I Am the Forest Ruler Slayer, the Sickly Butterfly (3)
Just because I can't use magic doesn't mean my life as a magical beast is over.
In this world, there are plenty of people who became strong in various ways even without magic.
So, I just need to reach the top using something other than magic.
For example, a fist-fighting, martial artist fairy?
Or maybe a fairy specialized in biting, since I'm pretty good at that.
No matter how I picture it, that's definitely not a fairy...
Heading toward the area where the beast was rampaging, I still couldn't let go of my lingering attachment to magic.
Even when I was human, I always wanted to try using magic. And since I'd set my goal to become a fairy, I really wanted to use magic in a way that suited one.
But to think I couldn't even circulate my mana, let alone cast a spell.
According to Tree, the blood I spit definitely has mana infused in it.
He said infusing mana is the harder part, so why can't I do the easy part?
Well, infusing it into my blood isn't something I'm doing intentionally; it's just happening instinctively.
Still, if I've mastered the advanced application, shouldn't the basics naturally follow?
The world is just too unfair.
- We're here. I'll make one last suggestion. Let's run away while we still can.
Absolutely not. We have to catch it.
"Gwek."
I firmly rejected Tree's suggestion and followed the beast's presence, which was drawing closer and closer.
The further we went, the more the beautiful and peaceful forest turned into a complete disaster zone.
Along the beast's path of movement, the ground was churned up and trees were snapped in half.
On top of that, dark, foul-smelling blood—definitely not mine—was scattered in a steady trail.
It's the beast's blood. Waiting was definitely the right choice.
For reasons unknown, the beast was already destroying itself.
It was completely unable to look after its own body.
Tree and I kept a sharp eye on our surroundings as we followed the blood trail.
- Grrr...
Before long, we spotted the beast clawing frantically at the bloodstains left behind from my previous hunts.
It looked in terrible shape, as if it had spent days searching for me without eating a single thing.
Its eyes were rolled back, and splinters of wood and sharp stones were embedded all over its bleeding body.
Be careful not to get hurt.
"Gwe-ek."
- You're worrying about me, right? Thanks. I'll hold it down tight, so make sure your shot lands.
Tree and I split up to execute our crude plan to end the hunt quickly.
The plan was for Tree to bind the beast, and then I would spit blood from the air onto the exhausted creature to either kill it instantly or poison it.
Before my evolution, this would have been nearly impossible since I couldn't fly on my own, but now I could fly independently for short bursts.
We could catch the crazed beast completely off guard.
We can do this. That guy is already exhausted and wounded. He's no match for us.
I fluttered up into the sky and waited for Tree to bind the beast.
Creeping silently until he was right next to the beast, Tree extended all of his roots.
Even then, the beast had no idea we were right beside it.
- Roar?!
Now!
"Gwek."
Now that Tree had the beast firmly bound, this was our chance.
I immediately spat blood toward its neck from directly above its head.
Having grown more proficient, it was now more of a spray than a spit. A torrent of blood rained down on the beast.
- Groooaaar!!!
The blood landed squarely on the beast's neck. A sizzling sound echoed alongside its screams as the acid in my blood melted away its fur and hide.
Without stopping, the moment I saw Tree pull back from the beast, I fluttered my wings to envelop it in a cloud of bloody scales.
From observing the beast over the past few days, I knew it absolutely detested the smell of my blood.
I had often seen it scratching its nose with its claws while sniffing around to find me.
- Grrr!!
Just as I thought.
The moment the beast caught the scent of my blood, it began to thrash wildly, clawing at its own face.
It didn't even seem to care that its neck was actively melting away.
At this rate, I could finish it off with just one more spit.
Hurry up and become my EXP and dinner.
"Gwe-ek."
I tried to position myself directly above the beast to spit again.
But then, a red aura erupted from the thrashing beast's body, and it snapped its head up to look directly at me.
What the?
Sensing something was wrong, I immediately veered off and flapped my wings with all my might to gain speed.
What is that?
What is wrong with that thing?
How is it jumping like that when its neck is literally dangling by a thread?!
- Groooaaar!!
Watching it leap up to grab me with its neck half-melted was more than enough to strike fear back into my recently fearless heart.
Looking like a zombie bear straight out of a horror flick, it lunged, and I fled as fast as I could.
