3.
Crackle, crackle…
Before Kun, who had entered the forest, a small campfire was already burning. It was not very large, but its heat was enough to drive away the night chill and the forest’s thick shadows.
Starting a fire was not particularly difficult. Bow-drill friction, flint — there were plenty of ways to ignite a flame in the woods even without tools. Skills naturally acquired when living long enough as a hunting hound. Skills inevitably learned even if one did not wish to.
In front of him, a snake and mushrooms were skewered on hard branches. He had gathered and caught them himself while wandering the forest not long ago. Because of things like this, the former senior instructor once spoke not of the principle “the victor takes all,” but of the principle the living take all.
Even without fighting other trainees, food could always be obtained in the forest.
Therefore not the victor — but the survivor…
…Though instead of students, one had to be prepared to fight snakes and beasts.
With spring’s arrival, animal traces had noticeably increased in the forest for the same reason. He seemed to be the only one who had realized it so far, but such a secret could not remain hidden forever. In time, more trainees would notice.
Then only two options would remain?
Fight other trainees — or risk one’s life against wild beasts. Whichever they chose, for the instructors of Lion’s Moat both were equally good.
Certainly, this was nothing like Roberian Don-Bringer’s hastily assembled “Fox Pit.”
One could feel the careful planning and detail of long preparation.
Meanwhile, the snake and mushrooms on the skewers slowly browned in the fire’s heat.
Ssss…
Appetizing fat surfaced along the meat’s surface together with char. Yet there was one oddity — the ingredients themselves. Unlike ordinary edible mushrooms, almost all bore vivid colors, and the snake possessed a sharp triangular skull. Their appearance clearly said — all of it was poisonous. An experienced Kun could not fail to understand that.
One-Legged Demon Mushroom, Scarlet Fly Agaric, and Red Venomous Viper.
He knew not only the differences but the names as well. And still he brought them as food for a simple reason.
If poison alone could increase his reserve of magic…
Then it was not necessary to rely specifically on Witch’s Garden. The effect might be weaker than refined poison, yet poisonous mushrooms, snakes, or toads found in the forest were almost equal to spiritual elixirs for him. There was no reason to refuse them.
But…
It was impossible to endlessly increase magic using such trash poison. Even elixirs gradually lost strength when repeatedly consumed. Much less snake and mushroom venom. Moreover, after reaching a certain level, “understanding” was valued far higher than mere quantity of magic or Weapon Aura.
Power alone could not be increased forever.
Fat spread along the length of the snake meat.
Sizzle…
Normally the head with the venom gland should be cut off, but…
Now that I understand the hidden power of Supernatural Power and Divine Madness, there’s no need for such trouble.
Kun stared at the browned snake head and smirked. The situation felt absurd — he was salivating at snake venom.
Who would have thought the snakes released to endanger children would help him like this.
Even the instructors themselves had not expected it.
Just think — an Aura breathing technique unaffected by poison…
And at the moment he brought the snake’s head toward his mouth—
“…?”
From the depths of the dense, dark forest came a faint movement.
.
.
Rustle… rustle…
Something approached through the bushes. At times the sound changed direction, yet it was coming here. Judging by the height of the swaying leaves — something small.
Kun murmured quietly,
Him?
The creature emerged from the bushes right before him.
Golden fur, mysterious crimson eyes.
Khrr…
A fox cub the size of a small dog jumped out. Appearing, the little one stretched right beside him, arching its back. Then, wagging its tail, it began circling around Kun.
There was not a trace of caution in its behavior. Its gait was so confident it seemed not the first time. Looking at the fox, Kun involuntarily smiled. He tore off a piece of snake from the branch and lightly tossed it toward the beast.
Whoosh! It was a part of the body without venom. Like a swallow, the creature leapt upward and caught the thrown meat mid-air! And even flipped once before landing — a true fox.
Crunch, crunch…
It chewed the meat together with the bones.
Kun smirked.
Clever little thing.
He had first encountered it about three months ago.
At first he thought it was an ordinary fox cub and tried to catch it.
But it was not so. He failed to capture it. Moreover, the creature mocked Kun, displaying agility impossible for a fox cub. Yet it did not run away — it watched him curiously from a short distance. From that day onward the creature began lingering nearby, maintaining a strange distance.
Recalling that incident, Kun slowly shifted his gaze. And then he noticed two tiny additional tails protruding beside the long one. They were clearly smaller than the central tail and less noticeable, yet unmistakably tails.
Three tails… a three-tailed fox?
A type of sacred beast or spirit. Relying on Myung’s memories, Kun knew such beings existed. But he had never imagined such creatures existed in this world as well, not only in Myung’s world.
Though certainty was lacking.
Unlike the spirit foxes of that world that resembled ordinary foxes, the creature before him looked more like a dog. Whether due to youth or something else — only time would tell.
Resembles desert foxes.
One thing was certain: this was no ordinary cub. Otherwise it could not roam this forest filled with venomous snakes, lynxes, boars, and wild dogs as if at home. Moreover…
It finds my location suspiciously easily…
If this creature truly was something akin to a sacred spirit or beast… If those called such truly existed in this world…
Then perhaps… I can create that. For that purpose…
Once I leave Lion’s Moat, I’ll need to study archives or ancient scrolls.
Kun continued thinking when the creature, having finished the snake tail, purred contentedly.
Khrr, khrr…
Then Kun was about to bring the roasted viper head to his lips when suddenly—
Yap!
Letting out a sharp warning cry, the creature instantly sprang up and vanished into the bushes. Its movements were full of alertness, nothing like when they were alone. As if confirming it was no mistake, from the opposite side — toward the forest exit — a voice was heard.
“Well, look at this bastard? Living in luxury, even lit a fire?”
“…?”
A group of trainees approached him. Leaves, branches, and thorns hung from their clothes — apparently they had wandered the forest quite a while. Kun looked at them with a strange gleam in his eyes.
Five. Barison’s gang?
The speaker was one whose nickname Kun knew well — a relatively thin boy with protruding teeth.
Rat… was it?
Meanwhile the rest of the gang, appearing a moment later, began echoing Rat.
“Good thing though — that’s how we found him. Otherwise we might’ve had to roam the forest all night.”
Whether due to numerical superiority or irritation from wandering at night, hostility mixed with mockery clearly colored their tone. Hearing it, Kun merely shook his head faintly as if it were beneath notice.
After all, this was nothing new for them.
Whether under Barison’s influence or by nature, this group constantly gathered into a pack and harassed other trainees. Because of their numbers, even those with decent skill preferred to avoid them — such was the reality of the Third Pit. Kun knew all this perfectly. The only reason he had not interfered so far… was simply that they had caused him no direct harm.
But now that they had come here themselves…
His gaze narrowed like a predator’s.