Chapter 313: Bunnies Are So Cute
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 313: Bunnies Are So Cute
Muen and Liya trudged through the dense, overgrown jungle.
Perhaps due to the lack of sunlight, there wasn't much undergrowth on the ground, but the trees were draped in all manner of climbing vines.
These vines were incredibly tough, most of them as thick as Muen’s arm, interlacing into a dense web. If Muen hadn't been using Elizabeth to hack a path forward, even simple movement would have been nearly impossible.
"Are you alright?"
Muen looked back at Liya.
The girl looked exhausted. Beads of sweat had dampened her hair, causing strands to cling to her forehead.
She looked like a delicate white flower on the verge of snapping.
"Why don't you use a Holy Light spell to recover a bit?" Muen suggested.
"No," Liya said, shaking her head gently. "I can still keep going."
"There's no need to push yourself," Muen sighed. "Even if we run into enemies later, it won't make much of a difference if—"
Before he could finish, Muen’s gaze sharpened. He gripped the pure white short blade and swung it with a forceful arc. As if he had sensed it coming, he struck a small, blurred shadow that shot out like a bolt of lightning from the thick vines.
Clink!
The sound of metal clashing rang out, sparks flying. However, the small shadow only resisted the razor-sharp blade for a split second before being sliced in two. The two halves fell to the ground, writhing and squirming.
"Another snake?"
Looking at the severed half of the tiny snake—which was still trying to lunge at him despite its state—Muen felt a wave of visceral disgust.
In his past life as a modern man, his legs would go weak at the sight of a snake. Couldn't this place produce something a bit cuter? Like a little white rabbit that hopped around or something?
He swung again, severing the snake's head.
Feeling the slight vibration through the hilt and marveling at the hardness of the scales, Muen frowned slightly.
"This isn't an ordinary snake. But I can't sense any mana from it. It's not a magical beast... how strange."
Since they had started their trek, they hadn't encountered any magical beasts, but they had frequently run into all sorts of bizarre snakes, insects, and vermin. Not only were these creatures exceptionally agile, but they often carried potent toxins capable of corroding rock.
If Muen’s speed and reactions hadn't been far beyond those of an ordinary person, he would have been bitten long ago.
"This is... a Variant, isn't it?"
Liya looked at the severed head, which still had its fangs bared and eyes gleaming with a cold light, her expression one of trepidation.
"I've read about them in books. Even though these Variants have no mana in their bodies, their physical scales are incredibly tough, and their venom is extremely potent. In a way, they're even more terrifying than ordinary magical beasts."
"No magical beasts, but instead Variants that evolved along a different path... Is this also the influence of that Calamity?"
"Most likely."
"A Forbidden Land is a Forbidden Land, after all. Can't take it lightly."
Muen shook his head and kicked the disgusting snake carcass into a dark, unseen corner.
An excited crow's caw rang out, seemingly celebrating the arrival of a free meal.
"I suppose crows are equally clever in every world," Muen chuckled. His gaze drifted a short distance away and suddenly locked onto something.
"Hmm? There's a lake over there."
"A lake? Really?"
At the mention of a lake, Liya’s eyes immediately lit up with a different kind of brilliance. The air in the forest was so humid, and they had been walking for hours. At a time like this, a pool of clear water sounded like heaven.
But then, as if remembering something, the light in her eyes dimmed.
"Actually... never mind."
"Really?" Muen asked with a half-smile. "You don't want to go wash up? Soak your feet or something?"
"Of course I do," Liya said. "But now isn't the time for that, is it?"
"I see. Well, nothing to be done then."
Muen shrugged and began walking toward the lake. "Since Student Liya is so diligent, please keep moving forward. It looks like it's getting dark, and I wouldn't dare move around in a hellhole like this at night."
As he spoke, Muen looked back and gave a smiling wave. "I'll go take a break first then. See ya~"
"..."
Seeing Muen actually disappear behind the vines, Liya stood there dazed. It wasn't until an eerie howl echoed from deep within the forest that she snapped out of it. Her cheeks puffed out in annoyance, and she stomped her foot before chasing after him.
"You... you jerk! Wait for me!"
*
"It's beautiful..."
Liya gasped as she looked at the lake before her.
The water was as still as a mirror. The rare, clear light from the sky fell upon it, reflecting a brilliant star river.
As the night grew deeper, the far shore of the lake became blurred. The massive trees in the distance were shrouded in mist, looking like sleeping giants.
It was breathtakingly beautiful, as if all her exhaustion dissipated just by looking at the scenery.
However, Liya didn't approach recklessly. Instead, she stole a glance at Muen.
Muen was standing on a fallen, withered tree by the lakeshore. He carefully scanned the surface of the water, then picked up a few pebbles and tossed them into various parts of the lake. Only after the ripples had completely faded did he turn back and smile.
"It should be safe."
"Oh."
Liya breathed a sigh of relief.
She slowly walked to the water's edge, knelt down, and cupped a handful of the clear water.
After a moment's hesitation, she lowered her head and took a small sip.
The cool lake water flowed down her throat, instantly making her feel much more comfortable.
"I'll go find something to eat nearby before it gets completely dark," Muen’s voice came from behind her.
"Okay." Liya nodded gently. "Be... be careful."
"Will do."
"Hmm?"
Muen turned his head and rubbed his chin, suddenly muttering playfully.
"Why does this feel like a wife seeing her husband off?"
But then again, how could that be?
After circling the small lake one more time to ensure there were no hidden dangers, Muen re-entered the darkening forest.
