Purging the Monster Forest
“We’ve arrived.”
“Hm? Oh.”
At the knight’s words, I lifted my head. And I narrowed my eyes at the scene unfolding before me.
The forest where the monsters lived still exuded a gloomy aura. Even though winter hadn’t arrived yet, the uninhabited woods held not a shred of warmth. The trees were parched and dry, and most of the brown leaves had fallen, rolling across the ground.
We reined in our horses before the eerie monster habitat.
“Halt.”
At my single command, the advancing soldiers all froze in place.
I turned to look behind me. Dozens of knights and private soldiers stood in formation, following me. Their faces were impassive, but they clearly stared at me with tension etched in every line.
Some of the knights here were accustomed to battling monsters, but others were not. Even I had only fought briefly while rescuing those children.
Yet I wasn’t particularly tense. I possessed the dragon’s power, and I trusted without a doubt that Pel at my side would protect me.
“Listen up, everyone.”
In the quiet, my voice rang out clearly.
“From today onward, we will eliminate every last monster in this forest. It’ll be a grueling process, but I believe the valiant knights of Carpoem are more than capable of seeing it through.”
This was the cleanup operation before establishing the forward base. The border count had shirked his duties, letting the monster population explode beyond expectations. That was why the Bellio Knights’ hunter roundups were running late. To get the outpost construction underway as soon as possible, we’d prioritized clearing the designated zones first.
“Advance!”
After halting the horses and straightening our ranks, we plunged into the forest.
Soon, I sensed the monsters’ presence. I slowly drew my sword.
“…Grammen.”
The culprit behind the forest’s sickly pallor appeared. Just as Xavier had described, the monster called a Grammen resembled a massive plant. It looked much like the plant-type monsters I’d seen in games. It parasitized trees, hunting any humans or animals that passed by to feed itself. Because of these things, the once-lush forest had fallen ill. To secure the resources we’d need for the work ahead, we had to wipe them all out.
“Don’t get close—stay vigilant! Knights who can wield aura, take them down!”
A Grammen’s tentacles didn’t have much reach. If a few drew its eyes, it was easy pickings. Just as we’d trained, we repelled every Grammen we spotted.
Then, disaster struck without warning.
“Uwaaa!”
A soldier on watch was yanked away by a Grammen’s tentacle. It was a small specimen—no one had noticed the ambush.
I charged forward at once, swinging my sword to sever the tentacle.
“Kieeeek!”
The monster’s agonized screech echoed through the forest.
I glanced back and asked, “You okay?”
“Y-yes. Thank you, milady.”
The soldier bowed his head, clutching the foot the tentacle had grazed. Something on it must have been nasty—his pants were shredded to rags.
“Fall back and get that treated.”
We’d already finished off the Grammen that attacked him, but trouble lingered. The forest was trembling from that fresh scream. Other monsters would catch wind soon enough and come swarming.
“The energy feels off.”
“Hm.”
Jade muttered beside me. Something was thumping toward us—heavy footsteps shaking the ground.
“Regroup!”
The knights and soldiers, who’d faltered for a moment, rushed to form up around me. I gripped my drawn sword tight.
[Seems like the strongest one nearby.]
“Yeah?”
Pel sidled up beside me with the warning. A growl rumbled from his jaws, mirroring my rising tension.
I shot Ian a glance.
“Grooo!”
The massive monster revealed itself—and hurled a rotten tree right at us.
Pak!
Ian’s aura blast turned it into an explosion of splinters. Pel barreled through the debris, lunging straight for the beast.
“Kraaak! Kraaa!”
Monster and wolf tangled in a frenzy of fangs and claws. A dire wolf’s teeth could chew through steel. But they couldn’t even nick this thing’s hide.
Tension knotted my gut as I raised my voice. “Aura knights, up front!”
Monsters emerged from every direction at once.
“Too many!”
“…Tch!”
Bear-like behemoths ringed us. The first giant bellowed a roar.
“Groooar!”
“…That damn bear.”
Irritation boiled over in me. As if on cue, my heart thundered. Thump-thump—raw power pumped through my veins. A whisper slithered into my ear.
Clear them all away.
You can do it.
My vision flushed crimson. My sword ignited in red flames.
“Everyone, back!”
I hoisted high the blade sheathed in dark crimson aura. The hulking monster locked eyes on me and charged. My body burned like an inferno. With a shout, I swung for its core.
“Haat!”
Boom!
The shockwave quaked the earth. The mortally wounded beast crumpled slowly.
“Krk… kruk…”
“Hah… haah.”
With the leader down, nothing but disorganized rabble remained. Jade shook off his daze and bellowed.
“Swords up! Annihilate them!”
