Pastel stopped shaping the log.
Breath came out in short gasps. Her hands and arms trembled. The heated body temperature dispelled the chill.
The finished wooden stake was blunt, but sharp enough to be threatening.
Carefully poking it against her palm, she felt the prickling pressure. If she drove it in with force, it seemed like it would pierce through.
The corners of her mouth lifted slightly.
“Do I have a talent for crafting?”
At this level, it would have been considered a top-grade weapon in the Stone Age.
“My talent is Stone Age-level.”
The primitive genes hadn’t gone anywhere.
She set down the completed weapon. After some time resting, she slowly stretched her body. The cold air made her shiver.
Aside from hunger, her stamina wasn’t bad. Something felt off with her body. Perhaps survival hormones were pumping forcibly.
She had to settle this quickly.
Holding the wooden stake, she stared intently at the door. Gathering her resolve, she approached. She pressed her ear to the door. She couldn’t sense any presence from beyond.
To shake off her tension, she glanced around the room and carefully touched the bar lock on the door.
In the stillness, the bar moved quietly. The lock was released silently.
Grasping the doorknob, she steadied her mind again. Letting out a deep breath.
One, two, three!
She pulled the door open without hesitation.
A menacing black wolf was in front of her. Its fangs were bared in an instant.
The tension pricked her skin.
“Come at me…!”
The black beast charged.
Pastel turned her body and leaned against the door like a shield. She planted her feet firmly and slammed the door shut with all her weight.
“Ugh!”
The charging wolf crashed into the door with a tremendous sound. Ugh! It was heavy. The black beast, pushed back, collided against the doorframe. The wolf howled in agony.
Pastel retreated and then slammed her body against it again. The impact struck the door. Noise reverberated. The wolf cried out in pain.
She could feel the wolf’s struggles against the door. With one powerful shove, the door shifted.
She was losing strength.
Without delay, she gripped the wooden stake tightly. Dashing towards the dazed wolf, she plunged the stake down with all her weight. The wolf’s nape was pierced, and black energy burst forth like blood. Pastel spat out the energy she had swallowed and pressed down hard on the stake.
The wolf howled in agony. Its dark body shook violently. Ugh! Hit by its body, Pastel was thrown back and tumbled. Her pink hair flew around.
Ugh, damn it.
Forcing her aching body up, she pushed against the floor.
The sound of the beast’s leap.
She hurriedly rolled aside. The black figure tore into her former position.
Weapon, weapon!
Suddenly, she grasped a blanket in her hand. Holding it tightly, Pastel quickly got up. The wolf lunged again.
Dodging, she whipped the blanket. The cotton fabric wrapped around the wolf. It entangled the sharp teeth and claws, gripping the black form.
The wolf staggered as it ripped at the blanket.
Let’s see if this holds…!
Pastel leaped towards the wolf. She quickly crouched and drove her whole body down.
Her body struck the wolf’s nape. Ugh! The stake penetrated through its nape with rough resistance.
The wolf struggled for a moment before falling silent.
“Hah, hah.”
Pastel leaned against the corpse, breathing heavily.
There, I got it.
She wobbled and lifted herself up.
Staring blankly at the corpse wrapped in the blanket.
Am I good at fighting?
She brushed her hair back with both hands. The pink locks entwined around her fingers. She wiped the sweat from her forehead.
“How pitiful to attack when you don’t even stand a chance.”
She kicked the corpse without thinking.
Then she suddenly lost strength and fell onto her butt.
“Ugh! Ouch.”
Her entire body ached. Her arms and legs weren’t spared from the soreness. Her skin stung in various places as it scraped against the ground.
She leaned back as if lying on a blanket.
“Whew.”
This is a taste of death.
A dry cough escaped her. She was hungry and thirsty. Still, at least moving her body made her feel less cold.
Pastel relaxed her hands and feet. Her muscles loosened lazily.
Ugh. What a situation to be in without even eating. I want to eat. Soup and bread would be nice.
