「”Chaos of the Great Forest” completed!」
「You have achieved the feat of defeating a Dominator-class monster alone!」
「You have obtained the title, “Dominator of the Great Forest”!」
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[Dominator of the Great Forest]
Evidence of ruling over the monsters of the Great Forest.
A living symbol of one of only seven calamities.
Your presence shall instill instinctive fear.
Your name shall remain recorded in the annals of history, possibly spreading beyond the Great Forest to the end of the continent…
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「For completely neutralizing the threat, you will receive additional rewards!」
The status window was in quite an uproar.
The continuous messages showed no sign of stopping.
I did accomplish something extraordinary after all.
Unlike usual, Rena agreed with the commotion in the status window.
The corpse of the Python was as massive as a mountain.
What a struggle it was just to take this thing down.
Though, come to think of it, I had more fun than it being all that troublesome.
Still, if it weren’t for me, who would have stopped this beast?
Just one battle and the area was left in shambles.
The places scorched by its breath attack were coated with toxic substances, making it doubtful if recovery was even possible.
Still, the area will likely adapt again.
It will be paradise for creatures that carry venom sacs in their bodies.
In any case, this was an incredibly formidable opponent.
Rena accepted the ringing alarm from the status window like the cheers of an audience, but only for a short while.
Ugh, it’s hurting my eyes.
Without realizing it, Rena moved her hand and became aware that she was holding something.
“Oh, this. I vaguely remember taking something from inside.”
This was something she found while tearing through the Python’s insides, in the midst of the chaos.
In the heat of the action, she didn’t take the time to confirm exactly what it was but grabbed it, thinking it looked like a gem.
Rena read the glowing name above the round object.
“Core of the Monster Snake?”
It was said that ancient beings who lived for long years crystallized life force as proof of their existence.
It wasn’t specific to martial arts stories—there was the nine-tailed fox’s pearl, the dragon’s wish-granting jewel, and the relics of virtuous monks.
Since this was a fantasy world, it wasn’t strange that the snake, whose age was likely several hundred years, possessed one.
“How do I use this thing and still earn commendation?”
Rena was the type who’d snatch the fruit off the top of a cake first or enjoy anything tasty right away.
She claimed it was better to indulge now than regret later.
Having found the core, it was only natural to swallow it immediately.
However, she hesitated.
Certainly, eating it would grant her some extraordinary power, and that was the problem.
The shimmering scales alone offered satisfying abilities.
Its breath attack was majestic, with potent firepower.
But what if it just made her grow larger?
Would that not complicate daily life?
Besides, the core was the essence of life, basically the combination of the Python’s bones and flesh.
She had rejoiced at the thought of brewing medicine from this core, but the thought of processing the entire mass became daunting.
Like being too tired after work to do anything, the post-battle fatigue made her question whether this endeavor was necessary.
Why not just distill the core into some potent liquor and have it easier?
Just as she was pondering, fate intervened.
“Huh…”
As the wind blew, the massive corpse of the Python crumbled into dust and dispersed.
It vanished so quickly it seemed as if someone blinked.
They said the core was life essence.
Without it, the shell-like body disintegrated.
“Good, then I’ll ferment the core and enjoy it.”
It was a little regrettable.
The corpse could’ve been enough to host village feasts for days, far more than she could eat alone.
But Rena wasn’t short of provisions either.
By eliminating one option, it turned out well for her.
Kruuuuug!
“Baduki!”
Suddenly, Baduki emerged as if from the shadows.
His tail swayed gently, and his fur was drooped, clearly showing worry in his expression.
It was genuine.
There was no way he avoided the battle to escape blame.
Rena herself did not want Baduki to fight.
His presence would’ve been heartfelt but distracting and possibly dangerous.
With an unwavering smile, Rena greeted Baduki warmly.
“Are you alright? Good, come closer. Closer! Alright, kneel there. Stop.”
Clever of him.
