Chapter 73: Assault (1)

 

“It feels like we’ve done enough already...”

 

As Robin drove the cart, he looked up at the towering pile of monsters he had collected. Just as he said that, a new monster carcass was placed beside him.

 

This time, Damian had caught a tiger with a notably large fang. Its size, having been influenced by the magic scattered in the mountains, was incomparable to ordinary tigers. The residual mana left in the dead body hinted at the immense power it must have had while alive.

 

To put it bluntly, it was truly a powerful monster.

 

If such a beast had appeared before Robin when it was alive, he’d have immediately sounded the alarm. But there was no need to flee from the dead. He drew a dagger from his waist and, as he always did, started draining its blood by making a slit in its throat.

 

There seemed to be no more room for any new residents on the towering pile of monsters. It looked like he would have to sit side by side with it. While it wasn’t exactly a stomach-turning idea, Robin felt an increasing urge to stop collecting, fearing he would end up unable to even move horse of the cart.

 

In the end, Robin couldn’t stand it and vented his frustration to Gwen.

 

“Captain! Don’t you think this is getting a bit much?! At this rate, it looks like we’re going to wipe out every monster in the Legion!”

 

“Well, what’s the harm? It’s good to see the young master so enthusiastic after such a long time.”

 

Robin, having sheathed his sword, leaned on the cart and spoke to Gwen who was resting. However, his response wasn’t exactly pleasing to his ears.

 

Of all the individuals present here, Gwen was the only one with a championship title under his belt. If he spoke up, perhaps Damian would pause. But contrary to his hope, Gwen laughed lightly at Robin’s words, endorsing Damian’s actions.

 

“The mountains are vast. It’s too early to worry about disrupting the ecosystem. What we’re doing is just a drop in the bucket full of water. Compared to all the creatures residing in the Legion, it’s not a big deal.”

 

“Still...”

 

“Until now, he’s kept his abilities hidden from the world. It seems he’s truly committed to this tournament, so let him be. Look at him. Doesn’t he seem happy?”

 

Seeing Gwen’s stern face break into a bright smile, Robin realized that Gwen had no intention of stopping Damian.

 

The more prey Damian caught, the more his exceptional skills became known to others. From Gwen’s perspective, who deeply admired Damian, there was no need to restrain him.

 

Robin turned his gaze to the forest. Between the trees, Damian frolicked, a faint smile playing on his lips.

 

Considering how he’d kept his composure so far, it was surprising to see him letting loose in the woods like this. With every arrow shot, more than one beast fell. Each time lightning emanated from his hands, creatures hidden in the shadows of the forest dropped one by one.

 

Watching this, Robin found himself at a loss for words in response to Gwen’s statement. He too was well-aware that Damian had refrained from showcasing his talents until now.

 

When apprentice knights participated in the knights’ training, their first experience was to test their aptitude.

 

Even though they bore the label of ‘apprentice’, these knights were the closest thing to superhumans. They were the chosen few from a vast pool of swordsmen, yet being near Damian made them empathize with those who were filtered out.

 

A prodigy. Truly, a talent bestowed by the heavens.

 

Just as a land-bound creature might admire a bird soaring in the sky without feeling jealousy, the overwhelming gap in their abilities made even envy seem futile.

 

In front of Damian, Robin’s talent seemed as insignificant as a matchstick before the sun. Yet, even so, he still had the desire to showcase his abilities to others.

 

If it was called a desire to show off, then maybe that was accurate.

 

However, the honor that knights held as dear as life itself was, in the end, something that emerged from the recognition and acknowledgment of others. Wanting to display one’s talent outwardly was not something to be ashamed of at all. Rather, it was inextricably linked to being a knight.

 

The reason the Kraus house was regarded as prestigious was entirely because they had proven their capabilities to others. And as a knight from the most distinguished fencing house in the empire, Robin’s eyes were always looking upward, striving to validate that he was a knight befitting the name of his house.

 

If a mere apprentice from such a house felt this way, could one imagine the weight on the shoulders of the family’s chosen heir?

 

Whether by choice or by circumstance, he knew that one day Damian had to prove himself, not just to his own vassals but to those beyond the walls of his lineage.

 

In that sense, the hunting tournament was a perfect opportunity to showcase his abilities. It was a competition with a rich history, and its results were undeniably evident — it had the power to transform an erstwhile inconspicuous prince into a Southern celebrity in no time.

 

Thus, Robin responded to Gwen’s words with a nod, not adding much else.

 

“I know... I get it, but...”

 

‘Isn’t this a bit too much?’

 

Holding back the rest of his words, Robin closed his mouth.

 

Although he understood the reason, the pile of monsters behind him was far from normal. The fact that these creatures were slain because of Damian’s fiancée only added to Robin’s internal turmoil.

 

Well, she probably hadn’t foreseen this outcome.

 

Even Gwen and Robin, as well as Damian himself, couldn’t deny that his fiancée was the reason behind this abrupt change in his usually discreet behavior.

