The tree Matsurize was clinging to swayed violently from side to side. As a former office worker nearing his thirties, who had never accomplished much, Matsurize had never experienced anything like this. He was terrified that the tree might break under the force of the wolves below.
At this point, Matsurize still didn't know that the creatures shaking the tree weren't ordinary wolves—they were Blade Wolves. These Blade Wolves were not only pressuring Matsurize but also relieving their own pain. The horns on their heads were growing constantly, especially fast during the night, causing them intense discomfort.
Matsurize's worry was a bit overblown, though. The tree had been subjected to such impacts for some time now and wasn't about to break just from one night of Blade Wolf attacks.
Leaves fell from the shaking branches, and Matsurize, already covered in mud, was now further buried under a layer of fallen leaves. The mud had smeared all over him when he had entered the dense forest, and now, with the fallen leaves stuck to him, he looked like a green, leafy mass, perfectly camouflaged among the trees.
Unfortunately, Matsurize had already exposed himself earlier—his snoring, combined with his panicked shaking of the tree, had caught the attention of the Blade Wolves.
If not for his earlier noise, his muddy body would have hidden his scent effectively. But now, covered in leaves and lying motionless on the tree, the pack of Blade Wolves below grew confused. Matsurize's scent was weakening, and the thick layer of leaves obscured his form. To the wolves' sharp noses and eyes, it seemed like Matsurize had disappeared entirely.
However, Blade Wolves, like regular wolves, are extremely patient. They continued ramming the tree to relieve their pain, lingering under Matsurize's perch.
Matsurize, meanwhile, was paralyzed with fear, not daring to move a muscle. Ironically, his fear-induced stillness increased his chances of survival.
And so, the night dragged on. The Blade Wolves howled under the tree for hours, while Matsurize spent the entire night in terror, unable to find any peace.
When dawn finally arrived, Matsurize was able to see the scene below. He carefully glanced around, still clinging tightly to the tree. His awkward, peeking posture looked rather comical—his hands gripping the trunk while only his head moved.
Breathing a sigh of relief, he realized that the Blade Wolves had left.
But Matsurize was both exhausted and starving, and he feared the wolves might return. His fear of heights had miraculously disappeared after the terrifying ordeal.
He clumsily climbed down the tree, but halfway down, he lost his grip and fell. Luckily, the fall wasn't too severe, but his exhaustion and hunger left him lying on the ground for a while before he managed to get up.
Matsurize didn't bother cleaning off the mud and leaves covering him. He suspected that this messy appearance might have helped him escape the wolves' attention, so he left it as it was.
Looking at the paw prints on the ground, he estimated that there had been about seven or eight Blade Wolves in the pack.
Matsurize didn't dare stay there any longer. He knew the area was far too dangerous. Looking around helplessly, unsure of which direction to head, he decided that the best plan was to move in the opposite direction from where the Blade Wolves had gone.
He started walking but soon stopped. His shoes, worn out and full of mud, were causing him pain. Matsurize took off the battered shoes, which were now filled with sludge, and realized they were completely unwearable after the long night.
Looking down at his feet, already blistered, he knew walking barefoot wasn't an option. Lacking the skills to weave grass shoes, Matsurize came up with a different solution.
He took off his pants, feeling the fabric, and made up his mind. He tore off both pant legs, turning his pants into shorts. Then, he pulled the torn pant legs over his feet, wrapping them up.
After walking a few steps, Matsurize decided that this improvised footwear would suffice for now, and with a bit more confidence, he set off again.
The journey was peaceful for a while. Along the way, he found more wild fruit, which, though sour and astringent, was all he had to stave off his hunger.
But this peace didn't last long. Matsurize hadn't been walking for more than half an hour when he encountered another dangerous situation.
He froze in place, hiding behind a large tree and cautiously peeking around it. In the distance, through a patch of bushes, he saw a large shadow moving. The creature was at least twice his size—dark, hulking, and not alone.
Matsurize silently counted. One large one, two large ones…
The animals were too far away for him to get a clear view, and the bushes blocked part of their bodies, but from their size and the noises they made, Matsurize had a guess.
Yes, the sound—snuffling and snorting as they rooted around the bushes. Matsurize hadn't seen wild boars before, but he knew the sound of pigs well enough from his past life.
Sure enough, one of the large boars emerged from the bushes, fully visible now. Matsurize watched its sharp tusks and powerful muscles, and to his surprise, his first reaction was to salivate.
He was so hungry that even in the face of danger, all he could think about was food.
But he knew he didn't have the courage or the ability to take on these massive creatures. The forest was eerily quiet, with only the sound of the wind rustling through the leaves and the snorts of the wild boars breaking the silence.
Then suddenly, a loud noise shattered the calm.
"Grumble… grumble…"
The sound was unmistakably loud, especially in the quiet forest.
The wild boars were immediately alerted, their attention drawn to the source of the sound. Matsurize, embarrassed and horrified, patted his stomach. Of all times, why did it have to growl now?
The two large boars, followed by three smaller piglets, began closing in on him. Matsurize knew they had mistaken him for a threat to their young and were now charging at him.