Chapter 49: Attack of the Giant Bear
"It looks like it just left..." Kato Jun rubbed the soil inside the footprint with his fingertip.
It was a human footprint without any shoes on it, and it was clearly made in the ground.
Jun couldn't think of any other creature that could leave a print like this, other than the savage humans that had been seen around here.
"We have to leave now!" Jun quickly led the three girls away from the footprints.
He had been too careless. Because everything went smoothly yesterday, he had forgotten that there was still a possibility of encountering savage humans.
Now he was bringing three girls with him. If they were to meet wild humans, it would be dangerous.
"That was from the savage humans, right?"
Megumi noticed that Utaha and Ginko looked pale when they saw the footprint.
"Absolutely."
Utaha's body started shaking. Meanwhile, Ginko seemed like she could not take much more.
"Don't worry. Even though the footprint is fresh, its owner has already gone far…."
Jun could only try to calm the two girls who had been kidnapped by the cruel humans.
"Let's hide in those bushes!"
Jun found some low shrubs that grew right next to a big tree. It was the perfect place to hide.
Ginko felt weak just thinking about humans who eat other humans.
The tragic screams she had heard for more than half a week and the human skeletons she had seen at the savage humans' camp... all of it became memories that she could not forget.
Every time she remembered, her body trembled in fear.
"It's okay... As long as Jun-kun is here..."
Utaha, though also afraid, knew well that the youngest girl among them, Ginko, must be more scared than she was.
"Mm."
Ginko hugged Utaha's waist, just like when they were still trapped with the savage humans in a wooden cage.
"You all stay still under this tree. I'll go up and take a look around."
Jun grabbed his bow and quickly climbed the nearest tree.
The footprints were all over the place, and it was clear that the wild humans were still close by.
Hiding among the branches, he held his breath as best he could, his hand ready to pull back the bowstring at any moment.
This made Jun feel like time was moving very slowly.
The wild people were close by, but he didn't know where they might come from.
This very uncertain situation reminded him of the time he had to face a leopard directly. Just like back then, his face was now also covered in sweat.
"Listen. Later, no matter what happens, as long as the savage humans don't find you, don't move at all.
Jun spoke in the lowest voice he could, reminding the girls again.
Megumi and the others, hiding behind the bushes, didn't move at all.
Utaha and Ginko prayed in their hearts that they would all be safe. Savage humans, please don't show up!
— — —
"Yuigahama-san, it was really cold last night, wasn't it?"
Yukino could still feel how tightly she was hugged by Yui last night.
If it weren't for the two large cushions on her friend's chest that absorbed some of the impact, she might have been strangled to death.
"Mm... was it because winter is starting to arrive? Even your little body couldn't keep me warm last night."
Yui felt that it was colder than usual that morning.
"Maybe. We have to start getting ready for winter."
Yukino was cooking some meat that Jun had brought the day before over the campfire.
It was hard to imagine that Jun had carried over a hundred jin of meat to this place yesterday.
Today, they ate lamp fruit and grilled meat for breakfast at their new camp.
Everything was going smoothly, except for the cold last night.
"Yuigahama-san, let's go up and take a look."
After breakfast, Yukino pointed to the giant lamp tree behind them.
Jun said the view from the top was very beautiful yesterday, so Yukino really wanted to see it soon.
The construction of the new camp could be delayed—there was still plenty of time.
She looked at the mechanical watch on her wrist. It was around 8:00 a.m.
"This tree is really tall. I'm a little scared."
Yui looked at the giant tree, which was more than twenty meters tall. There were vines forming stairs along its trunk, and Yui felt that she would start trembling halfway up.
"Yeah... that's a problem..."
Yukino thought for a moment, then took out a long vine from the backpack basket she carried.
"I have an idea that might make you less afraid."
The long vine was made from several tree vines braided together. It was long enough to hang from the top of the tree down to the base.
Yukino put it over her shoulder.
"I'll take this rope up first. Later, when you start climbing, tie this rope to your body and climb. I'll hold the other end from the top. If you fall, I can help you right away."
Yukino decided to prepare a safety rope for Yui.
After Utaha and Ginko arrived, maybe they could use it too.
"Okay!"
Yui really wanted to see the view from the top of the tree.
"Yukinon, be careful... and good luck!"
Yui watched Yukino start climbing, cheering her on from below.
Yukino, who was good with her hands, quickly climbed the sturdy vine ladder to the top.
"So beautiful..."
The river was shiny, the forest was thick, and it seemed like there was no end to it. There were also strange valleys, tall mountains in the distance, and grasslands under the trees.
Everything looked stunning.
"How is it, Yukinon?"
Yui called out loudly from below.
"It's really beautiful! Yuigahama-san, come up quickly!"
Yukino threw the long vine she had brought down.
The vine rope hung perfectly from the top to the base of the tree.
Yui tied it around her waist and started climbing.
"You can do it! Yuigahama-san!"
Yukino held the end of the rope tightly, cheering her on.
"Hah..."
Yukino helped Yui climb halfway up the tree.
Just a little more… just a little more to reach the top.
She really wanted to look down, but she held back her curiosity.
Don't look down, don't look down... I have to make it to the top!
But at that moment, the ground and trees shook three times.
"Ah!" Yui was scared and grabbed the vine ladder tightly.
Yukino also immediately grabbed the rope tied to Yui's waist.
"I'm okay,"
Yui shook her head toward Yukino, who was already close to her.
But the ground and trees kept shaking.
"What's happening...?"
Yui looked at the place where the sound was coming from.
Yukino at the top also turned her head.
"How can this be..."
Yukino was shocked to see a giant, long-haired bear running toward them. How could there be a bear that big?
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