into her mouth, her wandering eyes kept dodging mine. I guess she was thinking about what happened last night. Smiling at her surprisingly innocent reaction, I naturally took a seat across from her.

"Would you like me to fry some eggs for you as well?"

Tsuruka politely handed me a plate with bread. Wearing a white apron, she was busily moving back and forth from the kitchen, taking care of the household. She looked so gentle and sweet that she could easily be called the perfect picture of a devoted wife.

"Where are Undine and Eruka?"

When I had opened my eyes in the room still smelling faintly of our long night of passion, I was alone in the bed. Being left behind amidst the musky remnants of our lovemaking felt a bit bittersweet, but I accepted it as my punishment for oversleeping and quickly slipped out of the room.

"Hmm~ Eruka went out to patrol the village, and Undine said she was going to see her master..."

"Her master? Ah..."

Undine's master had to be the spirit that had summoned her with that mysterious, pulsing heartbeat when I visited the cultivation field with Eruka. Even when I asked Tsuruka about it, she had avoided giving a straight answer, merely calling it a "guardian deity of sorts." But it was highly likely a high-grade spirit that had protected the jungle for a very long time.

"The master of the jungle... She must mean Minerva."

Haruna spoke, her small mouth stuffed full of bread. After chewing and swallowing, she wiped some crumbs from her lips, set the rest of her bread down, and spoke in a quiet, measured voice.

"Minerva regulates the population of magic beasts and guides lost wanderers out of the depths. Without her, this place might have been deemed a demon realm."

"You know quite a lot about her."

I looked at Haruna as I chewed on the bread Tsuruka had given me. She might look young, but she was indeed the mother of the twins. Having lived a long life, she seemed to possess a wealth of miscellaneous knowledge.

"We received a great deal of help from her when we were establishing our new home. She is a benevolent witch."

"A witch?"

It had been five years since I fell into this alternate world, but I hadn't actually encountered many ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠different races. In this world where witches were treated as a distinct race, the only demi-humans I had seen so far were beastkin, spirits, and elves.

"You seem highly interested."

Resting her heavy, voluptuous breasts on the table, Haruna folded her hands politely and stared at me. Her gaze felt as if she were silently scolding me for being lewd, so I quickly averted my eyes and changed the subject.

"Speaking of which, I heard a new prophecy was handed down..."

It was an incredibly awkward transition, but Haruna seemed slightly taken aback. Her eyebrows arched, and her lips pursed before she slowly opened them to speak of the prophecy.

"I forgot to mention it to you. That was a blunder on my part."

"By the way, do you always speak so formally?"

Seeing her bow her head slightly in apology with such a rigid tone, I couldn't help but ask. They were her daughters, after all. Speaking like that felt far too distant.

At my question, Haruna shrugged her neatly groomed eyebrows, tilted her head in confusion, and replied.

"Is polite speech not more rigid? This way of speaking should actually be more familiar to my daughters."

To verify if that was true, I turned my head toward Tsuruka, who gave an awkward smile and nodded vigorously. Realizing I had pried unnecessarily, I offered a quick apology. Haruna accepted it coolly, then tapped the table with her fingers, crumbs still clinging to her lips.

"As for the prophecy, it is actually quite straightforward."

Having recited the prophecy, Haruna quietly opened her eyes and tapped the table with her sharp fingernails. The moment the rhythmic tapping stopped, she opened her mouth again to offer her interpretation.

"In short, it means our divided village will reunite, and we will stand at the forefront of a war that will sweep the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠continent. That is why I plan to summon all the villagers from our side soon."

"That sounds like it will take quite a while."

If a group as large as the current village population was moving in, it would take a significant amount of time. When I looked at her with doubt, Haruna gave a prepared answer, as if she had anticipated my concern.

"For now, we will bring over those who need time to adapt first, in phases."

"Adapt?"

"We will bring the children who grew up or were born in our village after the split. We need to teach them that we are all one village now, and take care to prevent any unnecessary conflict."

"You'll have your hands full."

"Indeed. I plan to bring the next chief candidate and the guard warriors first, so they will likely train alongside you, Casano."

"The next chief?"

I hadn't realized Haruna wasn't the actual chief. My eyes widened in surprise, and Haruna let out a tiny, almost imperceptible smile, covering her mouth.

"You look surprised. I merely held the roles of the village priestess and advisor. Once we integrate, I intend to pass the position to Tsuruka, but..."

Haruna glanced at Tsuruka, who was humming happily while frying eggs. Her eyes were filled with a complex mix of emotions as she stared down at the bread on her plate. Filled with regret, apology, and love, Haruna's eyes showed the deep inner conflict of a mother torn between her maternal affection and her duty.

"When I first heard that the chief's position had been handed over to an outsider, I was displeased. But after meeting you, my thoughts have changed."

"Am I worse than you expected?"

