Chapter 37
Chapter 37
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: The Hunt Remembers
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Flap flap flap!
Emergency Ration, who had been circling the sky and watching the entire ordeal, swiftly flew to Hwan-in the moment silence fell over the surroundings.
Kwaak!
Landing beside the sprawled-out Hwan-in's head, it flapped its wings frantically, urging him to get up quickly.
Was he just asleep from exhaustion? But this was a monster village. Having learned that staying here was dangerous, Emergency Ration rubbed its head against Hwan-in's cheek, prodding him to wake up.
Kwaak, kwaak!
It even tugged at his hair and earlobes with its beak, and smacked his face with its wingtips...
Kwaak...
Seeing Hwan-in utterly motionless, Emergency Ration recalled a certain memory and let out a sorrowful cry.
Even when his mom and siblings died, he hadn't moved like this.
No matter how much it had cried out beside him to get up, he hadn't budged an inch.
In the end, Emergency Ration had watched from the tree as a beast devoured his mom and siblings, and that was when it learned the concept of death...
Kwaak...
Its always reliable friend, the good friend who always made sure to feed it tasty things and punish the bad guys, had defeated countless monsters, even the monster king, only to lose his life.
First impressions had been the worst, but now it thought of him as its one and only friend...
Emergency Ration gazed at its fallen friend with mournful eyes, then rubbed its cheek against his.
Its heart hurt so much it felt like crying.
=Uh, benefactor?=
Suddenly sensing someone approaching, it startled and flared its wings in wary defense.
Kweeek!
It threatened them not to come closer, even bristling its tail feathers. But the creatures that looked like its friend ignored the warning and rushed over, surrounding the dead friend.
Launched into the air as it was shoved aside, Emergency Ration glared at the bald monsters encircling its friend with fury-filled eyes.
=Eek! W-what is this? Charcoal... monster?=
=Did he kill all these too?=
=I don't know. This thing's creepy, so let's get rid of it first!=
Thud thud.
=Sis... Benefactor's body is ice-cold. What do we do?=
=First, we need to move him inside the cave. Girls, help me out.=
Kwaak!!
Furious to the point of frenzy at the sight of four monsters trying to take its dead friend, Emergency Ration launched an assault on them.
Diving like an arrow, it clawed the hair of the two smallest monsters with its talons, pecking their heads and smacking their frail-looking shoulders and faces with its wingtips compared to its friend.
Kwaak kwaak! Kweeek!
=Kyaa! What is this thing!?=
=Ow! Ouch!=
But the attack was short-lived. When one of the other two monsters reached for it, it quickly fled into the sky.
=It hurts...
=Ugh... It bit me... Wait, isn't that bird Kue?=
=Yeah. First time seeing a green one. Must be the benefactor's pet.=
=...It looks really pissed.=
=Thinks we're trying to harm the benefactor, doesn't it?=
=Girls, enough talk. Hwini, go grab all the benefactor's staff over there. Ennel, try to catch Kue if it comes close. Efnis, help me get the benefactor on my back.=
=Okay!=
=Yes.=
=Got it.=
Planning to eat my friend?
Emergency Ration was so angry it was on the verge of tears. If it were as big as its mom, it would've pecked them all to death!
As the bald monsters carried its friend toward the cave with their backs turned, Emergency Ration anxiously circled the sky...
Kwaak!
It targeted the neck of the largest bald monster bearing its friend on her back and dove like a shot.
Its talons weren't as sharp as its friend's weapons, but it intended to slash the throat just like he did.
=Got it!=
Kkwek...?!
But oh no, it was a trap.
One bald monster had been waiting for it to attack and spun around to snatch it mid-dive, the timing so perfect that Emergency Ration had no chance to flap away.
Emergency Ration thought it was for the best and went limp.
Mom was gone, and now the friend it planned to spend its life with was gone too.
Following its friend like this wasn't so bad.
=Huh? Sis, it's being awfully docile.=
=Kue's smart. It'll realize soon enough we're not trying to harm the benefactor. Let it go then.=
=Okay.=
I wonder how I'll die. Dragged into the dim cave, Emergency Ration imagined its fate.
Would it be roasted like the meat its friend used to grill? Or sliced thin and dried in the sun?
It hoped it wouldn't hurt.
As the bald monsters gathered wood scraps, piled them up, and skillfully lit a fire, Emergency Ration instinctively knew its doom.
I'll burn to death.
Unable to twitch a single feather from how tightly it was held, Emergency Ration's eyes widened as two bald monsters began stripping off its friend's leather (clothes).
