The Werewolf’s Awakening

I am the Hero.

Facing a terrifying assault from the Boarmen, Helter and I found ourselves locked in a bitter struggle!

“Don’t you dare get cocky!” I shouted from behind Helter.

No sooner had the words left my lips than a spear, whistling through the air, struck Helter squarely in the body.

“Oh, I’m so sorry…”

“It’s fine, I’ve already been pierced so many times, what’s one more…”

Swish, swish! Two more spears found their mark.

“Are you alright? These two hits aren’t a problem, right?”

“They’re a huge problem!” Helter turned to face me. “One just pierced my right lung…”

“Oh no! What do we do now? I can’t use magic, and my swordsmanship is just mediocre…”

“Hero… wait, Lu Ren,” Helter corrected himself, “how should I put this? Even though I’ve only been part of your party for two days, I’m truly happy. It’s made me recall the days when my blood ran hot.”

‘What kind of dying sensation is this? It feels just like last night when I was surrounded by snakes.’

“Hey, hey, hey! Don’t reminisce! Don’t start your life flashing before your eyes! Don’t speak so calmly right now! You can hold on! I refuse to believe the Boarmen have any more spears to throw!”

Swish! A spear then pierced straight through Helter’s heart.

In that instant, I, too, began to recall memories, inexplicably. It started from the year Helter was carried to the village entrance by a giant wolf. I was only seven then, and he was eight.

He had lost all memory of his life before arriving at the village, his demeanor peculiar, and no one wished to speak with this strange boy—except for me. We spent three wonderfully happy years together before he left for the Royal Capital.

I genuinely wished for him to forge his own path and make a name for himself. Yet, another three years passed, and he returned, having resigned, now bearing the title of “Fallen Great Swordsman.” I knew that was no honorable epithet.

Now, he had embarked on an adventure with me, only to die in the forest right outside our village.

“Hey! Is it really alright for you to die like this?!”

I watched his eyes, slowly dimming, and tears streamed uncontrollably down my face. A boy who once possessed such a fervent heart, tormented into becoming such a disgraced figure, now had to die so humbly. It wasn’t fair! I truly felt it wasn’t fair for him!

As my tears fell onto my short sword, it suddenly erupted with a golden light. Holy Light? I hadn’t done anything at all! My emotions had simply spiraled out of control. Could this be the protagonist’s aura, granting me power in my moment of greatest crisis?

Wiping away my tears, I stood up with a solemn expression, gripping the shimmering golden sword tightly.

I am the Hero.

Perhaps this was a trial from the God Sein, meant to awaken my true strength!

“Guilty… Guilt…” The Boarmen’s voices trailed off.

“What…” Even the Judge Boar retreated, looking flustered.

Swish! A spear then struck my short sword with precise aim.

Clang! Thud! I lost my grip, and it simply fell to the ground! What kind of joke was this? The Holy Light had vanished!

“Guilty! Guilty!” In the suddenly quiet horde, a single Boar, seemingly having just arrived, stood with empty hands. It was obvious who had thrown the spear. Noticing the strange behavior of its comrades, its voice, too, began to drop.

“Wait a minute! No more throwing!” I yelled, bending to pick up the short sword from the ground.

‘Can you feel it? The rage of a sister who has lost her brother! I will make you all pay with your lives for him!’

The short sword showed absolutely no reaction. What? Did I need to cultivate my emotions before I could infuse it with Holy Light? Damn it!

The Boarmen watched me in silence for a moment.

“Aiyaaa! Holy Light!”

All the Boarmen, including the Judge Boar, recoiled in fear, covering their eyes.

Still nothing!

Slowly, the Boarmen lowered their hands and looked at me.

“Holy Light!”

They were startled again, even taking a few steps back this time.

‘Aiyaaa! Why aren’t you giving me face? Where’s the light? Where’s the light?’

“Light! Come out!”

“I am the Hero!”

“Great God Sein!”

I tried various tones, desperately attempting to imbue the sword with Holy Light.

“Hoo, hoo, my throat’s gone hoarse from all that shouting!” I exclaimed, dripping with sweat as I collapsed onto the ground.

Seeing this, the Judge Boar snorted with laughter. “Death sentence!!!!”

“Guilty! Guilty! Guilty!”

‘Was I truly going to repeat the same predicament? My God Sein! You can’t just play with people like this! Why give me a glimmer of hope only to extinguish it? Am I not the protagonist? At this very moment, I should be exploding with cosmic power and obliterating this horde of idiotic pigs!’

