The midnight forest was quiet.
It surrounded the remote orphanage. Occasionally, herbalists from nearby villages would come, but there were no audacious villagers wandering through the forest at night.
This was because monsters lived in this forest. The activity of these creatures was more vigorous at night when Omeros’s whispers grew stronger than during the day when Arus’s grace lit the ground.
In other words, it meant that the likelihood of encountering these monsters increased.
Exploring the forest during the day required risking one’s life, so it was rare for anyone to brave even greater dangers by traversing the woods at night.
If there were any exceptions to this rule, the purpose of such visits would also have to be exceptional.
For example, perhaps for the country.
My goal was not for gathering or hunting. Rather, I sought to meet monsters. That was the reason I had come to the forest.
There was only one thing I desired.
Revenge—specifically, to return the pain inflicted by the monster that had made a new hole in my body.
The leader monster would only reveal itself once a month at most. I had once heard from Guildford that he had never even encountered it in the forest.
Thus, the probability of discovering the leader monster in the forest tonight was low.
However, the characteristic of monster transformation was that similar beings mutated into monsters all at once.
Given that the monsters of the forest were based on monkeys, it seemed clear that they had some connection to the leader.
I had come to investigate that point. In doing so, I would likely uncover a clue and ultimately confront the monkey monster that had attacked Senior Elsi.
My objective was thus clear. Nevertheless, today’s exploration was rather sluggish.
This was due to my companion’s lack of enthusiasm. After all, I had effectively dragged her out here against her will.
I glanced back. There, I saw her dazzling golden hair.
Her prominent nose, slender jawline, and porcelain skin entered my field of vision one after another. She was a Northern beauty with an almost painted appearance. In her haughty eyes, crimson pupils glistened like jewels.
It was Senior Delphine. The heir of the Yuridina Clan, one of the five noble families of the Empire, and the top of her fourth year in the Academy swordsmanship department.
She lacked nothing in terms of strength, power, or wealth.
In fact, this was not a request that matched her status. Working on menial tasks at the orphanage, and chasing after monkey monsters in the forest?
Perhaps that was why Senior Delphine seemed particularly unmotivated. Even while walking through the forest with me, she kept glancing at me rather than being vigilant of her surroundings.
She was exhibiting a strangely tense demeanor.
Eventually, I came to a stop with a sigh. Delphine flinched.
As my body turned, her crimson eyes began to lose focus. Her trembling gaze quickly fell to the ground.
Stammering, Senior Delphine broke the stillness of the forest with her melodic voice.
“Wh-why, why, why… w-we’re supposed to be… just the two of us…”
It was an oddly formal way of speaking. I stared at Senior Delphine for a moment without saying anything. Even that seemed to make her shoulders quiver.
It appeared she was still filled with fear. I wasn’t sure how much she had endured, but the once proud Senior Delphine was reacting this way.
I felt she must have received at least a few axe blows to the shoulder. Of course, a suitable degree of fear could help control someone as reckless as Senior Delphine, but if it was too excessive, it would become a problem.
To reassure her, I said nonchalantly, “I’m here to catch monsters.”
However, despite my straightforward answer, Senior Delphine still wore a skeptical expression.
Her fear-filled crimson gaze seemed to be asking, “The monster you came to catch isn’t me, is it?”
That was an absurd accusation. I swallowed a laugh and shook my head.
“…It’s true. Or did you expect me to go into battle with a hand axe? Am I some kind of ‘hand axe murderer’?”
Senior Delphine’s complexion went pale all at once.
Even though she had already been pale, the loss of color made her look even whiter. The frantic fluttering of her pupils was getting quicker.
It seemed I had struck a chord. It was a moment that revealed just how she perceived me.
I felt a bit wronged. What had happened last time when I had poked her shoulder was one thing, but that was right after she had been ambushed.
As for what happened afterward, I knew nothing. Whatever ‘me’ from the future had done to Senior Delphine, why should I be the one to handle the aftermath?
I let out a sigh of lament but had no choice. My only consolation was that at least I had gained a strong ally in Senior Delphine because of it.
With my mind calmed, I tried to turn my body again. The click of my tongue was an additional sound. I figured that talking any more would only provoke Senior Delphine’s fears.
It was a natural action, devoid of any malice.
Yet, at that moment, Senior Delphine suddenly collapsed and screamed.
“Eeeeeek! I-I was wrong! P-please, not the minced meat…!”
I could only be dumbstruck as I had simply aimed to turn away. Senior Delphine had crunched down, pulling her head into her arms.
As if she thought I would deliver an axe blow to her.
However, after a while of not feeling any pain, she slowly lifted her head. Our eyes met as I stood there motionless.
“…What are you doing?”
My question, thrown with a sense of incredulity, seemed to make Senior Delphine’s gaze go blank.
It was as if she was questioning why I was standing there doing nothing. I couldn’t help but chuckle at the absurdity.
“Are you perhaps trying to lure a monster?”
“…Y-yes! Th-that’s right, yes.”
Unable to admit she was scared of a junior, Senior Delphine awkwardly gathered her composure and stood up.
Her movements were cautious. Still, she continually glanced at me, as if verifying my intentions.
It seemed she still had difficulty believing my pure purpose. There aren’t many nobles who, like me, detest violence, yet Senior Delphine really had a poor eye for people.
