A cave. That's what I needed.
I began to walk, leaving the area where the wild boar carcass still lay. My feet stepped firmly on the leaf-covered ground, following an instinct that guided me.
The night forest did not scare me. My transformed eyes could see clearly in the darkness. Every tree shape, every contour of the land, even the shadow of moving mist, was all clear to me.
I kept walking, passing towering large trees. I also didn't forget to mark trees with scratches from my nails or arrange small stones as directional markers.
The ground beneath my feet began to change. From flat, it slowly started to incline.
I kept climbing, following the natural path between large rocks and protruding tree roots.
Time passed. Perhaps half an hour, or maybe more. I wasn't sure.
Then I saw it.
In the distance, a small cliff with an uneven rock formation. Rocks rose to form a natural wall, with gaps and cracks in several places.
I quickened my pace.
As I approached the cliff, my eyes swept over every crevice, searching for what I sought. And I found it.
A small cave. Its entrance was large enough for me to enter, but not so large that it would be hard to guard. Perfect.
I paused for a moment in front of the cave entrance, steadying my breath which was slightly labored from the climb.
Then I cautiously approached the cave mouth and sniffed the air.
There was a smell of something… not a rotten or dangerous smell, but the smell of a living creature.
There was something in there.
I stopped for a moment, considering. Should I look for another cave?
No. This cave was perfect. And I was too tired to search for another place.
I slowly stepped inside, letting my eyes adjust to the deeper darkness within the cave.
And there I saw four wolves.
Their fur was dark gray, almost black in some parts. Two larger ones, a male and a female, stood in front, protecting two younger wolf pups behind them. The pups were still small, their fur lighter and softer.
A family.
Their eyes watched me with full alertness. The male let out a low growl, his voice deep and full of warning.
"Grrrrr..."
But he did not attack immediately. He just stood there, body tense, protecting his family with a posture ready to fight at any moment.
I stopped, and stared at them.
They looked... harmonious, like a small family living together in this cave.
Something in my chest felt tight. Not from pity, but from... memories. Memories of my mother working hard alone to make ends meet, and memories of the warmth we had even though we were poor.
But I couldn't back down now.
This was the law of nature. The strong prey on the weak. And in this forest, I had to be the strong one.
"Sorry," I whispered softly. My voice was almost inaudible in the quiet cave.
"But I need this place."
The male understood. Somehow, he understood that I wasn't going to leave.
He let out a loud howl, then attacked.
"GRAAAAHHH!"
He leaped with a speed that might have once panicked me. But now, his movements looked slow to my eyes.
I sidestepped, letting his body pass me by. Then with one swift motion, my sharp claws slashed his neck.
KRSSH—!
Blood sprayed. His body fell with a heavy thud, rolling a few times before stopping.
The female, seeing her mate dead, howled in panic and grief, then attacked desperately.
"GRAAAOOOWW!"
I didn't let her get close. I immediately slashed her and she fell beside her partner.
The two wolf pups behind trembled in fear. Their eyes widened, staring at the bodies of their parents that no longer moved. Their small bodies shook, and their fur stood on end.
They didn't run. Perhaps too scared to move. Or maybe... they didn't want to leave their parents.
"Grr.. grr..."
They tried to growl, a small, trembling sound, trying to sound threatening but only coming out as a cute whimper.
Then I ended it quickly. There was no point in making them suffer.
SHREKK—!
KRSSHH—!
The fight was over in seconds. Four bodies now lay on the cave floor, wolf blood flowing and seeping into the ground.
I stood there, staring at them with an empty gaze.
They weren't very strong. Even weaker than the wolves I'd fought before. But they tried to protect their family until the end.
I bowed my head slightly, a small sign of respect for their courage.
"Sorry," I repeated softly. "But in the wild, the strong prey on the weak. And I have to be the strong one."
I did not eat their flesh. For some reason, I felt no need. They were too weak to provide meaningful power, and my body already had anything a wolf could give. And... perhaps there was a little respect there. For a family that fought together until the end.
I carefully dragged their bodies out of the cave, placing them near some bushes.
After the cave was empty, I went back inside and looked around.
The place was quite clean. The ground was flat, though a bit rough. The ceiling was high enough for me to stand comfortably. And most importantly, the cave was deep enough that I could sleep in the back, far from the entrance.
Of course there were bloodstains on the floor. Dark puddles were still wet in some spots, mixed with dirt and shed wolf fur. But that didn't matter to me.
I was too accustomed to blood. The sharp, metallic smell was even a familiar scent by now.
And this was far better than sleeping in the open with the risk of being attacked by other predators.
But there was still one problem.
The cave mouth was too open. animals, or anything, could enter easily while I slept.
I needed something to block part of the cave entrance.
I went out again, my eyes sweeping the surrounding area. And I found it, a large boulder, maybe two meters high and wide enough.
In the past, moving a rock this size would have been impossible for me. But now...
I walked over, then wrapped my arms around the boulder. With a strong pull, I lifted it from the ground.
Heavy. But not too heavy for me now.
I carried it back to the cave with steady steps, though I had to stop a few times to adjust my grip, and this rock blocked my entire view because it was too big, so I was forced to tilt my body slightly and glance sideways every few steps, just to make sure the direction ahead was still correct.
