Hideout in Another World: I Tried Building a Secret Base in the Middle of Nowhere

Chapter 78: Black Panther Part 2

Ultimately, the black panther did not appear until morning. It seems Shiro stayed vigilant without a wink of sleep. She doesn’t seem particularly tired, but her expression remains cloudy as ever. Gisella and Zamza also seem slightly uncomfortable. For the Oni tribe, who are accustomed to being strong, the current situation might be causing significant stress.

“I fell asleep…” …Or maybe Zamza’s just feeling awkward. Your downfall was leaning on Elizabeth.

“Breakfast is ready.”

“Gyau gyau~!”

On the other hand, Kuro and Mil are as usual. Mil’s nonchalance is beyond belief. Well, as for Kuro… he’s just being Kuro. By the time Kuro starts feeling stressed, the rest of us will probably be going insane.

“Anyway… shall we pack up?”

“Yeah, you’re right. We got a bit thrown off by yesterday’s black panther, but especially at times like this, we need to stick to the plan.”

“Gyau gyau~”

After breakfast, with no particularly good ideas coming to mind, I suggest preparing for two days ahead. The atmosphere is somewhat heavy, but we can’t afford to just space out like this. We need to prepare not only provisions for the villagers but also set up the stall.

“Bonus, I’ll go too.”

“Ah, …Shiro, are you okay?”

“Yeah. It’s a little scary, though.”

“It might have gone somewhere else already, so let’s keep an eye on things for a while.”

“Got it.”

However, my optimistic expectations were completely off the mark. For the next two days, the black panther was spotted all over the hideout.

The first to spot the black panther inside the hideout was Zamza. Apparently, he encountered it while fetching water, as requested by Mil. Zamza, as usual, carelessly submerged the water bottle in the lake and tried to pull it up forcefully. At that moment, a large black shadow appeared next to him, gliding as if on ice. Because it appeared just as the sun was blocked out, Zamza was suddenly enveloped by the black shadow, and for a moment, he didn’t understand what was happening. It was only when the black shadow touched the water surface and began to drink that he realized it was a black panther. Overwhelmed, Zamza couldn’t move, holding onto the bottle, and just sat down. The black panther didn’t even look at Zamza and quietly walked away after finishing drinking. Zamza ultimately couldn’t move until the black panther left and his body was bathed in sunlight again.

“Embarrassing…”

“You came back safely with valuable information. There’s nothing to be embarrassed about.”

Mil comforts Zamza, who has been feeling down for the past few days. But, as Mil says, Zamza returned with valuable information.

“Not only his left eye, but also his left leg and tail were missing. It seems like he was attacked by some other creature. Still… I wouldn’t stand a chance against him even if he’s injured.”

“Handicapped?”

“The scars seemed old, so I think it happened a while ago. I didn’t particularly think he was weak.”

“How big was he in actual size?”

“Hmm. About one size smaller than Elizabeth. He’s probably one of the smallest among the Kidanakemo. Still, he’s big…”

After that, Kuro, Gisella, and Mil apparently crossed paths with the black panther several times while harvesting fruits, cacao, and coffee beans. It seems the black panther looked just as Zamza confirmed. Kuro doesn’t seem to care much, but Gisella and Mil have apparently decided not to worry too much. They casually report it during meals. I also saw it once. When I was doing laundry with Shiro at the water source, I noticed her hand had stopped moving at some point. Wondering what was going on, I followed her gaze into the distance, but all I saw was the banana tree swaying in the wind. Since the shadow at the base of the tree wasn’t moving unnaturally, I thought something was strange and squinted my eyes. Suddenly, I realized it was the black panther, and I almost screamed. Despite my agitation, the black panther lay calmly in the shade, gazing at us intently even after I noticed it.

“Hmm… ugh… ah… um…”

“Such a cheeky fellow,”
Shiro seems quite irritated ever since this black panther appeared. Indeed, I’m feeling frustrated too. I just can’t seem to understand the nature of this creature. Is it an enemy, an ally, or a presence that can’t be easily categorized? What’s worse, this creature is capable of easily killing us. And yet, there’s no sign of it causing any harm at the moment… I can’t seem to find an answer to how to position such a creature within myself, and it’s unsettling.

Of course, besides this black panther, various other creatures, including the Kidanakemo, come and go in this hideout. But, when it’s so brazenly wandering around, it somehow feels annoying. If we continue on to Savoia like this, it feels like our hideout has been taken over, and I really dislike that.

“Bonus. Let’s head back early.”

