GVRS 2

Chapter : 02

― Grrrrr….

Yellow eyes gleamed in the darkness. The sheer presence of the werewolf made my legs go numb.

My legs were stiff and unresponsive, barely able to move.

“I’ve never heard of a werewolf appearing in Moonlight Forest before.”

Of course. No matter how crazy the Magic Tower was, they wouldn’t send students into a forest crawling with magical beasts.

“It came from the Dupark Mountains.”

According to the original story, that was the case. The death of a student during punishment was a serious issue even for the Magic Tower, so an investigation followed.

The conclusion was that it was a young specimen that had lost its way in the mountains behind Moonlight Forest and drifted into the area.

‘A young specimen, huh!’

The werewolf before my eyes was twice the size of an adult man. Just looking at it made the hair on my arms stand on end.

It seemed to be sizing us up as prey—deciding whether we were huntable or not.

“Russell Blair. When I signal, run for the entrance.”

“You want me to just run off and leave you?”

“Don’t worry; I don’t expect you to act like a human now.”

Maybe I was being treated a little harshly.

“You’ll just get in the way.”

That was probably true. The original story’s genre was “power fantasy,” after all. Naturally, Flamel, the protagonist, was ridiculously overpowered.

‘Since my strength can’t be revealed, I’m sending myself first.’

Not a bad strategy. The character acted the same way in the original story.

But the outcome? The werewolf, after a fierce fight with him, spots Russell Blair and kills him instantly!

“Hurry!”

“I can’t!”

That’s a death flag right there!

“Damn it. Take this!”

I grabbed a bundle from my bag and tossed it at the creature.

“This is…”

“It’s Sun Halo Grass, deadly to werewolves! Even the smell will make them flee.”

I had barely managed to find and pick it from the dormitory backyard. Its red buds made it easy to identify.

Of course, I had been slightly late to the meeting for taking time to fill the whole bag.

“See? Doesn’t the smell ruin your appetite?!”

I shook the Sun Halo Grass in front of the werewolf, and I could see it twitch its nose.

‘Success!’

Just as hope flickered that I had removed the first death flag…

― Woooouuu!

The werewolf roared violently and charged to bite my hand.

KRAAANG!

“Ugh!”

I rolled to the side and narrowly avoided it. The werewolf left clear teeth marks on the ground where I had been standing.

“What the hell? Why isn’t it working?!”

“You fool. Did you forget what you learned in Magical Ingredient Collection class? Sun Halo Grass is similar to Deer Sleep Herb; you have to distinguish them carefully!”

How was I supposed to know that?!

“The Sun Halo Grass and Deer Sleep Herb got mixed, so it isn’t fully effective. If you separate them properly, it will work.”

Flamel split the bundle in his hands into two.

“This is Sun Halo Grass, this is Deer Sleep Herb.”

They looked identical. How on earth was he telling them apart? To me, they were just red flowers.

“Ugh, I don’t know! Here, take the whole thing!”

I threw the entire bag at the creature.

“I have no idea what’s what. You figure it out! I’ll stall for time.”

“……”

The werewolf stared at me with an unreadable expression, as if judging something.

But there was no time for further explanation. The werewolf spat dirt and fixed its gaze on us again!

“This way! Over here!”

I shouted loudly and ran sideways. I could feel the werewolf’s eyes shifting toward me.

― Grrrr…

“Alright. Come at me…!”

It must feel like a herbivore facing a giant predator. My legs were trembling uncontrollably.

‘But I have to do this.’

If I backed down now, I could really die. I can’t die here—not when there’s a world I need to return to.

‘My little brother is waiting for me!’

KRAAANG!

It charged at me again. Fast, but not too fast to follow with my eyes.

‘And once it starts running, it can’t change direction, right?’

That made dodging much easier.

‘One mistake and I’ll be crushed…’

Judging by the marks on the ground, it was serious. It shook its massive head, rising from the dirt it had plowed into.

After missing twice, its breathing was harsh with frustration.

― Auuuu!

“Good. Come at me one more time!”

The werewolf was growling but didn’t charge recklessly. According to the book, it was fairly intelligent, and maybe it had learned from its previous failures.

‘Not necessarily a good sign.’

It tilted its head, then prepared to charge again.

‘Left!’

KRAAANG!

‘Right!’

CRUNCH!

‘Left again…!’

Thunk.

But just as I tried to escape, a tree branch caught me. Looking back, the forest was so dense that barely anyone could pass through.

‘Got me…!’

― Auuu!

The werewolf howled in apparent triumph. Did it drive me here on purpose?

‘Nowhere to run…’

It accelerated, jaws wide, lunging at me!

