The scribbles were the same strange markings as before—so strange that even Kid himself was surprised he could read them.
The first thing that caught the boy's attention was the text written on the second page.
"A misery never known before… a pain carried by a child.To the one who found this book—no… to the one whom the book has found.Take care of it, and it will take care of you."
The message was unsettling. It almost felt as if the writer had known that someone would eventually read the book in a desolate place like this. The passage continued:
"This is a forsaken land located on the outskirts of the Kingdom of Soma, on the continent of Kisha.Do your best to survive."
To most people, such information might have meant nothing. But to Kid, it revealed something important—something that brought him a small sense of relief.
A kingdom… so civilization really does exist here.
"If there's a kingdom, then there must be people. That means I won't have to die alone in this place.Honestly… this land wouldn't be so bad if it weren't crawling with monsters."
The sun slowly dipped below the horizon, and darkness began to spread across the land.
Kid still had no clear plan, but he had at least chosen a direction. He would head east, hoping to find a human settlement.
As night fell, the boy continued walking despite the fear creeping into his heart.
Then he saw them.
Red eyes… glowing in the darkness.
Not one.Not two.
An entire pack.
Without hesitation, Kid turned and ran before the monsters could even begin their attack.
Behind him came the vicious snarls of the demonic dogs, their fangs bared as if they had already found their next meal.
Kid ran as fast as his legs could carry him. He didn't dare look back.
Eventually, he spotted a massive tree. Its branches were dry and withered, yet its trunk was enormous.
Without thinking twice, he climbed it.
The demonic dogs gathered beneath the tree, growling and circling like hungry predators.
Though their strength and speed far surpassed that of an ordinary human, their intelligence was limited. Climbing trees was beyond them.
For once, luck was on Kid's side.
As he settled himself among the branches, he noticed something unusual—a hollow opening in the tree trunk that looked almost like a doorway.
Curious and exhausted, he slipped inside.
Warmth greeted him immediately.
It was strange. Despite the cold outside, the inside of the tree felt almost comforting.
The moment he stepped in, the mysterious book began to glow once again.
Kid opened it.
This time, new words appeared across its pages—an entry describing the very monsters chasing him.
"The Demonic Dog is a creature born when wild dogs are exposed to large quantities of demonic energy for extended periods.This corrupts their minds, stripping away their intelligence and turning them violently hostile toward anything they encounter. However, they still retain loyalty toward their own kind.
Their bodies are not especially durable. Any sword can kill them with ease.For beginners, however, it is recommended to aim for the forehead. It is a soft and vulnerable spot."
Kid's eyes lit up.
To him, this information was nothing short of a lifeline.
So that's their weakness…
All he had to do was kill them.
Simple in theory.
But reality was far harsher.
Kid was painfully weak—even weaker than an average high school student.He had no weapon.And he had never fought monsters before in his life.
Kid let out a tired sigh.
"I'll sleep for now… I'll figure something out tomorrow."
Despite the freezing night outside, the inside of the tree remained strangely warm.
Too tired to question it, the boy lay down and closed his eyes, hoping sleep would give him at least a moment of peace.
"Why does my body feel so heavy…?"
Kid slowly opened his eyes.
"Where am I…? This feels similar to the last time I was transported…"
Before he could finish his thought, he realized he was standing in a breathtaking garden.
Flowers of every color and kind filled the air with their fragrance. Tall trees surrounded him on all sides.
The place looked almost unreal.
At the center of it all stood a magnificent giant tree—towering above everything else.
It radiated a gentle presence, like a mother protecting her children.
Kid felt drawn to it.
He took a step closer.
Then—
He woke up.
"So it was just a dream…"
Kid rubbed his eyes and looked down from the tree.
The demonic dogs were gone.
Carefully, he climbed down and continued his journey east, just as he had planned.
Hours passed.
Then days.
Kid survived by eating the corpses of demonic dogs he happened to find along the way. In a world ruled by survival, there were no other choices.
After a week of wandering, he found himself among steep rocky cliffs.
That was when he heard it.
A faint whimper.
It sounded like a demonic dog… but something was wrong.
It sounded like it was in pain.
Curious, Kid followed the unfamiliar sound.
Soon, he saw a figure in the distance.
A man clad in armor.
A knight…?
Kid narrowed his eyes.
"He looks badly injured…"
Ten demonic dogs surrounded the fallen knight.
Exhausted and bleeding, the man collapsed to his knees.
He had no strength left to fight.
He was simply waiting for death.
Kid clenched his fists.
Then he shouted:
"Hey! Over here, you monsters!"
He grabbed a handful of stones and dirt and threw them toward the pack.
The demonic dogs snarled furiously and turned their glowing red eyes toward him.
Moments later, they charged.
Kid tried to dodge them, but his movements were clumsy and desperate.
He ran.
But it was hopeless.
He was far too weak.
The demonic dogs quickly caught him.
One of them lunged forward and sank its fangs into his right arm.
Kid screamed in agony.
Tears streamed down his face as pain shot through his body.
For a moment, despair overwhelmed him.
So this is how I die…
But then—
He remembered the words written in the book.
The forehead… it's their weak spot.
One of the dogs' heads was right in front of him.
Within reach.
With his remaining strength, Kid raised his free hand and struck it.
The blow was weak.
Pathetically weak.
But it was enough.
The dog lost its balance and staggered back.
Kid managed to save his arm.
But the situation had not improved.
The pack surrounded him from every direction.
And with the strength he had now…
There was no escape.