“Yeah, but… it’s just not sitting right with me…”

In the afternoon of the second day, Shiro, Mil, and I came to dig up some potatoes for a change of pace. Mil apparently found some rare potatoes that can be eaten raw, similar to yam, in the hideout. I had somewhat expected it, but they were mountain yams resembling natural potatoes. Personally, I’d like to grate them and eat them with soy sauce, on top of rice or noodles. Mil seems to want to make marinades, but unfortunately, there’s no vinegar in the hideout. In the Vine Village, they seemed to produce a small amount of wine and vinegar. From local inquiries, meals, and talks from Azir, I get the feeling they’re engaged in Mediterranean-style agriculture. We should try to rebuild the village as soon as possible and engage in various trades. Besides, even though Savoia may be difficult, it seems Elizabeth can go to the village.

“You can harvest so many of these…”

“Actually, finding them should be quite difficult.”

“Meeeh~!”

“Well done, Elizabeth.”

Actually, besides the three of us, Elizabeth is also accompanying us. And unexpectedly, she’s good at finding potatoes. It seems the leaves suit her taste, and she always seems to be eating them. Seeing us happily digging up the potatoes, she guided us to the harvest site without getting lost.

“Let’s try eating a little.”

“Yeah, that sounds good. Since the water source is nearby, let’s take a break and eat.”

“Exciting.”

We washed our hands and the potatoes at the nearby water source and cut them thinly with a knife.

“It’s kind of slippery…”

“Ah, it’s delicious, but… I want some soy sauce… seasoning.”

“It’s quite different from those found in the Tamil Mountains. This one tastes better.”

Shiro looked suspicious at first, but once she started eating, making a satisfying crunching sound, she continued to eat indefinitely. Seeing her expression soften a bit, it seems she likes it. After eating the potatoes, leaning against Elizabeth, Shiro and Mil take a short break alongside me. The woven sandals I bought from Menas seem to be on the verge of breaking soon.

“I want to buy some in Savoia.”

“You probably have money, so just buy them.”

“Yeah, that’s the plan. This time, let’s buy clothes for Kuro, Shiro, and Gisella too… let’s buy for Mil as well.”

“Well, in my case, it’s better to have fabric bought than clothes. I’ll make them myself.”

“That’s true. It’ll be faster if we make them with Kuro.”

As Mil and I discuss shopping, I suddenly feel a weight on my shoulder. Looking to the side, I see Shiro sleeping in a strange position, leaning against me.

“This is the first time I’ve seen Shiro dozing off like this.”

“She hasn’t been able to sleep properly since the black panther appeared.”

Even though we’re talking, there’s no sign of her waking up. Since her posture looks a bit uncomfortable, I guide her into a position where she can rest on my knee.

“Hehe…”

With a face I haven’t seen often, she rubs her head against me with a grin. It’s cute, but it feels like I’m being toyed with by a huge beast.

“…Shiro, you’re awake, right?”

“Ugh, Mil, give me a little more time to wake up…”

“You were awake… then, shall we go soon?”

It seems Shiro had just dozed off for a moment and had been awake for a while. Still, Shiro, who had been looking rough lately, seems to have a slightly better expression. The three of us stand up and start moving again with Elizabeth.

“Let’s harvest a little more and go back for lunch. It’ll surely be delicious when cooked.”

“Oh, there’s some over there too! Alright, alright…”

With that thought, as we search for the potatoes following the distinctive leaves, suddenly the face of the black panther pops out from the bushes in front of us.

“Wha–aaahhh!”

“Bonus!”

“――――――Shhh…”

Shiro rushes over and is huddled over me. The black panther, without doing anything in particular, silently walks away from somewhere. Shiro exhales deeply while still holding onto me.

I was thoroughly disturbed by the sudden appearance of the black panther, yet my mind was filled with the voice or sound I heard earlier from the panther.

“Was that guy… smiling?”

“What does that black panther want, anyway?”

Mil murmured while looking in the direction where the panther disappeared.

Elizabeth, also frightened, snuggled up to Shiro, licking her lips nervously.

“Ugh!”

“Eek!”

“Shiro… You have to let go of Bonus, or you’ll crush him.”

“Ah… Sorry.”

Before being eaten by the panther, I was about to have my spine broken by Shiro.

But still… That black panther seemed to be smiling after all.

I felt a mixture of irritation and something almost endearing when it glanced at me, on the verge of overturning in surprise.

Perhaps it was trying to startle me.

But for what purpose…?

In the end, no matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t imagine, let alone grasp how to perceive the black panther, only becoming more confused.

However, it’s already the afternoon of the second day.

We’re scheduled to depart tomorrow morning.

At least by tonight’s dinner, we must come up with some kind of answer.

“Let’s go back and make lunch for now.”

“Well, that’s true…”

Mil, gathering the potatoes she dropped when Shiro dashed out, said tiredly.

Potato digging was a good distraction, but it ended up stirring up my mind at the last moment.

“It’s about time we figured this out.”

After dinner.

We began discussing to come to some conclusion despite still not having a clear idea.

