"Hehe…" She sighed, exhausted. "I should've focused on finishing this potion first… before going on an adventure."
Si Hon stayed crouched beside her, his hand still aching faintly from how tightly she had grabbed it.
…That definitely hurt.
He glanced at the half-empty bottle, then at the wound that was already closing.
So it works… just badly.
Incomplete potion. Burning pain. Strong effect. Yea, she should've finished that first…
His eyes drifted to the broken tent, then to the dogs— especially the massive one without fur. They were definitely an Ursa canis, and they felt… old. Like they had survived things that should've killed them.
And Sixxy chose me? Like what does that mean?
He frowned slightly.
Why me?
He wasn't strong. He wasn't brave. He didn't even plan half the things he did— he just reacted and somehow survived.
His gaze returned to the woman, now breathing more evenly.
…She trusted me way too fast.
That was dangerous. For her. Not for me.
And that katana woman earlier…
Si Hon's fingers twitched unconsciously.
If she really wanted the sword back, he wouldn't survive a second encounter.
Great.
First I get chased by MUNCHES.
Then I steal a famous samurai's weapon.
Now I'm babysitting wounded people and ancient dogs.
His lips twitched.
"…I'm really unemployed, huh."
But even as he thought that, he stayed where he was— watching, guarding, making sure no one else got hurt.
Annoying.
Why am I like this?
"Hey, kid," the woman spoke.
Si Hon's eye twitched. "…Okay."
"…Uh, help me get over there," she said, pointing toward Sixxy and the two massive Ursa Canis. "Now. Faster."
"Okay."
He stood and reached for her hands, pulling her up carefully. She managed to stand— then immediately stumbled forward, bumping into his chest.
"Woah— sorry," she said quickly.
She stepped back at once, straightened herself, and cleared her throat like nothing had happened. A second later, she held her hand out again.
"Let's go."
"…Okay," Si Hon replied, taking her hand and guiding her toward Sixxy, Hana, and the two massive Ursa Canis waiting near the cave wall.
Up close, the creatures felt overwhelming. One of them was enormous— nearly twice the size of a bear, its skin bare and scarred. The other lay against the stone wall, white fur patterned with familiar black dots, breathing shallowly.
The woman reached into her pouch and pulled out two red bottles, pressing them into Si Hon's hands.
"Open these," she said firmly. "Make each of them drink half. Pour the rest directly unto their wounds."
Si Hon looked down at the bottles, then at the injured Ursa Canis.
"…Okay."
His grip tightened slightly.
He swallowed.
Everything was happening too fast.
One second, I mean earlier. He was running for his life, the next he was carrying an injured woman, and now he was apparently a part-time potion assistant for giant monsters.
Uh… uh… okay. Okay. Sure. This is fine.
He crouched beside the first Ursa Canis— the massive, furless one. Up close, it felt even more unreal. Its chest rose slowly, each breath uneven. The wounds weren't clean at all— flesh bruised and torn, bones clearly struck again and again, like something heavy had repeatedly smashed into it without mercy.
Si Hon twisted the cap off the bottle.
The sharp scent made his nose sting.
"Damn… Sorry," he muttered without thinking.
The Ursa Canis's eye flicked toward him.
He tilted the bottle carefully, letting half of the red liquid slide past its teeth.
The creature twitched.
Just once.
Its massive paw curled slightly, claws scraping against stone, but there was no roar. No thrashing. Just a low huff, like an annoyed breath.
"…Huh," Si Hon blinked. "That's it?"
He immediately poured the remaining potion over the wound, CURIOUSLY.
The flesh reacted immediately— knitting together slowly, the edges closing with a faint sizzling sound. The Ursa Canis shuddered again, then relaxed, breathing out.
Si Hon let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding.
"…You're tuff," he muttered.
Behind him, the woman watched quietly.
Her gaze lingered longer than he expected.
Si Hon felt it.
Why is she staring.
Did I do it wrong.
Is there a technique??!
Am I supposed to say something cool right now???
He shifted awkwardly and moved to the second Ursa Canis— the white one with black polka dots.
This one stirred as he knelt beside it.
He hesitated, then gently touched its head.
"…Okay, uh— same thing," he whispered.
He let it drink.
The reaction was even lighter this time— just a faint twitch of its ear and a small shake running through its body. When he poured the rest onto the wound, the dog let out a low sound.
Not pain.
More like mild irritation.
Like alcohol on a scrape.
"…Yeah," Si Hon nodded seriously. "I see, I see."
Behind him—
"Heh."
He stiffened.
The woman had turned her face away slightly, one hand covering her mouth, shoulders shaking faintly.
"…You're weirdly gentle," she said.
