episode_0044

Counting the enemies as I shoot. I slightly lengthen the shotgun’s strap and pull out two pistols from the holster behind me.

I quickly aim and shoot the approaching wolves’ heads, one by one, with the pistols.

Bang, bang. The clear and crisp sound of gunshots echoes across the vast field. Every time the pistols in my hand dance with the recoil, the charging wolves fall to the ground.

Now, there are about twenty wolves left. Quite a lot. As the wolf pack almost reaches me, I step back slightly and quickly holster the pistols.

I grab the shotgun on my back and aim at the ones trying to pounce on me.

Boom!

“Kkihing!!”

With a loud blast and a spray of blood as they become ragdolls in mid-air, the enemies fall to the ground.

I quickly pump the shotgun back and aim at the approaching enemies.

Boom!

“Kkiheeng!!”

“Kkikking!”

The large wolves whimper pitifully as they collapse weakly. Despite the somewhat pitiful puppy-like whimpers, if I were the one lying underneath, I would probably be the one whimpering and bleeding profusely.

About to throw the cigarette butt on the ground and stomp it out, I suddenly remember.

“Oh right, this is a bean field.”

I carefully sprinkle the dirt over it to prevent damage to the crops before putting it in my pocket. I am a considerate smoker.

“Grrraaaww!!”

At that moment, a huge wolf that seemed like the leader, accompanied by the remaining pack, charges towards me with a tiger-like roar.

They were still smart. Having seen their comrades fall to bullets and shotguns after straightforward attacks, this time they charge in a widely spread formation.

But there’s always a way.

Bang! Bang!

I shoot the heads of the ones in sight with the pistols, and just before they get close, I locate where the leader is. The leader is charging towards me from the left.

“Hup!”

Letting out a short battle cry, I rush forward. Just before they pounce on me, I leap, causing them to collide and create a moment of confusion.

Ignoring them, I fire the pistols towards the front again.

Bang! Bang!

“Kkiging!!”

The wolves charging towards me fall to the ground from the gunshots. Around that time, they shake their heads, regain their focus, and start chasing me from behind.

Of course, I can’t outrun them by running. They quickly catch up to me. Stepping on the fallen enemies on the ground, I leap and turn around.

I raise the shotgun on my back.

Boom!

Once again, numerous wolves become ragdolls as blood splatters, but there is no time to admire that. I quickly pull the trigger once more, causing the wolves to scatter.

Suddenly, the lone leader wolf, covered in blood, glares at me as if to say it will kill me.

“Grrraaaww!!”

With a terrifying speed that doesn’t feel like a wolf’s at all, it charges towards me erratically, closing the distance rapidly.

With only one left, I intended to settle the score with the pistol, but it was too fast. By the time I tried to aim, it had already moved, and its unpredictable movements made it difficult to shoot.

The man opened his large mouth and approached me, almost reaching my feet. Shadows loomed before my eyes.

And then, he patted my shoulder.

Just before he could bite me.

“Do you want to taste the shotgun?”

With a click, the man chewed on the shotgun barrel I quickly offered.

As I pulled the trigger.

Bang!!

A deafening roar tore through the air, causing the man’s entire body to shudder. Eventually, as I lowered the gun, a waterfall of blood poured out of his mouth.

I turned the shotgun back and drew out the pistol, aiming at the man’s head.

Bang!

But he didn’t fall, so I fired another shot.

Bang!

Staggering, he continued to growl until the end.

This time, I didn’t hold back and fired multiple shots.

Bang bang bang bang bang bang bang bang bang bang bang bang bang bang!!

Since it was a gun without a magazine, I lost count of how many shots I fired. Anyway, I kept firing the pistol until the man stopped moving, splattering blood on my face and blouse in the process.

I took out a cigarette from my pocket, lit it leisurely, and shouted at the three people who were watching the fight absentmindedly.

“Hey, you guys! Are you still not done with the field work?”

*

“You’ve gotten quite strong.”

While Lina and Dakota were on guard, gathering the wolf carcasses in one place, Lager, dressed in patched pants, approached me, cutting the beans with a sickle as she had learned from her grandmother.

“I’m not strong. The gun is strong.”

Unable to wear pants due to her tail, I sat down uncomfortably in my formal pants and diligently cut the beans with a sickle into a basket.

“But what will you do when you catch them all? Today’s mission was supposed to be mine. And you should have protected me as well.”

“Hey, you should have told me in advance. And now that I’m stronger than you, how will you protect me?”

Thanks to jumping four levels at once, Lager was one tier lower than me.

“Train hard and protect me. It’s embarrassing if the protagonist is weaker than the extras, right?”

Teasing Lager by lightly tapping her shoulder.

Somehow, Lager’s expression seemed a bit bitter.

“…What’s wrong? Are you upset?”

“No.”

“It’s not that.”

Why is she making such a sullen face? Why is she reacting so sensitively to the usual joke without even having her period anymore?

Oh… maybe.

There was a hint of a touchy subject, so I called Lager again.

“Are you feeling insecure because you’re weaker than a woman and it hurts your pride?”

“No, it’s not that.”

That’s right. Judging by her raised voice and growling.

Kid, you’ve become a man without even realizing it. You know how to be proud and have pride. I chuckled and focused on cutting the beans with the sickle.

But my waist was quite sore. Since beans grow low to the ground, I had to squat and walk forward with a duck walk to pick them one by one.

Darn it. I thought I would only handle a gun here, but now I have to handle a sickle and a basket too.

“Ouch.”

I stood up, wet my waist, and let out a scream. A creaking, sore sound was heard. It seems like my waist will be quite painful tomorrow.

I looked up and saw Lina and Dakota still clearing the carcasses, so I shouted loudly.

“Hey! Hurry up and come here! How long are you going to stay there?”

“There are too many wolf carcasses!”

“My waist is going to give out, you guys!!”

As I shouted like that, Dakota raised the knife in his hand high and shouted.

“Grandma said to separate the wolf skins! It will take some time!”

“Why are you doing that?!”

As I shouted, the grandmother who had approached without us noticing.

Thud!!

“Gasp?!”

Honey night has been served.

“I’m going to make winter clothes. Why?”

“Oh, no, you can say that.”

Just like making weapons from the materials left by monsters in the game, here they were making clothes from demon leather. It seemed like a natural approach, but it felt somewhat fresh to actually encounter it.

“Dinner’s ready. Come and eat!”

Time had already passed like that. We followed the tottering grandmother down to the field.

There,

“Wow!”

The thick smell of bean rice and kimchi stew, filled with pork, simmering in a small pot that had been carried on the cart earlier, wafted through the air.

“Grandma, did you harvest the beans yourself?”

“Of course! I also grew the rice myself!”

“Wow!”

As if not lying, the four of us were amazed by the glossy appearance of the bean rice in the pot and let out a collective gasp.

Meanwhile, Dakota, with a reddened face, slyly glanced at Lager as she held her stomach, looking adorable.

“Have you almost finished working in the field?”

“I’ve finished about two-thirds of it.”

“Then, since you’ve done such hard work, please take this too. It’s a token of my appreciation.”

I couldn’t help but exclaim when I saw what Grandma took out from behind the cart.

Yes, this is it. This is the taste of public support!

Grandma brought out a jar the size of a rice cooker. It was filled with a clear liquid the color of rice.

It was makgeolli.