Chapter 5
Chapter 5
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: The Little Wolf Pup
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Awooo!
I lifted my heavy eyelids.
What came into view was the deep night sky and cold moonlight.
"Where'd the sun go?"
My shock didn't last long.
As my mind cleared bit by bit, I started piecing together the situation.
I'd been out cold for over ten hours.
"Whoa... I'm somehow still alive."
Talk about good luck.
I'd passed out in the middle of the wild with zero preparations.
In a place swarming with dinosaurs, completely defenseless.
Yet I'd survived. It was damn near a miracle.
"Gotta build a base."
There was no guarantee luck like this would hold next time.
For survival, I needed a safe outpost.
At minimum, some basic defenses.
"But first... *cough*!"
A sudden cough wracked me.
Not from the Nine Yin Meridians.
My parched mucous membranes were the culprit.
"Dizzy as hell too."
Classic dehydration symptoms.
I needed water right now.
Except...
"...Why won't my body move?"
With a sigh, I checked my condition.
My whole body felt like a block of ice.
Probably from the internal injuries, my gut felt bloated,
and after dashing around under the blazing sun, every drop of moisture in me had evaporated.
"This is ridiculous. I look like a walking corpse."
A disbelieving chuckle escaped me—right then.
Rustle—
The grass stirred.
"What the—?"
I whipped my head toward the sound.
Far off, the grass swayed.
And the ripples were heading straight for me.
"...Dinosaur."
My body shuddered.
The terror from that morning came flooding back.
"Gotta run..."
Survival instinct kicked in. I tried to stand.
My upper body lurched awkwardly, but my legs stayed put.
Stinging pain in my thighs and calves—numb as hell.
"...Should've actually gone to the gym instead of just paying the membership."
Swallowing regret, I scanned around.
Looking for anything to grab onto and pull myself up.
That's when I spotted it.
A skeleton in a school uniform.
Well, more precisely, the sword hanging at its waist caught my eye.
I crawled toward it without hesitation.
Yanked the sword—scabbard and all—and used it like a cane to haul myself up.
"Nngh... Managed to stand, somehow."
Sigh. I checked the grass again.
The shaking was still closing in.
But even standing, I couldn't see what it was.
'Tiny dinosaur?'
Muttering, I drew the sword.
Shing—
A clear metallic ring as the blade slid free.
Unlike the weathered skeleton, the edge gleamed sharp and alive.
Relief hit me as I gripped the hilt—then.
Ssshhhk—
This hunk of metal, alien and heavy to a modern guy like me,
started feeling like an extension of my hand.
Amazed by the sensation, I swung it a few times experimentally.
My stance naturally balanced into perfect form.
A flexible guard ready for offense or defense.
The classic middle guard.
"Is this what talent feels like?"
Admiration was short-lived.
I focused ahead again.
The grass right in front of me rustled now.
Tension made my throat bob. I tightened on the hilt—then.
Rustle—
The grass parted, revealing the intruder.
"Kyiiing—"
A wolf pup.
"Wait, puppy?"
Fist-sized, covered in blood. No real threat.
Relief washed over me. I started lowering the sword—
Whoosh—
Wind sliced from somewhere.
My hand flicked the blade on reflex.
Slice—
Something hit the ground at my feet.
A neatly bisected stone.
"I did that?"
Shock barely registered.
Another whoosh came.
"Kyiiing!"
The pup ahead screamed.
The stone had been aimed at it, not me.
Up close, the little guy's body was bruised black and blue.
Victim of this rock-throwing bully.
"Kyiiing! Kyiiiing!"
It writhed in agony, yelping nonstop.
Then.
Whoosh—
Another incoming.
My body moved on its own.
I charged toward the pup.
Slice—
Cut the flying rock clean.
Now I saw the thrower.
Long arms, flat nose,
protruding muzzle, covered in brown fur—a monkey.
It bounded through the trees above,
grinning like it was at playtime.
"Eek! Kekeek!"
Laughing gleefully, it hurled another stone.
Trajectory straight for the pup again.
"Kyiiing!"
The pup sensed it, squeezing its eyes shut with a whimper.
Bracing for pain.
"Sigh. Breaks my heart."
That pitiful sight—I swung again.
Stone shattered in two.
I kicked the fragments at the monkey, leveling my blade.
"Knock it off."
Did my warning land?
"...Keeek."
It grimaced, snatched another rock, and flung it—at my head this time.
"Doesn't listen, huh."
Tsking, I swung calmly.
Neat split, as before.
But this time, I followed through.
Blade arcing, I dashed at its tree.
