Monster Extermination

Several months later, Zenith and Lilia gave birth.

Zenith went into labor first.

Because Lilia was pregnant too, they had called in an experienced midwife from the village ahead of time.

Rudeus and Hilde had healing magic ready as well, so basically, even if something dangerous happened, they would be able to handle it.

As if to prove those preparations had been worthwhile, the birth was difficult from the very start.

Even the midwife said the situation was bad.

Fortunately, several people in the house knew how to use healing magic, so in the end, they made it through without any real danger and completed the delivery.

But just as Zenith had finished giving birth, before everyone's hearts had even had time to settle, a look of pain suddenly appeared on Lilia's face.

Premature labor.

It was certainly something no one had expected, but the good news was that no one panicked because of it. Rudeus prepared hot water and clean towels again as fast as he could, Paul helped carry Lilia to the bed, and Hilde quickly chased after the midwife who had just left and called her back.

Compared to Zenith, Lilia's delivery went exceptionally smoothly.

Perhaps because premature labor made the birth easier instead, the child arrived safely in the end. By the time Paul came back to his senses, he had two more daughters.

Lilia's child was named Aisha. Aisha Greyrat.

Zenith's child was named Norn. Norn Greyrat.

The birth of the children also symbolized Lilia officially becoming a member of the family. Not long after the children were born, once Lilia's body had more or less recovered, Paul held a small wedding in the village and announced to everyone his decision to marry Lilia.

A cause for celebration.

Coca-Cola.

After some time passed, Paul suddenly suggested to Rudeus and Hilde that they come take a look at his work.

The two of them were greatly surprised.

Paul was the resident knight of Buena Village. To put it more simply, he was something like the village chief.

He was responsible for mediating when people in the village had conflicts, and for driving away monsters and bandits that appeared near the village. Strictly speaking, the job was not an easy one, but because of Buena Village's geographical location, bandits basically never appeared in the area, and the monsters were within Paul's ability to handle. On top of that, Paul had a lot of prestige. As long as he stepped in, he could usually calm any trouble, so for him, the work was easy.

Naturally, the work Paul invited them to observe was not acting as the village peacemaker, but driving away monsters.

When monsters appeared on the edge of the village, someone would come to report it. Most of the time, it was Sylphy's father—he had always supported Paul's work, and that had not changed even after Sylphy got to know Rudeus.

After receiving the news, Paul mounted his horse, picked up his sword, then lifted Rudeus and Hilde onto the saddle, one in front and one behind, and set off toward the direction where the monsters had appeared.

The Asura Kingdom was located in the western part of the Central Continent. The Red Dragon Mountains to the north and east formed an almost natural defensive barrier, making this land not only blessed with favorable weather and bountiful harvests year after year, but also rarely affected by war. Even the number and level of monsters were very low.

Adventurers from the Asura Kingdom basically chose to develop in other regions once their rank rose to B, and this was precisely why.

Still, though their numbers were few, they did exist.

They were basically divided into two types.

Dog-type monsters that looked similar to Dobermans, the Assault Dogs, and pig-type monsters that walked on two legs but had four arms, the Terminate Boars. A Terminate Boar would act as the leader, bringing large numbers of Assault Dogs out from deep in the forest and surging toward the village.

Both kinds of monsters were only D-rank.

However, because they appeared in groups every time, it would not be excessive to rate them as C-rank or even B-rank.

Generally speaking, when this kind of situation arose, people would either issue a commission to the nearby Adventurers' Guild or request aid from a nearby town. But the former cost money, while the latter wasted a great deal of time, and they would also have to humble themselves before those nobles and beg for help. So Paul chose to go himself.

Because he had the strength to do it.

"Hilde, Rudeus, watch closely."

"Swordsmanship and magic aren't only useful when you're dealing with humans!"

As Paul said that, he carried his sword in one hand and leisurely advanced toward the monsters.

His stance looked so full of openings that it was hard not to worry for him. Was this guy going to get careless just to show off in front of his children, only to fall into danger instead?

That worry vanished completely one second after the battle began.

With an easy, relaxed posture and seemingly casual slashes, it looked as if he merely drew his sword and lifted it slightly, and the monster before him was cut cleanly in two.

It was as if he were not fighting, but using the monsters as targets to demonstrate swordsmanship.

Because that was the extent of the difference in strength between the two sides.

"Did you see that?"

As Paul cut an Assault Dog lunging at him in half through the waist, he shouted to the children behind him, "Dealing with monsters is different from dealing with people. Until you've completely brought them down, you have to guard against a counterattack. And monsters' bodies are much tougher than humans', so remember to use more force and kill them in one blow!"

Hilde watched with complete focus.

Paul was not a swordsman of any single school. He had reached the advanced level in all three major schools, and had already integrated all three schools into one, but in battle, what he used most was still the swordsmanship of the Sword God Style.

After all, when facing opponents far weaker than himself, there was no way he would ever be dragged into a hard fight.

Before long, Paul had cut down all the attacking monsters as easily as chopping melons and vegetables.

In the end, only one Terminate Boar remained, still eyeing Paul like a tiger watching its prey.

"All right..."

Paul let out a long breath.

Then he took a few steps back and looked at Rudeus and Hilde.

"This last one is yours, Rudeus, Hilde."

"Huh? Us?"

"You mean you want us to use this monster to practice fighting monsters, right? No wonder you made a point of telling me to bring the real thing before we left."

As Hilde spoke, she slowly drew the sword from her back.

It was the gift she had received on her fifth birthday—a genuine, sharpened sword that could be used in battle.

It was no peerless divine blade, but it would not break easily, either. The only problem was that its length and weight were not suited for a child.

But Hilde had begun training with this sword a year ago.

Her arm strength was enough for her to use it like an ordinary wooden sword.

When it came to fighting people, she and Paul sparred often.

But fighting a monster really was a first for her.

"Exactly."

As Paul said that, he slowly retreated behind Rudeus and Hilde.

And so the Terminate Boar's gaze fell on Rudeus and Hilde.

"Gulp—"

Rudeus felt as if he could hear the sound of himself swallowing.

Though it was only a D-rank monster, the Terminate Boar was still taller than an adult.

It walked on two legs and had four arms. It was a kind of creature that did not exist on Earth, so there was no way to deal with it using experience from Earth. Its solid muscles gave off an immense pressure that made people instinctively step back.

Still, it was fine.

"No problem."

Hilde said, "Rudeus, use magic to disrupt its movements and cover me. I'll finish it with a Sword God Style technique."

"Are you sure, Hilde?" Rudeus sounded a little nervous.

"There's no chance I'll lose. And Father, please don't step in until I've been completely knocked down," Hilde added immediately after.

"Now that's fighting spirit."

Paul smiled, neither agreeing nor refusing.

"Then I'm going in!"