― GRRR....
"Ha, haha. How's that."
I grinned. While the creature was rushing in, a tree branch I had broken from behind was now lodged vertically in its mouth.
Thanks to that, the creature couldn't close its mouth completely, and damp blood seeped onto my fingertips, suggesting the roof of its mouth was badly injured.
The only problem is....
"Damn. I should have used a longer one."
Perhaps the length wasn't sufficient, but the creature's teeth were half-eating into my forearm.
― GRRRRR!
The creature started applying force to its jaw as if to say, 'Let's try this'.
"Ha. So you want to die together?"
CRUNCH!
As the tree branch shattered a bit more, the creature's teeth embedded deeply. Dammit.
Terrible pain made my vision flash black before returning. At this rate, I was really going to lose an arm.
― KRR, KRR, KRR....
The werewolf bared its teeth and laughed. I don't know if it was my misconception, but it seemed to be mocking me.
As if asking why I was struggling so much when it was going to bite off my neck after biting off this arm anyway.
"You seem to have forgotten something."
I said, not holding back the laughter leaking out.
"I didn't come here alone, you know?"
― KRR?
"Flameeeeel!"
I shouted that name and raised my other hand high.
"Catch!"
Then Flamel threw a pile of red flowers towards me.
SNAP!
When I snatched it, the beast seemed to realize instantly what it was.
― GRRRR!
The beast opened its mouth wide to run away. Where do you think you're going!
THUD!
Putting strength into my hand where sensation was faint, I slammed the tree branch onto the ground.
― YELP!
It was that moment when the creature groaned in pain.
SHOVE!
After shoving the Sun Halo Herb deep into the creature's throat, I pulled the tree branch right out.
The creature, closing its mouth naturally, inadvertently swallowed what was caught at the entrance of its throat.
GULP!
A pleasant sound rang out.
"Done!"
― KRR, GRRR....
THUD!
The beast's heavy body collapsed to the ground. Only then did it feel real. The death flag.... I overcame it!
"You. Are you crazy?"
"Oh, Flamel."
The guy approached before I knew it and frowned as he looked at me. We won, so what's his problem now?
"What on earth were you thinking fighting a werewolf...!"
"I would have died if I stayed still."
You might not have, but I definitely would have died. Since this guy is the protagonist, he won't die.
"Well, anyway, it's resolved well."
"Can you say that even after seeing your own condition?"
"It's cheap compared to the price of a life."
Besides, isn't this a fantasy world? Something like a crushed arm can be fixed quickly.
Of course, it hurts like hell.
"Hey, by the way, I'm a bit sleepy right now.... I think it's because I bled too much?"
My head had been fuzzy for a while. Staggering, I leaned my whole body against a tree trunk behind me.
"So, about taking me to the infirmary, could you please...."
Before I could even finish speaking, my vision went completely dark.
"...ke.... ...up!"
I faintly heard the guy shouting something, but I couldn't understand it properly.
I lost consciousness just like that.
Flamel caught Russell's body as it collapsed. It wasn't visible properly because it was dark, but when he got close, the smell of blood was overwhelming.
Examining the injury, the wound was severe. The pain must have been intense, but the guy acted so nonchalantly that it didn't show.
'Strange guy.'
When was it that he picked fights every time we crossed paths? What is this sudden change in attitude?
When facing the werewolf, I expected him to leave me and run away, of course. I never imagined he would fight back even while getting hurt like this.
'Simple whim? No, it was a situation where he could have really died. Does that mean, rather, this side is... his true self?'
He had no choice but to think so. Rather than thinking this delinquent suddenly turned over a new leaf in the face of death, isn't this more realistic?
But then, one question remains.
'Just why?'
If his usual delinquent appearance was fake. Where is the reason to act like that?
'To show it on purpose?'
Is that why he made such a fuss?
'...I need to keep watching.'
Flamel looked down at Russell with cold eyes.
⸻
When I came to, I was in the infirmary.
"Oh, it's such a relief that there was moon primrose nearby. As you know, moon primrose has healing effects."
The school nurse said that. I didn't know it had such effects, though.
'No, wait a minute. Then if he had just given me quick first aid, I wouldn't have fainted!'
Flamel, that bastard.
RATTLE.
"Ah, Student Flamel."
Speak of the devil. Just as I was chewing him out in my mind, Flamel appeared.
But why is that guy here?
I looked at him with drowsy eyes. I had heard enough from my brother about what kind of hardships he goes through in the original novel.
Because the protagonist is originally bound to walk a path of trials and suffering.
'This werewolf incident is the same. Only the extra next to the protagonist dies a dog's death.'
So the best thing is not to even go near the protagonist. I had just concluded that.
"Are you here to visit Student Russell?"
We aren't in that kind of relationship, are we?
"No way."
"Yes, that's correct."
The answers from him and me poured out simultaneously. The school nurse asked back with a confused face.
"So... is it a visit, or not?"
"It's not."
"It is."
The answers clashed once more.
"A visit for me?"
"I believe I said so."
"No, why you?"
When I asked directly, the guy answered calmly.
"It's Professor Duke's order. To attend classes together and share notes until your arm is fully healed."
It seems the world is out to get me.