The Stupid Devil’s Slave’s Travelogue

Chapter 8. Metamorphosis 7

The wolf halted.

It stared at me, lost in thought.

But only for a moment.

Soon enough, it began chuckling.

I had spoken just to see if it could understand me.

If it could, it would certainly find it amusing.

Even I didn’t know what kind of crazy act this was.

‘But I have no choice.’

Now that it had sensed something was off, any chance of ambush or deception was gone. All that remained was conversation and negotiation.

“Nice to meet you, kid.”

The wolf answered me in a clear, elegant voice.

Just like a Terup, it was almost human-like—so much so that I wondered if it was really a person inside. Only the limbs, tail, and ears were different.

“This bow is poisoned. Don’t come any closer.”

The wolf bared its fangs.

Its hair was white. Its skin was bronze, and its eyes shone a vivid blue, unlike a Terup’s, even in broad daylight.

It exuded an eerie aura, like looking at a white lion.

Its ghostly blue-gray eyes seemed to blaze.

The exposed white fangs sent chills down my spine.

‘An albino?’

Moreover, it was female.

In that case, how big would a healthy male wolf be?

“What brings you to my home and this mountain?”

I had to speak as politely as possible.

“Three males of our pack were torn apart by a cat.”

“──────?!”

Seeing the gruesome remains, I thought they had been caught off guard!

Negotiation?! Courtesy?!

That was over the moment it became a two-way street!

Looking at the Terup, who was staring at me in panic, calmed me down.

‘Calm down.’

It’s not the worst situation yet. At least it’s still willing to talk.

“I saw that Terup too.”

A smile formed on the wolf’s lips.

“Oh, really? Then, can you tell me where that cat is?”

“All its claws were ripped out, its genitals were torn, the wound on its chest was on the verge of rotting, and its leg bones were broken.”

The wolf tilted her head.

But her cold blue-gray eyes stared straight through me.

“I don’t understand what you’re trying to say.”

I thought she’d empathize, being another female.

But she didn’t seem to at all.

This wolf was clearly wicked.

“It was all an act of self-defense.”

“Heh heh…”

The wolf chuckled, seemingly finding something amusing.

The fiery look in its eyes faded in an instant.

“Those idiots deserved to die.”

“…What?”

“Why would those guys ignore perfectly good females of their own kind to chase after a female cat?”

Well, because… they were torn apart.

Even though I had brought it up first, continuing this line of conversation was difficult.

I might seem young on the outside, but if I had been my usual self, I wouldn’t have even thought of arguing.

Get it together.

Luckily, it was clear that the wolf didn’t have positive feelings towards the dead wolves.

“They were just trying to unleash their violent sexual tendencies… right?”

“Ahahaha!!!”

The wolf suddenly clapped and burst into laughter.

I was bewildered.

The wolf laughed for quite some time before catching its breath and looking at me.

“Yeah, you’re right. They were useless fools who were never chosen by any females. Everything about them—appearance, personality, hunting skills, even their support—was lacking.”

So, that’s why she came here.

I shouldn’t agree any further. This is a trap.

“I wished those parasites would just disappear. And they actually did, so I’m grateful. But they were still members of our pack.”

I had already anticipated she’d bring it up that way.

It was a matter of probability—whether she truly valued the traditions of her species or not.

My arm pulling the bowstring was getting sore.

There were no immediate signs of an attack, so I eased the string a bit, keeping the bow aimed.

“Revenge is necessary.”

“We didn’t mean any harm to your pack…”

“We?”

The wolf stared at me with a sunken expression.

“What’s your relationship with the cat?”

…Come to think of it, we really had no connection at all.

Owner…?

There was only one way to define this relationship.

“Yesterday, it was a thief that broke into my house and stole food.”

“Heh! This is crazy…”

The wolf began laughing again.

Putting it into words like this made my motivation to defend it seem utterly trivial.

Trying to protect a thief… what am I even doing?

After laughing for a long time, the wolf wiped away tears and shook its head.

“I only went into your house while tracking the cat. I don’t care about you or your family. You just got caught up in this, so I might just let you off.”

The wolf my father had told me about had conflicts with nearly every Beastfolk.

It valued strength, was savage, and killed and ate anything. So, this offer was suspicious.

But despite the suspicion, the terms were tempting.

“Hand over the cat next to you.”

I glanced at the Terup.

