Chapter 6: Renata? The Big Bad Wolf?

BOOM——!!

The earth-shattering roar was deafening. That millstone-sized rock smashed precisely onto the spot where Nuo Ai’er had been standing just a moment ago.

“Ugh X﹏X”

By the time she realized it, Nuo Ai’er had become a two-dimensional “Nuo Ai’er pancake.”

[Confirmed death.]

[Intrinsic talent “Time Rewind” has been triggered.]

[Loading save file…]

…

…

“Eep QAQ”

Nuo Ai’er snapped her eyes open, her heart still pounding wildly.

‘Got crushed into Nuo Ai’er paste… That path on the left really was a trap after all.’

Nuo Ai’er: ‘Alright, alright, this time I’ll look for another way.’

…That’s what Nuo Ai’er thought, but soon she noticed something was off.

“Huh? Where is this?”

The surroundings hadn’t reverted to the beginning of the dungeon—they were stuck… twenty seconds ago?

She looked down at her feet, then at the small stream not far ahead.

…And that blonde girl was still there too.

Nuo Ai’er: ‘Wait, hold on? This time it only rolled back twenty seconds?!’

‘That can’t be right Σ(ŎдŎ|||)ﾉﾉ’

Nuo Ai’er froze.

The previous two times she’d died sent her straight back to the start. Why this time did it only backtrack a short distance?

Just then, the blonde girl by the stream turned her head again, those emerald-green eyes locking onto Nuo Ai’er.

Before Nuo Ai’er could react, the familiar script replayed.

The wolf-eared girl pushed off from her toes, turning into a blur, little knife in hand as she flew forward!

Immediately after, a whistling wind came from above—that damned boulder was about to fall again!

‘Is it a dead save? (‘

Nuo Ai’er: ‘…Wait… Times like these call for calm analysis (◦`~´◦)’

Nuo Ai’er’s clever little brain erupted with unprecedented wisdom in that moment.

If the talent sent her back here instead of the entrance, that meant this point in time could be changed.

Right now Nuo Ai’er couldn’t manually save, only passively reload, so the system was handling the saves.

The system wouldn’t let her get stuck in a dead loop, right? In other words…

Maybe this path was the correct choice!

Facing the murderous wolf girl charging straight at her, Nuo Ai’er swallowed hard. Her legs were trembling, but her eyes grew firm.

Nuo Ai’er: ‘I’ll risk it (˵>ㅿ<˵)’

‘I’ll bet that this is the right path!’

Driven by the fear of death and the instinct to survive, Nuo Ai’er made a move that defied biological instinct.

She didn’t run. Instead, she took her little short legs and, eyes squeezed shut, walked straight toward the charging wolf girl!

THUD!

The expected pain never came.

Just as Nuo Ai’er reached the wolf girl, a tremendous force knocked her to the ground. The next instant, a soft yet warm body pressed down on top of her.

CRASH——!!

The next second, the boulder landed less than half a meter behind them. The shockwave ruffled Nuo Ai’er’s white hair.

A close call…

Nuo Ai’er opened her eyes, trembling. She found herself lying on the grass, the wolf-eared girl straddling her, hands planted on either side of her head. That delicate face was mere centimeters away, golden strands of hair brushing her own.

The girl stared expressionlessly at the loli beneath her, her voice cool: “Lucky to be alive.”

Nuo Ai’er: “Uhh?”

Wolf-eared girl: “You just stepped on a trap. One more step forward, or running back, and that rock would have crushed you flat.”

Nuo Ai’er screamed internally: ‘Actually, I already died once from that (つ﹏⊂)’

“Haven’t seen a living person in this forest in a long time… This place is full of traps. You’d better leave quickly.”

With that, the wolf-eared girl put away her knife, stood up, brushed the dust off her clothes, and turned to leave.

‘So she’s a good person after all…’

‘That voice, that deadpan expression—she seems like a kuudere?’

Nuo Ai’er’s peculiar focus (.

‘Wait, no. If she saved me, that means she’s not a bad person… bad wolf.’

‘Looks like this Little Red Riding Hood dungeon is going the opposite route. The good hunter in the original is a creep here, and the original villain Big Bad Wolf saved her…’

‘In other words… I should be able to ask the Big Bad Wolf for help!’

“Wait!” Nuo Ai’er called out.

Leaving Nuo Ai’er alone in this damn place full of traps? She’d probably die dozens of times just trying to get out (sad).

“Sister, please take me with you. I’m scared QAQ”

Nuo Ai’er scrambled to her feet, stumbled forward, and reached out to grab the wolf-skin cloak behind the girl.

However…

RIIIP——

A crisp sound of fabric tearing rang out.

She’d pulled too hard, and the cloak probably wasn’t very sturdy to begin with—Nuo Ai’er had actually ripped the whole wolf-skin cloak off!

The air suddenly went still.

Without the cloak’s cover, the wolf-eared girl’s outfit was revealed.

It was a… bikini made from some unknown magical beast’s leather?

