How the Regressed Munchkin Chews Up the Tower - H.R.M.C.U.T Chapter 19 (Part 1):

Very cautiously.

Like a cat sneaking a treat behind its owner’s back.

Ishia approached the Sulfur Deer, which was leisurely grazing alone, with slow, deliberate steps.

‘…Something’s off?’

She rubbed her eyes.

Was there a problem with her depth perception?

Even though she was still quite far away, the deer’s size appeared abnormally massive.

‘Ah-.’

Only after blinking and scanning her surroundings did she realize.

‘It’s just *that* big!’

Were deer always this enormous?

Or was it because it was a monster?

Its size was so overwhelming that no other word could describe it.

Even its aura felt different from what she’d seen from afar.

Its antlers glowed as if ablaze, and bright yellow smoke ceaselessly poured from its nostrils.

‘The smell of sulfur.’

It wasn’t called a Sulfur Deer for nothing.

That bright yellow smoke was undoubtedly sulfur gas.

‘Ugh!’

The foul stench forced her to hold her breath.

‘I can’t get any closer.’

The closer she got, the stronger the stench became.

She was about twenty meters from the Sulfur Deer, but approaching any further seemed impossible.

‘I’ll just lure it from here.’

She could shout to draw its attention, but Ishia chose a different method.

She worried that yelling might attract the aggro of other creatures nearby.

‘Can I hit it?’

She picked up a few pebbles from the ground.

Damaging the Sulfur Deer was out of the question, but she could at least make it look her way.

Assuming, of course, she could land the shot.

“Huu—”

Holding a pebble, she took a deep breath, focusing her mind.

It would’ve been better if she had a skill or item for ranged attacks…

‘The sword’s not bad, though.’

Ishia had drawn her sword only twice: once when she encountered that strange lunatic and again when she attacked the axe-wielding maniac alongside Park Jihoo.

Just those two times.

Yet, it felt as familiar as if she’d wielded it for decades.

So familiar that she wondered, ‘Did I practice kendo as a kid or something?’

Of course, she hadn’t.

Unconsciously, she stroked the hilt of 『Crimson Lotus [E]』, and her tense heart calmed.

“Huu—”

She took another deep breath and drew her arm back.

The heavy pebble in her hand sliced through the air swiftly.

*Pop-!*

It was heavier than she expected, making her doubt it would reach, but astonishingly, the pebble struck the Sulfur Deer’s antler with pinpoint accuracy.

She hadn’t expected to hit it on the first try, and her body froze in surprise.

Slowly, the Sulfur Deer raised its head.

Directly toward where Ishia stood.

“Eeek!”

Its blood-red sclera and three pupils.

Meeting those grotesque eyes, her heart seemed to shrivel.

‘Run!’

If she hesitated, she felt those murderous antlers would pierce straight through her.

Ishia spun around and bolted.

*Prrrrrrk-!*

The Sulfur Deer, glaring at her retreating figure, began charging with frenzied speed.

*Thud-thud-thud-thud-thud-thud-!*

Its massive size shook the ground, vibrations coursing through her soles.

“Arghhhhh!”

Glancing back, Ishia let out a scream and pushed herself harder.

‘You’re too fast!’

The gap between them was about twenty meters.

But in the blink of an eye, the Sulfur Deer closed it to ten.

At this rate, it would catch her in no time.

And when it did, it wouldn’t just hurt a little—it’d be catastrophic.

Like colliding with a one-ton truck.

At *full throttle*!

Her Level 1 body would shatter into pieces.

“Now’s the time!”

Pale with terror, Ishia let out a desperate cry.

At that moment—

“Waaargh!”

Her comrades, hidden in the bushes, leaped out, positioning themselves between her and the Sulfur Deer.

Their shouts were a mix of battle cries and screams.

*BOOOOM-!*

A man with a shield took the lead, blocking the Sulfur Deer’s charge.

“Urgh!”

The impact was beyond imagination, making his eyes bulge.

Blood trickled from his lips, as if he’d bitten his tongue.

“I blocked it!”

The shield-bearer let out an adrenaline-fueled cheer.

Incredibly, he’d stopped the Sulfur Deer’s monstrous charge.

“Attack!”

Confirming this, Ishia didn’t pause to catch her breath. She drew 『Crimson Lotus [E]』 and spun around.

The first to move was a man with a spear.

Its long reach allowed him to thrust from a distance.

*Thud-!*

The spearhead pierced the Sulfur Deer’s hide.

‘It went in!’

She’d worried their attacks might be useless.

The Sulfur Deer wasn’t an ordinary beast—it was a monster.

She couldn’t be sure that items obtained in the tutorial floor could deal proper damage.

But it pierced.

Not deeply, but enough to break through its tough hide.

That alone was enough.

If their weapons worked, it meant they could kill it!

“Jihoo-ya!”

“Yes, yes!”

Calling out to Park Jihoo as she charged, he leaped forward as if he’d been waiting.

The timid, frail demeanor he’d shown earlier was gone.

In its place was a burning resolve to crush the enemy.

*CLANG-!*

His massive metal gauntlet slammed into the Sulfur Deer’s jaw, unleashing a loud metallic ring.

‘It worked!’

Dangun

I'm currently Translating the following novels: "Labyrinth Exploration 101" & "The Monarch Who Levels Up by Devouring " If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon!

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