“Of course, it’s about the black panther…”

“If Bonus decides, I’ll follow, but even if it comes to fighting… I won’t be of much help.”

“Yeah, I understand. I don’t want to fight either.”

These past two days, that black panther has been confusing, not knowing if it’s an enemy or an ally.

Moreover, it wasn’t clear if it might become a threat in the future.

And after our encounter today, I feel like that black panther was smiling at me.

I’ve thought back on it many times since then, and I still believe it was smiling.

At that moment, along with the annoyance, I felt something almost affectionate.

“And yet, it also feels somewhat similar to this guy…”

I poke Pink, who’s lying on his back in exhaustion from eating too many of the sweet potatoes we harvested today.

He swats away my hand with his small hand, looking annoyed with his eyes closed.

“But we can’t let our guard down because of that. As for the choices we have now… There are three. First, completely ignore it and head to Savoia as planned. Second, postpone going to Savoia and continue observing the black panther until we can handle it clearly. Third, eliminate it. There’s no doubt it has considerable power. However, if we can come up with a solid trap or strategy, with Pink here, I think we could defeat it.”

“I’m fine with ignoring it. Of course, if there’s a strategy to defeat it safely, I’ll cooperate.”

Mil makes quick decisions in times like these.

I guess she and Zamza plan to leave it to me.

She’s energetically eating dessert oranges.

Shiro and Gizera still seem undecided.

They’re furrowing their brows, lost in thought.

By the way, I can’t find an answer myself.

“If… we had to find a way to defeat the black panther, what methods do you think there are?”

“That’s—?”

“Huh…?”

Just as I was about to imagine how to defeat it, as if my imagination had materialized, the black panther quietly approached us.

Everyone’s faces were dumbfounded as they couldn’t keep up with the sudden situation, their bodies unable to react.

All they could do was follow its figure with their eyes.

The black panther approached us quietly until it was a few steps away, then it trembled slightly and squatted down quietly.

As everyone stared in astonishment, it rested its chin on its hand and let out a satisfied sigh with a content expression, closing its only remaining amber eye, completely motionless.

“…Is it dead?”

“Wha-?”

Kuro looked surprised.

Shiro approached the black panther at an incredible speed and touched its nose.

“There’s no breathing at all. I think it’s… dead.”

“What in the world is this…?”

Everyone stands frozen.

My mind goes completely blank.

I can’t seem to make sense of what just happened right in front of me.

At that moment, Elizabeth suddenly strides over to the carcass of the black panther and starts sniffing around its belly.

“Huh? Are you going to eat it?”

“Baa!”

As Zamza involuntarily asks, Elizabeth lets out an annoyed sound.

Then, just as I thought, Kuro also rushes over to Elizabeth’s nose, and as if fumbling around, she pulls out something wet and fluffy from under the black panther’s belly.

“Gyaa! Gyaa gyaa gyaa!”

“Mya~!”

“Huh?”

“Oh my.”

“It’s a baby.”

“I see… So you were a mother.”

Kuro cradles the stuffed animal-like black panther cub with one hand and wipes its body with a handkerchief.

Finally, my thoughts start to come together.

At the same time, I’m overwhelmed with indescribable emotions.

The black panther must have been observing us.

Right up until its life ended.

Wondering if we were truly capable of entrusting her offspring.

Contemplating how we could go about entrusting her baby.

“Gyaa gyaa!”

“I know, Kuro. It’s adorable. But for a baby, it’s quite big…”

“Mya~ mya~ mya~!”

Kuro holds up the black panther cub in front of my eyes, making a racket with gleaming eyes.

I cautiously take the black panther cub from Kuro and hold it firmly.

Its movements are uncertain, and its eyes don’t seem to see clearly yet, but it’s already the size of a large adult cat.

As I hold this soft, fluffy bundle to my chest, a mix of complex emotions wells up within me.

A sense of regret that the black panther couldn’t make any progress before it died.

A feeling of defeat that I’ve unwittingly played into the black panther’s hands.

And a sense of pride that I has been deemed worthy of trust.

“Here you go.”

“Wow…”

I pass the black panther cub to Shiro, who had been watching it with me, beside me.

For the past few days, she has been wearing a stern expression, but now she smiles faintly with tears in her eyes.

As someone who took the situation more seriously than anyone else, her feelings must be even more complex than mine.

“It’s warm.”

“So cute… So this is what it’s like…”

As a mother, I should bury her…

Looking at her again, she has a majestic physique and beautiful fur.

When I touch her, she’s still slightly warm, with a different kind of comfort than Elizabeth.

If possible, I would have liked to interact with her more while she was alive.

I’m sure she had an interesting personality.

“What should I do, Bonus?”

“Hmm?”

“Do you think… I’ll be able to breastfeed?”

“Shiro… that’s… let’s ask Elizabeth.”