[Work Review] Thanks for the comments and recommendations, and coupons are always appreciated. Episode 41
14. Son of Adam040 – Son of Adam #1
“Wha—!?”
Because it was crouching down, the guy couldn’t keep his balance and helplessly fell into the pit.
With a thud, a woman’s scream echoed from inside the hole.
‘Nice. This is even easier than I thought.’
I smirked in satisfaction.
Now there was only one left—a fella with a sour face waiting outside the bushes, probably hoping the others would come out.
‘He sure is cautious for a guy who didn’t even look my way when the young couple was all about me.’
That guy, with hair going gray, might have some wisdom or experience to him.
‘But finally, I’m all alone now. Before those trapped humans escape, I’ll snatch that tail swiftly.’
With a bunch of them, it would be tough, but I could take my chances against him alone.
“Uh, wh-what’s going on?”
“Why did you fall in, you idiot?”
“Someone pushed hard from behind! It must be that guy! This isn’t just a regular trap, is it?!”
“Don’t be ridiculous. What kind of brain does a beast have? You probably just tripped.”
“No, I tell you! He’s not an average guy. He’s dangerous for sure! How are we getting out? I left the rope up there! If I try to ride out… it’s impossibly high! L-leader! Are you there!?”
Amid the jumble of voices, the Leader’s reaction from outside the pit was evident.
“Hmm?”
The Leader’s brows twitched, clearly realizing that something was off.
‘I need to prevent him from joining in!’
If the Leader rescued the trapped crew, my chances would definitely decrease.
‘Should I just push him into the pit too?’
I quickly shook my head.
If that happened, the Leader’s dinosaur tail would also tumble down into the pit.
Then there would be no meaning in separating them.
Besides, the Leader didn’t look like the type to fall for my improvised scheming.
‘I have to fight him when he’s alone. I’ll take it by force.’
I arrived at a simple and clear conclusion.
It’s only natural for the strong to take from the weak, whether human or beast.
I hid in the bushes and steadied my breath.
My breath, initially small, finally stilled, and even my heart felt like it slowed down as I tried to reduce every trace of presence.
‘He’s a pretty strong one, so better strike with a surprise attack.’
Sharpening my claws, I tensed all my muscles.
In my mind, I envisioned scratching his neck like a b*llet zooming in.
Suddenly, the Leader, pushing through the bushes with a grim face, spoke.
“What are you all doing? Get yourselves ready to be punished when we get back to headquarters.”
“L-Leader! No! There’s a pit here!”
“A pit?”
Just as the Leader was about to stop, I sprung up, muscles taut, aiming for his neck.
Having killed my presence, he wouldn’t realize it was coming like a throwing star or arrow from his blind spot.
“Humph.”
But the Leader lightly ducked his head, effortlessly dodging my arm swing.
It was as if he had eyes in the back of his head.
“I see. So that’s what’s happening.”
The Leader touched down on the ground and grinned as he looked at me, who was growling fiercely.
His relaxed demeanor made me feel flustered and, at the same time, spurred my anger.
This was the first time my imagined plan and moves had failed.
“A smart guy like you, acting like a rare raccoon. Luring and trapping—the specialties of your kind.”
The Leader gripped the end of the dinosaur tail draped over his shoulder.
He swung it like a club or whip, pleased as he raised the corner of his mouth.
“No need to draw a sword; this should be enough.”
━This guy really underestimates me.
I stood my ground on all fours, trying to growl menacingly.
Though I put on a tough act, my mind was tangled with all sorts of thoughts on how to take him down.
What flashed before my eyes was the scar from the last fight, the mark I had left on him.
Covered with what looked like herbs and tied with a string, it clearly indicated a deep wound.
‘No thick skin or thorns. The exposed flesh is as soft and weak as a human’s.’
The fact he could bleed meant I could eventually take him down.
‘But rushing in headfirst is far too reckless.’
I recalled the memory of that man dealing a fatal blow to Yan-Mite with his big sword.
A power beyond imagination for a human; the tail in his hand could certainly be seen as an equivalent weapon.
Getting struck by that would probably flatten me like meat under a hammer.
‘What should I do? Should I lure him into a denser area where he can’t swing that tail or sword?’
It was a good idea, but soon I found myself dismissing it.
Sure, I could gain a big advantage if I could lure him, but no clear method for doing so crossed my mind.
He didn’t seem like the type to move easily and thoughtlessly like the couple trapped in the pit.
‘Then, like it or not, it looks like I have no choice but to fight.’
“Ha!”
The Leader’s eyes widened sharply.
With a quick breath, he swung the tail he was holding sideways.
Crack.
The tree he hit broke easily, bending in half.
Though the tree was relatively thin, it was astounding what a human could do.
Either the tail was incredibly strong, or that man was just really powerful.
“Impressive. You move quickly. Small beasts are generally fast, you know. They have to hide from apex predators.”
The Leader babbled while wildly swinging the tail in his hand.
“I have places to be, so hurry up and finish this! Can’t you guys get out on your own!?”
