The Hunt (2)
As they stepped into the forest, memories from five hundred years ago came flooding back with vivid clarity.
Faint traces of mist rose steaming between moss-covered tree roots, while rotten leaves clung stickily to the ground beneath their feet.
Everything was exactly as it had been back then.
"Damn, this place gives me chills—in the best way."
Libiel muttered beside him.
In lieu of a reply, Kirian drew in a slow, deep breath.
Cold air soaked into his lungs, awakening the primal instincts of the hunt.
But Hierniorn seemed displeased with something, glancing around restlessly.
'What're you doing? Hurry up and follow.'
They ventured deeper into the woods.
Once they found a suitable spot, deploying the Lure spell would kick off the hunt.
A gentle hill rose ahead—perfect terrain for taking a stand and fighting.
Kirian passed it by, walking a bit farther before speaking.
"Libiel, gather your mana to the max. The Lure spell spreads farther without interference."
"Oh, got it!"
In an instant, Libiel's mana signature vanished like mist.
Kirian closed his eyes and began tracing the spell in his mind's eye.
Since he hadn't practiced this one much, he needed to proceed carefully at first.
As he slowly raised his hand, a pale sky-blue light shimmered at his fingertips.
Libiel let out a soft murmur of admiration.
"So pretty..."
A spell that beguiled the mind would naturally appear beautiful.
Regardless, Kirian expanded it as widely as possible.
The surrounding air quivered faintly, blue ripples spreading through the forest like undulating waves.
It was as if dense fog were claiming its territory, unfurling in all directions.
'Just a minor tweak.'
A brief silence fell.
Soon, rustling sounds began to stir from various spots in the woods.
Libiel whipped around to face him, her expression tense.
"Oh, they're coming."
Her voice trembled.
She was clearly fighting to suppress her nerves.
Yet she pulled mana through her entire body, determined to do her part.
'Loyal retainer? Give me a break.'
Kirian dismissed Hierniorn's assessment and stared into the forest.
And in the next moment.
"..."
The rustling stopped abruptly.
The hush hung like the calm before a storm.
"Kek!"
"Kikikikak...!"
Gray kobolds burst through the underbrush.
These monsters had dull gray skin, diminutive humanoid bodies, and canine heads.
Armed with crude swords and light armor, they lumbered straight toward Kirian and Libiel.
But it wasn't time to fight yet.
"Libiel, fall back."
"Y-yeah!"
Kirian and Libiel retreated step by step, while more kobolds poured out, forming an encirclement.
Their numbers swelled rapidly amid guttural growls.
The swarming mass looked plenty threatening.
"When do we attack? Isn't it time now? There're too many! I feel like I'm gonna burst!"
Libiel's words accelerated like she'd cast a haste spell on herself.
But not yet.
Kirian gestured for her to keep retreating.
"How long are we gonna...!"
"Quit whining. Wait longer. Scared? Run away then."
"I-I'm not scared!"
It was to draw in more kobolds and pack them densely.
'When fighting sword-in-hand, you'd do the opposite.'
But this was magic combat, not swordplay.
To fight efficiently, one had to step into the realm of the irrational.
The kobold horde grew, dozens now surrounding them tightly, snarling.
As Hierniorn muttered worriedly.
A shrill roar erupted from the kobolds' midst.
"Kaaaaaaaak!"
The signal to attack.
The kobolds charged en masse, and Libiel turned wide-eyed to Kirian.
"Kirian!"
"Yeah. Attack."
"Huh?"
"I said attack."
Her eyes flashed with resolve.
She drew a deep breath and thrust both hands skyward.
A pale glow enveloped her petite frame; her black hair whipped like a banner in the mana surge.
Proof that her pent-up mana was unleashing all at once.
"Annihilate them! Lightning Spear!"
Attack spell Lightning Spear
Chanting boosted power somewhat.
Especially for Libiel's spells.
A massive thunderclap boomed from above.
Boom!
Pale lightning rent the cloudless sky, slamming down.
It lit the forest in an instant, etching stark shadows of vegetation onto the ground like signatures.
"...!"
The bolt pierced the kobolds.
The forest heart filled with searing flashes and rumbling thunder.
The single massive spear splintered into dozens of prongs, writhing with apparent will to impale their targets.
"Kieeek!"
"Kaaaaaaa—!"
Monsters struck by the white thunderbolts convulsed, bodies flung into the air.
Of course, the young mage's assault fell short of instant kills; downed kobolds staggered back up.
But Libiel summoned mana anew.
Before the lingering sting in the air faded, she shouted.
"Chain it! Lightning Spear!"
Attack spell Lightning Spear
Attack spell Lightning Spear
"..."
