Chapter 105: The Lord is With Us (26)
Chapter 105: The Lord is With Us (26)
The forest at night was secluded.
It was the area surrounding the remote orphanage. While herbalists from nearby villages visited occasionally, no villager was bold enough to wander in and out of these woods after dark.
This was because demonic beasts lived here. Their activity grew far more intense at night, when the whispers of Omeros grew stronger than the grace of Arus that shone upon the earth during the day.
In other words, the likelihood of encountering a demonic beast increased significantly.
Searching the forest during the day was already a life-threatening endeavor; few were willing to take an even greater risk by visiting at night.
If there were exceptions to that rule, their purpose for visiting had to be equally exceptional.
For instance, someone like me.
My goal wasn't gathering herbs or hunting for sport. If anything, I wanted to meet the demonic beasts. That was exactly why I had come to the forest.
I wanted only one thing.
Revenge. I intended to pay back the boss beast, the one that had carved a new hole in my body, exactly what I had received.
The boss beast only showed itself about once a month. I had heard from Mr. Guildford that most people never even caught a glimpse of it in the forest.
Therefore, the probability of finding the boss beast immediately tonight was low.
However, a characteristic of monsterization was that creatures of the same species mutated into demonic beasts all at once.
Since the demonic beasts in this forest were originally monkeys, it seemed certain they shared some kind of connection with their leader.
I had come to investigate that point. By doing so, I would eventually find a clue and come face-to-face with the monkey beast that had attacked Senior Elsie.
My sense of purpose was clear. Nevertheless, today’s search was progressing quite sluggishly.
It was because my companion wasn't particularly enthusiastic. Well, it was understandable, considering I had practically dragged her out here by force.
I glanced back. My eyes met a flash of brilliant golden hair.
A sharp nose, a slender jawline, and porcelain skin came into view one after another. She was a northern beauty who looked as if she had stepped out of a painting. Within her haughty eyes, crimson pupils sat like embedded jewels.
It was Senior Delphine. The successor to the Yurdina family—protectors of the North and one of the Empire's Five Great Noble Families—and the top-ranked fourth-year in the Academy Swordsmanship Department.
Whether in terms of martial prowess, power, or wealth, she lacked for nothing.
In truth, this wasn't a request suited to someone of her stature. Doing chores at an orphanage and then chasing monkey beasts through a forest?
Perhaps that was why Senior Delphine looked exceptionally unmotivated. Even as we walked through the woods together, she wasn't keeping watch on our surroundings; instead, she was stealing glances at me, gauging my mood.
She seemed strangely tense.
Eventually, I came to a dead stop with a sigh. Senior Delphine’s body flinched.
As I turned around, her crimson eyes began to dart about frantically. Her trembling gaze quickly dropped to the ground.
Stuttering, Senior Delphine’s clear voice broke the silence of the forest.
“W-W-Why… d-did you want to see me… a-alone…?”
She was using formal speech, which didn't suit her at all. I stared at her for a moment without saying a word. That alone made her shoulders quiver.
It seemed the fear still lingered. I didn't know exactly how much she had been put through, but the once-proud Delphine was reacting like this.
I suspected she must have taken at least a couple more axe blows to the shoulder. While a healthy amount of fear was useful for controlling someone as reckless as Senior Delphine, this level of extremity was problematic.
To put her at ease, I spoke as if it were no big deal.
“To catch demonic beasts.”
Yet, despite my clear answer, Senior Delphine still looked suspicious.
Her fear-stricken, blood-red gaze seemed to be saying:
‘The demonic beast you came to catch… it’s not me, is it?’
It was an absurd accusation. I had to shake my head, swallowing a hollow laugh.
“...I’m serious. I mean, did you think I’d ask you to fight me with a hand axe or something? It’s not like I’m some ‘Hand Axe Murderer.’”
Hic.
Senior Delphine’s face turned white instantly.
Her skin was already pale, but with the blood drained from it, she looked even more ghostly. The frequency of her pupils shaking was increasing.
It seemed I had hit the nail on the head. It was a clear indication of exactly what she thought of me.
I felt a bit wronged. Fine, let’s set aside the fact that I had buried an axe in her shoulder last time—I had been ambushed then.
I knew nothing of what happened after that. Whatever the ‘me’ from the future had done to her, why did I have to be the one to clean up the mess?
A groan escaped me, but there was nothing I could do. The only consolation was that, thanks to that, I had gained a powerful asset like Senior Delphine.
Having calmed myself, I prepared to turn back around. I clicked my tongue as an added bonus. I judged that talking further would only trigger more of her fear.
It was a natural movement, devoid of any hostility.
Yet, that was when Senior Delphine collapsed to the ground and let out a scream.
“Eeeek! I-I’m sorry! P-Please, anything but turning me into minced meat…!”
I, who had merely intended to turn my back, was left utterly dumbfounded. Senior Delphine was curled into a ball, shielding her head with her arms.
As if she truly believed I was about to hack her with an axe.
When no pain came after a while, she cautiously lifted her head. Her eyes locked right with mine as I stood there, motionless.
“...What are you doing?”
At my question, which was laced with sheer bewilderment, Senior Delphine’s expression turned blank.
She looked as if she were wondering why I was just standing there without doing anything. I was so flabbergasted that I let out a short laugh.
“Are you trying to lure the demonic beasts or something?”
“...Y-Yes! R-Right. That’s it, yes.”
Apparently unable to admit to a junior that she was terrified, Senior Delphine scrambled to her feet while stammering out that awkward excuse.
