[Author’s Note] To celebrate going up two levels, here’s another one! Thanks to all your recommendations and comments, I’m emotional.
16. The Old King’s Garden
046 – The Old King’s Garden #1
【Experience Points Acquired.】
【Level Up!】
Feeling absolutely pumped after munching down on that Stalker, I practically oozed energy.
Name: Alpha White Dog
Species: Magical Beast lv.11
Strength: 35
Agility: 33
Stamina: 35
Skills: “Omnivore,” “Sturdy Claws,” “Low Frequency,” “Stealthy Movements,” “Dance of Seduction,” “Crossbreeding,” “Frenzy”
Oh boy, I finally hit level 11!
Compared to my previous level, my total stats jumped by about 5 points across the board!
After about ten level-ups, I figured out that I usually gain an average of 5 points with each upgrade.
“Wow, I’ve got 35 strength now.”
With that thought, I sliced open the Stalker’s belly and hopped out, flexing my muscles.
I could feel the tiny muscles under my fur expanding and wriggling.
“Back when I was level 1, my strength was only around 9…”
So yeah, I’d say I’ve grown about four times stronger just from strength alone.
Does that mean my actual power has quadrupled too?
“If only I had some grip strength tools or gym equipment, I could check how strong I really am…”
It’d be cool to experiment one day to see where I stand.
Gag. Urp. I’m alive!
Out crawled that huge kitty, called Lao-Hoo—oh wait, I should probably call him Mao from now on.
He coughed up some yucky stuff he had swallowed.
Incredible! I thought it was over when I got eaten!
Mao bounced around joyfully, probably thrilled to be out of that monster’s belly.
You’re actually pretty strong for someone so young!
It looked cute until you remember it’s a beast, very much in hunting-mode.
I spat out the Stalker’s skin I had in my mouth and said, “But you’re pretty weak yourself. What made you think you could challenge him?”
I prodded the half-eaten Stalker with my paw.
I had devoured all the jelly-flavored bits, leaving behind the dry, tasteless parts like sand.
Mao stopped bouncing and shrank his shoulders.
In a squeaky voice that didn’t fit his size, he made an excuse.
I only ever ate whatever my dad caught for me. I thought I’d win!
Hmm.
That reminded me Mao was the child of the forest lord Lao-Hoo.
He might just be a young animal despite his size.
“Is he like some pampered greenhouse flower? Just a big house cat at heart?”
If so, it made sense he misjudged his own strength and got cocky.
“They say lions roll their cubs under rocks. Looks like these little ones have different methods.”
Well, whether Lao-Hoo was the lord of the western forest or whatever his parenting style was, it was none of my business.
I nearly got eaten by a Stalker, but hey, I escaped, got a good meal, and leveled up. I had no complaints.
Where are you going?
Mao bounced in front of me, blocking my path.
I frowned and nudged him aside with my front paw.
I’m full and heading back. Take care!
Going back? South? No way!
Why not? I said I’m leaving.
Everything in the western forest belongs to Lao-Hoo! You can’t escape me!
Mao fluffed up like a furious kitten and began to hiss.
He looked pretty scary, but I wasn’t scared anymore.
I lifted my paw to look like I’d hit him.
Seriously? We all know you’re weak now. You really think you can scare me?
Hmph. Just stay in the west with me. My dad would love to see you! If I tell him you saved me, you’ll get a glorious reward!
Reward, you say?
Killing the Stalker was purely for my own safety, to be honest.
Honestly, I had no intention of saving Mao—he just happened to be caught up in the chaos.
But the thought of rewards perked my ears up.
What kind of reward are we talking here? Could I get some Cordyceps or Moon Stone?
I reminisced about the rare delicacies I’d had during my Ant Cave exploration.
If I could keep munching on those, leveling up would skyrocket and I’d survive much better too.
What are Cordyceps and Moon Stones?
Mao tilted his head with a puzzled expression like he didn’t understand a word.
I frowned deeply and tried to explain as simply as I could.
It’s like a plant that gives you power instantly when eaten. It’s super rare and elevates your status in a snap!
Plant…? You eat plants?
Mao grimaced as though he was looking at the saddest creature ever.
Guess for a carnivorous beast, eating greens must be a pitiful affair.
“Poor herbivores, they can’t appreciate vegetables either!”
I never had a problem munching on some greens, even at a meat restaurant.
You need to learn to eat your veggies! After all, I came to the western forest to eat Wu Jung-hwa!
Ah, Wu Jung-hwa! I know what that is! It blooms a lot in my house’s garden!
Your house garden?
For a moment, I thought I misheard him.
Had he just said ‘house garden’? That was news to me.
Seeing my interest, Mao spread his big mouth and rambled on.
Yeah, our garden is huge! It’s filled with all kinds of fruits and herbs. I’m sure there’s even some Cordyceps or whatever you’re looking for!
Hmm.
So let’s hurry!
Before I could even react, Mao’s big mouth clamped down on the back of my neck.
Wha—hey, let go!
I dangled helplessly like a puppy being carried by its momma.
Who would’ve guessed that being bitten on the nape would make me this powerless?
“I have a weakness like this?!”
While I was flustered, Mao’s body shot up into the air.
Then he started bounding through the raindrenched trees of the forest, carrying me along somewhere.
“Wow, this guy is surprisingly strong!”
They say a tiger’s cub is still a tiger.
Lack of experience and technique aside, Mao’s physical prowess was definitely above mine!
Gag.