They're not roasting me?
After fully removing its friend's leather, the bald monsters laid him on his side and pressed their bodies against his front and back.
=Hwini, cover him with that animal hide and keep an ear out for anyone coming from outside.=
=Okay.=
=Ennel, let Kue go and make sure the fire doesn't die out.=
=Yes.=
Released from the bald monster's grip, a baffled Emergency Ration tilted its head.
Why let me go? And what are they doing?
...Sharing body heat?
Recalling huddling warmly under mom's wings with its siblings on cold nights, Emergency Ration observed the bald monsters again.
=Hah.=
Crack, splinter. Crunch.
The smallest bald monster by the fire was splitting wood lengthwise, while the one at the entrance listened for sounds outside.
The other two clung to its friend, pulling a large, wide hide up to his neck.
=So cold...=
=Efnis, do it like this. Rub the skin to help raise his body temperature.=
=Okay.=
Maybe these monsters are good ones?
Wandering uncertainly, Emergency Ration turned at the "peep peep, peep peep" sounds.
The largest bald monster was gesturing and making odd noises toward it.
Its friend had called it the same way...
Approaching warily, the bald monster picked it up and made space for it to nestle against its friend's neck.
Emergency Ration recalled a similar incident long ago.
Back then, its friend had fought monsters fiercely, gotten hurt, collapsed in the nest, and wouldn't wake no matter what. Then he had opened his eyes, hugged it close, and drifted off again.
Maybe these bald monsters weren't trying to eat its friend but wake him up.
It looked at the largest one. Her face, similar to its friend's, twisted oddly as she reached out to pet it.
Kwaak!
Pecking her hand in protest, Emergency Ration huddled tightly against its friend's neck like the bald monsters, curling up to share its body heat.
'...So cold.'
A sensation like something stroking his chest roused Hwan-in's awareness. Unable to open his eyes, he shivered faintly.
It felt like being thrown naked onto the Arctic ice plain in midwinter.
His heart felt like it would stop.
Kwaak...! Kwaak kwaak...!
Emergency Ration's cries echoed faintly in his ears.
In his hazy consciousness, Hwan-in twitched his fingers. Warm human skin intertwined with them, melting his frozen hand. He gripped the soft, fuzzy thing harder.
Realizing hot skin pressed against him front and back, Hwan-in laboriously extended both arms to embrace the warmth in his arms.
The area of warm, fluffy skin contact increased, but the bone-chilling cold dominating his body showed no sign of retreat.
=B-benefactor... A-are you... coming to...?=
=...Still... unconscious...=
He tried to open his eyes at the voices by his ear, but his eyelids felt frozen shut. Yet perhaps from recognizing external stimuli, his awareness sharpened.
His dreamlike haze cleared, and the ringing sounds grew distinct.
=Hmm~? Hmmm. But the benefactor looks so unique. Ears too short for a Floe, too tall for a Selphin proud.=
=Not one of ours? I think I've heard light-blood Inon resemble them...=
=No tail though?=
=...=
The two girls' voices exchanged then stopped. After a brief silence, Hwan-in heard a familiar voice from within his embrace.
=Ennel, didn't you see any alcohol inside?=
=There... was some, I think. I'll go check.=
=Hwini, go with her. Bring any unspoiled meat too.=
=Okay!=
The faintly echoing voices and crackling firewood sounds painted the scene. Though unable to open his eyes, Hwan-in roughly grasped the situation from the noises.
'This is... the cave below the hill.'
The women captured by the monsters must have led him back inside.
Shocked by his low body temperature, they were warming him with their bodies.
The greatsword monster had been alive until he passed out—what happened? Since he was alive, it must be dead... Did he go berserk like a berserker while unconscious?
Around then, his whole body began throbbing. Even with numbness from the chill, this pain suggested full-body muscle ache, bruises, maybe even fractures.
Kwaak...
Wondering if he was hurt at Emergency Ration's weak cry, footsteps and the girls' voices filled the cave.
=Ryuhi sis, got it. There was some after all.=
=The meat still has good stuff too!=
=Good. Grill the meat and hand me the alcohol.=
A clinking sound, followed by coughing and a woman's voice.
=Fruit wine made from Senpi berries. A bit strong, but perfect.=
Rustling followed, then the warmth in his arms departed. The sudden loss amplified the chill, and Hwan-in felt his upper body lifted.
A soft, squishy sensation cradled the back of his head. He immediately realized it was a breast.
Hard wood texture touched his lips, followed by an overpowering smell of overripe alcohol assaulting his nose. Then liquid flowed.
