He knew being discovered was just a matter of time.
Attacking first was far more practical than cowering in fear.
Kase drew a javelin, setting it by his feet. He then leaped onto a rock and began swinging his catapult.
The Winter Wolf instantly spotted the enemy who had suddenly appeared.
The massive beast vanished from Colin's sight in an instant.
"Don't be so nervous. A single Winter Wolf Hide is worth more than ten Gold Coins." As he spoke, Kase launched a stone with a WHOOSH. The THWACK of it hitting its prey was audible even from Colin's position.
Colin began to chant a spell, trying to light the last torch.
Just as the flame ignited in his hand, the scene before his eyes blurred. He could vaguely see a puff of blue, frosty mist behind him.
As he hit the ground, Colin instantly understood what had just happened.
'The Winter Wolf charged and unleashed its breath attack. Kase threw me out of the way.'
The flame that had just bloomed between his fingers became scattered sparks, all his effort wasted.
Colin drew the Orc Short Sword and placed it at his feet.
He scanned the surroundings. Seeing no other wild wolves, he started trying to light the torch again.
Kase's battle cry and the Winter Wolf's low growl came from not far away.
While Colin was casting his spell, he stared intently at the torch before him.
'Based on my experience, fire is the key to dealing with that super-monster. These two torches are absolutely essential.'
The final syllable of the spell was uttered.
A Flaming Arrow struck the torch on the ground. Aided by tar, the flame exploded to life, instantly igniting the torch.
"Kid, watch out!"
A white shadow attacked from the side.
As he was pounced on and knocked to the ground, Colin struggled to thrust the torch at the white shadow.
The beast's low whine reached his ears, and the stench from its mouth filled his nostrils. The firelight illuminated the ferocious, snow-white wolf's head.
The Winter Wolf didn't dare to move closer.
It just snapped its jaws in the air a few times, making the flame flicker wildly.
Colin kicked its front leg, pushing it away.
'Are there any other wild wolves around?' The thought flashed through his mind. He quickly pulled the Purple Mushroom from his mouth and waved it over the fire, not even caring if he burned his hand.
However, a blue light glinted inside the wolf's fang-filled maw; it looked ready to strike.
In the blink of an eye,
Colin tossed the now-smoking Purple Mushroom into the Winter Wolf's mouth and immediately shoved the torch in after it. With a sharp SIZZLE, wisps of black smoke drifted out of the wolf's jaws.
Immediately after, a huge force struck him from behind.
'A wild wolf?'
He looked back, and the sight of the Half-Orc's ferocious, ugly face was a great relief to Colin.
He used the momentum to get to his feet, snatching the short sword from the ground as he asked, "No others?"
"Just this one." Kase charged forward, thrusting with his spear.
The Winter Wolf leaped back sharply, dodging the spear tip.
It whimpered twice and spat out the torch that had been shoved down its throat.
Then it coughed twice more, spitting up two pools of blood. It looked to be in considerable pain.
Colin watched this extraordinary opponent.
The Winter Wolf continued to stare fixedly at the two of them, its azure eyes completely devoid of fear.
It still bore bloodstains from the battle two days prior. It had just taken a solid hit from the catapult, then swallowed a lit torch and a Purple Mushroom, yet it was still full of vigor.
"This thing is really tough..." Colin muttered through gritted teeth.
'I knew the stats, but with a magical creature like this right in front of me, my past life's concept of a "living being" started to blur.'
'Is this huge wolf really a living creature, and not some kind of killing machine?'
The Winter Wolf moved again.
Its snow-white body instantly blurred into an indistinct white shadow.
Colin only felt a gust of blood-scented wind rush at him. Without thinking, he swung his sword in a backhand slash.
The same feeling as last time transmitted to his palm.
The blade struck the tough hide and slid off to the side, cutting only a few white hairs.
"Ugh..." Colin let out an involuntary grunt.
The Winter Wolf had slammed into his chest, forcing all the air from his lungs.
He watched helplessly as he flew further and further from the ground, landing on a nearby rock. The sword flew from his hand and fell into a crevice.
'This feels like being hit by a car!'
Kase, holding the short spear, rushed to meet it. His next few thrusts went wide due to his shaking hands, and he soon found himself at a disadvantage.
The Winter Wolf bit down on the spear shaft, trying to disarm its opponent.
