Pastel paused her wood carving.
Breath came out in gasps. Her hands and arms trembled. The heat from her body chased away the cold.
The finished wooden spear, though blunt, was sharp enough to be threatening.
She carefully poked it against her palm; the sharp pressure was felt. If she drove it in with force, it would probably pierce right through.
The corners of her mouth lifted slightly.
“Do I have a talent for craftsmanship?”
At this level, it could have been considered a top-tier weapon in the Stone Age.
“My talent is Stone Age quality.”
The primitive genes in her body weren’t going anywhere.
She set down the weapon, took a short break, and slowly stretched. Her body shivered in the cold air.
Aside from a bit of hunger, her stamina was not bad. But something felt off with her body. Was her survival hormone forcibly pumping?
I need to get into the action soon.
With the wooden spear in hand, she fixed her gaze on the door. Steeling her resolve, she approached. She pressed her ear against the door. The presence beyond was unclear.
To shake off the tension, she glanced around the room and cautiously fiddled with the locking mechanism.
Inside the quiet, the lock moved silently. It clicked open without a sound.
She grasped the doorknob and steadied her mind. Letting out a deep breath, she counted.
One, two, three!
She pulled the door open without hesitation.
A menacing black wolf was staring straight at her. Its fangs were bared.
The tension prickled her skin.
“Come at me…!”
The black creature lunged.
Pastel turned and leaned against the door like a shield. She braced her feet and used all her weight to slam the door shut.
“Take that!”
The charging wolf slammed against the door with a loud crash. Ugh! It was heavy. The massive creature was wedged in the doorway, howling in pain.
Pastel stepped back and collided with the door again. The impact echoed loudly. The wolf let out a tortured howl.
She felt the wolf thrashing against the door. With one mighty struggle, it began to push the door open.
I’m losing strength!
Without delay, she gripped the wooden spear. Charging at the disoriented wolf, she thrust it forward.
Putting her weight behind it, she stabbed the spear hard. It punctured the back of its neck, and black energy spilled out like blood. Pastel choked on the swallowed energy, pressing down with the spear.
The wolf screamed. Its dark body shook violently. Oof! Pastel was thrown back from the impact, landing on the ground, her pink hair flailing.
Ugh, darn it.
She forced herself up, using the ground as support.
The sound of the beast jumping.
She quickly rolled aside. The black figure lunged at the spot she had just vacated.
Weapon, weapon!
Something soft brushed against her hand. Pastel grabbed the blanket and stood up rapidly. The wolf dashed towards her.
Avoiding its charge, she flailed the blanket. The fabric wrapped around the beast, neutralizing its sharp teeth and claws as it tangled in the black body.
The wolf staggered, tearing at the blanket.
Let’s see if you can hold out…!
Pastel lunged at the wolf. Quickly crouching, she plunged herself down with her full weight.
Her body crashed into the wolf’s nape. Ah! The spear penetrated through the rough resistance.
The wolf bucked briefly before going still.
“Hah… Hah…”
Pastel leaned against the corpse, catching her breath.
Alright, I got it.
She wobbled her way up and stared down at the wrapped-up carcass in the blanket, bewildered.
Am I actually good at fighting?
She ran her hands through her hair. The pink strands wrapped around her fingertips as she wiped the sweat from her forehead.
“Bring it on, you puny little beast.”
She kicked the body out of frustration.
But soon enough, her strength gave out and she plopped down.
“Oof! Ouch.”
Her whole body ached. Every part of her was sore. Skin scraped and stung in various places.
She leaned back against the blanket-covered corpse.
“Whew…”
What a close call.
She coughed dryly. She was hungry and parched. At least moving around was keeping her warm.
Pastel relaxed, releasing tension from her limbs. Her muscles loosened.
Hah. I can’t even eat, and look at this mess. I really want to eat. Soup and bread would be nice.
She licked her lips. Wait? There was a sweet taste in her mouth. A delightful, tempting flavor.
It wasn’t an illusion. It was definitely sweet. Why am I tasting sweetness when I haven’t eaten anything?
The moment she had swallowed and spit out the wolf’s black energy flickered in her mind.
She hurriedly pushed the blanket aside. The black carcass came into view. The wolf’s form was partially collapsed and squishy. Almost like meat pudding.
A sweet aroma wafted up.
Her salivary glands tingled.
Pastel, dazed, reached out and then jerked back.
“Yikes!”
Wiping her mouth, she quickly shook her head.
It looked clearly sinister and evil.
It’s poison, poison.
It’s definitely not something a person should eat.
Get a grip, Pastel!
Focus…!
Pastel buried her face in the corpse.
The black body squished like meat pudding. Sweetness filled her mouth. Her nerves tingled and rushed through her.
Her brain buzzed.
The thrill of recovering what was lost.
The emptiness fading into fulfillment.
The essence and origin.
What the soul craves.
The final piece entered her mouth.
Some of the energy melted into her bones and muscles.
The girl trembled her empty hands.
She was still hungry.
#
Eating the meat pudding felt strangely good. It might be an illusion, but she felt stronger.
Though her hunger wasn’t completely satisfied.
She felt the spiritual emptiness lift like she’d guzzled potions and had a good rest.
With her appetite reignited, Pastel peeked her head cautiously out into the hallway.
On either side of her were window walls and a corner hallway. There was only one other room in this corridor.
“Oh, it’s a corner room.”
She ambled lazily into the hallway. She had the wooden spear, but felt no real sense of danger.
Nothing seemed to have changed in the mansion amid the chaos. There were no dangerous creatures around. The absence of servants was an issue, though.
“Gah, I’m so hungry.”
At least she didn’t have a thirst to worry about.
Where’s the kitchen?
Pastel rubbed her stomach as she turned the corner. Her view opened, revealing a new hallway.
