A Waste of Time

Chapter 47: Obscured Promise

Unlike humans, who circle each other before a clash, animals waste no time—they go straight for the kill. The Anaconda opened its massive jaws, rows of inward-curved fangs glinting. Its target wasn’t the Tigress, but the Moose carcass beneath her!

Roar.

Insulted by this blatant disrespect, the Tigress lashed out. Her massive paw slammed the Anaconda’s head sideways, crashing it into the ground with a thud that made Daemon flinch.

The Anaconda retaliated immediately. Its tail, thick as a Great-Axe handle, swung down from above like a Hammer, aiming for the Tigress’s back—but struck the Moose instead. The sharp crack of breaking bones echoed up the waterfall.

The Tigress lunged and clamped her jaws around the Snake’s skull. But that was her misstep—a Constrictor’s greatest strength is its crushing coils. Within seconds, thick loops of muscle wrapped around her torso, tightening mercilessly.

Daemon’s grin faded. His eyes darted to the shadows behind the trees where a pair of tiny, glowing orbs flickered—wide and trembling with fear.

A cub.

She’d have won if she’d raked that head with her claws instead of biting! Half a step short of victory and now she’s finished.

Whizz.Thud.

An Arrow buried itself in the Anaconda’s eye. Daemon leapt from the rocks, landing on the shore in a single bound. The Tigress bared her fangs in panic, snarling as she thrashed against the dying snake’s coils.

Meow.Grrr.

A tiny Tiger cub burst from the brush, planting itself bravely between Daemon and its mother. Daemon sighed and dropped his Bow. With a thought, he activated his Second Form—extra arms sprouted from his sides, veins bulging with power.

"Is this how you treat your savior? Hush."

He grabbed the cub by the scruff and lifted it gently. The Tigress froze, eyes wide and wild. Daemon’s two right arms pinned her jaws shut while two more grasped her forelimbs. The rest worked to unwind the Anaconda’s thick coils, revealing the Tigress’s battered frame and a clearly broken hind leg.

Daemon lowered mother and cub beside the Moose. "Eat." He nudged their snouts toward the carcass. They hesitated, staring at him. Only when he stepped back to bind the Anaconda’s body with rope did they tear into the Moose.

The smell of blood didn’t go unnoticed. A Black Bear lumbered from the trees, sniffing eagerly.

The Tigress flinched, ready to limp away with her cub since another battle means certain death under these circumstances.

"Hey!" Daemon snapped. He stomped forward and slapped the Bear’s snout. It whimpered, spun around, and vanished into the brush with a huff.

He turned back. "Eat quickly. I’m starving too."

Growl.

"Show your fangs again and I’ll tan your hide, you ungrateful furball."

Snort.

The cub ignored him, chewing happily beside its mother. Ten minutes later, Daemon slung the Anaconda over his shoulder and turned to leave.

Rustle.

He glanced back. The Tigress limped after him, her cub sticking close.

Following me for safety, huh? Great. Now I can’t head back to the Village.

He sighed, changing course toward his hidden campsite. There goes a big chunk of time on my Asura’s Buff. Whatever. I saved them—it’s my responsibility now.

The smell of hot stew reached him long before camp came into view. The cub squeaked excitedly and darted ahead, but the Tigress pinned it with a soft growl, keeping it close.

Daemon dumped the Anaconda near the fire and waved. "Nobody chase them off. Xia, grab a pot of food for them."

Xia froze. Mei squeaked. Jia just walked up and checked Daemon’s arms for injuries, then eyed the massive Snake and the Tigress at the edge of the woods.

"You hunted an Aquatic-Boa, Young Master?"

"She hunted first. Then the Boa came for her prize. I gave her a hand. Now she’s following me for protection. Couldn’t risk the villagers panicking, so here we are." He grabbed the pot Xia shakily offered and stepped toward the Tigress.

She lowered her head, baring fangs and letting out a low warning growl as Daemon closed the gap. He stopped within claw range, calm and unflinching.

"Eat and heal. But don’t sneak into camp without permission, or they’ll bully you in front of your cub. Up to you." He squatted, placed the pot under her nose, then boldly patted her head.

Instead of biting, the Tigress rumbled a rough purr and licked at the stew. The cub wriggled under its mother’s belly, snout diving into the pot eagerly.

Daemon grinned. Not quite tame... but close enough.

He jogged back to the fire and collapsed onto a log bench. Mei set a steaming bowl in front of him, voice trembling. "Y-Young Master... what if it attacks us?"

Jia hugged her from behind, eyes gleaming. "Want to pet it with me?"

"No!" Mei squealed as Jia scooped her up and swung her toward the Tigress. Mei went stiff, eyes wide as saucers when the big cat’s gaze found her.

Jia plopped the petrified girl next to Daemon, cackling. "Only good girls get my protection. Bad girls get eaten."

Mei nodded frantically. "Mei is good!"

Xia sighed, scolding Jia with a glare. "Stop scaring her. She’s just a child."

Jia just winked wickedly. Daemon chuckled into his bowl while his cook and maid clung to each other, shivering in mock terror. The Tigress tilted her head, confused by these strange humans who fought monsters and each other with equal enthusiasm.

Daemon finished his food and leaned back, eyes drifting to the Tigress again. Should I keep them close? Maybe they’ll help me hunt bigger prey... or at least keep pests away. Not bad company either.

He glanced at Xia, who was still watching the Tigress warily. "Don’t worry. If she causes trouble, I’ll handle it."

Jia grinned. "Should I train the cub? Teach it to guard the camp?"

"Try it," Daemon snorted. "Just don’t come crying when it bites your nose off."

Mei tugged at Daemon’s sleeve. "Young Master... does it have a name?"

He paused, eyeing the Tigress, then the cub. "No. Wild things don’t need names. But maybe... we’ll see."

Xia and Mei exchanged worried glances, both stealing nervous peeks at the Tigress and her cub near the treeline. Even with Daemon’s calm confidence, the sight of a fully grown predator so close made their hands tremble while they cleared the breakfast bowls. Xia whispered, "I hope Young Master knows what he’s doing." Mei nodded, clutching her apron tight. Neither dared to get too close, both keeping one eye on the Tigress as they worked, hoping the wild mother stayed where she was until Daemon led her away to the Village.

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