Monster Season (5)
The academy in the morning was bustling with people. The reason was simple: the third-years and professors had returned. They stared blankly at the academy's changed state overnight but quickly adapted, each moving to restore normal operations. With the third-years joining in, the work picked up speed. No one was slacking off. Knowing it was an emergency, everyone gave their all to their assigned roles.
In contrast to them, I headed to the Student Council Hall early that morning. They'd summoned me there. I wasn't alone—Rana tagged along. The professor who'd come to fetch us explained that a few standout students from yesterday's efforts were being called to the meeting. Of course, my invitation felt different from the others.
“Kyle, there sure are a lot of out-of-towners.”
“Yeah, way more than expected.”
Near the Student Council Hall stood diverse crowds from all over. Nearly every race on the continent was represented. And perhaps because I showed up, every eye turned my way.
“That's the kid…”
“Yeah, the one slated to be the Saint…”
“No way he's from the Arden family…”
Whispers reached my ears amid the piercing stares. It grated a little, but it was the reaction I'd anticipated. The Saint rumors had spread like wildfire by now, and I'd long been infamous across the continent as a troublemaker.
Anyway, one group burned with especially intense gazes: the Justia Holy Kingdom.
“The servant of Hayang greets the Saint.”
A priest bowed to me then, speaking as if it were the most natural thing in the world. It rubbed me the wrong way, but the pure goodwill in his eyes made it hard to snap back. Not everyone from the Holy Kingdom greeted me, though—only Hayang's followers approached. The rest of the priests observed from afar, just like the others.
“Kyle's got quite the fan club, huh?”
“Don't you start teasing me too. I'm about ready to drop dead.”
Hayang's priests were generally good-hearted folk, so I usually played along. But the problem? Their bodies brimmed with divine power. For someone like me, who loathed gods with a passion bordering on hatred, they were downright uncomfortable. I'd prefer if they'd just gawked from a distance like everyone else.
Anyway, I brushed past them and entered the Student Council Hall. Inside, the attendees split into five distinct groups: the Tianis Empire with its professors and imperial knights; the Justia Holy Kingdom, towing devotees of the six gods; the Parun Magic Kingdom, leading nothing but mages; the Kingdom Alliance of minor realms; and the northern barbarians, representing lawless tribes without nations. Their delegates and aides had all gathered here.
And once again, all eyes locked on me. Ignoring it, I turned to the Tianis professors.
“Welcome, Kyle.”
“What's this about?”
“You must have a guess.”
I nodded in response. As a Tianis student and a prospective Saint, I wasn't someone they could just leave on the sidelines like the others.
“Got it.”
With that, I headed toward the Empire group. That's when a voice cut in.
“Hey, kid. Why head that way? You belong over here.”
I turned toward the sound. Among Justia's aides—beastkin blending human and animal features—stood a tigerkin, stripes stark on his hair and tail. A prime example of their combat breed.
“Prospective or not, a Saint's a Saint. Get to your seat if you know what's good for you.”
His eyes gleamed like a predator's as he pressed on. It was so ridiculous I nearly burst out laughing. I opened my mouth for a retort—
“Watch your tongue. He's a Tianis student first and foremost.”
The professor growled low in rebuttal.
“Watch my tongue? I'm just stating facts. Isn't it a done deal he'll join the Holy Kingdom someday?”
“...Even if so, you have no authority to order him around.”
“Then let's ask him. What do you think?”
He fixed his gaze on me. I gave him his answer.
“Shut your trap, you mangy beast. Who the hell do you think you're bossing around?”
Silence crashed over the room like a wave. The air turned ice-cold, prickling my skin. But I squared my shoulders defiantly. Beastkin were feral at heart—if you didn't crush them upfront, they'd slink back stronger.
“This little shit, thinking I'm going easy on him…”
Look at him now, fuming at a single line. He looked ready to lunge.
“Even with Green's protection, you think she'll save your sorry ass…!”
“Hatan.”
Someone beside him intervened—a familiar face.
“Sit down. We're not here to brawl.”
“But Elena! That punk…!”
With her restraint, the guy—Hatan—put on a wounded pout. But gripes like that didn't fly with an elf.
“Enough. Sit properly and act like an aide.”
“You can't be taking his side just 'cause Green likes him? That cocky bastard?!”
“Hatan. Last warning. Defy me again, and you're headed back to Justia.”
“Tch!”
Sensing real peril, he slumped into his chair with a thud. Beastkin through and through—pure animal in his moves.
Elena then rose and bowed.
“Apologies for our aide's behavior.”
With the Holy Kingdom's rep—an elf at that—making amends, most nodded in acceptance. Catching her glance, I returned to my seat.
The brief uproar settled, and the meeting finally kicked off. A map soon materialized in the room's center: a massive landmass dotted with over ten red points near the capital.
“I see it's the Empire… but what're those red dots?”
“Monster nests.”
The professor manipulated a magic tool, zooming in on one. A landscape emerged, teeming with hundreds—no, thousands—of monsters beyond.
“Our professors and imperial knights scouted them at dawn. They're holding position for now.”
But not entirely dormant.
“That one's moving.”
