episode_0004

While the wolf beastmen may be called guardians, contrary to their grand title, they are not such remarkable beings.

If they truly were omnipotent beings like gods, they wouldn’t have been split in half and on the brink of death from a mere blow by a strong witch.

I’m not trying to belittle the wolf beastmen wailing before me.

It’s a statement that the novel setting is indeed like that.

The beings referred to as ‘guardians’ by the beastmen are powerful monsters that have survived harsh wilderness for a long time.

Beings who resemble themselves the most and are closest to achieving their pursued goals.

In short, it means they are like spiritual guides to them.

I have killed such beings.

Not only did I gruesomely kill them, but I also mutilated their corpses and even roasted and ate their flesh.

Trembling from the act of killing, going further to desecrate and consume the body—it’s appalling.

How much hatred must the wolf beastmen harbor towards me?

“Ah… Aah…”

I gaze at the wolf head handed to me with a bewildered expression.

“This can’t be happening… Our, our guardian… reduced to such a pitiful state… Haha… Hehe…”

Does she want to deny reality?

Unaware that cold blood is dripping down my face, she inspects the wolf head, laughing softly.

A complete breakdown of her mental state.

Watching the leader’s pitiful state, strangely, I felt like I had become the villain.

Stealing something precious from the other and showing them their ruined state, turning their mind into dust…

In this way, doesn’t it truly make me seem like a villain?

“Thinking like this, I do seem like a wicked witch.”

Did I watch her weep bitterly with a bitter expression?

After crying for a while, the leader finally regained composure, glared at me quietly, then slowly took a few steps back.

Creak.

Then, with an angry face, he howled, driving away all the surrounding wolf beastmen into the forest.

“…Having killed our guardian without a scratch, now you’ll face certain death. I will remember this grudge and repay it when the opportunity arises.”

“Can’t we just forget about it? It doesn’t seem entirely my fault.”

“Grr.”

Despite pleading injustice, the leader of the wolf beastmen had already vanished into the forest.

I sighed deeply, feeling that the survival difficulty had increased even more.

“Damn.”

Why does nothing ever go right, whether before possession or after?

Moreover, what I possessed was a novel, not a soul-like game.

“Will tomorrow be a better day than today?”

Thud thud.

Still worrying while looking at the blazing firewood, I soon shook my head.

“I don’t know, tomorrow’s events will be handled by tomorrow’s me.”

After roughly cleaning the overturned pot, I brought the wolf meat that had been prepared back on top.

Sizzle –

Accompanied by a delightful sound, a fragrant and savory smell wafted up again.

Taking in the scent that helped me forget the exhausting day, I began to slowly revisit the topic of the guardians.

“Come to think of it, unlike other beastmen, the wolf beastmen seemed to have a close bond with their guardian. What was that about?”

As I gazed endlessly at the cooking wolf meat, I finally recalled an important detail I had forgotten.

“Oh, right. Among the tribe, there was a female who had a relationship with the guardian, wasn’t there?”

Realizing such a remarkable fact, I couldn’t help but sigh.

“…They say forbidden love is the scariest.”

What am I going to do now?

—–

A place quite far from the witch’s house.

Under the bright moonlight, the gathered silver-furred tribe began to mourn, burying the head of their guardian deity in the ground.

“”The Wolf Deity will guide you to paradise.””

A solemn prayer echoing through the quiet forest.

Soon, the wolf-human hybrids, having finished their contemplation, approached the somber-faced leader to offer comfort.

“Are you alright, Commander? You seem deeply troubled.”

“…I’m sorry, but I am far from alright. The Wolf Deity has invited none other than our guardian deity by his side.

She felt overwhelmed by the current situation.

The knowledge of the guardian deity’s death was known only to the brave warriors around her.

However, even these warriors, upon hearing the news of the guardian deity’s death, had their spirits crushed, with no sign of recovery in sight.

In this state, how could she announce the guardian deity’s death to the entire tribe?