“Hyaaah!”

CRUNCH!

― Grrrr….

“Haha… how’s that?”

I grinned. As it charged, a snapped branch from behind had lodged vertically in its jaws.

It couldn’t close its mouth completely, and it seemed to have injured its palate—dark, damp blood seeped onto my fingertips.

But the problem was…

“Damn it. Should’ve used a longer one.”

It wasn’t long enough, and its teeth had bitten halfway through my forearm.

― Grrrrrr!

It started clamping down harder.

“Ha. Want to die together?”

CRUNCH!

The branch broke a bit more, embedding its teeth deeper. Goddamn.

Pain made my vision flicker black and back. If this continued, I’d lose an arm for sure.

― Krk, krk, krk…

The werewolf bared its teeth as if laughing. Maybe I was imagining it, but it felt like it was mocking me.

It was probably thinking: “Why bother? Once I bite this arm, your neck’s next.”

“You seem to have forgotten something.”

I spoke while suppressing a smile.

“I’m not here alone, am I?”

― Krk?

“FLAAMMEL!”

I shouted the name and raised my other hand high.

“Take this!”

Flamel threw a heap of red flowers toward me.

Thwack!

I caught them, and the werewolf seemed to recognize them instantly.

― Grrrrk!

It opened its jaws to flee. Not happening!

Thunk!

I pressed the branch to the ground with my nearly numb hand.

― Kyaaang!

As it groaned in pain…

Swoosh!

I shoved the Sun Halo Grass deep into its throat and pulled out the branch.

The werewolf, forced to close its mouth, unknowingly swallowed the plant lodged at its throat.

Glug!

A satisfying sound echoed.

“Done!”

― Krk, grrr…

Thunk!

The massive body collapsed. I finally realized it—I had overcome the death flag!

“You… are you sane?”

“Oh, Flamel.”

The one who had approached now frowned at me. I had won, so why the complaint?

“What were you thinking, going up against a werewolf…!”

“If I stayed put, I’d be dead.”

Even if he didn’t know, I would have died for sure. He’s the protagonist, so he survives.

“Well, anyway, it’s resolved now.”

“Do you even see yourself?”

“It’s cheap for what it’s worth.”

Besides, this is a fantasy world. A mangled arm can be fixed quickly.

Though it’s still excruciating.

“Hey, but I’m kinda sleepy… probably because I lost too much blood?”

My head had been fuzzy for a while. I stumbled and leaned against a branch behind me.

“So, you should… take me to the infirmary…”

Before I could finish, everything went black.

“…ugh… take… me… there!”

I fainted before I could make sense of what it said.

Flamel caught Russell as he collapsed. It was too dark to see clearly, but the smell of blood was strong.

Examining the injuries, they were severe. He must have been in incredible pain, though he showed no sign of it.

‘Weird guy.’

Whenever we met, he would pick fights. Now his sudden shift in behavior was strange.

I expected him to leave me behind against the werewolf. Never did I imagine he’d risk his own body to fight it.

‘A simple whim? Or maybe, in a life-or-death situation, this is his true self?’

That was the only logical thought. Believing this delinquent suddenly reformed seemed less realistic than thinking this was his real nature.

But one question remained:

‘Why?’

If his usual delinquent behavior was fake, what was the purpose of pretending?

‘To show off deliberately?’

Perhaps that was why he caused such a ruckus earlier.

‘…I’ll need to keep watching.’

Flamel looked down at Russell with cold eyes.

When I regained consciousness, I was in the infirmary.

“Oh, it’s lucky there was Moonlight Herb nearby. As you know, it has healing properties.”

The school nurse said. I hadn’t realized that.

‘Wait a minute. If you’d just done first aid quickly, I wouldn’t have even fainted!’

That bastard Flamel.

Squeak.

“Ah, Russell.”

Speak of the devil. I was grumbling in my mind when Flamel appeared.

Why was he here?

I blinked drowsily at him. I had heard enough from my brother about the hardships the protagonist endured in the original story.

The protagonist always faces trials and hardships.

‘This werewolf incident is the same. Only the extras next to the protagonist die.’

So the best choice is to avoid being near the protagonist. That had just been my conclusion.

“Are you here to visit Russell?”

We’re not that close.

“Of course not.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

We answered simultaneously. The nurse looked confused.

“So… are you visiting or not?”

“No.”

“Yes.”

Again, our answers contradicted.

“You’re visiting me?”

“I already said yes.”

“No, why you?”

He answered calmly.

“Professor Duke instructed me. I’m to attend classes with you and share notes until your arm heals.”

I swear, the world is out to get me.