He appeared at just the right moment.
Rena fell toward Baduki.
Kek!
Surprised, Baduki jumped.
Before he could react fully, he noticed that Rena’s body was completely limp, her strength drained.
“I just need a short nap.”
Her voice was soft, like the dying embers of a fire.
The fur on her back was soaked with blood, and the smell was heavy.
Baduki realized her condition was far from normal.
She’d faced and won against a Dominator-class monster.
Her body couldn’t be unscathed.
He shouldn’t leave her here.
Baduki moved swiftly, suppressing any trembling in his body.
“Level-up points have reached the threshold for presenting new options!”
While Rena fell asleep, slipping into her inner world to prepare for the next class change.
It was her fault for not explaining.
*
“Ugh…”
The female knight moved her limbs.
Something was bothering her, but the bed was too small to bear her tossing and turning.
When she flipped over, “Clonk!”
Her eyes shot open.
“Who’s there!”
In her mind’s eye, she spun and drew her sword with grace and precision.
Reality was a different story.
Her movements were more like a squirming insect trapped in a spider’s web.
“Why is this…?”
She blushed.
Why wasn’t her body responding?
Looking down, she was horrified.
“Ahhh!”
Her entire body was covered in an unknown green substance.
The memory of her situation before losing consciousness came back.
She fought off a horde of Lizardmen, tried to escape, encountered their leader, and was defeated.
So, this was a Lizardmen village?
If not killed and instead encased in this mysterious semi-solid substance, it must be preparation…
To be cooked with elaborate care since they already caught their prey.
Her eyes sharpened.
This was an opportunity.
Escape while they’ve relaxed their guard.
Humiliation was temporary; revenge could come later.
Her priority was survival…
“Hmm?”
But she halted.
Something was off.
This place didn’t seem like just a monster’s storage area for food.
The environment was neat, with furniture like beds and drawers… There was evidence of definite living space.
Though somewhat crude in places, it was surprisingly well-made considering the monster’s craftsmanship.
The surrounding auras also raised doubts.
Too quiet.
If this was a Lizardmen village, it should’ve been bustling.
No, even beyond that, this was deep within the Great Forest—the gateway to disaster.
The absence of monster auras was distinctly unusual.
“Could it be…”
This wasn’t the Great Forest?
Surely, her colleagues wouldn’t rescue her, and if she’d been saved by the knight order,
Then this green coating on her body was likely ointment.
Thinking about it, her physical condition did feel slowly improving.
It wasn’t just a feeling; it was real.
A knight’s job is to train the body, being aware of one’s physical state is fundamental.
Just as she was calming down,
She saw a shadow through the broken door in the breeze.
It was a massive wolf.
Its pitch-black fur was soft and lustrous, and its sharp gaze radiated an intimidating charisma.
The overwhelming aura felt unnerving.
She instinctively knew she couldn’t beat such a monstrosity at her current level.
At least not less than the leader of the Lizardmen.
Now she understood why no other monster auras were detectable.
This wolf likely dominated this territory, having taken her as prey from the Lizardmen.
This was critical.
But the knight didn’t give up.
She moved her body toward her sword by the bed.
Between the wolf’s blood-streaked jaws was a frail girl, still alive.
She must be saved.
The fleeting thought of prioritizing her own life vanished.
A knight rescuing people and eliminating monsters was her duty.
With a clatter, the sword fell, and she realized she was covered in the green substance.
Her over-optimistic hopes had led to this mistake.
But freeing herself must take priority!
“Uhk!”
The knight wriggled on the ground.
Using superhuman concentration, she managed to stand upright despite the difficulties.
Even if she was about to die, her movements might wake the girl and give her a chance to escape.
Just as she was about to leap with determination,
The wolf’s movements stopped her.
It dropped its jaws, letting the girl fall gently.
Then, it carried over a jar and poured its contents over the girl’s body.
“?!”
The substance looked identical to what coated her own body.
