Raising the Princess to Overcome Death

Chapter 137

  Engagement: Sulgak Saro

- That, OOOOK!

In the snow-covered forest, a beast, smaller than a Noguhwa but twice as large as an ordinary horse, roared in a low, muffled tone.

With its dull cry, branches heavily burdened with thick layers of snow snapped and snow poured down from all around.

It was a reindeer called "Sulgak Saro."

The five people, who had been traveling southeast for three days with two horses loaded with supplies, watched its majesty from a distance.

“Wow... is that a beast? It's a complete monster,” Lena said, her tongue hanging out.

Leo, who had seen beasts several times before, wasn’t as surprised but thought that this hunt would be challenging.

Its size was relatively small for a beast. However, Leo eyed its horns warily.

The horns were translucent like ice, with a frosty texture on the surface, and despite it being winter, a faint chill emanated from them.“How about it? Isn’t it magnificent? A creature like that is worth risking our lives for, isn’t it?” Ran said enthusiastically.

Driven by her enthusiasm, she dismounted and grabbed her axe and shield.

“Wait!”

“Wait! Huh?”

Both Leo and Lena shouted simultaneously, looking at each other.

“You go first. Whatever it is.”

“Sure. When hunting beasts, you shouldn't just charge in. Instead of trying to catch it all at once, it's better to engage it multiple times to understand its habits… someone said so.”

“Habits?”

Lena shared advice she heard from her father through her mother.

“Beasts each have unique strengths and follow certain patterns. In urgent situations, they repeat their usual actions. Knowing when to retreat is also a form of courage. Rather than trying to catch it in one go, it’s better to confront it several times to understand its habits.”

Ran, Anne, and Urok nodded.

The advice from the seasoned warrior who had faced trials was invaluable. Although they valued courage in not retreating, they listened attentively to Lena’s words, knowing it was Dehor’s advice.

“So what should we do? Should we observe it?”

“I think we should engage it once. What do you think? If it seems dangerous, we can run away.”

“Will it let us escape? Reindeer are fast.”

They tethered the horses far away, set up a small camp, and debated for a while.

How to catch that monster.

Poison and traps were naturally forbidden. Thus, they had to physically overpower it, but a creature of that size, equivalent to ten adults, wouldn’t be easy to subdue.

“I think the key is how to block its horns,” Leo said.

“It’s smaller than what I’ve seen… or rather heard about. Most beasts are supposed to be enormous. This one might primarily use its horns as a weapon.”

“...It's big, though?”

“Gigantic, actually.”

“I mean…”

Leo pondered how to explain.

The beasts he had encountered each had distinct characteristics.

The Noguhwa moved with an almost mystical lightness. Despite its massive size, it leaped high into the sky, deceiving its prey like a fox.

The Apohan Don, with its boar-like body, was heavy and ponderous.

Despite being a “Migas” by birth, it had a colossal frame and rolled like a landslide in its final moments.

What about this beast? With its horns, it would naturally charge, but was that all?

Its size was too small to rely solely on charging with its horns. Compared to other beasts, it seemed less intimidating.

‘It must have something else. But since I don’t know, as Dehor said, we’ll have to confront it several times to figure it out.’

Thinking that it shouldn’t flee like the Doheukpoma, Leo gave up trying to explain. This was a matter of experience, difficult to convey in words.

He couldn’t claim to have experience hunting beasts, so Leo diverted the conversation.

“First, let’s secure an escape route. I think digging deep into the ground would be good. It would be even better if there’s a cave the beast can’t enter.”

“Digging in this winter ground is tough... but a cave, that sounds good. The horns will prevent it from entering. It would be great if it just charges in blindly.”

Agreeing, Anne folded her arms and pointed out an issue.

“But if the cave is too far, it won’t be useful. We need a way to lure it in.”

“Right. So even if it’s tough, digging nearby…”

“I know a way to lure it.”

Everyone's attention turned to Urok Ainar, who had been listening quietly. He continued in a low voice.

After a moment, Lena exclaimed in admiration after hearing Urok’s idea.

“Really? Wow! As expected of Urok.”

Urok Ainar, the future chief and a skilled hunter of the Ainar tribe, knew many things. Although he was older and part of a different hunting team led by Dehor, making his interactions with Lena infrequent, he was recognized as a promising leader for the tribe.

“Great! Then my brother and I will look for a cave. Lena, go to the nearby village and get that item. Urok and Leo… it’s better for men to handle it, so I’ll leave it to you.”

Ran mischievously smiled, concluding the discussion. With the plan set and spirits high, everyone dispersed to their tasks.

In the camp, only Urok and Leo remained. They drank water and chatted idly.

The hunt seemed promising.

But Leo, who had to think about what would happen after the hunt, couldn’t simply enjoy the conversation. Urok, not being from the Ainar tribe, didn’t speak more than necessary to Leo, so they quietly drank their water.

- OOOOK! Oook… oook!

The mournful cry of the Sulgak Saro echoed through the winter forest.

  *

“It’s coming. Get ready.”

The five of them held their breaths at the cave entrance. The “Sulgak Saro” was pushing branches aside with its horns, slowly approaching.

The beast was licking the snow-covered ground, and Lena grimaced at the sight.

“It’s really drinking urine.”

Urok Ainar had suggested luring the Sulgak Saro with urine.