What kind of skill is that?! Is it some kind of final struggle?!
Why is this final struggle lasting so long?!
Just die already!
Your neck bone is practically fully dissolved!
I almost got bitten!!
"Gwe-e-ek!!"
Because I was still a fragile butterfly, my wings were reaching their limit.
In contrast, despite its dangling neck, the beast was moving much faster than usual.
If I hadn't had the aerial advantage, I would have been eaten alive long ago.
I'm going to get eaten at this rate! Should I just let it swallow me and melt it from the inside?
- I'll hold it down one more time!
Just as I was considering a kamikaze attack, Tree, who had followed behind, extended his roots again to grab the beast.
Tree's roots were too fragile to hold back a beast that seemed to have gone completely berserk.
I could tell they would snap at any second.
But they could stall it for just a brief moment.
Good job!
So this is why people form parties!
Taking advantage of the opening Tree created, I squeezed every last drop of strength from my exhausted body to gather the blood inside me.
With loud snaps, Tree's roots broke and splintered one by one, but he held onto the beast until the very end.
Thanks to that, I was able to get right in front of the beast's face.
- Grrr!!
Just die already, you stupid beast!!
Tearing through Tree's roots, the beast saw me approach and opened its jaws wide to bite me.
But I am a butterfly.
I can change direction in midair whenever I want.
I sprayed blood directly into the beast's gaping maw, pivoted, and plummeted toward the ground.
Having swallowed a mouthful of my blood instead of me, the beast froze in place as if it had stared directly at Medusa.
- Are you okay?
I feel like I'm going to die of exhaustion...
"Gwek..."
- It looks like you aren't hurt. Thank goodness.
Tree picked me up from where I lay sprawled beneath the beast and placed me gently on one of his branches.
Even as I lay limp on the branch, I didn't let my guard down.
The level-up notification hadn't appeared yet.
Which meant the beast was still alive.
Just how stubborn is this thing?
I really wish it would just die.
I desperately need the recovery that comes with a level-up.
I've pushed my strength past its absolute limit.
My wings hurt, and my entire body is aching.
While mentally urging the beast to hurry up and die, I checked on Tree's condition.
Are you okay?
"Gwek?"
- Me? It hurts a bit, but I'm fine. I'll recover if I just sleep for about two months.
Most of Tree's roots were severed and scattered across the ground.
He had sacrificed them to save me and hold the beast down.
He could have just run away on his own.
Though if he had, I would have been killed by the beast.
- I'll probably have to stay in this forest for a while. It's the perfect place to recover. Once you've rested a bit, you should head west. That's where our territory is.
Tree spoke as if we were about to part ways.
But I had absolutely no intention of leaving him.
I would rather wait for him to recover than go on alone.
Now that I've realized how important it is to have a companion, he wants me to go solo?
Absolutely not.
Besides, he's going to be completely healed in a moment anyway.
I wonder how he'll react.
He'll definitely be shocked, right?
But will it apply to Tree as well?
Since our souls are linked, it should work.
- Say something. I've grown attached to you, so it makes me sad that we have to part.
You have leveled up!
You have leveled up!
...
You have leveled up!
You can now evolve!
It's finally dead.
It died right in the middle of Tree's embarrassing speech.
Honestly, it would have been nicer if it had waited for him to finish.
I wonder how Tree will react.
As expected, Tree is included.
"Gwe-e-ek."
Feeling all my fatigue vanish, I looked down at Tree's roots.
His damaged roots were completely restored, as if they had never been broken in the first place.
No, they weren't just restored; they had actually grown larger.
To use Tree's terminology, his status must have risen.
- What in the world is this...?
Since we've grown attached, we don't have to part ways. Right?
"Gwek?"
Even if he didn't understand my exact words, Tree would get the gist of it.
As proof, his entire body was trembling violently.
This was exactly why I had waited.
This is so much fun.
- You...! You knew! What did you do this time?! Why do such ridiculous things keep happening whenever I'm with you?! And why has my status risen again?!
If Tree had a human form right now, wouldn't he be on the verge of crying from sheer embarrassment?
Amused by my own imagination, I hopped off the branch and headed toward the beast.
- What are you doing?
It was time for a delicious meal and a new skill acquisition.
Since it was this big, surely I could get a skill or two out of it, right?
I absolutely want that final struggle skill!