Monster Hunting (1)
The academy students who had joined the beast subjugation march were positioned at the rear.
"Staying back here means we won't get to fight much."
Seong Hyun-jin looked dissatisfied with being placed in the rear, but after all, they were students—unreliable forces that couldn't be deployed freely. Unlike Seong Hyun-jin, who voiced his complaints, Serena spoke coolly, insisting it was the right call.
"It's a rational judgment. We might just end up holding them back, and if an accident happens and someone gets hurt, it would put the duke in a difficult position."
Clarice agreed with Serena's opinion, adding in a way that soothed Seong Hyun-jin's disappointment.
"Even if we were up front, it wouldn't matter much. As you know, we can't cross into the forbidden zone. Once Father enters the forbidden zone, we'll have a bit more freedom to move around, so we can go hunt beasts then."
At Clarice's explanation, Seong Hyun-jin tilted his head, puzzled about why the academy had set up a forbidden zone in the first place.
"But what's in the forbidden zone that makes the academy forbid us from going there? Is it just because it's dangerous?"
"There are more dangerous beasts than elsewhere, and above all, it's the border area touching the Empire. Skirmishes with Empire knights happen there from time to time. If we academy affiliates clash with the Empire, things would get complicated on many levels, wouldn't they?"
"Dangerous beasts..."
"No reckless moves, junior."
Ciela warned him as if preemptively blocking Seong Hyun-jin's interest, telling him not to act on impulse.
"It was fine last time, but sneaking into the forbidden zone is a different story. It would cause trouble for us on the experiential learning trip and for Clarice, who invited you."
Seong Hyun-jin glanced at Ciela for a moment before obediently nodding.
"...Yeah, I know. I won't go into the forbidden zone."
"Really~?"
"I said I won't."
Seong Hyun-jin shot her a sullen look, as if asking why she didn't trust him. Ciela chuckled at the sight.
"Got it, I'll believe you, so don't get mad~."
As they followed the march obediently like that, Elcarus Levatein slowed his horse briefly and turned to look back. He issued orders to the soldiers.
"1st and 2nd Companies, proceed straight ahead. 3rd Company heads east, 4th Company west. 3rd Company, sweep east continuously and rejoin us. 4th Company, stay out of the border area and keep searching the vicinity."
"Yes, Your Grace!"
"Yes!"
Giving separate orders to the 4th Company handling the rear suggested he planned to give the academy students a chance for their experiential learning around here. Seong Hyun-jin said with an expectant expression.
"Finally, time to catch something?"
"It's not hunting, so don't get too excited."
"Nag, nag."
"I have to, since I'm worried."
This time, Serena boldly affirmed it was nagging without denying it. Seong Hyun-jin protested, looking a bit wronged by her confident attitude.
"I haven't even done anything yet?"
"You're already a repeat offender."
"...Yeah."
Seong Hyun-jin recalled what he'd done on the way to Levatein Territory and conceded her point.
"True enough."
"Admitting it so easily leaves me with nothing more to say..."
As Serena said that, Elcarus Levatein approached them.
"Everyone, be careful. You're academy students, so protecting yourselves shouldn't be hard, but this is a place where even skilled knights can die if they're careless. Stay cautious... Clarice, you know this area well, so lead your friends properly."
"Yes, Father."
Clarice bowed her head slightly, and Seong Hyun-jin and the others followed suit with nods. As Duke Elcarus returned to the front, the senior knight leading the 4th Company approached and greeted them.
"I'm Gazel Bishadel, leading the 4th Company. Feel free to call me Gazel. I'll be escorting Lady Clarice and your group for a while."
"I don't want to be escorted that gently..."
Seong Hyun-jin scratched his head and said.
"I want to fight beasts. That's the point of experiential learning, right?"
"Of course, that's the plan."
Gazel Bishadel replied.
"There's a frost wolf pack to the west where we're headed. I look forward to your exploits there."
"Oh, frost wolves!"
"Just follow us. We're heading out now."
