Ninja

In the goose-feather snow that had dyed the entire world silver-white, everyone walked for nearly half an hour before finally arriving at a unique place.

This should be the only lake on Rusukaina Island whose surface had not frozen over.

Steam visibly billowed from the flowing lake, but there was no choking smell of sulfur.

"Is this a hot spring!?"

Hancock, who had already hit it off with Ayala and was sitting on Kuromi's shoulder, asked excitedly.

"Nope!"

Ayala shook her head and was just about to explain when the earth suddenly began to tremble.

A gigantic, mountain-sized maned lion emerged from the forest. White vapor streamed from its nostrils as it disdainfully looked over the tiny creatures. Then it stepped into the enormous hot spring and began soaking in the warm water.

In an instant, because of its massive body, the entire surface of the lake began to churn as though waves had been stirred up. The water surged toward the surroundings, but within seconds, it was instantly frozen by the low temperature around it.

Feeling the warmth of the water, a contented smile appeared on the great lion's face.

But just then, it suddenly sensed that something was wrong. It turned out that something seemed to be present in the center of the rising steam.

It craned its head over and discovered that, in the center of the lake, there was actually someone sitting there, covered in snow and looking just like those tiny creatures.

It scratched its head, feeling that something was off, but it could not figure out what.

Still, it did not matter. This comfortable place was now its territory, and it had no intention of sharing.

Thus, the great lion opened its enormous jaws in fury and bit down toward the tiny creature.

"Eh!!!"