Survivor 9

From the middle to the latter part of the story, the Northern region served as the pivotal area for the protagonist's growth in the original game. As someone with a rudimentary understanding of game development, I suspect the presence of fierce monsters and demons in this area was likely a deliberate design choice for leveling up.

Danger often comes with valuable rewards, and indeed, hefty treasures were hidden here.

[Direwolf Cave]

[The nuisance of the snowy mountains, the Direwolves, have long tormented the people of the North with their agility and excellent coordination.]

[But now, the counterattack begins. Clues left by them, such as tufts of fur, footprints, and droppings, all point in one direction.]

[Eliminate them and claim the peace of the Northern residents and the treasure hidden in the cave.]

"It's my coming-of-age ceremony, but you seem more excited than me."

"Adventure is something everyone yearns for. I am no different."

…Though I said that, it was hard to deny the excitement of my first battle in this otherworld.

Luciana seemed to notice my eagerness with a curious look.

"…Well, it's better to have enthusiasm than not. Lead the way."

"Please wait. Hmm, there are footprints over there."

As we approached the location indicated on the status window, the traces became more frequent.

"This is…"

"It seems we have found their lair."

Endless darkness.

The gaping maw of the cave invoked a fear of the unknown.

"I'll take the lead from here."

However, exceptions always exist.

Driven by a desire for honor, Luciana strode confidently into the cave.

'Oops'

"Wait a moment!"

"What now?"

"Where is it acceptable for a servant to put their lord in danger first? I'll lead."

Compared to other dungeons, this one wasn't very difficult, but the rewards were substantial.

It's like a sparrow can't just pass by a millet field.

There might even be relics hidden along the way. Unaware of this, Luciana raised her eyebrows as she stepped forward.

"Who asked for help? I can overcome my coming-of-age ceremony alone."

"Attendees are necessary. Let me lead."

'Just yield this much, given my own struggles.'

Arguing over who should go first, we both advanced deeper.

"This is strange. Not even a single Direwolf or pup in sight."

Luciana murmured in disappointment.

It might be a futile effort.

Anxiousness was apparent in her blue eyes behind her visor.

"Direwolves are clever creatures. They usually avoid direct confrontations with humans."

I answered succinctly.

In the wild, overrun with hostile monsters, even minor injuries can limit hunting abilities.

Hence, while they may hunt livestock, they generally avoid direct confrontations with humans.

'They're hiding so well in their own home.'

"Hmph. The creatures are audacious."

-Thump!

A kick, fueled by frustration, struck the cave wall.

"Don't worry too much."

"Do you have a plan?"

She asked, and I gave a sly smile.

Having seen the ending through a simple game, I knew how to navigate even a small dungeon like this.

Whispering my plan, Luciana listened intently with a skeptical expression.

"If they won't come out, we have to force them out. Even if it means disturbing something precious to them."

"Something precious?"

"Follow me."

At the central pillar of the cave's deep section, at 2 o'clock direction, and then left at the fork.

Luciana looked puzzled.

"Huh? Why is there snow here?"

There was an unusually thick snow pile blocking a passage, something that shouldn't be inside a cave.

"Doesn't this look suspicious?"

I nodded, pulling out a shovel from my bag.

The Direwolves' habit of living in snow.

Although meant as camouflage from predators, it stood out to humans.

'I never thought my first use of a shovel in another world would be for clearing snow, not treasure hunting.'

The snow, laboriously dragged in by the wolves, was gradually cleared.

However…

"Huff, huff."

…I had forgotten about my own physical limits.

Eagerly shoveling with the desire for relics, my breath became labored.

"You're too weak physically."

"What can I do, being born this way?"

Perhaps the game is still just a game.

The Ice Maiden, with her sharp and captivating charm, was brutally honest in her assessment of me, which felt particularly harsh.

[Strength: 2]

The truth of it stung all the more.

I made a decision.

'I must improve this pitiful strength, by any means necessary, be it through a potion or an artifact.'

Then, Luciana spoke.

"We should consider some strength training later."

"Haha, I'll strive to meet your expectations."