"Ook!"
Mocking me, it leaped to the next branch,
matching my advance exactly.
"Ookeeek!"
Jeering,
whoosh—whoosh—whoosh—
it pelted stones in barrage.
I deflected, parried, blocked, thinking:
"This'll go on forever."
But running? My legs were shot.
Adrenaline pumping, yet they wobbled like reeds.
Worse,
"Even if I bolt, doubt it'll let me go."
Started as fun for the weakling,
but now its face flushed red with rage.
Stones carried killing intent.
No way it'd back off if I retreated.
"Sigh. My damn bleeding heart."
I thrust my left hand toward it.
That morning's sensation returned.
Chill surged through me.
As the piercing cold raced wildly and gathered in my palm at my will—
Whoooosh—
I hurled it on the wind.
Ice Wind.
The monkey it struck—
💥 IMPACT! 💥 Splattered! Head explodes mid-throw. —tumbled from the tree, head bursting in its throwing pose.
"Good, one-shot kill."
Relief flickered—
Urk—
A gush of blood poured from my mouth.
Unhealed internals worsened.
"Sigh, I'm such an idiot."
Lamenting, consciousness sank into darkness again.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Awoong!?"
The pup was baffled.
That nasty monkey who'd stalked and stoned it for three days straight!
Its head had exploded without warning.
"Wooong?"
Replaying it didn't help. No clue what happened.
But one thing was clear.
The weird furless monkey.
The bald monkey had saved it.
"Kyiiing!"
The pup forced its aching body up.
To rush to its savior and lick thanks all over it.
But—
Thud—
The bald monkey collapsed.
"Kyiiing!?"
Panicked, the pup scurried over, prodding with tiny paws.
Poke-poke.
"W... Water..."
The monkey mumbled unconsciously.
Pup didn't get the words.
But it knew what he needed.
That stench from his mouth matched its own thirst.
"Wooong..."
Realizing this, the pup pondered.
Two water spots nearby.
The massive river beyond the forest, and the hidden lake amid rocky cliffs.
But the river? Off-limits.
Unimaginable monster lurked there.
The lake wasn't safe either.
Dangerous dweller there too.
"Wooong... Wooong. Woooooong!"
After much whining deliberation, the pup stepped out.
Tiny paw prints heading to the rocks.
To save the bald monkey.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Rocky lake entrance.
The pup arrived, trembling violently.
No wonder.
Thud—thud—
A colossal wolf turtle loomed at the mouth,
earth-shaking steps guarding the way.
🐢 ROAR OF TERRITORY! 🐢 [ROOOOAR!]
Proclaiming its domain with a menacing bellow.
Pure terror to the pup.
"Nng... Kyiiing."
Instinct tucked its tail between its legs before the overwhelming foe.
Shaking, but no retreat.
Fleeing meant the bald monkey died.
"Kyiiing..."
Frozen in fear—then something brushed its shoulder.
"Awoong!?"
It whipped around in freakout.
There.
"Pyu?"
Rabbits. Five of them, pup-sized.
Fragile-looking bunch. Pup relaxed a tad—
"Pyu!"
They hopped forward, ears twitching.
Like, "Follow us."
"Wooong..."
Hesitant, but the pup followed.
Led to a small hole.
"Pyu!"
They dove in, beckoning.
Pup squeezed after—
A vast lake opened before it.
Secret path bypassing the wolf turtle.
"Awoooong!"
Thrilled, pup dashed to slurp water.
Thirst-quenching guzzles for ages.
Then snapped to.
Not time for itself.
"Awoong!"
Self-reproach. Scanned around.
Spotted a leaf bigger than itself.
Yanked it over, carefully scooped water.
"Pyu?"
Perplexed rabbits got it, pitched in.
Leaf-bowl filled quick.
"Wooong!"
Grateful nod to rabbits.
Dragged the leaf out the hole.
Tiptoeing to avoid spills, retraced steps.
Safely back to bald monkey, the pup—
"Wooo!"
Gently lifted the leaf, trickling water into his mouth.
As droplets slipped in, his crumpled face eased.
Pup watched joyfully, tail wagging—
"Awoong!?"
Startled, dropped the leaf.
The passed-out bald monkey.
His muscles.
Crunch—
Crack-crackle—
Twisted, swelling bigger.
Pup stared in wonder briefly.
Soon poking the chiseled abs of Shihanbu.
Poke-poke.
"Awoong."
Bored quick, began patrolling the forest edge.
Guard duty till bald monkey woke.
As night deepened, a bond formed between the little wolf and the unconscious human.