Chapter 70

“Whoa! Huh! Huff huff!”

A young boy is dashing away in sheer panic!

“Huff! Gah! Whoa!”

The boy’s harsh breathing shows just how urgent the situation is. Behind him, dozens of wild boars are chasing him.

After sneaking out from a sleeping woman and wandering aimlessly through the night, the barbarian boy realized too late that he had lost his way.

How many creatures can enter Tom Wild Boar’s territory and live to tell the tale? This barbarian boy was challenging those impossible odds.

“Kweeeeeeeek!”

Tom Wild Boars have lion bodies with wild boar heads – ferocious beasts. Even a single one is powerful, but when they hunt in packs, not even the Demon Forest’s strongest warriors can match them.

Of course, there’s no escaping on foot for a mere human boy. The barbarian boy ran with all his might, but the distance between him and the pack kept closing.

“Gyah! Huff! Gwaaah!”

Whose fault is this? His own, for letting down his guard when he should have been on high alert at all times.

The Tom Wild Boars were practically on top of him. There wasn’t even time to climb a tree.

There was no time to think about where to run. The boy just kept going, putting one foot in front of the other.

“Kweeeeeeeek!”

“Aaaaaagh!”

For how long did he keep running?

Suddenly, the boy felt like he’d stepped into thin air. It was as if he were floating.

The oppressive heat from behind lessened. When he turned his head, he saw the Tom Wild Boars staring blankly at him.

Whoosh-

“Uuuuuuuaaaaah!!”

The next moment…

Without realizing it, the boy had run straight off a cliff.

* * *

“Khhh… Ugh…”

The barbarian slowly opens his eyes.

Through blurry vision, he sees a woman sitting there.

Vroooom-

The woman is gently holding his wrist, blowing some mysterious white mist into him. Each time the mist enters, the boy feels an odd sensation like his body is mending.

“Phew…”

“Khhhh…”

“…Oh? You’re awake! Don’t try to get up! You need more rest!”

As soon as the boy saw the woman’s face, he instinctively thrashed about. But his whole body seized up from the excruciating pain that followed.

The tearing of flesh, the snapping of bones – the boy gasped for air. He’d felt this kind of pain before, but this time was different because someone was right beside him.

It’s obviously more dangerous than before. The boy is completely vulnerable, yet this “someone” is right there beside him.

Still, why?

“Why did I smell blood and find you down by the cliff… What happened to you? Ah, you can’t speak, so you can’t understand my question, can you.”

The woman didn’t attack him.

She just kept silently injecting that white mist while holding onto his wrist.

With no strength to move, all the boy could do was watch her, occasionally convulsing involuntarily.

“Khh…”

With a faint groan, the boy painfully opened his eyes again.

This time, he could make out the delicate features of the woman’s face through his blurred vision.

The sweat beading on her pale white cheeks, her sickly complexion, her trembling lips.

He hadn’t noticed before, but examining her closely now, she didn’t seem to be in great health herself. Though he couldn’t be sure, the boy thought it might be because of whatever she was doing to him.

Why?

Why isn’t the woman attacking him?

Why is she smiling at him?

If that smile was a demon’s temptation, he should have been devoured already in his defenseless state.

If the woman had ill intentions, he should have died when she found him by the cliff, or when she first subdued him.

Her keeping him alive doesn’t benefit her in any way.

The boy couldn’t understand the woman.

“Khh…”

But there was one thing he could be faintly certain of.

“You’re looking better. That’s good.”

The woman isn’t trying to harm him.

Even though she’s had two chances already, she hasn’t attacked him.

“Here, try eating this. With your condition, you probably can’t move your jaw, so I made some soup. It’s hot, so take it slow, hohoho~ blow on it before drinking.”

The woman feeding him warm liquid with a rounded stick.

“She doesn’t attack me.”

Though it sounds crazy, maybe I can trust her enough to lean on her.

