A Predator Hunting a Predator
After being bombarded with a wealth of knowledge by Minerva, she saw me off, and we parted ways at the entrance of the Jungle.
"I'll be waiting for you here tomorrow morning, so don't be laaaate~"
"Thank you so much for today."
I bowed politely.
As I bent at the waist to greet her, Minerva gave me a sidelong glance, resting her chin on her hand as she spoke softly.
"You really are a reckless man~ To declare you'll fight without even asking for her consent... You're quite self-righteous yourself, aren't you~?"
Her tone sounded as if she were chiding me, asking how I was any different from Haruna. I answered her with confidence.
"Based on our fight yesterday, it's bound to happen anyway. Her daughters guaranteed it."
"...Fufu, we'll see about that, won't we~? Actually, that makes it even more exciting. Well then, I shall take my leaaave~"
With her characteristically drawn-out words, Minerva slowly floated up into the sky. I stared blankly at the empty space where she had been just a blink of an eye ago, then turned around. The sky had already darkened, and the setting sun brought a chilly nip to the air.
"Good evening, Chief—"
As I walked toward the village, a beastkin I had seen a few times greeted me with a bright smile. I nodded in return and stepped inside.
"You! You're Casanova, right?"
A woman whose voluptuous figure was tightly bound in firm black leather approached me. She spoke in a sharp, piercing voice.
"I knew it the moment I saw you. The Chief told me to tell you to head to the Training Ground as soon as you got back. Consider yourself informed!"
The prickly woman ran off the moment she finished speaking. Leaving behind the group of women who were giggling and chattering as she ran back to them, I made my way to the Training Ground.
Thud!
Recalling the path I had walked with Eruka, I headed toward the Training Ground. Suddenly, a heavy impact echoed, and a female beastkin came flying toward me, her back scraping against the dirt. Clutching her swollen, red abdomen and swallowing a groan of pain, she spat on the ground, ignored me entirely, and charged back into the fray.
"Hmm."
Haruna, who had preemptively kicked and shut down the woman trying to flank her from her right blind spot with bared claws, saw me approaching. She unclasped her hands from behind her back and shouted in a commanding voice.
"Stop!"
Instantly, they froze.
The woman who had been preparing to spring forward immediately stood at attention the moment she heard the command, keeping her eyes fixed on Haruna. Seeing her stand there like a highly disciplined soldier, Haruna gave a brief wave of her hand, signaling her to dismiss.
"Thank you!"
Bowing deeply at a ninety-degree angle, the woman retreated and stood behind Haruna, who was staring at me with an expressionless face. The other beastkin already lined up behind Haruna widened their gaps slightly, maintaining their orderly formation.
"I have been looking for you since midday, but you were nowhere to be found. Where have you been?"
"I had some business to attend to."
"Hmm. It seems you went to see Minerva."
Closing her eyes with a nod, Haruna slowly approached me. Seeing her nostrils twitch ever so slightly, it was clear she had caught my scent. I had intended to keep it quiet since there was no real benefit to her knowing, but she had caught on instantly.
"How was your meeting with her?"
"She was quite hospitable. I visited her to ask for some advice."
"Hmph. In that case, would you mind sparing me some of your time?"
At Haruna's polite request, I had no choice but to nod. After all, returning home would only mean rolling around with Tsuruka and Eruka, and I had plenty of things to discuss with Haruna anyway, making a refusal practically impossible.
"Of course."
"Good. It is nothing other than this: since I promised to help with your training, I thought it would be a good idea for you to spar with those I have brought along."
At the mention of sparring, the eyes of the beastkin lined up behind Haruna flashed. Feeling their burning hostility, competitive spirit, and even gazes of jealousy, I nodded once more and accepted Haruna's proposal.
"If I can learn from someone of your caliber, Haruna-nim, I can always make time."
"Fufu. Quite humble for someone who lunged at me with murderous intent yesterday."
Tossing out a playful joke, Haruna let a faint smile slip onto her face as she glanced back and gave a subtle nod to her subordinates. In response to her signal, a boy with notably small wolf ears stepped forward from the ranks.
"He is a child with much to learn, so I ask for your assistance in guiding him. It will not be an easy task."
Emboldened by Haruna's praise, the boy shrugged his shoulders and approached me. Even as he looked up at me, his eyes burned with a fierce, competitive fire.
"Then, if I defeat this boy, may I ask you a question and receive an honest answer?"
"Ho. Are you proposing a wager?"
