Chapter 21: "My Lord......!!!!"

"My lord......!!!!"

The knight's cry rang out.

"Get out of the way!!"

He was shouting with a blood-smeared face, but fortunately, the blood wasn't his—it belonged to the monster. He was Ku-en, the guardian knight of the Eltia Iron Kingdom.

"We can't retreat from here. How could we stand against the Calamity if we turn our backs on mere beasts like this?"

"But...... that thing isn't a normal monster, is it? Even the full might of Glory's 9 can barely hold it back."

"Unbelievable...... How could we not have known about a monster like that until now?"

The man beside Ku-en bit his lip ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠hard as he spoke. His face was as pale and delicate as porcelain. He stared at the beast before them with a look of utter dismay. He was none other than Lorend Man, the grand magus and vizier of the Iron Kingdom.

"I've heard the northern tribes have been performing rituals, offering tributes to the divine beasts all this time. Perhaps they've been the ones keeping this rampaging monster in check."

"But now that the north has been conquered and they're gone, there's no one left to make the offerings. That's why the beast has emerged into the world."

I couldn't help but give a wry smile at his words.

"Who would've thought they were acting as a bulwark for the continent."

"Conquering the north was absolutely necessary. If you hadn't unified the continent, my lord, we couldn't have even begun preparing countermeasures against the Calamity."

"My choice wasn't wrong, then."

"Of course not."

I finally nodded slowly, watching Lorend's resolute response.

"If we leave that monster be, it'll turn the heart of the continent into scorched earth. Any ideas?"

At my question, he shook his head with a strange smile.

"I'm ashamed to say it, my lord, but the moment I laid eyes on that beast, I couldn't contain my excitement as a researcher. That's why I rushed here posthaste."

He gazed at the rampaging monster ahead, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. I couldn't help but chuckle when I realized the dismay I'd seen on his face earlier wasn't fear, but curiosity.

"How do we take it down?"

"There's a way to subdue that monster. It's not certain yet, but there's something I want to test."

"What is it?"

"Whatever it takes—even if it's an experiment—try it now! Sir Lorend, if that beast keeps rampaging, the damage will reach the Iron Kingdom!"

Ku-en shouted in worry. And rightly so—the front line held by Glory's 9, who were unleashing fierce attacks to block the monster, was slowly but surely being pushed back.

"This is it."

Lorend pulled a small pouch from inside his robe. It contained a powdery white substance, pure as snow.

"Divine beast powder, right? Divine beasts are noble creatures called incarnations ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠of spirits. They literally possess the power of spirits. That thing won't be able to ignore this scent."

His eyes sparkled.

"Just like its name, Spirit Devourer. But unlike other dragons, there's a hunting method that works only on the Spirit Devourer."

He scooped some powder from the pouch with his finger at my questioning look.

"If the legends are true."

"......Legends?"

"It earned the moniker Spirit Devourer by devouring all the spirits that once existed on the continent. It's said that spirits slumber within its belly."

"And?"

"Divine beasts possess the power of spirits. So this powder could awaken that power."

"No way......"

Lorend nodded, as if reading my mind.

"The method is simple. There are no more barbarians, so no druids left...... But on the night of a full moon, the spirit energy in the world grows strong enough that even someone without spirit affinity like me can use this powder."

He dumped the powder from his finger into his mouth and swallowed it.

"First, swallow the powder......"

***

"......Hah!!"

That was when I jolted awake with a scream-like gasp.

'Another...... dream?'

I scanned my surroundings. Only the sound of snow pattering against the tent filled the air. I lifted my head. The intense hunting scene from moments ago was gone, replaced by the faint warmth of a brazier.

"Right on time. It's about to start."

Inside the tent with me sat the other four hunters.

"Better eat up. Night hunts can drag on."

Kawara handed me boiled jerky from a pot steaming over the brazier.

"......"

I chewed the steaming jerky. It was moist and tender, with just the right seasoning.

'Who knew it could taste like this......'

Jerky was a great early-game ingredient for HP and stamina recovery relative to its cost, but it got forgotten once you could craft better foods later on. The salty savoriness brought me back to my senses after so long.

I reached for the pouch at my chest. Clutching the bag of divine beast powder, I replayed the dream.

'Definitely...... That powder Lorend used was divine beast powder. And that day, like today, was a full moon.'

"You look tense. Don't worry—Kael must've told you, but night hunts are basically rituals."

Kawara spoke to me like he was reassuring a novice hunter. But my worry wasn't just about tonight's ritual.

In the dream, the beast appeared because the northern tribes were gone, leaving no tributes. But this time was different. The hunters were alive, and the beast would likely be satisfied with their offerings, staying hidden.

'But with this divine beast powder I have......'

Reading the powder's description again confirmed it.

'No matter what tribute they offer, this powder will draw that monster out. In the end......'

I sifted through my memories.

'It comes. But how did Lorend use the powder? He swallowed it, then......'

"Kuh?!"

A dizzying pain hit as I tried to recall, and I clutched my forehead without thinking.

"Damn......"

I grimaced.

"The Mokan Tribe and Naba Tribe have arrived. All tribes participating in the night hunt are now here."

One of the remaining hunters poked his head into the tent.

"For someone Kael recommended, you're awfully jumpy. No need to worry. Get up."

Kawara lightly patted my stiff shoulder teasingly and opened the tent flap.

"......"

I wasn't afraid of the beast at all. Quite the opposite.

"I get why Lorend was excited."

