Riding in the Golden Carriage provided by Yurha, we headed down to the Marquisate of Ludvecia.
As we traveled, the Vermilion Bird Special Class students from the Old School Building, including myself, witnessed a large-scale monster outbreak occurring in the northern part of the marquisate, known as the Demonic Land, through a remote projection.
“As you can see, there is a massive emergence of monsters in the area designated for the special class’s field practice.”
Yurha, with the composure of an operator giving a briefing, explained the situation to us.
“While fieldwork teams generally handle such issues, the current situation is a bit peculiar, so I decided to accompany you.”
“A peculiar situation?”
“Yes, very peculiar.”
Yurha pointed toward the monstrous black wolf-like creatures with a serious expression.
“These monsters are presumed to be a ‘new species’ previously unknown.”
“A new species…?”
“Cutting Wind, do you have any insights or guesses about this?”
She deliberately addressed Ludmila Lionheart by her adventurer name, Cutting Wind. Since Yurha wasn’t participating as a second-year undergraduate, she treated Ludmila as an A-rank hunter.
“Hmm.”
Ludmila, who had shown discomfort at being called by her Academy nickname, displayed no such hesitation now.
“They’re black in color, but they seem to resemble wind-type elemental monsters.”
Instead, she embraced her title as an A-rank hunter, demonstrating her expertise.
“They appear as quadrupedal wolf-like creatures, yet they seem to have a peculiar nature, existing and not existing simultaneously.”
Why was this important?
Because it was a situation demanding the seriousness of an A-rank hunter.
“From their behavior patterns, it seems they can temporarily make themselves ‘invisible’ or perhaps even ‘ethereal.’ Or maybe… Could they be gas-type monsters from the start?”
“Based on observations by C-rank scouts from the Silverstar Hunter Group, they do have a tangible form. However, they appear capable of freely shifting between tangible and intangible states.”
Just as Yurha, representing the Silverstar Group, had to demonstrate her authority, so too did Ludmila, embodying the seasoned Cutting Wind.
“According to the detected grade of their cores, the number of monsters in this outbreak is estimated at around 700. Among them, there’s a giant wolf-like monster, presumed to be A-rank, with a body size of approximately 10 meters.”
“Hmm…”
“Cutting Wind, what do you think?”
“We won’t know for sure until we engage them, but if we aim for a guaranteed victory, we might need S-rank intervention.”
In the worst-case scenario, even Instructor Esta, the White Sword Saint, might need to step in.
“There are two things I don’t understand.”
Ludmila said after glancing at me briefly, raising two fingers.
“In such a dangerous situation, are Phoenix class students being deployed because the buffs provided by Vermilion Bird class students are deemed necessary?”
Her question was valid.
“Yunia, Phoenix, and Evangeline are formidable in their own right. Including me, the four of us are strong enough to take down A-rank monsters. But this is different. These are new species with no established strategies.”
“Exactly. Fighting them without a strategy is incredibly risky.”
“Then why insist on involving us and not canceling the field practice? Is it because one of us is absolutely necessary?”
“Precisely. Especially Phoenix.”
Yurha extended her hand toward me.
“I’ve reviewed Phoenix’s battle records. I saw how you provided mana buffs to Yunia through [physical contact]. I even noted how you supported Evangeline’s puppetry by carrying her.”
“So, you’re saying the situation is dire enough to require buffs for A-rank or even S-rank efforts?”
“Yes… Hmm?”
Yurha tilted her head as she looked at me.
“You seem remarkably calm, Phoenix.”
“It’s only natural. If the Academy has called us for fieldwork, it means the faculty has assessed that, based on our demonstrated abilities, we can survive and return safely.”
After all, no matter how severe the monster outbreak, this was still part of our field practice.
“The Academy doesn’t assign tasks that exceed the students’ capabilities. If they did, it would undermine their educational philosophy.”
“Exactly. The Academy trusts your skills and intends to evaluate how well you assist in containing the monster outbreak.”
Assist.
Meaning we weren’t the main force.
“S-rank Grand Mage Marchioness Ludvecia is there, and the marquisate has many hunters specializing in monster hunting. With them present, the monster outbreak won’t be catastrophic unless we recklessly charge at the new species.”
“I see. Then my second question.”
Ludmila continued, raising her two fingers again toward Yurha.
“Why are you accompanying us?”
“Hmm… It feels like you already know the answer.”
“Answer it anyway.”
“Well, it’s simple.”
Yurha shrugged.
“That land, now called the Demonic Land, belongs to me.”
Ah.
I see.
“Wait a moment. Isn’t that land part of the Marquisate of Ludvecia?”
“I bought it. Paid in full.”