Gazel led his company away again. The moment he left, Seong Hyun-jin recalled the frost wolf Clarice had faced in the training grounds and spoke in an excited voice.
"I've been wanting to catch one anyway."
"A frost wolf pack... It's not as easy as it sounds."
Serena nodded at Yeonhui's words and warned Seong Hyun-jin.
"Seong Hyun-jin, don't charge ahead on your own, or it'll be trouble. Stay in formation."
"Why?"
"Why? Because of the frost wolves' habits, obviously. They prioritize anything that jumps out in front."
"They target stragglers from the pack."
It meant they had a habit of hunting isolated individuals. Being separated from the pack either meant being overly reckless or lagging behind—either way, easy prey. However, even understanding the frost wolves' habits, Seong Hyun-jin objected to the girls instead.
"That means if I go forward, they'll target me."
"Yes."
"Then I should go even further ahead."
"Yes...? I just said it's dangerous—why say that?"
Serena asked incredulously, but Seong Hyun-jin declared confidently.
"That way, I can catch more frost wolves."
"...Just enough to write about in the report?"
"Planning to write that I caught a ridiculous number."
Serena shook her head at Seong Hyun-jin's words. But she didn't try to stop him aggressively either, knowing what frost wolves were like.
If it's Seong Hyun-jin's skill, even being the pack's target shouldn't be a problem...
It was because she rated his abilities higher than anyone. Serena was good at objective self-assessment. No beast could withstand Seong Hyun-jin's sword, which could shatter even her own power head-on. Unlike Serena, who thought that way, Ciela couldn't help worrying, knowing full well what kind of spirit Seong Hyun-jin had.
Ciela sidled up to Seong Hyun-jin and whispered quietly.
"Junior Hyun-jin, no overdoing it again. You might collapse?"
"I just won't use the spirit's power."
"Then how do you plan to cut the frost wolves? Their fur and hide are thick and tough—normal swords don't work well."
"I can slice them."
"Huh?"
Ciela tilted her head. Northern beasts like frost wolves had thick fur to withstand the harsh cold, and even their hides were tough and sturdy. It was a body structure resistant to swords. Common sense dictated borrowing spirit power to enhance cutting force, and that's how northern knights and soldiers dealt with them. But Seong Hyun-jin said otherwise.
"Frost giants might be too much, but wolves? I can slice them fine."
"...You can?"
"Yes."
Seeing Ciela's skeptical look, Seong Hyun-jin replied simply.
"I'll show you soon."
"Creation."
『Kano (κάνω)』
⟨ Dragon Word: Create ⟩
As the 3rd and 4th Companies split east and west, Elcarus, leading the remaining two companies into the forbidden zone, narrowed his brow slightly.
"Something's coming."
"Looks like a messenger."
His adjutant, spotting the messenger, waved a flag lightly. The messenger sped up, then knelt urgently before the duke with a tense expression.
"Your Grace, urgent report!"
"What is it?"
"The Empire bastards have crossed over!"
"...What?"
"Are they attacking?"
"Yes—more precisely, illegal entry! Some Empire soldiers sneaked in, killed our border sentries, and fled!"
Elcarus frowned at the report and asked the messenger.
"Numbers."
"From what we've confirmed, around a dozen or so."
"...No ordinary soldiers."
Crossing with only about a dozen and wiping out Levatein border sentries before escaping meant they were elites.
"Knights at minimum."
Elcarus nodded at his adjutant's judgment. Reading the situation, he ordered other waiting messengers.
"Inform 3rd and 4th Companies of this. If they encounter them, hold position but don't engage. Especially 4th Company—prioritize retreat."
"Yes, Your Grace!"
"Yes!"
The messengers headed east and west toward the 3rd and 4th Companies, and Elcarus ordered a search team.
"Form search teams. They'll move separately from us to track the infiltrating Empire forces! Kill on sight!"
He thought inwardly.
Sudden stunt like this at a time like this? After the academy incident failed, they should've been in no position to make moves...
