Chapter 57: Ecology Of The Mysterious Great Forest

“Kyaoooooo-!”

“Ggaekkaeng!”

“Kkiing……!”

Is this really the level of Rumi’s fight? 

It feels like a battle between the strongest in the world…………. 

Is this really the same Rumi who used to be a weak character? 

Rumi has truly become a legend……………. 

My heart feels so grand and all that…………….

All the Wolfkin soldiers knelt down at once.

Seeing that scene, my heart truly swelled with emotion.

Fortunately, it seems to only affect the Beastkin, so I was fine, just…

Her voice is so powerful, our girl is full of energy.

That was pretty much my only thought.

The other heroes were like, “What? What just happened?” as they looked around in confusion.

Even when I checked Rumi’s info on my smartphone again.

The only changes to the Roar of the Beast King were an increased range and extended taunt duration.

I guess this is what they call a hidden ability?

Since she’s the True Beast King.

It’s like Conqueror’s Haki, but limited to Beastkin.

So if she roars and throws a punch, is that like a Conqueror’s Fist?

“Kelok, keuheuk, keuhuk, keuk”

“Uh! Enya! Don’t die! Spit it out, spit!”

While I was lost in thought.

The sound of someone on the verge of death and Ari’s panicked voice echoed loudly from behind.

“Huh?”

When I turned around.

There was the queen, with a potion bottle stuck in her mouth, choking and on the verge of death from suffocation.

She must have been drinking it when she got caught in the roar………………

“Bleeeh-“

I pulled the potion bottle out of her mouth and patted her back.

Is this really the same queen who tied me up with a whip and kidnapped me?

My heart feels so conflicted…………….

***

The legendary Rumi, who caught a bear at 10 years old.

Made the Wolfkin kneel with a single roar.

Today, she continues to update her achievements in real time!

Despite being the one who unleashed that Conqueror’s roar earlier, she kept grabbing my hand to pat her own head.

“Keuhuk…… Please stop……………”

But still, I feel sad.

So sad that I let out a deep sigh.

“The blindfold, isn’t it about time to take it off…….”

“It’s still too early. You’re surprisingly pervy.”

“Krrrr……. No way, woof!”

We captured over a hundred Wolfkin soldiers.

And since we don’t have a place to transport them, we need to undo the hypnosis brainwashing.

Tinya kept muttering as she ripped off the talismans, “Jjwaak, jjak, rip!”

“Kyahaha, it’s like a jungle in here?”

“Ooh…………. Smooth…………….”

“Umm, this one’s got a nice color, kya……!”

Taking advantage of my blindfolded state, they were removing the talismans.

It felt like they were deliberately saying things for me to hear.

You sly little devil, you’re something else……………!

Jjwaaaak!

“Ping! It’s all-natural!”

Tinya, Tinya?

What does that mean?

“Kuaaak! Me too! Me toooo!”

“Woof!”

My hand, which was moving at the speed of light towards the blindfold, was subdued by Rumi.

And then it was used to pat Rumi’s head again, swish, swish.

It ended up being used to stroke her soft, warm fur……………

The cruel and inhumane act of tying someone up and preventing them from seeing the beautiful scenery before them, a brutal torture!

Anyone would be twisted after enduring such torture.

Rumi kept wagging her tail and licking my cheek, but I stubbornly ignored it, expressing my frustration with my whole body.

I channeled my twisted anger elsewhere.

“Nyaaak! Y-you dogs! Get away from meee!”

I witnessed the pitiful state of the Catkin, enduring the wrath of the Wolfkin who had just been freed from brainwashing.

“King!”

“Nyaaak!”

“Nom!”

“Nyaaaaak!”

The Wolfkin took turns, each one biting the Catkin’s nape.

It felt a bit timid for revenge, but…

The satisfied looks on the Wolfkin’s faces as they walked away made it seem worth it.

If they’re satisfied, then that’s all that matters, right?

“Enya?”

Even the current queen of the Wolfkin, who almost died from drinking a potion, stepped forward and bit Catkin’s nape.

Hmm.

I’m not sure if that’s right.

After a full round with over a hundred Wolfkin.

The Catkin, with a red, swollen nape and oddly ecstatic moans, lay on the ground, belly up.

The Wolfkin seemed satisfied as they brushed off the dirt from each other’s clothes and fur.

Now it’s our turn.

Looking down at the Catkin lying on the ground, meowing.

“Speak! Who were you thinking of……….”

Hmm, that’s not it.

While trying to interrogate.

For some reason, a line that had been bottled up for ten thousand years came to mind, and I blurted it out.

Ignoring the strange looks from the other heroes.

“How did you hypnotize people with the talismans?”

The Catkin turned its head away.

A very clear refusal to answer.

