The moment Ink River scooped me up and lunged forward, I spotted the creature bursting from the woods.

A monstrous insect, its body as massive as a train carriage, fixed its red head toward us. Two antennae stabbed the air like spears.

Four pairs of limbs braced its colossal weight with impossible grace, leaving not a single crushed blade of grass beneath it.

This prehistoric horror looked like a centipede’s head grafted onto a spider’s body.

It gaped its revolting maw, revealing rows of jagged teeth. Its mandibles trembled with a sickening vibration, as if ready to shred anything it deemed food.

???: *Shriiiiiieeeee—!!!*

And that horrifying, gut-churning screech.

This thing belonged only in horror stories!

Seventh Ju: What… *is* that thing?!

Ink River: Never seen it. Might be an undiscovered species.

Ink River’s voice stayed eerily calm as he answered. The instant we hit the ground from the lunge, he sprang forward again.

Beyond his usual strength, his willpower radiated like steel.

Ink River: Size difference is too extreme. I can’t win.

Ink River: If its brain’s as simple as an insect’s… we’ll run until it loses interest.

Sheer cliffs blocked our left. Dense jungle choked our right.

Ink River charged down the narrow path like a wild beast, sprinting on three limbs. The fourth arm clamped me against his waist like cargo.

If I hadn’t been facing backward, watching the giant insect give chase, I’d have protested this undignified position.

But I saw it—the nameless terror using tree trunks for leverage, half-crawling, half-leaping after us.

Seventh Ju: Ink River! Don’t run into the jungle! It’ll move faster through the trees!

Ink River: So those marks on the trunks were… Understood.

The insect wouldn’t catch us soon. But how long until it grew impatient? And how long could Ink River—just recovered—keep this up?

Facing this unknown monster, running was our only option.

*What do I do…?*

*How do I solve this…?*

No… My knowledge was useless here.

All I could do was cling to Ink River, who carried me.

Ink River: …

Ink River: Terrible luck.

Seventh Ju: …?

I twisted around. Through the jolting motion, I saw jungle canopy closing in ahead like an ambush. Our narrow path was about to vanish.

Ink River: If we can’t enter the jungle… I’m jumping—!

Seventh Ju: —!

I shot upward as if strapped to a rollercoaster, defying gravity.

We soared six meters high.

The jungle shrank to ankle-high shrubs. Endless treetops stretched below like a sea of undulating mushrooms.

Equally staggering was the grotesque silhouette tearing through that sea.

I stared up at the shadow swallowing the sky, mouth agape, unsure if I’d even screamed.

Seventh Ju: Ink River…

Seventh Ju: That insect… it jumps better than it runs…

Ink River: —!?!?

*Screee—!*

A scythe-like sensation sliced my side. Momentum wrenched me from Ink River’s grip.

The insect’s maw filled my vision. One mandible coiled around me like a harvester, impaling me like skewered meat.

My clothes snagged on its jaws. *Crack.* Pressure clamped my other side.

The closing mandibles pinned me tight, dragging me toward rows of jagged teeth.

All before we’d even landed…

*Thud—! Crunch-crunch-crunch…*

A dull impact drowned in wet, nauseating chewing. I tumbled like a stone in a crusher—grinding, squeezing, churning.

One glance at my body now would show unspeakable ruin.

Seventh Ju: …………

Why… does this keep happening?

First the clawed, boar-like Molehog. Now this spider-legged, centipede-headed monstrosity…

As if unknown creatures keep craving me as a meal…

I knew I wouldn’t die from bites or poison. But why was I always powerless?

—Suddenly, the chewing stopped.

Gravity shifted. I slid deeper into the insect’s throat.

It was swallowing me?

Seventh Ju: …AHHHHHHH!!!

Death’s terror flooded my numb limbs. I lunged my hands out, gripping a fang inside its mouth.

Only then did I remember: even if external force couldn’t kill me, even if its venom couldn’t poison me—

*"Any substance ingested that harms the body or disrupts function is expelled unabsorbed."*

That was my other Wish Power, made before the Molehog attack.

