Chapter 58

Chapter 58

Otherworld Demon King Survival Guide.

Episode 58: Strengthening My Foundation (7)

Damn, that’s dangerous!

“Aaaahhhhhhhh!!!”

A wolf bigger than a lion? Damn it!

If that thing came and bit me just once, I’d be torn apart! But a creature that looked so strong wouldn’t just take one bite! It would surely devour me and all my subordinates!

I quickly hid myself in a cave with Sharan!

“Form up! Create a formation facing outside the cave!!!”

“Ke, Kerek!”

I yelled loudly, and the goblins working on other tasks rushed to form up.

“Ke, Kerek?!”

“Kereruk!”

“Keleung?!”

It seemed that they were startled by the sight of the wolf while they were forming up. They were trembling with fear all the way up to their shoulders!

“Damn it!”

These guys were all scared!

“Shaah…!”

Sharan, too, was on high alert! It was genuinely dangerous! It was the first time I had seen Sharan so wary!

“Damn it!”

We were in a desperate situation!

“Of course, we can’t die here!”

We must survive somehow! We couldn’t all perish here!

I decided that instantly.

Huff!

I took a deep breath.

“Don’t be afraid!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

I yelled with all my heart!

“Kerek!”

“Kerek?!”

“Sha-at?!”

We shouldn’t show fear in this situation! It was terrifying and felt like we’d pee ourselves, but we must swallow that fear!

As a military commander, you should always show calmness and confidence! If their leader was scared, how could the soldiers be brave?

“Maintain formation! Keep the formation! Front row with shields! Rear row with spears! Raise your spears!!! We attack on my command! Trust only me! I’m with you! So…”

I gave a speech to reassure my soldiers. At the same time, it was a message to myself.

I imagined it.

The strongest self, no.

South Korea’s top celebrity, Kang Ho-dong.

Just like when Mr. Kang Ho-dong passionately yelled, “Anyone but me!” on 1 Night 2 Days.

“Just trust me!!!”

I also shouted with all my heart!!

After shouting like that.

“Kerek!”

The trembling goblins froze.

“Ke, Kerek!”

“Keruuk!”

“Keraaak!”

And then, they let out a war cry!

“Yes! I’m here! You damn goblins! This bro is with you!!!”

“Kereruk!”

“Sharan! The boss is here!”

“Ma, Boss!”

Maybe it was because we made such a loud noise.

Growl…

The wolf, bigger than a lion, started prowling in front of us as if searching.

Alright.

It was a relief that it didn’t suddenly attack. Yes. There was always a way. If we stayed still, we should at least make some noise to alert it.

“Keureuk…!”

“Ah. Buril. Relax. Just hold onto the spear.”

I spoke in a calm tone, as usual.

“…”

Such an intense tension.

ㅡSlithering sound.

A wolf, bigger than a lion, was slowly moving through the bushes ahead. It really did look like a wolf that was bigger than a lion. Although there were slight differences, such as the pattern of its fur and its protruding teeth, compared to Earth’s wolves, it still looked quite similar overall.

The creature kept pacing.

It showed no sign of leaving. The beast was circling us, observing.

Fortunately… all the entrances were blocked. The ceiling of the Kobold’skobold’s cave wasn’t designed for jumping either.

It would definitely be blocked by our phalanx.

But the real problem was that our weapons were just sticks and clubs. Damn. We were screwed. What was the way out? How could we survive?

Calm down.

The Maasai tribe of the Great Plains hunted male lions with just a spear. With my men by my side, I could win.

“Master! It’s very dangerous! Sha-ah! Sha-ah sha-ah!”

“Ah. We’ll be okay. We have the numbers.”

Sacrifice.

There was a high probability… of casualties among my men. As horrible as it was, I must consider this possibility.

“Spear.”

My spear was still good to use. What if I shoved it into its head or mouth? At the very least, if I could hit its eye? There was a chance we could scare it away.

I watched it closely.

ㅡSlithering sound.

The wolf came slightly closer.

“ROOOOAAAAR!!!”

And roared loudly!

“You little!”

Trying to intimidate us?

Hell no!

“AAARRRGGGHHH!!!”

I screamed louder than it! Did I look like I’d be scared of a creature like that?

“RAAAAGGGHHH!!!”

Shouting out gave me courage!

“Grunt!”

