???????????.?..??
Chapter 8
??..?.???????????

IN her previous life, she have summoned a small sun or healed before, but those memories were vague and forgotten.

‘Could it be that there’s a limit to a puppy’s capabilities?’

When Pudding tilted her head, Lioferranda replied, “Did you forget?”

“Woof!” Pudding wagged her tail once, looking up at Lioferranda, indicating that she forgot.

“Heh, you’re adorable. Very lively. Just imagine feeling the sunlight all over your body. And then, when your heart tightens, use the power of the sun to materialize what you desire.”

Following Lioferranda’s instructions, Pudding felt the sunlight all over her body. The warm sunlight seemed to enter her small body. It also felt like a surge of energy was emanating from her heart.

‘What I desire. Yes, let’s try summoning that little sun.’

Pudding envisioned a small sun in her mind.

A tiny, beautiful sun burning brightly.

Whoosh!

At that moment, accompanied by a yellow glow illuminating the surroundings, a small sun appeared above Pudding’s head.

It was a success.

However, it was really a tiny sun. It was as small as Pudding’s front paw, and although it was cute, it somehow felt insignificant.

“Woof. (It’s small.)”

“Oho, still, summoning it is already an achievement. Congratulations! The more you receive sunlight, the more power you can wield. The name of that bee is Vinn. It will be your friend from now on, so take it with you. See you later, little puppy.”

At that moment, a warm hand touched Pudding’s body as if someone was gently caressing her, and then it disappeared. The sunflowers and the flower garden were no longer visible.

‘Was I dreaming again?’

Pudding looked around restlessly, trying to regain her senses.

Buzz, buzz!

The buzzing bee was still the same size, large and buzzing. Startled, Pudding barked excitedly, but the large and plump bee didn’t move away and suddenly folded its wings. Then it lowered its body.

“Woof? (Are you telling me to get on?)”

The striped body beneath the yellow head of the bee looked quite soft. Pudding tried to climb up there but her small and light body slipped and couldn’t hold on. Since she hadn’t fully transformed into a human, it seemed impossible to ride on the bee for now.

“Woof. (No, it’s impossible.)”

When Pudding couldn’t get on, the bee suddenly went somewhere nearby and came back, with something sticky and sweet smeared all over its body.

“Woof! (Honey!)”

Due to the sticky honey, Pudding was able to climb up and became securely fixed. Although she felt a slight urge to lick the sweet honey scent, she endured it. Perhaps because of the puppy’s instinct, she expressed her desire to eat without hesitation.

‘But I’m not an ordinary puppy, I’m a human! Pull yourself together!’

Feeling stable on the bee’s back, Pudding felt Vinn, the bee, start to rise into the sky. With Pudding on its back, Vinn easily passed through trees and hilly landscapes. Along the way, there was no sign of the herbalist or Theo. In no time, they arrived at the Shadow Forest.

Despite it being broad daylight, the Shadow Forest was dark due to the dense trees, and a heavy and eerie atmosphere permeated the air.

‘It’s dark. Let’s summon the small sun again!’

Pudding went to a spot where sunlight gathered and felt the light all over her body. When her heart responded to the sunlight and began pounding, Pudding imagined a small sun in her mind.

Whoosh!

A slightly larger, round sun than before circled around Pudding. Just looking at the light made Pudding feel good. It seemed easier to summon this time. Thanks to that, the surroundings became brighter.

Suddenly, the melted honey on the ground caused Pudding’s feet to slip.

“Woof, woof! (Scary, let me down!)”

As Pudding trembled with fear, the bee must have understood and promptly landed on the ground.

“Woof, woof! (Thank you, bee!)”

After descending from the bee’s body, Pudding dashed towards Theo. The bee buzzed and continued to chase after Pudding.

????? ????? ?????

THEY continued running for a while. Pudding ran, stepping on the fallen leaves scattered along the forest path, while observing the shadows of the trees stretching out.