 

“Anyway, if we keep loading like this, the horses won’t be able to move because of the weight.”

 

“Then you can push from behind. What were you saving all that strength for? Up until now, the young master was the one doing everything; what have you done besides sharpening swords?”

 

“...You really don’t give an inch, do you? Fine, got it. But if Viscount Graham files a complaint later on, I’m not taking the blame. I did warn the two of you, right?”

 

“Kid, speak some sense... fine.”

 

While he verbally affirmed Damian’s actions, Robin seemed to recognize that the number of monsters Damian had caught up to this point was extraordinary. With a tone akin to a playful tantrum, Robin voiced this sentiment, and Gwen conceded.

 

From his perspective as an annual participant in the tournament, the monsters Damian had caught this year were unprecedented. The number easily surpassed last year’s winning record, especially considering the larger participation in this year’s event.

 

Unless one intended to completely deplete the Legion’s ecosystem, as Robin put it.

 

In essence, the victory was practically confirmed.

 

That said, Gwen wasn’t thinking of reining in Damian, but there was a notion that perhaps a break was due after the rigorous hunting so far.

 

Robin’s continued grumbling played a part in this, but even for someone as physically fit as Damian, there was no need to push himself to the extreme for the tournament.

 

After surveying the forest briefly, Gwen instructed Robin.

 

“When the young master returns this time, tell him it’s sufficient.”

 

“What? But when I mentioned it earlier, you turned a deaf ear...”

 

“Forget it. However, if the young master insists on continuing, don’t stop him. He’s not one to waste his stamina on such trivial matters.”

 

“Yeah... Understood.”

 

Though Robin responded in a somewhat exasperated manner, he seemed to anticipate Gwen’s words. He began to tidy up the surroundings, ready to leave at a moment’s notice.

 

“That kid...”

 

As Robin hurried off, Gwen, with an unexpectedly warm expression, watched his retreating figure, perhaps reminiscent of an old memory.

 

But this was fleeting.

 

Suddenly, both Gwen and Robin’s faces tensed as they stared at a particular spot in the forest.

 

“Captain...!!”

 

“I know.”

 

Contrary to Robin’s urgency, Gwen’s voice remained as calm as ever, yet an underlying restraint was palpable.

 

Quickly, Gwen pulled out a horn, seemingly made from an animal’s tusk, from a small leather pouch. Given that Damian, despite his exceptional intuition, could be overlooked in the forest’s shadows, the immediate need was to sound the horn to call him over.

 

The mysterious force that simultaneously caught both of their senses was far more potent than what they had previously encountered from the monsters. Although it was merely a lingering presence carried by the wind, given they stood in the Luneproud Mountains, a habitat for monsters, this wasn’t something they could just overlook.

 

Perhaps the only saving grace was that this force emanated from a direction opposite to where Damian was.

 

It wasn’t long before Damian, having heard the horn’s sound, appeared before them.

 

“Lord Damian! Quickly, back to camp...!”

 

Robin shouted towards Damian as soon as he spotted him, but Damian, ignoring Robin’s outcry, continued to sprint towards a particular direction.

 

Towards the origin of the mysterious force they’d sensed.

 

Damian hadn’t come out because he heard the horn; like them, he had felt the monster’s presence and emerged. Without hesitation, Gwen immediately followed Damian’s path.

 

“Captain?!”

 

By protocol, they should have reported back to the camp immediately, but seeing the two highest decision-makers head directly to the site left Robin in a bind. Of course, there was also an instruction to swiftly suppress any threats when adequately powered.

 

“Ugh... This is driving me crazy...”

 

Robin looked at the cart filled with monster carcasses. If left unattended, other monsters would soon swarm the area, creating chaos. He didn’t doubt that the two who’d left knew this, but he couldn’t shake the nagging feeling of leaving the catch unguarded.

 

‘After all the hard work...’

 

Yet, staying behind alone to guard the carcasses in such an emergency was out of the question.

 

“I can’t deal with this.”

 

His internal debate didn’t last long.

 

With a heavy sigh, Robin too left the cart in the forest, following the lingering force like the two before him.

 

***

 

“Huff... Huff...”

 

A young boy, leaning against a tree with a sword in hand, looked at the monster before him with a face pale with fear.

 

The monster, which had suddenly intruded and swiftly torn apart the family’s knight and attendants.

 

That image still lingered before the boy’s eyes, making his fear not something easily brushed aside.

 

Mustering all his courage, the boy raised his sword, locking eyes with the monster. This was the bravest thing he could muster.

 

He wished he could shout a battle cry and swing his sword, but fear weighed him down, preventing even that. After all, this was the monster that had effortlessly devoured the knight his father had proudly appointed. What could a novice like him, just starting with a sword, hope to achieve against such a foe?

 

But he didn’t want to die a pitiful death either, so he just managed to stand, holding his sword.

 

The face of the monster, resembling a monkey, contorted strangely.

 

It looked as if it were grinning at him, deepening his sense of humiliation. But the blood still dripping from its mouth, the blood of the knight, intensified the boy’s fear.