As soon as I hit the ground, I hurled whatever was left in my stomach.
The ride had been horrible, it felt like I’d just survived a crazy amusement park ride.
We’re here. Right this way. Cheer up!
Mao began licking my back and neck with his giant tongue, probably trying to comfort me.
His lack of any personal space gave me the heebie-jeebies.
Hey, don’t lick me!
I kept pushing his huge head and body away as they kept trying to stick to me.
Mao looked as sad as a puppy abandoned by its mother, his tail hanging low.
Hmph.
What’s with the ‘hmph’?
Turning away from the disappointing tail between the legs expression, I spotted two giant rocks that could be called monolithic pillars standing like sentinels.
Next to them were cone-shaped objects about half my size lined up like a fence.
When I got closer and inspected them, I realized they were countless sawblade-like teeth.
Dad’s fangs. He’s getting old, so they sometimes fall out. They grow back pretty quickly, though.
No way.
Shivers ran down my spine as I gazed upon those fangs, half the size of my body.
If those fangs were that big, just what kind of body did Lao-Hoo actually have?
The rumor around here that he’s as big as a small mountain might not be a lie!
He might even be bigger than a small mountain!
“Am I about to get involved in something crazy?!”
I had a feeling I was wrapped up in some inconvenient business.
The taste of the magpie I devoured earlier still lingered in my mouth.
Whether he knew it or not, Mao kept pressing his huge head against my back.
Let’s go inside! This is the entrance to my dad’s garden!
With his strength pushing me forward, I had no choice but to be shoved inside.
Stepping into the zone with those rock pillars, a powerful fragrance washed over me.
Even with the rain drizzling down, the scent was strong enough not to wash away. It was undoubtedly the smell of fresh, ripe fruit!
I looked around for the source of the smell.
Before long, my eyes were met with trees heavy with red and blue fruits.
Wow. What’s all this?
It wasn’t just trees. Various unfamiliar flowers and plants sprouted from the ground all around.
A small pond, visible among the colorful flowers, truly felt like a “garden”.
As I contemplated the place, letters started to bloom up in front of me.
【The Lair of the Defeated】
Do you like it? Inside there are treasures my dad cherishes…
Mao, walking beside me, spoke up.
However, I couldn’t really focus on what he was saying with my eyes widening at the vastness and variety of food surrounding me.
…I said it’s amazing!
I didn’t know what he meant by “amazing,” but I nodded in agreement.
“Turns out he’s really a rich kid.”
Well, this was a realm carved out by the beast of the massive forest.
In that regard, it wasn’t that surprising, but I’d never actually grasped the concept of being a lord of the forest.
Seeing such a vast garden put me in mind of the image of a wealthy tycoon from a past life, and it suddenly made a lot of sense.
The child of a rich family I thought I’d never have any connection with was right next to me.
“Is becoming an animal the key to living a life of privilege? No wonder I ended up here.”
Just then, something flapped above my head and perched on a nearby branch.
Miss, where have you been? We’ve been looking for you!
It was a round little bird, either a sparrow or something else, about the size of my head. It was incredibly cute.
The little thing chirped away while pecking its tiny beak together.
Do you not remember Lord Lao-Hoo warned you not to roam around on rainy days? Suka’s minions might try to snack on you!
But…!
Mao, all crouched down, let out a fierce growl.
I’ve lived through 15 summers now! I’m practically an adult! Stop telling me what to do!
Mao jumped up and lunged at the sparrow perched on the tree.
Whether he meant to catch it or not, his clumsy attempt was laughable.
The sparrow quickly fled, bouncing to another branch.
See? Even I can’t catch it. With skills like that, you’d definitely become Stalker’s lunch! They’re too dumb to even know whose daughter you are. You’d end up getting eaten!
The sparrow warned, reiterating that I’d become lunch.
I had to agree with him.
I couldn’t make a detailed assessment of Mao right away, but from my initial impression, he was just a big, clumsy housecat.
He probably feasted on the expensive Royal Canin brand food, far pricier than the ramen I loved.
And if he wasn’t satisfied, he’d leave half of it behind and choose some treat even more expensive than pork belly.
Mao kept jumping up trying to swat at the sparrow like it was an irritating bug.
This, this is!
What are you looking at? That’s just my afterimage!
However, Mao’s claws never made contact with the sparrow’s feathers.
At first, I wondered what the heck was going on, but as I kept watching, I realized it was probably just their playful interaction.
It was more like the sparrow was playing with a giant cat.
“A sparrow butler, huh?”
Thus, the playful antics continued for a while.
Exhausted from moving his giant body so much, Mao eventually collapsed on the ground, mouth wide open, panting.
I can catch a Stalker, too! I’d be a help to dad! I want to hunt living things, not just eat whatever he brings!
One day, when the time is right, you will. But by the way… who is this?
The sparrow looked down at me, standing awkwardly beneath him.
Mao lifted his head, brightly declaring, That guy saved me! He’s a good one!
Saved you? From whom? Were you in danger?
Um, no. Uh. Never mind, I wasn’t saved. We just met, uh…
The sparrow cocked its head back and forth between Mao and me as if deciding what to make of the poor excuse.
Then, it took off with a flutter and perched on my shoulder.
I’ll need to hear more about this, friend.
The sparrow seemed ready to peck out my eyes with the sharpness of its beak.
Its small frame belied a pressure that felt imposing.
With a solemn expression, I managed to mutter out one word.
Hmph.*