Haruna grinned, baring her fangs. I flinched slightly at the sight of her bright, genuine smile—one I had never seen before. Though that lively smile, which strongly resembled Eruka's, was quickly masked by her usual expressionless face, it lingered in my mind.
"Very well. If you win, I shall answer whatever you ask. However, if this child wins..."
"Hmm..." Haruna hummed, crossing her arms as she fell into deep thought. Her hesitation was brief; she soon uncrossed her arms, rested her hands on her hips, and spoke with a faint, mischievous smile.
"You must do whatever I command for an entire day. In exchange, I will answer up to five of your questions, no matter what they are."
"That sounds fair enough. Shall we begin right now?"
At my question, the boy turned back and nodded vigorously toward Haruna. Receiving his signal of readiness, Haruna looked back at me, nodded, and replied.
"Let us see what you have learned from Minerva."
Haruna watched me closely as I rolled my shoulders to warm up. After staring for a long moment, she turned and stepped out of the ring. The beastkin who had been standing in formation behind her followed suit, clearing the area in an instant.
"Let's have a good fight."
Glancing at the crowd watching us from outside the Training Ground, I gave the boy in front of me a casual greeting. The boy, who was stretching to loosen up, twisted his lips into a crooked smirk at my words.
"Hmph. You'd better get ready to become Haruna-sama's slave."
It seemed that brats in this alternative world were universally devoid of manners. Recalling another brat whose name I couldn't even remember, I stepped toward the insolent wolf.
There was a height difference of nearly a head and a half between us, but I didn't underestimate him. From what I recalled during my conversations with Tsuruka, the growth of the beastkin was slow, meaning that someone with the appearance of a teenage boy was undoubtedly an adult.
"Are you ready?"
Standing outside the ring, Haruna called out in a loud voice, her arms crossed tightly over her voluptuous breasts. I gave a brief nod.
"Yes! I'm ready!"
The brat shouted back, glaring at me with eyes ablaze with fighting spirit. I looked down at him, waiting for Haruna's signal to begin.
"Start!"
With her thunderous command, the boy lunged. Leaping forward with all his might, his fist shot toward my jaw like an arrow. I quickly reached out and caught his fist, swinging him off balance, but even as his equilibrium wavered, the boy extended his leg and whipped a kick aimed directly at my chin.
Smack!
Blocking the kick with my free right hand, I immediately launched a counter-kick at him as he spun through the air to land. Because he had spent too much time airborne and lost his balance, the blow connected cleanly, sending him flying through the air before crashing hard onto the ground.
"Ugh!"
Charging in without a shred of psychological warfare... I was taken aback by his crude, unrefined fighting style, but I kept my guard up and watched him closely, refusing to let my guard down. Recovering his posture, the brat bared his fangs and dashed toward me once more.
"Huuup...!"
Thud! The lunging brat leaped high into the air, his claws fully extended. I stole a quick glance at Haruna, but she seemed to consider this within the rules. Seeing those gleaming claws slicing down toward my head, I leaped backward to dodge and widened the distance between us once more.
"Scurrying away like a rat...!"
"Crazy bastard."
Who fights bare-handed with such reckless pride? Is he an idiot? Lightly bouncing on his feet to adjust his stance, the brat prepared to kick off the ground and charge once more.
"Wh-What?!"
Since he was clumsily wasting time, I took the initiative and charged first. As I lunged forward and delivered a heavy kick to his stomach, he crossed his arms to block it. However, due to the sheer difference in our physical weight classes, he was dragged backward, his arms trembling violently.
Before he could grab hold of me, I pulled my leg back and struck the head of the off-balance brat. Crack! A sound like a watermelon splitting open echoed as his head whipped violently to the side.
"Aaargh!"
Gritting his teeth, he forced his head back to face me. This time, I swung a slap at his cheek. Just before my palm, backed by all my strength, could connect, his head slipped backward. Because of the momentum of my swing, my upper body rotated slightly, leaving my guard open. Seizing the opening, the brat bared his claws and swiped at my chest.
Rip!
The moment I felt his claws catch on my clothes, I pulled my upper body back. Riiip! As my clothes stretched and tore, his claws remained snagged, dragging his small body along with my movement.
Seizing the opportunity before he could disengage his claws, I swept his slender leg and kicked him hard. Tear! The violent kick spun his body around, completely tearing the fabric of my clothes, but I ignored it and lunged at the fallen brat.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
"Aaargh...!"
