TLBP 02

Chapter 2…………………………………….

1. The first time is always the hardest.

A scene from a documentary I saw on TV long ago came to mind. It was about how many animals hide their bodies in trees to escape predators.

—“I’ll manage somehow!”

I climbed the tree, digging my claws into the bark, and only then could I finally take a breath.

At night, all sorts of predators roamed the forest floor, growling as they eyed me. For the first day or two after being born into this world, I didn’t know anything and ended up rolling around in the mud with those creatures multiple times.

I licked the scratches and scrapes on my soft skin with my tongue.

The metallic taste of blood was unpleasant, but it somewhat soothed the throbbing wounds.

—Grrr.

Three-eyed wolves looked up at me from below, baring their sharp fangs.

They clearly hadn’t expected me—their evening prey—to climb up into the trees.

—Grr! Grr!

The threatening presence of what must have weighed hundreds of kilos made my neck stiff and my heart pound as if it would leap out of my chest.

Scrape, scratch.

The wolf scratched the tree with its front claws while standing on its hind legs, leaning its body against the trunk.

I tensed, wondering if it could climb the tree, but it seemed its hind legs couldn’t support its weight, and it soon collapsed back down.

—Grrr…

The wolf licked its lips in disappointment as it stared up at the tree.

—Get lost, you brat!

I cursed down at the wolf circling below. With neither sharp fangs nor thick fur, all I could do was snarl downward.

—Grr… Grr!

The wolf, frustrated at losing its prey, stayed put for a while, barking at the tree.

Scrape, scratch.

It clawed at the tree a few more times before disappearing into the underbrush.

Even though I couldn’t see it anymore, I couldn’t relax completely. A weak creature like me would be a tasty meal if I let my guard down even for a moment.

Yes. At night, I was weak in the forest.

From a certain day onward, I had been reborn as a marvelous creature called a “demonic beast.” But in this place, [Demon Realm: Nest of the Primeval Era], a newly born demonic beast was apparently just food for wolves.

I had a few tufts of fur, but my skin was soft and delicate.

No wings, no thick hide or scales. Not strong jaws, nor a third eye like that damned wolf.

The only notable feature was the sharp claws on my front paws.

“What am I, really?”

As I licked the stinging wounds left by the wolf’s claws, letters appeared in front of me:

Species: Demonic Beast (魔獸)
Strength: 9
Agility: 6
Endurance: 7
Skills: 《Omnivore》 《Sturdy Claws》

I waved my hands, scattering the letters like dust.

My eyes turned to the underbrush where the wolf had disappeared. Listening carefully, I could hear the sounds of insects and animals from all around. Some of them were quite close.

I didn’t know what they were, and I didn’t want to.

I sighed deeply.

My chest, still racing from the fight with the wolf, slowly calmed. My stomach growled loudly, echoing through the forest.

“Do I have to starve again tonight?”

Three days had passed since I was born into this world. In those three days, all I’d eaten was a single apple-like fruit.

Even that I’d discarded halfway because of its unexpectedly bitter taste. But now, with my stomach practically clinging to my back, the discarded fruit haunted my thoughts.

I looked around for anything edible.

All I could see were the dark forest and patches of weeds. They looked nothing more than ordinary grass.

Then I remembered the skill 《Omnivore》. It must mean I could eat both plants and meat.

With that thought, the sprouts on the ground began to look fresh and appetizing. Even in my previous life, I liked eating lettuce or green onions at a barbecue.

My stomach growled again. I swallowed and reached my paws under a branch. Suddenly, the bushes rustled, alerting me.

—Grrr…

Three red eyes glared at me from the underbrush. The wild beasts gave me no time to rest.

—Go away, brat!

Terrified, I clung to the tree and shouted.

It seemed unwise to set foot on the ground before sunrise. I wasn’t a rabbit, and I wasn’t going to risk my life for tasteless weeds.

I scratched the tree bark with my claws. I recalled my ancestors, poor and hungry, scraping off bark to eat the soft inner layer.

The inner bark looked soft, so I scraped it with my claws, and it peeled away.

Starving, I stuffed it in my mouth and chewed.

The bitter, rough taste was awful—like chewing on a pencil as a child.

Could I even swallow this without issue?

Tears streamed from my eyes at the raw taste of nature.

“I want something salty… and a cold soda.”

Memories of eating instant ramen three times a day in my tiny apartment flashed before me. I had once complained about not having tasty food. How foolish I had been.

I continued chewing the bark until the two moons set and the sun rose behind the jagged peaks.

I had to avoid being asleep on the ground and becoming prey for other beasts.

The red eyes in the bushes finally vanished just before sunrise.

They had watched me all night—whatever kind of beast it was, it had incredible persistence.

As the cries of beasts quieted and gentle birdsong filled the air, I finally stepped to the ground.

“Is it safe now? They all hid yesterday morning too.”

I had worried about ambushes, but nothing happened.

My mouth was dry and sore from chewing the rough bark, so I headed toward the stream I’d discovered on my second day.

I realized walking on all fours was much easier than on two legs. My form was becoming less human.

At the stream, I leaned over to drink, but paused when I saw my reflection.

My face was strange—part canine, part feline—but somehow cute, like a childhood mascot character. Honestly, I looked better than I did in my previous life.

I could walk on two legs or four. My front paws resembled raccoon hands, allowing me to climb and grab objects without difficulty.

Yet my white, delicate appearance probably made me an easy target for other animals.

“I don’t need this kind of attention.”

I swiped at the water, distorting my reflection.

“Hopefully it’s drinkable.”

The water looked clean—maybe grade 1 or 2—and I drank deeply, savoring it like I hadn’t since a night march during military training.

Strength returned to my shaking body, and I looked around for food.

The forest, bathed in dew and morning sunlight, looked beautiful and peaceful, unlike the dangerous nights.

—I must eat something proper today.

I muttered to myself, determined not to chew bark like last night.

Rustle.

A small, white, long-eared rabbit popped out from the underbrush. Unlike normal rabbits, it had a tiny horn on each eye.

I guessed it had woken from its burrow to drink at the stream.

For a moment, I felt sentimental, but my growling stomach reminded me of reality.

—I could probably beat that one.

The forest felt entirely different by day. Predators at night—wolves, giant spiders—were fearsome, while daytime animals—round bluebirds or fluffy rabbits—were cute and peaceful.

Probably the most ferocious creature during the day was me—a demonic beast, after all.

—Stay still.

I lunged at the rabbit with my claws, but it dodged swiftly and vanished. I felt foolish for losing it so easily.

I would try a different tactic next time.

—Chirp.

A bluebird on a nearby branch watched me, seemingly mocking my failed hunt.

—What are you looking at?

Angry, I picked up a small stone and threw it, but missed. The bluebird laughed and flew away. My aim was terrible.

—Seriously… how am I supposed to survive?

Catching fast animals without tools seemed impossible. I needed an easy, harmless first prey.

I searched the forest until evening and finally found something.

It was a strange creature—no head or limbs, just a gelatinous black body, like a slime from a game.

I decided to call it a slime.

It wiggled slowly through the underbrush. Observing it, I wondered if it was even edible.

Hunger soon overcame doubt. I had to eat something or risk collapse.

I crouched low, creeping toward the slime like a predator.

—Kyuuiing.

The slime made a cute squeaky noise.

It was smaller than me, and I didn’t think it could defeat me.

I tensed my hind legs like springs and leapt at it.

—Kyuuiing!