Monsters and Overlords

"I don't know. This land is far too unfamiliar to us, and that's all the information I have."

Under Aurelian's gaze, Jeanne's handsome face flushed slightly. Perhaps she was embarrassed.

"I see. It looks like we'll have to find the Child of Frost ourselves to learn the answer."

The group had already entered the depths of Spruce Forest. Sheets of ice, as white as paper, had formed across the exposed ground.

The strange temperature had dropped even further.

Fortunately, though, sparse rays of light still filtered down through gaps in the canopy overhead.

Light and darkness mingled in an eerie combination, forming a strange picture.

The temperature was dropping rapidly in the depths of Spruce Forest, which had taken Aurelian and Master by surprise.

They hadn't worn enough layers beneath their armor, and the strange cold was already slowing them down.

The magic within them couldn't ward off the bizarre chill.

"Let's stop and light a fire to warm up. We won't be able to handle dangerous monsters in our current condition."

Aurelian gave the order. As the leader, he had to make the best decisions. Otherwise, they'd only be walking to their deaths.

Five fires sprang up among the firewood they had gathered, quickly growing larger.

Aurelian, Jeanne, and Master sat in a circle. The flames blazed before them, raising their body temperatures.

"We're already deep in Spruce Forest, and the danger is increasing rapidly. This strange cold is proof of that. I'm worried that even more dangerous things await us farther in, so we'll have to reconsider our plans."

Aurelian's expression grew grave as he spoke to the two beside him.

"My lord, don't worry. Even if danger comes, I and your knights will stand between you and it. That's our duty as knights."

"No, Master. Such a sacrifice would be meaningless. You and the other knights must all make it back in one piece."

Aurelian shook his head, clearly disapproving of Master's suggestion.

After all, every knight by his side was a precious asset. How could he let them fall here? It would make his heart bleed.

"This... My lord, you really are a little different."

Master wasn't sure how to respond. Aurelian's words had truly upended his impression of him.

Didn't nobles love using their knights as cannon fodder?

Nobles were proud, after all. They disdained getting personally involved, even when they were much stronger than their knights.

"Thanks for the compliment. I also think I'm different from those parasitic nobles."

Aurelian shamelessly accepted Master's words.

Master's mouth twitched, and he gave up arguing with Aurelian.

While Aurelian and Master were chatting, Jeanne, who had been sitting silently nearby, suddenly sharpened her gaze and gripped the hilt of the cross-shaped sword at her side.

Her movement naturally caught their attention. They had been on alert the whole time.

"What is it, Jeanne?" Aurelian asked hastily.

Jeanne didn't answer. She merely turned her gaze in one direction.

Aurelian and Master followed her line of sight. It pointed toward the way they had come.

There were towering spruces, low shrubs, and grass, but nothing else.

"It's quiet here," Jeanne said, her voice cold and unreadable.

Quiet?

Aurelian suddenly realized it. Yes, everything had been far too quiet since they arrived, as if they were the only ones left in the world.

This forest was vast. Even if there weren't many beasts, there should still have been signs of life, like the calls of birds and insects.

It was as if everything had been frozen in place—or had all gone into hiding, waiting for prey to venture deeper and gradually take the bait.

"Something's hunting us, and we're the prey?"

"My lord, should we leave? What if an Overlord is lurking here?" Master asked from beside him, his eyes filled with concern.

Once monsters reached Lower Rank, people called them Overlords. They could gather the beasts and weaker monsters around them into a pack, and powerful Overlords could even raise a bestial tide like a flood.

Monsters of the same rank were far stronger than tiny humans. It was a natural advantage of their species. Still, there were always monsters and geniuses in the world who could fight a monster of the same rank alone. For example, Aurelian's sister Fiona had the terrifying strength to duel a Source Gathering Rank monster—even before she had reached the Lower Rank of magic.

"Too late," Jeanne said gravely. She had already drawn her silver longsword, which bore a cross-shaped guard. Its blade gave off a metallic shiver that chilled the heart.

A low growl rang out. Pair after pair of red eyes appeared in the dark forest, surrounding Aurelian and the others.

"Damn it! We're ambushed! Everyone, mount up and prepare to fight!"

Seeing the scene, Master shouted at the knights who were still warming themselves by the fire. They leaped to their feet and drew their swords, their murderous intent spreading through the air.

They were the kingdom's elite knights. Obedience had long since become instinct.

"Darwin, take four men and hold the front. Thomas, take four men to the left. Tom, take men to the right as well. Russell, stay here with the rest and protect my lord!"

Master expertly assigned the tasks to his lieutenants, then turned to Aurelian. After all, the duke had the final say.

His force consisted of four knight squads. Darwin led the first squad and also served as his deputy. Thomas, Tom, and Russell commanded the other three.

"They think they've surrounded their prey? Let's see if these monsters can even bite through us. Master, keep the knights in formation. I've heard Star Knights are the best at hunting monsters."

"No problem, my lord. It's the honor of the Star Knights," Master promised.

Amid the low growls, streaks of black darted about before suddenly lunging at the knights in front.

Flesh slammed against metal. A silver-armored knight raised the shield in his left hand and blocked the blow, knocking the shadow to the ground. A knight beside him had already drawn his sword and cut off its head.

The movements flowed smoothly, as if they had repeated them countless times.

At last, they could see what the shadow was: a wolf with a pitch-black body, sharp fangs and claws, and blood-red eyes. Now, though, its head had been severed.