An Unexpected Reward

What exactly did that feel like?

I couldn't really explain it.

Anyway, something felt strange inside me, an unsettling, prickling nausea.

But I had no time to dwell on it. Even gravely wounded, the Farum Azula Beastman still eyed me hungrily, growling low.

A cornered beast would still fight. I couldn't let my guard down for a second!

"Roar!"

The beastman charged again, cleaver in hand.

A horizontal sweep, a diagonal slash, a spinning combo into a rising leap, and finally, he'd probably follow through with a plunging pounce.

His six-hit combo was ferocious, the cold gusts whipped up by his blade chilling me to the bone!

Yet to my eyes, it all looked like slow motion. He couldn't even touch me. I even thought of a way to counter him that was bolder and crazier than anything I'd tried in the game!

The instant the beastman brought his blade down, I stepped ahead of him into the spot where he would land. Gripping the Straight Sword in both hands, I slashed upward at the draconic beastman's arm.

His unstoppable downward momentum met his vulnerable joint, and in an instant, his arm was severed in two.

Before he could react, I kept turning with the motion, putting tremendous force into a slash across his skull.

[Enemy Felled]

With a dull thud as he hit the ground, the monster boss, the Farum Azula Beastman, was defeated!

Only then did I begin panting, my heart pounding so hard it felt ready to leap out of my chest. Thump, thump, thump!

My body still wouldn't stop trembling faintly.

Compared to the stone-carved Erdtree Burial Watchdog, the Farum Azula Beastman seemed to have left a greater impact on me.

Was this guy more dangerous? Were his attacks more savage?

Perhaps that wasn't it.

As I delivered the decisive blow, all my senses had become clearer and sharper than ever before, as though I could do anything! So much so that the sensation still lingered in my fingers-the dangerous awareness of tearing through flesh and cutting a life short...

"Awooo!"

A wolf's howl!

The fight wasn't over yet!

I hurriedly snapped out of it. Right, I'd only defeated the monster in the boss room. The wild wolves outside were still waiting to hunt me!

Speaking of which, where were my three damn wolves?

They hadn't seemed to help me at all during the fight, had they?

I turned around, and the sight before me left me utterly dumbfounded:

The wolves I'd summoned with the Lone Wolf Ashes were happily watching the show alongside the wild wolves. All they needed was some jerky to share! You bastards!

Come to think of it, this occasionally happened in the game too-you sprinted past everything and barged into the boss room, only for your summoned helpers to lock onto the mobs chasing you outside. They'd fight through the fog gate while you scrambled and rolled around at the boss's feet.

Once they saw I'd won, the three came bounding over cheerfully, even bringing a few of the White Wolf King's followers along.

Uh, I-I didn't dare get close to those guys. All I could do was give a wry smile and pat my spirit wolves on the head.

Crack!

Suddenly, the sound of splintering wood silenced the lively wild wolves.

The White Wolf King slowly walked into the cave, but he neither bared his fangs nor put on a vicious expression.

My spirit wolves even cleared the space in front of me and stood guard on either side.

Huh?

Wh-what was going on?

While I stood there bewildered, the White Wolf King approached me. After studying me for a moment with his deep green eyes, he actually lowered his head.

Huh? Was he-was he pledging his loyalty to me?

Confused, I glanced at my spirit wolves. The three signaled with their eyes for me to place my hand on his head.

At the same time, the White Wolf nudged my wrist with his cold nose, seemingly committing my scent to memory.

Well, well, this was quite a surprise.

Defeating the Farum Azula Beastman had actually earned me an entire wolf pack.

Perhaps this had originally been the wolves' cave, but after the Farum Azula Beastman occupied it, he'd forced them to guard the area and even attack Godrick Soldiers... Beasts respected strength above all. Since I'd beaten the beastman, they'd naturally submitted to me.

Of course, I didn't understand wolf language. That was just my guess.

More importantly, perhaps my three wolves had communicated with them, even if the price had been leaving me to solo the boss.

Well, as long as things turned out all right.

Anyway, I left Groveside Cave surrounded by wolves.

Still, wandering alone with an entire wolf pack was clearly inconvenient, so I had my three wolves tell the pack to stay in the cave under the White Wolf's leadership. I'd summon them when I needed them... If Kale had time, could I ask him to bring them some meat?

By the time I left Groveside Cave, night had quietly fallen.

The entire forest was pitch-black, with only the occasional drifting firefly visible... More accurately, those were Godrick Soldiers patrolling with torches.

Still working overtime on night watch this late-my fellow wage slaves, I felt your pain.

Uh, come to think of it, since coming to the world of the Elden Ring, I hadn't really explored at night. I'd mostly huddled in the Church of Elleh, trembling, or bantered with Kale.

No time like the present.

Besides, when I'd made a circuit around North Agheel Lake last time, I thought I'd heard Seamster Boc calling for help.

In a real world, if I triggered a side quest and kept putting it off, wouldn't some strange complication arise? Like Melina losing patience and coming to find me herself.

Anyway, I should use the cover of night to go rescue him first.

Oh, and unlock the map! Last time I'd gone to the ruins at Gatefront, I hadn't had time to pick up the Map!

No sooner said than done. Riding Torrent, I dashed out of the forest and returned to the ruins at Gatefront, where the Godrick Soldier Squad was stationed.

Under the cover of night, some soldiers gathered around fires, eating in silence, while others patrolled with torches.

But with their visibility limited, I went unnoticed and managed to sneak around to the stone monument where the Map of the Limgrave Peninsula was kept in the game.

Huh? There was nothing here.

I'd expected paper or a parchment scroll... But I supposed this made sense. If there really had been anything unusual, the Godrick Soldiers patrolling every day would have taken it long ago.

After all, in a real world, these guys behaved much more intelligently than the moronic AI. At the very least, they probably wouldn't circle some random stone pillar.

Then how was I supposed to get the map?

I looked up at the stone monument.

Hmm? The densely packed writing on it seemed coated in a faint glow. Was I imagining things?

Curious, I reached out and touched it.

In an instant, tiny flecks of light rushed into my mind, suddenly unfurling into a picture.

It depicted the entire Agheel Lake region in fine yet concise detail: mountains, roads, ruins, caves, and even my current location! It was practically GPS navigation. Who needed to worry about getting lost now?

Was this rune magic, or a blessing from the Erdtree?

It was simply unbelievable.

"Hey! Who goes there?"

Crap, I'd been spotted again.

I quickly summoned Torrent and left the blaring horns far behind me.

With just a slight thought, I could see the whole map in my mind, along with my position moving across it. This was awesome!

Soon, following the map, I found the little grove where Boc was.

"Hey-you passing by, please help me!"

"Hey-I'm talking to you! Why are you pretending not to see me?"

Oh, stop shouting, stop shouting. Your king was here~