—But nothing protected me from digestive fluids burning me alive. Or from suffocating in its gut!

I heaved my body outward. Thank god this thing had no tongue!

In the dim light of its mouth, I saw Ink River below. He stood near the cliffside, one arm dangling—dislocated when I was torn away. His face was pale, blank with shock.

What did he see?

Ah… probably the same horror I’d felt facing the Molehog. My "maximum wish limit" camouflage made me look like bloody minced meat vanishing down its throat.

Seventh Ju: Ink River…

Ink River: …

He didn’t hear. But his eyes snapped into focus, burning with resolve.

He crouched. With a twist of his shoulder, he *popped* his dislocated arm back into place.

Then he clasped his hands together, closing his eyes.

*He’s…*

*You idiot…*

This was his chance to escape! He’d said he could scale the 200-meter cliff alone!

To him, I was already dead.

What reckless thing was he planning?!

Enough, Ink River.

Since you jumped off that bridge to save me—it was enough.

You didn’t need to go this far for me.

You…

—*Just take care of yourself and stop making me worry, okay?!?!?*

Seventh Ju: INK RIVER—!

Ink River: …………

Seventh Ju: INK RIIIIIVER—!!!!

Ink River: …!?

His eyes flew open. He hadn’t entered the Star Sea wish-world.

I planted my feet against another fang. Strength surged through my grip.

Seventh Ju: RAAAAAGH—!!!

*Snap—crack.*

A broken fang spun through the air like a coin, then plunged into the earth like a stake.

???: *Shriiiiiieeeee—!!!*

The insect roared, its whole body shuddering. But my senses narrowed to my arms alone. Nothing else existed.

Adrenaline flooded me. My Wish-granted strength multiplied beyond measure.

*Snap—*

Seventh Ju: You bastard—

*Snap—*

Seventh Ju: Tell me—

*Snap—*

Seventh Ju: How do I—

*Snap—*

Seventh Ju: KILL YOU—!!!!

*Crack-crack-crack—*

Fangs rained down like cave spikes, each snap met with a tearing shriek.

Insect fluid oozed from the roots, but the thick slime couldn’t stop me.

I stopped only when two fangs remained to hold me. The beast still refused to fall.

Its mandibles clenched, trying to shut its mouth. Its head thrashed wildly, flattening trees like grass.

Seventh Ju: You want to eat me—

Seventh Ju: *You* think you can eat me—

*WHAM—!*

My fist smashed into a closing mandible. The glossy shell shattered, my arm punching straight through.

I used it as leverage, kicking off the fangs. My right leg shot out like a penalty kick, slamming into the insect’s gumline.

*THUD—!*

My shin tore through its jaw. My foot met open air beyond its mouth.

I hooked my other leg out, locking myself onto its gum ridge.

My upper and lower body anchored firm. No shaking could dislodge me now.

*Focus… channel every ounce of strength into my hands.*

No technique. I was just a high school grad with zero combat skills.

But this raw power… it made me believe I could cripple this monster.

Just focus. Pour every shred of strength into it.

Seventh Ju: You worthless piece of—

Seventh Ju: Will *this* kill you—!?!?

I wrenched the pierced mandible violently. The insect’s thrashing turned into full-body rolls.

Amid the dizzying chaos, I heard a wet, peeling sound—

Like stripping an onion.

The resisting mandible went limp in my hands, swinging freely.

Its rolling slowed. The spasms faded to faint tremors.

I saw the end of the giant mandible in my grip. Tendrils of gore, chitin, and unidentifiable slime trailed from it.

Ripping it out must have shredded some vital nerve cluster.

Seventh Ju: Ha… ha… ha…

Seventh Ju: Hah…

The adrenaline faded. Exhaustion and weight crashed over me.

I crawled out of its mouth, drenched in slime, and tumbled to the ground from over a meter up.

Ink River: Seventh Ju—!

