The Butcher (1)
The outskirts of the Chaos Forest referred to areas the academy hadn't cleared—places where monsters and beasts still roamed freely. The forest sections used for exams and practical training were meticulously managed by the academy, with dangerous creatures rarely appearing. That's why the academy had mobilized in force to clean up the outskirts. If it affected the exam grounds, it would cause no small amount of trouble.
Above all, the Chaos Forest was staggeringly vast, even just on the outskirts. The academy itself was enormous, so the surrounding forest matched in scale. One might wonder if that made it hard to manage. The academy was well aware and had deployed various facilities: walls that even the toughest monsters couldn't breach, defensive magic and mechanical traps, patrolling guards, and more. These were usually sufficient, but most creatures were drawn toward the mana-rich interior anyway. The academy paid it no mind.
However, with too many and too varied individuals pushed to the outskirts, the academy had no choice but to stay vigilant.
"Isn't that an ogre?"
"Looks like it. But why's it blue?"
Among the teams scattered across the outskirts, Luna's group spotted traces of a blue-skinned ogre that had been killed. Its overall appearance was that of a perfectly ordinary ogre. But ogres typically had skin tones similar to humans. As everyone puzzled over this unfamiliar specimen, one person alone grasped its identity.
"It's from the northern regions. How the hell did it get all the way here?"
Sara, the only one from the perpetually frigid north, identified the ogre's type. Her usual icy expression was replaced by one filled with bewilderment. Reacting to that, Luna, who had been investigating alongside her, asked cautiously.
"Do ogres change color depending on the region?"
"Not just ogres—all creatures do. Most even develop resistances suited to their local climate. This one's highly resistant to cold but vulnerable to fire."
Coming from the north herself, she knew the ogre's weaknesses intimately. Hearing the explanation only deepened Luna's confusion. As far as she knew, the north was far from the academy. Yet this ogre had reached the outskirts.
"Isn't the north pretty far from the academy?"
"It is. But crossing the Chaos Forest changes everything. This forest borders every climate except deserts."
"Is that even possible?"
"Scholars don't know, which is why it's called the Chaos Forest."
Luna couldn't fathom why the Hero had built the academy here of all places. If not for the passage of time and advancing civilization keeping things to this level, the early days must have been riddled with incidents. People still went missing after venturing into the forest now and then. It remained a dangerous place in every way.
"Looks like it stumbled onto the forest's entrance by chance. But pushed to the outskirts and bisected like that..."
"......"
Luna listened silently to Sara's words. The ogre's midsection was cleanly severed, its upper and lower halves separated and spilling entrails. It was gruesome enough to make anyone grimace. Fortunately, Luna had seen plenty of monster and animal corpses before enrolling, so it didn't faze her. The other students were the same—disgusted expressions at worst, no vomiting.
"Maybe the monster that killed the ogre headed inward?"
"Time-wise, possible. But we have to consider it might charge back out to the outskirts."
True to its name, anything could appear in the Chaos Forest. Sara began jotting notes in her notebook. Meanwhile, Luna scanned the surroundings. The outskirts felt ordinary, like any forest. The interior was the same, from her single venture inside. Yet its influence drew even a northern ogre here. That puzzled her.
The environment's totally different—how does it adapt?
It was a thought sparked by Sara's explanation. Monsters and beasts had innate habits. Some preferred humid areas, others dry ones, and they rarely strayed. They spent nearly their whole lives where they were born. Even migratory birds stuck to their patterns despite seasonal travels.
"Professor, one question?"
"Questions are always welcome. What is it?"
"Why do monsters and beasts flock to the Chaos Forest? Normally, they'd avoid such drastically different environments."
"Excellent question."
Sara closed her notebook with a faint smile, clearly pleased. She then gathered the students and announced they were leaving the site—lingering too long might attract more monsters.
"As you said, most animals don't stray from their birth environments; habits form accordingly."
Luna's team began moving away from the ogre. Beasts would soon dispose of the carcass.
"But the Chaos Forest is different. Abundant mana means abundant prey. Animals will do anything to fill their bellies."
"Just for food? That seems..."
"Student Luna."
"Yes?"
At Luna's puzzled reaction, Sara called her name in a grave tone, then delivered harsh reality like a lesson to memorize.
"Humans wage war over food at the drop of a hat. To sustain life, food is essential."
"......"
"The Chaos Forest's king—who monopolized the prey—has vanished. Become king, and you'd never worry about food again. Do you know how terrifying hunger is, student?"
"......A little."
Luna recalled her village, self-sufficient in farming and chores. But in bad harvest years, food ran perilously short. They bought from outside, but meals grew meager. The north, with its year-round harsh cold, must be worse. Reading her thoughts, Sara shared her homeland Frozen's history.
