I immediately jumped out of the tree hollow. Seeing me emerge, Brownie ran off in one direction without a word.
"Squeak squeak!" (Gray! Hurry and follow!)
Its voice sounded urgent, but it didn't seem like it had encountered danger—more like it had discovered something important.
I quickly followed, leaping rapidly through the canopy with Brownie.
A few minutes later, we arrived at an old tree's trunk. Brownie stopped and anxiously looked down.
"Squeak squeak?" (What's wrong?) I jumped to its side and asked.
"Squeak squeak squeak." Brownie pointed toward a small tree hollow below the trunk. (There's a magic beast inside. It looks injured and very weak.)
I looked in the direction it indicated. The hollow was well-hidden, obscured by some dead branches—you couldn't spot it at all without looking carefully.
"Squeak squeak?" (What kind of magic beast?)
"Squeak..." Brownie hesitated somewhat. (It's a Poison Stinger Wasp.)
My body instantly tensed up.
A Poison Stinger Wasp!
I immediately recalled the wasp nest I'd seen before, that dense swarm of wasps—definitely not something to provoke.
"Squeak squeak!" (Then let's leave quickly! If the swarm is nearby—)
"Squeak squeak squeak." Brownie interrupted me. (No, it's alone, and it looks like it's been abandoned.)
"Squeak?" (Abandoned?)
"Squeak squeak." Brownie nodded, sympathy in its eyes. (It's badly injured and has been hiding in that hollow. I've been watching for a long time and haven't seen any other wasps.)
I hesitated.
If it was alone, the threat level was indeed much lower. But a Poison Stinger Wasp was still a Poison Stinger Wasp—even just one was dangerous.
"Squeak squeak..." Brownie looked at me, its voice somewhat pleading. (It looks like it won't last much longer. Can we... help it?)
I looked at Brownie's expectant eyes and sighed.
"Squeak squeak." (I'll go check the situation first.)
I carefully climbed down the trunk and approached the hollow.
Indeed, a faint buzzing sound came from inside.
I peeked in—
A Poison Stinger Wasp was curled up deep in the hollow.
Its body was smaller than I'd imagined, noticeably smaller than an ordinary Poison Stinger Wasp. Its wings had obvious tear marks, and there were several wounds on its body. It looked badly hurt.
Sensing my approach, it weakly raised its head. The stinger on its tail lifted slightly, making a warning buzz.
But the sound was too weak—completely non-threatening.
I pulled up the system panel.
[Poison Stinger Wasp (Mutant)]
[Level 3/10]
[HP: 5/30]
[MP: 25/25]
[Strength: 5]
[Defense: 2]
[Speed: 9]
[Luck: 6]
[A wasp-type magic beast with mutated toxin, rejected by its colony due to mutation, survives alone]
I froze.
A mutant?
Its HP was down to just 5 points, and in just these few seconds of observation, its HP dropped by another point.
[HP: 4/30]
It was bleeding out! If left alone, it probably wouldn't last much longer.
I looked at the information on the panel, my mind beginning to turn.
A mutant... The system specifically noted it, meaning it truly was different from ordinary Poison Stinger Wasps.
And although its body was small, its stats were actually pretty good. Strength 5, Speed 9—for a level 3 magic beast, these values were already much better than mine when I first arrived.
Most importantly—it was alone.
Without the threat of a swarm, if I could tame it...
I shook my head.
Wait, what was I thinking?
But another thought emerged.
This wasp was a "mutant," rejected by its colony...
Just like me, a transmigrator—in a sense, also an "outsider," right?
I understood that feeling of rejection.
"Squeak squeak?" Brownie quietly asked from the trunk. (How is it?)
I looked at the weak Poison Stinger Wasp. It still maintained an alert posture, even though it was already so weak.
"Squeak..." I sighed. (I'll try to see if I can save it.)
"Squeak squeak!" Brownie called out happily.
I slowly approached the hollow. The wasp's buzzing became more rapid, its tail stinger trembling as it pointed at me.
"Squeak squeak squeak." I said in as gentle a tone as possible. (Don't be nervous. I won't hurt you. You're injured and need help.)
The wasp seemed to understand but remained vigilant.
I retrieved several Glowbugs from my Cheek Pouch Space and placed them at the hollow's entrance, then backed away a few steps.
"Squeak squeak." (Eat. Though I don't know if these will help.)
The wasp looked at the bugs, then at me, hesitating for a long time.
Finally, survival instinct overcame caution.
It laboriously crawled over and began eating the Glowbugs.
I noticed that as it ate, the HP on its panel began slowly rising.
[HP: 4/30]
[HP: 5/30]
[HP: 6/30]
"So eating can restore HP..." I made a mental note.
After it finished all the Glowbugs, its HP had recovered to 10 points. Though still very low, at least it was stable.
I carefully approached. The wasp wasn't as resistant this time but still watched me warily.
"Squeak squeak squeak." (Can I look at your injuries?)
It hesitated, but ultimately didn't refuse.
I carefully examined its wounds.
Its wings had several tears that looked like they were caused by attacks from other wasps. Its body also had several bite marks and stab wounds, probably injuries from being driven out.