A surge of energy revitalized my arms at the thought of training with my favorite character—a reward in itself!

The excitement of this unique experience in the game fueled my digging.

And finally,

-Creak.

The snow blocking the entrance was cleared enough to hear faint whimpering from inside.

"Is this a pup?"

In the corner of the cave, a wolf pup that had not yet opened its eyes was curled up.

The artifact I had been seeking, and a treasure dearly guarded by the wolves.

[The artifact is currently unattainable.]

[Clear the dungeon to acquire the artifact.]

But it wasn't going to be that easy. The pup, somehow aware, tried to bite with its tiny, blunt teeth.

[Pup Direwolf]

The status window showed only red text, indicating a monster.

Luciana sighed lightly.

"Considering it's a Direwolf, this could save face, but it seems pointless to have come all this way for this."

"Just wait. Didn't I say we'd target their most prized possession?"

-Awooo.

I smirked and gestured behind me.

Before I could even gesture, an astonished Luciana had already turned around.

Apparently annoyed at the thought of us touching the pup, the cave's true inhabitants revealed themselves.

The Direwolves, aptly named, covered in fur that resembled jewels.

"Heh. This was your plan."

"Using the pup as bait to hunt the whole pack is quite efficient, isn't it?"

Luciana's look turned sour, as if she was staring at something wicked or demonic.

I shrugged nonchalantly.

Swoosh~

As the wolves closed in, Luciana lowered her stance, sword in hand.

Showing their infamous coordination, the wolves began to encircle us.

They were clever creatures.

Naturally, Luciana and I stood back-to-back, resisting their encirclement.

'Should I use the pup as a hostage?'

No, that's not right.

In this cave, fighting with one hand tied might be disadvantageous.

Using the pup as a hostage wouldn't sit well with Luciana.

What she wanted was…

'A fair fight.'

"Can you handle them?"

"As you've seen before, my swordsmanship and magic are useless. I can't defeat them."

Luciana, with her back against mine, clicked her tongue at my honest response.

I knew my limitations better than anyone, with my knowledge of the game.

Strength 2, and Magic 1.

Stats worse than a newly created player character. Hardly enough to penetrate the defenses of mid-level dungeon monsters.

Unseal the artifact, Tut?

Sadly, the wolf fur didn't trigger any unlock.

"Tsk. I'll have to add swordsmanship to the training plan."

"I'd welcome it. I'll be a loyal servant, or rather a faithful dog, and commit to the training."

"Don't be happy about it!"

Luciana responded firmly, her aura glowing as brightly as in our previous duel.

"Can you hold them off?"

"Of course. Don't worry about me."

I grinned and stepped back, readying my stance.

My 'Stealth' skill isn't an S-rank for nothing. And these aren't some boss-level monsters with unpredictable patterns. Their attacks are all visible to me.

"Of course, I can't defeat them."

"That's enough. Just keep them at bay!"

And then, as a wolf lunged with a roar,

We both sprang to our sides, swords swinging!

Left, right, upper right!

Dodging claws and teeth non-stop, occasionally countering.

Though it wouldn't be fatal, targeting eyes, hind leg joints, and bellies would surely weaken their strength.

-Crunch!

"Stay down, and be the sacrifice for my coming-of-age ceremony."

From behind me, Luciana's voice rang out, a mix of excitement and ferocity as she dealt with the incoming Direwolves one by one. True to her role as a key character and mid-boss in the game, she advanced, leaving a trail of deep red in her wake. The fallen bodies of the Direwolves bore the clear marks of her handiwork.

But…

'…It's not enough.'

Though skilled, her excitement in the heat of battle was apparent. Instead of quick, efficient kills, there were signs of overreaching and tension.

Her composure fell far short of the mid-boss Luciana I had encountered.

So, I stood in front of a Direwolf twice the size of the others.

-Growl…

"Wow, facing one head-on really is a different feeling."

They say when you stand in front of a bear or tiger, the fear instinctively makes your legs go weak.

That's exactly how my trembling knees and legs felt right now.

In the unnamed king's dungeon in the game, I was confident I wouldn't die and could converse with him, thanks to my gaming experience.

