TLBP 45

CHAPTER 45……………………………………………………..

“Laohu… Laohu?”

I quickly searched my memory for that name, one I had heard somewhere before.

Immediately, I remembered the western forest and its master—the name I’d heard from Eve and the fat magpie.

“Could this be the one?”

The master of the western forest was said to be as large as a small mountain.

Seeing it in person, however, it wasn’t quite that enormous.

Apparently, rumors in this world were naturally exaggerated, with details getting padded out.

Still, even if smaller than the stories suggested, it was clearly the size of a tiger I had seen in a zoo.

Had I encountered this beast on a dark night as a human, I would’ve probably peed myself and fainted on the spot.

—Who are you?

Laohu, perched in the tree, kept asking about me.

I hesitated, unsure how to answer.

Should I tell a little lie? I couldn’t think of a good excuse immediately.

As I fumbled for words, Laohu’s blue eyes twitched narrowly.

—Why can’t you answer? Are you one of Yan-Meat’s minions? Did you sneak west on a rainy day?

A low growl began rumbling from its enormous mouth.

I shook my head frantically, hoping to prevent any incident.

—No, no! I’m not one of Yan-Meat’s minions. I don’t like him.

—You don’t like Yan-Meat?

The growl from the giant cat’s throat subsided slightly.

I rattled off a plausible excuse like driving in a wedge.

—Yan-Meat’s barbaric and crude. Covered in scales, makes unnecessary loud noises…

I remembered what the magpie and other animals had said about Yan-Meat.

Its bold personality must have seemed savage and vulgar to the other creatures.

I didn’t know everything, but I blurted what came to mind.

Half of it was a gamble—a meaningless lie—but apparently Laohu was satisfied; the growling stopped.

—A southern-dwelling animal talking like that about Yan-Meat? You’ve got guts. Can’t believe you’ve survived this long.

—I… got away just fine.

—Hmph. Escaping that tracker, Yan-Meat… impressive. So that’s why you came on a rainy day? To mask your scent and tracks. Yan-Meat has a sharp nose.

—Yeah… something like that.

It seemed the rain diluted scents, and I had accidentally learned Yan-Meat had a keen sense of smell.

Laohu seemed pleased and grinned, its mouth stretching in a way that reminded me of the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland.

—Creatures with scales slow down on rainy days. So it’s the perfect opportunity to leave the southern forest. You’re smarter than you look.

Laohu leapt down from the tree.

Its huge body, probably two or three times mine, landed so lightly that not a sound was heard.

I almost thought its body might weigh as little as a feather, despite appearances.

—Then… have you heard anything about Laohu of the western forest? What do other forests say about you?

I racked my brain, desperately.

“Laohu… Laohu… what did they say?”

Now was the time to mix truth and exaggeration, to heap praise and flattery.

—Um… uh… The master of valleys, mountains, and forests, soon to obtain the World Tree fruit. Noble, gentle to those who come to them, and never eats animals.

—Interesting rumors. So that’s why you came west? Most four-legged furry beasts live either east or west. Are you seeking protection from this Laohu?

Laohu circled me, occasionally tapping my spikes or hind legs with its paw.

At first, I thought it was harassment, but soon I realized it was just curious, like a playful cat inspecting things.

—Your white fur stands out too much. You won’t survive like that.

It pressed its nose against my back and sniffed.

The sensation was so intense, I got goosebumps all over.

Both Leaf and now Laohu… I could never get used to someone sniffing me.

—So wet, yet smells like soft down. A young one, then.

Growl… My stomach rumbled loudly.

Laohu’s eyes widened, continuing to speak.

—Hungry, huh? Makes sense, you were catching fish. Hm… Few animals wander on rainy days.

It seemed deep in thought, then started walking somewhere.

—Good. Let’s go. I’ll help you catch the stalker.

—Huh?

I blurted, surprised at its intention to follow.

Laohu moved into the jungle with graceful, proud steps.

Soon, its thin voice called from the vines and undergrowth.

—What are you doing? Hurry up.

“Follow me? And catch a stalker for me?”

If I understood correctly, it intended to do a good deed for a hungry me.

I had expected the forest master to be ferocious, but it was surprisingly reasonable and considerate.

“Was saying I dislike Yan-Meat the right choice? Did my flattery work?”

Belzer, Queen Ant Shalom, Yan-Meat… and now this giant cat.