The shaft of the second-hand javelin creaked under the immense force of the two, then snapped in two with a CRACK. Kase stumbled and fell, and the Winter Wolf seized the opportunity to pounce on him.
The Half-Orc refused to be outdone, his calloused, mallet-like fists flying like rain. Unfortunately, the curse on him immediately put him at a disadvantage.
Flesh and blood flew amidst tearing claws and biting fangs.
Colin, who had retrieved his short sword, felt his heart clench as he watched the scene.
A two-meter-tall Half-Orc, a Winter Wolf the size of a pony.
'Is this a battlefield I can even step onto? I feel like I'd be crushed if I just got grazed.'
Colin turned to look at the scattered packs on the ground, rushed over, and pulled out the Refined Javelin he had bought in the village. He hung his short sword at his waist, gripped the javelin with both hands, and charged.
"Kase, catch!"
Reaching the edge of the fray, Colin shouted as he thrust the javelin.
The sharp point glanced off the fur and stabbed into the ground with a CLANG.
Kase viciously elbowed the Winter Wolf in the face with his left arm, jamming his elbow into its maw. With his other hand, he grabbed the broken spear shaft, gripping it with both hands and using it to desperately push against the Winter Wolf's belly.
Kase's life was on the line; Colin certainly wasn't going to hold anything back.
He stared intently at the Winter Wolf and focused his concentration.
At that moment, Colin felt his vision expand, wider and wider, as if he could see the scenery behind him.
In that instant, time seemed to freeze.
The intense pain wracking his body vanished without a trace.
He could feel nothing, perceive nothing, except for his slowly tensing muscles and the enemy before him.
The panel written on the parchment flashed before his eyes.
But Colin instantly memorized the contents of the panel.
-----------------
Casting (Apprentice) 501/1250
[Through countless training sessions, you have successfully cast magic multiple times while facing enemies in combat.]
[Specialty Acquired: Combat Mage]
[Combat Mage: 1. Casting failure rate -10%. 2. Your next Close Combat Magic spell will deal maximum damage. (Once per day)]
-----------------
Colin paid no mind to what the characters on the panel meant.
He could hear nothing but the sound of his own chanting spell.
As a fiery light burst forth from the Orc Short Sword, Colin knew everything was ready.
At this moment, there was no other choice but to give it his all!
Hearing himself draw a sharp breath, Colin raised the short sword high and swung down with all his might.
This time, the crude Orc Short Sword did not disappoint its master.
The fiery light exploded on the Winter Wolf's neck. The blade, which could hardly be called sharp, tore through the winter wolf hide, carving a deep, blackened gash in its neck.
Empowered Emerald Flame Sword!
The pained Winter Wolf let out a mournful howl and leaped aside.
This time, it didn't choose to counterattack. Instead, it turned and bolted into the distance without looking back.
After that one sword strike, pain flooded back into his body like a tide. Despite the situation, Colin also felt a wave of drowsiness.
'If I fall asleep now, will I ever wake up?'
The thought sent a chill up his spine that shocked him awake again.
Lying on the ground, Kase gasped, "We took that beating for nothing!"
"What's worse is, if it recovers, it might come back to bother us again," Colin said, watching the Winter Wolf's retreating back in despair.
In the end, they had no control over this battle. The four-legged beast could fight when it wanted and leave when it wanted. They were completely powerless against it.
More than ten Gold Coins...
A year and a half of rent, three years' worth of day-old oatmeal porridge, a brand-new Hand Half Sword... all of it had just run off into the wilderness.
'Of course, the losses don't stop there.'
Colin heaved a long sigh.
He looked at his wounded body and the dropped torch on the ground. These were real, tangible losses. He probably wouldn't be able to go out and work for the next few days.
'And I'll still have to eat while I'm recovering, and I might need to buy medicine. That all costs money!'
Colin couldn't help but think about how people always talked about being "strong as an ox." He wished his body were as sturdy as an ox or a horse.
'Humans really are greedy creatures.'
'If I hadn't seen this Winter Wolf in the first place, I probably wouldn't have started fantasizing.'
'Once you start fantasizing, you naturally start to think of it as your own.'
'And then when it escapes, you can't help but start blaming heaven and earth.'
Just then, Colin suddenly saw the Winter Wolf's body give a violent shudder.
Immediately after, the beast's running speed slowed considerably. It was almost as if it were just dragging itself forward.
"What the..."
Kase stared blankly for a moment before shouting with glee, "The trap! The beast stepped in our trap!"