Sniff, sniff.

With her small, black nose twitching like a bean, Pudding began to pick up Theo’s scent. The scent of squirrels, rabbits, trees, fruits, and even animal droppings filled the forest, making it difficult to find Theo. However, by focusing on her sense of smell, Pudding suddenly caught a whiff of a strange scent.

‘This is…’

The scent of a monster!

A repugnant stench, as if meat was rotting, wafted through the air. It was a smell strong enough to make one’s nose fall off. Pudding cautiously followed the trace of that dreadful scent.

As she followed the scent, she discovered a monster with sinister eyes and long fangs, walking on all fours through the forest. Its face resembled a bat, its body was large like a wild boar, and its claws were long and sharp like a bird’s.

Pudding calmly hid behind trees and rocks, moving silently.

Huff, huff!

The monster became excited, releasing a puff of breath. It seemed to be searching for something. Following its gaze, Pudding spotted Theo. The herbalist was climbing a cliff, grabbing onto rocks, in search of herbs.

Huff!

The monster approached Theo, ready to attack. He seemed unaware of the monster’s presence. Seeing the monster, Pudding’s nerves tensed.

‘Surviving against such a powerful monster would be a miracle.’

Though afraid, Pudding thought that if she barked here, it might give Theo time to escape. But defeating the monster with the small sun she had summoned earlier would be impossible.

‘…I wish I was given a stronger power.’

With a regretful feeling, Pudding observed the monster. However, there was no time to waste.

Huff!

Thud!

The monster slowly approached Theo, who was clinging to the rock cliff. Theo was already trying to climb up.

‘Ahh! Get away!’

Just then, the herbalist turned around and discovered the presence of the monster, causing him to panic. However, there wasn’t much he could do from the edge of the cliff.

‘Oh… Sir! Save him! Please pull him up!’

“I… I’m sorry! I have to save myself. I’m sorry!”

The cowardly voice of the herbalist could be heard, who entrusted the dangerous task to Theo and shamelessly abandoned the child before fleeing.

“Woof! (Theo!)”

Huff!

Pudding called out to Theo, but the monster’s attention was already focused on him.

‘This won’t work. I need to divert its attention towards me.’

Whoosh!

Pudding summoned a small sun, radiating a bright light as it grew to the size of her head. The emitted light became even more radiant.

Was this a color that comes from a cluster of scorching lava?

Buzz!

Just then, a welcome sound reached Pudding’s ears. It was the bee that she thought had disappeared. It had followed her from a distance. Pudding quickly hopped onto the bee’s back.

‘It was following me!’

Moreover, the bee had brought back more honey, smearing it all over its body. Pudding shouted to the bee.

“Woof! (Let’s go over there!)”

The bee flew up energetically, followed closely by the sun Pudding had summoned.

“Pudding!”

Huff!

Both Theo and the monster turned their attention towards Pudding.

“Woof! (Run away!)”

Pudding commanded the bee to circle around the monster annoyingly, flying around its vicinity. The enraged monster swung its foreleg, its sharp claws seeming capable of inflicting serious injuries with a mere graze.

‘Fly higher!’

Perhaps Pudding’s thoughts were conveyed, as the bee exerted all its strength and flew high up into the air. However, the monster, its eyes glowing with excitement, lashed out with its long whip-like tail.

Swish!

“Grrr!”

The bee and Pudding were struck by the attack and plummeted to the ground in an instant. Pudding and the bee trembled helplessly as the monster slowly approached. The small sun that had been summoned gradually lost its power and shriveled up.

“Hey! Over here! Chase after me!”

Theo, who had rolled off the cliff from a distance, threw rocks at the monster.

‘You fool, I was trying to save you. Please… just leave me and run away!’

Pudding prayed desperately. Tears welled up in her black eyes.

‘Grant me the strength to save Theo. After I rescue that child, I don’t care what happens to me… I’ll gladly bear the wounds instead.’