“…What?”
“Although, back then, it was referred to as a barren wasteland where monsters occasionally appeared after the incident 10 years ago. But real estate investment is all about long-term gains.”
A sound judgment.
“…Hard to believe.”
Evangeline muttered, tilting her head as she stared at Yurha.
“Even for the Silverstar, wouldn’t it have been ‘worthless land’ at the time?”
“You’re talking about economic value?”
“Exactly. Silverstar doesn’t invest in unprofitable lands. Unless… you were planning to let Habsderk fall back then and swallow up their estate entirely.”
“….”
“Unless you had knowledge of the future, why would you buy that land? Did you somehow foresee this monster outbreak?”
“That…”
Yurha lowered her head slightly, smiling bitterly.
“I made a promise.”
“A promise?”
“Yes, with someone. To keep trading with them.”
She absentmindedly fidgeted with the empty fourth finger of her left hand and turned her gaze outside the carriage window.
“I promised to engage in a lifelong transaction. To keep that promise, I bought that land. Because people always come back in the end.”
“…”
“That place holds ‘meaning’. While others might say it has no monetary value, to me, it has carried profound significance ever since 10 years ago, back when Ludvecia was still Habsderk.”
Yurha flicked an imaginary gold coin with her fingers, smiling playfully at Evangeline.
“Sometimes, meaning can outweigh dozens or hundreds of gold coins. Don’t you agree, Princess di Ercy?”
“…Hmph.”
Evangeline clicked her tongue softly and turned to gaze out the window.
“…”
As the conversation unfolded, Yunia quietly poked my side.
For the record, inside the carriage, Yunia was nestled in my arms, just like the first time we rode together.
“What’s wrong, Miss Yunia?”
“Um, Phoenix?”
“Yeah, what is it?”
“I was just asking just in case.”
Yunia stared at me and asked.
“Are you a little sleepy right now?”
“…”
“Well, you haven’t said a word and kept listening the entire time. Normally, you’d be chiming in with all sorts of comments…”
“Hm, caught me.”
To be honest…
“I was thinking it might be okay to take a short nap during the ride, but I didn’t want to interrupt the conversation.”
There was a reason I needed to get some rest.
“Unless there’s an attack, we’ll arrive at the Marquisate of Ludvecia around 5 a.m.”
Instructor Esta announced from the coachman’s seat.
“I’ll keep watch, so rest well until we get there.”
“Are you sure, Instructor?”
“I woke up three hours ago. This is daytime for me.”
Not exactly a lie.
At S-rank level, adjusting your body’s rhythm within a single day wasn’t much of a challenge.
“In that case, I’ll excuse myself for a while.”
I closed my eyes quietly.
The carriage didn’t jolt much, so I sank deep into the seat, letting my consciousness drift.
“Wait, seriously…?”
“…”
There was much to discuss, but the details about the monster outbreak could wait until we arrived. Then, the situation would likely be explained as part of a “quest briefing”.
What was more pressing now was understanding the cause of the outbreak—its instigator, with whom I would soon have to converse.
…
…
…
Within my consciousness, I met it.
“My, my. You’ve come to see me already, nyah?”
Fenrir of the Wind.
The root cause of the monster outbreak in the northern Demonic Land of Ludvecia.
“Ah, just to be clear, I did nothing wrong, nyah.”
Before I could say a word, Fenrir—Kim Fenrir—proclaimed her innocence.
“It’s the Angels who are the bad ones, nyah.”
“…I see.”
The angels are to blame.
“For now, shall we set up a [Simulated Battlefield]?”
“As much as you want!”
Whoooosh.
The wind blew.
Amid the black wolves formed of wind, Kim Fenrir and I created a simulated battlefield within the realm of our consciousness.
“This field is constructed based on the magic image Yurha Silverstar showed earlier, nyah. There may be differences from reality, so keep that in mind.”
“Of course. I didn’t ask you to recreate it perfectly anyway; I just wanted to get a sense of the terrain.”
I extended my hand toward the snarling black wolf, its sharp fangs bared.
Swish.
Reaching into the black smoke-like space, the wolf’s form dissipated.
“As expected.”
While this was a space constructed from my memory, its manifestation wasn’t solely influenced by me.
“Did one of your followers awaken?”
“No, that’s not the case, nyah. Anywhere else, perhaps, but here… this place already had [Rattatosk], nyah.”
“If that’s the case, then these wolves…”
“They’re likely monsters with wind attributes that Rattatosk devoured or killed, nyah. And now, in this space, untouched by the ‘Heavenly Authority’, they are transforming to regain their true forms, nyah.”
Kim Fenrir stretched her hand toward the black wolf.
