Surviving in the Great Forest is harder than one might think for the beastfolk.
Although they possess mixed bloodlines of beasts and boast superior physical strength compared to humans, they lack the fur that protects against sweat loss and cold.
This makes their survival in the harsh environment of the Great Forest a constant struggle.
In the early days, the beastfolk faced continuous hardships as they established their place in the Great Forest.
They formed groups, secured territories, and first and foremost, learned combat skills to survive.
They had to protect themselves from all sorts of wild animals, especially giant snakes and birds of prey that couldn’t even be communicated with, as well as from the occasional魔族 (demon tribe) who came to hunt them.
Life is a series of struggles.
To survive in the midst of such struggles and rise to the position of queen, immense martial prowess is essential.
Thus, Enya had confidence in her skills.
And in her spear techniques, which she had honed since childhood.
“Ugh………….”
Even without a weapon.
She thought she wouldn’t be pushed back by some dog beastfolk who didn’t even carry the traces of the Great Forest on their bodies.
“Kung!”
With a battle cry, the dog beastfolk charged at her, throwing punches with unpredictable trajectories.
The attacks were so fierce that it was hard to believe they were bare-handed, relentlessly pressing Enya.
“Eek!”
Even when she swung her spear to block their path.
They would track the spear’s trajectory with their eyes, dodge it effortlessly, and immediately counterattack.
“Keuk.”
Rumi momentarily burrowed into Enya’s embrace and drove her elbow into Enya’s chest.
Enya’s breath stopped for a moment.
“Thud!”
Without missing a beat, a knee kick landed squarely on her stomach!
Feeling her insides churn, Enya hastily rolled backward.
It was an action unbecoming of a queen, but she didn’t care, barely managing to regain her posture.
“…… I admit it. You’re strong.”
“You’re hee~♡ weak, woof!”
“……?”
An unrefined provocation that was hard to believe came from the mouth of a warrior who knew honor!
Of course, under normal circumstances, Rumi wouldn’t have gone this far.
After all, she was a Golden Retriever beastfolk, known to be the most gentle among dog beastfolk.
But Enya’s crime.
The crime of daring to kidnap Juin-nim.
The crime of daring to growl and bark at Juin-nim!
From the moment Ark was kidnapped, Rumi’s 100 yellow cards had already burned to ashes.
Moreover, no matter how gentle she was, Golden Retrievers are fundamentally hunting dogs.
They are very docile towards humans.
But beastfolk, strictly speaking, are not humans but fellow animals.
They can engage in territorial disputes and hierarchy battles without hesitation.
Click, click.
“Is that all you’ve got to target Jooin-nim, woof?”
Rumi, who had learned well from the devil’s special ‘How to Piss Off Your Opponent,’ provoked Enya again.
Grind.
Enya gritted her teeth.
***
“Keuk, kuk, keuk, grrr…….”
“Now, rank up, there’s still a lot left. Like the boss of Darangdae Forest, stand tall.”
While dropping empty potion bottles at her feet, encouraging Renatel, who was on the verge of passing out.
I glanced over to see if our Rumi was fighting well.
“Howl.”
In an honorable one-on-one duel.
She was toying with Enya.
It was only natural.
Not just Rumi, but our heroes’ specs were over the top.
Experience potions that, while not infinite, bubbled up daily.
Similarly, growth materials were starting to pile up.
Crunch.
The result of steadily consuming all of that.
Even the 16th floor could be swept away with pure physical strength, even with skills sealed.
In terms of floor levels, they could easily crush the 20th floor, and only around the 22nd floor would progress start to slow down due to rank restrictions.
“Rumi! Take it easy!”
Don’t kill her.
Even though Enya is like that, she’s still a playable character, a hero.
If we ever succeed in recruiting her, she’ll be sharing the same pot with us, so I was worried that beating her too harshly might not be a good idea.
“Woof!”
Rumi barked cheerfully from afar, hearing my voice.
She’s a good kid.
Kind-hearted.
“Uh, are you resting now? Drink up, chug, chug.”
“Kiiing…….”
Renatel made a pitiful sound.
But I encouraged her growth with a stern expression.
Just a while ago, she was wagging her tail, saying she felt like her whole body was overflowing with energy every time she drank.
Now her tail was completely drooping to the ground.
No way.
Keep drinking, keep drinking!
Renatel needs to grow strong for my convenience.