She savored the thought. Huh? A sweet taste lingered in her mouth. A delightful and attractive flavor.
It wasn’t an illusion. It was definitely sweet. Why does it feel this way when I haven’t eaten anything?
A memory of inhaling the wolf’s black energy and then spitting it out flashed through her mind.
In a hurry, Pastel shoved the blanket aside. The black corpse came into view. The wolf’s form was somewhat deformed and soft. It looked like meat pudding.
A sweet aroma wafted around.
Her salivary glands tingled.
Pastel reached out blankly, then flinched.
“Ugh!”
Wiping her saliva, she quickly shook her head.
It looked dreadful and evil.
It’s poison, poison.
It would be right not to eat this if one were human.
Get a grip, Pastel!
Focus…!
Pastel buried her face into the corpse.
The black body chewed like meat pudding. Sweetness filled her mouth. Nerves tensed with exhilaration.
Her brain crackled.
The ecstasy of reclaiming something lost.
The fulfilling sensation that emptiness was lessening.
Essence and origin.
What her soul longed for.
The last piece entered her mouth.
Some of the energy melted into her bones and muscles.
The girl trembled with empty hands.
She was still hungry.
#
Eating the meat pudding felt so good. It might be an illusion, but she felt stronger too.
Although her hunger hadn’t been solved.
She felt strangely fulfilled, as if she had drunk a potion and rested deeply.
With her appetite piqued again, Pastel only peeked her head out to examine the corridor.
Walls with windows on both sides and a corner corridor appeared. There was only one other room in this hallway.
“Oh, it’s a corner room.”
She sauntered into the corridor. Though she had the wooden stake, she felt little caution.
The mansion showed no signs of change during the uproar. There seemed to be no dangerous creatures. It was a problem that there were no servants too.
“Ugh, I’m hungry.”
At least her thirst had been quenched.
Where is the kitchen?
Rubbing her belly, Pastel turned the corner. Her view opened up to reveal a new corridor.
And she spotted two wolves. They radiated black energy. Thankfully, they were looking the other way.
Her body froze, then quickly relaxed as she continued walking.
Friends, nothing happened.
Pastel quietly stepped backward as if rewinding.
She returned to the corner without incident. The tension in her muscles eased.
That was close.
She wiped the cold sweat off her forehead.
Wait, how could they be right in front of her after such a commotion?
The sounds of walking, and they even complained about being hungry. They were not real wolves, but still.
Pastel furrowed her brow.
Could it be that their hearing isn’t good?
There were indeed some strange parts.
The commotion from earlier was quite loud. Enough to elicit a reaction from the garden monsters. Yet the garden remained silent.
Are they all hard of hearing? What could I do with this? Assassination?
She looked down at the wooden stake in her hand. The rough use had dulled its tip.
Her mind went blank.
She envisioned a battle with the two wolves.
Stealthily, bang!
Hey, they aren’t dying?
Thud! Thud! Aah!
Friends, don’t do this…!
Is this the death of someone popular?!
Pastel clutched her head. She turned back, recalling an unexamined room.
Surely, there can’t be a sword in that room. At least a dagger. Or even just a kitchen knife.
Pastel cautiously opened the new room, feeling tense in a different way. She peered inside, only showing her head.
The structure was no different from the previous room.
Even the dreary contents.
Walls, floor, walls, floor.
Wait, there was a toppled wooden table in the corner.
No suitable weapon…
Pastel leaned against the door in exhaustion. She racked her brain, tracing her hand along the door.
Could a door be used as a weapon?
As she examined the metal hinges and realized it was hopeless, she gave up.
This time, she felt along the window frame and pane. Ah, no way.
She walked over to the fallen table.
It was a round table, with one leg at the center.
A one-legged round table.
Now she understood why it had fallen. The base where the leg was supposed to support had broken.
“Hmm.”
The round tabletop was spacious, and the leg was long. If she grabbed the leg, could it function like a hammer? Could she lift it?