She was looking up at me with the same anxious expression as before. Her ears drooped like a defeated cat.

“…Did you hear that?”

“I can’t understand a word…”

We’re complete strangers.

If I hand her over, it’ll be over.

I’ll never have to see her again.

But this isn’t how I wanted things to end.

‘Just one wound.’

I knew I couldn’t win a fight.

I just needed to leave one wound.

“Terup didn’t have any bad intentions, and she didn’t attack your pack first, did she?”

The wolf snickered slyly.

“How would you know? One of the males was found dead with that part torn off.”

“───────?!!”

I’m screwed!

How on earth did it go from broken bones to rape and then to ripping off that part to kill him?! I couldn’t figure out how to defend within limits that wouldn’t provoke the wolf.

‘I want to give up on everything.’

I didn’t know why I got involved in this mess.

It was such a foolish act.

There was no benefit in helping.

The wolf had already said it would let things slide.

If my father were here, he’d probably smack the back of my head, beg the wolf for forgiveness, and apologize threefold.

“I still don’t get why you’re protecting the cat.”

The wolf, staring at me, seemed to voice exactly what was on my mind. Had it seen right through me?

“I don’t understand it either.”

“…Do you think I’m easy?”

The smile on the wolf’s face faded away.

Seeing that, my body started trembling.

I chose my words wrong! She’s clearly angry…!

“No, I don’t.”

“Good. Let’s end this.”

The wolf began walking toward me.

‘Now’s the time! I really have to do it now!’

I made up my mind, but I lacked confidence.

“Don’t come any closer. I’ll shoot. I really will. Don’t come closer!”

I pulled back the bowstring threateningly, but the threat didn’t work. I was just a kid, not even an adult yet, and the opponent was a fully armored warrior.

There was no way the threat would work.

Maybe twenty steps away now.

With negotiations having failed… would we both die?

My instincts screamed at me to run, but my reason told me I couldn’t, leaving me paralyzed.

The wolf was approaching, and the young Terup stared at me in terror.

Even though he was much stronger than me.

“You remember my father’s scent, don’t you?”

The Terup nodded.

“Take my siblings and run down the mountain. Get them to my father.”

Damien, who had grasped the situation, released Stella’s hand and came toward me.

“I-I’ll help too.”

Damien was trembling.

Stella, not understanding the situation, was just staring blankly at us.

Those words, their expressions—they evaporated my fear.

“Stop spouting nonsense and get down now━━!!!”

I shouted fiercely and kicked the trembling Terup away.

At the same time, I released the bowstring.

Thwack─!

My aim was on point.

At such a close range, it should have hit for sure.

Terup, pushed back by my kick, staggered a few steps before looking back at me. Then, he grabbed the hands of my siblings and began to run.

‘Now I just need to handle this myself!’

The wolf—

“You thought this through, huh.”

—caught the arrow.

How could she catch an arrow?!

The wolf spun the arrow around like a pen and then snapped it in half with just her fingers.

“But it’s sloppy.”

The wolf began to stride toward me.

I need to run!

Far away, as far from the house as possible!

Even though I was running, the sound of footsteps behind me grew rapidly closer.

“Run faster! Faster!”

The wolf, looking thrilled, started chasing me.

I shot arrows wildly, desperately hoping they would hit. I didn’t even know if they were poisoned arrows or not. My heart was gripped by fear.

Even though I hadn’t run far, I was already out of breath, and my legs felt weak. Please hit!

I shot an arrow while lying on the ground, but it only stuck into the dirt!

“Puhahaha!”

The wolf laughed mockingly as she dashed toward me.

I stood up and immediately fired another arrow.

Twing!

The arrow flew with a weak sound and was deflected with a mere gesture of the wolf’s hand. I’m screwed! I didn’t realize she was this much of a monster!

Realizing it was too close to shoot a fourth arrow, I passed by a large tree and positioned it between us, drawing my bowstring.

The wolf peeked around from the other side, baring er fangs with a grin. My defiance was nothing more than a joke to her, like a child chasing a stray cat.

“…Don’t… come… closer…”

It ignored me.

The wolf lightly reached out her hand, trying to grab the one holding my bow.

‘At least leave one wound!’

I shot the arrow and tossed the bow away.

At the same time, I pulled out a hidden dagger and lunged at the wolf.

This poison kills a person in thirty minutes. Even a scratch would mean victory!

