325 [325] Fighting with Bears
Chapter 325: Fighting with Bears
Originally, Hachiman was leisurely enjoying the girls feeding him when suddenly, a roar startled him.
Before he could understand what was happening, a loud shout made him realize the reason behind it.
"There...there's a bear!"
Turning around, he saw a massive black bear appearing in the nearby forest behind them.
There's really a bear?
Looking at the bear, Hachiman was momentarily stunned, but he quickly made a decision and spoke to the others.
"I'll take care of this bear, you guys go and evacuate the children."
"Are you crazy?!"
Upon hearing Hachiman's words, everyone was shocked.
"But that's a bear, how could you possibly fight it?" Yumiko's face showed anxiousness.
After all, Hachiman didn't look particularly strong, and to the girls, sending him to fight a bear was like sending him to his death.
"Yeah, Hikki, it's too dangerous," Yui nodded in agreement.
Even the usually calm Yukino seemed a bit flustered at this moment.
"Now is not the time to be brave, let's all hide together," she suggested.
"Don't worry, if I say I can handle it, then I'm confident I can. When have you ever heard me spout nonsense?" Hachiman smiled confidently.
At this moment, the girls remembered all the times Hachiman's words had come true.
But this is different now. How could an ordinary person possibly win against a bear?
Seeing Yukino about to speak, Hachiman interrupted her.
"Now is not the time for hesitation. Remember, there are still those children."
Upon hearing this, the girls snapped back to reality.
Yeah, now it's not just about us, but also about all these children. We can't let them be in such a dangerous situation.
"Be careful then," Yukino said finally choosing to trust him.
Suddenly, Hayama spoke up, "Hikigaya-kun, I'll help you."
"Right, count me in too," Tobe nodded beside him.
Although they were afraid, as boys, they knew they should step up at a time like this.
But Hachiman still shook his head, "No need, the more people, the more dangerous. You and Yukino go help evacuate the children."
"But..." Hayama wanted to say more.
"No 'buts,' just listen to me," Hachiman's demeanor exuded a sense of authority, making Hayama and the others instinctively want to obey him.
"The evacuation of the children is up to you guys," Hachiman nodded as he looked towards Saeko.
"Saeko, take care of Komachi and the others."
"You can count on me, Hachiman-kun. May luck be on your side," Saeko said solemnly.
Hachiman smiled confidently, "Don't worry, leave everything to me."
With that, he picked up the knife that was used to cut meat on the table and dashed towards the bear at an astonishing speed.
Watching Hachiman charge towards the bear, Shizuka turned away and said, "Alright, let's go evacuate the children quickly."
With Hachiman gone, she, as the teacher, naturally became the backbone.
But Yui still looked worried, "Shizuka-sensei, is Hikki really going to be okay? That's a bear."
"Don't worry, that kid, you all know him. He never lies, so if he says he's got it, then he's sure about it," Shizuka smiled reassuringly.
Shizuka had confidence in Hachiman's abilities. Knowing he was the hero of their world, she believed dealing with a bear shouldn't pose a problem.
"Indeed, Yuigahama-san, we should trust Hachiman," Saeko agreed, nodding.
Even though she wasn't aware of Hachiman's status as a hero, she trusted his judgment. After all, Hachiman had surpassed the Sword Saint, a feat unseen in nearly a hundred years. The girls believed he could still perform miracles.
"Alright then."
Yui nodded in response, her gaze following Hachiman's disappearing figure.
Hikki, please stay safe.
She silently prayed inwardly.
"Okay, while he's buying us time, let's move all the children into the cabin," Shizuka instructed.
"Got it!"
They replied in unison.
With the meat knife in hand, Hachiman swiftly approached the black bear.
Observing the bear closely, he raised an eyebrow in curiosity.
It appeared to be an Asian black bear, roughly 1.8 meters in length.
Asian black bears were familiar sights, often seen in circuses.
Also known as Asiatic black bears, moon bears, or simply black bears, they typically measured around 2 meters in length and weighed about 200 kilograms. Their most distinctive feature was the light-colored crescent-shaped mark on their chests.
As the black bear looked at Hachiman suddenly appearing in front of it, even its dark eyes showed confusion.
It had been foraging in the forest when it caught the scent of something delicious. Approaching the source of the scent, it saw the scattered crowd fleeing and then Hachiman, standing before it like a formidable opponent.
Hachiman wasn't aware that the bear had been attracted by the scent of grilled meat, but that didn't matter. For him, anything posing a threat to the safety of the girls had to be eliminated.
With that thought, a compelling aura emanated from him.
Human pineal glands had nearly degenerated, resulting in poorer danger perception. However, animals were different. Living in the wild, they had to be highly attuned to danger to avoid becoming prey.
Although bears were at the top of the food chain, their ability to sense danger remained strong.
Sensing the threat emanating from Hachiman, the black bear crouched slightly, clearly preparing to attack.
In the next moment, the bear let out a roar, raising its right front paw and swiping directly at Hachiman.
A rush of wind sounded in his ears, evidence of the tremendous force behind the swipe.
However, Hachiman's expression showed no hint of panic. With agile movements, he dodged the bear's swipe and his meat knife went straight for the bear's chest.
Although compared to the black bear's body, this meat knife could only be considered a small dagger, and under normal circumstances, it would be difficult to penetrate its defenses.
Yet, in the hands of Hachiman, the modern Sword Saint, this small dagger effortlessly cut through the bear's tough fur, causing a gush of fresh blood to flow from the wound.
"Roar!"
Injured, the bear's wildness was further aroused, and it roared as it charged at Hachiman once again.
Unfazed, Hachiman also showed no trace of fear as he rushed forward with his knife raised.
Once again, man and bear clashed. Leveraging his speed advantage, Hachiman evaded attack after attack while leaving behind a trail of wounds on the bear's body.
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