Maybe it’s because of my yell, but the approaching wolf growled once and went back to pacing.

“Phew!”

It was probably cautious because it was seeing me for the first time. A goblin might be an easy prey, but I was a new sight. So even with its size advantage, it wouldn’t just attack recklessly.

It was very cautious.

And it didn’t know me well.

If I had to use that… Yes. I had my ace card, Sharan. And Sharan would listen to my command.

“Sharan. When I say, scratch that thing.”

“Yes, Master”

Sharan’s scratch could tear the muscles of goblins and break their bones. It was as if swinging a polearm or a two-handed sword with full force.

That should be enough to cause damage.

“Grrkk.”

I watched the wolf’s movement while thinking.

Very closely.

I observed the wolf with all my attention.

“Growl…!”

A lowered body.

Trembling hind legs.

Shimmering fur.

“That bastard.”

Regardless, I planned to try and stab it once. It would definitely come. If it came, what should I do? I kept thinking about it.

I, too, was glaring at the creature.

Then…

Thud!

The wolf stomped on the ground.

“ROOOOOOOOOAR!!!!!!”

A roar so loud, it felt as if it could flip the sky. A massive mammal, seemingly weighing hundreds of kilos, was charging, pounding the earth beneath. With the goblins’ strength, there was no way they could halt its advance. It was like a tank!

“…!”

Its gaze, its eyes! I followed them! Who was it looking at? The wolf was looking at me right now!

“GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!”

Yelling, I quickly moved to the left, pressing my shoulder against the cave wall! The distance quickly closed. The wolf nearing the entrance of the cave jumped with a kick.

“Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrring!!!”

Crash!

“Krrrrrrrrgh!”

“Krrrrrrrrraaack!”

Goblins that were forming a barrier flew like bowling pins, but I ignored them all, focusing solely on the wolf!

“Demonic Breathhhhhhhhhhh!!!”

Whoosh!

I released a fierce flame from the spear. Burning all my magical power, I extended the range and duration of the Breath, and I exploded all my strength to thrust the spear forward.

Smash!

My vision was filled with flames.

I felt the spear pierce the wolf.

Boom!

I was thrown backward. Damn, this beast was like a real tank. Pushing me away, the wolf climbed on top of me.

But I had anticipated this.

Whoosh!

The wolf’s body was enveloped in flames.

“Grrrrrrrrrruh?”

Its fur seemed to have a lot of oil. Meaning, it burned well. I merely ensured the beast couldn’t bite me, laying down with the spear pressed against my side, standing it upright as a defense.

“Ughhh!”

Damn, I absolutely had to resist! If that bastard thrust its mouth toward me, my head would be gone! Ah, damn it, seriously! My arms were shaking so bad!

I’m sorry, Sharan!

“Sha, Sharan!!! Sharan! Scratch this bastard on the side hard!!!”

“Shaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!”

Sharan let out a cry and vigorously scratched the flaming wolf’s side!

Slash!

Slasheeeee!

Slash!

A truly exhilarating clash.

“Grrrrrrrrrruh?”

Blood gushed out, and the wolf groaned. I kept holding on to the spear, which was like my lifeline, and not much later…

“Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrraack!!!”

The wolf turned its body and dashed out of the cave!

Whoosh!

Engulfed in flames!

I won!

I survived!

The joy of survival pierced through my entire body, but I couldn’t indulge in it.

“Goodbye, Ghost Rider…! Hahaha!”

“Master!!!”

It was Sharan who rushed towards me.

Looking at Sharan’s hand… it was burnt.

Damn it…!

Above all, the fact that Sharan got hurt was the worst!

“Are you okay… How about you, Sharan? Did it hurt a lot?”

“I’m not hurt! Master! Master!”

“Hehehe, saying you’re okay.”

The sensation was vague, but I wasn’t severely hurt. Seriously, damn it, I was holding on with my soul, stabbing through the window. And when the collision occurred, I blinded its sight with fire.

The wolf couldn’t attack me properly.

What worried me were Sharan and the wounded goblins.

“Buril!”

“Keureuk…!”

He was alive, seeing that he responded.

What a relief.

I couldn’t imagine how sad it would be if Buril was gone.

“Master!”

“Sharan. I’m not hurt at all. Tell me where you’re hurt.”

