After delivering the report, I returned to the forest.
The area around the house was the same as usual, with the only difference being the cold bite of winter now in the air.
I had told everyone that we’d “figure out a solution”, and I did have a vague vision in mind. But it wasn’t something we could act on just yet. Preparations were going to take time.
So, for now, we resumed our daily routines.
「Meow meow! Welcome back!」
「Bark!」
The next morning, as I was chopping firewood, I heard Mint and Chocola’s voices near the gate. I looked up to see a sabertooth tiger family, the Smilodons, bringing meat to us.
A plump deer was laid near the gate.
「You guys are too kind. Thanks. But don’t overdo it, okay?」
I sheathed my sword and walked over to the mother cat. Her massive frame purred deeply, crisscrossed with old battle scars, a testament to her many fights—most of them caused by encounters with horned hares Wolpertingers.
「The scars didn’t heal smoothly, huh? Sorry about that. Is it at least not affecting your movement?」
I patted her back, checking the scarred area. The fur hadn’t grown back, leaving tight, rough skin, but she didn’t seem to mind.
「Your cubs have grown up quite a bit.」
They were no longer babies and had probably been weaned by now. For a long time, those little ones had been wary of me—hissing and growling. But lately, they have finally stopped.
「Wait, wait! …..hiyaa, that tickles!」
「Bark bark! Kwuunn…..!」
The cubs swarmed around Mint and Chocola, pouncing and licking Mint’s hands and cheeks while grooming each other with Chocola. It was adorable. I had to admit, I wanted to join them.
「Anything strange happen around here?」
I asked the mother Smilodon. Of course, I wasn’t expecting a reply.
「Smilodons… you guys don’t turn into mutants, do you?」
Sitting beside her, watching her cubs, I mused aloud.
There are two conditions for a living being to turn into a mutant.
One: being exposed to a magic power crucible for an extended period.
Two: having a weak sense of self.
Beings with a certain degree of intelligence—like humans—or those who have strong family bonds, like these Smilodons, are less susceptible to having their magic disrupted. A strong sense of self, a clear consciousness, or even just the existence of family seems to help prevent mutation.
Technically, it’s not that they “won’t” mutate, but they are “far less likely” to do so. Still, creatures like our Pochi or the Smilodon family would likely never succumb to the crucible’s influence.
「…Two thousand years ago, they used drugs to dull the consciousness of beasts. It was horrible.」
The drugs seemed to suppress reason and enhance primal instincts, turning the beasts into perfect candidates for mutation. Those creatures—regardless of species—met all the conditions, and they were kept alive, forcibly mutated, and used as tools to stir chaos within the crucibles.
The entire continent was a mess.
In the midst of an endless war, nations created uncontrollable demonic weapons and unleashed them, not just to devour their enemies, but even to destroy themselves. It was obvious that civilization was heading toward ruin.
In the end, Four Seasons-san and his companions defeated every Demon King, destroyed the facilities, and quite literally saved the world.
And finally, through grand magic, they rewrote the world’s structure, altering people’s memories and resetting everything to give history a fresh start. Their primary goal may have been to cure their children’s illnesses, but the reason this world enjoys peace now is because of the foundation they built.
「You, like us, live and survive in this forest. From the human world’s perspective, this place is a dangerous wilderness—far from what anyone would call paradise. But still, this forest is part of the world Four Seasons-san and the others saved.」
I reached out to the Smilodon, stroking its neck. It purred contentedly, the deep rumble vibrating through its massive body. The long, thick, sharp fangs protruding from its upper jaw were certainly intimidating—they could even tear through wyvern scales.
But regardless of how sharp or terrifying they were, these creatures were a natural part of this world. They are living beings that belong here.
「There’s a kind of peace in this wilderness. I don’t want that peace disturbed.」
It was a selfish thought, I admit.
What I was really saying was that I wanted to hunt, live, and survive in peace without having my safety threatened.
Some might argue that the emergence of mutants or the creation of demon kings is a natural part of this world’s cycle. Perhaps the people of the Elf Kingdom, Alfheim, hold such beliefs, which might explain why they’ve been controlling the information.
「…But if that’s the case, then it’s only natural that we resist it.」
As if sensing my thoughts—or perhaps simply ignoring them—the mother Smilodon abruptly turned away with a swish of her tail.
Meow.
With a single call to her cubs, she seemed to say, ‘That’s enough, we’re done here.’
「Oh, Mama’s calling! Are you leaving already? Come back soon!」
The Smilodon family disappeared into the forest, the mother leading her cubs away. It was a brief, matter-of-fact farewell, but that’s typical of cats, isn’t it?
「Alright, guess I should deal with this deer.」
「Kwuunn…kyuu…」
I turned to find Chocola gazing up at me with his big eyes, tongue hanging out. Did he want to eat it? Right now?
「All right, all right. I’ll get it ready. Just wait a little.」
「Bark! Bark bark bark!」
「You’re way too excited.」
I hoisted the deer onto my shoulders and carried it outside the gate to the dismantling area. After hanging it from a hook, I started draining the blood.
「I’ve really gotten used to this, haven’t I?」
The fact that I could now butcher such a large animal by myself wasn’t just thanks to the high-quality knives that Novium-san crafted for me.
「Mint, what do you want to do? Do you want to play with Pochi?」
「Hmm… Sui cut deer, watch!」
「Okay. Then can you fetch some water from the well for me?」
「Mm-hmm, sure!」
Mint, born of an Alraune—born from blood and innards—is as cheerful and carefree as ever. She’s never been disturbed by the sight of death or the dissection of life, treating it all as part of her everyday world.
Compared to a human child, it’s certainly a strange environment to grow up in.
But in Mint, I see a child who embraces the reality of life with remarkable clarity.
She’s a child I find utterly endearing.
「Sui! Brought water! Get more if you need!」
「Thanks, Mint. I’ll ask again when it runs out.」
Smiling at Mint, who waddled back with a large basin of water balanced over her head, I carefully sliced open the deer’s abdomen with my knife.
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AN: The character Mint was created on the spur of the moment, but she has become a symbol of the world of this story and, by extension, the way Sui and his companions live their lives.
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