The ferocious beast of the north dwelling in Lang-a Fortress, called the Spirit Devourer. Even Glory's 9 combined couldn't kill it.

"If I...... kill it."

What would it drop? I licked my lips unconsciously.

***

"It's been a year."

Stepping out of the tent, hunters from each tribe awaited us. Over fifty by rough count. Even at five per tribe, that meant more than ten tribes—the north was no small force.

'Before the tribal wars a few years from now, neither the Iron Kingdom nor the duchies could easily invade the north.'

After the wars decimated their numbers, my Iron Kingdom forces conquered it.

'Uncannily like now. No tribal wars this time, but without players choosing the north, it'll naturally decline.'

The game's continental future mirroring my dream history gave me chills.

Left alone, the north would perish. It felt predestined, like the tribes vanishing.

'If I hadn't been there.'

I chuckled at my own bold words. But if my plans worked, the north would thrive more than any other force—unlike in the dream.

Still, they couldn't wage war against the Iron Kingdom, duchies, or Deus Union. My desired future wasn't a northern-dominated continent.

North, south, Iron Kingdom, duchies, Deus Union.

'To stop that thing called the Calamity, we need everyone's power.'

That's why I'd sent Jin-su and Chan-ho to the Deus Union.

"Hoo......"

The problem was I couldn't recall the dream's aftermath.

'Lorend definitely told me how to hunt the beast in Lang-a Fortress......'

Should I give up? If the dream memory was accurate, without the powder method, these hunters—even Glory's 9 couldn't—couldn't kill it.

I scanned the group. Only four hunters exceeded Lv.55 Kawara, a Rare-grade NPC.

'The other forty-plus could just get in the way.'

If capture was impossible, better to ditch the powder. It might summon the beast pointlessly.

"Prepare."

Kawara said quietly. At his command, two of the four climbed the cliff for watch, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the others unpacked massive loads from their backs.

"Who's that guy?"

"Kael sent him specially. Treat him well—he's like a brother to the Kalun Tribe."

A woman in a black hood glanced at me.

'Naba's Black Hawk.'

Her face was hidden, but her sharp voice identified her instantly. One of the four above Kawara's level. But hers was overwhelmingly higher.

'Lv.83.'

The others hovered around 60. Undeniably the top hunter here.

She was Aishira, action captain of the Naba Tribe, called the north's divine archer. Rumors said her arrows hit targets hundreds of meters away.

'She was one of the biggest headaches during the northern conquest.'

I'd dismissed it as hype at first, but after seeing her skill, I admitted no Iron Kingdom archer matched her.

"I'm Aishira."

Unlike her death-glare back then, she extended a hand. But I was captivated by the massive greatbow on her back—nearly as tall as a man, it barely skimmed the ground even slung diagonally.

"Bow......"

I murmured unconsciously, staring at it. I gripped her offered hand.

That instant—

—How long must we keep offering tribute to that monster, begging for our lives!!

A sharp, piercing cry. The men around the tent swallowed their words with grunts of "Hrrm......"

—Watch your tongue, Aishira. We've been performing the ritual to protect the north's guardian spirit all this time.

—Guardian spirit? Doesn't the chieftain know who caused the divine beasts to vanish from Lang-a Fortress?

She snapped fiercely at the elder in the head seat.

—Insolent! What kind of attitude is that! Even as action captain, you can't cross the line!

The surrounding men pressed her.

—Don't forget, elders—the northern tribes exist to safeguard the Soul White Wolf. Not to fatten the devourer that ate it, cowering in fear!

She drew her greatbow and knelt on one knee.

—Give me ten hunters. I'll bring back the Spirit Devourer.

—Stand down. The matter is decided.

Her resolute form met a cold reply.

—Elder......!!

[KRAAAAAARRGH---!!]

A shrill monster roar. White mane whipping wildly, it charged with jaws agape, lunging to devour Lorend.

—Archer unit!!

Lorend clutched the powder from his robe and flung it into the air.

WHOOSH......!!

The powder ignited into flames instantly.

—Ready to fire!!!

Dozens of arrows flew toward it, cloaked in the powder's flames at his shout.

"......!!!"

The scenes flooded my mind like a tidal wave, flashing by in a panorama.

"Kuh?!"

Aishira grimaced slightly during our handshake, looking at me. I'd unconsciously tensed my arm gripping her hand.

"S-sorry......"

I hurriedly let go. Aishira glared with displeasure.

But her reaction barely registered. My eyes glazed over.

'The northern tribes already knew night hunts weren't honoring divine beasts—they were a ploy to appease the monster here.'

I scanned the group. Not just her—every hunter had a bow slung on their back.

'Aishira wants to kill it too, just like me. That means the tribes crave a true night hunt. My memory of success and her fragment triggered via Sensory Amplification.'

It revived the lost part of Lorend's memory.

I finally grasped the skill's true meaning.

'Maybe the system blocked me from recalling how to hunt it.'

If so, my memories might be under Neuron Interface control. The thought chilled me.

'But with this......'

I replayed the memory's final scene.

'To hunt that monster, we need divine beast powder and elite archers.'

My future Iron Kingdom archer unit was systematic compared to this era's. But these were the north's finest elites. Their archery rivaled that unit's.

'We can do it.'

"How long will you live in fear?"

"What?"

Aishira's face hardened at my words.

"There's a way to take it down."

Silence descended like a blanket over ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Lang-a Fortress as everyone focused on me. I slowly raised my head to meet their gazes.

Now came the crucial part.