Chapter 172: Something Small that Kills Many (4)

"Hey, you remember me, boy?" Ivan approached Rex, who was sleeping outside.

Rex opened his eyes and raised his head, then barked at the big man.

"You're bored because your master is sick and can't play with you, huh?" Ivan rubbed the animal's body. "Just a moment, okay. After the rice is cooked, I'll take you to play."

Rex didn't fight back at all. The dog was originally from Acornhull, after all.

Leva walked over to Ivan, leaned her back against the wall, then said. "This really surprised me. Someone like you can cook and likes animals."

A chuckle escaped Ivan's mouth. "Shouldn't someone like me be good at cooking and love animals?"

"Seeing your ferocity in the arena, I never imagined you would be like this."

"There's nothing special." Ivan got up and rubbed Kat's white dog's head. "Since I was little, my father was paralyzed, so I had to take care of him. One of the skills I learned was cooking. If not me as the only child, who else would take care of him? My mother died because of illness when I was a baby."

"Sorry to hear that."

Ivan smiled, slightly looking up at the sky. "There are some mean people in my tribe, you know. They like to bully my dad because he's crippled."

Ugh. It must be because of Brown.

"Ah." Leva flashed a faint smile. "You wanted to protect your father, so you learned to fight, right?"

Ivan's smile widened. "Well, basically, I'm already interested in close combat. The bullying of these people actually fueled me to study more. Unfortunately, it had consequences."

Leva's eyebrows rose. "Consequences?"

"I've had quite a bit of playing time with my friends because I have to take care of my dad. And when I play with them, I get triggered several times by their comments mocking my dad." Another chuckle escaped Ivan's mouth, but this time it was bitter. "I often fight with them. One by one, the children in my tribe stay away from me because of it."

Ah, maybe his case is similar to Leva's

"It was their own fault to mock your father." Leva shrugged.

Ivan shook his head. The smile on his face had disappeared. "No. Actually, most of them just ask or accidentally talk about my father. However, I often misunderstand and assume they are mocking my father." The man was silent for a moment, rubbing Rex's head again. "Because of loneliness, I have developed relationships with several animals, especially dogs. In the past, I had a pack of war wolves, which helped me to fight the enemies."

"Back then? Where are they now?"

"Two years ago, we had a food shortage. Crops couldn't grow properly because of disease, there were very few animals to hunt, and a lot of livestock died from disease as well." Ivan took a deep breath. "During winter, we were short of food... The only animals left were those that weren't livestock."

Leva's eyes widened. I can only guess the meaning of what Ivan just said. So, Ivan's wolves were killed for food?

Shit. It was a very sad memory. It reminded me of Kat, who almost killed Rox to be eaten so her friends could survive.

Ivan's broad smile grew again. "Well, but that's all a lie! I'm the second of three children! I've always loved fighting! And all my family members love to fight! My mother and father, who are actually still alive, also love to fight! My family still keeps lots of war wolves, but they won't allow me to bring them here because my main goal is to meet you!"

Leva's chin immediately dropped. I'm also speechless because of that. How could, after making people sympathize with him, he said it was all a joke!?

"Leva, attack him!" I gave the order in a huff.

Leva didn't attack right away. She looked down. Her veins protruded again on her forehead and neck.

"I had to fight with my whole family just to bring the wolves here!" Ivan spread his arms. "And I lost, even though I really wanted to show you their greatness."

"How dare you..." Leva hissed. Her breathing started to get out of control, her gaze sharpened, and her body was already leaning forward. "Arrgghhhh!!!"

Leva ran and jumped, about to kick the big man. However, Ivan managed to catch Leva's body and hug her tightly. The red-haired girl immediately froze, and her feet couldn't touch the ground anymore.

"Hey, let her go!" I shouted at Ivan, who had become my colonist, albeit temporarily.

However, the big tall man didn't take my word for it.

"Ooh, you're so aggressive, Leva." Ivan said to that woman whose face was now so close to him. "A long time ago, my dad used this technique to get my mom's attention. Well, they're both fighters... Arggghhh!!!"

Ivan shouted while covering his eyes that had just been poked by Leva. The red-haired woman immediately backed away as soon as her body was released from the man's hug.

"If you do that again...." Leva said through gritted teeth. "Say goodbye to your dick."

Rex, who was observing all of that, just tilted his head.

"B-but, wasn't what I did just now romantic?" Ivan protested while blinking his eyes. "My parents said so!"

"Maybe it's romantic for them, but not for me!" Leva snorted in annoyance.

Ah, even though she had been holding back her emotions for a long time.

"Okay, okay. I'll use another, more romantic way." Ivan was still blinking his teary eyes.

"I don't need your romantic ...." Suddenly, Leva looked to the west, the direction the Acornhull group had arrived.

"What's wrong?" Ivan frowned.

"I feel something... Something bad is coming here....." Leva narrowed her eyes. "Ah, you may not believe it, but I can sense the dangers that the future will come upon us."

"In the past, my tribe also had a person with such abilities, but he died." Ivan lined up Leva, looking in the same direction. "Well, I hope it's not Naomi."

Leva turned her head to Eric. "Naomi? What's wrong with her?"

"She did a dark ritual to strengthen herself. She wants revenge on you for beating her in the semifinals."

What? Now we have to face something occult?

Leva's expression went blank, then she snorted again. "I've heard that fucking ritual, and everyone knows it's a myth. Someone used to do it in my tribe, and nothing happened."

Ivan laughed again, this time louder than before. "I'm joking again!"

Leva had already moved her legs to kick Ivan's groin, but the man was able to dodge and run. "Catch me if you can, Leva!"

However, the red-haired girl remained where she was, only folding her arms across her chest. "You want to make me play catch-up with you, right? You want to make it romantic. Huh. Don't expect me to go along with you."

Ivan immediately froze in a running pose, then turned his head to Leva, who had already started walking towards the house.