The creature at the end of his vision gradually grew larger. Haizaki's heart flashed with the thought: "As expected."
The heavy sound of running could only be made by a medium-to-large animal like a bear. But aside from the massive black bear, there were also…
"Whimper…"
"Roar…"
Two chased… dogs? But noticing the fur and feral eyes of one, Haizaki thought it was more likely a wolf.
A bear and a wolf fighting? The law of the jungle. Their encounter had led to a battle.
In reality, the two dogs were no match for the black bear. Their only choice was to flee.
"Thud…"
The black bear's charging figure was clearly powerful. Its legs gathered strength and suddenly exploded, leaping five to six meters to catch up with the wolf lagging behind. Its paw lifted high and slammed down hard on the dog.
The immense force…
"Whimper…"
Unable to dodge in time, the dog was swatted away like a kite with its string cut, flying five to six meters and letting out a pained cry. Clearly, that strike had injured it.
The dog in front, seeing its companion hurt, immediately stopped. After a moment's hesitation, it changed direction, baring its teeth viciously, and lunged back, trying to bite the bear's neck. But it only managed to bite the bear's arm.
Sharp teeth sank into flesh.
"Roar…"
The black bear howled, swinging its arm with all its strength, trying to shake the dog off.
To Haizaki, the outcome was obvious. The two dogs couldn't escape the bear's hunt—unless he intervened.
"Let's go…"
Haizaki ultimately decided not to get involved. The weak are prey to the strong—the law of the jungle. Besides, in the coming nine months, for survival, he might also become a killer of animals, simply to live.
But then Haizaki noticed Yukino clutching his sleeve. He instinctively looked at the girl beside him.
Her dark blue eyes conveyed: "She hoped he would stop it. She didn't want to see the dogs killed."
Her kindness wasn't unpleasant, but in this apocalyptic environment, it was helpless. Neither bear nor dog was "good" or "bad." Both acted for survival. If the bear were weaker, the dogs might have killed it for food.
At that moment, the dog that had been swatted away struggled to its feet, scanning its surroundings, and finally noticed Haizaki and Yukino.
"Howl…"
It cried out, then turned and sprinted toward them.
The other dog, still biting the bear's arm and refusing to let go despite repeated blows, immediately released its grip, dodged another strike, and also began running.
Haizaki's face changed. He quickly raised his gun to aim. His left hand pulled Yukino back as they retreated.
Who could have thought the bear-dog fight would spill over to them?
"Don't come closer…"
But clearly, his warning couldn't stop the two dogs from charging forward. It seemed they saw him as their hope for survival.
The bear, seeing Haizaki again, hesitated for a moment, then decided to chase after them.
Food. It and its cub needed food.
"Bang…"
Haizaki fired a shot into the sky. The gunshot rang out, the deafening sound startling all the animals present.
If they dared approach, Haizaki wouldn't hesitate to end their lives with his gun.
"Whine… Woof…"
At that moment, one of the dogs barked at Haizaki, who was aiming his gun. Its eyes softened, its expression almost pleading.
The other dog looked panicked and wary, staring at him—or rather, at the gun in his hand.
"Woof…"
Huskies usually howl rather than bark. But now, for survival, it barked again.
From its appearance, this husky had clearly lived during humanity's time. Humans had been its masters, the ones it trusted and relied on. So, faced with the bear's threat, it instinctively sought help from humans.
"Yusuke-kun…"
Yukino tugged at his sleeve again. Even she didn't know why she did it.
Inside, a voice told her she could ignore it, choose not to care. But instinctively, she didn't want to see blood and death.
"Didn't you dislike dogs?"
"I don't want to see them die here. They're asking us for help."
That was the key. Noticing the husky's ice-blue eyes pleading for help, Yukino's heart was moved.
"I understand."
Haizaki turned to look at her again, noticing her pale skin once more.
"Put your clothes on first."
Hearing this, Yukino looked down and realized she was still only in underwear, clutching her clothes. Her face flushed red, and she hurriedly dressed.
But what next? The simplest solution was to make the bear leave. Facing a man with a gun, the bear wouldn't risk it.
Yet Haizaki couldn't help but find it funny. This bear had twice been thwarted in its hunt by him. Its luck was truly terrible.
So… Haizaki decided to offer some "compensation." At least the bear had shown restraint and hadn't harmed Yukino.
"Yukino, check that supermarket for honey…"
If there wasn't any, Haizaki could only apologize.
Hearing this while dressing, Yukino couldn't help but admire his idea. She hadn't thought of it herself. At least this way, it was a win-win.
"I'll go right away…"
She quickly pulled on loose sportswear and ran toward the nearest supermarket.
The bear and wolf didn't move.
Even though Yukino's departure made them tense, they stayed still.
Haizaki focused on the husky, waved his left hand, signaling it to come closer.
He thought the husky might hesitate. But instead, it trotted happily toward him, leaving Haizaki dumbfounded.
"Whimper…"
It even rubbed its head against his leg affectionately.
The wolf, however, didn't know what to do. It just stood quietly, glancing at Haizaki, then at the bear behind. Seeing neither side advance, it relaxed a little. At least for now, it was safe.
The black bear, unwilling, finally decided to leave. It knew this hunt had failed. It needed to find other prey. Otherwise, it would be left gnawing on grass.