The most serious was a wound on its abdomen that was still slowly bleeding.
"This is why it keeps losing HP..."
I looked around and found some medicinal herbs I recognized—I'd memorized some plants that could stop bleeding during my explorations.
I collected some, chewed them with my teeth, then carefully applied them to the wasp's wound.
It trembled in pain but didn't attack me.
I found some tree sap and applied it to its torn wings. Though I didn't know if it would help, at least it could prevent infection.
After treating the wounds, I looked at the Poison Stinger Wasp.
Though its eyes were still vigilant, they were softer than before.
I suddenly had an idea.
"Squeak squeak squeak." (I have a place that might be safer, but... it will be a bit strange. Will you trust me?)
The wasp tilted its head, seemingly thinking.
I explained: "Squeak squeak squeak squeak." (I can temporarily put you in a space. It's safer there. But you might feel uncomfortable.)
It looked at me for a long time, then finally nodded lightly.
I took a deep breath, concentrated, and tried putting it into my Cheek Pouch Space.
The next second, the wasp disappeared.
I could feel it inside the space, making panicked buzzing sounds, flying around in the cramped area.
I quickly checked its panel—
The panel had changed.
[Poison Stinger Wasp (Mutant)]
[Level 3/10]
[Experience: 15/100]
[HP: 10/30]
[MP: 25/25]
[Strength: 5]
[Defense: 2]
[Speed: 9]
[Luck: 6]
[A wasp-type magic beast with mutated toxin, rejected by its colony due to mutation, survives alone]
[Traits: Toxic Stinger (Hallucinogenic)]
[Skills: Poison Sting, Flight]
As expected!
After entering the space, the panel became more detailed, just like with Brownie.
And I noticed important information—its toxin was "hallucinogenic"!
Not the paralysis toxin of ordinary Poison Stinger Wasps, but hallucinogenic!
No wonder it was rejected by the colony. Normal Poison Stinger Wasps used paralysis toxin combined with group hunting, while hallucinogenic toxin might make prey more aggressive, actually increasing danger.
But in my view, hallucinogenic toxin might have higher tactical value...
I felt the wasp growing weaker in the space. Its HP began slowly declining.
[HP: 9/30]
No good—the space wasn't stable enough yet. It couldn't stay long.
I quickly released it.
The wasp appeared before me, noticeably weaker than before, its whole body trembling.
"Squeak squeak squeak!" (I'm sorry! I didn't think the space would burden you so much!)
It took a few breaths and buzzed weakly a few times, seemingly saying it was okay.
"Squeak squeak." (Rest outside for now. When my space ability is stronger, I'll let you in again.)
I thought for a moment, looking at this weak Poison Stinger Wasp.
"Squeak squeak?" (Will you come with me? I can protect you and give you food.)
The wasp looked at me, its eyes complex.
It hesitated for a long time, then finally nodded lightly.
"Squeak squeak." (Then... I'll call you Waspy.)
Waspy made a buzzing sound, seemingly accepting the name.
"Squeak squeak!" Brownie jumped down from the tree, happily circling around Buzz. (Great! We have another companion!)
I looked at Brownie and Waspy, a strange feeling welling up inside me.
I had companions now.
Though we were all weak magic beasts, at least I was no longer alone.
"Squeak squeak squeak." (It's getting dark now. We need to find a safe place to rest. Waspy needs to recover and can't run around.)
"Squeak squeak..." Brownie suddenly said somewhat bashfully. (Actually... I also have something to ask you.)
"Squeak?" (What is it?)
"Squeak squeak squeak squeak." Brownie said. (My original shelter... was taken by a Vine Serpent a few days ago. I've been looking for a new place to stay these past days. I only found this place today and discovered Waspy. Now it's getting dark, and I... could I temporarily stay with you?)
I paused.
Brownie's shelter had been taken?
I looked at Brownie, then at the weak Waspy.
"Squeak squeak squeak." I said. (My tree hollow isn't very big, but we can barely fit all three of us. However... if we're going to live together, we need to have rules.)
"Squeak squeak?" Brownie and Waspy both looked at me.
"Squeak squeak squeak squeak." I said seriously. (We're all weak monsters. Surviving alone is very difficult. Since we're living together, we need to help and protect each other. Do you agree?)
"Squeak squeak!" Brownie immediately nodded.
Waspy hesitated, then also nodded lightly.
Though it still remained cautious, there was a trace of gratitude in its eyes.
"Squeak squeak." (Then it's settled. Let's go, I'll take you back.)
I led the way, Brownie hopping alongside, and Waspy, though weak, could still barely fly, following behind us.
The sunset's afterglow filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows in the forest.
I looked at the two companions behind me, suddenly feeling warm inside.
Though this world was dangerous, though we were all weak, at least...
We weren't alone.
After returning to the tree hollow, I settled Waspy in the innermost part—it was the safest and warmest there.
Brownie found a corner and curled up, quickly falling asleep. It seemed these past days had truly been exhausting.
I sat at the hollow's entrance, watching the gradually darkening forest outside. Some ideas began forming in my mind—I'd wait until tomorrow to experiment with them.