The Squirrel Will Raise the Baby Tiger — Chapter 18

A LITTLE EARLIER.

COMMANDER, I THINK WE SHOULD STOP FOR A MOMENT.

WHY IS THAT?

SOMETHING FEELS OFF IN THE FOREST.

IT SEEMS THERE MAY BE A FEROCIOUS BEAST NEARBY.

WHAT? YOU WANT US TO WAIT HERE?

THERE SEEMS TO BE A MONSTER UP AHEAD.

IF WE SIMPLY PASS BY IT, WE MIGHT GET ATTACKED FROM BEHIND, SO WE NEED TO DEAL WITH IT FIRST.

A MONSTER...? WHAT KIND?

WE DON'T KNOW YET. I'LL GO CHECK IT OUT AND ELIMINATE IT, SO STAY HERE WITH THE CHILDREN, TEACHER.

I'LL LEAVE THREE KNIGHTS HERE WITH YOU, JUST IN CASE, SO DON'T WORRY.

I'LL BE BACK SHORTLY.

...PLEASE BE CAREFUL.

I'M WORRIED ABOUT THE DUKE, TOO.

SISTER LULU, WHY DID WE STOP?

THEY SAID THEY NEED TO CHECK OUT THE AREA. LET'S WAIT QUIETLY.

THE DUKE IS THE LEADER OF THE BLANTIGERS.

HE'S THE FIERCEST OF ALL PREDATORS... HE'LL BE FINE, RIGHT?

HMM?

DID YOU HEAR THAT STRANGE SOUND JUST NOW?

A SOUND? WHAT KIND OF SOUND?

WELL, IT SOUNDED LIKE A SNAKE SLITHERING PAST...

?!

THE KNIGHTS ARE SCREAMING?!

WHAT'S WRONG WITH EVERYONE?!

WHAT HAPPENED...?

EEK?!

WH-WHAT IS THAT MONSTER?!

WHY IS A MONSTER LIKE THAT HERE...?!

JUDGING BY ITS EYES, BODY SIZE, AND THE SHAPE OF ITS SCALES, THERE'S NO DOUBT.

IT'S A MONSTER CALLED A PANACON...!!

HAA...

I NEVER EXPECTED TO FIND A PANACON IN A PLACE LIKE THIS.

IT WAS A FORMIDABLE OPPONENT, SO IT TOOK A WHILE.

AND IT WAS MUCH LARGER THAN THE ONES WE USUALLY ENCOUNTER.

IT MUST HAVE BEEN LIVING IN THAT CAVE AND GROWING BIGGER.

But as expected of you, Commander!

we could barely distract it, but you immediately figured out its movements and cut it down in one strike!

That was incredible!

ENOUGH WITH THE FLATTERY. LET'S HEAD BACK.

BUT... DOESN'T SOMETHING SEEM STRANGE?

WHAT NOW?

THE PANACON. DON'T THEY USUALLY TRAVEL IN PAIRS?

BUT WE DIDN'T SENSE ANYTHING ELSE INSIDE THAT CAVE.

THEN... WHERE DID THE OTHER ONE GO?

...IT CAN'T BE!

DAMN IT! I CAN'T BELIEVE IT REALLY CAME THIS WAY...!!

COMMANDER!

WE'VE CHECKED ON THE FALLEN KNIGHTS,

BUT WE CAN'T FIND THE TEACHER OR THE CHILDREN...!!

THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ATTACKED, HAVE THEY...?!

DAMN IT! IF ONLY I HADN'T FORGOTTEN THAT PANACONS TRAVEL IN PAIRS...!!

THEY MIGHT HAVE MANAGED TO ESCAPE UNHARMED!

YOU LOT, FIND THE TEACHER AND THE CHILDREN! I'LL TAKE CARE OF THIS MONSTER!

YES, COMMANDER!

PLEASE...

LET EVERYONE BE SAFE...!!

--THEY'RE NOT OVER HERE!

SEARCH THAT AREA THOROUGHLY, TOO!

YES, COMMANDER!

RUSTLE...

IS THERE ANOTHER MONSTER STILL OUT THERE?!

NO, THAT SOUND IS...!

COMMANDER, WE'VE FOUND THEM!

THE TEACHER AND THE CHILDREN ARE HERE!

TEACHER, ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?! IS EVERYONE SAFE?!

THE CHILDREN DON'T HAVE ANY INJURIES, SO THEY PROBABLY JUST FAINTED FROM THE SHOCK.

BUT THE TEACHER DOESN'T LOOK WELL.

SHE'S ALREADY LOST TOO MUCH BLOOD.

IT LOOKS LIKE SHE WAS INJURED WHILE EVACUATING THE CHILDREN. WE NEED TO ADMINISTER FIRST AID IMMEDIATELY.

THE COMMANDER HAS TAKEN CARE OF ALL THE PANACONS, BUT...

WE'RE STILL QUITE FAR FROM THE CAPITAL. WHAT SHOULD WE DO, COMMANDER?

THERE WAS DEFINITELY A VILLAGE NEARBY.

WE'LL TAKE THE TEACHER AND THE CHILDREN THERE FIRST SO THEY CAN RECEIVE TREATMENT.

BUT IT MIGHT BE A SMALL VILLAGE WITHOUT A DOCTOR.

JAEL, HURRY TO A LARGER TOWN AND BRING A PHYSICIAN BACK WITH YOU,

WHILE THE REST OF US TAKE THE TEACHER, THE CHILDREN, AND THE INJURED KNIGHTS TO THE VILLAGE.

EVERY SECOND COUNTS, SO LET'S MOVE QUICKLY!

UNDERSTOOD!

I'LL GET YOU TREATMENT SOON,

SO PLEASE HANG IN THERE A LITTLE LONGER, TEACHER...!