“The pit is too high for you!”
“Well, too bad for you.”
Bang, bang! The dinosaur tail slammed down, shaking the earth and trees.
Though I barely avoided these overwhelming attacks, the tail, unlike a sword, curved and undulated, making it extremely hard to predict its timing and trajectory.
‘If it hits me, I’m done for.’
I maneuvered between the bushes, trying to escape the man’s onslaught.
The swinging tail mercilessly obliterated the natural landscape of the forest.
I trembled in fear at such destructive power while my mind raced.
‘No openings were showing. How do I approach?’
“An opening!”
At that moment, a shadow loomed over my face.
Realizing it was the tail, I figured it was already too late.
━Cough!
With a desperate cry, I was thrown to the ground.
I thought I understood the tail’s swinging speed, but his arm seemed to accelerate in a moment with imperceptible movements wielding a deadly weapon.
‘Was he trying to trick me!? Was he intentionally adjusting his swinging speed!?’
Various thoughts flooded my mind, but soon I lost all sense due to the pain flooding through me.
“You shouldn’t have a monotonous attack pattern, you know.”
The weight of his body pressed down upon my neck.
“Don’t mess with humans.”
I wriggled against the pain, struggling to escape from under his grip.
My teeth ground together.
The bl**d in my entire body felt like it was boiling.
“Huh? Your fur is turning red. You’re trying to rampage? Unusual for a small beast.”
━This guy, get your foot off me, dumbass!
The blow from the tail must have drawn bl**d, as my vision began to blur red.
Breathing heavily, a rage surged within me that made me want to scratch and bite at everything.
I twisted my body and bit into the iron greave gripping my foot.
Using my sharpened claws, I scratched at the shin guards and soles.
“Not a chance. It’s made of iron forged in the North. You’d have to be a beast of considerable strength to—huh?”
The Leader suddenly went silent, scrunching his face.
In that instant, a crack echoed, and the Leader’s body staggered.
━Hey! Are you okay!? Why are you fighting with humans, you idiot? Run away, fast!
A stream of stones flew and hit the Leader on the forehead.
I could hear Leaf’s voice in the distance, but I couldn’t contain my anger.
With the Leader staggering from the stones, I hopped on and clawed everything I could see.
“Gah! What the…? Where are these rocks coming from?”
The Leader flailed like he couldn’t process the flying stones and my claws.
“Get down!”
His arm lifted me by the neck.
Caught in his strong grip, I thrashed, clawing at his arm and face.
bl**d gushed from him as he let out a short yelp.
Then his expression twisted into a fierce grimace.
“That little—”
The atmosphere flipped in an instant.
It felt like the air around us had grown heavy.
“L-Leader! No! Adam looks like he’s getting up!”
“C-Calm down!”
In the pit, the voices of people echoed frantically.
‘What’s going on?’
A sudden chill ran through me, snapping me back to reality.
The once gray-haired man’s hair had turned a vivid red, as if stained with rage.
The expression “dyed in anger” was no more accurate.
━Hey, White One!
Leaf’s voice trembled from afar.
Though that name irritated me a lot, I realized he was probably calling for me.
━I’ll save you, White One!
━No! Don’t throw stones! If he gets angry, we all d*e! Stop it!
━Then what do we do!?
━Just hide! I’ll handle it!
“This is surprising. You’re still alive.”
The Leader pulled me closer, his rocky face filling my vision.
I pondered for a moment if I should scratch his face again, but suddenly, he shoved Yan-Mite’s tail right in front of my face.
“This is what you’re after, right? Isn’t it?”
━What? How did you know?
“I’ll let you have it.”
━Huh?
The strength slipped from his hand.
As I landed on the ground, I blinked at Yan-Mite’s tail thrust in front of me, utterly baffled.
“You’ve got some nerve. You didn’t just cut the tail for no reason. It was bait, wasn’t it? A relic that produces pheromones to attract beasts. You won’t make it back to the camp safely with that.”
“What! Leader, then what about the mission?!”
Eric’s urgent voice echoed from within the pit.
“It’s fine. I’ll think of an excuse for the Count.”
The Leader crouched and patted my head with his thick hand, affectionately scratching me.
I almost felt touched at his attitude, considering he’d just been my fierce opponent moments before.
Is this what they call the bad boy charm?
“Eat up and grow big.”
His mouth split into a crescent-like grin.
The glimpse of his fangs looked far too sharp and large to be human.
━What’s with this sudden change?
I struggled to adapt to his shifted demeanor.
He was acting as if he were someone else entirely.
But since taking the tail from him was my original goal, it wasn’t necessarily a bad thing for me.
‘This isn’t some kind of trap, is it?’
Even as his palm brushed against my fur, I didn’t let my guard down.
“Alpha. You are now the Alpha.”
The man stopped petting me and stood up.
In that moment, faint letters began to swirl before me.
【Achievement ‘Name’ has been unlocked.】
【You have received an entity name as a reward.】
I tilted my head in confusion at the newly appeared words.
Entity name, huh?
