I PICKED UP A CHILD IN A DUMPSTER-Chapter 46: As Usual.

Then I didn’t notice... but The tower was Already In front of us. Only a bit more and we’re there, just a bit more Run.

The woman shifted me on her shoulder, one arm locking my legs in place as if I weighed nothing. My head bounced slightly against her back with every leap.

Then her head snapped toward Nivalis, then toward the looming tower ahead.

"Shit," she said under her breath. "I don’t think she’s gonna reach the tower. She’s gasping for air."

I followed her gaze.

Nivalis’s steps were no longer steady. Her massive chest heaved violently, each breath tearing out of her in ragged, furious bursts, steam pouring thickly from her mouth. Her tongue lolled as she pushed herself forward, her entire body trembling now— muscles screaming, legs shaking under the strain. Every step looked like it might be her last.

I swallowed.

"H-Hey," I muttered, forcing the words out. "Where... where even is Boreas?"

The woman didn’t slow. "Who’s Boreas?"

"The polkadot dog," I said, voice hoarse. "The one with another polkadot on his saddle. That’s their daughter."

I looked at her face.

"And Boreas... He’s... he’s Nivalis’s mate."

"Oh. That one." She clicked her tongue. "When you all got caught by the MUNCHES, he was actually going to fight too."

I looked at Nivalis. "But...?"

"But that furless Ursa Canis," she said, eyes still forward. "Nivalis, right? She commanded him to keep moving."

My breath hitched.

"They’re probably already at the tower," she continued. "The cub too."

"...And he really went?" I shouted weakly, the wind ripping the words from my mouth.

"Yes," she said. "She forced him to."

She leapt from one tree to another, landing without a sound.

"She knew she might die," the woman went on. "So she made sure her mate and cub wouldn’t."

I twisted on her shoulder, looking back.

Nivalis stumbled.

Her steps faltered. Her tongue lolled out, breath ragged, broken—

Then her legs gave out.

Her massive body collapsed into the sow with a dull, horrifying THUD.

"Fuck— slow down!" I yelled.

The woman stopped instantly.

She jumped down and dropped me onto the snow with care that didn’t match her speed, and sprinted toward Nivalis.

"Oh my god..." she said.

Hana cried out, clinging tighter as Nivalis struggled to even lift her head. Snow soaked into her fur-less hide, her sides heaving violently.

I pushed myself up—

And then that thing appeared.

That fucking, NOTIFICATION snapped open beside me.

「TARGET DISTANCE: 133M」

My blood ran cold.

The number dropped.

「TARGET DISTANCE: 92M」

"What...?" I whispered.

Another flicker.

「TARGET DISTANCE: 82M」

Everything around us went quiet.

「TARGET DISTANCE: 72M」

「TARGET DISTANCE: 52M」

My heart slammed against my ribs.

「TARGET DISTANCE: 32M」

THEN—

"!?"

A deafening THUD exploded to our side.

Trees exploded apart as something massive was hurled from above, slamming into the ground barely meters away from us. Trunks snapped. Snow and splinters filled the air.

The Frosthowl.

It crashed down on all fours, carving a crater into the snow, then lifted its head and roared, the sound spreading through the forest like a showckwave.

The woman cursed viciously. "Fuck!"

The Frosthowl lifted its head toward the sky.

Its massive body tensed, eyes tracking something above, jaw pulling back in a low, vibrating snarl as the last torn vines fell away around it. For a brief moment, it looked almost... distracted. Annoyed.

Then it crouched.

Muscles coiled. Snow cracked beneath its claws as it prepared to launch itself back down—

And that was when it saw us.

Its head snapped sideways.

Our eyes met.

"Shit... I can’t even stun it!" she shouted. "If I do, she might attack too!"

She?

The Frosthowl lowered its body, muscles bunching, breath steaming violently.

Then it stepped forward.

The notification appeared again.

「TARGET DISTANCE: 22M」

My eye twitched.

「TARGET DISTANCE: 12M」

"Fuck!!" I shouted.

The snow beneath the Frosthowl exploded.

Sprouts erupted violently from the ground, thick and green, wrapping around its legs and torso. The beast snarled, then slashed it, claws ripping through the sprout.

Then—

The woman grabbed me by the collar and hauled me back onto her shoulder in one smooth motion.

She looked at the Frosthowl.

"Fuck it," she said. "Let’s just leave them."

"Fuck no!" I shouted without thinking.

"Dad!" Hana cried.

I twisted my head just enough to see her— still clinging to Arven on Nivalis’s saddle, arms wrapped tight around her.

Nivalis then let out a weak, furious growl, low and strained, her legs trembling beneath her massive furless body.

She tried to stand up then fell.

I turned back—

The Frosthowl was already in the air.

The system flickered one last time.

「TARGET DISTANCE: 9M」

Then—

A bark cut through everything.

It was sharp.

The Frosthowl’s shadow was already over us when something slammed into its side— Hard.

The impact twisted its massive body mid air, forcing its trajectory just enough that it missed us.

Snow and wind exploded outward.

"!?"

I looked up.

Boreas.

The polkadot Ursa Canis crashed into the Frosthowl’s flank, his body slamming against it with brutal precision, claws digging in just long enough to pivot the monster away from us.

They hit the ground separately.

Boreas landed first.

Solid. Steady.

He planted himself Infront of us, shielding us from the Frosthowl, legs spread, fur bristling, breath slow and controlled— nothing like Nivalis’ ragged gasps.

Then—

Sixxy leapt down from Boreas’ back.

Sixxy skidded through the snow and ran straight to Nivalis, whining desperately as she pressed herself against her, licking her face, tail trembling.

Nivalis let out a weak sound.