“Hmmph…”

“That’s right, good job swallowing. Hmm, yesterday evening you ate way too much. Since there’s plenty of food, from now on try chewing slowly, okay?”

“Hmph… Hmm… Ugh…”

It’s warm.

It’s comforting.

Unlike the old humans who threw him into the beast’s den, leaving him with only distant memories.

Being by this woman’s side feels safe. He won’t shiver from cold, and he won’t starve.

It’s like the perfect nest.

“Khh…”

“Looks like you don’t really have anywhere else to go. How about staying with me for a while? At least until you recover?”

“Hmph… Hmm… Glug.”

“Haha, right. Talking to a kid who can’t speak is pointless. Enjoy your meal.”

For the first time since starting life in the wild, the barbarian boy felt infinite love that his stomach couldn’t contain.

* * *

Days passed since the boy started living in the tent the woman provided.

During that time, the woman would go gather food or nurse the boy by her side.

The boy would quietly observe her from the sidelines.

His body had recovered quite well by now. Even with his impressive regenerative abilities, recovering this quickly would be difficult without the mysterious white energy the woman kept injecting while nursing him.

The boy didn’t know the origin or side effects of that energy. But there was one thing he was certain of:

Whenever that energy entered, his wounds healed. Torn flesh closed up, and broken bones reformed stronger than before.

“Kraa?”

“Hmm? What is it?”

“Kyaak.”

“Oh, you want mammary milk?”

“Kyaak.”

“Alright, just wait a moment.”

The woman was like a tree that gave endlessly to the boy. As time went on, the boy gradually lowered his guard around her.

Being with her felt peaceful, being apart from her felt uneasy. Where being alone used to be most reassuring, the boy was now becoming attached to the woman.

“Can you walk now? Want to try standing up?”

“Uurgh.”

When the boy’s body had recovered enough to practice sitting and standing, the woman supported him without showing any signs of effort.

Each time, the boy would deliberately lean heavily on her. The warmth that passed between their touching skin was like a drug to the boy.

Slowly but surely, the boy became addicted to the woman without realizing it.

“Are you hungry too, little sparrow?”

“Here, eat these grains and regain your strength.”

“My dear, look at that sparrow. We gave it just a few grains, and see how happily it sings? Giving to small lives is such a joyful thing.”

The woman had incredible charisma. Even the beasts of the Demon Forest that used to bare their teeth at the sight of the boy would cower like lambs after experiencing the “blessings” the woman gave.

Even the fierce Tom Wild Boars and the cave-dwelling Night Crawlers that took the boy’s home wouldn’t show hostility toward the woman. While it wasn’t always the case, the animals naturally stopped being aggressive since the woman never attacked them.

She seemed like a being blessed solely by the gods. Birds sang for her every morning, and beasts wouldn’t dare attack her. It wasn’t just because of her “great power.”

Of course, not all beasts and plants behaved this way.

“Are you cold? You’re too underdressed. If you don’t mind, I could give you some of my clothes.”

“Uurgh.”

“Hehe, warmth is nice, isn’t it? By the way, how long must I keep calling you “you”? It’s frustrating not knowing your name.”

“Kraaa?”

“Right! I should teach you language! It won’t be easy, but we have plenty of time!”

Even after fully recovering weeks later, the boy stayed by the woman’s side. The woman didn’t distance herself from him either.

It was impossible to separate from the woman now that she had become so deeply intertwined with the boy’s life. Now, the boy valued the spiritual fulfillment of being with the woman more than physical fullness or warmth.

“Now, repeat after me.”

“Eh?”

The woman held a palm-sized rock.

“Stone.”

“Stone?”

Next, she caressed a standing tree with her palm.

“Wood.”

“Wood?”

“Good job. Come on, let’s keep going.”

The woman pointed her finger at the sky. The boy innocently blinked and followed her gaze.

“Sky.”

“Sky?”

“Great job! Hmm… What else… Oh!”

No matter what the boy imitated, the woman showered him with praise. Though he didn’t understand what she was doing, the boy felt inexplicably happy.

