The next morning, over breakfast, I learned how to write my name and numbers from Li Weishe.

Being able to pick this up without raising suspicion was a huge help.

Thinking back, most of the folks I’d met so far were actually decent people.

Ink River—scary build, not great with words—but he could still chat naturally.

Day High—a bit lecherous and slightly full of himself, his vibe a little out of place here—yet somehow, no one questioned his authority.

Li Weishe was weird, sure, but definitely not the type to hurt others on purpose.

Half Moon Outflow seemed brighter than his initial ronin impression, and he knew a surprising amount.

Aiton and Preman didn’t reek of bureaucratic officer types either.

As for last night’s Aibin—he was just the kind of guy you’d expect in this setting, nothing too shocking or gross.

Should I say my luck’s been pretty good so far?

After the meal, soldiers lined up the laborers to collect and verify all contract signatures.

Aiton: Anyone still holding onto their contract? No pay if you don’t hand it in—don’t blame us later.

Officer Aiton patrolled the laborer lines himself, clearly taking this seriously.

Since I’d just learned to write my name, my contract should be fine.

Just as I thought that, Aiton walked over and stopped in front of Ink River.

Aiton: Seasonal Wolf. Ink River.

Ink River: …Yes.

Aiton pulled out a contract—likely Ink River’s—and scribbled a new clause onto it.

Aiton: Considering your species, we’re adding a term. Review it.

He handed it to Ink River for confirmation.

Earlier, I’d guessed the contract contents by chatting with teammates.

Though illiterate, I could see everyone’s contracts looked identical—basic stuff: duties, obligations, rights, pay.

After checking, Ink River signed again and returned it.

Aiton: And you, Seventh Ju.

Seventh Ju: …Huh?

Aiton: Your contract needs an extra clause too. Take a look.

Seventh Ju: Ah…

I took the new contract, pretended to read it, and panicked internally.

What’s this about… what could it be?

Damn… I really want to swear—no, wait, I already did!

When the hell will I escape this illiterate setup?! Back home, I survived on brains and exams.

Seventh Ju: Ha… sure.

Aiton: …?

Once collection finished, Aiton gathered all files and left the laborer area.

Seventh Ju: Ink River, what clause did they add for you?

Ink River: Nothing much. Just supplementary notes for non-human species.

Seventh Ju: …………

Ink River: Yours?

Seventh Ju: …Roughly the same.

Ink River: …Roughly?

Zero useful info there…

We still didn’t know what clause Aiton had added to my contract that day.

The new workday began with this nagging worry.

Unlike other labor groups, our five were led by a uniformed soldier toward a different direction.

Day High strutted at the front like our self-appointed leader.

If only our leader wasn’t some street-performer type…

Day High: Hey, big bro—why were we picked?

Day High: We just got grouped yesterday. Haven’t done anything impressive yet.

Soldier: You ask too many questions…

Soldier: Probably ’cause you’ve got a Seasonal Wolf. And we’re short-staffed.

Day High: Eh—lucky break then.

About a hundred meters from the "temporary transport route," we were stationed along a parallel line for guard duty.

Deep in the jungle but sparse enough for sunlight to filter through—ideal for watching.

Our job: spot medium-to-large dangerous beasts, known or unknown.

The five of us spread out in a line, each a hundred meters apart.

Though that distance hid us from each other in the jungle, suspended metal pipes connected every pair.

Each pipe had a lid; open it to hear voices from the other end—a simple comms device.

Dense vertical strips hung from the pipes. If an animal brushed past below, the strips would trigger a unique sound.

If a large beast crossed above, it’d crush the pipe.

Either way, both ends would know danger breached the line.

Our duty today: alert the army the moment wild threats approached this four-pipe perimeter.

A hundred meters behind me lay the cleared road; a hundred meters left and right were my teammates.

This guard duty felt like a minor role, but not too unsettling.

Day High assigned positions left to right: Ink River, Half Moon Outflow, Day High, Seventh Ju, Li Weishe.

Ink River: …………

Ink River: Reason for this setup?

Day High: As leader, I need to command everyone from the center.

I didn’t recall voting Day High boss, but no one argued—not even me.

Day High: Also, edge spots only have one neighbor to watch them. So I put the least accident-prone—Ink River and Li Weishe—on the ends.

Day High: The rest flank me. Simple.

Ink River: …

Ink River: …………

I glanced at silent Ink River and cut in.

Seventh Ju: Could I swap spots with Outflow?

Ink River: —!

Day High: No. Ink River and Ju need separation—to give him chances to socialize.

Ink River: …………

Ah, Ink River’s face darkened instantly; his tail swished restlessly behind him.

Big build, but inside—he was sixteen, just like me.

Still, siding with him now might not help him.

Seventh Ju: Fine. Hope Ink River gets along better with others.

We took our assigned posts.

Between two suspended pipes sat a crude chair, already placed.

On it lay a gun-like device—reminding me of the guards at Bao City’s gate.

Holding it, it resembled a large revolver: a cylinder and a trigger-like launcher.

Definitely beast-defense gear.

Beside it lay a tiny blade—barely bigger than three razor blades.

Not for cutting beasts… probably to reflect sunlight into their eyes and scare them off?

A small booklet lay nearby. Flipping it open, I saw simple sketches of dangerous local wildlife.

Seventh Ju: Hey—hey? Can you hear me?

Day High: Ah, yes. Go ahead.

Seventh Ju: Oh, just testing. Clearer than I expected.

Seventh Ju: How do you use this weapon?

Day High: Load the cartridge, spin the cylinder, pull the trigger—launches the dart.

Day High: Range’s about ten meters. Hits a beast under half a ton? It’ll sleep within a minute.

Ah, tranquilizer darts… no gunpowder, so safer to handle.

Just don’t shoot myself…

Seventh Ju: …………

Suddenly, I realized a hidden danger.

My wish-power kept me from violent death—but wilderness rarely kills that way.

Diseases and toxins were the real threats here.

Against those, I was as vulnerable as anyone.

Alone and quiet now, I needed to craft a wish to survive illness and poison.

Do it fast—no delays.

I absolutely didn’t want to die to the jungle!

…………

…………

Day High: Hey, Ju—

Day High: Heeey—Juuu—

Day High: …………

Half Moon Outflow: Day High, what’s wrong? I heard you calling.

Day High: Ah, I was teaching Ju to use the tranquilizer gun, but he’s ignoring me.

Half Moon Outflow: No other sounds? Probably just messing around.

Day High: Well… Ju’s young. Playful age, I guess.

Half Moon Outflow: Ink River hasn’t said a word to me either.

Day High: Haha, Seasonal Wolves mature faster, maybe.

Half Moon Outflow: Actually… I’ve got a situation to report.

Day High: Hm? Don’t tell me it’s snakes or scorpions.

Half Moon Outflow: If only it were that small…

Half Moon Outflow: Have you seen the bio-guide? That monster "Molehog"—know it?

Day High: Let me check…

Day High: Molehog… oh! Looks like a pig.

Half Moon Outflow: Check its claws. Unlike pig hooves, Molehogs can tunnel underground.

Day High: Wow, you know your stuff.

Half Moon Outflow: Truth is…

Half Moon Outflow: I spotted fresh, wide dirt mounds ahead—like a Molehog burrowed up. Must be two meters across…

Day High: …………

Half Moon Outflow: Not trying to scare you. But the army should know.

Day High: …………

Half Moon Outflow: …Day High?

Half Moon Outflow: What’s wrong??

Day High: That…

Day High: The pipe to my right just tilted sharply downward…

Half Moon Outflow: —!!!