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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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One should be more wary of an old wolf than a large one. Surviving to old age in the harsh wilderness implies wisdom and hunting prowess.
While a larger wolf might have the advantage in a direct confrontation, an old one is never to be underestimated. It might strike when you least expect it.
This wasn’t limited to wolves. In any harsh environment, surviving to old age was an accomplishment in itself.
The Mountain Lord, the guardian of this forest, was no exception.
Why a forest dweller had “mountain” in its title was a mystery, but not an important one. What mattered was that it had survived.
It was born a great tiger, a significant advantage for survival. Few could challenge it.
But even so, the deep layer was teeming with monsters. Carnivorous plants, high-level beasts – dangers lurked everywhere.
Luck played a role in survival, and even the Mountain Lord must have faced near-death experiences. But it had persevered, through brute strength and cunning.
While I hadn’t witnessed its battles firsthand, the countless scars on its body spoke of a life of struggle.
Its strength wasn’t just physical, it was the culmination of years of survival.
That was why it was called ‘Noho’ (Old Tiger). “Old” wasn’t a derogatory term, it was a title of respect, a testament to its resilience.
Even as its body weakened with age, its cunning would only sharpen.
Which meant I was screwed.
Not only was I outmatched physically, but it was also the most cunning creature I’d ever encountered.
‘How many years has it been since our last encounter?’
I’d foolishly wandered too deep into the forest back then. The encounter nearly killed me. I’d managed to inflict a minor wound on its side, but that was it.
Even with my regeneration, I was no match for it.
And its tenacity was terrifying. It had chased me all the way to the surface layer. I’d been incredibly lucky to escape.
I’d managed to lose it momentarily, and the scent of blood from another monster had masked my trail.
If not for that stroke of luck, I wouldn’t be here today.
‘So, how about now…?’
I frowned.
I wasn’t optimistic.
One thing was certain, if I wanted to live, I had to run.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
I threw daggers at it as I ran.
No need to aim with a target that large. I wasn’t sure if it would even be effective. I usually avoided throwing daggers.
Good quality throwing daggers were expensive, and I couldn’t retrieve them if I threw them while running.
But I had no choice. Any disruption to its pursuit was worth the cost.
“Ha… ha… you’re too fast…!”
“We can’t stop! We’ll die!”
“But…!”
“Ugh.”
Ha-neul was slowing us down, so I hoisted her onto my back.
Carrying her was faster than running with her. I briefly considered leaving her behind.
She was an otherworlder, she would respawn in three days.
But I quickly dismissed that thought. I couldn’t abandon someone I knew. I would carry her as far as I could.
“?!”
I felt her tense up as I carried her.
“Hold on tight! I can’t support you right now!”
I said, continuing to run.
Her… ample chest pressed against my back.
Firmly.
A warm, weighty sensation enveloped me. Like a warm water balloon pressing against me.
Was this reason enough to save her?
I would have enjoyed the feeling more if I weren’t being chased by a monster.
And honestly, it wasn’t just because of our acquaintance that I was helping her.
“A little magic, please.”
She was a support mage. Even a small buff was better than nothing.
Whoosh!
She cast a spell, and a gust of wind enveloped my feet.
Haste.
A simple spell that made the target lighter on their feet. Simple, but incredibly useful right now.
“ROAR!”
Even with Haste, shaking off Noho was difficult.
A two-legged human had its limits. But it was fine.
I was maintaining the distance. I hadn’t expected to escape easily. This was going to be a long chase.
The scenery blurred as the giant trees whizzed past, gradually shrinking in size.
We were approaching the middle layer.
Despite being far from its territory, Noho continued its pursuit, determined to make us its next meal.
It swung its massive paw at us.
I ducked just in time.
Whoosh!
A powerful gust of wind swept over my head, snapping several trees in half.
Even the trees of the middle layer were no match for its monstrous strength.
‘This isn’t working.’
Running wouldn’t save us.
I had to make it turn back. Injure it enough to make it reconsider the chase.
Even Noho didn’t have the stamina to casually stroll between the deep, middle, and surface layers.
It also had to consider the possibility of encountering rivals in its weakened state.
While Noho was the dominant predator, it wasn’t without challengers.
The solution was simple, injure it and escape.
I had a plan.
A giant tree stood before us, blocking our path.
“Let’s hide behind that.”
“But it’s chasing us! It’ll find us!”
“No, listen. I have a plan.”
I quickly explained my strategy as we ran.
Ha-neul’s role was crucial.
“…Okay.”
She nodded resolutely after hearing the plan.
We reached the tree and quickly hid behind it, making our preparations and waiting for the right moment.
“…”
The opportunity presented itself quickly.
“Growl!”
Noho stopped in front of the tree. Its keen sense of smell would have told it we were hiding.
A suffocating aura of malice pressed down on us.
I pushed aside my fear and thrust my spear towards it.
Normally, it would react, even if it meant taking a hit to crush me.
“Grrr?”
But its reaction was… confusion.
Of course. It was seeing two of me.
A simple illusion created with ‘Phantom.’
‘Got it.’
I smirked inwardly. It would be momentarily confused.
Which one is real? Which one should I attack? What if they’re both real?
That hesitation was all I needed.
Thud!
My prepared strike pierced its foreleg. The spear sank deeper than I’d expected, drawing blood.
A small wound, considering its size, but a wound nonetheless.
‘Yes!’
I cheered inwardly. Now, all I had to do was escape.
I turned to grab Ha-neul and run.
And that’s when it happened.
Whoosh!
Its massive paw swung, not the injured right one, but the left. I raised my spear to block. But it was too late.
It wasn’t aiming for me.
“Huh?”
Thwack!
Its paw struck Ha-neul with brutal force. She looked at me, her eyes wide with shock.
“N-No, Yor…!”
Her body dissolved into particles of light as she logged out. All that remained was her mage’s hat on the ground.
“…Huh.”
I let out a breath. It had figured out who the caster was during the attack. It had prioritized the bigger threat.
Cunning, indeed.
“Grrr?”
It tilted its head, seemingly confused. It had probably never seen an otherworlder die before.
A body dissolving into light particles was a strange sight.
“…”
Honestly, there was no real loss.
She was an otherworlder, she would respawn in three days. She’d even taken a hit for me, allowing me to conserve my strength.
But a bitter feeling lingered. Even if there was no permanent damage, seeing a friend die before my eyes wasn’t a pleasant sight.
“Damn cat.”
Because of that I decided to change my stance a little. I will run away. But since I’ve already injured it, and it has already come down to the middle layer.
Wouldn’t it be okay to be a little late to run away?
So, I think it would be okay to be a little leisurely.
I took my spear and made a small cut on my skin. Slowly, the blood that came out of the skin thinly coated the blade of the spear.
“Let’s add one more scar today.”
It’s a little dangerous, but this guy should take some damage too, right?
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