"Haha. It has been a very long time since I last saw Tsuruka smile so happily."

"Mother..."

Tsuruka, coming out of the kitchen to set the food on the table, looked at Haruna with soft, emotional eyes. Foolishly kind as she was, Tsuruka didn't seem to harbor a single shred of resentment toward the mother who had abandoned her and Eruka to follow a prophecy.

"I did a terrible thing to you and Eruka. I do not expect to be treated as your mother now, but I wanted to say this."

"It is alright, Mother. There were many hardships and sad days, but I am truly happy now."

Looking at me with tender eyes, Tsuruka gently slid next to me and leaned her shoulder against mine. Feeling her warm body heat through my arm, I looked back at Haruna.

"Is that so..."

Her gaze was relieved, yet still laced with a hint of wariness. She had probably become more guarded after witnessing the four of us tangled together in bed last night. I gave her a sly grin, my expression practically screaming, I'm completely harmless.

"Though it is far too late, I apologize once more. To think I left because I believed in a prophecy, only to return because of another."

Rising from her seat, Haruna couldn't easily bring herself to leave. She kept looking at Tsuruka leaning against me and offered her apologies repeatedly. At first, I had wondered what kind of person would abandon her daughters just to follow a prophecy, but seeing her show such genuine regret made me realize her love for her family was deep.

"Eruka cried much more than I did, you know."

Placing her index finger on her chin with a mischievous smile, Tsuruka playfully brought up Eruka, who wasn't present. Imagining the fierce Eruka crying her eyes out was actually quite cute.

"She was always a crybaby... I will have to apologize to her properly later."

Having said everything she wanted, Haruna turned toward the door and walked away with quiet steps. Before stepping outside, she turned back and spoke hesitantly to Tsuruka.

"The meal was delicious. I shall return with the villagers."

"Have a safe trip, Mother."

Once we finished our meal, I looked at Tsuruka, who was staring at the door with a complex expression, and asked her gently.

"Do you really not resent her? In the end, she only came back because of the prophecy."

"But she apologized. If it were the Mother of the past, I could never have imagined her acting like this..."

I recalled the Haruna I had first met in Tsuruka's office. If she was even colder and more stoic back then, just how much of a cold-blooded woman must she have been for Tsuruka to say that? I stacked the empty dishes and stood up from my seat.

"By the way, she said the prophecy was straightforward, but I don't quite get it."

As I quietly cleared the dishes and wiped down the table, I asked Tsuruka about my lingering curiosity. Tilting her head, Tsuruka thought it over for a moment before sharing her thoughts.

"The 'false head' probably refers to the chief of the other village. Serving 'heaven' likely means submitting to the rightful chief."

"Didn't your prophecy say that I am 'heaven'?"

"Usually, 'heaven' symbolizes a ruler... But Mother might interpret it differently."

Taking a sip of her warm tea, Tsuruka closed her eyes for a moment to enjoy the soothing warmth spreading through her body. Then, she looked at ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠me with bright, sparkling eyes.

"Mother might think of us as the 'false head' and challenge us to a duel or a contest."

"So I have to fight Haruna again."

"Indeed. In Mother's mind, she probably believes she must make you, Seobang-nim, serve her, thereby unifying the village to prepare for the coming war."

Tsuruka's lips curved into a slight, wry smile as she stared down at the rippling tea, lost in thought. Though she said she was fine, it was clear some lingering bitterness remained. I decided to cast aside my own hesitation and spoke up.

"Then I just have to make Haruna submit."

"I do not mean to doubt you, Seobang-nim, but Mother is incredibly strong..."

Tsuruka trailed off, carefully reading my expression. I hadn't made that claim out of some shameless belief that I could easily beat her after getting utterly thrashed just yesterday.

"I said I'd make her submit, not that I'd beat her in a fair fight."

"No way... Could it be...?"

Having heard the prelude of how my relationship with Eruka had developed, Tsuruka looked at me with the exact same eyes she had back then. I met her gaze and nodded confidently.

"I just don't like how she abandoned the village, only to scurry back the moment she heard a new prophecy."

People who blindly believed they were always right, who acted solely on prophecies—Haruna's behavior was identical to that one person I despised the most. While I could tolerate her as an individual, I couldn't let that specific trait slide. I resolved to move forward, partly to exact a little revenge on behalf of Tsuruka and Eruka.

"Besides, we agreed to establish trade between the village and Hormia. If the chief changes, that deal might fall through."

These were people who had abandoned their own village just because a prophecy said an outsider might become chief. Even if they had traded in the past, if they returned and changed their minds, what would happen to Sierra, who had risked everything and entrusted her entire future to me in anticipation of this trade?

"Fufu, I shall assist you as always, Seobang-nim."

Tsuruka smiled gently at my various excuses, setting her empty teacup down on the table. Avoiding her piercing, knowing gaze, I quickly downed my own tea in one gulp.