Liya was left alone, quietly crouching by the lake.
"What... what does he mean, 'like a wife seeing her husband off'?"
Liya, who had accidentally overheard that sentence, gritted her teeth.
But after being indignant for a long while, she just pouted. Looking at her own reflection in the lake—her face tinged with a slight blush—she whispered two words:
"You jerk..."
Naturally, there was no one to hear her. Only the surface of the lake rippled playfully.
Liya cupped more water and drank a few mouthfuls. She looked around and found a large leaf, rolling it into a cup shape.
"I should just let you die of thirst!"
With no one else around, the girl let her imagination run wild. Thinking about that guy looking miserable made her smile.
But as she lowered her head, a carefully controlled Holy Light began to glow in her hand.
Purification.
The clear water in the leaf wobbled slightly. Under the sacred light emanating from her palm, it became even purer.
After finishing, she set the water-filled leaf aside and stared at the clear lake water, a hint of hesitation flashing in her eyes.
"It... it should be fine, right?"
Liya looked around nervously.
She knew it wasn't the best time for such things, but she had been walking for so long, and the air in the forest was stiflingly humid.
After a whole day, she was covered in sweat.
She even thought—though it might have been her imagination—that she could smell a faint, strange odor on herself...
No, no, no. Liya shook her head vigorously, dismissing the thought.
The Holy Light that passively radiated from her body already had a cleansing effect. Even if she didn't bathe for a month, she would still be clean and fragrant. How could there be a strange smell after just one day?
But if there really was...
Liya bit her lip, her gaze once again drawn to the clear water.
Though it was a bit chilly, it was perfect for the surrounding heat.
"If I'm quick, it should be fine."
Thinking this, Liya’s hand instinctively moved to the buttons of her outer garment, slowly undoing them...
Splash...
The sound of water splashing made Liya jump.
She looked toward the source of the sound in a panic, only to find it was just an ordinary fish jumping, creating a small ripple.
Liya let out a breath, but at the same time, her gaze fell upon the thick reeds and water plants along the shore.
If someone were hiding there, she definitely wouldn't be able to see them.
"That guy... he wouldn't be hiding and peeking, would he?"
"No, no, he's not that kind of person... right?"
Liya’s mind fell into a spiral of conflict again, but the dwindling time didn't give her much room for hesitation.
"Hmph, I'll trust that jerk just this once!"
Liya finally made up her mind.
Anyway, she had seen him before. At worst, she'd just let him see her back!
Comforting herself with this thought, Liya removed her outer clothing and slowly dipped her small feet into the lake.
The icy water stimulated her skin, causing her to let out a soft, refreshed moan.
The surroundings were silent.
Even the noisy crows seemed to have fallen into a slumber as night approached.
Liya gradually began to relax.
However, deep within the center of the lake, where Liya wasn't looking, several dark shadows were slowly approaching.
Silently.
*
"Ha, wilderness survival really isn't easy."
Looking at the wild fruit in his palm, Muen couldn't help but pull a long face and groan.
He had worked hard all day, yet he was stuck eating fruit? How was his strong, eight-pack-abs body supposed to endure this?
He was going to lose muscle!
"But in this damn forest, isn't there a single normal creature?"
After kicking away several more strange insects and snakes that tried to attack him, Muen sighed helplessly.
He wasn't asking for a wild boar or a deer, but something that "tasted like chicken, was crunchy, and had six times the protein of beef"... there had to be something, right?
In this massive forest, aside from the Variants that seemed to target him specifically and the crows perched high in the trees, he hadn't seen a single creature that looked edible.
"Hmm?"
Just as he was thinking this, Muen’s gaze sharpened as he looked a bit further ahead.
With his current eyesight, he could clearly see a pair of long, upright white ears deep in the grass. They were twitching back and forth, much like the provocatively dressed women on certain streets of the Lower District, seemingly beckoning Muen.
"Is that... a rabbit?"
Does this godforsaken forest actually have rabbits?
Muen narrowed his eyes, suppressing his excitement. He tapped his pure white blades together, and a faint electrical arc spread out, masking his presence.
He approached cautiously, his eyes darting left and right.
But no matter how he looked at it, this creature—which was so cute it would surely taste delicious roasted—was a rabbit by any definition.
Except it was a bit large...
But in this magical world, it was normal for animals to be a bit bigger.
In any case, as long as it was edible!
Muen made up his mind. He took a deep breath and suddenly lunged forward, striking like a hungry wolf!
But in the next instant, the "cute" bunny that had been munching on grass suddenly turned its head. Its crimson eyes flared with a violent, bloodthirsty aura.
Then, its white, furry belly suddenly split open, revealing a massive maw filled with jagged fangs. It welcomed the self-delivering Muen with equal joy.
"Ah, my cute little bunny..."
Muen felt his heart plummet from heaven to hell, yet he swung Elizabeth—which was already gripped in his hand—without a hint of surprise.
"Couldn't you have let me keep my illusions for just a bit longer?"
The blade flashed, and blood sprayed.
Using his footwork, Muen gracefully dodged the splattering blood.
Sizzle...
The blood hit the ground and, as expected, made the same corrosive sound as the other Variants.
"Sigh. Looks like this thing isn't edible either."
Muen picked up the wild fruit he had set on the ground with a miserable expression.
"Anyway, time to head back. I'll settle the score with these guys sooner or later—"
Before he could finish, Muen’s expression changed abruptly.
He whipped his head around, looking toward the lake.
In the distance, birds took flight, accompanied by a girl's terrified scream.
"Help... Help me!"