As she lifted the table leg with both hands, it felt heavy. It was cumbersome but manageable.
She moved to the center of the room with it. Holding the leg with both hands, she swung it as if it were a hammer.
Her body wobbled, and her stance faltered slightly. The round tabletop clashed against the floor. The sound resonated.
Pastel flinched and stared intently at the locked door. She waited a moment, but there was no change in the presence outside.
“Really, their hearing must not be good.”
Thank goodness.
She set the table down and dusted off her hands.
It was heavy for long-term use, and it wobbled when used briefly. Still, it wasn’t bad for taking on one opponent.
But there were two, though.
If she stumbled, she could easily get bitten.
But Pastel raised her arms in triumph.
“Better than the wooden stake!”
Her weapon had been upgraded from a stick to a table.
Oh yeah.
She examined the table more closely. The weight was an issue. She wanted to lighten the load. Where could she kick to break it appropriately?
The joint between the round tabletop and leg caught her eye. Huh? She reached out and twisted them in opposite directions.
She heard sounds of something crossing inside.
Clunk.
Wait, could it be?
She swallowed dryly. Pulling the table leg and tabletop in opposite directions, they separated easily.
Pastel clutched the table leg. She grasped the round tabletop by the joint and lifted it.
One hand held the table leg.
The other hand held the broad round tabletop.
What is this?!
Standing up, Pastel raised her gear high. Sunlight streamed in through the window, gleaming on the wooden equipment.
“A spear and shield!”
A brilliant choice!
#
Pastel practiced in the middle of the room.
She jabbed with the sharpened table leg.
Thud! Thud!
It felt heavy, but the sensation was different. It was manageable since she had separated them.
This time, she pretended to block with the round tabletop.
Solid!
It was heavy, but it felt doable. It became much easier to balance, as the center of gravity came closer to her body when she held the joint.
“This is nice.”
She assumed a stance and envisioned combat.
A black wolf charged at her.
“Woof woof!”
Pastel firmly lifted the round tabletop.
“Thud!”
The wolf collided with the tabletop.
Quickly, she jabbed with the table leg.
“Thud!”
The stabbed wolf fell dead.
“Perfect! Let’s go!”
Feeling great with her new loot, Pastel marched confidently forward. She could see the corner of the corridor.
Without hesitation, she turned it but thought better and just peeked her head around.
Two wolves were looking the other way. The black energy looked ominous. They had an evil and bad aura.
Looks delicious…
No, that’s not it.
Pastel wiped the drool from flowing out.
Let’s try to lure one.
Setting down the spear, she pulled out the wooden stake. She extended one arm and assumed a throwing position.
One, two, three.
Throw!
The stake whizzed through the air and struck the wolf’s head. The black wolf yelped in shock, sounding startled.
The wolf glanced around and then spotted her, charging aggressively. The wolf behind it hadn’t reacted yet.
Pastel hid behind the corner. She picked up the spear and readied herself.
The wolf dashed around the corner.
She shielded herself with the shield.
Come on in.
The wolf crouched low, aiming for her lower body.
Ah, it’s quadrupedal?
She hurled the spear upwards and grasped the shield with both hands. She crouched and thrust it down toward the corner. The wolf’s snout collided with the edge of the shield. The sound of teeth biting roughly echoed. Its jaw threatened to break.
As Pastel stood, she stretched one hand toward the ceiling. The descending spear spun and landed in her grip. Putting her weight behind it, she thrust it down powerfully. The trajectory pierced through the wolf’s eyes and burrowed into its brain.
The wolf howled in agony and staggered. She kicked the wolf away. The spear was pulled out as the wolf collapsed. A sweet aroma permeated the air.
From beyond the corner came the sound of beast footsteps.
The girl charged back.
The wolf had just turned the corner.
With her weight behind her, she fiercely thrust the spear. The opening wolf’s jaws were penetrated by the trajectory.
The sound of flesh tearing echoed.
There was a strong pressure.
The spear pierced through its body.