Two hunts failed today. But there was no choice. That dark iron weapon could easily take its life.
"Wait…"
It didn't understand the human's words, but instinctively felt that he didn't want it to leave. It bared its teeth, showing a ferocious gaze, declaring its attitude.
"I won't hurt you. As compensation, I'll give you something soon…"
Haizaki hoped Yukino would hurry. The beast couldn't understand his words, and it wouldn't wait long.
"Roar…"
The black bear bared its teeth and claws, but still didn't move forward.
Meanwhile, the husky had already hidden behind Haizaki, glaring at the bear, barking furiously. Its posture screamed: "Come closer and I'll bite you to death."
A minute later, Yukino rushed out carrying a plastic bag.
"Sorry, I'm late…"
Her breathing was heavy. The stench inside the supermarket was overwhelming. Rotten fruits and vegetables had left years of suffocating odor in the enclosed space. Searching for something specific in that environment was even harder.
"I'll deliver it…"
Haizaki reached to take the bag from her.
"I'll go…"
Yukino stepped back, refusing his offer. She needed to do what she could. It was just delivering something. With Haizaki there, she wouldn't be in danger.
But the fear from the bear attack an hour earlier began to resurface. Yukino clenched her teeth, her resolve firm. She had to overcome her fear.
The howls nearby gave Haizaki another idea.
"No, let this guy go…"
The husky froze. Its ice-blue eyes widened in disbelief, staring at Haizaki, expression stiff.
It was supposed to go? He wanted it to go?
"Whimper…"
"This…"
Yukino looked at the husky rubbing against Haizaki, unsure what to say.
"Go or not. If not, I won't care about you anymore."
"Whimper…"
The husky finally walked to Haizaki. Yukino instinctively stepped back.
Haizaki took the plastic bag, pulled out a dagger, stabbed a hole in the sealed honey jar, and placed it back inside. The scent would let the bear know what it was.
"Deliver it…"
It wasn't much, not heavy. The husky could carry it.
The husky was nervous and afraid of the bear, but faced with Haizaki's command, it couldn't refuse.
Its ice-blue eyes showed determination. It bit the bag and slowly approached the bear.
It was just a bear. What was there to fear? It had bitten one before.
But that ferocious face, that massive body…
Forget it.
Two-thirds of the way there, the husky dropped the honey and bolted back.
Haizaki, watching, twitched his lips.
This guy… coward to the core. Such a stark contrast to its earlier bravery when it had turned back to bite the bear.
"Roar…"
The faint scent of honey told the bear what it was, and it understood Haizaki's intention. It even showed a hint of gratitude, taking the bag of honey and leaving.
It knew he bore no malice. The bear could feel that. So it stopped baring its teeth.
Memories of living alongside humans resurfaced.
"Alright, it's safe for now. You can… leave." Haizaki spoke.
Letting them leave was the best choice. The husky might be fine, but the wolf—Haizaki couldn't trust it.
"Howl…"
The husky let out a long, mournful cry, clearly unwilling to leave. It was obvious this husky had once lived happily with humans.
But the crystallization virus had destroyed humanity, leaving pets like it to survive. To live, they had to unleash their wild instincts, their genetic beast nature.
Yet Haizaki's presence seemed to awaken the husky's memories of better days. It wanted to return to that life. Why risk death hunting, living a miserable life of uncertainty, when it could follow humans, eat well, and live comfortably?
"Go. We don't have the time or energy to care for you…"
Haizaki crouched, stroking the husky's head.
"Whine…"
The husky sat down, rolled over, exposing its soft belly, twisting its body playfully, full of affection.
Haizaki couldn't help scratching it a few times.
"Pant, pant…"
It panted heavily.
Haizaki reached into his backpack and pulled out two sausages.
Seeing the red sausages in his hand, the husky flipped over instantly, its ice-blue eyes locked on them. It hadn't tasted such a treat in a long time.
The smell—
Delicious.
"Here…"
The husky bit into one, eating half. Then, thinking of its companion nearby, it reluctantly carried the remaining half to the wolf.
The wolf glared fiercely, then ate.
Haizaki noticed then—the wolf was female.
This husky was impressive.
It had managed to win over a female wolf as a companion.
Yukino watched the warm scene, her heart softening, then looked at Haizaki.
She saw him tear open the other sausage and place it before the husky, under the wolf's wary gaze.
"We're leaving. Live well. Take care of your… companion. Live well."
The wolf's pupils shrank when Haizaki extended his hand, baring its teeth, but ultimately didn't attack.
"Howl…"
The husky bit Haizaki's pants leg, tugging hard, unwilling to let him go.
"Stop it. You know we can't take you."
"Whimper…"
Its big tail wagged, still trying to act cute.
"Yusuke-kun, can't we take them?"
Yukino saw the husky's longing and felt reluctant to abandon them.
"Don't you like cats, Miss Snow Cat…"
"Don't give people nicknames without permission."
She glared at Haizaki, then continued, "With it, we'd have help keeping watch at night. And during outings, it could warn us of danger."
Yukino pointed out the husky's usefulness. This world was dangerous. So even though she instinctively feared dogs and wanted to avoid them, she still made the suggestion.
Haizaki considered the feasibility. It seemed possible.
But a husky keeping watch? Warning of danger? Was that reliable?
…