"Still... how to deal with Mother is the real issue."

"I have my ways."

Recalling Haruna's flushed, lustful expression as she watched the four of us lose ourselves in pleasure last night, I quietly stood up. First, I needed to grow stronger. To prepare for my inevitable clash with Haruna, I had scheduled a sparring session with Eruka. Leaving Tsuruka's warm send-off behind, I went out to find her sister.

***

"You're going to fight Mother again?"

Eruka, drenched in sweat from ordering her subordinates around, stared at me in sheer disbelief. Her eyes practically screamed, You?, but I suppressed my rising irritation and grumbled.

"I have no choice but to fight her."

"Even if you, the chief of the moderate faction, challenge Mother, the acting chief of the hardline faction, the outcome is already decided."

Eruka gave a cold, objective assessment. Refusing to sugarcoat things just because she was on my side, she let out a low sigh and glared at me.

"But knowing you, losing quietly wouldn't sit well with your pride. So you want to spar with me to prepare for the fight?"

"If I beat her, she'll have no choice but to accept it. She's someone who blindly follows prophecies, after all."

"That is true... but with your current strength, defeating Mother is absolutely impossible."

"Nothing is impossible."

"Yesterday, Mother overwhelmed you without even channeling her mana. You didn't use yours either, but the sheer volume of mana she possesses is on an entirely different level."

Reaching out, Eruka placed her hand on my stomach and quietly closed her eyes. I circulated the mana inside my body to help her sense it.

"In a simple physical brawl, you might be able to catch her off guard. But if it becomes a battle of mana, it will be over in an instant."

I had secretly thought my progress was impressive for someone who had only been in this world for five years, but the grim look on Eruka's face as she delivered her harsh critique was dead serious. Frustrated, I kicked at the dirt with the tip of my boot and muttered quietly.

"Still, it rubs me the wrong way to just hand the village over to her without a fight."

Their shamelessness in abandoning the village over a prophecy, only to return because of another, was something I couldn't stand, even if I wasn't the direct victim.

"That is... *sigh*..."

Eruka seemed just as conflicted. She looked at me with a bittersweet smile, then began kicking the dirt just like I was, lost in thought.

"Is there nothing else you're confident in besides fighting?"

"It wouldn't be a bad idea to challenge her in something you're actually good at."

To lighten the heavy mood, I decided to throw out a joke I'd prepared, wrapping my arm around Eruka's toned waist.

"Like a sex battle. What do you think?"

"Ngh...!"

Thud!

"Argh...!"

Eruka's fist instantly buried itself in my ribs. Her face flushed bright red, and she bared her fangs as she scolded me.

"You shameless bastard...! Even if it's a joke, how could you say such a thing about someone's mother...!"

Since she deeply respected Haruna, it seemed my joke had crossed the line. Sensing her genuine hostility, I quickly stroked her chin and coaxed her, telling her it was just a joke.

"Hmph..."

I had called it a joke, but in truth, I was keeping several underhanded methods in reserve as a last resort. Seeing Eruka react so violently only made me more curious. What kind of face would she make when she saw Haruna weeping and begging beneath me?

"Ah...! What about visiting Undine's master?"

"That witch, Minerva?"

Nodding, Eruka explained the witch's deeds, repeating Haruna's exact words about Minerva's actions in the jungle.

"...So, we could ask her for help with your mana control."

"That sounds like a great idea."

Considering how she kindly taught Undine as she wandered the jungle and helped those in danger, she had to be a benevolent witch. If I asked for her help and compensated her accordingly, it would be more than enough. A bright path had suddenly opened up in what had seemed like a dead end, and my spirits instantly lifted.

"Wh-wha?!"

I pulled the proud-looking Eruka into a tight embrace and planted a firm kiss on her cheek. Flustered, she squirmed in my arms for a moment before finally burying her face in my neck and wrapping her arms around my waist.

"Seriously... what if someone sees us..."

"You say that, yet you're hugging me back."

"That's only because I didn't want you to feel awkward...!"

I patted Eruka's back as she whined, showering her with endless praise. Delighted by the mindless compliments, she let out a soft giggle, burying her nose in my neck to breathe in my scent as we shared ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a sweet moment.

"Ah... it's time for my shift change."

As we lost track of time in our embrace, the hour for Eruka's duty arrived, and she reluctantly let me go. I noted down the location of Minerva's cabin that she gave me, and we walked together toward the entrance of the wooden palisade.

"Don't forget. Go straight, and when you see the tree with orange flowers, turn right."

"I'm not a child, I've got it."

"I can't help but worry."

Giving me the look of a mother sending her child off on an errand, Eruka finally gave my back a gentle push. Basking in the warm, golden sunlight, I set off into the depths of the jungle to meet Minerva.