Her movements were cautious. Even so, she kept stealing glances at me.
It seemed she still couldn't believe my pure intentions. There wasn't a noble in the world who hated violence as much as I did, yet Senior Delphine really had no eye for character.
Thud, thud. I resumed my walk. After a moment of hesitation, Senior Delphine followed closely behind me, as if she had no other choice.
“Where was it that you encountered the monkey beasts in the forest?”
“I-It’s a little further this way, but…”
She trailed off, then asked in a voice that hadn't quite shed its anxiety.
“...Are you really only here to catch demonic beasts?”
“I told you, yes.”
“Then why just the two of us?”
“Celine and Seria would be making a fuss telling me to recover first, and Reto is useless in a fight. The Saintess would definitely nag me for going out to fight again… Who else is left but you, Senior?”
At my seamless answer, Senior Delphine finally seemed to believe me. Still, the way she held onto a shred of distrust until the very end was very much like her.
“...What about Elsie?”
“Because you’d hate it.”
Silence. Senior Delphine chose to keep her mouth shut, seemingly having no rebuttal.
The moonlit forest was still. Not even the sound of insects could be heard. In the past, I would have found such an eerie silence burdensome, but I had learned better since then.
It was a sign that demonic beasts were approaching. My hand moved toward my waist.
Senior Delphine didn't seem to have calmed down yet. Complex emotions were flickering through her crimson eyes.
I glanced back slightly and asked in a casual voice.
“Why do you hate Senior Elsie so much? It doesn't seem like there’s a particular reason for you two to fight.”
At the mention of Elsie, Senior Delphine snorted. She had finally regained her usual haughtiness and arrogance.
“...Elsie Lainella? Ha, who could possibly like that ill-tempered brat?”
You’re just as ill-tempered, I thought, but I swallowed the words.
“Besides, I have no reason to like someone who defies me. I detest people who are that competitive. Trying so hard to beat me at any cost…”
Senior Delphine, who had been talking animatedly as if she’d found a good topic, suddenly trailed off.
Her crimson eyes sank. I gripped the hilt of my sword without a word, and she did the same.
“How many?”
“...Thirteen.”
I had sensed the signs first, but Senior Delphine was clearly superior when it came to pinpointing details. When I closed my eyes and focused my senses, I realized she was right.
One by one, shadows began to move through the trees without a sound.
Soon, glinting blue pupils were revealed atop the surrounding branches.
Their presence was faint. Had I not known beforehand, I wouldn't have even noticed. This was a trait the boss monkey beast had shown previously.
The possibility that the forest beasts and the boss were related grew even stronger. I asked Senior Delphine one last thing.
“Is this roughly where the monkey beasts appeared last time?”
“...Now that you mention it, I think so.”
For now, the monkeys were merely glaring at me and Senior Delphine. Usually, demonic beasts couldn't hide their ferocity the moment they saw a human, so this was rare.
Lost in thought for a moment, I took another step forward just in case.
Immediately, two figures shot out like arrows.
They were monkey beasts that had been hiding near me. Their sharp claws glinted as they reflected the moonlight.
In that mere instant, as if testing the limits of reaction speed, the monkey beasts utilized the full elasticity of their muscles.
In the past, this might have been dangerous. Their speed was on par with most high-ranking demonic beasts. But I was different now.
After consuming the ‘Dragon's Pure Blood,’ my mana capacity had increased beyond comparison.
Like a bolt of lightning, my sword drew a line through the air.
The silver thread instantly bisected the monkey beast lunging from the front. It was the moment lightning met a ray of light. Time began to flow slowly, as if frozen.
There was still a monkey beast flying in from my flank. I tried to continue my sword path immediately, but I felt an unexpected resistance, causing my eyes to dart forward.
There, the monkey beast that had already been cut in half at the waist wore a gruesome smile.
Even as it looked ready to vomit blood, it was gripping the blade that had severed its body with both arms.
It was bizarre. It wasn't a reaction a normal living creature—even a demonic beast—should show. But I had no time for reflection.
The monkey beast on my flank was already within reach. It wore a victor’s smile, thinking it had exploited my opening.
But in the next moment.
Crack!
With the sound of a skull shattering, blood and brain matter sprayed in all directions.
The monkey’s eyes bulged. But before it could even realize what had crushed its brain, the beast died instantly.
It was a hand axe. The moment my sword was caught, I had abandoned it without hesitation and drawn the axe.
The exhilarating impact of crushing a skull made my breath hitch. My lips curled into a smirk.
“...Eleven more to go.”
At those words, eleven shadows surged forward. Their target was only one: the culprit who had taken the lives of two of their kin in an instant.
Me.
Even for me, eleven was a bit much, but there was no need to worry. I had a reliable ally backing me up right now.
I turned my expectant gaze toward Senior Delphine, and—
“Eeeek! S-Stop! I-I’m sorry… P-Please spare me… I-I don't want to lose my sword… I-I’ll never resist again! I’ll kneel however you want, I’ll kiss your feet if you tell me to…!”
I was immediately stunned.
Senior Delphine was face-down on the ground, trembling and babbling nonsense.
To anyone’s eyes, she was in no state to fight. Thus, a single phrase reflexively burst from my lips.
“...Oh, for fuck’s sake.”
I hurriedly threw myself forward and grabbed the sword I had dropped. It was in the gap of the chilling sound of air being sliced by sharp claws.
The keen edges grazed my skin by a hair’s breadth.
I am definitely going to punish her once this fight is over, I thought, gritting my teeth as I made that resolve.
As always, my battles never seemed to go the easy way.