Chapter 17
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: Hunting Festival (6)
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The more he dashed through the forest, the stronger the aura emanating from the center grew.
A violent aura that stung his skin like needles.
'Right ahead?'
Yujin instinctively knew the source of this aura was just in front of him.
And along with it...
'Sena?'
"Tch."
Where had the Crown Prince and the Northern Grand Duke gone, leaving Sena alone with the owner of that aura—Fenrir?
Had they really fled, perhaps?
'Or are they dead?'
If they were dead, things would get truly complicated. The Crown Prince's death would personally allow him to replace the empire's heir—a gain, to be sure—but it could also shake the imperial family's authority.
Moreover, the Northern Grand Duke's death would give the noble faction cause to turn their blades on the imperial family.
'Either way, not to my liking.'
For now, he needed to strike Fenrir before it killed Sena. With that thought, Yujin accelerated even further.
Shuuuk—
Shu-shuuk—!!
In his wake, a fierce gust uprooted several trees from the ground.
And then
—Grrrrrr...!
He saw a massive wolf with blue eyes and radiant white fur baring its jaws toward Sena.
Yujin landed instantly between Sena and the giant wolf.
Kuwoong—!!!!
The moment his feet hit the ground, a massive gust erupted, cracking the earth with deep fissures.
"...?"
Srring—
Yujin drew the sword from his waist.
He glanced at Sena, who was squinting faintly with narrowed eyes.
'...A glow?'
Beside Sena, who was huddled on the ground in terror, a faint shimmer rippled in the air. More precisely, something very small emitting a soft glow was hovering around her.
'...What is that?'
It wasn't holy power, at any rate. It felt nothing like the divine energy he'd sensed from priests on the battlefield.
If anything, it resembled the spirits that elves were said to contract with, far in the distance—
—Kwaaaaaang!!!!!!!!
Fwooooosh—!!!
The giant wolf's howl unleashed a fierce gale that swept over Yujin and Sena. Naturally shielding Sena, Yujin looked up at the wolf gazing down at him imperiously.
Fufufu—
"Right. Not the time to worry about that."
The shimmer around Sena? He could look into it later. What mattered now was killing that ridiculously oversized wolf.
"Is it really Fenrir, though?"
The mighty beast known as Fenrir, slayer of gods in legend.
Records passed down through texts described it as a single wolf the size of a mountain...
"Not quite that big."
It was smaller than expected. Still enormous from a human perspective—he'd have to crane his neck to look up at it.
"Doesn't seem like it could kill a god."
Whether weakened for some reason or just something similar in appearance but not the real Fenrir, he couldn't say.
But.
—Grrrrrrrr..!!!!!!
Looking at Fenrir growling unpleasantly right before his eyes, he realized none of that mattered.
What mattered now was killing the Fenrir baring its hostility before him.
Yujin smirked at Fenrir and raised his sword.
For the first time in a while, he felt like he could enjoy a proper fight.
Without turning, Yujin spoke to Sena.
"Don't get in the way of the fight. Run."
"Yujin...!"
He ignored whatever she was trying to say.
Precisely because he had no time to spare.
Fenrir had raised one massive forepaw and slammed it down toward him.
Kwaaaaaaaaang—!!!!!!!!!!!
In that instant, Yujin pulled Sena into his arms and leaped into the sky.
—Awoooooooo!!!!!!!!!
In midair, his eyes met Fenrir's. Fenrir swung its other paw toward him.
Fwooooooooong-!!!!!!!!!!!
Trees were uprooted entirely amid the massive whoosh of air.
Yujin dodged lightly in the air and landed, setting Sena down.
"You're in the way. Go, quick."
Sena, trembling, finally nodded faintly and turned to run in the opposite direction.
Now all distractions were gone...
Yujin flashed a faint smile and raised his sword.
"Alright, let's do this for real."
As if understanding, Fenrir let out a howl.
—Awoooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thus, the real battle began.
Yujin moved first. He charged at Fenrir with blinding speed. His sword, trailing behind, birthed a massive sword aura of his signature black mana.
A colossal sword aura flickering like flames.
It contained power no one short of a master could withstand.
Kung—!!!
Sensing the incoming sword aura, Fenrir kicked off the ground and leaped. Its claws raked the earth, exploding it and pulverizing nearby trees.
As Fenrir evaded, Yujin lowered his stance and swept his sword upward in a horizontal arc.
Kwaang—!!!!!!!!!
The moment the massive sword aura clashed with Fenrir's claws, a deafening boom swept the surroundings. Dozens of trees around Yujin shattered like explosives, vanishing without a trace.
'Heavier than expected.'
