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—
20. The Mad Brat of the Forest #2
Gweeeing.
As I strode into the cave, a few liquid monsters, the Wildlings, came into view.
But unlike the ones I knew, these guys were about twice the size of their typical kin.
Their bodies glimmered like they’d poured a bottle of fluorescent dye all over themselves, radiating an impressive presence.
If I had to name them, I think “Golden Wildling” or “Radiation Wildling” would totally fit.
Gweeeing.
They crawled along the cave walls and ceiling, leaving behind a sticky slime.
‘What the heck is that?’
I was too startled to approach or attack these gigantic Wildlings. Instead, I just watched, and a peculiar detail hit me.
Wherever the Wildlings left their sticky substance, a hissing sound accompanied by white smoke wafted up.
Clearly, their gooey secretions must have some acidic or toxic kick to them.
I decided to hang back, keeping my presence to an absolute minimum while observing these critters from a distance.
Gweeeing.
Gweeeing.
It seemed like they were having a blast, clustering together, splitting apart, and then regrouping like best buds.
Despite their striking colors and lethal composition, they didn’t look too aggressive.
‘Could they be edible?’
Just seeing the Wildlings made my mouth water reflexively.
The first question that popped into my brain was whether I could chow down on them.
‘The blue Wildling tasted like grapes, so what about these guys? Do they have a different flavor?’
I was becoming increasingly curious about the taste of their vivid golden, fluorescent bodies.
Suppressing my footsteps, I slowly crept closer.
Gweeeing.
Eeeing.
Thanks to the skill praised by Witch Eve, “Stealthy Movement,” the Wildlings were blissfully unaware of my approach and continued their gooey antics.
Gwee!
Gweeeing!?
As I drew a little closer, they decided to wiggle away from each other.
Could they sense I was targeting them?
Unlike the docile Wildlings I’d met before, these ones stiffened, making their bodies all pointy and alarmed.
It looked like they were on high alert.
‘But my footsteps were perfectly muffled! Didn’t I hear that Wildlings can sense everything through their skin since they have no eyes, nose, or mouth?’
I recalled the time I ambushed Eve from behind. She’d acted like she could sense me even when I was completely silent.
I couldn’t quite grasp what feeling something with one’s skin was like, but it must mean their tactile sense is off the charts.
‘Should I not even let them feel my breath or any vibrations?’
I slowed my breathing.
I mentally conjured an image of complete silence, as if my bl**d and heart were completely still.
‘I am a rock. I am a rock in the cave.’
Just after I met Salome, I had this bizarre sensation that I’d vanished not just in sound but in appearance and presence altogether.
I figured it was thanks to the rare “Stealth” skill I obtained from eating Eternal Snow Fruit.
Gweeeing!
Eeeing!
The Wildlings seemed to feel something and squirmed towards my direction.
Did they catch a whiff of me?
Yet, they passed right by me, doing donuts in the vicinity instead.
Sometimes their slimy bodies brushed against me.
Even though I was super close, it seemed like they were brushing by without a clue I existed.
‘Thank goodness my fur isn’t shedding! It feels like they haven’t spotted me. Is my Stealth skill really working?’
I thought I needed more opportunities to experiment with this “Stealth” skill.
If it could erase not only my footsteps but my entire presence, the possible uses could truly be endless.
Eeeing.
I waited patiently until they dropped their guard and returned to their usual chubby shape.
Soon, they were tightly cuddling again, blissfully ignoring everything around them.
Eee.
Among the four glowing Wildlings, the smallest one brushed against my leg.
When taking down prey, I always preferred to go for the smallest and weakest first, so I thought my chance had arrived.
Gwiing!?
The fluorescent Wildling got snagged on my claw and flailed about wildly. I immediately closed my mouth around it.
Eeeing!
‘It’s a sweet, fizzy flavor like jelly made from grape soda. This tastes just like that Stalker I chomped on before!’
The Stalker was surprisingly delicious, so I had no doubt this glowing Wildling would be scrumptious too.
In no time, I gobbled it down whole.
An experience points notification popped up above my head.
Eeeing.
Gweeeing.
Did the commotion attract other Wildlings? They began surrounding me, letting out alarmed signals.
‘These guys are different from the fleeing white Wildling. Are they actually aggressive?’
Maybe Wildlings had various personalities and temperaments that I hadn’t expected.
After all, the identity of the forest’s master, Eve, was a Wildling that had consumed the Fruit of the World Tree, so there could be more powerful Wildlings lurking about.
Gweeeing!
With their cute sounds, they hopped toward me.
Did they intend to body slam me?
That seemed like the most effective attack for these legless critters.
I gaped wide at the Wildling leaping toward me.
Gweeeing!?
The Wildling flung itself right into my mouth.
I held the squirming creature down with my front paw and began to eat it alive.
Each time it shrank away, I felt a twinge of regret that I couldn’t devour it fast enough.
‘Well, I’ve still got two more to go.’