The top half only had two leather pieces barely covering the important parts, revealing large expanses of snow-white, delicate skin and a slender, flexible waist. The bottom half was so skimpy it was almost unwatchable.

Under her short golden hair, the fluffy wolf ears trembled with shame and indignation.

“Wahh (〃д〃)”

Nuo Ai’er stared, her little face instantly flushing bright red.

Even though she no longer had the tools for mischief, her otaku soul still suffered a massive visual shock.

“…”

The wolf-eared girl slowly turned around. Those jade-green eyes seemed about to spew fire.

She looked disdainfully at Nuo Ai’er, who was holding the torn cloak and blushing furiously. Without a word, she snatched back the cloak and draped it over herself.

[Wolf Ear Girl’s Favorability -5.]

[Current Favorability: -5 (Dislike)]

“Rude little brat ( ᗜ ˰ ᗜ )”

The girl commented coldly.

But she still didn’t abandon Nuo Ai’er.

“Stay close, unless you want to get turned into paste.”

She retied her cloak and strode forward.

“Oh… oh…”

Basket in hand, Nuo Ai’er followed behind her like a little bride, not daring to breathe too loudly.

They walked along the stream for a while and came to a relatively open campsite.

“My name is Renata.” The girl sat down on a large rock, her tone flat. “I’m the only… resident of this forest, I guess. Those traps are to keep the hunters from coming in to catch me… and my friends.”

As she spoke, a small wolf that looked a bit fierce emerged from the bushes. It bared its teeth at Nuo Ai’er.

“Grrrr!”

“Eeep QAQ” Nuo Ai’er flinched and hid behind Renata. “Is it… is it going to bite me?”

“Don’t worry. He’s my friend. He’s not mean.”

Renata reached out and gently stroked the little wolf’s head.

The wolf, which had been wearing a fierce expression, immediately squinted its eyes, made a contented purring sound, and even stuck out its tongue.

“See? Just pet him on the head.” Renata demonstrated, then turned to Nuo Ai’er and extended her hand. “You try too.”

Nuo Ai’er shrank back. She looked at the wolf that had just been baring its teeth at her and didn’t dare get close.

‘What if he’s only nice to Renata and bites me when I go near? ()’

“I… I won’t pet him. He still looks really fierce.” Nuo Ai’er turned her head away.

Renata’s hand froze mid-air.

She gave Nuo Ai’er a long, hard look. A flicker of disappointment and coldness passed through her eyes. Then she silently withdrew her hand.

[Renata’s Favorability -5.]

[Current Favorability: -10 (Cold)]

Nuo Ai’er: ‘Huh? Why did it drop again?’

‘Is being cautious wrong…’

Nuo Ai’er didn’t quite understand.

“Suit yourself.” With that, Renata stopped talking. She stood up, walked to the stream, and started catching fish.

Her movements were practiced. Soon she had caught two plump river fish.

…

Night fell. A campfire crackled in the clearing.

Renata handed one of the golden, crispy roasted fish to Nuo Ai’er. “Want some?”

[Decision Time!]

[A. Refuse her. Eat your own sandwich.]

[B. Accept the grilled fish.]

[C. Accept the grilled fish, then share your sandwich with her (Sandwiches -2)]

Nuo Ai’er: “Hmm…”

Nuo Ai’er looked at the fish, then at the sandwich in her basket.

It wasn’t that she didn’t like fish—she loved the smell of roasted fish.

But…

‘You will be my doll forever, hahahahahaha——!!!’

The memory of being fed by the Hunter Sister and then imprisoned flashed through her mind. She had developed a deep psychological trauma toward food from strangers.

‘Sorry, even though you’re not a bad person…’

She chose A.

“Th-thanks… I have my own.”

Nuo Ai’er shook her head, carefully pulled out her wicker basket, took out a sandwich, and nibbled on it.

“…You’re just like that too.”

Renata’s hand holding the roasted fish stopped in midair. Her expression didn’t change, but the temperature around them dropped significantly.

[System Notification: Renata’s Favorability -1.]

[Current Favorability: -11 (Even Colder)]

…???

Nuo Ai’er chewed her sandwich, puzzled.

Nuo Ai’er: ‘What now? I didn’t say anything rude, did I? Why is the favorability still dropping?’

‘Is it because I didn’t compliment her roasting skills? (‘

…

After dinner, Renata wiped her hands and looked at Nuo Ai’er.

“Do you want to leave the forest?” Renata asked.

“Yes,” Nuo Ai’er replied.

“I know how to get out.” Renata held up two fingers. “There are two exits.”

“North leads to a human town. It’s safe there. East leads to a remote little village.”

She paused, as if observing Nuo Ai’er’s reaction.

“Which way do you want to go?”

“Uh, let me think.”

Nuo Ai’er was stumped.

Just as she was hesitating, that familiar mechanical voice sounded again.

[Decision Time!]

[A. Want to go north (Achieve Normal Ending—Escape the Forest)]

[B. Want to go east, because Grandma’s house is there.]

Nuo Ai’er chooses—