The grass field was still far ahead.
Footsteps echoed behind me.
Heavy.
Too heavy to be ignored.
I didn’t look back.
I don’t want to die.
Not yet.
I haven’t even seen this world properly.
My breathing grew rough as I ran. My heart pounded, matching every step. Something large was closing the distance behind me.
I can’t die.
I won’t.
The moment my foot touched the grass field, I threw myself forward.
The grass bent beneath me.
Soft.
Warm.
It swallowed my body, cushioning my fall as if it had been waiting for me. I lay there, chest rising and falling, struggling to pull air back into my lungs.
An hour.
An hour of running.
I lifted my head.
It was standing there.
A creature shaped like a cockroach, its massive body covered in thick, dark chitin that swallowed the light. The shell was uneven, scarred.
Its head sat low, directly attached to its body. Two long antennae twitched slowly, tasting the air.
Faceted eyes lined its sides dark, empty.
Six heavy legs crushed the soft grass beneath it. No wings.
Its mandibles scraped together. Something wet dripped and vanished into the field.
The creature breathing heavily.
“....System window, wh-what the he..hell is that?” my voice came out hoarse
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
Lucky.
It wasn’t a super-type creature.
it was the only animal near the barrier when it was removed.If there had been more....
My breath hitched.
I stayed still, pressed into the grass.
The sound of my own breathing felt unbearably loud.
-Earlier-
It has been an hour since the barrier was removed however i haven't seen any animals.
That system didn't tell me how large the barrier is.
It might be so large that i didn't even have to run.
My lungs burned from running. My chest heaved, uneven. But I kept going. The grass field was only a few steps away.
Then I heard it.
A low rumble.
My body reacted before my mind could.
I ran.
I didn’t look back. I didn’t try to identify the sound. That would’ve been a stupid move and I'm not that stupid to look back.
-End of flashback-
And I was right.
If I had stopped,if I had ignored that sound,I would’ve died
[It's an Inevern]
“…Give me an explanation,” I said through ragged breaths. “don’t system usually do that.”
I crawled backward instinctively. If I stood up now, my head would probably be bitten off.
[Name: Inevern
Type: Land Fauna – Aggressive Behavior
Size: Large (Approx. 2.5 meters)
Diet: Omnivorous
Behavior Notes: The “friendliest” animal of the grassland. Highly territorial.
Special Warning: Female Inevern may be attacked if resisting mating instincts.
Recommended Action: Avoid direct confrontation; remain low and do not trigger predatory response.
Current status:Horny]
I stared at the system window.
Friendliest?
That thing nearly tore my head off. My long hair had been shredded, cut unevenly to my shoulders.
“What the hell is that status supposed to mean?!”
[Ah.]
I screamed and crawled away faster.
[I knew I forgot to warn you about something.]
Blood rushed to my head. A sharp pressure pulsed at my temples. For a moment, I genuinely wanted to strangle whatever existed behind that screen.
[Human hormones are similar to female Inevern hormones.
It likely detected your scent and mistook you for a female Inevern.]
“…And you didn’t think to tell me that before I wandered into the forest?”
My hands shook as I crawled. I wasn’t about to be violated by that thing.
[You didn’t ask.]
I clenched my teeth.
Why was I even arguing with the system?Winning against it was meaningless.
I crawled far enough to only get a glimpse of the inevern.
My hands were red, scraped raw from crawling too long. My breathing was still uneven, my chest rising and falling without rhythm. The soft grass pressed against my palms, warm despite everything.
My vision wavered.
The grass beneath me felt lighter.
Warmer.
I should go back.
When I reached the edge of the grass field, the world felt quiet. Beyond it, the field stretched out once more, untouched and endless.
It was beautiful.
I stood there, admiring the view.
"MOMMMYYYY"
I turned.
A child stood there.
Small. Chubby. No more than ten. Black hair stuck to his face with tears. Panting. Steps unsteady.
Then he grabbed my legs.
Chest tightening. Hands frozen. Heart slamming. Why…?
His small hands clung to me, trembling. Shoulders shook. Every sob stabbed my chest.
“MOMMY, PLEASE DON’T LEAVE!!”
I crouched, trying to pry his hands away. Why… am I doing this?
“I’ll be good, I promise…”
He lifted his head. Big, round eyes red and swollen. Tears streamed down his cheeks. Snot smeared his nose. Breathing broken and uneven.
“So please… stay…”
Chest tightening.
“I won’t eat much anymore.”
I kept pulling at his grip. Why…?
Sobs grew louder. Hold tightened. Small body trembling against me. I wanted to pull him close, hold him, tell him he was safe.
But I didn’t.
Every sound cut through me.
“I DON’T NEED A BURDEN IN MY LIFE!”
The words left my mouth before I could stop them.
Grip loosened.
“You three are worthless. A burden.”
I shoved him away.
The child stumbled back. Small body trembling. Wide eyes glimmering with unshed tears, pupils dilated. Staring, frozen. Mouth slightly open. Lower lip quivering.
“YOU ARE A CURSE.”
Each word struck like a physical blow. Tiny shoulders slumped. Hands instinctively clutched at his chest, curling inward.
“You didn’t mean that, Mommy…”
The whisper.
Fragile. Broken. And I… I felt it.
Every syllable. Every tremble.
I wanted to cover my ears, cover him, stop the words.
“YOU ARE BAD LUCK.”
Stop.
Stop.
Stop.
I SAID STOPP.!!..
“The worst thing that ever happened to me.”
I’m begging you. Please stop.
“You’re monsters.”
Enough.
“A curse on my life.”
I felt every quiver in his hands, every wobble in his legs, every fragile reach toward me. I wanted to scoop him up and never let go.
But I couldn’t..
I had already hurt him.
“You’re the worst of the three.”
He’s.
He’s just a child.
He shouldn’t be hearing this.