He leapt down, scooped me up, and carried me far from the corpse to the cliffside.

Ink River: Ju…

Seventh Ju: I’m fine… fine…

Seventh Ju: My voice sounds energetic, right? Haha…

Ink River: …………

Seventh Ju: Just a little drained. Need to rest…

Ink River: Ju… what exactly are you…

Seventh Ju: …………

Seventh Ju: Heh.

I gave a wry smile and met his eyes.

No fear or panic there. Only confusion and worry.

Seventh Ju: I’ll tell you, Ink River. No point hiding it now.

Seventh Ju: It’s a gift from Xiv.

Ink River: …A god’s gift? Wish Power?

Seventh Ju: Exactly what you saw.

Ink River: …Rapid regeneration… and superhuman strength?

Seventh Ju: …………

It seemed impossible to explain in just a few words. Right now, I was truly drained by adrenaline’s side effects, with no strength left for further explanation.

Seventh Ju: Let’s just leave it at that.

Seventh Ju: Besides, I have more Wish Points than most people. After all, I carry the will of so many lives on my shoulders.

Ink River: …?

Seventh Ju: Anyway, back when you were nearly crushed to death, I panicked and wished to the god for 10,000 points to save your life.

Ink River: …!?

Seventh Ju: Maybe the god thought I was being too extravagant and left the extra points on you.

As I spoke, I watched the subtle shifts in Ink River’s expression—flickers of surprise, doubt, and relief crossing his face. It was the kind of look that made you want to smile with quiet satisfaction.

Ink River: Are those 10,000 points all your Wish Points?

Seventh Ju: Of course not! Plenty left over. Don’t even think about paying me back.

Ink River: …………

Ink River: With 10,000 Wish Points, and the wisdom to wield them, surpassing all of humanity is entirely possible.

Ink River: Why would someone like you work in the Sincere Kingdom’s Pioneer Team?

Seventh Ju: Probably because I lack the wisdom to wield Wish Points.

Seventh Ju: What I think about most is how to barely survive in this society…

Don’t die. Don’t die easily.

That was the shared cry of countless thousands during the disaster. I’d already accepted it as my duty to carry that will forward. Because I knew, deep down, I was just an ordinary mortal. This self-awareness was something I must never, should never forget.

Ink River: …………

Ink River: Alright.

Seventh Ju: ?

Ink River: Everyone has their reasons. Honestly, I—a Seasonal Wolf hiding among humans—have no right to judge your choices.

Ink River: But… I want to ask one thing.

Seventh Ju: What?

Ink River: Do you think your current life… is good?

Seventh Ju: …………

Seventh Ju: If I didn’t have to walk into a monster’s jaws every other day, I’d say I’m quite satisfied.

Ink River: …………

Ink River: Hahaha————

Ink River: Hey, didn’t you just curse a moment ago?

Seventh Ju: Let’s ignore that…

Ink River: First time hearing you swear—it left quite an impression.

Seventh Ju: Want me to introduce my ancestral memory-erasing technique?

……

Hahaha… Yes. This was exactly the reaction I’d hoped for. My trust in Ink River was worth it. This guy was someone I could call a true friend. With a friend like him by my side, what more could I ask for?

??: Sigh…

??: Is it because you don’t grasp death’s closeness that you’re so carefree?

Seventh Ju: …!

Ink River: —!?

A woman’s voice.

Ink River and I turned in unison toward the jungle’s depths.

A slender figure emerged, wrapped head-to-toe in a robe. Its hood hid her eyes, revealing only a sharp chin and nose bridge. The robe’s ornate embroidery and her voice sparked a faint memory.

??: Blood… I’ll learn what happened later.

??: Saving your lives comes first.

She pushed back her hood. Light golden, shoulder-length curls framed a face untouched by makeup—less conventionally beautiful, more like a carefully arranged floral piece. It was an aura forged in a specific place, refined and deliberate, regardless of innate beauty.

Seventh Ju: You’re…

Seventh Ju: …Priestess Hilcaly??