CHAPTER 41………………………………..
“Eh!?”
Because he had been crouching, he lost his balance and was helplessly pushed into the pit.
With a thud, a woman’s scream echoed from within the pit.
‘Good. Not as troublesome as I thought.’
I smiled with satisfaction.
Now only one remained. He seemed to be waiting outside the bushes, frowning, just for the others to come out.
‘Judging by the fact that he hasn’t come to check on the commotion, he must be cautious.’
He was the man who had ignored me even when the young couple had paid attention to me.
Maybe he had some wisdom or experience, like his streaked gray hair suggested.
‘Still, finally left alone. I’ll snatch the tail before the humans trapped in the pit escape.’
If it were several of them, maybe not, but if it’s just him, I could handle it.
“Ugh… what’s going on?”
“Why did you fall in too, you idiot?”
“Who, who pushed me from behind! It must have been him! This isn’t a real trap, is it?”
“Don’t talk nonsense. Beasts don’t have that kind of thinking. You just misstepped.”
“No, I’m serious! He’s no ordinary guy. He’s definitely dangerous! How do we get out? I left the rope up there! If I try to climb… it’s way too high! Captain! Captain, are you there?!”
Voices of the man and woman mixed together from inside the pit.
“Hm?”
The man called Captain, waiting outside the bushes, furrowed his brow. He had clearly noticed something unusual as well.
‘I have to stop him from joining them!’
If that Captain rescued the humans in the pit, my odds would decrease.
‘Should I push him into the pit too?’
I quickly shook my head.
If that happened, the dinosaur tail he carried on his shoulder would fall in too. That would defeat the purpose of separating them.
Besides, the Captain didn’t look like someone who could be easily tricked by an impromptu plan.
‘I have no choice but to fight him when he’s alone. I’ll fight and take it.’
I concluded simply and clearly.
Whether human or beast, the strong take from the weak. It’s natural.
I hid in the bushes, calming my breath.
The small exhalations stopped completely, and even my heartbeat felt slow, as I minimized every sign of my presence.
‘Since he’s pretty strong, a sudden ambush would be best.’
I unsheathed my claws and tensed every muscle in my body.
In my mind, I imagined leaping like a bullet and raking his nape with my claws.
The Captain pushed through the bushes, frowning heavily.
“What are you doing? When we get back to headquarters, you’ll be in trouble.”
“C-Captain! It’s not that! There’s a pit here!”
“A pit?”
Just as the Captain stopped, I sprang up and launched toward his nape.
Having suppressed my presence as much as possible, he would be like a target struck by a projectile from a blind spot—completely unaware.
“Hmph.”
Yet, the Captain lightly tilted his head and easily dodged my swinging arm.
It was as if he had eyes on the back of his head.
“I see. So that’s how it is.”
Landing on the ground, he gave a small smile as if amused by my growling.
His relaxed attitude flustered me and, at the same time, made me furious.
It was the first time my imagined plans had failed.
“You’re a clever one, like a rare species of raccoon. Luring and trapping is their specialty.”
He grabbed the tip of the dinosaur tail on his shoulder.
He swung it in the air like a club or whip, then raised the corner of his mouth in satisfaction.
“No need to draw a sword. This will be enough.”
—This bastard really underestimates me.
I growled on all fours.
Though I acted ferocious, my mind raced with countless strategies to take him down.
I saw the scar from when I had scratched his arm before.
It was wrapped in leaves that looked like herbs and tied with cord—clearly a deep wound.
‘No thick skin, no spikes. The exposed flesh is soft and vulnerable, just like a real human.’
Bleeding meant he could be defeated eventually.
‘Still, charging head-on is too reckless.’
I recalled how a man had struck with a greatsword, nearly killing Yan-Meat.
Humans had unimaginable strength. The tail he wielded could be considered an equally deadly weapon.
Being hit by it would flatten me like meat pounded by a hammer.
‘What should I do? Should I lure him to a denser part of the forest where he can’t swing the tail or sword?’
It was a good idea, but I immediately dismissed it.
Even if I could lure him, I couldn’t think of a practical way to do so.
He wouldn’t move as recklessly as the humans trapped in the pit.
‘Then, like it or not, we have to fight here.’
“Hup!”
The Captain’s eyes widened.
With a short, sharp exhalation, he swung the tail he held horizontally.
Crack.
The tail struck a tree, snapping it lightly.
Even if the tree was thin, it was shocking that a human could do that.
I couldn’t tell if it was the tail’s strength or the man’s power.