"Frozen was so food-scarce they turned to raiding. Rare ores saved them, allowing nation-building. With plentiful food, no raids needed."
"Like Tatar."
"Exactly. It's no exaggeration to say all conflicts among lifeforms stem from food. Humans mitigate it with farming, but the wild can't."
Farming was civilization's alpha and omega. Without it, humans would live no differently from beasts. Full bellies enabled proper activity; hunger turned all savage. Thus, the mana-rich Chaos Forest's allure was inevitable.
"That's why predators are gathering. They need vast prey quantities, and the forest provides—abundantly."
"Then......"
Luna paused, thinking. Apex predators growing stronger made sense. But prey like squirrels? How had Ratatosk powered up? Sivar was human with growth potential, but Ratatosk was a mystery.
"Can prey get stronger too?"
"Even without the Chaos Forest, yes—just rarer. I've heard tales of squirrels beating bears."
That's not rumor; it's true. But too unbelievable, treated as hearsay.
"The wild isn't survival of the strongest—it's the survivors who become strong. Like humans growing through crises, animals do too. The forest provides ample energy to overcome crises. Repeat that, and prey become predators."
"Got it. It all boils down to food after all."
"You grasp the point well. Sivar must have risen to apex predator through this."
As expected, professors pinned the forest's abnormality on Sivar's absence. Actually Sivar and Porori, but two vanished kings splitting territories amplified the butterfly effect.
"But it's odd. One missing predator shouldn't cause this chaos. Food chain competition's gone haywire."
"It wasn't this bad before?"
"Outskirts overflows happened often, quiet lately but common in the past. Records show nothing like this volume."
Their team alone had found over ten traces: ogres, monsters, beasts. Every five minutes now. Too many spillover monsters.
Definitely those two.
Two territories merged with kings gone. Chance to claim it all—who could resist?
"Maybe Sivar took out the sub-predator before arriving. I'll ask later."
"......"
Not predator—a rival squirrel. Now our spirit beast ally. Luna swallowed the words rising in her throat. The report would tip off Lord Sherman immediately. Entering the forest would be impossible for a while, let alone deep in.
"Huh? What's this?"
"Yeah, never seen a beast like it."
As Luna wryly smiled inwardly, trailing students spotted something. Luna and Sara turned.
Three huddled, staring.
"Kuuuuh......!"
"Anyone know what it is?"
"No clue. Looks super tough."
"Better back off, just in case."
Calf-sized, hard-shelled exterior boasting solidity. Four pillar-thick legs supported its heavy frame. Two blade-like arms connected head to body. It evoked a sci-fi war behemoth.
"Get back! It's a baby Usk!"
"What?"
Students retreated hesitantly from the alien form when Sara shouted belatedly. Before they could react—
"Kuaaa!"
Too late; the Usk was agitated. Instead of charging, the baby bellowed skyward, loud and summoning. Sara paled at the roar—an unprecedented reaction for her stoic face. She quickly composed herself and issued orders.
"Everyone, return to the academy! Don't look back, just ru—!"
Before she finished—
-Kuuuuwuuu!!
A colossal roar answered the baby's cry, shaking the entire forest. Birds exploded skyward in panic. Like a ship horn.
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
Earthquake-like tremors followed. Luna panicked at the vibrations. Whatever approached shook the ground itself. How massive and heavy was it?
No time for awe. Sara's order heard—fleeing was best.
Kwajik! Kwajijik! Wood-crack!
But the mother Usk closed faster. Trees splintered as Sara drew her sword without hesitation. The baby fled toward her. Nimble despite bulk.
Kwaduk!
By the time Sara rallied the students, the mother Usk burst through, smashing trees.
"Wh-what the hell is that...?"
"Will our blades even cut it?"
"Ugh......"
Vastly larger than the baby, longer blades. Fierce, monstrous visage—not cute like the offspring. Trampled under those legs? Crushed flat.
"Kuu! Ku!"
"Grrrlll......!"
At least the mother, finding her baby, didn't attack rashly. Prioritizing safety. Sara swallowed hard, tense. Even she couldn't handle a Usk easily.
She whispered to the students alone.
"Usks don't attack first if unprovoked. Back away slowly."
"Can't we take it down?"
Luna's question. The shell looked tough, but not invincible.
Big mistake. Sara scolded her rarely, explaining retreat.
"Want to end up like that bisected ogre? That shell's nearly unslashable without breaking it first. Only the president could."
"......"
"So better retreat before—"
Before Sara finished, the mother relaxed as they backed off. But then alert spiked—
Kwajik!
An axe hurtled in, embedding near the mother Usk's head. Crimson lightning crackling.
Owner obvious.
"You crazy fuck...!"
Sara cursed at the sight.