57. Hunting Day

57. Hunting Day

“Hey guys!”

“”Huk!””

A snowy field where tails flutter in the cold wind.

Next to the vast snowy field where the horizon is visible, there is a forest where we plan to hunt. And in front of me are two wolf suins who look exactly alike.

The names of those twin sisters are Rang Yura and Rang Yuri….

“”Seol-ah-!””

“W-wait…!”

Before I could say anything, Yura and Yuri pounced on me and pinned me down. Since both are slightly larger than me, I was helplessly knocked backward.

Although they probably meant it as a greeting, I wish they would refrain from knocking people over and climbing on top of them.

My magnificent tail, caught between the snow and my body, is being flattened under the weight of three people.

My tail!

“It’s been a while…!” “We missed you!”

Yura and Yuri licked my face vigorously. I can’t tell if they’re grooming me out of affection or trying to taste their prey.

Wolves don’t eat wolves, so it’s obviously not the latter.

Finally, after my face was covered in their saliva, the two let me go.

“Eueu….”

It’s wet.

I wiped my face with my sleeve and looked at Yura and Yuri.

Like all other Arctic wolf suins, Yura and Yuri also had snow-white hair and tails. Their blue eyes were the same.

Of course, I also have snow-white hair. But the feeling is slightly different; while other wolves are like dry, powdery snow, mine is a soft, fluffy snow-like white.

This means my fur color is prettier.

“Okay, okay, kids, let’s stop playing and go over there.”

“”Yes!””

Sister, who had been watching us, then led us towards Dad and the other tribe members.

——

“There’s no need for long speeches. So, we begin today’s hunt.”

A low, yet clearly audible voice to everyone. All the tribe members naturally follow the leader’s will.

The crowd follows Dad. I can’t see Sister, but she’s probably among them. They’ll surely bring back something enormous.

However, I don’t follow Dad.

“Ahem! Everyone, attention!”

“”Yes!””

“From now on, the first squad will be led by Squad Leader Rang Seol-ah! Follow my orders!”

The animals the adults hunt are all big and strong. Reindeer, wyverns – they are all too much and too dangerous for children to handle.

As a magical wolf, I could somehow handle them, but it would be difficult for Yura and Yuri, who have no hunting experience yet.

To accommodate them, I planned to hunt relatively small animals. And for that, I naturally had to move away from Dad.

“All attention! At ease! Attention!”

“W-what is that…?” “Seol-ah has become strange since we met after so long….”

“Hmph! Do not talk back to your superior!”

Perhaps these children, who are only 8 years old, don’t know this. If so, I should kindly teach them. I was about to open my mouth to Yura and Yuri….

And was immediately pounced upon.

“I wanna touch Seol-ah’s tail!” “I’ve wanted to touch it so much….”

“W-wait! Guys?!”

My tail is being stroked vigorously by two pairs of hands. This is an act that shatters my dignity as a leader.

I struggled and tried to get away, but Yura and Yuri’s strength was too great.

“Kkang!!”

“This should be enough touching!” “Yeah… I’m satisfied now.”

Eventually, the constant fondling continued until my tail, which Sister had so diligently brushed, was completely disheveled.

Can I really be this tired before the hunt has even begun? I struggled to get up, feeling dizzy.

Sigh, I should just finish what I started.

I take a breath, tense my body, and let out a sound from my mouth. I call out to Yura and Yuri.

“Okay…! Everyone, attention again!”

“”Yes!””

“While the adults catch wyverns, we will catch rabbits! Understand?”

“”Yes!””

“Then, let’s go!”

I led Yura and Yuri and began to march energetically towards the forest.

We walk, sniffing the air. We need to observe our surroundings carefully. Arctic rabbits are pure white, so they are hard to see on the snowfield.

At that moment, I heard a rustling sound from under the snow.

“Huk…!”

“What’s wrong, Seol-ah?” “Did you find something?”

“No, it’s nothing!”

Oh no. Instinctively, I almost threw myself into the snow.

What would the kids think if I stuck my head in the snow and only showed my tail? As the leader, I couldn’t do something so childish and pathetic.

Besides, even if I caught it, it would have been a hamster anyway. They are too small to be used as prey.

“Seol-ah…!” “It’s a rabbit!”

“Really?!”

I quickly hid behind a tree trunk. Looking closely at where the twins were pointing, I saw a rabbit sitting there.

“Let’s catch it quickly…!”

“Wait. You can’t just charge in recklessly!”

