We observed our surroundings over the course of several days.
The water drawn from the nearby stream flowed skillfully, maintaining its gentle course.
The water supply was sufficient to fill a large bucket each day. It served not only as a watering hole for our companion, Pochi, but also as a place for washing and cleaning.
To prevent overflow, we dug a narrow trench and buried a pipe to channel the excess water underground. Mint, with her remarkable control over the earth, handled this task effortlessly. Truly, her abilities are a real cheat…..
And so, our lives became a touch more convenient.
While we anticipated that such tasks might become necessary as we settled into our new home, we found joy in the do-it-yourself projects—almost like family events. The thrill of discovering inconveniences waiting to be solved added a unique flavor to their days.
※※※
As summer approaches, the ‘Void Forest’ reveals a different aspect to its inhabitants.
Specifically, the available wild herbs and prey changed.
Just as aquatic creatures expanded their territories during the rainy season, the flourishing plant life attracted adapted creatures. Our home lay deep within the heart of the ‘Void Forest’ though it constituted only a small fraction of the vast forest. Fierce territorial battles among the animals occurred frequently throughout the forest.
Here, peculiar mutations arose periodically. As a result, most creatures fled, leaving the ecosystem in a state of constant flux compared to more typical forests.
Once, the graceful antelope-like creatures, Zlatrok, roamed near our house, but sightings abruptly ceased after our return from Noah’s mansion. Had they migrated elsewhere after the breeding season, or had they recognized the newcomers as potential threats?
In their place, tigers now prowled.
「Wait, tigers… What kind of forest is this?」
「Hmm, the saber-toothed tiger, Smilodon, isn’t suitable for consumption. Best to drive it away.」
「And they’re even saber-toothed tigers.」
The Smilodon, aptly named for its prominent upper canine teeth, is a formidable tiger. If it existed on Earth, it would undoubtedly reign at the pinnacle of the ecological pyramid. However, in this world, its dominance is not assured. Its strength is comparable to that of griffins and wyverns, occasionally meeting defeat.
Despite its ferocity, the Smilodon possesses a certain intelligence. It avoids unnecessary battles with opponents it cannot overcome. Nevertheless, when such a creature stakes a claim nearby, it complicates matters by competing for prey.
To assert our territory, we decided to make our presence known and encourage it to venture elsewhere.
And so, on a sunlit afternoon, I (accompanied by Chocola) ventured into the forest alongside Karen.
We had walked several hundred meters south from our home. It was there that Karen had a near encounter yesterday.
「…These are footprints.」
In the dense tangle of undergrowth, Karen parted the grass and pointed at the ground.
「These grasses have ticks on their leaves. The creature likely patrols this area regularly. If it’s settled here for hunting, it might even have offspring.」
「Amazing… My tracking abilities are still sorely lacking.」
It took me a moment to notice the ticks and other details.
「It’s a matter of practice. Sui will improve over time. And even if you don’t, Chocola is here to help.」
「Kwuun.」
Chocola gazed at me, his tongue playfully sticking out. He knew better than to bark recklessly in the forest. Good boy.
「Right… Let’s remain vigilant of our surroundings for now.」
「Wait…」
Karen suddenly fell silent. Her eyes closed as she tilted her head upward—no, her pointed ears twitched slightly. Was she listening for something?
I, too, enhanced my senses and focused my awareness.
Amidst the rustling leaves and distant bird calls, something else caught my attention—closer, more urgent. The growl of a carnivorous beast and the frantic cries of a smaller creature—was it a territorial dispute?
Not a predator’s hunt, but something else?
「Hmm, let us proceed. …I shall mask our scent.」
Karen mumbled an incantation, and a subtle humidity enveloped us. By disrupting the airflow and creating a thin mist, we hoped to elude the keen noses of the beasts.
Bending low, we advanced through the foliage, blending seamlessly with the grass and trees. Karen led the way toward the source of the commotion.
Gradually, the sounds of conflict grew louder.