But right now, I am the Asura Demon.

The embodiment of anger, unable to see Schrödinger’s pink.

“Enya?”

I sent the queen, who had been licking her lips regretfully, back into the fray.

“Nyaaaaak!”

Bite, chew, chomp.

Oh, she even left a kiss mark.

It seems like she’s finally getting revenge for being brainwashed and forced to sing the praises of the Catnip.

Even spanking her butt without hesitation, how bold.

“LEOFO…….”

Enya, who had mercilessly tormented Catkin’s nape, looked up at me.

Her eyes clearly waited for instructions.

Hmm, she’s loyal even without a contract.

“That’s enough for now.”

So, plop.

Before I knew it, she was wagging her tail and stepping back.

My leadership skills are shining!

……2710.

“OF”

It felt like Rumi was nodding behind me.

But since she listened to me, her owner, it’s all good!

•Looking down at the cat covered in drool.

“Hand over the totem peacefully, and there will be no bloodshed.”

With the heart of a peace-loving monk.

I gave a very stern warning.

At the same time.

“Krrrr……!”

The servant behind me issued a real threat.

The cat’s eyes rolled.

“Arrrrr -!”

“Churrup.”

Rumi’s threat grew fiercer, and Enya, still holding a grudge, added some flavor by licking her lips.

“I-I’ll talk, nya……!”

Finally, the cat spilled everything.

***

After that, as we entered the town of Red Hood and advanced towards the queen’s castle, several battles ensued.

To borrow and slightly twist a phrase, “We came, we saw, we conquered.”

We conquered, we didn’t see, we tore apart.

Adding to that, Rumi, even you……………!

In the process of subduing, stripping, removing talismans, and re-dressing the brainwashed Wolfkin.

Exaggerating a bit, we wasted almost half the time putting on blindfolds.

Even the blindfold duty naturally shifted from Yohena to Rumi.

I ended up being toyed with by the Beast King (candidate) all day long.

Do I even have the qualifications to be an owner?

At this rate, I feel more like a pet……………?

Well, thanks to Rumi’s hidden ability, she’s at least human-level in the Great Forest, so it’s not like I can’t respect her.

With that regret, we finally reached the 10th zone.

After promising lasting peace to the Wolfkin freed from the Catnip’s hypnosis.

We arrived to destroy the source of the curse, the ‘Catmom Totem.’

“Definitely, the smell of demons is strong! It’s definitely Neb!”

Tinya sniffed for the first time in a while.

She confirmed that the mastermind behind the Catnip’s corruption was the 20th-floor boss, Neb.

Everyone here already knows that.

“I’ll burn it.”

Saha, who had been rapidly losing presence since entering the Great Forest, finally stepped forward with a hammer instead of a non-lethal weapon.

And with a whoosh, a grand flame erupted.

Fortunately, the totem was located in a remote cave on the outskirts of Red Hood.

A place where we could set fire without worrying about it spreading.

“Haaaap!”

With maximum power, a hearty swing!

Kwaaaaaang——!

Sorry to say this to Rumi.

But you can’t get that crisp sound and impact with just a punch.

The totem burned brightly.

Somewhere, the sound of “Nyaaaa” echoed, maybe from the evil spirit of the cat in the totem.

Or maybe it was the Catkin we let loose earlier, screaming as their napes were bitten.

“So, is it over now?”

“Uh, if you say that.”

Our saintess carelessly uttered a forbidden word.

And of all places, in the 10th zone!

Where the boss appears!

The spell of “Did we win?”

“Choooop-!!!”

From deeper inside the cave than where the totem was.

A bear’s roar, loud enough to shake the entire cave, echoed.

“Ok?”

“Huh?”

Rumi and we tilt our heads simultaneously. 

Miwa, this sound, it’s kinda familiar.

“Enemies……! Everyone, prepare for battle!”

With the sound of footsteps shaking the ground, Saha shouted gravely.

But strangely, I didn’t feel tense.

Soon.

“Choopchoo…?”

With a mighty roar, a giant bear appeared.

‘Skilla.The Nightmare of the Great Forest’ 

As soon as she made eye contact with Rumi, her volume rapidly decreased.

So bears’ pupils can tremble too.

I learned that today.

“Poot.”

Like she saw something she shouldn’t have, she quickly turned her head.

And then, as if nothing happened, she slowly backed away, putting the car in reverse.

So bears can walk backwards too.

I learned that today.

“Rumi, that’s the bear, right?”

“Woof!”

A moment later.

[17th Floor of the Tower of Wishes – Great Forest: Red Hood 10th Zone Clear!]

“Raise your hands properly, woof.”

“Choop…….”

Even the bear knelt and raised its hands.

I really learned that today……………….