“Excellent. Quick movements. Small animals are usually fast—they need to hide from top predators.”
The Captain muttered as he swung the tail again.
“I have urgent business. Let’s finish this quickly! Can’t you climb up by yourselves?!”
“The pit… it’s too high!”
“Then there’s no choice.”
Thud, thud.
The dinosaur tail smashed the ground and trees.
I barely avoided the attacks, but unlike a sword, the tail’s curve and flexibility made its trajectory unpredictable.
‘One hit and I’m done.’
I darted from bush to bush, escaping his strikes.
The swinging tail mercilessly destroyed the forest scenery.
Shivering at the destruction, I frantically thought of a plan.
‘No openings. How do I approach?’
“Aha! An opening!”
At that moment, a shadow fell over my face.
I realized it was the tail—but too late.
—Gah!
I screamed in pain and was thrown to the ground.
I thought I had calculated the tail’s speed, yet his arm seemed to accelerate suddenly, striking invisibly.
‘He was trying to trick me!? Deliberately controlling the swing’s speed!’
Various thoughts raced through my mind, but pain soon whitened my vision.
“If attacks are predictable, that won’t do.”
His heavy foot pressed down on my nape.
“Don’t attack humans.”
I struggled, gnashing my teeth, trying to escape his grip.
All my blood felt like it was boiling.
“Huh? Your fur is reddening. Going berserk? Unusual for a small beast.”
—This bastard, move your foot off me, damn it!
From being struck by the tail, blood seemed to pool in my eyes, turning everything red.
My breathing grew rough, and uncontrollable rage made me want to scratch and bite with my claws.
I twisted and bit the steel greave on his foot.
Sharpening my claws, I scraped the leg guard and sole.
“Useless. Tempered steel from the North. Just a beast’s claws… hmm?”
The Captain frowned mid-sentence.
At that moment, a crack and his body wavered.
—Hey! Are you okay!? Why are you fighting humans!? Run, idiot!
Stones flew, hitting the Captain’s forehead.
I heard Leaf’s voice but couldn’t contain my anger.
I leapt onto the staggering Captain and clawed at everything I could reach.
“Guh! What…? Where are these stones coming from?”
He flailed as rocks and claws attacked him.
“Get off!”
The Captain grabbed my nape.
I kicked and scratched his arms and face.
Blood gushed, and he grunted.
Soon, his expression darkened.
“This little—”
The atmosphere shifted.
The air pressed heavily around me.
“C-Captain! No! Adam’s about to get up!”
“C-Calm down!”
Voices echoed urgently from the pit.
‘What’s happening?’
A sudden chill snapped me out of my rage.
The Captain’s short, streaked hair was dyed red, as if in anger.
‘Whitey!’
Leaf’s trembling voice called from afar.
The nickname irritated me, but it was clearly for me.
‘I-I’ll save you, Whitey!’
‘No! Don’t throw stones! If he—no, this gentleman—gets angry, we’ll all die! Don’t throw them!’
‘W-What should we do then?!’
‘Just hide! I’ll handle it!’
“This is surprising. You’re alive.”
The Captain pulled me close, his rock-like face near mine.
I considered scratching him again, but he suddenly put Yan-Meat’s tail in front of my face.
“You were aiming for this, weren’t you?”
—How did he know?
“I’ll give it to you.”
—Huh?
He relaxed his grip.
Landing on the ground, I stared dumbfounded at the tail before me.
“The dragon tail. I didn’t cut it for nothing. It’s bait, likely emitting pheromones to attract beasts. You won’t make it safely to the investigation camp with this.”
“C-Captain, what about the mission?!”
Eric’s urgent voice came from the pit.
“It’s fine. I’ll explain to the Count myself.”
The Captain crouched and gently patted my head.
It was hard to believe this was the same person who had just fought me. I was almost moved.
Is this the charm of a ‘bad man’?
“Eat up and grow strong.”
His mouth curved into a crescent-shaped smile.
His visible fangs were too large and pointed to be human.
—Why the sudden change?
I struggled to adjust to his sudden friendliness.
Taking the tail from them was still my goal, so it worked out for me.
‘This isn’t a trap, right?’
Even as the fur on his hand brushed against me, I stayed cautious.
“Alpha. You are now Alpha.”
He stopped petting me and stood up.
At that moment, faint words appeared in front of me:
【Achievement ‘Name’ accomplished.】
【You have been granted a unique entity name as a reward.】
I tilted my head at the new words.
A unique entity name?