Pinning his arm with my knee as he tried to push himself off the ground, I repeatedly slapped and punched his face. The sickening sound of bone striking skull echoed, but since it wasn't my head, I ignored it and kept swinging.
Slash! Slash!
The boy, even as his cheeks swelled up from the beating, bared his claws and scratched at my calves. Ignoring the sensation of claws digging into my flesh, I kept striking his face. When he let out a painful shriek and tried to bite my fingers with his sharp fangs, I clenched my fist and drove it straight into his cheekbone.
Crack! Crack! Crack!
Gradually, the strength of the claws scratching my legs weakened. The stinging wounds were annoying, but I could still walk, so I paid them no mind and continued to hammer my fists down onto his head.
"Haa... haaa..."
A painful groan escaped his lips, and the claws scratching at my leg finally went limp. I raised my fist once more, preparing to smash it down on his swollen, bloody, and drooling face. Grab. Feeling a firm grip catch my wrist, I glanced back. Haruna stood there, looking down at me with a stern expression.
"That is enough."
"Did I win?"
"He has lost the will to fight, so yes."
Watching the brat wheeze and leak various bodily fluids, I slowly stood up, feeling a bit disgusted. My calves throbbed with pain, but it wasn't enough to keep me from walking. I pulled my arm back, slipping my wrist out of Haruna's grasp.
"When I was his age, I was busy playing with friends, but he fights quite well."
"He is likely around your age. Because the beastkin mature slowly, he looks like a boy, but he is already an adult."
Haruna took the hand of the weeping, frustrated brat and helped him up. Trembling like a newborn animal, he was supported by another beastkin summoned by Haruna's gesture and slowly led away.
Haruna, who had been watching me with a thoughtful expression while her arms pressed against her impossibly large breasts, quietly spoke.
"As expected, you possess the qualities of a true warrior."
Forcing myself to ignore my throbbing legs, I stood opposite Haruna and casually accepted the compliment.
"It's nothing compared to you, Haruna-nim."
"We have lived different spans of years, so that is only natural. Now, is it time to claim the reward of your victory?"
After watching the swollen-faced brat being treated, Haruna quietly led me to a secluded corner. Once we were in a quiet, empty spot, she looked at me with a strange glint in her eyes, prompting me to ask my question.
"Who is the next Chief?"
I asked the question I was most curious about first. According to the Prophecy, I would either submit to the next Chief or he would submit to me. I didn't blindly believe in prophecies, but to break the resolve of Haruna and the villagers who did, playing along with it was the best course of action.
"If I say you have already met him, you will call it invalid, won't you?"
"Haha, you know me well."
Tossing out a playful remark, Haruna curled the corner of her lips slightly and said:
"The boy you just fought is the next Chief. He was furious for quite a while after hearing about your reputation and deeds."
That brat who can't even control his emotions is the next Chief? Dumbfounded by the completely unexpected answer, I stared at Haruna. She shrugged her shoulders as if to prove she wasn't lying, adding an explanation.
"Had he fought calmly, it would have been a much harder struggle for you. Though he is still immature and cannot wield mana, his instincts are innate."
Having already fought him once, I had fully gauged his capabilities. Even if he fought calmly and measured his moves, once I utilized my mana, I had more than enough strength to thoroughly beat him down.
"My second question. How strong do I need to become to fight on equal terms with you, Haruna-nim?"
"Ho... You, with me? Hmm..."
Haruna fell into deep thought, letting out a low hum. Her voluptuous breasts swayed as she paced back and forth. Once she had organized her thoughts, she stopped walking and looked at me with clear, focused eyes.
"If you train under me for about a fortnight and demonstrate enough mana control to coat your blade in Sword Qi, you at least won't be pushed back."
"'Won't be pushed back'?"
"You use a sword, and I primarily use hand-to-hand combat. Yet, you are neither fully proficient in the sword nor in hand-to-hand combat."
Haruna looked at me, her hand gently touching her own neck—the very spot I had choked yesterday. With a slightly flushed face, she took a step back and continued her explanation.
"If we were to hold a fair duel, we would both fight hand-to-hand. Your fighting techniques are unpredictable, making it difficult even for me to anticipate them. That would be the condition for the most equal fight."
So fighting hand-to-hand without any weapons is my best chance of defeating Haruna... Nodding, I asked my third question to Haruna, who was waiting.
"You mentioned before, Haruna-nim, that once the divided village is reunited, we will stand at the vanguard of the war that will sweep the continent."
