"Get ready, everyone. It's a low-tier monster."
Wiliam's calm but firm voice echoed through the forest. The moment his words fell, the atmosphere changed. What had once been a peaceful stretch of trees became a battlefield.
Aestra and Elera stood slightly behind the formation, watching from afar. Officially, they were observers. To the eyes of the team—and more importantly, to the king—they were still unawakened. Two children with potential, yes, but far too weak to take part in real combat.
If only they knew.
The monster burst from the undergrowth with a deafening roar. It resembled a tiger, but its size alone placed it far beyond any natural beast. Its muscles were unnaturally dense, claws long and curved like blades, teeth protruding even when its mouth was closed.
It lunged.
Its target was Fanny.
The swordsman reacted instantly. She pushed off the ground and leapt backward, narrowly avoiding the swipe of the monster's claws. The force of the attack split the soil where she had stood just a moment earlier.
"Tch," she clicked her tongue, landing lightly. "Wiliam. Stop it when it jumps again. I'll finish it."
Wiliam nodded without hesitation. He raised his staff slightly, eyes sharp, already calculating timing and distance.
The monster snarled, clearly frustrated that its first attack had failed. Its legs tensed, muscles coiling—
—and it jumped again, faster this time.
"Now," Wiliam said calmly.
"ICE CHAINS."
Blue magic surged forward, crystallizing midair. Chains of ice wrapped around the monster's limbs and torso, freezing it in place while it was still airborne. Frost spread rapidly across its body, halting all movement.
Fanny didn't waste a single second.
She dashed forward, sword drawn in one clean motion, and with a precise strike, severed the monster's head. The massive body hit the ground with a heavy thud, and the ice shattered into glittering fragments that melted away moments later.
Silence followed.
Fanny wiped her blade and turned toward Aestra and Elera.
"When we kill a monster," she explained, "we harvest useful parts. Claws, fangs, skin. They can be crafted into weapons or armor."
"Or sold," Ania added with a smile. "Monster materials are valuable."
Aestra nodded, storing the information away. He already knew this from the novel, but seeing it in reality made it feel different—more brutal, more real.
The hunt continued.
They encountered more monsters as they ventured deeper into the forest: giant snakes lurking in the roots of trees, packs of oversized rabbits with glowing red eyes, twisted by mana. Some were low-tier beginner, others low-tier advanced. Each fight was clean, efficient, and controlled.
By the time the sun began to dip lower, Wiliam raised his hand.
"That's enough for now. We'll rest and eat."
He quickly assigned tasks.
"Jhone and I will search for water," Wiliam said. "Fanny, Ania—you'll gather herbs and anything edible."
Then his gaze shifted.
"Arin, Aestra, Your Highness. You'll gather firewood. Arin, I trust you to protect the princess and her friend."
Arin smiled innocently and nodded. "Of course."
Something about that smile made Aestra uneasy.
The three of them moved away from the group, deeper into the forest. The sounds of battle faded behind them, replaced by the rustling of leaves and distant calls of unseen creatures.
It didn't take long to find fallen branches and dry wood.
"We should head back," Aestra said after a while. "This should be enough."
Arin shook his head quickly. "No, no. I saw more trees fallen a bit further in. Better to gather extra, right?"
His tone was… rushed.
Aestra's eyes narrowed slightly.
Why does he sound like he's in a hurry?
Still, they continued. Step by step, the distance between them and the rest of the group grew—until Aestra was certain no one could hear them.
"Stop."
Arin's voice cut through the forest.
Aestra turned.
What he saw made his stomach tighten.
Arin's expression was no longer calm or friendly. His eyes were wide, unfocused, filled with obsession as they locked onto Elera.
"Your Highness…" Arin whispered. "Do you know how much I love you?"
Aestra froze.
"I love you so much I can't stop thinking about you," Arin continued, voice trembling. "I read everything about you. Every rumor, every record. You're my everything."
He took a step closer.
"When I found out I was going on a hunt with you, I thought… was this heaven? A sign from the gods?"
Aestra clenched his fists.
This is bad. Really bad.
He glanced at Elera. Her face was hidden beneath the cap, but he could feel it—something heavy, something dangerous.
Then Arin's gaze snapped to Aestra.
"But THIS disgusting thing is trying to get close to you!" he shouted. "How dare you?! You're inferior! The only one who has the right to stand next to Her Highness… is ME!"
That was the moment Aestra felt it.
An aura.
Cold. Empty. Terrifying.
Elera's body trembled. When she lifted her head, her eyes were vacant—like a void staring back at the world.
For a split second, Aestra thought he saw his own element reflected in her gaze.
Did she…?
[Host, you are funny, but this is not the time for jokes.]
Elera whispered, her voice shaking.
"I'm going to kill him… I'm going to kill him…"
Aestra swallowed.
Okay. Not one psycho. Two.
He understood then. This wasn't the first time she'd dealt with someone like this. In her past life, in this life—men who worshiped her, obsessed over her, tried to cage her.
And she hated it.
Arin raised his hand, mana surging.
"YOU SHOULD DIE!"
"FIREBALL!"
The spell formed instantly, a blazing mass of flame shooting toward Aestra.
Aestra jumped, twisting midair as the fireball passed beneath him and exploded against a tree behind.
Arin stared in shock.
"How did you dodge that?! You're not even awakened!"
Aestra landed lightly and began walking toward him, calm and steady.
"You know," he said, voice cold, "I'm actually glad you brought us here."
Arin snarled. "What?!"
"Because I've got something I want to test."
Arin's face twisted with rage.
"YOU BASTARD!"
Mana surged again.
And just like that—
Aestra's first real fight in this world began.