The woman’s finger twirled in the air thoughtfully before stopping when it pointed at herself.

“Irowel.”

“Irowel?”

“Yes, Irowel. My name is Irowel.”

“Irowel? Irowel! Irowel!”

“And… you…”

The woman pondered again. Her wandering finger hesitated in the air.

Then, as if making a decision, her hand stopped.

“John.”

“John?”

“Yes, John. My most beloved child. John. That will be your name from now on.”

“John! John!”

Of course, the boy couldn’t understand Irowel’s words.

Why “stone” for rock, “wood” for tree, “sky” for heavens.

Or that her name was “Irowel” and his was “John.”

The boy understood nothing.

However…

“John! John!”

“Say it often. The more you say it, the more familiar it will become.”

“Irowel! John! Irowel!”

John was happy, joyful, and delighted just being with Irowel.

Occasionally, when Irowel clasped her hands and closed her eyes praying “May John reach heaven…”

John could confidently say “This place with Irowel is already heaven.” He was that happy.

* * *

“KRAAAAAAAH!”

“John? John! What’s wrong?”

“KYAAH! That old wolf! He took it! He took Irowel’s food!”

By now, John had built a hut with Irowel and was baring his fangs ferociously.

Hearing his sharp cry, Irowel quickly rushed to the source. It was the food storage.

When Irowel reached the storage, she was surprised to see John’s completely enraged expression.

“Skaface! That mangy wolf! Taking Irowel’s food again!”

“Hold on! John, calm down! Getting angry won’t help! Skaface must have had a reason!”

“Irowel! How long must we endure this? This is the umpteenth time! All because you keep letting it slide! That wolf knows no bounds!”

Skaface is an old wolf nearby who frequently steals food that Irowel and John hunted.

Normally, John would suppress his anger when Skaface stole food and Irowel just laughed it off. But this time, he couldn’t contain himself.

Having never practiced giving, John couldn’t comprehend why Irowel didn’t get angry at theft, even after spending months by her side.

“I can’t take it anymore! This time I’ll teach him a lesson!”

“John! Stop! No!”

“KRAAAAHH! You mangy wolf! How dare you steal Irowel’s precious food!”

In his rage, John kicked off the ground. Months of plentiful living with Irowel had filled his legs with bulging muscles.

Not to mention, he’s still growing. Having grown nearly two feet taller, John was now almost eye-level with Irowel. For a boy, he was quite a giant. Kicking off the ground, he dashed forward like the wind, disappearing instantly.

“John! John! Kyaaah…!”

Just as Irowel was about to follow John, she suddenly clutched her chest. The suppressed discomfort was suppressing her breathing.

“Huff, huff…!”

But she couldn’t hesitate. The enraged John might crush Skaface’s skull. Considering John’s grown strength, it was entirely possible.

Suppressing the pain, Irowel firmly planted her feet. Though she didn’t kick off as strongly as John, she flew faster than him, light as a feather.

After traversing space for several dozen seconds, Irowel finally caught up to John.

Caught up quicker than expected, just as John was about to ask why Irowel stopped him.

She realized what John was staring at motionlessly. That’s why she was able to catch up to him sooner than expected.

“John, what are you looking at…”

Breathing heavily, Irowel turned her head to follow John’s gaze.

What met her eyes was…

“Huff, huff, huff-.”

“Munch, munch-.”

The old wolf Skaface greedily eating the stolen meat with his pups.

And Skaface tenderly licking his young-looking wolf pups.

“…”

John was speechless. Before seeing this scene, he had intended to kill Skaface again for stealing food, but watching Skaface with his pups extinguished all murderous intent.

Beside John, Irowel softly whispered.

“Skaface was too old to care for his children. That’s why he targeted my relatively easy-to-access food storage.”

“Irowel…”

“John, go fetch some food.”

“Eh?”

“This time, deliver the food with your own hands. If Skaface still steals after this, then it won’t be too late to scold him.”

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