With a contented smile, I withdrew my hand from the rabbit, its soft fur still tingling against my fingertips. The creature had accepted my touch with apparent trust, and I felt a sense of companionship blossoming between us. As I gazed down at it fondly, the next moment brought a surprising revelation through the Status Sight.

***

Horny Rabbit (Kiiroi)

Level: 1

Title: None

Description: An edible Kiiroi Ikimono. Its meat is tender when roasted or made into a stew. But be careful of its horn if it’s a male.

***

How could anyone view this adorable creature as mere food? The thought seemed almost sacrilegious as I shook my head in disbelief. Softly murmuring, “Don’t worry, little buddy. You’re safe with me,” I threw the rabbit another earnest smile.

However, a sudden realization jolted me from my thoughts. Where was its horn? According to the Status Sight, this creature was supposed to have a defensive horn, particularly if it was male. Yet, as I scrutinized the rabbit before me, I saw no sign of such a feature. Shouldn’t it be prominently displayed on its forehead or somewhere easily accessible for defense?

My gaze narrowed, suspicion creeping into my mind as I observed the rabbit more closely. In an instant, the creature’s demeanor shifted unexpectedly. Its eyes, previously gentle and curious, now blazed a bright red, and its lips curled into a wide, unsettling grin. It was a startling transformation, as if the creature itself had morphed into a predator, sizing me up as potential prey.

“What the heck is wrong with this bunny?” I muttered, taken aback by the sudden change. The warm companionship I had felt moments ago now felt like a distant memory, replaced by an unsettling doubt about the true nature of this seemingly harmless creature.

Suddenly, the rabbit leaped high toward me. While it was in the air, I finally noticed the supposed ‘horn’ protruding out—but from its groin. It was longer than anything I could have imagined, even longer than mine. The sheer absurdity of the situation struck me like a thunderbolt. My initial shock turned into a frantic scramble as I dodged the airborne rabbit, its unexpected appendage aimed directly at me. My heart pounded as I barely evaded its attack, landing in an undignified heap a few feet away. What kind of world had I stumbled into?

I put on a defensive pose as the creature landed gracefully before me, its eyes still aglow with that eerie red light. It turned to face me again, poised for another leap.

“Not today, buddy,” I declared, scrambling to my feet. “If there’s someone doing the ‘screwing’ here, it’s going to be me!” Gritting my teeth in determination, I couldn’t help but wonder, Eh? What the heck did I just say?

As the rabbit prepared to pounce again, I braced myself, ready to defend against this bizarre and unexpected threat. This wasn’t just a creature to be protected; it was a reminder that even the cutest appearances could hide the most surprising dangers.

A frantic struggle ensued as the rabbit and I grappled on the ground. It was a chaotic dance of limbs and fur, each of us fighting for dominance. At one point, the creature gained the upper hand and latched onto me from behind, its ‘horn’ dangerously close to... well, let’s just say it was a compromising position.

“Stop poking your ‘dick’ at my butt, you bastard!” I yelled in enragement as we continued our battle. The rabbit bounced off my body, launching itself at my face with its groin-first attack. I twisted to the side, narrowly avoiding its bizarre assault. Grabbing its hind legs, I spun it in a circle before releasing it with a wild fling. It sailed through the air, only to rebound back like some demented boomerang after being hit by a tree.

I sprinted toward it, seizing it by the throat. With a final chokehold, I successfully subdued the rabbit, cursing loudly at its audacity.

“Die, you perverted bunny!” I slammed it to the ground, breathing heavily, still cursing the creature for its obscene acts during our fight.

Finally, the rabbit lay still, its eerie red eyes dimming. I stood over it, my heart drumming from the adrenaline. This world was clearly full of surprises—dangerous, absurd surprises that I would need to be prepared for if I wanted to survive.

But my victory was short-lived. Glancing sideways, five more rabbits appeared, looking adorable. They stared at the lifeless rabbit on the ground, and then turned their gaze to me, their eyes appearing lackluster, as if saddened by the death of their friend.

“What am I supposed to do?” I exclaimed angrily at them. “Your friend tried to ‘dick’ me!”

One of them hopped forward before emitting a loud shriek—a war cry.

Shoot! These are the creatures that made the howling sound earlier.

The rabbits advanced closer, their once-cute appearances now transformed into something menacing. Each hop they took seemed synchronized, their eyes glowing with a mixture of anger and determination. My heart beat like a drum in my chest as I realized I was now facing a pack of these creatures, each ready to avenge their fallen comrade.

Taking a deep breath, I steeled myself for the impending onslaught. “Bring it on, you little devils!” I shouted defiantly, refusing to let them catch me off guard.

With a furious charge, the rabbits hurled themselves toward me, their movements surprisingly coordinated. I sprang into action, hurling my projectiles with practiced accuracy. “Sōten! Sōten! Sōten! Groin Kick! Sōten! Sōten! Sōten!”

One rabbit was struck mid-leap, its trajectory disrupted into a graceless flop. Another charged directly at me, and I dodged to the side with swift movement, delivering a precise kick that sent it tumbling through the underbrush. The chaos escalated as more rabbits closed in, their grit matched only by my own resolve.

Fists flew, legs kicked, and rocks hurtled through the air in a flurry of combat. The rabbits, though small, proved surprisingly tenacious adversaries. Their claws scratched and their teeth snapped, but I maintained my focus, countering their every move with quick strikes and evasive maneuvers.

Despite their numbers and ferocity, my assault gradually began to overwhelm them. One by one, the rabbits faltered under the onslaught until finally, the last one lay still, defeated.

Panting heavily, I took a moment to catch my breath. My eyes instinctively flicked to the familiar blue screen materializing before me, detailing the outcome of our intense encounter.

***

Kill Counts: 6

Level Up: + 1

Gold: 6

Points: 2

***

“I see... the rabbit counts as one gold each,” I whispered to myself. I didn’t want to linger in the area any longer, fearing the commotion might attract other hostile creatures. I picked up the marble-like rocks and put them into the Ammo inventory. Shifting my gaze to the rabbits, I realized they could provide a source of food for me. Deciding to stash them, it became apparent that I could place the creatures into the Tool/Items inventory.

With the rabbits securely stored, I started to move away from the spot, trying to find a safe place where I could hide and spend my first night in this fantasy world I was forcibly thrust into. The forest was dense and dark, with the canopy above allowing only slivers of light to pierce through. Every rustle and creak set my nerves on edge, but I pressed on, determined to find my first haven.