Leveling Up By Surviving Alone - L.U.B.S.A Chapter 86

“Ugh… I have to catch it…!”

Yeonwoo was at a loss.

After explosively exerting himself in this low-oxygen environment, he couldn’t give chase. His arms wouldn’t even move enough to throw the Jawsbar. It’d take at least three minutes to recover enough—plenty of time for that damn goat to escape over the cliff.

“Damn it… Am I really gonna let it get away?”

Thud.

With nothing else to do, Yeonwoo slumped down.

Catching his breath, he glared at the retreating goat.

The Rift Cliff Goat, now nearly at the top, finally glanced back.

And then—ptui!—it spat at Yeonwoo again from its lofty perch.

With its neck crooked at an awkward angle, the spit didn’t go far.

The glob landed harmlessly in the distance, sizzling faintly.

Streaks of bright red blood mixed with the corrosive fluid.

Was it angry? The goat screamed, its square pupils wide as it coughed up blood.

Maaah-ah-ah-ah-ahk!!

The cry sounded like a vow—Just you wait. I’ll get my revenge.

“Right now! Let’s settle this right now, you damn goat!!”

Maaah-ah-ah-ah-ahk!!!!

“YAAAAAAH!”

Maaah-ah-ah-ah!

Was his furious flailing that amusing?

The Rift Cliff Goat curled its lips into a grotesque grin, then bounded up the remaining cliff face.

Yeonwoo’s blood boiled.

His body had recovered, but climbing now would leave him breathless—and if that goat kicked him mid-ascent, it’d hurt.

“Next time I see you, I’m roasting you whole…!”

He trailed off, mouth hanging open.

His widened eyes weren’t on the goat anymore—but what awaited it at the cliff’s edge.

A tuft of fur, peering down.

Nearly silver-white, dotted with black leopard-like spots. Golden eyes, slit and unblinking. Fangs as sharp as a saber-tooth’s.

The sight instantly reminded Yeonwoo of one creature.

“…Snow leopard?”

Screeeech!

The leopard lunged, paws outstretched—straight for the goat’s head.

Maaah—gk!

Crunch!

Thud-thud-thud-thud!

The leopard’s jaws clamped around the goat’s throat as they tumbled down the cliff. By the time they hit the ground, the goat was cushioning the fall.

And then—

Squelch.

A wet, heavy sound echoed as a pool of blood bloomed across the snow like a grotesque flower.

The leopard grimaced, retracting its fangs.

Hot blood dripped from its maw.

All of this had unfolded right in front of Yeonwoo.

Grrrr.

The leopard’s gaze locked onto him.

Still gripping the Jawsbar, Yeonwoo found himself face-to-face with it.

A bloodied predator, barely an arm’s length away.

And yet…

“It’s… kinda small?”

*Cute*, even.

—

*– The Watcher stares at you like you’ve lost your mind.*

—

### *Flashback: Middle School Days*

Yeonwoo had many friends growing up.

Some were troublemakers; others were kind.

His mother warned him to avoid the bad ones, but he never listened. Even the roughest kids had redeeming qualities—and discovering them always made him happy.

His closest friend, Jung Mandeok, hadn’t been a “good kid” either.

But over time, Mandeok changed. Maybe it was Yeonwoo’s influence.

Or maybe that’s just how things turned out.

One memory stood out from their first year of middle school.

On his way home, Yeonwoo ran into Mandeok, clutching something tightly—a half-dead kitten, its gray fur streaked with dirty white stripes.

“Whoa! What’s wrong with it? It looks hurt…”

“Yeah. Found it collapsed. Taking it to the vet.”

Mandeok’s expression was grim but gentle. Yeonwoo immediately joined him.

“Let’s go together!”

“Really?”

“Yeah!”

The vet was hesitant.

“Ah… kids, you can’t just bring animals in like this. I appreciate the thought, but you should’ve come with a parent.”

A polite way of saying, Do you even have money?

But Mandeok, sharper than he looked, pulled out a giant piggy bank from his backpack.

“I’ve got money.”

The translucent red bank was stuffed to the brim—not with coins, but 50,000-won bills.

Mandeok was the only son of a wealthy family. Years’ worth of New Year’s money added up.

“Heh…”

The vet smiled warmly and treated the kitten, charging only the bare minimum.

Mandeok nursed it back to health and kept it.

The kitten grew into a stunning cat—silver fur with crisp white stripes.

Its name was Jung Yaong.

Since Yeonwoo’s family only allowed livestock (not pets), he practically lived at Mandeok’s house to play with Yaong.

The cat adored them both.

For a while, life was perfect.

Until that day.

“Mandeok~ We’re getting Yaong neutered tomorrow. Come with me and Mom?”

“……!”

That night, Yeonwoo and Mandeok conveniently left the window open.

Yaong, perhaps sensing his fate, vanished.

The boys weren’t sad.

They still saw him around the neighborhood—now the alpha of every stray cat.

By high school, half the local strays had silver fur and white stripes.

As adults, they understood neutering was the responsible choice.

But back then? They just clinked glasses and laughed.

Even now, they’d do the same.

Some things matter more than longevity.

Right, Yaong?

—

*– The Watcher asks if you’re just going to keep staring.*

The “situation” was a standoff.

With a 1.5-meter-long snow leopard (tail not included).

Its tail alone was thick as a third leg, adding another meter. Total length: 2.5 meters. A dead ringer for the leopards Yeonwoo had seen on National Geographic.

…

The standoff dragged on.

The leopard growled, eyes locked on Yeonwoo.

But he couldn’t bring himself to tense up.

All he saw was Yaong.

Sure, this one was far scarier, but the fur pattern—the vibe—was identical.

Above its head floated:

*[!!@#@$(??)]*

‘Just like Kim Kkokko!’

No name. No rank.

‘Probably not fully grown.’

Likely a young leopard that had stumbled upon the wounded goat—or watched their fight and seized the opportunity.

Meaning…

“This is our catch.”

Yeonwoo couldn’t have finished it alone.

The leopard dealt the final blow.

A classic “dog getting the chestnuts pulled from the fire” scenario—but better than nothing.

Besides, he couldn’t eat the whole thing himself.

“I’ll cook something delicious. Let’s share.”

He took the first step.

Screech!

The leopard retreated a pace.

He stepped forward again.

Screech-screech!

It backed up—then flinched.

Its hind paw had bumped the goat’s carcass.

The leopard’s expression darkened.

Grrrrr!

Any trace of cuteness vanished.

Gulp.

Only then did Yeonwoo grasp the gravity of facing a predator.

Not that it rattled him.

He hadn’t approached recklessly.

‘I’ve grown a lot.’

His enhanced agility—though dampened here—was enough to react if things turned ugly.

So he took another step.

“I’ll make it really tasty. You’ll love it!”

The moment his foot landed—

The leopard’s pupils flickered.

Then—whoosh!—it leaped.

“Whoa—!”

Yeonwoo backpedaled, bracing for an attack.

But the leopard wasn’t targeting him.

It had retreated further behind the goat.

Grrrr…!

Crouched low, it coiled like a spring.

Yeonwoo steadied himself, ready to counter.

But once again, his expectations were wrong.

Otaku_Senpai

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