=Ah, it's spilling.=
=Mm.=
This time, soft lips pressed his. Guessing her intent, a moist, tender tongue pried his lips apart, pouring alcohol through the gap.
About seven sips of mouth-to-mouth alcohol warmed his stomach with a tingling heat.
Bolstered by the warmth and stimulation, Hwan-in finally managed to open his eyes.
"......"
=Ah, he's awake!=
=Thank goodness...=
The two girls, looking about 15 or 16, exhaled long breaths with faces mixed half tearful, half relieved.
Kwaak! Kwaak kwaak!
Emergency Ration on his lap flapped more passionately than ever; Hwan-in laboriously reached to stroke its head.
"......Are you all right?"
His voice cracked slightly but came out fine. Impressed by alcohol's power, the Jindo-eared woman supporting his back replied.
=Yes. You slew all the monsters in the cave, so we're safe. Glad you've come to...=
"...!"
Pushing up with both arms, excruciating pain stabbed through his spine as he tried to sit up, forcing out a gasp.
As he struggled to rise despite it, the Jindo-eared woman and retriever-eared girl supported him from both sides.
Thanks to them, Hwan-in stood more easily and addressed the women.
"This place isn't safe. We should move...! Hoo, let's move right away."
=We're fine, but moving in your condition is impossible!=
"Put together the escaped monsters, that's over ten. No idea how much time passed, but when night falls, they might return...! ...We need to leave."
The women's faces hardened at mention of ten monsters returning. They moved quickly.
The Jindo-eared woman issued orders.
=Ennel, grab whatever alcohol you can for the benefactor. Hwini, pack the meat. Efnis, pick usable weapons from over there.=
=Uh, uh? What about the meat grilling now?=
"Plenty of meat where we're going. Monster-stocked meat... hard to call fresh, so leave it."
The wolf-eared girl nodded at Hwan-in's words, Soul Vision too cold to use.
=Ah, yes!=
=Benefactor, let me help you dress.=
Objectively, the Jindo-eared woman was stunning enough for acting.
The other three looked young but were cute in their own ways.
'Female souls too... Are women in this world above average in beauty, or racial traits?'
Dismissing idle thoughts, Hwan-in dressed with the Jindo-eared woman's help and spoke to the gathered women.
"Thank you. Without you, I'd have been in real danger."
=With willpower to rise in that state, you'd have survived somehow. We're grateful. You killed the monsters before they ate us...=
The mood sobered.
Eaten? Had they eaten someone before he arrived?
Feeling his thoughts scatter from pain, Hwan-in forced out words.
"Then... let's go."
Exiting the cave, Hwan-in exchanged names.
The woman in her early 20s with Jindo ears, tail, and gray fur: Ryuhi.
The late-teens with folded retriever ears, fluffy tail, straw-colored fur: Efnis.
The two girls younger than Efnis, with wolf ears/tails and brown fur: Hwini and Ennel.
He'd thought Hwini and Ennel similar; Ryuhi said they were fraternal twins.
"My surname is Hwan, given name In. Hwan-in."
=Y-you're nobility...?=
Efnis asked, eyes widening from half-lidded.
"Don't know what nobility means."
=They call high clans or ho clans from across the sea with surnames nobility... Read in a book...=
Voice trailed uncertainly.
'Intriguing. Communication's miraculous, let alone word conversion—what principle?'
Interpreting high clans (high?) or ho clans (??) as nobles, Hwan-in shook his head painfully.
"I'm neither high clan nor ho clan."
=Oh...=
Unconvinced, but he ignored it. Continued talk and walking made pain familiar, movement easier.
Emerging through the passage, noon sun stabbed his eyes.
Raising his wrist laboriously revealed shattered glass, bent hands.
'Fight wrecked watch, smartphone, blade... Massive losses.'
At least Soul Orb duration inferred time—small mercy.
"That way."
Pointing toward twin peaks, women turned.
Then Hwini, laden with large hide full of alcohol like a backpack, yelled "Wait!" and dashed to a clearing.
=Hwini?! What are you doing!=
Ignoring Ennel's cry, she picked up a massive fang her torso size and ran back.
=Th-this. Holy beast's fang. Dad said holy beast teeth make great weapons. Thought benefactor forgot, so I grabbed it.=
Lacking knowledge, hard to react.
"Well done."
Praise works in most situations. Hwini beamed, suppressing joy.
Glancing skyward, Hwan-in asked Emergency Ration on his shoulder to stay vigilant, then entered the forest with the women.
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