The Attendant in the Horror Game C38

Chapter 38

The blurred figure flew through the air toward Ian. Ian immediately hurled himself toward the cave.

Pak—

But the Shadow Wolf was faster. Its sharp teeth clamped down onto his boot. Most of Ian’s body slipped back into the darkness of the cave, but his foot did not.

And the Shadow Wolf would not let go. Its jaws locked around the boot with vicious strength, preventing Ian from pulling free even when he tried to kick the boot off.

“Ugh…!”

All he had to hold onto was the smooth cave floor. Ian was helplessly dragged backward, and soon his entire body was out on the snowy ground.

He grabbed fistfuls of snow and threw it desperately. But it wasn’t nearly enough to disrupt the Shadow Wolf.

Its eyes gleamed as it bared its teeth, dragging him toward where the rest of the pack waited—clearly intending to let the others feed on him together.

“Let go!”

He tried kicking with his free foot, but he couldn’t reach. The boot on his trapped foot was half slipping off. He kicked as hard as he could, sending the loose boot flying—but it missed the wolf entirely.

“Ugh….”

Dragged across the snow, Ian looked toward the cave. The only person who could help him now was Jade. But the words help me wouldn’t come out. He had never asked anyone for help in his life.

More than that—would Jade even save him? Or, seeing this as an opportunity, would he simply watch?

Ian remembered Jade’s quietly threatening conversation with his uncle’s aide. And then he imagined Jade watching coldly as the wolf dragged him away.

“……”

Better that Jade didn’t come at all. Better to be torn apart by wolves than face Jade’s indifference as he died.

While he thought this, Ian’s body was dragged farther from the cave. His handprints stretched in a long trail behind him.

“…Mm?”

At that moment, Jade—leaning against the wall asleep—stirred at the noise.

His lap felt light. Ian, who had been resting there, was gone. Rubbing his eyes, he looked around and immediately realized Ian was nowhere inside the cave.

“Ian?”

Outside, the sun had not yet fully set. A surge of dread shot through him, and he bolted out of the cave without hesitation.

“……!”

Jade’s expression hardened. A rough track carved into the snow stretched ahead, as though something had been dragged. At the end of it, a Shadow Wolf was pulling Ian away.

“Ian!”

He needed to throw something—anything. But there was nothing but snow around him. Not even a rock. He spun back toward the cave, rummaging blindly for anything inside his sack.

Then he saw it—the smoldering log with faint embers left in it.

Fire. Of course. Shadows disappeared in darkness, but bright light could erase them too. Fire was hot.

Suddenly, he remembered something from the game guide: northern creatures were weak to heat and flame. Shadow Wolves, which moved like mist and water, would logically be vulnerable too.

He wasn’t sure. But it was worth trying. And the burning log could also disrupt their form long enough to help.

Jade grabbed the ember-tipped log and charged. He hurled it with force; it struck the Shadow Wolf dead-on. The wolf’s form distorted violently—far worse than when hit with the pumpkin.

In fact, “distorted” wasn’t enough. The part struck by the burning wood melted away like wax under a flame, dripping into nothing.

His hunch was correct. Shadow Wolves’ weakness was heat—flames hot enough to disrupt their form.

“Let go, damn it! I said let go!”

But the wolf’s jaws still wouldn’t release Ian’s boot. Jade kicked at its snout repeatedly until finally Ian’s foot slipped free. Jade grabbed him and staggered back before the creature could re-form.

“Haah… haah….”

“Ian, back into the cave. Now.”

“Haa… wait, my legs—”

Ian couldn’t stand. His strength was completely drained. Without hesitation, Jade crouched in front of him.

“On my back.”

After a brief pause, Ian climbed onto him. He knew there was no other choice. Once Ian’s arms wrapped weakly around him, Jade stood—

“Grrrr…!”

Another wolf lunged from behind. There had been more than one left. Its direction made it clear: it was targeting the more vulnerable Ian.

Jade twisted his body sharply to shield the boy.

The first wolf—the one burned—was pulling itself back together as well. Only a few meters separated them from the cave. Jade sprinted for it. Both wolves gave chase.