The carbonation I felt going down was highly satisfying.
I devoured the second one entirely.
Turning to look at the remaining Wildlings, I noticed they were slowly inching away from me.
‘They’re so cute I just want to bite them!’
Gwiing!
[You have gained experience points.]
Eeeing…
[You have gained experience points.]
—
Having filled my belly with Wildlings, I felt a surge of energy, floating with exhilaration.
Didn’t they say Wildling secretions had restorative properties? It didn’t seem to matter what color or temperament they had; that fact remained unchanged.
‘I’m all revitalized. This is good luck.’
Right now, I felt like I could take on anything that popped out at me.
I strode deeper into the cave, filled with confidence and no obstacles in sight.
As I moved further from the exit, the croaking chorus got louder and louder.
I lowered my stance and flattened against the floor.
‘But are there really flowers blooming in a cave like this?’
I had always thought flowers mentioned would be basking in moonlight on hills or fields.
In a damp cave, there wouldn’t be any moonlight, let alone sunlight.
‘Was Salome just pulling my leg?’
I shook off my doubts and followed the croaking sounds.
After a few moments walking on the chill of the cave floor, I soon noticed a dim light spilling from a corner.
With a sloshing sound, something felt lively over there, and I sensed that something interesting awaited around the corner.
A sweet, inviting aroma tickled my nose.
The smell that stirred my appetite made it feel like the Wildlings I had just eaten were digesting in an instant.
‘What the heck? Why is my stomach growling so soon?’
If I had been human, the food costs would’ve skyrocketed with this kind of constitution.
Maybe I should be grateful that I was born as a Magical Beast here and could eat without holding back.
I was inexplicably drawn to the source of the delicious scent, sniffing excitedly as I strode forward.
The croaking grew louder as unfamiliar conversations began to drift through the air.
Hey, Gilo, what’s on the dinner menu tonight?
Dinner menu? Ah, I’m not too sure.
Not sure? What do you mean you don’t know? Come on! When I was a tadpole, I could never say I didn’t know! What a time to be alive!
I’m sorry!
Does saying sorry end your guard duty? Come on, Gilo, who’s your senior?
I’m sorry!
No, who’s your senior? Is “Sorry” your senior’s name or what?
Booming voices echoed through the corner.
‘What in the world is this conversation about?’
It felt like a long-suppressed memory was creeping back into the corners of my mind.
I emptied my thoughts and peeked around the corner.
Whoa, what in the world is that?
Popping my head around the corner revealed two frogs about my size.
Their orange bodies were splattered with black spots, reminiscent of the common toads I used to see in Gangwon Province.
One of them sported a fin-like tail on its behind, likely an immature tadpole yet to fully mature.
Why aren’t you answering? Am I that easy to look down on?
That’s not it! Didn’t you hear any strange sounds?
I quickly pulled my head back inside the corner.
It seemed one of these critters could sense my presence despite my best efforts at hiding.
Sounds? What sounds? That’s just your military training screwing with you, tadpole!
No, really! There was a sound! Someone’s not here to make trouble, are they?
“No, really” comes off like “I’m always right”, doesn’t it? It’s like you think you’re some talent. Why do you keep getting it wrong?
I need to check it out.
Are you sure? That could be dangerous! We’re not far from your discharge date, you know?
If something comes out and kills me, I’ll have lived longer than you. Besides, you haven’t even shed your tail yet. But if there’s nothing, we’re in trouble!
The splashing sound of footsteps approached from behind the corner.
‘Should I hide?’
I thought it’d be best to find cover, but it seemed too late to try and move now.
I decided to experiment with my Stealth skill and flattened myself against the cave wall, holding my breath.
The squishy sound of feet, similar to sticky steps, came right beside the corner, and soon an orange frog appeared next to me.
I took a deep breath to steady my racing heart.
‘Did it sense me?’
Although I was prepared for battle, the good news was that the frog hopped right past me, taking a spin around the area.
There’s nothing here! You’re just seeing things!
It was as if that little critter, despite being right by my side, completely failed to notice me.
I confirmed once again that my Stealth worked like a charm, cheering inwardly.
‘This Eternal Snow Fruit is worth its weight in gold! Once I get Ilgast’s horn, I’ll have to bolt out of here without a backward glance.’
Is there really nothing here?
A fraught voice echoed from around the corner.
Nope. Just come see for yourself.
That’s strange. No matter how I think about it, it seems odd.
The only thing strange here is your ears. You seriously got talent, huh? Why can’t you get it right?
I’ll take a look!
I heard something hopping towards me excitedly from the corner. One presence approached me.
See? There’s nothing here! What’s with that expression?
B-but, behind you…
The face of the tadpole-tailed fellow turned pale.
Whatever the reason was, it looked like I had been spotted while hiding.
I slid out from the cave wall’s shadow and quietly muttered,
I really can’t stand good-for-nothing tadpoles like you.
—
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