TLBP 43

CHAPTER 43………………………………………

‘What on earth were they thinking? Why my tooth?’

I rubbed the empty space where my tooth had been with my tongue and thought about it.

The first humans I had encountered in this world.

Looking back now, approaching them had been a truly reckless act.

From the moment I saw Yan-Meat’s tail, I had been fearless, acting boldly as if enchanted or possessed.

‘Getting close to humans is dangerous. I couldn’t sense any sense of camaraderie from them.’

The men with bows or dual swords hadn’t seemed very strong, but the man with the great sword had radiated the aura of an overwhelmingly powerful being.

If I were to compare, it was similar to the forest master or Witch Eve from the Misty Forest.

‘Was that guy, the one called Captain, especially strong even among humans?’

He was called Captain and acted like a leader compared to the other two.

If I were to compare him to animals in the forest, he might occupy a position similar to the forest master.

‘If all humans were that strong, I’d be in serious trouble.’

If that were true, I would eventually be caught by humans carrying out a massive invasion, either to be used as cooking ingredients or, failing that, as a fur coat.

I could only hope that the Captain I met was especially strong among humans.

As Leaf said, the heavy rain didn’t stop for hours.

It poured as if someone had turned on a faucet in the sky.

Thick clouds obscured whether it was night or day, making the forest gloomy and depressing.

The smell of rain, the rich sound of wet earth, and my thoughts about humans enveloped me in a contemplative mood.

‘A hot pancake would be perfect right now. But probably no point even dreaming of makgeolli…’

—Uuuu…

Leaf huddled in a corner, letting out faint moans.

Though he appeared to be sleeping deeply, he occasionally woke to lick the scratches on his limbs.

The injuries from being scratched and wounded must have been painful.

Unlike me, who was mostly insensitive to pain, I had no sense of how much he was suffering.

—Uuu, it’s cold.

Leaf shivered as if thrown naked into midwinter.

Though the rain and wind outside the cave were chilly, it wasn’t cold enough to justify that reaction.

Maybe it made sense when he had transformed into a human using his “Disguise” ability, losing his fur, but not as a raccoon.

Seeing him shiver in his raccoon form, I knew something was off.

I approached him and placed my front paw on his body.

I thought maybe he had a fever, but I felt nothing through his fur.

Measuring an animal’s temperature was outside my knowledge and experience, so I had to make a decision.

—Hey, can you change into human form?

—Huh?

He lifted his head with effort, looking confused.

—I asked if you can change into a human.

—W-Well, yes… why?

—Do it. Now.

At my command, there was a pop sound.

A mist filled the cave, and when it cleared, his pale, naked form appeared before me.

‘Different from the last transformation. So this is really a Disguise.’

—Cough, cough.

In the form of a little girl, Leaf crouched on the floor coughing.

I placed my paw on his flushed forehead.

—Ah, this feels cool.

—Hmm.

I kept placing my paw on his forehead, pondering.

It was hot as if he had a fever, but my wet paw might have made it feel cooler.

‘What should I even do?’

Even when I had been human, I had rarely been sick.

Being unaccustomed to pain myself, I was somewhat ignorant and insensitive to the suffering of others.

—Ugh! My wounds itch!

Leaf licked the area between his arm and thigh.

It seemed odd seeing him do this as a human child, whereas in raccoon form, it wouldn’t have mattered.

—Alright. Return to raccoon form now.

—I-I can’t. When I transform, I have to stay like this at least half a day, achoo.

—Ah, so that’s another drawback.

—I told you. This is a curse… I have to ask Eve to fix it quickly, achoo, achoo.

Without his fur from his raccoon form, Leaf shivered even more violently.

His chattering teeth were almost pitiful.

—The creatures’ claws must have been poisonous. After a night’s rest, you’ll be fine.

Leaf explained the attack by the creatures called Seongseongs.

They were small primate-like beasts with sharp teeth, akin to monkeys or chimpanzees.

—Can’t be helped.

I wrapped Leaf in my body, curling up on the floor.

He was injured helping me, and ignoring him would be worse than acting like a beast.

—So warm… thanks.

—Don’t pass your cold to me.

—Pass my cold?

He growled, his usual habit, unchanged even in human form.

—I-I’ll be depending on you, hehe. So warm… feels like my body is melting.

Leaf snuggled between my lower belly and legs.

Though treating me like a blanket or giant stuffed toy, it didn’t feel unpleasant.

His body radiated heat through his fur, and it felt nice.

On a rainy day, feeling each other’s warmth made me think of pancakes again.

I felt nostalgic for the days at my old dorm, past life, or whatever I wanted to call it.

‘I still eat better than back then. Meat almost every day, exercising whether I want to or not.’

Only lacking cultural activities and leisure was regrettable.

—Mom…

Leaf murmured softly in his sleep.

‘Mom…’

Did he have parents or family?