And then she spotted two wolves. They exuded dark energy. Fortunately, they were looking elsewhere.
Her body froze in place while walking, then quickly relaxed.
Hey pals, nothing to see here.
Pastel silently stepped backward as if rewinding a tape.
She safely turned the corner. Her tensed muscles relaxed.
That was close.
She wiped the cold sweat off her brow.
How could they be right there after all that ruckus?
They not only made noise but were now mumbling about their hunger. They may not-be real wolves, but still.
Pastel frowned.
Could their hearing be bad?
There was definitely something odd.
The commotion from earlier was quite loud. Enough to react for the garden beasts. But the garden remained quiet.
Are they all hard of hearing? What to do with that? An assassination?
She glanced at the wooden spear in her hand. Its tip had dulled from rough use.
Her mind went blank.
Imagining a fight with the two wolves.
Sneak up and thrust!
Hey, it’s not dying?!
Stab! Smash! Ugh!
Pals, don’t do this to me…!
Is this how the popular ones go down?!
Pastel clutched her head. She turned back and noticed there was one room she hadn’t checked.
There has to be at least one sword in there. A knife, even a kitchen knife wouldn’t hurt.
With renewed tension for a different reason, Pastel cautiously opened the new room. She peeked inside, keeping her head low.
The layout was no different from the previous room.
Even the contents were bleak.
Walls, floor, walls, floor.
Except in the corner was a toppled wooden table.
There was no suitable weapon…
Pastel leaned against the doorway, swaying. Deep in thought, she groped at the door.
Can’t I use the door as a weapon?
After scanning the metal hinges, she confirmed it wouldn’t work and gave up.
Next, she felt around the window frame and the glass. Ah, that’s impossible.
She walked over to the toppled table.
It was round with one leg in the center.
A round, single-legged table.
Now I see why it’s fallen over. The ground it needed to support broke.
“Hm.”
The round top was spacious, and the leg was long. If I grab the leg, it could serve as a hammer, right? Can I lift it?
I lifted the table leg with both hands; it was hefty. Heavy, but manageable.
She carried it to the center of the room. Gripping the leg with both hands, she swung it as if it were a hammer.
Her body swayed, and her stance faltered slightly. The round top hit the floor with a thud. The sound echoed.
Pastel jumped and stared at the locked door. She waited a moment, but the presence outside didn’t change.
“Wow, they really are hard of hearing.”
What a relief.
She set the table down and shook her hands.
It was heavy for long-term use, and unsteady for a quick swing. Still not too bad for taking on a single opponent.
But two?
If I stagger, I’ll get bitten easily.
But Pastel raised her arms high.
“Better than the wooden spear!”
Her weapon had upgraded from lame to cool!
Yay!
She inspected the table closely. Weight could be an issue. I want to lighten it. Where should I kick for it to break cleanly?
The joint between the round top and leg caught her eye. Oh? As she reached for it, she twisted it in opposite directions.
She heard a cracking sound from within.
Clunk.
N-No way that just happened.
She swallowed hard. Pulling the table leg and top apart, they easily separated.
Pastel grasped the table leg. She held the round top by its connecting part.
One hand carried the table leg.
The other held the wide round top.
What is this?
Standing tall, Pastel raised her improvised gear high. Sunlight filtered through the window, shining on her wooden equipment.
“A spear and a shield!”
An excellent choice!
#
Pastel practiced in the center of the room.
She jabbed the sharpened table leg forward.
Thud! Thud!
It was heavy, but the feeling was different. It felt great holding them separately.
Now mimicking using the round top as a guard.
Solid!
Indeed, it was heavy, but it was manageable. By gripping the connecting part, the weight came closer to her body, making it much easier to handle.
“Nice.”
She steadied herself and imagined combat.
A black wolf charged at her.
“Woof! Woof!”
Pastel resolutely raised the round top.
“Boom!”
The wolf crashed against it.
Quickly, she jabbed with the table leg.
“Thud!”
The stabbed wolf met its end with a scream.
“Perfect! Let’s go!”
Feeling accomplished from the upgrade, Pastel strolled confidently. The corner of the hallway came into view.
Without hesitation, she turned around, though she cautiously just peeked her head out.
Two wolves, facing the other direction. Their dark energy was ominous. They looked outright evil.
They seem tasty…
No wait, that’s not it.
Pastel wiped away the drool.
Let’s try to lure just one.
She set the spear down and retrieved the wooden dagger. Extending one arm, she got into a throwing position.
One, two, three.
Throw!
The dagger whooshed through the air, striking one wolf on the head. The black wolf yelped in surprise and yapped!
The wolf looked around, spotted her, and began charging fiercely. The other wolf still hadn’t reacted.
Pastel ducked behind the corner. Hurriedly picking up the spear, she readied herself.
The wolf rounded the corner, charging at her. She protected herself with the shield.
Come on in.
The wolf lowered its body, targeting her lower half.
Ah, four-legged beast, huh?
She flung the spear upward and held the shield in two hands. As if sinking down, she aimed the corner downward. The edge of the shield slammed against the wolf’s muzzle. The sound of teeth clashing rang out violently, its jaw snapping painfully shut.
Pastel rose up, extending one hand upward. The falling spear rotated and landed in her grasp. With all her weight, she plunged it downward. The trajectory pierced the wolf’s eye and burrowed into its brain.
The wolf howled before staggering. She kicked it down, and the spear ripped free as it fell. A sweet aroma spread.
Footsteps echoed from beyond the corner.
The girl bolted.
The other wolf rounded the corner.
She put all her weight into the spear and thrust, striking its gaping mouth.
The wet sound of flesh echoed.
Intense pressure engulfed her.
The spear penetrated through its body.
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