Unleashing the Beast Within
Beastkin pack mule, huh. That meant grueling heavy labor, hauling hundreds of kilos of gear every day. Sure, no job was too lowly, but it was still too much for a little girl like her. The thought that I'd dragged Ultimate Supreme Kwon A-rin into this harsh life didn't sit right with me.
"Um, y-you can't make her work too hard, okay...?"
"Yeah. I'll stick to guild rules."
"O-okay..."
I had no idea what Yeomyeong Guild's rules were exactly, but if Han Yeoreum said that, they probably weren't too strict. I watched her walk off with Kwon A-rin in tow. For some reason, Kwon A-rin was grinning like a madwoman. Maybe the brutal reality had driven her insane.
"G-good luck..."
If she looked too worn out later, I'd have to help. I whispered my encouragement too quietly for her to hear and stepped out of the lounge with Levi Nas.
Sophia, En Sia, and Argo approached us.
"Gyeowol, there you are."
"Yes. What is it?"
"Today, I thought I'd teach you about the wildness of beastkin."
"Wildness?"
What the heck was beastkin wildness? As I pondered, Sophia beckoned me to follow. It was time to head to the hunting grounds, but I wasn't about to skip training or lessons. I decided to go along with her.
"Gyeowol, do you know the biggest difference between humans and beastkin?"
"Uh... physically, it's the ears and tails...?"
"Right! Levi Nas has horns too!"
Levi Nas proudly showed off her tiny horn. It was adorable how she treasured it.
"Close enough. Beastkin aren't beasts, but they have beastly traits. That's the difference from humans."
"I see."
So what's the point? I kept that rude thought to myself, maintaining an eager expression.
"Humans' wildness has limits. Intellectual beings can never truly grasp the raw wilderness. They can imitate it, but the essence is different."
"Ah... so beastkin...?"
"Yes, beastkin are different. We're intellectual yet feral. Born understanding the raw wild."
With Sophia's explanation, we arrived at the guild's training grounds. There, I spotted the familiar mage, Jeong Yu-na.
"Oh, Gyeowol's here?"
"Yeah. I'm here for wildness training today."
"Wildness...? What's that?"
"No clue myself."
I glanced at Sophia, but En Sia and Argo stepped forward instead.
"Gyeowol, allow me to demonstrate. It may seem threatening or rude, but please remember this is just training."
"Y-yes, okay..."
I nodded, and En Sia let out a long breath. At the same moment, an indescribable, overwhelming aura surged from her body.
"...!"
My skin prickled. Like prey frozen before a predator, I couldn't move. The savage intimidation I'd endured from Park Min-gyu for so long felt like child's play.
"Hic!"
Levi Nas hiccuped beside me, and Jeong Yu-na gasped in admiration. En Sia's presence was that shocking.
"Ugh..."
Her eyes were so fierce. It felt like she'd lunge and tear my throat out any second. Levi Nas must have thought the same—she leaped up with a yelp.
"Eek!"
She hid behind me. Honestly, I wanted to do the same, but I grabbed Jeong Yu-na's arm instead. I knew En Sia wouldn't really attack.
"...That's it."
En Sia carefully withdrew her aura. Only then could I gasp for air.
"Hoo, haa."
So this was the beastkin wildness Sophia mentioned. It was on a whole other level from mere threats. Even the other adventurers training nearby were startled—they drew weapons, on guard.
"Boss! You okay?!"
Argo shook my shoulders. My head wobbled, voice trembling.
"Y-yeah, I'm fine, fine."
"Tanking that like nothing! Boss is tough as nails!"
I wasn't fine at all. It was terrifying. Before I could say so, Sophia approached.
"How was that? Think you can do it, Gyeowol?"
"M-me...?"
"Yes. You're beastkin too, a carnivore type. You could unleash an aura like En Sia's."
Me, match En Sia's aura? Was she serious? The surrounding adventurers murmured in surprise.
"Gyeowol can do that?"
"Well, she's beastkin. Maybe?"
These were folks I often passed in the guild—now whispering my name. Tension crept in.
"Um, Sophia, I don't think I can yet..."
"Why not?"
"I'm not strong like En Sia..."
Sophia shook her head, her firm expression screaming you can.
"You might not now, but with practice, you'll get there."
"Practice?"
"Like shooting arrows."
Fair point. No one starts like En Sia. What I needed was practice, just like Sophia said.
"...With practice, could I become like En Sia someday?"
"Even better."
Better than En Sia? Sophia wouldn't lie. Energized, I took a deep breath like En Sia had.
"I'll try."
"Good."
I narrowed my eyes fiercely, summoning whatever wildness lurked inside. I had no idea how, but I figured looking scary was key. I was a carnivore—a top predator, savage and deadly. Hypnotizing myself with threats, I bared my claws like I was about to pounce.
"Gr, grrrowl..."
I glanced around from my raised-claw pose. Jeong Yu-na and the others smiled at me. En Sia and Argo clapped, saying I did great. The only one terrified here was Levi Nas, trembling behind Jeong Yu-na.
"Ah, growl wasn't right..."
Who growls like a baby? I'd gotten carried away and embarrassed myself. I scratched my neck sheepishly.
"No, the growl was spot on."
"R-really...?"
"Yes. It evokes that feral instinct."
"Ah..."
Embarrassing, but if it was right... After seeing En Sia's wildness up close—skin crawling, legs buckling—I couldn't whine. A little shame was worth it if I could master it.
"Practice steadily whenever you have time."
"...Growling too?"
"Yes."
"Got it."
I'd keep at it. Until I could match En Sia. Swallowing my shame, I bared my claws again.
"Gr, grrrowl..."
Inside Yeomyeong Guild's training grounds. The adventurers weren't training—they kept sneaking glances at one spot.
"Mm..."
"Hmmm..."
A tiny beastkin girl growled at her reflection in the mirror. She even bared her fangs, trying so hard to look fierce.
Oh man.
Too cute.
I wanna take her home.
Of course, they knew she wasn't showboating or acting cute on purpose. En Sia's aura earlier had even seasoned high-rankers on edge. She was just striving to be like that. But the process was adorable, tugging smiles from everyone.
"Kyao... grrr... ? Nah, that's not it..."
Her serious practice was heart-melting. Gyeowol might be Yeomyeong Guild's greatest perk.
"Screw training today."
"...Don't stare so obviously."
"Oh, right."
Dad smiles, mom smiles. As guild adventurers grinned watching her—
Han Yeoreum entered through the training ground doors. Without scanning the room, she headed straight for Gyeowol.
"Gyeowol, whatcha doing?"
"Training."
"Huh? Without your bow?"
"It's beastkin wildness training."
Beastkin wildness training? For the cute, lovable Gyeowol? Han Yeoreum blinked in confusion.
"You can do that?"
"Nope, that's why I'm practicing."
"Ah... Mind showing your big sis?"
Showing off growls and kyao's? Gyeowol flushed but agreed—for her future. She wanted to shed her timid self, interact normally. That meant building confidence.
Clutching a sliver of hope, Gyeowol slowly built her aura like she'd practiced. Fangs out, claws up.
"Grrrowl..."
She channeled beastly wildness, intimidating Han Yeoreum. Watching, Han Yeoreum just gaped, mouth wide.
"Ah, it's not super threatening yet...?"
"......"
"Looks kinda weird, but with practice, it'll get fierce. They said any beastkin can do it..."
Even through Gyeowol's explanation, Han Yeoreum said nothing—just stood there, mouth agape like an idiot.