Chapter 4: The Starving Orcs and the Strange Quest

Mishkentul ground its teeth, feeling its breath grow heavier, and began to think.

Every time it inhaled, an unpleasant, nauseating sensation flooded its body.

That cunning prey had somehow figured out its weakness and was deliberately provoking it.

“Grrrk.”

Mishkentul pulled away from the hateful prey and looked toward the area without grass.

If a fight is unfavorable, you don’t fight.

Running away is also a valid option.

It was frustrating not being able to kill that weak yet irritating prey right away, but it could just fight outside the herb field.

The prey would have to come out eventually anyway.

Bararing its fangs viciously, Mishkentul began to back away.

“Where do you think you’re going?!”

The moment I saw it hesitate and start retreating, my eyes sharpened.

Just like the sly beast it was, it was clearly trying to escape the area where it was at a disadvantage.

If it ran now, it would never step into the Spirit Herb field again.

In the end, I’d either run out of food and water and be forced outside—only to be torn apart by those sharp teeth—

Or I’d die here.

‘That’s not happening.’

I aimed for its leg to block that future, but the strike went in too shallow. The plan failed.

So I spoke.

“Eve. Put 3 stat points into Strength.”

Reflected in the yellow eyes was a black-haired man, panting, gripping a dagger and lowering his stance.

[3 stat points have been allocated to Strength.]

With the cold, emotionless system voice echoing in my head, I charged at Mishkentul.

“Do you even brush those teeth, you filthy monster bastard?!”

I moved like a gust of wind.

Mishkentul, which had been hesitating, abandoned its thoughts and lunged at the tiny human like David, opening jaws filled only with fangs.

In the storm of flying grass, human and beast collided like shadows.

“Cough—!”

Blood spilled from a deep wound. I groaned in pain but held on atop Mishkentul’s body.

Its wild thrashing, like a final struggle, gradually slowed.

Thud—

Biting down on my lip, I pushed the dagger in even deeper.

“Graaaaargh!”

Boom.

The massive body fell limply. The light faded from its eyes.

A translucent glow seeped out of Mishkentul and flowed into me.

[Ding! You have acquired a large amount of experience.]

[Level Up.]

[Level Up.]

Notifications rang out in succession.

Rolling off Mishkentul’s head, I leaned weakly against it.

“This hurts like hell.”

I pressed my side to stop the bleeding.

In novels, leveling up usually heals your wounds—so why doesn’t that work here?

I stopped the bleeding, but my clothes were already soaked red.

“Ah… I’m dizzy. Let’s rest.”

The world spun. So this is what anemia feels like.

What do you eat for anemia? Iron? Do you just eat metal?

As my thoughts drifted, I heard rustling.

Don’t tell me—another monster?

If I get attacked now, it’s straight to the bad ending.

The sound of grass being stepped on drew closer. A blurry figure appeared nearby.

“…A person?”

My vision swam, but it really looked like a human.

The black-clad figure rushed over and pulled me into his arms.

Tears fell from his deep, ocean-blue eyes onto my cheek.

I blinked in confusion at his strange behavior—

And then lost consciousness.

***

“Hah!”

I sat up, clutching my aching side.

“Deja vu…?”

It felt just like when I first woke up in this cave.

But something was different.

Beside me, leaning against the cave wall with eyes closed, was a man.

“So… he saved me.”

Twice now.

Once when I fell off the cliff.

And once yesterday.

I glanced at the firewood burning nearby, then looked back at him.

Pitch-black hair, black clothes from head to toe—like a child of darkness.

At some point, his blue eyes opened and fixed on me with a strange air.

Our eyes met.

Silence stretched, as if time had frozen.

I thought he’d say something—

But the man in the black mask simply stared at me, like an ancient tree.

“Thank you. You saved me, right?”

Saving me is one thing—but I need to know what he’s thinking.

If he saved me twice and even cried, maybe he’s just unbelievably kind.

But if he has some hidden motive…

No one knows better than me that kindness without a price doesn’t exist.

‘How long has it been?’

It felt like five minutes had passed.

He still didn’t answer. Just kept staring.

“Am I… being ignored?”

I meant to think it—but it slipped out.

At that, the man who hadn’t moved at all shook his head.

“So… you’re not ignoring me?”

He nodded fiercely. So earnestly it was almost funny.

That was unexpected.

With that mask, I thought he’d be cold and aloof.

But his intense nodding shattered that image completely.

Feeling more at ease, I asked,

“Then… can you not talk?”

His body stiffened slightly. After a brief pause, he nodded.

Somehow, he seemed full of stories.

Can’t speak. Hides his face behind a mask.

It practically screams “I have a tragic past.”

I shook my head to clear the thoughts.

“Ah!”

Moving made my side throb.

It felt unfair. I’d just recovered from muscle pain, and now I was injured again.

All because of that filthy tartar monster, Mishkentul.

Grinding my teeth, I cursed that its teeth would rot out.

The man stared quietly at my wound, then moved.

“Ugh…”

He took out a clean cloth and skillfully wrapped my side.

“Thank you… I’m not usually this clumsy…”

I laughed awkwardly and scratched my head.

Every time I meet this guy, I’m in danger.

Or maybe he only appears when I’m in danger?

That’s impossible… but still.

Nothing in this world is pure coincidence.

Even if he seems to help out of pure goodwill, he might have other intentions.

Three days since the fight with Mishkentul.

My side still ached, but it was much better.

Well, I did nothing but eat, sleep, and rest for three days.

“Is this… happiness?”

Enjoying peace in a cave I couldn’t even find in real life.

All thanks to the man in the black mask.

Is he just kind? A pushover? Or plotting something?

Whenever I asked for anything, he immediately went outside to get it.

With a full belly, lying on white tiger fur and waiting for dessert—

I heard a sound outside.

‘Is he back?’

With strange excitement, like a baby bird waiting for its mother, I went out.

And saw—

A green figure trying to drag away Mishkentul’s corpse.

“That’s… an orc?”

About two meters tall. Green skin. Long tusks and a flat nose.

A skinny, weak-looking orc, dragging Mishkentul’s huge body.

‘So… some random orc is stealing the monster I nearly died killing?’

“What the hell kind of situation is this?”

“Hey. Freeze. That’s straight-up robbery.”

“Skree! Human!”

“That thing? I got stabbed in the side killing it. Look. It hurts a lot.

So gently put it down. Now.”

“You think I’ll listen to a human?! I’m taking this! Skree!”

The scrawny orc limped while dragging the corpse.

It probably thought I couldn’t chase it because I was injured.

“I may be hurt, but I’m not so weak I can’t catch a skinny orc like you.

Stand right there.”

The moment I stepped forward, my shoulder was grabbed.

The black mask had appeared like a grim reaper and stared at me silently.

“It’s fine. Look. I’m all better now.”

He answered with actions.

He poked my side.

Sharp pain shot through me.

“Ack!”

Shaking his head, he leaped toward the orc.

“Stupid human! This is mine now—Aagh! What the hell?!”

“What do you mean what. He’s my mother bird.”

He acted exactly like one.

Stopping me from doing dangerous things.

Scolding me strictly.

An overprotective mother bird, through and through.