When I reached the cave entrance, I lowered the boulder slowly, positioning it to block most of the gap. It didn't close completely, I still needed air circulation, but it was narrow enough that large animals couldn't enter easily.
When I was done, I took a step back and observed the result.
Perfect.
The cave entrance now only had a small gap at the top, enough for air to get in but too narrow for large predators.
I could sleep peacefully now.
I went back into the cave, walking to the very back. There, the ground was slightly better because there was a large, smooth stone covered with a thin layer of dry moss for me to sleep on.
I sat, then slowly lay down, my back against the cool stone wall.
This position gave me a clear view of the entire cave. If something tried to enter, I would see it immediately.
I took the water bottle from my waist and drank a little. Cold water flowed down my throat.
After closing the bottle, I placed it beside me, within arm's reach.
Then I lay down fully, staring at the dark cave ceiling.
Silence enveloped me. No sound of wind, and no birdsong. Just... tranquility.
For the first time since arriving in this forest, I felt truly safe.
Not just because this cave was sheltered. But because I was the one protecting it. I was the one who drove out its inhabitants, and I was the one who sealed its mouth with a large boulder.
This was my shelter. My own creation.
My eyes slowly grew heavy. My body relaxed. In my chest, the mana that had recovered a little during the journey to find the cave now pulsed more steadily, calmly continuing its recovery process.
I didn't feel guilty about the wolf family.
Perhaps in the past, I would have cried, and would have felt sinful.
But not anymore.
In this cruel place, pity was a luxury I couldn't afford.
I had to live, and had to become stronger.
And for that... sometimes I had to take what wasn't mine. Sometimes I had to fight the innocent.
Because in the wild, there is no justice.
There is only strength…
My breathing slowed, and my consciousness began to drift away.
For the first time since coming to this world, I slept peacefully.
A real sleep.
In a shelter I made myself.
With strength I gained myself.
Without anyone's help.
...
I stood in front of the large window of my room, watching the brightening morning sky. Sunlight shone on the magnificent palace grounds, reflecting the golden gleam from the tower domes. A beautiful view. Too beautiful for this world full of lies.
It had been one month since we were all summoned to this world, and one month since... Vira disappeared.
"Haaah…"
That long sigh came out unconsciously. I don't know since when, but lately I had indeed been doing it unconsciously.
"Sir Anton, your breakfast is ready."
That soft voice came from behind. Amelia, my maid whom I'd known for this past month. She stood at the doorway with a tray of food, her smile friendly as usual.
"Thank you, Amelia," I answered, turning around. "Just put it on the table."
She nodded and walked in with light steps. The black-and-white maid's dress of the palace moved with her graceful motion. Her neat chestnut hair was tied back, revealing her gentle face.
For the past month, Amelia was the only person in the palace who truly treated me... like a human. Not as a "hero," not as a tool to fight the dragon, but just as Anton. A teacher lost in a foreign world.
"You look tired, Sir Anton," she said as she poured warm tea into a cup. "Did you not sleep well last night?"
I smiled faintly. She was always attentive like this.
"Just... a lot on my mind."
Amelia didn't press further. She knew I was often like this. Since Vira disappeared, or more precisely, since King Thorian announced that Vira had fled the palace, I can hardly sleep well.
Fled…
That word sounded like the biggest lie I had ever heard.
The Vira I knew, the quiet girl who always looked down, who never fought back even when treated poorly, couldn't possibly have just run away. She didn't even have the courage to look people in the eye when speaking. How could she suddenly have the courage to flee from this heavily guarded palace?
But that was the official announcement. And no one dared to question it.
Except me.
"Amelia," I called softly. "Have you... really never heard anything about Vira? The girl who supposedly ran away?"
Amelia paused for a moment, her hands arranging the plates trembling slightly. She glanced at me with a cautious expression.
"Sir Anton... I've said it before. I'm just an ordinary maid. I don't know anything about palace affairs that are... sensitive like that."
The same answer as before. But I could see something in her eyes. Fear. Or perhaps... guilt?
"I'm sorry," I said quickly. "I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."
Amelia shook her head slowly. "It's alright, Sir Anton. I understand your concern. But... please be careful. There are things in this palace that are better not questioned too deeply."
A soft warning. But clear enough.
I nodded, though inside my heart was still churning with unanswered questions.
After Amelia left, I sat at the table and stared at the breakfast before me. Fresh bread with butter, boiled eggs, and exotic fruits I'd never seen in the old world, along with a cup of still-steaming tea.
Delicious food. A luxurious room, and polite servants.
But all of this felt like a gilded cage.
I took a piece of bread and bit into it without appetite. My thoughts returned to that day. The last day I saw Vira.
I promised her. Promised to bring her food that night.
But I didn't come.
Eldrin caught me in the kitchen, and I... I gave up. I was too scared to fight back.
And the next day, Vira was gone.
"Forgive me, Vira..." I whispered softly, my voice almost swallowed by the silence of the room. "I'm a terrible teacher. I should have protected you."
But regret wouldn't change anything.
All I could do now was find out the truth. And if Vira really did run away... I had to search for her, bring her back, and make sure she was safe.
Even though I knew, deep down, that the story of her fleeing was a lie.
A knock on the door interrupted my thoughts.
"Hero Anton… It's Gregory. It's time for the gathering."