Chapter 11 - Gratitude

[Narrator: Author]

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Kareus turned to Reiji and said, "Wait here for a moment."

Reiji nodded, watching as Kareus signaled to the forest. Moments later, all the Ashenblood Rabbits returned, their hands full of various items. The two who had dissected the dead creature came back with a dimly glowing small stone. The other two returned, carefully carrying a sheathed weapon as if it were a precious treasure. The rest of the Ashenblood Rabbits came back with fruit-like objects.

All of them gathered behind Kareus, who commanded the four rabbits with the stone and the dagger to come forward.

"This," Kareus said, pointing to the stone in the hands of one of the Ashenblood Rabbits, "is called a Mana Stone. It carries an important energy called Mana, depending on its color, density, and size. Consuming it would replenish your mana."

The two rabbits who carried the Mana Stone stepped closer, and one of them handed it to Reiji. Reiji knelt on one knee to receive the stone, holding it with gratitude. He felt a surge of energy as he took the stone, its faint glow illuminating his face.

"Thank you," Reiji said, bowing his head slightly.

Kareus then gestured to the rabbits holding the dagger. "And this dagger was once wielded by a human I deemed strong. He left it behind, and I retrieved it. As you can see its state, it's still usable, and we have sharpened its edges."

Kareus unsheated the weapon and a plain-looking dagger showed-up. The dagger had a double-edged blade, gleaming faintly in the dim light. The crossguard was short and simple, providing just enough protection without adding unnecessary weight. The hilt was wrapped with rough cloth, giving it a rugged, well-worn look that suggested it had seen many battles. The pommel was round, a solid piece that balanced the weapon perfectly in the hand.

Reiji received the dagger and inspected it while holding it. He ran his fingers along the double-edged blade, feeling its sharpness. With a few experimental swings, he adjusted to its weight and balance, finding it comfortable in his grip. Finally, he looked up at Kareus and nodded his appreciation.

"Thank you, Kareus. I'll make sure to use it well." Reiji said, a sense of determination in his voice.

Kareus inclined his head in acknowledgment, his crimson eyes reflecting the flickering light of the forest.

As Reiji sheathed the dagger, Kareus commanded all of the Ashenblood Rabbits holding the fruits to step forward. There were two distinct sections of rabbits, separated from each other.

"The right side are edible, while the left side are... poisonous," Kareus said firmly, his warning echoing in the clearing.

Reiji stepped towards the fruits and asked Kareus, "Is it okay to touch the poisonous ones?"

"Yes, their contents are only poisonous."

Reiji began inspecting them, memorizing their appearance and scent.

"Kareus, you're giving these to us, right?" asked Reiji.

"These are our way of repaying you for avenging for us," Kareus replied, bowing, followed by the others.

"Then, mind if I take the poisonous ones too?"

Kareus, who had kept a composed expression until now, looked shocked at Reiji's request. "M-May I ask for what purposes?"

"Weapons."

With that one word, Kareus's eyes widened. It was the first time he had thought of using poisonous foods as weapons.

"Oh, by the way. In what animals does this poison affect?" asked Reiji while inspecting a purple-colored fruit that resembled an apple from his previous world.

"Almost every beast in this forest."

"Last question, Kareus. Do you also perhaps know where this place is?"

"Hm... As I remember, we are currently in Delterre Forest, a part of a kingdom called Lusteinburg."

"Delterre... Lusteinburg..." Reiji murmured, frowning as he continued. "Alright, thanks for that."

With Reiji confirming all of the fruits, he asked Sayuri to take the edible ones in her pockets if they could fit. Some of the Ashenblood Rabbits provided a cloth rucksack, and they helped Sayuri collect the edible fruits. Others gave one to Reiji too, and they helped him collect them.

"Kareus," Reiji said, turning back to the leader. "Thank you for everything. We'll be on our way now."

—TTLE!

It was then, from afar, the rabbits' ears perked up as they caught the sound of a throttle, and soon Reiji heard it too.

"This sound, it's a huge creature! Ashenblood Tribe, prepare for departure!" Kareus commanded. "I advise you to get away from here as soon as possible too, young man. It seems that the creature is heading this way."

Reiji heeded Kareus's advice, but then...

"—ELP!"

"?!"

Reiji was forced to turn towards the source of the sound. He knew who it was.

"JIYOO?!"

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[POV: Jiyoo Sawada]

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RUMBLE! SQUEAL!

The ground shook and a distant squeal pierced the air.

Jiyoo darted through the forest gracefully, but behind his elegant moves was a desperate chase. The Hogzilla, a monstrous boar, throttled him with full force.

"HELP! HEEELP!! HEEEEEEELP!!!" Jiyoo's voice echoed through the trees as he ran in fear. His stamina was depleting rapidly.

'Ah... I'm about to hit my limit!' Jiyoo thought helplessly.

SQUEAAAL!

The Hogzilla let out a piercing squeal. Jiyoo, startled, glanced back to see a half-naked figure atop the humongous beast.

"DON'T STOP RUNNING!" the figure yelled.

"Reiji?!"

STAB!

SQUEAAL!

Reiji's dagger plunged into one of the Hogzilla's eyes while a firm, pointed branch pierced the other. The beast shook violently, trying to dislodge the human from its back. Reiji was flung to the side, his back crashing into the trunk of a tree.

"HIDE, JIYOO!" Reiji shouted.