Beyond the thickets, in a partially open space, they appeared.
First, our eyes fell upon a massive figure, its limbs thick with bulging muscles.
Yet, its poised silhouette possessed a graceful beauty, despite its raw power.
The Smilodon—its distinctive feature, the pair of elongated upper canines—extended from its upper jaw, curving like scythes beyond its lower jaw. If those fangs sank into any thick flesh, it would tear apart instantly.
However…
This very Smilodon stood before us, cornered and vulnerable.
Two reasons accounted for this.
Firstly, it was protecting its offspring.
Three small bodies huddled in the shadow of its bulk. These fluffy, kitten-like cubs were still endearing.
Was the adult the mother or the father? It stood guard, shielding the young ones, preventing any attack.
And the second reason…
「That is… a mutated flying-horned hare Vulpertinger.」
「And there are several of them.」
Its adversary was undeniably formidable.
The Vulpertinger, despite its rabbit-like appearance, was a carnivorous monster that defied its name.
Based on a rabbit’s body, it sported sharp horns on its head and bird-like wings on its back. It leaped with its hind legs, glided using wind magic and wings, and attacked with its horn.
Although its physique was akin to that of a puppy, its agility was unmatched. Its three-dimensional movements made it nearly impossible to land a hit. Karen and mother had hunted it a few times, but they often complained, ‘For all the effort, the meat yield is disappointingly small’.
And now…
The Smilodon faced an onslaught from four Vulpertingers. Moreover, each of these Vulpertingers bore the distinctive red-black crystal growing on their backs—a sign of their mutated status.
「Unfavorable odds. If this continues, the Smilodon will lose.」
Karen murmured.
Observing the scene, it was evident that the Vulpertingers outmatched the Smilodon in sheer speed, deftly toying with their larger adversary.
Of course, by nature, their small horns lacked the power to pierce fur and muscle of a smilodon. The idea of a rabbit besting a tiger was preposterous.
However, these mutated rabbits were no longer mere rabbits. They were aberrations.
Their attacks combined not only wind but also fire attributes. Blood flowed from various wounds on the Smilodon’s body, accompanied by the acrid scent of singed fur. Moreover, the Smilodon’s defense was compromised as it shielded its offspring.
It seemed like it was only a matter of time.
Eventually, the Vulpertingers’ relentless assault would drain the Smilodon’s strength, leaving it prone on the ground. And the rabbit pack would devour both the parent and its cubs.
「Sui, what shall we do?」
Karen turned to me, seeking my decision.
「They’re too engrossed in battle to notice us. We can safely withdraw. Dealing with a pack of mutants is troublesome, but there’s no need to exterminate them right here.」
Indeed, Karen’s assessment was accurate.
Mutated creatures had short lifespans, especially when they were as small as these rabbits. Furthermore, their collective mutations made them unpredictable. While they currently cooperated in hunting, there was a high likelihood that they’d eventually succumb to their own magic, losing their sanity and turning to cannibalism.
Hence, we would leave them be for now. If they dared encroach upon our territory later, we could easily overwhelm them then.
And whether they were parents or not, the weak often fell victim. That’s the circle of life.
The Smilodon, too, had survived by preying on other creatures. It was merely a twist of fate that now placed the hunter in the hunted’s role. In fact, given chance encounters, we might have been the ones to end their lives.
Why intervene?
If there were any reason to do so, it was purely our ego.
A self-indulgent, momentary satisfaction—an arrogant hypocrisy.
However, Karen’s gaze…
Her recent words—that there was no need to exterminate them right here—held a completely different hue.
And so, I chuckled.
「Let’s help.」
I patted Chocola’s head, then gripped the hilt of my sword, readying myself.
「Priority lies in eliminating the mutants. Well, that’s the official stance. …And those kittens are rather adorable.」
「Kwuun.」
「Hmm……Understood.」
Chocola’s throaty sound and Karen’s pleased smile synchronized our breaths. And in one, two, three— we burst forth from the bushes.
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