Still alive.

The woman stared at Boreas.

Her expression... changed.

"Oh," she muttered. "Wow."

Her eyes narrowed, sharp with interest.

"I didn’t expect this... this Ursa Canis is different."

The Frosthowl stood up.

Snow slid off its body as it straightened to its full height, heat rolling off its scales in visible waves. It roared— deep, furious, the sound vibrating through the ground.

Boreas answered.

Not with fear.

But with a low, thunderous growl that rolled out of his chest, followed by a sharp bark that echoed.

He was challenging the FROSTHOWL.

Then Boreas moved.

He lunged.

Fast— so fast, that I didn’t expect that the woman carrying me looked excited.

His jaws snapped shut around the Frosthowl’s neck, teeth sinking into the thick hide as his claws dug into the snow, steadying himself.

But... the Frosthowl didn’t even flinch.

It stood there— unmoved, unbothered like the hit never reached it.

A low snort leaked from its throat.

Then it swung its arm.

Boreas released instantly— clean, disciplined, leaping back before the FROSTHOWL hit could land.

Boreas then immediately circled the Frosthowl, paws tearing through the snow, never once breaking eye contact.

The beast tracked him slowly, head turning, patience carved into every movement.

Then Boreas stopped.

Behind it.

He leapt— straight for the Frosthowl’s back.

But—

The moment Boreas’ paws were about to connect— The Frosthowl’s body glowed.

Orange red light surged beneath its scales, heat steam outward like a furnace being igniteed.

Boreas’ paw struck—

HISSSSS.

He barked sharply, yanking his limb back mid air and landing hard in the snow. Steam hissed from his paw as he shook it, teeth bared in frustration.

I looked at the woman.

"Shit," she muttered, clenching her first.

"That Frosthowl is rushing things because the sprout might be getting close."

Her grip tightened on me.

"And it just activated its ultimate defense— Heat Scales."

"That’s corny." I muttered.

She grabbed my face mid sentence, fingers digging into my cheeks, and leaned in close.

"Shhh."

We looked back.

Boreas backed away, licking his injured paw once, then growled low, eyes never leaving the Frosthowl.

The Frosthowl crouched.

And jumped.

Straight to Boreas.

Time seemed to slow.

Boreas braced himself—

I noticed the woman stiffen, her hand immediately tightening around the hilt of her katana.

Then—

The sky moved.

A sprout erupted mid-air, tearing through the fog like a living spear.

Vines exploded outward, wrapping around the Frosthowl’s body before it could reach Boreas. The beast roared in rage as the vines tightened—

And yanked it upward.

Hard.

The Frosthowl was dragged screaming back into the fog sky of the Snowfall Mountain, its roar cutting off as it vanished once more into the white void.

Silence crashed down.

Snow drifted.

The woman let out a breath and finally relaxed.

"Shit... that was kind of intense."

Boreas walked over to Nivalis and began licking her all over— slow, apologetic, thorough. Then he moved to Arven, licking her gently, almost reverently.

Then Hana.

Boreas barked softly.

"Dad... Boreas said he’s sorry for leaving Niva—"

"Shh." I cut Hana off quietly. "Let them."

The moment lingered— soft barks, low growls, the sound of breath finally steadying.

Then I muttered, "Now... put me down, woman."

She didn’t hesitate.

She dropped me.

I hit the snow hard.

"Agh! Couldn’t you put me down softly?" I groaned.

"Should’ve asked," she replied flatly.

I pushed myself up and walked toward Nivalis. She and Boreas were trading soft barks now, foreheads almost touching. I climbed carefully onto Nivalis’s side and reached for Arven.

I lifted her into my arms— one arm under her knees, the other behind her back, her head resting against my chest.

"Hana, come down."

Hana nodded.

I carefully climbed down from Nivalis. Arven’s arms rested limply around my shoulder, her breathing shallow but steady. Hana followed close behind.

Once we reached the ground, Boreas barked softly and lowered himself, lying flat.

Sixxy barked right after.

"Dad," Hana said, tilting her head, "Sixxy says we should all get on his back."

"...Okay," I said.

I went to Boreas’s side. The saddle rope ladder was already hanging there. I climbed up, moved toward the saddle, and gently set Arven down.

Then I jumped back down and crouched.

"Hana. Human koala."

Hana nodded immediately.

She jumped onto me, arms wrapping around my neck, legs locking around my waist like usual.

I climbed back up Boreas’s side.

At the back, Hana let go and hurried over to Arven, hugging her tightly.

Then I looked at Sixxy.

"...Now how the hell am I supposed to get her up here?" I muttered.

The woman walked over.

Then—

She picked Sixxy up.

Effortlessly.

Sixxy was at least three times the size of a dog.

So... how... you know? Nevermind.

She leapt onto Boreas’s back and set Sixxy down like she weighed nothing.

"...Fuck," I whispered.

She glanced at me and grinned. "You should’ve just asked."

"Sure. Take Nivalis’s saddle off," I said.

"Alright!" she replied cheerfully.

She jumped down, leapt onto Nivalis’s back, removed the saddle in one smooth motion, then jumped back up onto Boreas.

She sat down comfortably.

"There. Now let’s move. That Frosthowl might suddenly show up again."

I stared at her. "Why are you sitting? Just jump and run like before."

"Nah," she said. "I’m tired of jumping and running."

I sighed and looked back.

Nivalis was standing again— still shaky, but upright.

With that, we moved.

Toward the tower.

***

(Infront of the tower FEETS away.)

As usual no matter how far back I leaned my head, the tower vanished straight into the gray sky like it stabbed through the world itself.

And at its base the snow melted. Disappear.

I laughed sofly. "As USUAL."