Jiyoo ran in the opposite direction without hesitation. The Hogzilla, now blinded, continued its rampage but its vision was impaired. It collided with a tree trunk, the impact loud and shaking the ground beneath them.

Reiji leaped up, perching on a branch of the tree, breathing a sigh of relief that Jiyoo had managed to escape.

"Hope it works."

The dagger and the pointed branch were coated with the contents of the poisonous fruits. Judging by the Hogzilla's pained squeals and erratic movements, the poison seemed to be working effectively.

Minutes felt like an eternity. The poison's effect seemed to slow.

'Is it not enough? It's close to the brain, though...' Reiji thought, frustration mounting.

The Hogzilla's movements became more sluggish, but it was still dangerously active. It shook its massive head, trying to dislodge the stinging pain. Even without the sense of sight, its nose can still track the scent of a prey.

'Hogzilla… They are the ancestors of wild boars and apparently… have a really keen sense of smell… Should I cut its snout?', Reiji thought as his eyes widen, his gaze identical to a seasoned predator, thinking of a way how to hunt they prey.

At the same time, Reiji and Jiyoo remained motionless, their bodies pressed against their hiding spots. Sayuri was tasked to follow the Ashenblood Rabbit to hide somewhere, and Kareus took in charge of protecting her.

Then there's Jiyoo, huddled behind a massive boulder. He had his knees pulled tightly to his chest; eyes squeezed shut in fear. The adrenaline coursing through his veins had yet to fully subside.

But little did he know that a tiny creature was making its way towards him.

Perched on a thick branch above, Reiji's had spotted Jiyoo; his brows furrowed with worry as he spotted an earth centipede slowly crawling closer to his friend. He knew all too well about Jiyoo's fear of crawling insects, particularly centipedes.

'Ah... this is bad…! Really bad!'

A sense of concern washed over him, and he needed to find a way to prevent Jiyoo from alarming the hogzilla without directly alerting him.

'I need to let him know…!'

Reiji carefully maneuvered himself on the tree branch, trying to find a better vantage point to communicate with Jiyoo. He couldn't let Jiyoo's fear lead to unintentional consequences.

'But what should I do?' Reiji's mind raced, desperately seeking a way to catch Jiyoo's attention without inciting panic. Then, a sudden idea struck him.

He snapped a small twig from a nearby branch and began tapping it gently against the tree trunk, creating a soft rhythmic sound that blended with the surrounding forest noises.

'Notice it, idiot...!' Reiji silently urged, his heart pounding with worry.

Jiyoo stirred from his state of unconsciousness, his eyes fluttering open at the faint tapping sound. Confusion replaced his previous fear, and he scanned the area, trying to identify the source of the rhythmic noise.

'Come on, Jiyoo, pay attention!' Reiji thought, willing his friend to notice the tapping before it was too late.

As Jiyoo's gaze roamed, the crawling centipede drew closer to his head, still unaware of the danger creeping towards him. Panic surged through Reiji, and he tapped the twig with more urgency, this time hitting it against the tree trunk in a pattern that mimicked Jiyoo's name in Morse code.

'Please, recognize it!' Reiji prayed inwardly, hoping Jiyoo would understand the warning hidden in the tapping.

Tension coiled in the air as Jiyoo's gaze finally settled on Reiji, but was somehow confused as to why he wore a forced smile. A wave of understanding washed over him, a realization striking deep within his mind. He interpreted Reiji's urgent signals as a warning to no cause a scene, believing that the hogzilla lurked behind the boulder where he hid. Actually, that was the truth; the hogzilla was resting behind the boulder, as he took a quick peek on it.

'N-N-N-NO WAY?!'

His heart pounded in his chest as he covered his mouth with both hands and clenched his teeth, determined not to utter a single word out of fear.

Beads of sweat formed on his forehead as he battled to remain silent, fully aware of the disastrous consequences that a single cry could unleash upon them.

As Jiyoo's attention remained fixed on Reiji, a sudden movement caught the corner of his eye. He turned his head ever so slightly upward, and to his utmost horror, found the centipede positioned just a few inches away from his forehead.

"..."

The tiny creature seemed to have perched itself on the edge of the boulder, its multitude of legs waving at him with an absurdly friendly gesture.

'HIEEEEEEK!'

Jiyoo's eyes bulged in disbelief, his mouth agape with a mix of terror and incredulity. He couldn't fathom how a seemingly harmless centipede could exhibit such boldness, as if mocking him with its minuscule appendages. It was a scene that defied all logic and reason, teetering on the edge of absurdity.

Struggling to maintain his composure, Jiyoo's mind raced with a whirlwind of thoughts.

Should he scream?

'I-I'LL DIE FROM THE HUMONGOUS BOAR BEHIND ME!'

Should he swat it away?

'I'LL DIE WHEN I TOUCH IT!!'

Or should he simply surrender to the utter ridiculousness of the situation and just pass out?

'I'LL DIE SLOWLY BY JUST LETTING IT BE!'

But before he could formulate a plan of action, the absurdity of the moment overwhelmed him. The sight of the centipede standing on the boulder, its tiny legs waving like a comical greeting; however, sent a chill down his spine, threatening to shatter his composure.

In a split second, Jiyoo's self-restraint shattered, and the first 'thought' happened: Yes, a high-pitched scream burst forth from his lips.

"GYAAAAAAHHH!"

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|TO BE CONTINUED|