I walked to the location. It was a shady part of the city where fishy merchants and bandits settle.

  However, during the winter, it seemed this part of the city is rather… quiet.

  Or perhaps, because of the Maws.

  …

  Natum Maws are usually barbaric and animalistic. However, there are instances of them being silent ambushers—usually the smaller ones.

  If I am correct, the Maws I will be encountering today will be, unfortunately… the latter.

  “Hm…”

  I picked up a few rocks from the snow, grasping them in my left hand as I unsheathed my worn-out sword with my right before walking forward on the road.

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  While it is risky, the best way to lure them out is by playing dumb.

  However, there may be a chance that I am wrong and they are not ambushers.

  Time will tell.

  —

  “Three minutes,” I whispered under my breath.

  I've walked a decent number of steps by now.

  …

  “Let's do something I did when I was younger…” I muttered, chuckling slightly.

  I decided to drop all the rocks except one before hitting the blade of my sword with it.

  The clash made a loud noise.

  “Not as loud as I hoped it would be.”

  I hummed.

  “Would've worked better with something not corroded.”

  My ears picked up a sound afterward—I turned my head to the left to see two fox-like Maws leaping at me.

  I quickly swung my sword, roughly splitting one of the Maws in half before ducking and dodging the other.

  The Maw crashed into the snow, its stomach facing up as it struggled to stand.

  “You two are very young.”

  “Very, very young.”

  “Split in half like butter.”

  I reversed my sword and drove it repeatedly into the one I had sliced in half.

  “I can't trust that you'd stay dead from that.”

  I swung my sword to remove some blood from the blade, watching the other Maw finally stand up stiffly.

  Without a second thought, I ran toward it, swinging my sword and slicing its neck halfway before my sword made an uncomfortable noise as it abruptly snapped.

  “…This one is sturdier.”

  I lifted my foot and kicked it away a few feet before looking at my sword.

  Half the blade had snapped off—but I can st

  ill manage.

  “Farewell.”

  …

  Gripping the hilt, I charged forward.