I swung the dagger toward the wolf’s outstretched hand—but it didn’t land.

“Are you playing around?”

Before I knew it, my wrist had been grabbed.

So naturally, as if we were just high-fiving.

“Aaaargh───?!!”

It hurts!!!

My fingers were splayed out in an instant, and the dagger was snatched away by just two of her fingers.

The wolf’s blue eyes examined the blade.

“The Widow Viper is a common but quite venomous snake. And it’s one of the poisons I despise. It’s been used frequently to try and kill wolves.”

The wolf pulled my hand up with her other hand.

With our drastic height difference, it made me look like I was reaching for the sky.

“If a small child like you were poisoned, you’d have twenty minutes at best.”

My hand was burning.

“Aaaaargh──?!!!”

It cut my hand!

It’s all over! I shouldn’t have poisoned it!

I’ve only provoked its wrath!

I frantically yanked my hand back, and the wolf let go.

Then, she just stood there, watching me retreat with a smile.

“I’ll give you a choice.”

A choice?

“I have an antidote. You can either die as you are, or tell me where the cat is hiding.”

…Really?

“There…”

I tried to point in a direction, but the sharp pain blurred my thoughts.

Blood trickled down my hand. I opened my injured hand, which was smeared with dirt and blood.

It stung and burned.

‘What’s the point of telling it? Are we going to die together?’

This wolf couldn’t pinpoint Terup’s location because of the smell of the beast-repelling elixir.

I just have to keep my mouth shut!

But I couldn’t breathe.

I had never truly experienced being on the brink of death.

How did it come to this?

No, if I had done just a little better, this wouldn’t be happening, right?

Pathetic regret.

I had expected it to end this way all along.

─This was a gamble with my life from the start.

This is the price of recklessness.

Anyone else might not know, but you know better than anyone that death isn’t the end.

Don’t stray from the path.

You’re not an animal, you’re human!

This is just a game to the wolf.

There’s no way it really has an antidote.

Would it carry around an antidote that even hospitals can’t stock, just to be prepared for poison?

‘But, what if it really does have an antidote?’

Pathetic! Such pathetic thoughts!

I glared up at the wolf with fierce eyes.

“You’re a real piece of trash. Do you think I’d tell you?”

I tried to sound tough, spewing insults.

Life is all about probabilities.

Even if that wolf has an antidote, what are the chances it would actually administer it to me?

Was there even a probability that it had one to begin with?

Slim. Very slim.

Jeon Si-hyeon.

Death is not the end.

Get a grip. Stand tall. …Who would’ve thought I’d meet my end before adulthood, hunted by a murderer?

But it’s not unheard of.

It’s often on the news.

It’s just a probability.

I was struck by lightning, that’s all.

Don’t be too disheartened.

People do get struck and killed by lightning.

“You bastard.”

Whether it was the poison or fear of the wolf, my legs gave out, and I collapsed.

The wolf looked down at me.

“You sure about this? There is an antidote, but once paralysis sets in, you could still end up crippled or dead, even if treated.”

The wolf tossed the poisoned dagger away carelessly.

“I know you don’t intend to let me live.”

After spewing those insults, it dawned on me that the pissed-off wolf might not just kill me, but also my family.

Was I being too reckless?

I glanced up to see the wolf’s fiery blue eyes staring intently at my face.

“Just because you’re young, doesn’t mean you don’t know what awaits you, does it?”

“I’ll die. Then rot and become soil.”

“…Are all young humans like this?”

No. Just me.

And I know much better than you what awaits.

The wolf snickered and sniffed before glancing at me.

“How old are you?”

“Thirteen or fourteen.”

“I’ve lived twice as long as you. But I’m still afraid of death.”

The wolf squatted down to meet my eyes.

I knew that look.

It was the gaze of a child filled with curiosity when seeing an insect for the first time.

Through those cold, piercing blue eyes, I could feel that, to this wolf, I was as rare as a peculiar bug.

“Aren’t you afraid of death?”

“No, I am. I’m scared.”

The wolf stared at me intently.

“Then why aren’t you trying to live longer?”

“Because it’s not the right thing for a human to do.”

The wolf frowned and tilted her head.

The ship had already set sail.

Thinking that made me feel at ease.

Besides, we were around the same age.

The idea of someone my age talking about age struck me as amusing, and I couldn’t help but smile.

The wolf’s expression turned perplexed.