“Sha, Sharan… my, my hand hurts a little! But Master, you seem to be in more pain!!!”

“I told you I’m not hurt. I’m fine. Nothing’s wrong.”

“Master is hurt!!!”

Sharan, reacting strongly, patted my body. Truly, a desperate face. She’s really worried about me right now.

“Master…! Master! It hurts a lot!”

She was almost crying!

“Ouch! Sharan! I’m okay!”

Was it because I was lying down?!

I immediately stood up!

“Look! I got up perfectly fine!”

“Ma, Master?”

“I’m fine! Calm down, Sharan! I’m not that hurt! Really, it’s just a little!”

“Masterdd!”

Sharan hugged me.

“Yeah, yeah. I’m okay.”

“Shaarrgh!”

Consoling Sharan, I looked around.

“Ghhhk…!”

The scattered goblins were on the ground. Were there any dead? Fortunately, none. But they seemed to be quite hurt.

“Buril, are you okay?”

“Keureuk… Keureuk.”

Buril was struggling to get up. His body had bruises here and there, but he didn’t sustain fatal injuries. Damn lucky.

“Thank you, Buril! For being alive!”

“Hehehe!”

Buril, smiling and nodding, immediately began to tend to the others. I guess I should get back to work, too.

“Sharan. I’m okay, so let’s prepare to leave. We can’t stay here.”

“Master…”

“Let’s head home for now. We’ll think about the rest there. We can do something once we get home.”

“…Yes, Master.”

The wolf had run away.

But it hadn’t been defeated. It probably just fled because it got scared of the fire. Although my demonic breath burned it, it wouldn’t be fatal. The scratch Sharan made on its flank was the same. It would hurt, but it was not fatal.

It merely fled out of surprise.

If it fled for a moment and, over time, objectively understood its condition, it would surely come back for revenge. If it realized that we were not as strong as it thought, it would definitely come back to devour us.

Why?

It was clearly a strong monster. And if it was a strong monster, it had its own territory. Its appearance means this place was its territory. Just as I annihilated the hobgoblins, it would also try to eliminate me to protect its domain.

That was the natural flow.

It was the law of the wild.

The likes of him retreating and yielding were impossible. We were bound to clash again.

If we didn’t kill, we would be killed.

I recalled the words etched in my heart to calm my still-pounding heart.

“Master, what about the kobolds?”

“…”

I gave up.

“Let’s kill just one.”

“Huh?”

Immediately wielding a spear, I went to where the tied-up kobold prisoners were and thrust without hesitation.

– Puhuk!

“Gyusaaa…!”

The tied-up Koboldkobold spat blood and screamed its last breath.

“Master? You killed a kobold?”

“Yes. We’ll leave the rest of the kobolds.”

I wouldn’t use domination magic.

I needed to conserve my energy.

“If the wolf comes back, they’ll be drawn to the scent of blood. We have to reach our home. The kobolds here… regretfully, will be used as bait.”

The kobolds here would buy us some time. I feel sorry for Gyuil, who almost received a new member, but it was a necessary sacrifice.

“Yes, Master.”

Sharan seemed to understand as she nodded.

If I had cast domination magic, they would be mine. My subordinates. I should protect my subordinates. But these were still mere prisoners. I would ruthlessly abandon them.

Right now, what was important was the life of me and my family.

“Buril. The injured!”

“Kerek!”

“Hmm.”

It seemed that two spear soldiers had broken arms and legs. They wouldn’t be able to move for a while.

“Gyuil. And Muturi.”

Upon calling their names, they walked out from behind.

“Gyusat…”

“Grak…”

They looked utterly terrified.

“You two have to carefully carry the injured. Understand?”

“Gyusat.”

They understood well.

“Buril. Sharan. We have to go home now. Maintain formation and always look around. Got it?”

“Kerek.”

“Yes, Master. The big one? You see it coming?”

“Yes. Always be vigilant.”

If it came back, we were screwed. For real.

“Let’s move.”

And so, we swiftly returned to the dungeon, tightly knit and vigilant in all directions.

Thankfully, the wolf didn’t appear again. But had we dawdled… it might have returned.

“From now on, we’ll stand guard in pairs. Everyone. Don’t store your equipment in the armory; keep it with you.”

Exhausted as I was, there was work to be done. I moved quickly. I think I needed to dig a pit in front of this dungeon.