Judging by his actions and speech, he must have been alone for a long time, separated from family long ago.

‘Not my concern.’

The rain seemed to have made me overly sentimental.

I emptied my thoughts and closed my eyes.

I wasn’t sleepy, but on a rainy day in a cave, there wasn’t much else I could do.

Some time passed.

My stomach growled, waking me like an alarm.

I turned my head outside the cave.

Swish…

Trees shook in the wind and rain.

‘Still, the rain has weakened a lot.’

It was more like a drizzle than the previous downpour.

—Mm… hmm…

I felt the raccoon’s fur against me.

His transformation back into a human had worn off while he slept.

He didn’t seem cold or suffering from a lingering cold.

I assumed he had recovered. Carefully, I got up.

‘Hungry.’

My stomach continued growling.

I had eaten a thick tail just a day ago, but digestion had been surprisingly fast.

‘After evolving into Edge Hog or whatever, I get hungry quickly.’

Perhaps like a large machine needing more fuel, my stronger body needed more food.

I tapped Leaf on the cheek.

—Hey, wake up.

—Mm… just a bit more sleep…

—I’m hungry.

—There should be mushrooms and other things in that bush in the corner.

Leaf curled up without opening his eyes.

—Mushrooms?

—…

Did he fall asleep again? Only his ears twitched.

I searched the bush as Leaf had said.

It was the same place where he had stored Yan-Meat’s tail.

Pushing aside branches and leaves, I found white mushrooms like pine mushrooms and a couple of pinecone-like objects.

‘Pine nuts?’

I rubbed one on the cave floor, and small nuts fell out.

I picked them up with my claws and chewed them; they tasted nutty, like a mix of almonds and pine nuts.

‘But this won’t satisfy me.’

It just made me hungrier.

I continued searching the cave while my stomach growled.

But the mushrooms and nuts were all I could find.

‘Guess I’ll have to starve until the rain stops.’

I alternated between watching the rain outside and Leaf sleeping.

‘Should I just… eat him?’

Seeing his plump body made my mouth water.

But I felt it would be wrong, and maybe unlucky, to actually bite him.

I tapped his cheek again.

—I’m going out.

—Huh? It’s still raining. Stalkers will be around.

—Are those “stalkers” tasty?

—Hmm… tasty?

Leaf finally lifted his head from my embrace, his red, sleepy eyes blinking.

—Trying to catch and eat them? Better not.

—Then I’ll have to eat you. I’m hungry.

Leaf listened, half serious, half joking, then rolled his eyes.

Then, as if recalling something, he said:

—There’s a flower that only blooms in the rain. Its fancy name is Ujunghwa (Rainflower). It only opens on rainy days, but stalkers are aggressive, so weak ones can’t see it.

—A flower? Plants?

I wanted meat now, not plants, and couldn’t hide my disappointment.

Noticing my expression, Leaf hurried to clarify:

—It’s not just a flower. It’s legendary. Only blooms in rain, and on those days, stalkers are everywhere, so weak creatures miss it.

—Legendary flower… hmm.

—It’s comparable to the Cordyceps mushroom you ate recently.

—That’s promising.

I recalled the Cordyceps mushroom I got for killing the ant queen. It was rare and flavorful.

‘Should’ve eaten the queen too…’

Her appearance had been unappetizing, so I hadn’t tried then.

But now, starving, I’d eat anything.

‘Only the full complain about side dishes.’

—So, where can I find this Ujunghwa?

—In the western forest. Look near big lakes or streams. It blooms a lot in the west.

—What does it look like?

Leaf paused, thinking carefully before answering concisely:

—You’ll know when you see it. You just will.

—What does that mean?

I wanted more details, but Leaf looked awkward, implying he couldn’t explain further.

I squinted and studied his troubled face.

—You’re not lying, right?

—Absolutely not. It’s just hard to explain.

—Hmm.

Not ideal, but he didn’t seem to have ill intentions.

‘Anyway, I was planning to go outside.’

I looked outside the cave.

The heavy rain from hours ago had weakened.

‘This shouldn’t be a problem.’

The stalkers might still be around, but weaker than the forest master or the Captain.

—I’m going out. Stay hidden.

—Going alone?

Leaf tried to follow, but

—Are you coming?

He shook his head.

—No, moving in the rain is… my fur will get wet, and I’m not fully healed. Stalkers are scary. Close the door behind me.

—Okay, that makes sense. I’ll eat and come back. Stay resting.

I turned my back to Leaf and stepped outside.

Plop, plop. Rain soaked my fur.

I lifted a small rock at the cave entrance.

This must be the “door” Leaf mentioned.

Placing it over the narrow entrance, it fit perfectly, concealing the opening.

I looked at the jungle ahead, thick with vines and leaves.

Rustle… The bushes shook.

Wind, or something hiding and watching me? I couldn’t tell.

The rain masked all scents and sounds.