Since she’s a core story character, even if she’s not included in the 5-member party, she’ll continue to accompany us up to the 18th floor.
It was a long-term investment for an easy ride.
As I was thinking this.
Saha, Ari, and Tina, who had joined the battlefield, were sweeping through the wolf beastfolk like a hundred against one, knocking them down one by one.
And.
Rumi too.
“Arf, kung!”
“Keuut, just kill me…………!”
With a thud, she fell.
While making a very frustrated face, Enya, who was spouting lines like a defeat-addicted masochistic knight, was being mounted by Rumi, who was biting her butt and neck.
It was a behavior I knew from my dog’s knowledge.
It’s something dogs do when playing with other dogs or to firmly establish hierarchy.
…… But it’s a bit lewd.
Oh yeah, oh, oh yeah…………!
“Hmmm?”
Rumi, who was vigorously mounting, suddenly turned her head sharply and stared at me, sniffing.
…..
As calmly as possible.
I shook my head, signaling her to stop the mounting behavior, and loosened my hood a bit more.
It was natural.
Probably.
Anyway, it seemed like a perfect victory for us.
“Awoo!”
“We’re here! Let’s teach those bad Darangdae a lesson!”
“Grrr, kung!”
At the entrance to Darangdae Forest.
As if the ones who came with Enya were just the vanguard.
A pack of dogs, no, a pack of wolves, incomparable in number, came rushing in.
“Keuk, kuk, Enya, really, went all out……”
Renatel, who was drinking a potion, turned her gaze and made a disgusted face.
“Enya is already finished.”
“…?”
Renatel, with question marks above her head, looked where my finger pointed.
At Enya, who was pinned under Rumi, groaning.
“…!”
Renatel’s eyes shook violently.
Soon, the reinforcements also seemed to notice that their leader was completely subdued.
“Uwoo……!”
“Let her go, you violent bitch!” Our queen!
“Grrr, kung!”
They couldn’t charge forward immediately and started protesting vehemently.
A lightning bolt flashes in my mind.
“Ark?”
“Yohena, if it looks dangerous, grab her and run away immediately.”
“…?”
I felt like I just received a look saying ‘what trouble is this fragile hamster going to cause now,’ but I ignored it and walked briskly to Rumi’s side.
Seeing this, the heroes quickly gathered around me.
I cleared my throat and shouted loudly.
“Stop right there! Surrender now, and we guarantee the queen’s safety!”
The best tactic when outnumbered is taking hostages.
“Ark……………?”
“Master?”
The heroes gave me strange looks.
It was quite an audacious look for a tail-fur bandit leader.
But I’m a heartless merchant, a shop owner.
For profit, I can take hostages anytime………….!
“Rumi, show them our sincerity.”
Method acting is crucial in hostage situations.
I whispered in a low, mafia boss tone.
The clever Rumi understood and.
“Keuhh…………!”
Bit Enya’s neck again, making her groan.
Easy, easy.
“Let the queen go!”
“Outsiders! How evil! Have you no pride as warriors!”
“Woo! Woo!”
Fierce protests erupted, but the wolf beastfolk’s advance was definitely halted.
Even some Darangdae friends joined in.
Grabbing the unconscious wolf beastfolk soldiers one by one and stroking their tail fur, subtly pressuring them.
They were indeed the original tail-fur bandits.
“Renatel? Come here.”
The leader of the tail-fur bandits finally finished level farming and, with an awkward expression, hesitated, so I beckoned her over.
“On Renatel’s honor! If you retreat now, we will return the queen safely!”
“No, why my honor—”
“I promise!”
I figured someone from Darangdae would recognize her.
“Krrr”
“If even a single strand of the queen’s tail fur is plucked, we will hunt you down and strip you all bald!”
“We’ll make you bald for generations!”
It worked.
“Ignore them, quickly defeat these barbarians— Kyaheuk, heuk, haak, haak!”
Enya tried to make a sacrificial statement, but.
The quick-witted Rumi immediately sucked on her cheek while tickling her sides!
Enya’s mouth was sealed.
Unable to bear seeing their queen humiliated any longer.
“We’ll see about this!”
The wolf beastfolk’s reinforcements slowly and orderly began to retreat from the canyon.
[16th Floor of the Tower of Wishes – Great Forest: Wolf Beastfolk Territory, Area 6 Clear!]
The long night in Area 6 was coming to an end.
Leaving behind a few spirit stones.
And numerous wolf beastfolk prisoners, including the queen.