 

Yet, the monster did not kill the boy. It just looked down and laughed.

 

With a gaze that seemed to tell the boy that the sword he bravely held had no meaning, it met his eyes with a silent grin.

 

Gazing into the monster’s eerie yellow eyes, devoid of pupils, a whirlwind of emotions swirled within the boy.

 

From being reluctantly pushed by his father to participate in a competition, to the trivial sentiments he felt for the pet dog he raised at home.

 

Countless thoughts stormed his mind in mere seconds. Among them, he resented his father for pushing him, who had no affinity with swords, into this situation. Yet, the image of his father, who couldn’t take his eyes off him, trusting him with his most reliable knight as he entered the forest, flashed simultaneously.

 

When the storm of thoughts subsided, all that remained for the boy was pure rage towards the monster before him, which had thrown him into this dire situation.

 

“Damn... you...”

 

As his anger grew, strangely, the boy’s mind seemed to cool and clear.

 

Steadying his erratic breathing, the boy gripped his sword once more, determined.

 

With his mind cleared of distractions, the oppressive feeling that had weighed down his body seemed to lift somewhat. He could feel a stronger grip on the hilt of his sword now. But just because he could move more freely didn’t mean the situation had turned favorable. A brief moment of mental clarity didn’t suddenly grant him newfound strength.

 

Unlike the paralyzed fear from before, the monster seemed to recognize a change in the boy’s gaze. It no longer seemed content to wait.

 

Knowing this, the boy held his sword closely to his body. Even though he hadn’t awakened the aura symbolic of a true warrior, he knew that piercing that monster was nearly impossible. Yet, he believed there was a part of it he could make bleed.

 

‘It’s been killing people by biting. Maybe I can aim for its eye...’

 

The boy wasn’t sure if he was even breathing anymore. His sole focus was on the monster’s piercing yellow eyes. If the monster lunged to bite, the boy would have to thrust his sword instantly, leaving no room for other thoughts.

 

The distance between them closed steadily.

 

At the height of the tension, for some reason, the boy sensed that the monster was about to charge. As he suspected, the monster lunged. But instead of the biting attack he’d come to expect, it reached out with long hands to grasp him.

 

“Damn it..!!”

 

Taken by surprise, the boy tried to resist, but his attempts to harm the monster with his blade were fruitless. Instead, his struggles seemed only to make the monster’s grip tighten.

 

“Arghhhhh!!!”

 

Whether that scream was born out of pain or a sudden surge of courage facing imminent death, even the boy didn’t know. He frantically slashed at the hand holding him, knowing it was futile but unwilling to surrender.

 

Amid the chaos, the boy caught a glimpse of the monster’s face.

 

It was smiling.

 

Just as it had grinned at his earlier terror, now it smirked at his desperate resistance.

 

Even though he realized the monster was merely toying with him all along, the boy couldn’t suppress his anger. He glanced at his sword one last time, then let go of any lingering attachment.

 

He couldn’t properly gauge the distance to the monster’s face. All he knew was that those eerie yellow eyes stared back at him from a distance, given the monster’s extended arm.

 

It wasn’t as precise as his initial plan, but in a desperate move, the boy hurled his sword at the monster’s eye. It might miss and ricochet, but this was his final act of defiance.

 

[■■■■■■■■■-!!!!!]

 

The chilling roar of the agitated beast echoed throughout the forest.

 

A piercing scream reached the boy’s ears, and he knew he had succeeded. But there was no time to revel in his victory. Though the monster shrieked in agony, it recovered quickly. Drawing the sword from its wound, it lunged at the boy with its gaping mouth.

 

Perhaps it was the imminent prospect of death, but for the boy, it felt as if time had slowed down dramatically.

 

Even if he possessed the power to slow time, it wouldn’t have saved him from his fate. Held firmly in the monster’s grip, its approaching mouth seemed inevitable, even in this stretched-out moment.

 

In the face of death, the boy felt no fear. He had achieved his goal and cast aside any lingering attachments along with his sword. Yet, within this slowed world, he perceived something he hadn’t noticed before.

 

“Huh?”

 

A shadowy figure appeared behind the monster.

 

Though concealed in darkness, making everything appear black, two eyes shone like golden beams, reminiscent of a halo. Locking eyes with this figure, the boy felt an overwhelming sensation similar to when he first encountered the monster, but simultaneously, a distinct sense of relief.

 

Thud.

 

The monster’s mouth never reached the boy. Instead, the monster’s head hit the ground first.

 

A sword, extending from the darkness, had sliced through the monster’s neck, causing a warm liquid to splash across the boy’s face.

 

With its head severed, the body, no longer under control, crumpled to the ground. As he felt the sensation of floating back to the surface, the boy’s consciousness began to slip into the shadows.

 

Within the dimming stream of consciousness, the last thing the boy imprinted in his mind was those luminous eyes, and he surrendered to the flow.

--- END OF CHAPTER ---

 

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