As the man-beast stood before Tuziku, he suddenly realized something.
He thought to himself...
It's the same creature Mother used to tell me about when I was younger...
This creature is...
"A Centaur...!"
A living Centaur stood before Tuziku!
It had long, black hair and wielded a long, iron spear.
As the legendary creature advanced, the exhausted Tuziku could only lie on the ground and watch in terror.
Shit—
I still can't move my body yet...!
He struggled to climb to his feet.
Then—
The man-beast finally stood face-to-face with Tuziku.
It tilted its head downward, locking eyes with Tuziku as it raised its spear.
It aimed.
Then—
It thrust.
SHNK!
CRACK!
The spear struck the earth, leaving a small crack upon impact.
At the last moment, Tuziku's body instinctively rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding a fatal blow.
The Centaur tilted its head and gazed at Tuziku with a curious expression.
Then, it raised its spear once more.
Tuziku immediately bolted to his feet and swiftly jumped backward to increase the distance between them.
The imminent danger that had suddenly appeared, caused a burst of adrenaline to surge through Tuziku's body.
As his gaze wandered behind the Creature, he noticed something.
There it is...
That must be the treasure chest Old Man Ryōkōjū wants...!
He clenched his fists.
The Creature remained still.
Its gaze was focused entirely on Tuziku.
Then—
With incredible speed—
It suddenly dashed toward him with its powerful, horse-like legs.
Suddenly—
WHACK!!
THUD!
"Augh...!!!"
The Centaur swung its spear, striking Tuziku across the ribs and sending him flying across the mountain's peak.
"Ahhhh!" Tuziku screamed in agony as he clutched his side.
Shit, shit, shit!!
I think my ribs are broken...!
"AHHHHH!!" he screamed.
After a single blow from the Creature, Tuziku could already tell...
This Creature is terrifyingly strong...!
I can tell it's not seriously trying to kill me...
And yet, if I receive another blow like that...
I'll definitely die!!
Tuziku forced himself back onto his feet.
His legs trembled beneath him.
His gaze remained fixed on the treasure chest behind the Creature.
I just need to get to that chest behind him!
Suddenly, the Centaur slowly began approaching Tuziku.
Tuziku stumbled backward in panic.
He's coming!
He glanced down at his side.
Blood gushed from the area where the Centaur's earlier attack had landed.
Tuziku gritted his teeth as he glared at the man-beast.
Then—
He dashed toward the side of the Creature in an attempt to reach the chest.
But before he could even get close—
The Centaur instantly appeared in his path.
It swung its spear with tremendous force, attempting to strike Tuziku.
In a split second, Tuziku quickly raised his arm to block the attack.
But the sheer force behind the blow was so powerful that he was still sent flying several meters away.
THUD!
He crashed into the ground and deliberately rolled to soften the impact.
After several seconds of struggling, he successfully managed to regain his footing.
"Augh...!" He clutched his arm.
"This thing is way too powerful!"
As he glanced toward the Centaur, he realized that it was carefully observing him.
"!!!"
What the hell is wrong with this Creature...?!
"DAMN IT ALL!!!" he screamed in frustration.
In a fit of rage, he blindly charged toward the Centaur, swinging his fist aimlessly.
Then—
WHACK!!
The Creature simply swung its spear, swatting Tuziku away as though he were nothing more than a bug.
CRASH...!!
Tuziku crashed into the ground and rolled toward the edge of the mountain.
"AHHHHHH!!" He writhed in agony, clutching his arm.
"SHIT!!"
My arm—
It's broken...!
The Centaur suddenly began closing in.
Tuziku instantly forced himself back onto his feet despite his broken arm and ribs.
As the Creature continued to approach, Tuziku slowly stepped backward while keeping his eyes locked on the Centaur.
Until—
CRACK...!
"Woah...!"
Tuziku turned around.
What he saw was a 500-meter drop from the top to the base of the mountain below.
He had reached the edge of the mountain's peak.
The Centaur had almost reached striking distance.
He was completely trapped.
Tuziku stood firm and clenched his fists as he faced the Centaur.
This isn't good...!
With a blank expression, the Centaur suddenly raised its spear.
Tuziku gritted his teeth as he watched helplessly as the Creature readied its attack.
Why does it always end like this...?!
At the same time—
Back in Hakashi Village...
At Ryōkōjū's house—
Kutcher and Ryōkōjū had finally returned to the house, where Prīōra and Nēgus greeted them upon arrival.
"Hey, everyone, I'm home...!" Ryōkōjū shouted cheerfully.
"Grandpa?!" Nēgus shouted in surprise.
"You're finally back!"
"Where the hell were you all morning?!" Prīōra shouted in a fit of rage.
She glanced behind him.
"Kutcher...!" She abouted in surprise as she ran toward him.
Nēgus squinted his eyes as he gazed at Kutcher.
It's the other insolent brat...!
"What are you doing here?!" Prīōra asked.
"Wait, were you with Grandpa all this time?"
"Yeah..." he replied bluntly.
"Geez... Where have you two been all morning? It's been over three hours!" she pouted.
"I, umm—" Kutcher mumbled nervously.
I can't tell her about Tuziku...!
"Kutcher...?" Prīōra glared at him suspiciously.
Ryōkōjū suddenly stepped in front of Kutcher.
"Now, now, Prīōra..."
"Grandpa...!"
"What's going on?"
"And where is Tuziku?"
She ran toward the door.
"I don't see him anywhere..." she said as she looked from left to right.
Nēgus stepped forward.
"What's going on... Grandpa?!"
Ryōkōjū turned toward Kutcher as he stroked his long, grey beard.
"Well..."
"This morning, as I was about to go for my usual morning walk, I noticed this one and Tuziku sleeping outside my door..."
"What?!" Nēgus snapped.
"You insolent pests...!" He clenched his fists as he glared at Kutcher.
"In any case..." Ryōkōjū continued.
"Tuziku insisted he wasn't leaving until I taught him the Hakashi technique..."
"And what did you do?" Prīōra asked.
Ryōkōjū placed his hands behind his back.
"...I gave him a test to prove his resolve!"
"I promised him that if he could reach the top of Mount Yakushi and retrieve the treasure chest up there..."
"I'd teach him the Hakashi technique," he grinned innocently.
"YOU WHAT...?!" Prīōra snapped.
"The legendary man-beast resides at the peak of Mount Yakushi! There's no way Tuziku can pass that test!" she shouted in a panic.
"Grandpa, what have you done?!" she cried.
Nēgus laughed.
"Hmph!"
"A perfect test indeed, Grandpa!" he grinned.
Prīōra glared at him with disgust.
"And you, Kutcher..." She glared at him angrily.
"How could you let Tuziku do something so reckless?!"
Kutcher averted his gaze.
"...I tried to stop him..."
"Ryōkōjū explained the dangers of this test, and Tuziku still willingly agreed to go..." he explained.
Prīōra sighed.
"Geez, Tuziku..." She clasped her hands together.
"Please make it back alive...!"
Meanwhile, back on Mount Yakushi with Tuziku—
As Tuziku stood at the edge of the mountain, the Centaur had finally closed in.
He had nowhere to run.
The man-beast raised his spear...
Tuziku gritted his teeth as he watched in despair as the Centaur prepared its final attack.
If only I were stronger...
...Damn it...!
I refuse to give up!
The Centaur lunged its spear toward Tuziku with terrifying speed.
"AHHHHHH!!" Tuziku shouted, still locking eyes with the beast.
Just before the Centaur's spear could pierce Tuziku's chest—
It suddenly froze mid-attack.
CHAPTER 39 END