“Ah!”

In his haste, Jade slipped on the slanted ground at the cave entrance. Again, the wooden soles betrayed him.

He threw his weight forward to avoid falling backward, but that only made things worse.

His body lifted slightly, then slid violently into the cave. He saw the sharp rock jutting out from the cave floor—but far too late.

Thud!

He landed hard. His left arm slammed into the jagged stone. Ian, who had been on his back, rolled off to the side.

“Ugh…!”

Jade clutched his arm. Pain exploded. His forearm throbbed sharply, numbness spreading. His head spun from the intensity. His fingers wouldn’t respond—not even a twitch. This wasn’t a bruise.

It felt like something had cracked.

“Are—are you okay?!”

“Agh…”

Ian’s already pale face drained completely of color. He looked ready to cry. Jade wanted to reassure him, but he couldn’t. The pain was too intense to speak. If he opened his mouth, only groans would spill out. At least Ian hadn’t been hurt.

Cold sweat formed on Jade’s forehead. Exhaustion crashed down on him like a wave. Every muscle felt heavy. Maybe it was the long day—the running, the fighting, the injuries. His eyelids drooped.

Maybe just a short nap. They couldn’t leave the cave yet anyway. If he slept a little, perhaps the pain would ease…

Ding.

He forced his heavy eyes open at the intrusive sound.

The system window burst into view with flashy effects. Monster Hunter. Jade gritted his teeth and looked toward the entrance.

Two Shadow Wolves prowled outside. One of them looked wrong. Though just as hazy, its form was warped—its edges flickered like burnt cinders, like something partially melted and re-hardened.

It flickered, then dissipated entirely. Smoke in the shape of a wolf rose upward and vanished. It wasn’t merely injured—it had been obliterated.

Because it’s a northern monster…

The guide had been right. Northern monsters were weak to heat. The long winters made fire a lethal threat.

But gaining this title now felt pointless.

The system seemed to disagree.

System <<
Reward for title “Monster Hunter”: Offensive skill acquired.

Special Skill <<
Lv.1 — Fireball

Trumpet-like fanfare blared obnoxiously. Jade’s injured arm throbbed at the noise.

Perfect. Great timing. Absolutely useless timing.

“Seriously… you’ve got to be kidding me…”

He swallowed his frustration with clenched teeth—and blacked out.

When Jade finally woke again, it was deep in the night. Ian was beside him.

A blanket covered Jade’s body, and the rough cloth he’d tied around his hand earlier had been replaced with neatly wrapped bandages.

His injured arm was splinted—with the leftover board he had used when repairing his soles. Ian must have set it as a makeshift brace.

When did we get back to the villa?

No—this wasn’t the villa. They were still in the cave. Yet every item used to tend to him came from the villa. Which meant…

“Are you awake? You’re awake?”

Ian’s face appeared in front of him—white and delicate, but his eyes were swollen red. He had clearly cried. Ian, always composed and aloof, crying was unimaginable.

Of course he would be scared.

Outside lurked monsters, and his only protector had collapsed. How could he not be terrified?

“When… when did you do all this…?”

There was a lantern. There were freshly steamed potatoes. Items Ian must have retrieved from the villa.

He couldn’t have gone while wolves lingered outside. Which meant—he waited until nightfall, then made several trips alone through the dark forest.

Alone. A child who had just been attacked.

Jade scanned the cave—there was too much brought back in one trip. At least three round trips.

Even now Ian looked ready to cry. How frightened must he have been walking alone at night?

“Are you… okay?”

Ian’s voice was tiny. Jade forced a bright, confident smile, because Ian needed reassurance.

“I’m fine.”

“……”

But Ian’s face twisted painfully, tears welling.

“Really. I’m okay.”

“Mm… hic…”

Ian finally broke. His crying wasn’t loud like a child’s—but quiet, stifled sobs that made Jade’s heart squeeze.

Jade reached out with his uninjured hand and gently patted Ian’s back.

Outside, the moonlight shone down like frost—clear and bright.