But this opponent, although intelligent, was a beast-like monster, unlike the unnamed king, devoid of reason.

It wouldn't consider my words more than a potential meal.

"Think you can get to Luciana without going through me first?"

Still, I had to do it. Letting this one go would only complicate things.

For the growth and safety of my favorite character, it had to be done.

-Direwolf Cave Strategy

…The difficulty of this dungeon depends on the tank's skill level. Also…

I recalled a strategy I once saw online.

'Individual Direwolves aren't too threatening. It's their unity, that buff called 'solidarity,' that's the problem.'

This buff, activated by the pack leader's command, dramatically increases their base stats.

Their organized surprise attacks are significant obstacles, preventing the player from leveraging their skills effectively.

The standard solution was clear: one tank draws the boss monster's aggro, preventing it from giving buffs.

"Wouldn't hunting be easier without that bulky armor? Just me, unarmored?"

I made a small cut on my hand with a dagger, letting the blood's scent fill the air.

Waiting for the blood to pool in my palm, I flung my arm, splattering droplets right up to the boss monster's snout.

Its red eyes widened in response.

Despite being a boss, it was still a monster at heart, true to its nature.

-Awooo!

Indeed, a boss-level creature. Its howl echoed through the cave, startling even the knight who was elegantly fighting the subordinate wolves.

Even some of the fighting wolves hesitated and stepped back.

However, inside me, a new emotion began to sprout, different from fear.

"Huh."

A thrilling sensation surged from my fingertips.

It was similar to when I faced a real sword in the duel with Luciana.

A cool rationality settled over my burning heart and rushed to my feet.

This wasn't fear, but something closer to exhilaration.

To confirm this mysterious feeling, I watched every move of the beast, as if time slowed down.

The slight lift of its right front paw was a common claw attack pattern.

'I just need to roll to the left.'

The shaking of its hind legs, a frontal charge pattern, could be easily avoided by moving to the side. The growling and sharpening of its teeth indicated an instant-kill pattern.

It was aiming for my neck.

A fleeting joy thundered through my mind.

I saw every move. It was just like the game.

My clumsy body managed perfect evasion.

-Growl…

The Direwolf leader also showed significant change.

Initially frustrated at not catching its prey, it roared in annoyance.

But as time passed, it grew tired from the continuous, irrational evasions.

"Stubborn one, aren't you? How long will you keep chasing?"

Of course, my situation wasn't much different. My chronic lack of stamina, and the mana draining from constant skill use, were nearing their limits.

Yet, my face was stretched into a grin, exhilarated like never before.

Yes.

Thrill.

It was just like riding a roller coaster at an amusement park or doing extreme sports like bungee jumping.

The experience of fear, the accomplishment of overcoming it, and the thrill, all surged up my spine.

I was oblivious to my gasping breaths and the exhaustion weighing down my body like waterlogged cotton.

"Well done."

As I was entangled with the beast, a clanking noise and a voice came from behind. It seemed Luciana had dealt with the subordinate wolves, her armor stained with the crimson blood of the beasts.

"To summarize in two words. I took quite a tumble, didn't I? Any chance of a bit more praise?"

"More than I expected. Leave the rest to me."

I collapsed on the spot, unable to move back.

Exhausted and sprawled on the ground, I could still witness the end of the boss monster I had toyed with.

Luciana, having gained considerable experience in fighting the minions, and the boss, exhausted from our tussle.

-Crunch!

With a single scream, Luciana plunged her sword into the neck of the weary alpha wolf, bringing her tumultuous coming-of-age ceremony to a close.

[Boss Defeated]

[You have cleared the dungeon 'Direwolf Cave' with NPC, 'Luciana Speda.']

[Calculating rewards.]

'This message. It's just like in the game.'

A smile twitched at the corners of my mouth, rising in elation.

My chest swelled tight with a sense of achievement.

Then,

Clank, Thud.

"Are you alright?"

Luciana, having approached and lifted her visor, looked at me with concern.

'Typical me.'

To think, this young girl's few words of praise could make me so giddy.

'But then again, she is my favorite character.'