The Fox's Northern Triumph
Roar! Roar! Kyaaaak! Kyak!! The high-grade monster, its body covered in countless wounds, let out a piercing shriek. To those seeing it for the first time, it might have sounded like a terrifying roar of rage. But anyone who had fought monsters before—or who had witnessed the earlier scene with their own eyes—would recognize it for what it truly was: the sorrowful cry of a creature desperate to survive.
Shhhk! A flash of light sliced through the air, and the monster’s head came clean off. Its blood sprayed in every direction, filling the surroundings with a foul stench. With the last of them felled, the battle on the northern outskirts of the continent was finally over.
Shring. Despite the blood of monsters splattered everywhere, not a single drop clung to the blade that had severed their heads. The sword gleamed as though it had never cut anything at all, its smooth surface reflecting light with a sharp, dangerous edge.
“Tsk.” Garam clicked her tongue and glanced at the rolling monster head. At a glance it looked dead, but she could see it still watching for an opening. The moment she let her guard down and turned her back, it would lunge without hesitation. She knew that well. These weren’t low-grade monsters that died the instant their heads came off. Even mid-grade monsters could sometimes survive or regenerate. And high-grade monsters? They kept growling even when hacked to pieces.
“Hero.”
“Burn them all. Leave nothing behind—not even a single scrap of flesh.”
“Understood.”
No matter how powerful their regeneration or survival instincts, complete destruction of the body meant true death. And the fastest, simplest way to destroy a body was to burn it.
Rumble!! Flames erupted over the monster corpses, accompanied by an eerie sound—not the ordinary crackle of burning, but something nightmarish enough to haunt dreams. The fire itself was wrong, too. It flickered between violet and pitch black, and just as it began reaching out like a curse toward every living thing nearby—
“Go quietly.”
Light gathered on Garam’s sword once more. A single slash split the flames clean in two. Even though fire should have been impossible to cut, it parted as though truly severed. For a moment the flames seemed unaware of what had happened, hanging suspended in two halves before slowly returning to their original shape. The black hue had vanished completely, leaving only a normal red blaze.
“Hero, it seems the outskirts have been completely cleared.”
Garam, who had been staring at the flames, turned at the voice. A man with a scar across his face stood there. His skill was only average. Yet here he was, right beside her, all because of a single remark from her master.
That scarred man. He’s not bad.
…Pardon?
His strength is nothing special, but he looks after his comrades. And when someone on his side crosses the line, he can cut them down without hesitation. That kind of cool-headedness is valuable.
The words had made Garam flinch inwardly. The people she kept close were always the strongest, the most capable. Her life was nothing but endless battles, and as the Sword Hero she always stood at the front. Naturally, the only ones she allowed near her were those who could help in combat—or at least not drag her down.
She had never neglected her duty to lead her followers and fulfill the role of a hero, but when it came to battle she had always prioritized strength above all else. That was why she had treated her subordinates differently based on their power. Hearing her master point it out now made her uncomfortable.
You.
Yes? Are you speaking to me?
That’s right, you. From now on, you’ll serve at my side.
H-Hero? But the others—
Don’t argue. Just do as you’re told.
The scarred man had been bewildered at first. Stronger people were already at Garam’s side, and he had once been acquainted with the one-eyed traitor woman. Yet Garam had ordered him to attend her personally. Of course he was shocked. Still, her command was absolute, and everyone else followed it without question.
In the end, the scarred man proved far more capable than expected. He handled the countless small matters Garam never had time to notice—looking after her followers, managing meals, campsites, security, and countless other details. He showed skill not just in swinging a sword, but in the practical business of living.
Even Garam, who had been doubtful at first, saw his true worth within two weeks. She finally understood why her master had recommended him.
So this is why Master said leading people is important too.
With the scarred man supporting her from behind, the burden on Garam lessened considerably. Travel became smoother, and she gained more time to spend on other things—visiting villages or cities to greet people, or simply checking on her followers. Time she had never had before was suddenly available.
“Hero, what will you do now?”
“What’s the situation in the nearby villages and cities?”
“We struck along the shortest route and cleared the monsters before they could reach them. No one has requested support.”
“Just in case, send people from the nearest city to check every village and town.”
“Are you concerned the monsters might still invade?”