Yujin muttered inwardly as he dodged Fenrir's descending paw.
Kuoooong—!!!!!!!
He'd anticipated the weight from its size, but this exceeded expectations. Anyone but him would have been crushed instantly, reduced to an unrecognizable pulp.
'So the god-slaying legend isn't entirely myth.'
There was reason behind the mythic moniker. Still, it wasn't enough.
Exceptionally strong as Yujin was, he was still human. Fenrir was just within his league.
He swiftly pivoted and leaped skyward.
Kwang!
The impact cratered the ground, sending debris flying. In that moment, his sword sliced the sky. The sword aura tore through trees and reached the heavens, severing strands of Fenrir's fur.
Fenrir swatted Yujin away with a forepaw and retreated with a growl.
Yujin, parrying with his sword, was pushed back, uprooting several trees.
In the standoff, Fenrir's blue eyes gazed down imperiously.
"...I don't like the look in your eyes."
Yujin grimaced.
"You think I'm your prey or something?"
Fenrir responded to his mutter with a low growl.
—Grrrrrr
"...Ha. What an arrogant wolf."
Enough to make him want to kill it. Sharing the sentiment, Yujin and Fenrir charged simultaneously.
The air tore with a sonic boom as Yujin's sword aura met Fenrir's fangs.
Kakakakakakak—!!!!!!
Surprisingly, mana coated Fenrir's fangs—what knights called aura.
Yujin's black sword aura and Fenrir's white mana clashed ferociously, devouring each other and ravaging the surroundings.
Kwaaaaaaaaang—!!!!!!!
The ground shattered, hurling debris skyward.
Chijik—!
Suddenly, Yujin withdrew his sword and swung diagonally in a flash like lightning.
A massive black sword aura hurtled toward the wolf.
Growing by devouring its surroundings, it had ballooned to a size that could swallow even Fenrir when they collided.
Fwoong—!
Kwaaaaaaaaang—!!!!!!!!!!!
Fenrir swatted the black sword aura with a forepaw. But the power was too great—blood sprayed from its claw.
"Take another."
Grinning crookedly, as if somewhat broken, Yujin twisted his sword again.
Kwang!
An even stronger black sword aura surged toward Fenrir.
Fenrir nimbly dodged with its massive frame, but Yujin was waiting where it landed.
Appearing before Fenrir in an instant, Yujin swung. Fenrir blocked with its fangs, but the tips shattered, sparks flying.
Fenrir howled in pain.
—Awoooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!
Moonlight-like mana erupted from Fenrir, sweeping the area.
Jijijijijik—!!!!!!!!!
Sensing danger, Yujin enveloped himself in mana. No time to dodge—the explosion of Fenrir's mana annihilated everything around.
The forest turned to wasteland in seconds. No one would believe this was the imperial forest.
Unsated, Fenrir reared back, its blue eyes blazing.
Silver mana coalesced into a massive sword aura on its claws, slashing down at Yujin.
Kikikikikikikikik—!!!!!!!!!!
Kugugugugugugu—!!!!!!!!!
"...!!!"
Yujin gripped tightly, blocking the claws. But Fenrir twisted, pushing him back and carving massive claw marks into the earth.
Kwaaang!!!!!!
Thrusting his sword into the ground to halt his slide, Yujin grinned at Fenrir.
"Now you look a bit like the mythic wolf."
Did Fenrir understand human speech?
Its eyes turned fierce at his words, and its body suddenly swelled larger. Its fur gleamed silver, claws elongating to gouge the earth.
Kwaang!
The ground split and cratered under its step. Debris flew everywhere—painful on impact—so Yujin dodged.
Dodging Fenrir's aura-clad claws and debris, Yujin sighed.
"...Hmm. Time to end this."
The knightly instinct for battle was thrilling, but it was time to wrap up.
Any longer, and the entire forest would vanish, potentially sweeping up distant onlookers in the aftermath.
Yujin severed one of Fenrir's forelegs.
Fenrir yelped in agony and retreated nimbly.
Watching, Yujin slowly raised his sword high.
"..."
—Grrrrrr...?
Suddenly, the entire forest fell silent.
It felt as if the world's gaze converged on the tip of Yujin's sword.
Even Fenrir couldn't tear its eyes away.
No massive black sword aura, no aura coiling the blade—just an ordinary sword. Yet Fenrir's instincts screamed this was the greatest danger.
Its beastly survival sense urged immediate flight.
The moment Fenrir shrank its form to retreat, obeying instinct—
"...Where do you think you're going."
Yujin murmured quietly and swung from sky to earth.
And then,
With a sensation as if the world split in half, darkness erupted from the rift and swallowed Fenrir whole.