Si Hon froze.
"…Okay," he replied automatically.
She laughed softly this time— real laughter. Weak, but genuine.
"For someone who looks like they don't know what they're doing," she added, glancing back at him, "you're doing just fine."
Si Hon scratched the back of his neck.
"Uh… everything's just… happening really fast," he admitted.
Her smile softened.
"Yeah," she said quietly. "That's usually how it starts."
Sixxy padded closer, sniffing the healed Ursa Canis, tail swaying slowly.
The woman watched her, eyes warm despite the exhaustion weighing her down.
"…Thanks," she said again. "Both of them would've made it. But slower. You helped."
Si Hon nodded.
"…Okay."
Still didn't know what else to say.
She approached him from behind and gave his back a light pat.
"But as for me…" she said quietly, a small smile on her lips, "…I probably wouldn't have survived."
With that, she walked over to Sixxy and began patting her head again and again, gentle and familiar.
"Oh… Okay?" Si Hon replied awkwardly.
Suddenly—
Sixxy lunged.
"Ahg!"
Si Hon fell backward onto the ground as Sixxy enthusiastically licked his cheek.
"Hahaha— alright, alright!" he laughed, giving up as he shut his eyes, letting it happen.
After a moment, Sixxy finally stopped.
Si Hon quickly stood up, wiped his face, and looked back at the woman.
Why am I so awkward right now…?
He cleared his throat. "So… who are you? And what exactly happened here?"
The woman, now sitting beside the ruined tent and adjusting its torn fabric, glanced up at him.
"Hmmm. We were attacked by MUNCHES," she said casually. "We were lucky. They suddenly ran off. No idea why. Maybe they thought we'd just bleed out and die."
Si Hon frowned and looked at Sixxy. "Then what about Sixxy? What did you mean when you said she chose me?"
The woman tapped her chin, smiling thoughtfully.
"I told her to find someone. Just in case we didn't make it."
She glanced at Sixxy fondly. "I didn't expect her to come back at all."
"I see…" Si Hon muttered, even though he clearly didn't.
"And that girl," the woman added, giggling as she pointed toward Hana on Sixxy's back.
"Hana?" Si Hon followed her gaze, and froze.
"…She's asleep?!"
He rushed over immediately.
Sure enough, Hana was fast asleep, her face relaxed, arms loosely wrapped around Sixxy's fur.
Si Hon let out a long sigh. "Seriously…"
Carefully, he lifted her up, setling her head against his shoulder. Hana shifted slightly, mumbling something incomprehensible before curling closer to him.
Si Hon instinctively adjusted his grip.
"…This kid, how the hell did she fall asleep." he muttered softly.
But his tone was gentle. SUPPER gentle.
The woman watched him for a moment, eyes lingering on Hana's small form curled against his shoulder.
"…Yeah," she said with a quiet laugh. "That kid too. Sixxy probably thought she was a cub."
Si Hon blinked. "A… cub?"
She nodded, crouching slightly and resting an arm on her knee. "Ursa Canis are territorial, protective, especially toward their youngs." Her gaze shifted to Sixxy, who was sitting nearby, tail swaying faintly. "Anything small, quiet, and warm enough gets registered as a family."
"I see," Si Hon muttered. "That explains a lot…"
The woman smiled faintly. "It's rare for her to accept humans. Even rarer for her to come back with one." She paused, then added, "That's why I said she chose you."
Si Hon frowned slightly. "I still don't really get why though."
"That's because Ursa Canis dont choose strength," she replied. "They choose intent."
She tapped her chest lightly. "You didn't abandon her. You didn't panic. You probably protected the cub," she said, pointing toward hana. "instead of yourself."
"No, I actually panic."
And… if it weren't for this quest I probably didn't come here.
She straightened, then finally looked at him properly.
"My name's Arven," she said.
Si Hon blinked.
"That's it?"
"No… let me finish what I'm saying first." She cleared her throat. "A survivalist. Potion brewer and explorer— though clearly not a very good one yet." She gave a crooked smile. "These mountains are the places I choose to explore…"
Si Hon nodded. "Si Hon."
"I know," Arven said immediately.
"Woah, woah?" That made him stiff.
She tilted her head toward the katana at his side. "That blade's loud. Not in sound— history. It reacts to people who aren't supposed to hold it."
Si Hon glanced down at the sword. "…So you noticed."
"I noticed the moment it screamed earlier," she replied. "Which means you've already been marked by this place."
She looked at Hana again, then at Sixxy.
"And now," Arven added quietly, "you're tangled with Ursa Canis, stolen blades, and the MUNCHES."
She exhaled.
"…Welcome to the mountain."