Maybe it noticed I wasn't moving. Maybe it understood that I couldn't.
It was wrong.
The two MUNCHES snickered, their voices low and ugly.
"WOHO, me thought human was scary." one of them said, smacking its chest. "But he still kill one of ours though."
They laughed.
Then one of them started walking toward me.
My body still wouldn't move. All I could do was look at Hana.
"Hana! Ru—"
She didn't run.
Before I could finish, she stepped in front of me.
Her small arms spread wide as she planted herself there, blocking my view— like she thought she could stop them.
"Get away!" she shouted.
At the same time, a familiar window flashed into existence beside my vision.
「600 EXP Acquired」
「Lv 6 → 7 = 350 (Remaining: 450)
Lv 7 → 8 = 400 (Remaining: 50)
Lv 8 → 9 = 450 (Not enough)
Current Level: Lv 8
Remaining EXP: 50」
I ignored it.
I looked at Nivalis.
She lay still now— collapsed in the snow, chest barely rising.
Unconscious.