Boldly infiltrating despite uncertain intel. If it failed, they'd be annihilated before even entering, a one-sided loss. So it was right to assume they had solid information, enabling a successful infiltration. Elcarus furrowed his brow. Did they have spies planted within Levatein Territory?
"...Adel."
"Yes, Your Grace."
"Closer."
As his adjutant and senior knight Adel Raymond drew near, Elcarus gave a quiet order.
"Call my son. There's something to confirm."
Elcarus had three sons under his command, but Adel knew exactly who without confusion. In this situation, only one 'son' fit.
"Understood. I'll send word."
From Elcarus calling for his 'son,' Adel grasped his thinking and thought inwardly.
Blood winds will blow through Levatein.
At the same time Duke Elcarus's main force entered the forbidden zone, the 4th Company had arrived at their destination: the frost wolf pack's lair.
Using crevices at the base of sheer cliffs as dens, the frost wolves freely leaped across the steep cliffs. Setting aside that they were beasts, the sight was breathtaking. 4th Company Captain Gazel Bishadel pointed below the cliff.
"At least 30 frost wolves here."
"They look numerous even from a glance."
Frost wolves ranked among the more dangerous and massive beasts in the north. Thirty might seem few, but seeing them felt overwhelmingly numerous and intimidating. Easily comparable to 30 small buses roaming the cliffs.
Seong Hyun-jin pointed at the wolves.
"So, we're taking those down, right?"
"Yes. A pack this large will soon spread elsewhere. We need to wipe them out before that."
"Then I'll step up."
"Pardon?"
Seong Hyun-jin drew his sword.
"Serena, like I said earlier. You too, Senior Ciela."
"...Sigh, you're really doing this?"
"Obviously."
"Can't rein in this junior."
Ciela said that as she raised her staff. She rarely used weapons normally, but in places like this where beast aura scattered spirit power, she needed a medium to focus it. As cold energy gathered in Ciela's staff, Gazel Bishadel said in surprise at their actions.
"Wait a moment—charging ahead alone will make you the frost wolves' target. Let us strike first..."
"Junior knows what he's doing."
Yeonhui assured the startled Gazel.
"Nothing to worry Sir Gazel about will happen, so relax."
"But..."
"It's fine, Sir Gazel."
Clarice had already drawn her sword by then.
"He's not going alone—I'm going with him."
This was why Serena and Ciela cooperated with Seong Hyun-jin's impulse. They'd agreed he'd go with Clarice, not solo. Clarice Levatein was top of the swordsmanship department, and even Serena, who'd sparred with her, felt a proper match in the sparring tournament would have been close. Even accounting for her berserk state then impairing her swordsmanship amid surging spirit power, they'd be even. So they'd support Seong Hyun-jin going forward on the condition Clarice accompanied him. Of course, Gazel's expression filled with even greater shock upon hearing this.
"L-Lady Clarice too...!"
Gazel panicked, but Seong Hyun-jin and Clarice weren't the type to care.
"Let's go, Clarice!"
"Yes."
"W-Wait...!!"
Gazel tried to stop them belatedly by force, but Seong Hyun-jin and Clarice were far more agile than imagined. His hand swiped empty air, and by then, the two had leaped down the cliff. Gazel's shock was natural. But perhaps because he still saw them as students—ones to protect.
"Create."
『Kano (κάνω)』
A massive greatsword appeared in Serena Eldark's hand. Blazing flames began to rise.
Whoosh!
The students who'd come to Levatein Territory were all top talents even at the academy.
"Step back, please."
"!"
The flames of the great fire spirit, Ifrit, bloomed from the tip of Serena Eldark's sword. Soon, the flames turned blue, and Serena swung the greatsword wrapped in azure fire with all her might.
KABOOOOOM───────!
The blue flames narrowly passed Seong Hyun-jin and Clarice leaping down the cliff, incinerating the frost wolf pack first. Several frost wolves burned alive before they could react. Gazel stared blankly at the sight, glancing aside. There were no immature academy students there.
"...The path is open."
With cold eyes fixed on her prey, the dragon princess stood, hunting beasts with scorching flames.