The Little Companion Of The Beast

Episode 5.

The forest highlands were covered in mist. The oddly shaped rocks were poking out from the mist, looking like floating islands. Between the peaks, there were valleys and caves, and moss grew in the gaps and wild flowers bloomed in various places.

Haska, who had been jumping from peak to peak, moved on to the next move without even connecting the moves.

‘Please wait and don’t get married. Yes?’

There was nothing that little thing couldn’t do.

Not even knowing what copulation meant, he just rushed in and asked to do it. Was he brave or foolish? He seemed timid at first, but he was so bold that I couldn’t figure it out.

‘You promised me! They say a man’s words are worth more than a thousand pieces of gold. You said you would grant my wish, so please do it!’

I couldn’t take back what I had said, and although I was allowed to stay in the forest for the time being, it still bothered me, like a thorn in the sole of my foot.

Why are the rocks so soft today?

It should have a chewy texture, but it just fell apart as soon as I put it on, so I didn’t like it.

I’m looking around to see what I need to break to be satisfied.

“Oh my, look at all the dust flying. That’s right, I told you to let it go, didn’t I?”

I looked up at the sound of clicking my tongue and saw Morgana standing on the cliff.

As he turned his head away, pretending not to see, she came down, stepping between the gaps.

“Why on earth do you hold back your rut? Pheromones are our identity. Accept it.”

The Murang (武狼) race, which has two forms: human and beast.

If they were transformed and could not properly use the beast’s body, they were no different from animals. The thing that made them a higher level species than animals was the pheromone.

Of course, they were forced to reproduce in return. It was a small price to pay for what they got. However, the stronger they were, the more they had to pay exponentially.

Morgana thought the price was worth it. Without the hormones they produced periodically, they would have already gone extinct. How could something essential to survival not be desirable? Pheromones were their identity.

The guy in front might not agree.

“If you’re not going to spar with me, why don’t you just go your way?”

“Look at this spoiled beast.”

Morgana tried to hit him on the back with her fan, but was stopped in an instant.

“If you want to be treated well, fight and win.”

Age meant nothing in the Gulas Forest.

Their order of precedence was determined solely by power, and even though Morgana was his mother’s older sister, she had to be respectful to Haska. However, Haska had been indebted to her in the past, so she was given an exception.

Under implicit tolerance, even today Morgana treats him like a nephew rather than a ruler.

“Our Haska, do you like younger people?”

“If you’re going to talk nonsense, get out.”

“Let’s see, you’ve lived for 313 years? That makes you about 16 or 17 years old.”

Unlike the short-lived lives of humans, the race lived a life close to eternal life. The length of time they remained immature varied from race to race, and could be one year, one hundred years, or one thousand years. Because of this special characteristic, they did not count their age before awakening, but only after awakening.

Haska awakened between 297 and 298, so he could be considered 16 or 17 years old.

“They say age is just a number, but wouldn’t it be better if the gap was smaller? Can’t you ignore the generation gap?”

“Do I have to listen to this kind of nonsense?”

Even though Haska had fired a semi-predatory shot, Morgana’s mouth, which had burst open properly, would not close.

“The kid’s cheekbones are missing. It’s tattered and looks like a beggar’s, and what’s the matter with the hut? How could they have chosen such an empty house? The floor is rotten and even the windows are broken. I wonder if it’s freezing to death. It must be so scary at night… .”

Morgana, who had been giving a passionate speech, suddenly stopped.

The listener’s attitude was so bad that the fun of speaking suddenly disappeared.

“Who am I talking to? Are you listening? Are you not listening?”

“Oh, I’m not listening.”

You little punk, look at this talking example!

Who are you trying to fool when you care so much about your child that you put your most precious confidant with him?

Even though he tried to hide, it was definitely Colby. Colby, Haska’s loyal follower. The fruit that Staria gave me to eat must have been picked by that monkey.

‘Eww, why can’t you say anything if you’re so concerned?’

Looking at Haska who couldn’t even afford to pay for his size, I felt that he was a lot more pitiful, but what can I do?

First of all, we had to move the child to a safe place.

“Ah, I see. I was wrong. She is not your match. I must announce this to the whole forest.”

“Or so you say.”

“You probably couldn’t touch it because it was rumored to be yours, but there’s going to be chaos. Isn’t it? The organs are so tender, they’re going to be a delicacy, right?”

“… … .”

Haska remained silent despite Morgana’s words.

The tail is held upright, but the snout is shut and it pretends to be indifferent.

Anyway, only the shell was mature, and the core was an immature white tiger.

***

In the dead of night, Haska, who had been tossing and turning, woke up and kicked the nest open.

There is no one to ask, and no one to listen.

He muttered an excuse that he was going out for some fresh air and then slowly walked out of the cave.

His four legs, which had been expanding his field of vision to check the location of the cabin, became faster because he had discovered more than thirty sounds.

As he approached with his strength released, the men who noticed his presence formed a line.

“Are you here?”

Colby, who was hanging upside down on the treetop and standing guard, spots him and jumps down. He gets down on his left knee and reports the situation.

“It’s okay.”

“That can’t be true.”

“what……?”

Haska kicked the door of the hut with his forepaw and went in. A cry that was barely audible. The source was a small back that was lying curled up without even stretching its legs.

“Oh… … . Well, I was wrong. I’ll be a good kid. Don’t leave me alone. I, I want to go with you. Mother… … . I’m scared. Take me too.”

The boy spread his arms wide and waved them in the air as if trying to catch an illusion.

Haska crossed his forelegs, looking at the pitiful gesture indifferently.

“If you think I’ll appease you, you’re mistaken.”

“Anton, I’m sorry. Because of me… … I’m sorry to everyone.”

“It’s noisy.”

He cried sadly. He could have wiped away his tears, but Haska just stared blankly at the sleepy human.

A headache.

The human who suddenly appeared was nothing more or less than a nuisance. Look at it now. Isn’t he wandering around at a time when he should be resting? The rhythm that should be running precisely like gears that mesh together without any gaps has been broken.

I guarantee that if left alone, it will cause humans to deviate from their lifestyle patterns from time to time.

“Should I get rid of it?”

If you are reluctant to get rid of it, the problem can be solved cleanly by simply throwing it out of the forest.

But, it’s strange. I can’t touch it. Is it because it’s bothersome right now? Because I have a debt to pay? Because I’m such an insignificant creature that I can’t even resist?

None of this was enough to explain the hesitation.

How deep in the abyss must I have been?

The face that had been wearing all sorts of expressions gradually relaxed. I thought it was finally over, but my expectations were pleasantly wrong.

The little boy’s forehead was burning like a ball of fire.

My head, which was not even the size of a fist, was so hot that I thought it might explode.

“Haa, haa… … .”

The wheezing breathing seemed as if it would stop at any moment.

“What, what is it? Are you going to die from crying?”

How could a beast that had never been sick know that children would easily get feverish and sick? It was the most embarrassing moment in 313 years.

That wasn’t the end of it. The wheezing human started convulsing and froze like a stick.

“He really died?”

To check, Haska lifted his foreleg and tapped it. There was no movement. He tapped it again… … and the leg was caught. Warmth was transmitted to the sole of the foot. The human was rubbing his cheek against it.

“It smells good… … .”

Correction. This is the most embarrassing moment in 313 years.