Wild animals always sought salt.

Living beings inevitably need salt. The heart, which has the highest salt concentration in the body, is elastic, and salt aids digestion and prevents inflammation and disease.

Freshwater fish suffer frequent minor illnesses, whereas saltwater fish rarely get sick, precisely because of the salt content.

Land animals also desperately crave salt, especially herbivores.

Carnivorous animals get their salt from eating the entrails of their prey, but herbivores cannot. This is why swift animals like "Erakt" sometimes abandon their lush grasslands to climb cliffs, where they lick the salt deposits.

So what about the "Sulgak Saro"?

Urok had figured this out. Reindeer would find it difficult to climb cliffs, and creatures of that size would have a strong desire for salt.

However, simply placing a lump of salt on the ground wouldn't attract the Sulgak Saro, so they used urine.

The pungent smell undoubtedly contained salt.

Leo and Urok, after drinking lots of water, collected their urine and spread it around the cave found by Ran and Anne. The Sulgak Saro, licking the urine as it approached, discovered the lump of salt that Lena had brought and let out a long howl.

It was a call to its companions.

Deer species didn't bury their heads in food when they found it. They first called their group members and shared the food.

However, even after quite a while of calling, no other reindeer came. The Sulgak Saro soon lowered its head and began licking the salt.

Urok spoke.

“We can’t use this method twice. If we fail this time, we’ll need another strategy.”

“Let’s catch it this time. No need to overthink.”

“No, we mustn't be too greedy. If it seems dangerous, let’s retreat to the cave. We can try again after a while. There’s no rush, is there? It’s not going anywhere.”

Anne, ever the calm one, advised her sister.

Eventually, the five of them, armed, emerged from the cave. Cautiously, they approached the beast, now within reach, and it didn’t flee. It continued to lick the salt while watching them.

“It really isn’t running away? Well, with that size, it’s not likely to be scared of us…”

Urok looked at Leo in surprise.

He had suggested they needed to surround it to prevent escape, but Leo had assured him it wouldn’t be necessary.

Beasts didn’t flee at the sight of humans. The Doheukpoma had fled after a single hit, but even that timid beast initially showed fighting spirit.

Leo shrugged, grateful his prediction was correct.

“Be careful. It might charge. Let’s keep some distance.”

At that moment, a strange feeling came over him.

Like when he had obtained the “Hiberuna,” Leo instinctively knew what to do.

“Ran, Anne, go to the left. Urok and Lena, to the right. I’ll take the front. Don’t attack all at once; follow my lead.”

[ Quest: War Maniac 10000/10000 - {Leadership} skill level increased. ]

This was a skill Leo had gained after annihilating the army led by Marquis Harie Guidan in Nevis.

Ran, Anne, Lena, and Urok followed Leo’s orders without question. It seemed to be due not only to his {Leadership} skill but also the influence of his {King’s Blood} ability.

- Oooook! Oook!

As the five showed their intent to kill, the Sulgak Saro reacted. However, it didn’t seem too threatened and continued licking the salt.

“Left side first!”

With the shout, Leo charged.

Aiming to sever its horns, he swung his sword diagonally, putting all his strength into the strike after five steps.

Then,

- Ooooooook!

“Oh!”

The horns grew longer. They extended rapidly in all directions, glowing blue like bamboo shoots after rain.

It was cold. Leo felt a chill as his sword struck the horns.

Although it was already winter, the temperature dropped further. Frost formed on the sword where it met the horns, but Leo pressed down hard, preventing the beast from raising its head.

For some reason, the others hesitated to attack, and Leo shouted.

“What are you doing?! Attack!”

“Look at the ground!”

It was Lena’s shout.

But Leo had no time to survey the situation.

As the Sulgak Saro pushed with all four legs, his feet slid on the frozen ground.

- Oook! Oook! Oooook!

“Damn it! Get lost!”

Leo pushed the reindeer’s horns hard.

The beast was weak.

It seemed surprisingly feeble for its size, not as strong as expected.

“Why aren’t they attacking…?”

Leo, who had gained a moment of respite, looked around and finally understood.

The ground was frozen.

Although snow covered the ground, it hadn’t been frosted like this before. He wondered why his feet had slipped.

Its hooves glowed a bluish hue.

Apart from the cold emanating from its horns, the Sulgak Saro’s steps spread a white wave, freezing the ground as it walked.

“Lena! Are you okay?”

“Yes! I’m fine. My feet are just stuck. I can… get free!”

Lena wobbled her body.

As she tilted, her shoe came off the ground. She managed to free one foot and struggled to free the other. The others did the same, shaking their bodies side to side.

“Damn it. No wonder it seemed small… I knew there was something.”

The Sulgak Saro, having passed Leo, looked back at them majestically.

It tilted its head as if to ask, ‘Will you continue?’ One clear eye was fixed on Leo.

Leo cautiously backed away.

Keeping an eye on the beast’s short, mocking cries, he tended to his companions.

“Let’s retreat for now.”

He first helped Lena.

Freeing her feet wasn’t difficult, but once one foot was freed, the other would stick again, making her movement awkward and slow.

Even so, she pulled Urok’s hand, and Ran and Anne supported each other as they retreated.

Fortunately, the Sulgak Saro didn’t chase them. It watched them flee to the cave and then continued licking the lump of salt.