Garam nodded. The scarred man had understood her intent immediately. He really was quite competent. She could probably trust him with more in the future.
“If nothing else comes up, we’ll head down right away. We can’t afford to waste more time in the outskirts.”
“Understood. I’ll contact the city ahead and arrange transportation.”
Originally, Garam should have only just reached the northern border. Because of the hidden spies inside, she had been constantly ambushed by small forces. On top of that, monsters had been released in every village along the way, forcing her to stop and help. That had made her miss the critical window to eliminate the high-grade monsters quickly. While she was delayed, the monsters had fed on people and grown stronger. If the Demon God Worshippers had added to the chaos, even the Sword Hero— even the Sword Emperor—could never have handled everything alone.
But the spies who should have caused trouble had already been eliminated. The Demon God Worshippers’ bases that had served as waypoints were completely destroyed. Even the twins who were supposed to pressure her had been gravely injured. Thanks to these changes, Garam’s situation had transformed completely.
In the original future, she would have wandered for over a month, lost many people, and struggled through a grueling march. Now she had swept through the north without a single obstacle, cleanly eliminating the high-grade monsters in record time. It was nothing short of a lightning-fast advance.
Ah, I want to see Master soon.
Swish, swish. Garam’s tail swayed happily as a bright smile spread across her face. She had finished the north and taken down a high-grade monster in such a short time. With achievements like these, she could head down and boast without any problem. And maybe she could finally put that arrogant woman in her place—the elf who kept clinging to their master, claiming first love was also last love. The junior she had fought and clashed with so often since arriving around the same time. The Spear Hero, “Spear King” Jenia Violet.
Garam was determined to settle the hierarchy once and for all. She was the first disciple, and Jenia the second, but the gap between them was barely a month—really only two weeks. That made her even more sensitive about rank.
“I’ll get rid of that girl cleanly and have Master all to myself… ufufufu!!”
Lick. Garam’s tongue darted out to wet her finger as a seductive smile curved her lips. A dangerously alluring light gleamed in her golden eyes.
Bang!
“…Hero, is something the matter?”
Jenia’s spear today was radiating even more killing intent than usual. Her adjutant had no choice but to ask. Whether it was because she was an elf or because she was a hero, whenever Jenia was in a sensitive mood, something always happened. And that “something” was inevitably related to monsters, high-grade beasts, or Demon God Worshippers. Knowing this, the adjutant couldn’t help but worry.
When he asked, the Spear Hero, Jenia, simply shook her head.
“It’s not that. It’s just… just pissing me off.”
“…Pardon?”
For a moment he thought he had misheard. The adjutant found himself asking the very question Jenia hated most.
“I said it’s pissing me off. My mood. It feels like someone’s badmouthing me.”
“Ah… I-Is that so…?”
Jenia was both a hero and an elf. The race known for being noble, pure, and above all else, the very embodiment of beauty. And true to her race, Jenia possessed truly breathtaking beauty. Hair like silk woven from the sky itself. Eyes like untouched lakes. A face sculpted from beauty alone. Countless nobles had lost their minds trying to approach her. Even women sighed in admiration at the sight of her.
Yet such crude words had come from Jenia’s mouth. The adjutant still wasn’t used to it and wondered if his ears were playing tricks on him.
“What are you doing?”
“H-Huh?”
“If you’re done reporting, get lost.”
“…Ah, r-right! Then I’ll be going!”
They had been traveling after finishing their work in the Great Forest. When Jenia remembered her adjutant had come to give a simple status report, he hurried away before any sparks could fly his way. She could be incredibly kind when she wanted to be—sometimes so thoughtful it made him wonder if she was the same person. But once she got angry, she was terrifying enough to level an entire area. Taking care of himself was simply part of an adjutant’s job.
“…How annoying. Why do I feel so awful?”
Whoosh! Whoosh! The massive jet-black spear, so heavy it normally required three grown men to lift, spun effortlessly in Jenia’s single hand as she tried to shake off the foul mood.
I’m going to see Master. I need to get rid of these disgusting thoughts quickly.
Jenia struggled to regain her composure.
Bang! She smashed the boulder in front of her into dust with a single strike.
Really, when it comes to venting, that fox is the perfect target.
Whenever she pictured that face and swung her spear, the weapon cut through the air far too smoothly—even though her target wasn’t a monster.