“Sigh…”

Though anger flared within her, it was stifled by a sense of helpless worry.

How many times had she witnessed tribes deteriorating after the death of their guardian deity?

Especially the memory of one strong tribe slowly crumbling from within was the most haunting in her mind.

But now, that dreadful memory had become a reality before her.

“What should I do?”

She posed the question to the silent warriors.

“Fear grips me at the thought of revealing the truth, desiring a momentary respite by speaking falsehoods. Yet, the absence of the guardian deity will naturally reveal the truth when dawn breaks.”

“Brothers and sisters, please answer me. What decision must I make?”

Would it not be too cruel to plunge everyone into despair by speaking the truth?

Yet, to lie meant facing the repercussions when the falsehood was uncovered, a prospect too daunting.

As the leader desperately sought answers through her questions, sadly, no response came forth.

All she heard was the desolate sound of the wind, a sound she hadn’t even dared to hope for.

As the chilly night breeze brushed past her ears, the leader, gazing at the moon, muttered dazedly,

“I… I feel like abandoning everything and fleeing. I would rather confront that wicked witch with vengeance burning in my heart, even if it means suicide.”

“But I cannot. Knowing it would be futile, I cannot bring myself to attack her out of sheer spite.”

“Look at me, my tribe. I am such a coward. Where can I find the courage and pride of the esteemed Silver Fang Commander?”

With a tone of lament, she sat down, and one of the wolf-human hybrids nearby slowly spoke up.

“Commander.”

“Speak, Kairu.”

“If you truly care for the tribe, what about seeking help from the Elves? Rumor has it that the Swift Foot tribe, similar to us in plight, received salvation from them.”

“The Elves…”

She hesitated for a moment.

In her mind, words from the tribe’s elders and parents flashed by.

“No matter what happens, never trust the Elves. Despite their appearance, they are the true monsters.”

“The Demons… Yes, if they exist in the middle realm, that might be their guise. I’m not sure about Elves elsewhere, but at least here, be cautious, very cautious.”

“I’m glad you’re not a male. If you were… No, there’s no need to know. Forget what I just said.”

…Why did the elders pass such judgments on all Elves?

And, could she really ask the Elves for help as Kairu suggested?

Lost in thought after thought, the leader eventually touched her forehead, feeling overwhelmed, and issued a summon to all the warriors.

“Please stay away for a moment if you want to be alone.”

“…Thinking that you did your best isn’t necessarily a bad thought, right?”

“It’s noisy, Keru. If you whine one more time, I’ll rip that mouth of yours apart.”

Creak!

As she fiercely scowled, the wolf-like attendants nodded their heads and all left their positions.

Now, the only thing left around her was a pitiful grave.

The leader sat down slowly next to the grave and began to speak in a whisper.

“God of protection… No, when it’s just us two, is it right to call you ‘master’?”

A small voice that seemed like it could be swallowed by the wind.

After confirming once again that there was no response from her, she let out a long sigh.

“If you leave so easily like this, what am I supposed to do? How big is the void left by your absence, master?”

With a mocking tone, she lightly tapped the grave and with tears welling up in her eyes, she questioned the grave.

“…I guess seeking revenge is the right thing to do, right? Not only did you brutally kill her, but you also humiliated her, that woman.”

“Sigh, no matter how much I suppress it, my anger keeps boiling up. It makes me so angry that the one who used to make every night happy is no longer here.”

“I know I have to take responsibility for my shortcomings… but I don’t know. Honestly, I just want to focus on your revenge.”

Muttering to herself in a voice that no one would hear, she soon made a decision and let out a long howl.

Ooohhh – !

On a night illuminated by the faint crescent moonlight.

As the scattered wolf-like attendants gathered again, the leader of the wolves spoke with a voice full of life.

“I’ve made a decision. We will ask the dwarves for help.”

With this opportunity, we will seize the witch’s neck and soothe the restless soul of the god of protection.