“Correct. They shift every two hours, likely to bolster numbers. Each move adds roughly ten thousand. We estimate about a hundred thousand per nest.”
Ten nests tallied a million strong. An insane force. If they swarmed here, the capital was toast.
“A million…”
“That'd mean they've rounded up every monster nearby.”
“Just an estimate, of course. Exact counts were impossible—could be fewer.”
Even so, groans rippled through the room.
“Any collateral damage elsewhere?”
“That's the odd part. Aside from Tianis and the Thousand-Year Mountains, no reports of attacks. Zero.”
Heads tilted at the professor's words.
“That doesn't add up.”
“Reliable intel?”
“Movement caused some harm, but no direct assaults.”
Like the others, even the professor seemed puzzled mid-explanation. Monster Season was supposed to target humans by nature. This was blatantly abnormal.
The gathered elites debated it. One theory surfaced.
“They're gunning for the capital…”
“Nothing else explains it…”
The Thousand-Year Mountains aside, strikes on the academy and capital sealed it.
“This is bad… If true, our reinforcements won't hold.”
“And no aid from Arden either…”
“No word from Arden?”
The Kingdom Alliance queried, eyes shifting to me and Veil—we were Arden blood, after all.
Veil fielded it amid the stares.
“Father says they lack the manpower. Black mages stirred trouble again recently.”
“Heavens, of all times…”
“Decal could've turned the tide…”
Decal Arden was among the continent's mightiest knights. Plenty of powerhouses here, sure, but none on Father's level. And the family knights? Elite force— even a fraction would help massively.
“What of Justia? No Saintess?”
“Internal matters prevent Estella from coming.”
Holy rep Elena shook her head. A voice piped up.
“Not that you're trying to send her?”
“...Mind your words. She wished to come, but her condition forbade it.”
“Who'd buy that?”
“……”
Justia's secrecy bred such skepticism.
“Bottom line: without more troops from each nation, we're out of options.”
Tactics demanded bodies. Superior skill alone wouldn't cut it.
Elena glanced my way impassively, then murmured low.
“And you, Saint? Your thoughts?”
“Me?”
“Yes, you.”
“No clue why you'd ask a student like me.”
She scowled but pressed on.
“I've heard. You led students to repel monsters—just a thousand against twenty thousand. Command like that deserves a listen.”
All eyes snapped to me at her words. Why won't this elf leave me be?
“You want my take?”
“Yes.”
“Fine.”
“You've probably guessed… but we can't stop this. Monsters hit, and it's game over—extinction.”
“Harsh assessment.”
“What, spout sunshine? Save that for the right moment. But listen…”
“Go on.”
She prodded at my pause. I continued.
“It's not hopeless. One condition met, and we've got a shot.”
“Which is?”
“The boss's location.”
Murmurs rose from the reinforcements watching.
Elena ignored them.
“Boss's location?”
“Yeah. Assuming they're laser-focused on the capital.”
I nodded, elaborating.
“Monster Season revolves around a boss—it rallies and leads them.”
“We know. Everyone here does.”
“Right. So if our assumption holds, where do they strike?”
“Here…”
“Exactly. Only here. They ignore everywhere else. Now, mid-attack, kill the boss—what happens?”
“Well…”
Elena and nearly everyone pondered before answering.
“Losing their anchor, the monsters snap out of it and turn on each other…”
She trailed off.
“Bingo. Kill the boss, and that horde's harmless—they'll tear themselves apart.”
Monster Season was just forced unity under a boss. Remove it, and they implode.
Elena spotted the hole.
“But… there's a catch. If the boss wipes us out first, it's moot.”
Fair point. Bosses didn't sit idle.
“But didn't you just cite my feat? Thousand beat twenty thousand.”
“...You're asking for command? And the full forces?”
I shrugged in lieu of words.
Debate erupted.
“He's a Saint, but entrusting a student? Too risky.”
“Yet feasible. If it plays out as he says, success is all but certain.”
“We don't know the boss's spot, though…”
“If we did…”
No boss location meant no go. Bosses usually moved with hordes, spotted post-attack. But absent from the two strikes, we had to hunt first.
Then Evan proffered something.
“Um… I found this in the Thousand-Year Mountains yesterday.”
Evan handed over a clump of fur radiating ominous energy.
“This…”
“No ordinary monster pelt.”
“From the Thousand-Year Mountains? Know anything?”
They turned to the northern barbarians.
“That place, peaceful mountain. No monsters… threaten us there.”
Post-answer, discussion flared.
“If it's from the boss…”
“We could track it.”
Parun mages conferred, then concluded.
“So we're doing it his way after all?”
Elena sighed.
“Any other demands?”
“Troops are fine. Bonus if Arden knights join.”
No group matched Arden's knights in might or synergy—continent's finest.
“I'll raise it with His Majesty.”
The imperial knight captain nodded. An imperial decree, and Father might spare a unit.
More back-and-forth followed as the meeting wound down. Then a knight burst through the doors.
“Th-the Arden family sent reinforcements!”
Right behind him appeared a familiar face.
“Huh?”
“Nuna?”
It was her—Elraim—radiating a Master's aura.