The second, third, fourth—
Each cascade of lightning spears from the heavens felled kobolds, only for some to rise again.
And after the final strike.
"..."
An awkwardly profound silence descended.
Smoke rose from the kobolds sprawled on the ground.
Not a single one remained standing unscathed.
Libiel collapsed, panting heavily.
"Hah... haa... Tough! Did we get 'em all?"
Kirian surveyed the area to confirm.
Dozens of kobolds that had encircled them lay defeated.
Though adjusted to first-year trainee level, wiping them out in one go was no small feat.
"How was it, Kirian?"
Libiel asked excitedly.
She scooped up a stray magic crystal and grinned at him.
"My magic's pretty decent, right?"
He snatched it and pocketed it, replying offhandedly.
"Eh, not bad."
"Hey! That's all? Praise me properly!"
"Good job. Excellent. Keep it up."
"Prostrating in gratitude, are we...?"
Hierniorn alighted on his shoulder, chuckling.
'But hey.'
'Asking if we "got 'em"—isn't that still taboo these days? It was, five hundred years ago.'
Because demonkin that seemed slain often revived.
Hence the habit: never say "got 'em" without double-checking.
His intuition proved right.
A branch snapped overhead, and a shadow dropped straight down.
"Grrrrrr!"
A kobold leveled an axe at Libiel's face.
Kirian tilted his head.
This specimen dwarfed the fallen ones.
It was a Chief Kobold, leader of the pack.
"Wh-what...?"
Terror-stricken, Libiel stumbled back and fell on her rear.
The situation was dire.
The chief's wicked axe blade targeted her throat.
Her mana had drained from the barrage, and panic hindered recovery.
'Taboos endure, huh.'
Fwip!
Nirvana soared through the air.
He'd gripped the hilt since combat began.
The silver arc tore through the air, aimed true at the chief kobold's neck.
"Kerk!"
But it wasn't easy prey.
Mid-swing toward Libiel, it twisted its torso.
Nirvana's blade merely grazed the shoulder.
Impressively agile.
"Karrgrrr!"
After retreating three or four steps, it bellowed nastily and charged again.
A heavy overhead strike at Libiel's crown.
But the brief opening Kirian created let her steady her mana and cast anew.
"Block it! Shield!"
Defense spell Shield
A mana barrier formed in a flash.
Clang!
The axe blade cracked the surface but bounced off, failing to pierce.
And in the next instant.
Nirvana's tip flipped midair.
Special spell Telekinesis
The flying sword veered and reversed course.
The chief wore well-crafted leather armor.
But it was no match for a finely honed divine sword.
Its heart lay exposed, conveniently.
Shunk.
"Kak..."
The chief kobold crumpled lifelessly at Libiel's feet.
Libiel slumped too, exhaling in relief.
Her face twisted.
"Thanks, Kirian. You saved me..."
Her trailing words oozed wounded pride.
Thinking victory assured, she'd let her guard down—natural to feel stung needing his help.
That aside.
"If you're grateful, don't just say it—cough up another vial of Dragon Scale potion."
"...Hah. Think I'm carrying? Don't have any now!"
Kirian nodded casually and recalled Nirvana.
Libiel rose, gathering magic crystals, then turned to him abruptly.
"But why not use your unicorn horn wand? It amplifies in forests like this."
"Eh, do I have to?"
"Such a waste. The discipline officer gifted it. How long you gonna let it rot unnamed?"
"It's not actually rotting. My call."
Libiel shook her head and focused on collecting crystals.
They'd agreed 7:3 split upon teaming up, but she was sneaking extras into her pouch.
He let it slide for now.
Inspecting the fallen chief kobold, Kirian mulled things over.
A monster that wouldn't release its weapon even in death.
'No mention of chief kobolds in the training notice.'
'Nonsense. Chiefs are a grade higher. Kobolds are 1-star; chiefs are 2-star.'
Schud Rapens wouldn't overlook that.
The professor who'd drilled basics couldn't have mixed a chief into a kobold pack.
It made no sense.
'You're joking. You know how this spirit realm works, right?'
The spirit realm, a monster nursery, required both command and catalyst to function.
No proper catalyst, no slimes—not even one.
Rapens had used these low-grade magic crystals as catalysts for kobolds.
Yet a higher-grade chief appearing was suspicious on multiple fronts.
"Hmm..."
Kirian quietly turned.
The seed of suspicion, nurtured since the era of war, reared its head once more.
'Bribed by someone? To sabotage us?'
But moments later.
He had to reconsider.
Beyond Libiel gathering crystals, a slender shadow darted swiftly through the forest heart.
"Professor Rapens?"
He was hastening across the woods under self-cast acceleration.
Shock was plain on the professor's face.
Proof of an unforeseen incident.