“Helter…”

I gazed at Helter, lying in a pool of blood, his eyes now closed.

‘Had he truly died? Ah, I suppose I’ll be joining you soon enough.’

‘I’m utterly useless. The Hero’s body is about to face death for a second time.’

“Whining.”

I heard the panting of a wolf. Was it a delusion? Or were there really wolves? Misfortunes never came alone. After a Boarman attack, there were now wolves? I must have truly hit rock bottom! Couldn’t I at least be left with a complete corpse?

“Woof woof woof!” The sound was quite close. Could it be a husky trained by the Boarmen?

Suddenly, Helter stood up! His eyes snapped open, glowing with a faint red light!

‘He’s a zombie? What kind of joke is this!’

“Awoooo—” Helter let out a long howl, startling a flock of crows into flight from the forest!

His body began to swell, tearing through his clothes, leaving him completely naked. He grew to over six meters tall! Then, thick, gray fur started sprouting from his head, rapidly covering his entire body. Sharp fangs, keen claws, a wolf’s head—the transformation was strikingly obvious!

‘My heavens… he’s turned into a werewolf? This is my first time seeing a werewolf! Why did Helter become like this?’

“Guilty…”

The Boarmen, who had just assumed we were no longer a threat, now looked as if they’d seen a ghost! Sabar had turned into Basakar! What was I even saying…?

“Helter! I can’t believe you had a hidden ultimate move!” I exclaimed, excitedly putting away my short sword and stepping forward to embrace his large, furry palm.

“Awoo!” Helter’s heavy, bestial roar scared the living daylights out of me!

I staggered back a few steps.

“Helter? Helter? Do you still have your reason?”

“Awoo!” He swatted at me with a massive paw, knocking me directly out of the encirclement?!

Thud, thud, thud! I hit the ground with considerable force. Fortunately, I was fully armored, so I was unharmed.

Helter’s condition was truly worrying! He was no longer distinguishing friend from foe!

I watched him from afar. The Werewolf Helter, with his bare hands, pulled out two spears embedded in his chest. With a fierce throw, he impaled Boarmen together like skewers, instantly killing four!

With another throw, he directly impaled and exploded the head of a gigantic Boarman wielding a massive hammer.

‘Whoa, whoa, whoa, he’s incredibly fierce! Far more potent than when he was a swordsman!’

Werewolf Helter then furiously pulled out all the remaining spears from his chest, except for the one lodged directly in his heart. The wounds from the other spears rapidly began to heal.

“Death sentence!!!” The Judge Boar roared.

The Boarmen began to hurl spears once more.

Seeing this, Werewolf Helter dropped to all fours, charging into the horde like a wild beast, completely disregarding the incoming spears!

With such explosive speed, the Boarmen were likely stunned with fear; their ‘red-eye disease’ was instantly cured. One by one, they tore off their clothes, regressed to walking on all fours, and prepared to flee.

But who would have thought the Werewolf would be so fast? He bit their hind necks with precise efficiency, one after another, slaughtering his way straight to the Judge Boar!

Helter pinned the Judge Boar to the ground with his two enormous claws!

“Werewolf…” The Judge Boar’s wig fell off, and his eyes were dazed. “Are they truly not extinct yet?”

With a rip, Helter bit through its neck.

‘The scene had just been utterly chaotic… and I was merely providing commentary…’

Now, Helter stood upright on two legs, surveying his surroundings. There were no living creatures nearby, save for me.

“Awoo!” Helter was coming! He was walking towards me! His eyes were terrifying!

“Helter! Snap out of it!”

“Awoo!” He pounced, just as he had pinned the Boar! My hands were trapped, unable to move.

“Easy, good doggy! I mean no harm!” I pleaded desperately.

Helter bared his sharp teeth, intending to bite my neck!

Just then, I noticed the spear still embedded in his chest. Why hadn’t this guy pulled that spear out? My obsessive tendencies kicked in, and I quickly freed my right hand, grasping the spear near his heart and yanking it with all my might.

“Woof woof?! Ahhh!” He seemed to be in immense pain! Good! It looked like this might work!

As he howled, I managed to free my other hand and gripped the spear.

“Awoo!” He roared furiously at me, the force of his breath making my hair fly back!

After his roar, his cloudy drool splattered all over my face! Ugh! And it was white! What had he eaten? How disgusting! Get away from me!

Filled with a strange mix of emotions, I pulled with all my strength.