I immediately stopped Yura, who was about to charge out, and gave her a warning. Since I’m the only wolf here who has actually hunted, I, as the leader, have to teach them some tips.

This is leadership. Heh heh.

“First, look around. Are there other rabbits nearby?”

“I don’t think so….” “No!”

“Great! Then it’s probably a loner from the pack. It’ll be easy to hunt!”

“”Wow…!””

Although the rabbit’s face is turned this way, thanks to hiding quickly behind the tree, it doesn’t seem to have noticed us. Moreover, since the wind is blowing from the front, it will be difficult for it to smell us, so this is truly a heaven-sent opportunity.

“I’ll charge forward. Yura and Yuri, surround it from both sides!”

“”Yes…!””

“Let’s go when I say one, two, three…! One, two…!!”

——

“Hmm.”

Seol-yeon hid behind a hill and watched her sister. Her sister, who seemed to be flattened against the ground to avoid being seen, looked pathetic.

“… She’s already been spotted.”

She seemed to be hiding behind the tree, trying her best not to be seen, but her tail was too big and sticking out. Since the three of them were hiding behind one tree, there wasn’t enough space to begin with.

Why else would the rabbit be looking intently towards the tree? It’s wary because it saw something strange.

Among them, it’s wary towards Yura and Yuri in particular. Seol-ah is not even considered a threat, let alone a target of caution. The rabbit has clearly concluded that she cannot harm it.

A fleeting image of Seol-ah being kicked by a rabbit and fainting flashed through her mind.

Seol-yeon’s tail tapped the ground restlessly. Seol-yeon’s body twitched. It looked like she was about to rush to her sister’s aid.

But she had to hold back.

“I have to trust her. Yes, that’s right.”

Seol-yeon decided to trust her sister. Instead of blindly coddling her just because she’s young, she decided to let her experience many things freely. Getting kicked by a rabbit is also an experience, for now.

Besides, there are three of them.

It’s not just Seol-ah; Yura and Yuri are also there. Although they are the same age as Seol-ah, they are wolf suins with exceptional physical abilities.

If they are there, Seol-ah probably won’t get hurt too badly.

Thus, Seol-yeon lowered her body as much as possible and watched Seol-ah.

It was at that moment that a fox’s sound was heard.

“Kkang.”

“W-what, Seol-gu?”

Suddenly, Seol-gu was lying next to Seol-yeon, who was flattened on the snow.

“When did… Ah, no, Seol-gu. Wait. Don’t scream. Seol-ah will hear you. Go away, shoo, shoo!”

Seol-gu ignored Seol-yeon’s words and lay beside her, watching Seol-ah. It seemed that, like Seol-yeon, he was worried about Seol-ah.

Seol-yeon muttered to herself.

“… What kind of being are you, anyway? Or rather, what is a fox….”

“Kkang?”

“It’s nothing. Let’s just keep watching Seol-ah.”

Seol-yeon had many questions for Seol-gu, but since they couldn’t communicate, she shook her head and looked forward again.

I really need to teach him to read.

Seol-yeon thought about how to teach Seol-gu to read. She didn’t have the slightest doubt that Seol-gu would be able to learn to read.

“Kkang….”

Seol-gu let out a cry, feeling uneasy.

-Attack!!

“Look, look….”

As expected, Seol-ah announced her charge to the entire neighborhood and advanced towards the rabbit. Although her presence had long been revealed, its end was clear if she charged so openly.

-Kkang!!

Kicked by the rabbit, Seol-ah flew high into the sky in an instant. Her tail fur scattered everywhere, and soon Seol-ah was buried in the snow.

At the same time, Yura and Yuri sprang out from both sides and caught the rabbit.

-Biiik?!

-Caught it…!

-This is for Seol-ah’s revenge!

The twins instantly bit the rabbit’s neck and ended its life. Although the pose was a bit clumsy for the first time, the effect was definite.

Whether intentional or not, using Seol-ah as bait, the twins succeeded in hunting the rabbit.

A moment later, Yura pulled Seol-ah out of the ground with her hand.

Shaking her head to shake off the snow, Seol-ah put her hands on her hips and declared confidently.

-H-how about that! Amazing, right! I deliberately made the rabbit let its guard down!

“….”

Seol-ah’s face was slightly flushed with shame. Yura and Yuri seemed to know this too, but they didn’t say it out loud.

Seol-ah dug a hole to bury the rabbit and then moved on to find the next prey.