I didn't look back.
The two dry bodies would remain there until time washed them away. The forest didn't care. The world didn't care. And I didn't intend to either.
I walked along the narrow path between the trees. The ground began to harden, less wet. That was a sign I was approaching a territory frequented by living creatures—humans or monsters.
The system in my head remained silent. No further warnings. No judgments. Just a silent presence.
I took a deep breath.
My stomach felt better than yesterday. Not full, but enough. The energy I'd drawn from the two humans felt different. Heavier. Hotter. Like a flow that hadn't yet fully integrated with my body.
"There's a price," I thought.
Every time Gluttony worked, my body felt forced to adjust. I could feel it in my joints, in my breath, in the pulse of my head.
I kept walking.
A few moments later, the sound of water was heard. I followed the sound and found a small stream with clear water flowing gently among the rocks.
I knelt by the stream and drank straight from it. The cold water touched my throat, making my head clearer. I washed my face and body, especially my arm, which had been injured by the monster. The sting made me groan in pain, but the wound seemed cleaner after washing.
I sat on the riverbank.
Across the street, the bushes moved.
I became alert.
From behind the leaves, a small, familiar figure emerged.
It was the little white wolf I'd helped yesterday.
Its leg was still wrapped in the tattered cloth I'd given it. It still limped, but it was still alive.
It stopped a few steps away. Its pale blue eyes stared at me warily. Its body trembled, whether from weakness or fear.
I didn't move.
I just sat there and stared back.
A few seconds passed. The wind blew softly. The river continued to flow slowly among the rocks.
The wolf approached step by step, then stopped again. It crouched, sniffed the ground, and then lifted its head.
I remained still.
If I moved quickly, it would flee.
If I devoured it… I would be stronger.
The thought just came to me.
I sighed.
I took out the remaining rags from my shirt and laid them on the ground, then gently pushed them toward him.
The animal stared at the rags, then at me again.
I didn't speak.
Finally, it approached, took the rags in its teeth, and then took a few steps back.
It didn't leave.
It sat there, staring at me.
"Why?" I thought.
I hadn't given it food. I hadn't given it shelter. I hadn't even invited it.
But it stayed there.
Maybe because it had nowhere else to go.
Or maybe because… it knew I hadn't attacked it yesterday.
I stood up slowly.
The animal grew wary, but didn't run.
I walked away from the river, along the same path.
A few steps later, I stopped and turned.
The wolf stood, hesitating.
Then it followed me.
I said nothing.
If it wanted to leave, it could leave anytime.
If it died… it wasn't my responsibility.
I continued on my way.
As evening approached, the smell of smoke filled the air.Humans.
I stopped behind the trees and looked around.
Up ahead, there was a small camp. Three simple tents. A campfire was still burning. Several people sat around it—two grown men and a boy.
The boy looked thin, maybe ten or eleven years old. His clothes were shabby. He hugged his knees, staring blankly at the fire.
I remembered something.
This body… had been like that.
I watched a little longer.
The two men were talking quietly, chuckling. From their movements, I could tell. They weren't good people.
The boy wasn't one of them. He was like… property.
I could sneak away. Avoid conflict. Get on with life.
That was the safest option.
But then the boy stood up and moved closer to the fire, perhaps to warm himself. One of the men kicked him, knocking him down.
I clenched my fists.
I didn't know why.
This wasn't my business.
I wasn't a hero. I didn't save people.
I just wanted to live.
But my feet were already moving.
I emerged from behind the trees.
The small animal behind me stopped and hid in the bushes.
One of the men turned around. "Hey? Who are you?"
I didn't answer.
I kept walking closer.
"Little boy?" another man laughed as he spoke. "Alone?"
I stopped a few steps from the campfire.
The boy stared at me. His eyes widened. There was a small hope there. A foolish hope.
I ignored him.
The first man stood and raised his weapon. "Leave if you don't want to die."
I immediately moved.
Gluttony.
I touched the man's chest.
He screamed briefly before his body dried up and fell to the ground.
The second man was shocked. He grabbed the boy and pulled him forward, using him as a shield.
"Stop! Or—"
Before I finished speaking, I stepped forward.
and I didn't hesitate to touch the man.
Gluttony.
His body dried up. The boy fell to the ground, coughing, crying in fear.
The campfire crackled.
I stood between two desiccated corpses.
The system panel appeared.
Gluttony: Used on Multiple Targets
Energy Increase: Medium
Body Condition: Suppressed
Darkness Trace: Increased
I looked at the child.
He stared back at me, his eyes wide with tears, and his body trembled.
"Thank you," he said softly.
I didn't answer.
I turned away.
I didn't wait for gratitude.
I wasn't taking anyone with me.
I walked away from the camp.
A few steps later, I heard small footsteps behind me.
The child was following me.
"Don't follow me," I said in a low voice.
The child stopped.
I continued walking without looking back.
I knew that if I let him follow me, he would die.
I wasn't a protector.
I was a danger.
That night, I rested under a large tree. The small animal reappeared and curled up not far from me. It slept with soft breaths.
I stared up at the leaf-covered night sky.
The panel remained silent.
I closed my eyes.
In the middle of the night, the sound of footsteps approached.
I opened my eyes slowly and looked around.
Several figures emerged from the darkness. Three men. Armed. Their faces were tense.
"Over there," one whispered.
They saw the bodies at the camp. They were following the trail.
"The little boy said there was a monster in human form," said another.
A monster in human form.
I stood up.
The small animal woke and growled softly.
One of the men saw it. "Is that his pet?"
I stepped forward.
"Stop," one of the men said. "Surrender yourself. We—"
I didn't wait for him to finish.
Gluttony.
The first man died.
The second man attacked. His sword cut into my shoulder. The pain shot through, sharp.
I gritted my teeth and touched his arm.
Gluttony.
He died.
The third man recoiled in fear and ran.
I didn't chase him.
My body swayed.
I knelt down. My shoulder was bleeding.
The small animal approached, licking my wound slowly, as if confused.
I chuckled, silently.
"Stupid," I thought.
I bandaged my wound as best I could.
Morning came with a pale light.
The little animal was still there. It sat beside me.
The system panel appeared.
Additional Status:
• Weak Bond Formed (Tamer: Inactive)
I stared at the writing for a long time.
Bond.
I closed the system panel.
I stood up and started walking again.
The little animal followed me, limping but stubborn.
I didn't chase it away.
If it died, it would be inevitable.
I kept walking.
In the distance, I heard whispers on the wind carrying words.
"Demon…"
"Monster…"
"Evil cultivator…"
I didn't care.
Names began to be whispered.
And I knew, this world would slowly come to know me.
Not as a hero.
But as something to be avoided.