“Only those who’ve lived diligently understand the value of life. Isn’t it too light a reason to give up on living?”

Diligently? Based on what?

“Ha—haaa—don’t ask— I can’t breathe— right now···.”

I felt numb, and my strength was failing.

It became hard to breathe, like being submerged in a bath.

I felt faint, my body powerless like when you’re anemic.

My back gave out, and I collapsed.

I took a deep breath, but it only filled half my lungs, like trying to breathe underwater.

“I think… you’re out of your mind.”

The wolf declared and stood up.

This was really the end.

Was this my life flashing before my eyes?

My entire life flowed through my mind, even memories I thought I’d forgotten, like those before I entered kindergarten.

“Do you—really—have to—kill—everyone···?”

The paralysis was growing worse.

Even when I took the deepest breath I could, it filled only halfway.

My short life of a week was ending.

As soon as I realized it was over, my mind felt oddly clear.

My life flashed before my eyes like a panorama, then moved toward the future.

Now, this wolf would go after the injured the Terup first.

Then······ hold on.

‘How did an injured Terup with a broken leg defeat a wolf?’

A single female wolf is this strong?

Terup, who had been tortured with broken legs and torn nails, managed to take down three of these Beastfolks?

If it’s a male, it’d surely be even stronger and crueler.

“I was taught… that the Terups— are a species—that kill— everything they see…”

“You lunatic. Didn’t you shoot first? If you show your teeth, you should be ready to be bitten.”

The wolf looked down at me with a crooked smile.

I felt an unjust sorrow rise within me.

That someone could speak like this to a kid who wasn’t even an adult yet.

Truly heartless.

Still, this wolf seemed less vicious than the stories my father told me.

The conclusion I had reached at the end of it all began to waver fundamentally.

“I thought you—were the bad one—and the Terup was—the victim—but now—I don’t know.”

Did the wolf think I was trying to flatter?

The wolf’s eyes sparkled with intrigue.

“Do you—know—the answer?”

“I don’t. I’ll have to find out now.”

The mother terup had a broken leg and was crawling.

Her fingernails and toenails had been ripped out from torture.

How could someone like that possibly kill three wolves?

A question I should’ve asked earlier surfaced now.

All Beastfolks have parents.

But I’d only ever seen Terup’s mother.

“Terup—there might be— another Terup—in this mountain.”

“There were three from the start.”

The hypothesis in my head matched up.

“The injured Terup—and the young Terup—! They’re not—to blame!”

“That’s not for you to decide.”

That’s right. I had only butted in.

The wolf was leaving.

This was the end.

In the end, I was just a fool, a suicidal hopeful who jumped into the fire out of a misguided sense of righteousness.

I was doing the very thing I hated most.

Now that I had sorted my feelings, my body felt at ease.

“Just—one request—.”

“What is it?”

“Hide—my body.”

I didn’t want my parents to see my body in shock.

“No.”

The wolf had no reason to grant my request, but it was the only one I could ask.

“Please—I beg you!”

The wolf turned and bared her fangs.

As if ready to tear me apart.

“Ugh… heh… ha-ha…”

The wolf began to laugh.

Like she was trying to hold back an outburst of laughter.

“Hahaha—!”

The wolf finally burst out laughing, staring at me with crescent-shaped eyes.

“Why are you acting so solemn, kid?”

“···What?”

“The poison on your arrow was Widow Viper venom, but the one on the dagger was water snake venom.”

“What are you—.”

“Water snake venom is a paralyzing toxin. Even a rabbit would recover from it in an hour. Since you’re human, you’re already starting to recover.”

What?

“But—I can’t breathe—!”

“Your body’s paralyzed, so of course, breathing’s tough.”

“You—insane bastard—?! Kuh, kuhuk—!!”

That damned wolf—?!

A laugh mixed with a cough escaped my lips.

Relief and a sudden surge of suicidal thoughts collided within me.

The wolf looked down at me, grinning.

“Ahahaha!!! Haha! Hahaha!!! Hah···! Hah···.”

The wolf stifled her laughter and looked down at me.

“I like you.”

“I hope—you die. Seriously—.”

Damn it!

The paralysis really is wearing off!

The wolf kept grinning down at me.

“You’d better be glad I like you.”

The wolf suddenly drew a curved blade.

What was it trying to do now?

Craaaa━━!!!!!

The wolf raised her head, letting out a thunderous howl toward the sky.