076. Erymanthian Boar Subjugation 1
Plentel Castle outskirts, graveyard.
Amidst the countless graves, knights from the Black Wolf Division's 7th Company moved about in their black armor.
Slither...
The Black Wolf knights scanned their surroundings before their gazes locked onto one spot.
"This is...!"
Numerous pits dug out as graves. Shattered coffins lay visible, with corpses torn to shreds.
Two knights grimaced at the sight.
"These pits are definitely..."
"The boars' doing..."
It looked just like someone had dug traps everywhere. This was a common scene lately near Plentel Castle.
The castle folk were suffering greatly from the hordes of Erymanthian Boars. Fields, rice paddies, mansions—none were spared. The boars devoured crops and gouged up the earth. They even devoured people.
That was why the 7th Company had been tasked with exterminating the boars.
"Something's inside there..."
One knight muttered, staring at a deeply sunken patch of ground.
Crunch. Crunch.
As the pit writhed, the knight beside him spoke up.
"Wouldn't it be better to report first instead of acting rashly?"
The knight stepping toward the pit snorted dismissively.
"Hah, making a fuss over a little shifting dirt...? We're the elite of the 7th Company—should we cower in fear?"
With that, he leaned in close to peer inside. Something squirmed, but the darkness hid it well. In the end, he thrust his arm into the pit.
"Sqreeeeaaal!"
A beastly roar hammered their eardrums. With that thunderous cry, a two-headed Erymanthian Boar erupted from the pit and clamped onto the knight's throat.
Squelch!
Blood sprayed in an instant. The knight with the mangled neck collapsed on the spot.
"Urk... To a mere boar..."
The knight's eyes dimmed as his head lolled forward.
The surviving knight's eyes flashed at the sight.
"An Erymanthian Boar...!?"
His voice held disbelief. It resembled the monster he knew, but there were differences. For one, it had two heads.
And its front hooves were hooked and razor-sharp, like those of some other beast grafted on—utterly alien.
The knight drew his sword from his belt, wary, and glanced between his fallen comrade and the boar.
Shing.
"To die so pointlessly..."
His comrade, a 5th-class knight, had perished to a surprise attack from what should have been a 6th-class monster. Battles had countless variables, sure, but this was pathetic.
"It's on another level from regular Erymanthian Boars..."
A crushing pressure bore down on him—magi unlike any ordinary boar. As the knight kept his tension high, the two-headed beast charged.
"Sqreeeeaaal!"
Its bellow filled the graveyard, proclaiming this its territory.
Clang!
Boar tusks met knight's blade. Veins bulged on the knight's arms—he was giving it everything.
Gritting his teeth, he shoved the sword deeper into the boar's maw.
"Nngh..."
As the blade inched toward its throat, the knight's face darkened. He'd overlooked something.
'Damn...'
Before he could squint, the second head snapped down on his sword arm.
Crunch!
"Gaaah!"
Agony pierced his bones as he threw his head back. But the boar wasn't done. It twisted clockwise, dragging his arm.
Whoosh. Whoosh.
"Damn it..."
Thud! Thud!
The knight's head slammed into the ground twice, dazing him. Then—
Swoosh—
A black shadow closed in on the boar in a flash. It leaped into the air, swinging a greatsword wreathed in billowing smoke.
Slash!
"Sqreeeeaaal!"
The boar screeched as frigid mist enveloped its neck, splitting it open. The cold smoke blanketed it.
Crackle. Crackle.
In the blink of an eye, the boar froze solid into an ice statue.
"...!"
The knight snapped to his senses and turned toward the shadow.
"This chill..."
His eyes widened like a rabbit's.
'Young Master Bin... Bin!'
The shadow was none other than Bin. The knight couldn't hide his shock. This monster had slain even a 5th-class knight in one blow, yet Bin dispatched it instantly.
'A single strike on an Erymanthian Boar...!'
He'd heard the rumors about Bin but dismissed them. A mid-teen kid? Just hype to glorify Bascon blood.
But seeing this, he realized:
'The rumors might even understate him...'
His gaze fell on Bin's shoulder, where silver epaulets gleamed over his uniform. He understood now—Bin was no longer the Bascon family's foolish young master. He was their supernova, representing the house.
As the knight stared in a daze, Bin spoke.
"You hurt?"
"Th-this is nothing! Young Master Bin—no, Captain!"
Seeing the knight fumble with the unfamiliar title, Bin replied casually.
"Call me whatever feels right if it's awkward."
"No, sir! Captain!"
'Captain, huh...'
Even Bin found the title unfamiliar. But someone relished it more than anyone: Codic.
The skull at Bin's belt had its cheekbones soaring triumphantly.
'Of course! Vermin like you must utter my lord's name properly.'
As Codic smirked contentedly, Bin's expression darkened. He spotted the fallen knight. He'd rushed here at the roar but arrived too late to save him. Seeing a subordinate down soured his mood.
His gaze shifted to the two-headed Erymanthian Boar.
'A Chimera...'
These bizarre creatures had been appearing around Plentel Castle lately. In his past life, he might've chalked it up to mutation. But with his memories intact, Bin knew better. Two possibilities:
One, the monster castle nearby. Two, the Grander family's schemes.
'They're finally making their move.'
He recalled the parchment noting pre-regression events.
'Faster than expected.'
Probably tied to Gangble Grander, their money man, getting hit.
Bin remembered recent Chimera incidents. Silva's injury—a 2nd-class Chimera appeared near the castle. Silva and knights fought the massive beast, but most were wounded. The Grander's plan: scatter Chimeras to weaken Bascon forces before striking.
'Wear us down with Chimeras, then ambush?'
Bin smirked coldly.
'Cheap tricks won't work.'
Steeling himself, he recalled the family mission: exterminate the Erymanthian Boar horde. 180 in total—all beyond 6th-class, many superior. Tough for 100 7th Company knights.
But Bin didn't obsess over numbers.
'A way to sweep the boars clean...'
Step. Step.
Bin started walking with a meaningful expression.
* * *
Plentel Castle outskirts, lowlands.
A long trench came into view, as deep as a grown man's height. 7th Company knights shoveled inside it.
Several days of digging for a boar hunt had some grumbling.
"How long do we keep digging?"
"Can we really trust the captain?"
Then, a chill ran down their backs. Turning cautiously, they faced Fifty Captain Hite. His furrowed brows screamed displeasure.
Hite raised a shovel to their chins.
"So, you're unhappy with the captain's orders?"
The menacing vibe came from Hite's utter faith in Bin post-duel. He despised gripers.
Feeling death's threat, the knights yelped.
"N-no, sir! Fifty Captain!"
They shoveled furiously, eyes on Hite.
* * *
Meanwhile, on higher ground overlooking the lowlands, a massive river flowed. But one oddity: a giant ice wall blocked it—Bin's Shabest at work.
The river swelled like a dammed flood. Below, skeleton soldiers shoveled with eerie clatters, tireless.
Clunk! Clunk!
Creeeak. Creeeak.
Feeling no fatigue, they dug endlessly, faces unchanging. Just silent labor.
Clunk! Clunk!
As shoveling continued, Codic's eye sockets gleamed from Bin's belt, fixed on the swelling river.
"My lord, the river's rising..."
Bin replied calmly.
"Just as planned."
Codic tilted his head at Bin's cryptic words.
"The flooding river?"
"It'll wash away those filthy boars soon enough."
Bin smiled meaningfully at the surging waters.