I resumed my steps, my feet crunching through the brush. After a moment’s hesitation, Senior Delphine followed closely behind me.
“Whereabouts did you encounter the monkey monster in the forest?”
“W-well, if we go a bit farther than this….”
Senior Delphine trailed off, then asked in a voice that still held a hint of anxiety, “…Are you really here just to catch monsters?”
“I told you so, didn’t I?”
“But why just the two of us?”
“Celin and Ceria are probably busy taking care of each other, and Reto wouldn’t be of any help in battle. Lady Virgin Saint would clearly whine about going into battle again… so it’s just you, Senior Delphine.”
Upon hearing my unimpeded response, it seemed Senior Delphine was beginning to trust my words. Still, she held onto a sliver of doubt until the end, which was very much in character for her.
“…What about Elsi?”
“Because you wouldn’t like it.”
Silence ensued, and Senior Delphine chose not to argue, sealing her lips.
The moonlight pouring into the forest made it serene. Not even the sound of insects could be heard. I had previously found such strange silence burdensome, but I had come to realize it meant something on a certain day.
It was an omen that monsters were approaching. My hand moved towards my waist.
It seemed Senior Delphine still had not calmed her mind. A complex array of emotions flickered in her crimson gaze.
I casually glanced back and asked in an indifferent voice.
“Why do you dislike Senior Elsi so much? It doesn’t seem like there’s any real reason for you two to clash.”
At the mention of Senior Elsi, Delphine let out a huff. By now, she had regained her usual haughty demeanor.
“…Elsi Rainelle? Ha, who would like that brat with such a horrible personality?”
Though Senior Delphine had the same bad personality, I swallowed my words before I could speak them.
“There’s no reason for me to like someone who challenges me in the first place. I absolutely detest competitive people. They always try to beat me…”
Seemingly pleased to continue her thoughts, Senior Delphine soon trailed off.
The crimson light in her eyes dimmed. I gripped the hilt of my sword in silence, and so did Senior Delphine.
“How many are there?”
“…Thirteen.”
I had sensed the signs first, but it seemed that Senior Delphine was better at detecting their exact presence. Closing my eyes and focusing on my senses, I confirmed that her words were indeed accurate.
One by one, the shadows began to stealthily glide up trees without a sound.
Soon, the shining blue pupils were revealed among the branches around us.
The presence was faint. If I hadn’t known in advance, I probably wouldn’t have noticed them. It was a characteristic of the previous leader monkey monster as well.
The connection between the monsters of the forest and the leader monster seemed increasingly likely. I asked one last question to Senior Delphine.
“Was the place where the monkey monster appeared last time around here?”
“…I think it sounds like that.”
For now, the monkeys were merely glaring at Senior Delphine and me. Normally, monsters would reveal their ferocity the moment they spotted a human, making this a rather rare occurrence.
As I pondered for a moment, I took another step forward out of curiosity.
Immediately, two new figures sprang forth like beams of light.
They were the monkey monsters that had been lurking around me. Their sharp claws glittered as they reflected the moonlight.
In a split second, the monkeys were using the elasticity of their muscles to the fullest.
It might have been dangerous in the past. Their speed was at a level that could compare with a fair number of high-ranking monsters. But I was different now.
Since consuming ‘Dragon’s Blood’, my amount of magical power had increased exponentially.
My sword cut through the air like lightning.
The silver line immediately severed the approaching monkey monster in two. It was the moment lightning met light. Time began to feel slow, as if suspended.
One monkey monster still came flying from my side. I attempted to follow up with my sword, but an unexpectedly strong resistance made my eyes dart back to the front.
There, a monkey monster smiled gruesomely, its body already cut in half at the waist.
It looked as if it were going to spew blood from its mouth, yet it clutched its severed body part with both arms.
It was a bizarre scene. It wasn’t a normal reaction, even for a monster. But I had no time to contemplate.
The monkey monster that had been approaching from my side was now mere inches away. It wore a victor’s smile, believing it had found a chink in my defenses.
However, the next moment.
With a crack, the sound of a skull shattering echoed, and blood and brains splattered everywhere.
The monkey’s eyes bulged wide open. Yet, without realizing what had just smashed its brain, the monster fell lifelessly.
It was a hand axe. The moment my sword was seized, I disposed of it without hesitation and grabbed the hand axe.
The exhilarating sensation of crushing a skull made my breath quicken. My lips twisted into a grin.
“…There are eleven left.”
With that signal, eleven shadows surged forth. Their target was singular: the one who had taken the lives of two of their comrades.
That was me.
Even though facing eleven was somewhat daunting, there was no need for concern. I had a solid ally backing me up.
My eyes, filled with anticipation, turned to Senior Delphine.
“Eeeeeek! P-please stop! I-I messed up! P-please… I don’t want to lose my sword… I promise I won’t rebel again! I’ll kneel as you tell me to, and do exactly what you say…!”
I was soon left bewildered.
Senior Delphine lay prostrate on the ground, trembling and rambling incoherently.
Anyone could see that she was in no condition to fight. So, a careless remark slipped from my lips.
“…What the hell.”
I hurriedly threw myself, grabbing my previously dropped sword. The chilling knife-like claws created a tense space around me.
And the sharp edges grazed my skin just barely.
I had no choice but to resolve that I would definitely punish Senior Delphine after this battle.
As always, my fights never went smoothly.
