TTIGRAAS: Predator

Chapter 25

In the blink of an eye, I was back outside. I didn't even get the chance to say goodbye, not that I cared a ton.

Again, it was a disorienting feeling... even more so, because now the sudden contrast with my surroundings made me feel like I'd woken up from some strange dream.

Great Sage, that happened, right?

[[Affirmative.]]

Nearby, I set up a magic circle based on something I read in a book from the library. It's a sort of teleportation magic that I can use to bring my students here quickly and easily later. It was quite large and elaborate, but worth it to take the time to construct.

I then triggered the one I left back just outside of Englesia to cut down the trip back and soon found myself in the field outside the city.

"I'll really need to get used to that... even when I'm the caster, it still feels strange."

Not only that, but it takes a decent chunk out of my magicules doing that. However, even after getting splattered earlier I was perfectly fine. A little lower on energy than I would like, but it wasn't enough to trigger any sensible fatigue.

Hmmm... on second thought, maybe I could grab a snack before returning to the city proper?

And by that I mean: find a monster, kill it, and eat it.

Yeah, it's been a while since I've had a good hunt. The thought of it was making me excited, it was a strange feeling, but pleasant in a way. It was making me hungry, even though I couldn't really feel hunger in the physical sense.

I still had a few days before I was due back, so taking a detour for a little track-n-snack wouldn't do any harm.

I flew to a safe distance from the city pronto and started my scan for potential prey.

There wasn't much here, which was expected since this wasn't Jura and magicules weren't as abundant, but I did stumble across something.

Out of a hole in the ground popped a cute little face. This creature looked just like a prairie dog from earth, except somehow cuter.

"Aww, hey there, little guy!"

It was too adorable to eat. The accompanying guilt would be too much for me to handle if I made this my prey.

It looked at me and sniffed the air, twitching its cute little whiskers.

"You're adorable," I cooed, feeling my nonexistent heart melt a little. Walking away, I said over my shoulder, "you stay safe, 'kay little guy? You don't wanna hang around something like me."

I was even letting my aura out a bit since I'd been holding it in for so long, but this little guy wasn't even scared. Just curious. I could tell it was some kind of monster thanks to the magicules in its body, but it wasn't a strong one.

Walking away at a brisk pace, I set my senses to scan for other potential targets. Preferably something not as cute.

As I looked behind me with [Magic Sense], I saw the little guy crawling out of his hole after me. Another set of legs appeared following its long body... and then another... and another...

Holy crap! That thing is like two meters long! How many legs is that!?

The end of the creature came out, and another head popped up to look at me.

Both... heads...

IT HAS HEADS ON BOTH ENDS OF ITS BODY!!!

EWWWW!