"Yes, I did."
"Once the village is reunited, who will you establish as the Chief?"
Seemingly grasping the underlying intent of my third question, Haruna wore an enigmatic smile and slowly spoke.
"Hmm... May I ask your thoughts on the matter first?"
"I would prefer Tsuruka or Eruka to take the position."
"Ho... Not yourself? Are you not the current Chief?"
I nodded and explained the village's trade situation. I detailed the close relationship we had established with the merchant coalition in Hormia and the profits the village stood to gain, all while gauging her reaction.
"Oh... You have already progressed things to that extent?"
"It was possible because I happened to make the right connections. And now that we have established trade with a human merchant coalition, if the Hardline Faction rises up and tries to sever ties with humans, everything will go to waste."
"I see. That would indeed be problematic."
"Then..."
"However, the Chief's word is absolute. If you wish to prevent such a situation, you could simply become the Chief yourself."
"Can I just become Chief simply because I want to?"
Letting out a soft chuckle, Haruna uncrossed her arms and stepped closer. Placing a firm hand on my shoulder, she spoke with a faint smile.
"We shall have a sacred duel, Casanova, Chief of the Moderate Faction."
It was exactly as I had anticipated. Suppressing the smile rising to my lips, I looked down at Haruna and asked.
"Will my opponent be you, Haruna-nim?"
"I believe I told you I am the priestess. Therefore, your opponent should be that boy from earlier... but..."
In an instant, Haruna's gaze shifted to that of a wild beast. Meeting her slit-pupiled, chilling gaze—the look of a predator eyeing its prey—I smiled back at her as she bared her fangs, and asked.
"But?"
"That would be far too boring. It is also an option for me to step forward as the Chief's proxy."
"Isn't that a bit unfair? I'm no match for you right now, Haruna-nim."
"Then how about we make a separate wager? Depending on the outcome of the duel in a fortnight, the loser must grant the winner's request."
"A wager?"
Nodding, Haruna replied with a bright smile.
"The winner of the duel in a fortnight will become the Chief and rule the unified village. Furthermore, the loser must grant any wish the winner desires."
"It seems you have many desires concerning me, Haruna-nim."
"Fufu... Do you not have desires concerning me as well?"
Squeeze.
Haruna pressed her arms against her massive breasts, emphasizing her deep cleavage. The contrast between her slightly flushed cheeks and her confident expression was incredibly alluring.
"If I win, you must remain as the vice-chief of the village. You will stand at the vanguard of the war alongside me."
"And what if I win?"
"Then this village will be yours. I shall step down, but I will assist you whenever the war demands it, or whenever you request my help."
"So, win or lose, I'm bound to stay in this village."
"Not necessarily. If you become the Chief, you are free to appoint Tsuruka as your proxy. It would be enough if you simply visited the village from time to time."
We both envisioned the moments of our respective victories and defeats. Having calculated all the possibilities of an uncertain future, we continued our conversation.
"What is your wish?"
"I'll tell you once I win."
"Fufu, very well. Do you agree to hold a duel in a fortnight, in front of the entire village?"
"I agree."
"I will outline the terms of the duel and let you know. Ah, and our training will proceed as scheduled, so come here every afternoon from now on."
"Understood. I'm quite tired today, so I'd like to head back now..."
"Go ahead. Do you intend to save your remaining questions for later?"
As I showed signs of wrapping up the conversation, Haruna realized I hadn't finished my questions and asked. I hesitated, wondering whether I should ask the question that had been lingering in my mind. But as my eyes fell upon Haruna's tightly closed lips, I finally spoke.
"Did you masturbate after you went back to your room yesterday?"
"......"
"......"
Silence fell over us. Standing in the empty clearing where not even the sound of the wind could be heard, as if time itself had stopped, we simply stared into each other's eyes. Slowly, Haruna blinked, and her plump, pink lips parted.
"I did not."
Denying it in a calm, composed voice, Haruna slowly turned around. Even from behind, I could easily guess the intense heat radiating from her face and ears, which had flushed as red as ripe apples. Trembling as she clenched her fists tightly, Haruna spoke to me once more without turning back.
"I shall leave first. Save your last question for later."
Step, step, step.
Haruna walked away, her pace quickening with every step. The more I thought about the duel in a fortnight, the less I knew how to settle things with her. Shaking my head to clear my cluttered thoughts, I quietly made my way back to Tsuruka's House.