So far, the animals I’d met seemed almost incapable of detecting lies. They took words at face value, so naive it was almost endearing.

Maybe only Leaf and I had the concept of deception.

Being able to lie was apparently a huge advantage in the animal world.

“Or maybe I’m just good at acting?”

Thinking this, I moved forward.

I saw the enormous cat waiting ahead.

If I delayed, it might grow angry and eat me.

Fortunately—or perhaps just fortunately—it didn’t seem to know I had eaten the magpie.

If it did, I had no idea how its behavior would change.

“Better use this situation to my advantage.”

I hurried to join Laohu.

It paused, whispering a small warning to the vines and bushes.

—From here, walk quietly. They hear well even in the rain. I’ll go first, so follow a step behind.

—Okay.

I raised my toes as instructed, minimizing noise.

The splashing sound decreased as if erased by an eraser.

—You have talent for moving silently too, huh.

—Yeah, something like that.

The “you too” implied Laohu also had stealth-like abilities.

Otherwise, it would be impossible for such a massive body to move silently like a creeping snake.

Earlier, blending with nature like camouflage, its body was optimized for stealth and surprise attacks.

It crouched lower, body pressed to the ground, indifferent to mud soaking its belly and legs.

I lowered myself in mimicry.

—Enter that bush, and you’ll likely see them. Be careful not to make noise. Silence is key to hunting stalkers.

Laohu’s warning made me gulp nervously.

—I’ll go first; follow closely.

It disappeared into the dense bush, its long tail guiding my path.

Soon, Laohu stopped abruptly.

—Come see.

Its voice was unexpectedly soft, just audible nearby.

I tensed, standing beside it.

It pressed flat to the ground, only its eyes peeking outside the foliage.

I copied, peeking with just my eyes.

Through the leaves, I saw a clearing, roughly the size of a small futsal court.

Water pooled like a shallow pond, weeds swaying gently.

—That’s the stalker.

—I can only see the grass.

—Look closer.

I strained my eyes, focusing entirely.

The “grass” moved oddly, writhing like squid tentacles, not swayed by wind.

—Juiiing…

“What… is that?”

The tentacles were shiny black, as thin as a child’s wrist.

Countless numbers of them wriggled across the ground.

—Juiiing…

—Juiiing…

They made the same cute sounds I’d heard from wildlings, contradicting the menacing image I had of stalkers.

—Wait silently until they show a gap. Soon, the head will emerge from the water.

Laohu swayed its hips, preparing to strike.

—Don’t look at me; watch the stalker. Never lose sight of your prey.

—Okay.

It spoke like a teacher to me, perhaps because I was a young, inexperienced beast.

“Quite the meddler… but that’s good for me.”

I followed its advice, keeping my gaze on the clearing.

Nothing unusual happened; the tentacles just wriggled, making those cute sounds.

The rain thickened again, water streaming down my body.

Wet fur clung heavily, making me wish I had a towel or hairdryer.

—Here it comes.

Laohu said sharply.

Its swaying body coiled with strength.

—Juiiing!

Splashes rose from the clearing.

Tentacles writhed, and from the shallow water, something enormous emerged.

—Bite at once!

Laohu lifted its front paw.

—Calm, do as practiced.

It seemed to mutter as it pushed off with its hind legs, launching out of the bush.

—Kraang!

—Juiiing!

Splashes erupted.

It looked as if a cat had leapt onto a shallow octopus, biting furiously.

Laohu clung to the stalker’s massive “head,” slashing claws and baring teeth.

—Aim for the head! Attack the eyes!

—Juiiing!

But the stalker retaliated fiercely.

Tentacles grew like bamboo shoots from the ground, wrapping Laohu’s legs and constricting its torso.

—Ugh!?

—Juiiing!

Laohu struggled; the stalker, seizing the moment, flipped its body.

Beneath its round bald head was a mouth full of teeth—a black hole of teeth.

—Juiiing!

The stalker wrapped Laohu in countless tentacles, and Laohu was slowly being pulled into its mouth.

“What? How can it be losing after attacking confidently?”

Though I didn’t know much about interspecies fights, Laohu clearly had the disadvantage.

I blinked, unable to comprehend the scene.

—H-Help!

Half of Laohu’s body had been swallowed.

At this rate, it would be a cat eaten by a giant octopus.

—What… what’s happening?

Panicked, I accidentally made a rustling noise.

Immediately, long tentacles shot toward me like arrows.

—Juiiing!