“Yes, sir!”
The brutal melee finally showed signs of turning.
* * *
“You know why I summoned you, don’t you?”
Michael nodded before the emperor, who wore a deliberately stern expression.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
It was his first audience with the emperor since returning from the northern Magic Festival. He’d dodged several summons in the interim, citing academy studies.
The emperor sighed at Michael’s calm demeanor.
“I fear I’ve placed too heavy a burden on you these past months.”
“……”
The duke’s announcement of his daughter as sub-duke at the Magic Festival had stunned even the imperial court. Who could have guessed he’d name the infamous villainess his heir? And the northern vassals, expected to rebel, had accepted Abigail.
This was no good at all.
“The duke keeps demanding the engagement’s annulment.”
“……”
“At this rate, we may have no choice but to grant it.”
Rumors of the duke’s recovery were rampant. The ducal house, which had lain coiled and dormant, was finally stretching its limbs. They couldn’t afford to watch idly. If Abigail proved lacking, the house would crumble soon enough. But if she didn’t…?
Anxiety tightened around the emperor’s throat.
Michael spoke, eyeing the emperor’s stress-induced gastritis.
“Your Majesty, I won’t annul the engagement.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Even if she’s sub-duke now, that’s no reason to break it off. The Carpoems’ unilateral demand is unjust.”
“Hm.”
The emperor nodded at Michael’s words. No matter their autonomy, trying to unilaterally dissolve a formal betrothal was arrogant. The throne held veto power aplenty.
Satisfied with Michael’s unexpectedly firm stance, the emperor smiled.
“Indeed. Unjust, even for a ducal house.”
It even felt like an opportunity. If Abigail inherited intact, the entire duchy might fall into imperial hands. To that end, he’d wed her to Michael by any means.
Resolve hardened in the emperor’s eyes.
“And I recommend Duke Carpoem for the vacant prime minister position.”
“Prime minister?”
Prime Minister Ather Marquis had vanished after the Magic Festival. An important noble who’d worn that hat—but somehow, the emperor and Michael’s memories of him were hazy. Unaware of anything amiss, they continued.
“…True, the seat opened suddenly. But didn’t the duke resign due to illness?”
“Recovery rumors are everywhere. Recommend him before he can confirm it publicly. He’ll have no grounds to refuse.”
The post had always been the duke’s by right. The interim holder had been woefully inadequate.
[The prime minister must be the duke. I hope he returns once recovered.]
Plant such seeds, and when the duke announced his health for full activity, refusal would grow awkward.
Impressed by Michael’s acumen, the emperor nodded.
“Yes, a sound plan.”
“With the duke close at hand, blocking the annulment will be far easier.”
The duke was no pushover, of course—but better than persuading Abigail.
Michael recalled his last glimpse of his fiancée: clad in black uniform, staring him down with unflinching confidence.
The crown prince, who’d wanted for nothing, felt possessive hunger for the first time. He’d never dreamed it would be the woman he’d loathed for years.
But I’ve realized it now.
Having acknowledged the heart he’d long denied, Michael couldn’t hold back. If she tried slipping his grasp, he’d only bind her tighter.
His icy blue eyes burned with resolve.
* * *
“Haa… haa…”
I stood atop blood-drenched earth, heaving ragged breaths. We’d repelled wave after endless wave of monsters. I’d overtaxed the dragon’s power—my limbs felt like lead.
[Master, are you all right?]
“…Yeah.”
I wiped the streaming sweat from my brow and flashed a grin. The acrid stench of burning monster corpses stung my nose. We had to clear the forest before sunset.
I scanned about for someone.
“Ian!”
“…My lord.”
Ian emerged through the smoke, his face splattered with monster blood, and approached me.
“No injuries?”
“Ian is unharmed.”
As my guardian, he’d never left my side during the fight. If he’d been hurt, my own life would’ve hung by a thread.
“Glad we made it through intact.”
“…Yes.”
My first real monster skirmish had been chaos amid the child rescue. Today felt like a true victory. Especially felling that colossal beast in one stroke—the thrill still lingered.
“My lord! Your hand…”
“Hm?”
Ian’s gaze fixed on the hand I’d used to brush back my hair. Puzzled, I looked down. A long gash marred the back.
“Oh, just a scratch, I guess?”
I gave an awkward smile and reached to wipe the blood—when Ian gently cradled the wounded hand in both of his.
“…Ian?”
“……”
His grave expression made me flush with embarrassment. It wasn’t that serious a wound.
I froze solid, unable even to pull away.
“Ian apologizes. Ian should have guarded you more surely…”
His quiet murmur carried utter desolation, thick with guilt.
I stared at him a beat—then burst into helpless laughter.